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No DX Discussions ?
Well lets stir it up.
When you work an exceptionally weak DX station, do u use ESP? Is that Extra Sensory Perception or Expected Sensory Perception ?? Is the best filter between your ears ?? Can u really copy CW right down into the noise -- if so why?? Have you ever copied SSB right down into the noise ?? If not why not ?? Do you listen to DX on a Speaker. Are headphones better ??? Which ones -- Com Phones or Hi-Fi Do you keep the RF Gain at Max? Or advance the audio gain, then bring up the RF Gain control for APPARENT improved S/N ratio. Huh how does that work?? Do you use fast AGC or Slow when DXing --- Why ??? Lets solve these and other DX secrets. And let the rest of the world solve the political issues ON ANOTHER NEWS GROUP |
Keyboard In The Wilderness wrote:
When you work an exceptionally weak DX station, do u use ESP? Is that Extra Sensory Perception or Expected Sensory Perception ?? What? Is the best filter between your ears ?? Yes. *After* you pass the signal through the 250-500 Hz second IF crystal filter. Can u really copy CW right down into the noise -- if so why?? Because of the extremely narrow bandwidth of the signal. The lower the information rate, the easier the copying. That's why CW gets through where speech can't - speech requires more bandwidth due to the higher information rate. Explained differently, CW transmits all the TX power on one frequency, while SSB or AM disperses that same amount of power throughout the entire bandwidth of the signal. Have you ever copied SSB right down into the noise ?? If not why not ?? Everything can be "copied right down into the noise". It depends on what your definition of "right down into the noise" is. Do you listen to DX on a Speaker. No. Waste of time. Are headphones better ??? Always. Which ones -- Com Phones or Hi-Fi The cheaper, the better. You definitely don't want hi-fi headphones because they only contribute to the sound in the range outside of the transmitted speech, i.e. above 3 kHz, which translates into noise. Do you keep the RF Gain at Max? Normally, yes. Or advance the audio gain, then bring up the RF Gain control for APPARENT improved S/N ratio. Huh how does that work?? Depends on the signal that you're trying to copy, as well as on the surrounding QRM and QRN. Do you use fast AGC or Slow when DXing --- Why ??? Neither. AGC is a dynamic compression which compresses all the signals into a much narrower dynamic audio range. That's great for strong signals and easy on the ears, but it completely obliterates the weak ones by "pumping" strong signals, QRM and QRN. You need to turn off AGC for dxing (and most of contesting), unless you only want to work strong signals. The drawback is that the full dynamic range is very hard on the ears because you get a full blast of S9+ signals interspersed with the barely audible ones. 73 .... WA7AA -- Anti-spam measu look me up on qrz.com if you need to reply directly |
Keyboard In The Wilderness wrote:
When you work an exceptionally weak DX station, do u use ESP? Is that Extra Sensory Perception or Expected Sensory Perception ?? What? Is the best filter between your ears ?? Yes. *After* you pass the signal through the 250-500 Hz second IF crystal filter. Can u really copy CW right down into the noise -- if so why?? Because of the extremely narrow bandwidth of the signal. The lower the information rate, the easier the copying. That's why CW gets through where speech can't - speech requires more bandwidth due to the higher information rate. Explained differently, CW transmits all the TX power on one frequency, while SSB or AM disperses that same amount of power throughout the entire bandwidth of the signal. Have you ever copied SSB right down into the noise ?? If not why not ?? Everything can be "copied right down into the noise". It depends on what your definition of "right down into the noise" is. Do you listen to DX on a Speaker. No. Waste of time. Are headphones better ??? Always. Which ones -- Com Phones or Hi-Fi The cheaper, the better. You definitely don't want hi-fi headphones because they only contribute to the sound in the range outside of the transmitted speech, i.e. above 3 kHz, which translates into noise. Do you keep the RF Gain at Max? Normally, yes. Or advance the audio gain, then bring up the RF Gain control for APPARENT improved S/N ratio. Huh how does that work?? Depends on the signal that you're trying to copy, as well as on the surrounding QRM and QRN. Do you use fast AGC or Slow when DXing --- Why ??? Neither. AGC is a dynamic compression which compresses all the signals into a much narrower dynamic audio range. That's great for strong signals and easy on the ears, but it completely obliterates the weak ones by "pumping" strong signals, QRM and QRN. You need to turn off AGC for dxing (and most of contesting), unless you only want to work strong signals. The drawback is that the full dynamic range is very hard on the ears because you get a full blast of S9+ signals interspersed with the barely audible ones. 73 .... WA7AA -- Anti-spam measu look me up on qrz.com if you need to reply directly |
Zoran Brlecic wrote:
Is the best filter between your ears ?? Yes. *After* you pass the signal through the 250-500 Hz second IF crystal filter. G! Depends to some degree on how you work your DX. 250Hz is too narrow for contesting but probably just about right for pileups. Do you listen to DX on a Speaker. No. Waste of time. Are headphones better ??? Always. Fully agreed. Which ones -- Com Phones or Hi-Fi The cheaper, the better. You definitely don't want hi-fi headphones because they only contribute to the sound in the range outside of the transmitted speech, i.e. above 3 kHz, which translates into noise. Disagreed. IMHO the most important specification for headphones is physical comfort. Can you wear them for hours without hurting your ears? My ears - and the filters in the rig (for which I've paid good money!) do a pretty good job of filtering out the noise. I've generally found "communications" phones have an awful lot of ripple in the audio passband. They tend to sound "tinny" or "bassy" or otherwise unnatural. Not to mention they're usually heavy and uncomfortable. I bought two pair of Labtec LVA-8322's at Dayton a couple of years ago. ($5 each if I remember properly) They're comfortable - sound good - they've got a boom mike (which keeps getting me great audio reports, people don't believe me when I tell them what I'm using for a mike!). One pair sits in the shack, the other I use for DXing the FM broadcast band. (1,200 stations in 42 states since 1994) Actually, right now I'm using them to listen to a They Might Be Giants CD... One of the better bargains I've found at Dayton. Do you keep the RF Gain at Max? Normally, yes. Or advance the audio gain, then bring up the RF Gain control for APPARENT improved S/N ratio. Huh how does that work?? I think it does work but only for strong signals. I've done that for long ragchews with local stations, and it works nicely. Sounds almost like VHF-FM quality. It's pretty hard to find the "sweet spot" when working weak or QSB-laden signals though. Do you use fast AGC or Slow when DXing --- Why ??? Neither. AGC is a dynamic compression which compresses all the signals into a much narrower dynamic audio range. That's great for strong signals and easy on the ears, but it completely obliterates the weak ones by "pumping" strong signals, QRM and QRN. You need to turn off AGC for dxing (and most of contesting), unless you only want to work strong signals. The drawback is that the full dynamic range is very hard on the ears because you get a full blast of S9+ signals interspersed with the barely audible ones. Fast. If I'm going to abuse my hearing, I use the Ramones. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
Zoran Brlecic wrote:
Is the best filter between your ears ?? Yes. *After* you pass the signal through the 250-500 Hz second IF crystal filter. G! Depends to some degree on how you work your DX. 250Hz is too narrow for contesting but probably just about right for pileups. Do you listen to DX on a Speaker. No. Waste of time. Are headphones better ??? Always. Fully agreed. Which ones -- Com Phones or Hi-Fi The cheaper, the better. You definitely don't want hi-fi headphones because they only contribute to the sound in the range outside of the transmitted speech, i.e. above 3 kHz, which translates into noise. Disagreed. IMHO the most important specification for headphones is physical comfort. Can you wear them for hours without hurting your ears? My ears - and the filters in the rig (for which I've paid good money!) do a pretty good job of filtering out the noise. I've generally found "communications" phones have an awful lot of ripple in the audio passband. They tend to sound "tinny" or "bassy" or otherwise unnatural. Not to mention they're usually heavy and uncomfortable. I bought two pair of Labtec LVA-8322's at Dayton a couple of years ago. ($5 each if I remember properly) They're comfortable - sound good - they've got a boom mike (which keeps getting me great audio reports, people don't believe me when I tell them what I'm using for a mike!). One pair sits in the shack, the other I use for DXing the FM broadcast band. (1,200 stations in 42 states since 1994) Actually, right now I'm using them to listen to a They Might Be Giants CD... One of the better bargains I've found at Dayton. Do you keep the RF Gain at Max? Normally, yes. Or advance the audio gain, then bring up the RF Gain control for APPARENT improved S/N ratio. Huh how does that work?? I think it does work but only for strong signals. I've done that for long ragchews with local stations, and it works nicely. Sounds almost like VHF-FM quality. It's pretty hard to find the "sweet spot" when working weak or QSB-laden signals though. Do you use fast AGC or Slow when DXing --- Why ??? Neither. AGC is a dynamic compression which compresses all the signals into a much narrower dynamic audio range. That's great for strong signals and easy on the ears, but it completely obliterates the weak ones by "pumping" strong signals, QRM and QRN. You need to turn off AGC for dxing (and most of contesting), unless you only want to work strong signals. The drawback is that the full dynamic range is very hard on the ears because you get a full blast of S9+ signals interspersed with the barely audible ones. Fast. If I'm going to abuse my hearing, I use the Ramones. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
Zoran Brlecic wrote:
IMHO the most important specification for headphones is physical comfort. Can you wear them for hours without hurting your ears? Well, of course. But that's not what he asked. I use those cheapo $3 headphones that I barely feel on my head. Yes, comfort is everything and that's one more reason why hi-fi headphones are out, because they simply have to squeeze your head for a high quality audio. I also tried Heil headphones once and couldn't believe some people have them on for 48 hours straight. I'd go insane. On average I've found hi-fi phones more comfortable than the communications variety. Used to wear Radio Shack PRO-40s until I got my hands on the Labtecs. (latter having the advantage of the boom mike, so one can free both hands for manipulating the equipment) -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
Zoran Brlecic wrote:
IMHO the most important specification for headphones is physical comfort. Can you wear them for hours without hurting your ears? Well, of course. But that's not what he asked. I use those cheapo $3 headphones that I barely feel on my head. Yes, comfort is everything and that's one more reason why hi-fi headphones are out, because they simply have to squeeze your head for a high quality audio. I also tried Heil headphones once and couldn't believe some people have them on for 48 hours straight. I'd go insane. On average I've found hi-fi phones more comfortable than the communications variety. Used to wear Radio Shack PRO-40s until I got my hands on the Labtecs. (latter having the advantage of the boom mike, so one can free both hands for manipulating the equipment) -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
Doug Smith W9WI wrote:
Zoran Brlecic wrote: IMHO the most important specification for headphones is physical comfort. Can you wear them for hours without hurting your ears? Well, of course. But that's not what he asked. I use those cheapo $3 headphones that I barely feel on my head. Yes, comfort is everything and that's one more reason why hi-fi headphones are out, because they simply have to squeeze your head for a high quality audio. I also tried Heil headphones once and couldn't believe some people have them on for 48 hours straight. I'd go insane. On average I've found hi-fi phones more comfortable than the communications variety. Agreed. And while audio quality is important, comfort is a lot more important when you spend a couple of hours at the rig. In that respect the Heil set and other "special" headphones are way too incomfortable and I cannot discern any advantages over a good HiFi-set in terms of audio reproduction. My headphone of choice is the KOSS Porta Pro, which is a very leightweight, foldable and yet stable headphone with excellent sound quality for any kind of rig and you can wear it during a lonf contest weekend without suffering from massive headaches. There is an extra set of rubber foam on the headband that reduces pressure on one's ear and makes wearing these pure pleasure. http://www.portabledvdstore.com/kosporpropor.html I showed these to a couple of active hams, most of them CW ragchewers and contesters, and by now roughly 30 hams I know have bought the set and are super happy with it. All of them know the Heil headset and report that it is vastly inferior in terms of comfort and audio quality. The only letdown is the fact that you don't want to run a MM-SSB contest ;-) Peter Lemken DF5JT Berlin -- "dass wir keine sklavenarbeit mehr haben zeigt doch, dass der Marktwirtschaft ueberhaupt kein raum zu ihrer entfaltung gelassen wird." -- frank paulsen in d.a.t.u |
Doug Smith W9WI wrote:
Zoran Brlecic wrote: IMHO the most important specification for headphones is physical comfort. Can you wear them for hours without hurting your ears? Well, of course. But that's not what he asked. I use those cheapo $3 headphones that I barely feel on my head. Yes, comfort is everything and that's one more reason why hi-fi headphones are out, because they simply have to squeeze your head for a high quality audio. I also tried Heil headphones once and couldn't believe some people have them on for 48 hours straight. I'd go insane. On average I've found hi-fi phones more comfortable than the communications variety. Agreed. And while audio quality is important, comfort is a lot more important when you spend a couple of hours at the rig. In that respect the Heil set and other "special" headphones are way too incomfortable and I cannot discern any advantages over a good HiFi-set in terms of audio reproduction. My headphone of choice is the KOSS Porta Pro, which is a very leightweight, foldable and yet stable headphone with excellent sound quality for any kind of rig and you can wear it during a lonf contest weekend without suffering from massive headaches. There is an extra set of rubber foam on the headband that reduces pressure on one's ear and makes wearing these pure pleasure. http://www.portabledvdstore.com/kosporpropor.html I showed these to a couple of active hams, most of them CW ragchewers and contesters, and by now roughly 30 hams I know have bought the set and are super happy with it. All of them know the Heil headset and report that it is vastly inferior in terms of comfort and audio quality. The only letdown is the fact that you don't want to run a MM-SSB contest ;-) Peter Lemken DF5JT Berlin -- "dass wir keine sklavenarbeit mehr haben zeigt doch, dass der Marktwirtschaft ueberhaupt kein raum zu ihrer entfaltung gelassen wird." -- frank paulsen in d.a.t.u |
Used to wear Radio Shack PRO-40s until I got my hands on the Labtecs.
(latter having the advantage of the boom mike, so one can free both hands for manipulating the equipment) I have used a foot switch for years -- frees both hands for computer work and even pencil - paper work. Leaves one foot for QLF -- hi hi See URL: http://users.sisna.com/mbignell/qlf.html |
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