I second Jerry's comments about learning to copy code on wide receivers.
I had to learn this because I started out with a BC-455 command set
on 40 meters and even with a regenerated IF stage it was wide. Really
wide. Now, my ears are so badly fried that I have lost most of that
skill. I have an Omni V with 250 Hz filters selectable in both IF
frequencies. When things are crowded on 40 and 30 meter pileups, I find
that it often helps to use both filters with careful use of the passband
tuning. I also can use the Autek audio filter to further peak up a
signal hidden in a crowd. It is amazing how doing this can pull out a
weak signal. Often, when things are less crowded I use the 1800 Hz
sideband filter on CW. After all those years I spent with wide
receivers, it sounds more natural to my beat up ears. If I had known I
was going to last this long, I would have been more careful.
Steve WA9JML
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