The subject of single ops using two radios is a discussion that gets quite a lot of attention on the RTTY reflector from time to time. It's also a subject that will probably never be agreed on by all operators. Why, they suggest, is it fair for some to use two radios while others are using only one. However, it ISN'T against the rules, so I would suspect the use of two radios by S/Ops will continue.
The subject of using two radios isn't the easiest thing to write about either. I've had many requests for a column on this subject. A column with ALL the hidden secrets, so to speak. Here are all the secrets, " THERE AREN'T ANY!" It's just simply some thing you have to get used to doing. Of the three popular contest modes, RTTY is the EASIEST to run two radios as a S/Op All you have to do is set your station up right. What is right you say???? Well what's right for me and what's right for you may not be the same, but I can tell you how I do it. If nothing else, maybe it's a place for you to start
First, if you are using two radios in RTTY contesting you are looking at print, not listening to code or someone talking with one station in one ear and another one in the other. Set your monitors up so you can see both of them at the same time, or with eye movement. I have tried this several ways. I have put two monitors side by side in front of me with the radios on each side. This didn't work out, because I had to move my head to see both radios and scopes, and with the two monitors side by side would cause monitor flutter. I corrected the flutter with a piece of insulation board between the two monitors. I also tried putting the monitors on top of the radios side by side. This worked pretty well except with the monitors so close together I sometimes got mixed up with what monitor was doing what and would click the wrong mouse to send an exchange. I kept moving things around until I came up with the set up I'm using now.
At the moment here is what's right for me Then again it may not be by the time you read this time. I use two Kenwood radios with a PCI-3000 on one radio and a ST-8000 on the other. I like one Kenwood in front of me with a monitor on each side. The second radio off to the left side. The radio in the center has a Heath SB-610 scope setting on top of it and goes with the right monitor. The Kenwood on the left setting in a 45 degree angle goes with the other monitor. The monitor on the left sets on top of the ST-8000. This way I can see both monitors and scopes with eye movement only. In other words I don't have to move my head, I can even see the second radio on the left. I don't need to look directly at the second radio unless I'm changing bands or something of that nature.
Second, you will have to play with your exchange function keys. Get them set up so you can make quick exchanges. If you like to use the FRIEND.INI file with names--fine, just have another short exchange key for both radios when one or the other radio is the mult station. You want the second station's exchanges short so you can hold a frequency on the run station. If you want only one exchange on both radios, make the exchange short. Forget the name file when your using two stations. Gimmicks and tricks like that only work for a short while. Now that everyone has a huge name file it's lost any advantage it may have had at one time.
Third, head phones, external speakers etc. When I doing a S/Op with two radios I don't use headphones with one diddle in one ear and another diddle from the second radio in the other. After all a diddle is a diddle and it doesn't help me to use head phones. I use external speakers one on each end of my ten foot desk. I can tell very easily which diddle is for which radio.Naturally, being able to switch all antennas to both radios is a big help.
At my station the amplifiers are an Alpha 87A on one radio and a Drake L4B on the other My biggest problem running two radios as a S/Op is remembering to switch bands on the L4B amp. With the Alpha you don't have to do that for when you change band at the radio or with the keyboard the amp follows automatically. Other than that, I haven't had any major problems using two radios.
The conclusion is, if there are any secrets in using two radios, the secret has got to be PRACTICE. Using two radios requires a lot of it!! If you have to sacrifice a contest just practicing do it. I assure you the end result will better your score. The only reason people use two radios is to improve their scores. They don't do it because it fun. What's fun about it, is seeing all the new mults and QSO's coming in, and your score getting bigger and bigger. :-)
The above is all I can tell you about using two radios in contesting. If you haven't tried using two radios, or have tried and gave up on it, I suggest you try it, or try again. After all conditions will change for the better.
It wouldn't surprise me to see some ops using three radios in the future.That may sound ridiculous, but thinking about a contest like Roundup. With peak conditions and a radio on all three high bands (grabbing mults like crazy on two bands while having a good run on a single band) doesn't sound so ridiculous. Just think about it, you could be seven hours into the contest with three times the mults you normally have.The thoughts of what would happen next are staggering!!! Maybe I better start looking for another radio. :-)
I hope this article will help you. If nothing else it may give you some ideas of what to do or try. Above all when conditions do change for the better, you don't want to be left at the bottom of the results list. :-(
73 de Ron K5DJ
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