I generally use a pair of 500 Hz filters for CW. During a heavy DX pileup
(generally not a contest), I'll sometimes isolate the DX station with a pair
of 250 Hz filters.
When running and the rate slows down a bit, I have in the past opened up the
passband (using the SSB filters) so as to better hear people calling me
off-frequency. I used to try to run most of the time that way. The idea was
that I would be more aware of those running around me and I had a better feel
for my general vicinity. However, too often I found myself "working" someone
who was working one of the others running nearby, and I "worked" them soon
thereafter when they moved up to where they thought I was listening.
I was trying to become more practiced at isolating signals with the "filter"
between my ears and depend less on the hardware. It was a lot of work. I
still think I'd like to practice more at this; it's a valuable skill in
general.
I'd really like to have a good filter that I could set to 900 Hz wide, or 1.3
KHz, or whatever, depending on the varying conditions of the contest. I think
I can do some of this with the filters I have on the radio, but I tend not to
fiddle very much with the knobs when I'm running. Maybe I should get to know
my radio better!
Dick, K6KR
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