I can only give you my short critique using the SDR1000, 100 watts, with
Writelog, in the ANARTS contest.
First off.
VCom setup
6=3
9=4
10=5
11=7
12=8
13=15
Writelog Ports setup
Com 3 Kenwood
All mode PTT on CW Port RTS
MMTTY module with
Com 4 as the Writelog Keying Port
PWSDR1000
Enabled CAT on Com 6
PTT Control Enabled on com 9
ID as a Kenwood TS-2000
Sorry, I've done a LOT of rtty contesting, and I had some serious problems.
I got it going, it took a bit of com port management.
Running Writelog with the MMTTY module.
First problem
Trying to get the DIGL passband set right.
I really had to get the passband narrow, so I could 'grab' the frequency
grid screen and move the signal blip and be within the MMTTY tuning window.
I quickly found that having the Panadaptor Zoom at 4X made that a lot
easier. In fact it made it real easy, hand/eye coordination improved and
almost always had the signal in the MMTTY tuning markers. That speeded up
matters considerably...
Ended up using VAR1 with a low of -2504 and high of -1958. Need someone with
math skills to tell me if that will result in a signal being close to the
normal MMTTY mark/space.
Technique improved as I made contacts.
Second problem (only in v1.80)
Intermittent problem of PWSDR not going back to receive at the end of a WL
message buffer.
not always, just sometimes.
Not RFI related as I got it down to just a couple of watts to test that
theory.
KW <> 5 watts, no difference.
Couldn't make it do it, couldn't stop it.
But.. I switched to v1.90 SVN 1233
No more hangups, kw <> 5 watts, didn't happen again the rest of the test.
I will closely compare settings between the two versions to see if I can
spot a setting that's different.
Good news,
even though conditions were not special...even a teeny signal blip on the
panadaptor was usually printable and copyable.
That's big....for a contester, being able to print the weak ones, during a
Search&Pounce session is good.
It will take a few more digital contests for a real shakeout, but I was
always a two handed rtty contester.
One hand for the keyboard and the other hand worked the 'should I dare say
it....DIAL'
Having to use a mouse, back and forth across two monitors so I could tune
the station and then fine tune the mark/space in the MMTTY tuning module.
In a crowded rtty contest, this would be very tough...
Must be a better way of doing it...maybe hook up the 'griffin'.
I experimented with the right click, crosshairs on a panadaptor blip, that
worked, you still may have to tweak the signal in the MMTTY tuning module to
be right on.
I actually got pretty quick. Not quick enough to try 'running', maybe next
contest.
but it was a good learning experience...and I was very encouraged.
a lot depended on PWSDR and the SDR1000 being a WL compatible system.
After getting the hang of it...I'm very very encouraged...that SDR5000 looks
like it will work out. Are there plans for a 2 kw model???? <wink>
life it too short of qrp!
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"This tagline protected by an attack cat."
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Bill H. in Chicagoland
webcams at http://76.16.160.118:8080/
weather at http://hhweather.webhop.org
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