I wonder, could a computer just run the thing while you are out raking leaves. Most rigs can be software controlled, computers can beat people at chess, why not just have the computer do the contest?
SSB is no problem, thiose robot voice response things are getting quite good, and its hard to tell on ssb anyway... Or has all this been done already? Brett N2DTS ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wolfgang, Larry, WR1B" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 2:21 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K2 and the CW SS There were several interesting posts about operating in the Sweepstakes contest this past weekend. Like many of those who commented, I consider myself a "casual contester." It's been a number of years since I put in as much time at SS as I did this weekend. I usually need some "help" to copy the 30+ wpm contest exchanges. I often spend several minutes trying to copy a station's exchange before sending my call in answer to their CQs. This year I tried a few different ideas. In the past I've sometimes used a program called "CW Get" to copy the CW. With a cable from the speaker output to the soundcard input, this program does a good job of copying the perfect machine sent code, and even does a reasonable job on the good CW from a keyer and paddle. I also downloaded a logging program (N1MM Logger) on Saturday morning and installed that on my computer. After "a bit" of time trying to learn how to use the logger, I had it mostly configured, and even talking to my K2. This was pretty neat! I positioned various logger windows around my display so I could also see the copy window on CW Get. Maybe a similar arrangement would be helpful to others who like to "Search and Pounce." I even ventured to answer quite a few stations that were calling CQ before I copied their exchange. I also noticed something that surprised me quite a bit. I narrowed my K2 filters to 400 and 200 Hz. Most of the time I just tuned up the band, one station at a time, and seldom had interference from another station to contend with. (No, that didn't surprise me!) What did surprise me was the number of stations answering a CQ "way" off frequency. I'd barely hear them over the speaker, and would see a "spike" on the CW Get frequency display that was 100 Hz or more off the CQing station. Maybe it was just the heat of the competition, but I thought most CW operators would be better able to tune to zero beat. It would be interesting to know what rigs the other operators were using. I wonder if many of those who were tuned to zero beat were Elecrafters. 73, Larry Wolfgang, WR1B _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
