I'm more-or-less with Andy on this one except I use the big brother TS-890 and
don't need the external panadapter and I've never used CW Skimmer in my life. I
will say that the best bandscope/panadapter I've ever used was an SDR-IQ,
running SpectraVue software on the i-f output of a K3 or K3S.
In the TS-890, the RIT control can control the split TX frequency which is
displayed on the bandscope screen. I typically use it, without doing a TF-Set
swap, to set my calling frequency. There is much more in working split that
just hopping on the last callers QRG. More often than not, this is the wrong
thing to do on CW. SSB is usually different because the DX announces their
listening frequency, but you have to listen. Sometimes they spread the pile by
saying up 5 to 15, but they only listen up 5.
I remember many years ago an expedition, (forgot who but their leader was the
banquet speaker at Visalia the one year I went, and he described this in his
talk) They were operating SSB on 14.195 and announcing listening 5 to 10 up.
But once in a while he would say, "Five to ten up...pause...and 14.190") Of
course everyone would immediately start calling up 5 to 10. I called on 14.190
and worked him on one call.
Sometimes the DX has a rhythm; they move up or down some Hz after each call.
You need to figure this out. But sometimes they simply don't. I remember
calling my friend, Ned, AA7A, when he was operating RTTY from either or both
VP8STI/VP8SGI. I called for about an hour while trying to figure out his
pattern. I finally figured out that he didn't have one. I picked a QRG and
stuck with it until he found me. (I worked both stations) I talked to him
later at a club meeting and he confirmed he just spun the dial.
If you want to use a second RX and call on the last caller's frequency, good for
you, and better for me.
Wes N7WS
On 11/7/2023 6:14 AM, Andy Durbin wrote:
That was a head spinning discussion! No Elecraft transceiver here but I've
been working single RX Split with a TS-590S for as long as I have owned it.
For the TS-590 the key to working split pileups is the TF-SET key which swaps
TX and RX VFO as long as it is held. Sounds like Elecraft does the same with
the REV key. Listen on the DX frequency, after his CQ or TU press TFSET to
listen to the pileup. Spin the dial to find who is answering with a report,
this sets the TX VFO to that frequency, adjust up or down based on prediction
of DX listening point, release TF-SET and call after next TU.
TF-SET, an SDR based panadapter, and CW Skimmer all help me when trying to work
the big pileups. With TF-SET held I can click HDSDR (SDR panadapter) to set
the TX VFO. I doubt I would do any better with a second receiver.
73,
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