NRS noise reduction on CW

KD0RC

I have typically not operated CW with any kind of noise reduction engaged. On my old superhet rigs, it tended to add artifacts without helping intelligibility. On my 6400, it sounded OK, but didn't reduce the noise enough to make me want to use it.

Now I have an 8600 with SmartSDR+ and I find that the NRS (spectral noise subtraction) reduces the noise completely without hurting the desired CW signal at all. I have dug some really weak POTA stations out of the noise using this feature. Probably just an illusion, but it feels like I can copy signals that are below the noise level.

It also makes operating much less tiresome without the constant band noise. I find myself working more contacts between breaks. If you have an 8000 or Aurora series Flex, try NRS on CW - it really works well!