--- Bob Henderson <bob@cytanet.com.cy> wrote:
<snip>
"I'll not use a
PTT for contesting, I only have two hands, one for
the PC, one for the keyer, that's all."
Perhaps I am wrong, but this suggested to me that
Ulrich perhaps thought
that those asking for PTT control, were looking for
a manual, perhaps even hand operated control.
In his specific question I did not get that impression
at all because I didn't make HF centric contesting
assumptions about what he's wanting to do. But on the
other hand doing exactly that (using manual control)
would have place in V/UHF contesting. Unlike the fixed
mode contacts in most (all?) HF contesting Q's in VHF
contesting are frequently made using mixed modes. Also
the contest logging software will likely be left in
"phone" mode at all times, that means the CW sending
is being done outside of the contesting software,
either using a simple hand key or traditional
electronic keyer. The CW used in V/UHF contesting is
rarely over 15-20 WPM or even being used all that
much. Nor is there much of an issue of having big
pileups, so a relatively slow RX/TX CW turn around on
VHF isn't a big deal. But to be competitive you do
need to be able use CW (and now the new digital modes
like FSK441/JT44/JT65 as well) because that's where
many of the new multipliers will come from.
So the phone PTT arrangement could very well be done
by both computer and foot switch. And since the CW is
quite likely being sent by hand having to depend on
the timing of the "foot" isn't all that reliable. And
using the computer to send CW isn't a very good option
either since the logging program is most often left in
phone. So using good old fashioned semi QSK for CW
RX/TX switching is often the simplest way to go,
especially so since full QSK capable equipment as
already pointed out is rarely an option in the V/UHF
world.
So this is an example of why some the global
assumptions that the HF only contesters will make are
not always valid for V/UHF "weak signal" operating. It
is sufficiently different from HF for several reasons
and therefore applying HF ideas and methods are not
always effective.
There are also several other different requirements
about how to optimally setup the station. It is not
uncommon for a single-op VHF contester to be
listening/searching/watching for Q's on 4 or more
bands all at the same time, and to then be quickly
jumping between each of the radios that are dedicated
to each of those bands making Q's. So a single radio
or two bandswitching between bands is not always the
norm.
All of this is relevant to a radio like the Orion
because it holds some tremendous possibilities for the
VHF crowd because arguably 6&2M contest conditions can
be the most demanding there is. This is because the
natural noise floor for these bands are so much lower
than HF and the antennas typically being used are so
much higher in gain. So when you are pointed towards
that "line of site" multi-op station who is pointed at
your station with 1KW or more into 15+ dB of antenna
(on both ends) you will have some very strong signals
to deal with. But yet your station will still need to
be able hear signals approaching -150dBm that are only
a few kHz away. So a transverter IF radio having
extremely low phase noise like the Orion has is a
distinct advantage, so is its IP3 and close-in BDR
specifications. It is no accident that Ulrich is
looking to an Orion to mate with those top notch
transverters to improve his station for V/UHF rather
than some 'all mode', 'all band' wonder box. So
whatever future optimizations are in order for the
Orion they also need to consider V/UHF transverter
operation in addition to HF.
Duane
N9DG
EN53bj
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