How to zero beat CW signal SSDR and Flex 6600

Steve Killeen

Looking for some best practices or ways to zero beat a CW signal then tune away around 50 to 100 hz before transmitting to QSO ? Using Smart SDR 3.18

Previously I used  a CW SPOT feature on my KX3 !

Thanks

W5AP

This is a sad omission on the part of Flex.  As you said - the Elecraft radios have a spot button and I really miss that feature on the Flex 6600M.  Don't hold your breath.  I think many have wanted this feature as well as updates/bug fixes for a long time.

Rich McCabe

Steve Killeen

I guess your right Rich, just lazy maybe .... Before I did not have a visual on the signal and now with SmartSDR I can tune away from the peak of the signal. Is that what you are doing ?

Rich McCabe

I always click on the peak to get it dead center and leave it. I adjust my "pitch" control on the Flex control panel to get the pitch I prefer.

I use the pitch a lot actually chasing weak stations. Sometimes even down to close to 400hz as it can really make the station pop out of the noise.

Rich

Jim KJ3P

Steve Killeen

Rich, do you tune away from the peak when you TX or do you use RIT so you don't zero beat ?

Rich McCabe

Steve, I do not tune away nor do I use RIT.

As I said I might be ignorant to what you guys are talking about. Why tune away?

James Lee

I simply spread the panadapter display and then using the mouse drag my "vertical line" and put it right at the peak of the received CW signal.  Not sure why this isn't sufficient and easier than falling of a log. de NK7B

Steve Killeen

I thought it was common practice to tune away from the carrier so you can standout more and not zero beat.

Steve Killeen

Thanks Jim, I will try that.

Rich McCabe

Well if you are in a pile up working simplex it could help. But in my opinion could hurt too.

So I just go dead center. But you want to change your pitch to the other station bump your XIT a little.

I know its done on occasion as Bob Locher mentions that in his DX books.

But with the technology of a Flex zero beating is visual for me.

Steve Killeen

OK dead center for zero beat is easy and visual. Can explain "But you want to change your pitch to the other station bump your XIT a little." 

A bit of a newbie question for me ! I usually always leave my pitch at 600 HZ. As far as the XIT bump, I gather this is where I offset the carrier to say 50 HZ or so ?

Rich McCabe

Well I assume and someone correct me if I am wrong the following:

If you click dead center on the peak the other station should hear you at 600hz if he is running a default 600hz setup.

If you bump your XIT up/down then he is not going to hear you at 600hz and will hear you at 100 +/- whatever the XIT offset is (assuming he does not re tune).

You can play with your pitch on the flex to adjust the tone you hear the other station at which also affects your side tone, Without actually changing your frequency.

As I said playing with the Flex pitch will change the tone in relationship to the noise floor pitch and often make a huge difference.

Tom Porada

I use the same method as James Lee. If there's a pile up, just move around a bit with either RIT/XIT or open a Split Slice and have it.

Steve Killeen

OK Thanks Rich. 

AC9S

KD0RC

In today's world of very stable rigs and narrow, steep sided filters, I strive to be right on the other guy's frequency. 100 Hz away may be completely out of their passband. As a novice using xtal control in the old days, we all scanned the entire novice segment looking for a response. Other than split operation, I don't look around at all anymore - I just expect the other station to be zero beat. Len, KD0RC

Steve Killeen

Good point !

Geoff AB6BT

James Lee

Geoff AB6BT

Good point. If you are listening in a narrow passband in a net situation where everyone is listening on the same frequency, then transmitting close to that frequency can be a benefit. But I have no problem, as far as I know, setting my transmit frequency visually to within those tolerances.

Other that that, I see no particular advantage.

Rich McCabe

Well as the OP mentioned during a pile up adjusting your TX can differentiate you from 50 other guys running 600hz.

I certainly would not do it as a standard practice.

I like using MorseRunner as a practice tool. Different pitches do stand out and that usually the one I answer.


Al_NN4ZZ

Geoff AB6BT

Fair enough, but I have never used CwSkimmer. So for me I don't see how this would be of any use.

So now we have 2 use cases, CW nets and CwSkimmer.

Bill NE1B

Reason #3 plus Offset:  Contesters, who Click and Pounce need NOT to be Zero Beat, but have a unique offset.  In a contest, I have been on the DX end with a huge Zero Beat pileup.  Logging Programs provide a Band Map to click on for mults and Qs.  Everybody ends up on the same frequency.  I usually pick out the signals with offset tones.  N1MM+ has added an offset feature, if selected.

Mike - K6QY

Steve Killeen

That's a smart way ! 

Ken