Feature request for an easy way to tune up on a clear frequency; courtesy tune

Greg Zenger [N2GZ]

It would be nice to have a feature where you could initiate a tune cycle (with either the ATU or tone) that would happen off of the frequency currently on. I am going to call this feature courtesy tune. If implemented, FlexRadio Systems is welcome to adopt the name. I imagine it working sorta like the following: 1) Click the Courtesy Tune button. ---Courtesy Tune button starts flashing. 2) Click the Panadapter on the frequency that is clear. ---The radio temporarily applies an XIT, tunes up on the selected frequency and when done, returns the radio to the desired RX frequency. 3) Resume chasing DX. With a little more work, I imagine we could someday even have an Automatic Courtesy Tune that would work as follows: 1) Define basic settings such as Courtesy Tune window in the radio setup dialog (e.g. +/- 20kHz) 2) "Dial" in the DX station. 3) Press Auto Courtesy Tune ---Radio selects a frequency within the Courtesy Tune Window that has had a low activity as averaged over a period of time and performs tuning cycle there. when complete the radio is returned to the desired RX frequency. 4) Resume chasing DX. (I suppose this could be called Tuner Incremental Tuning, but then the abbreviation is ****, which is probably why we use XIT for Transmit Incremental Tuning in the first place.)

Greg Zenger [N2GZ]

Just realized there is a dedicated feature request site: submitted as request #5198

Ken - NM9P

I would be happy if hitting the TUNE or ATU buttons would simply tune on the zero beat frequency instead of the CW offset frequency. As it is, I put a 650 Hz tone (or whatever my CW offset is) right on top of the people I am talking with. If they made it zero beat, tuning up wouldn't interfere with anyone. For now, I just shift my TX freq by 650 Hz and hit tune.

K1UO Larry

Hi Greg, OK...Ill be the dummy on this one..where is the dedicated feature request site? regards

Robert -- N5IKD

That works great. -880 Hz for me as I set my pitch to the musical note A. I noticed to issues: 1. The FlexControl knob zeros out the XIT setting when turning off XIT. It would be handy to keep the offset and just turn off the XIT. 2. The XIT control in SmartSDR does not allow me to enter the hyphen character for a negative offset.

Greg Zenger [N2GZ]

honestly, I'm not sure what the preferred method of requesting features is, but this is where I submitted my feature request: http://helpdesk.flexradio.com/anonymous_requests/new Under Ticket Type you select "Enhancement Type".

Greg Zenger [N2GZ]

As would I.... while great for CW, its also a bit less offending for sideband operators, though not as great as the option I am currently proposing. Any feature of the radio that makes it easy for me to be less of a LID is welcome in my book.

Greg Zenger [N2GZ]

Regarding the hypehen charecter.... I have observed this as well... My workaround is (when the XIT is set to 0) press the < button to make the XIT -10, then highlight the '10' and type the value you desire. Hopefully this will be fixed in an upcoming software release... I believe it has already been reported.

Robert -- N5IKD

I think that you did it right the first time, by creating and "idea" topic in this forum. The helpdesk is for trouble tickets for the FlexRadio technicians to troubleshoot. At least this way it will be seen and discussed by more people.

Ken - NM9P

update: Tune at zero beat on SSB was implemented in release Version 1.3. Thanks!