Single Operator 2 Radio (aka SO2R) is an operating technique that when done properly, can add many extra QSO's and multipliers to your log. This is accomplished by increasing your efficiency during "dead" time, specifically when you are sending on one radio. Efficiency is increased by listening on a 2nd receiver while you are transmitting on the 1st radio. On the 2nd radio you are scanning the bands for needed QSO's and multipliers. If you find a new station to work on the 2nd radio, you leave it staged on the 2nd Entry Window until you get a free moment to work this station. Even adding a few QSO's an hour will greatly boost your score.
The philosophy for SO2R development is to allow any two radios to be used, they do not have to be identical. In it's most simple form, two transceivers feed two separate antennas on two different bands; with sufficient attention to antenna separation and filtering, it is possible to do this without interference from a transmitting rig to a receiving rig. A large % of the very serious SO2R operators use identical radios just to keep reduce the confusion factor, but having identical radios isn't necessary software wise.
Then, the receiver on one band is used to locate new contacts during the time that the transmitter on the other band is active. This can mean that you tune while your computer sends CQ. In some contests, particularly the North American Sprint CW contest, unusual contest formats can make SO2R even more useful. But, for the most part, SO2R is most useful during the CQWW and ARRL DX CW contests. The most critical requirement for SO2R is automated transmission -- if you have to speak into a microphone or squeeze a paddle while you tune the receiver you will not make the most of the second receiver. This means that a DVK is needed for phone SO2R.
Especially phone SO2R is an extremely tiring activity. It's easy to reach a level of mental fatigue while operating SO2R that results in an overall score reduction rather than helping your score. This is another reason that the Sprint CW contest is particularly adapted to SO2R -- it's only 4 hours long.
If your radio is not supported by N1MM (e.g. the JRC radios), or it's an old radio with no computer interface, the radio can still be used, but you just don't get automated rig control on that radio.
In SO2V, which is "Single Operator 2 VFOs", you hook up one radio. If your rig simply has 2 VFOs, VFO A/B will be assigned to each of the Entry Windows. If you have a rig with a sub-RX, each of the RX's gets assigned to each of the Entry Windows. When developing the specs, we actually felt SO2V would be more widely used than SO2R.When operating SO2V (and SO2R), you also need to change your LPT keying from Radio 1 (default) to BOTH. Otherwise you will not get any keying on radio 2.
Only two radios will be supported (or 2 RX's depending on how you look at it).
This means one radio with two VFOs (A/B) is being used rather than two separate radios. SO2V is more 'normal' for most people, as most are not set up for SO2R. N1MM Logger's SO2V interface is essentially identical to the SO2R interface, but with SO2V you are using a single radio, presumably with a 2nd receiver. Two windows can be displayed in SO2V, one for VFO A & B. SO2V makes better use of the 2nd receiver now present in most high-end radios. With the 2nd receiver, you can be tuning the band while you are listening for a response to your CQ. Since you cannot listen on the sub-receiver while transmitting, SO2V is not as efficient as SO2R. While SO2V can also increase your score, the big increases come with SO2R (if done correctly).
For the new SO2R operator, we have 3 words for you: practice, practice, practice! SO2R is definitely a learned skill that takes time to learn, and even longer to master.
As you will quickly see, N1MM Logger's SO2R implementation is more intuitive than most other SO2R implementations:
N1MM Logger supports all of the features you would expect from any world-class SO2R software. In addition, there are a lot of unique features:
Entry windows can be placed anywhere on the screen. Typically people will position them similar to their equipment layout i.e. if the radios are positioned left/right, the windows are arranged reflect that. For those who stack their equipment top/bottom, you can position the screens so they logically mirror that radio setup too.
Screen real estate is in short supply. To minimize screen real estate, you can shrink the Entry Windows compared to the default layout (View > Hide buttons). Below is an example of the default Entry Window and a minimized version. Also the use of two monitors more screen real estate.
To launch the 2nd Entry Window, hit the \ button.
Most people who are comfortable with N1MM Logger tend to use the reduced size Entry Windows in the below examples. All of the vital information an operator needs is displayed in the smaller window. Most SO2R operators get the most efficiency while CQing on 1 radio, and S&Ping on the other. The below Entry Window examples reflect a typical setup: The left VFO (A) is now assigned to running, and the right VFO (B) is assigned to S&P.
All of the features that are available to the single radio operator also work in SO2R/SO2V. For example, when tuning the band with the S&P VFO, spots that are in the bandmap are automatically inserted into each call frame (above callsign entry window) when you tune across the frequency of the spot. Hitting the space bar will pull the callsign from the call frame into the QSO field. Then if a station calls you on the run radio, toggling back and forth between Entry Windows with the \ key or Ctrl Left/Right arrows will keep the all the information each Entry Window until the respective stations are logged, wiped clean via Alt+W or Ctrl+W, or you QSY and the callsign is entered into the bandmap (if "QSYing wipes the call && spots QSO in bandmap" is implemented).
On the Entry Window a green and/or a red dot (LED) might be shown. The LEDs are visual aids that help you easily identify what is happening on each radio. This is part of N1MM's continuing philosophy of letting the operator easily know what's happening at any give time.
The green LED indicates that VFO has receive+keyboard focus and the red LED indicates that VFO has transmit (TX) focus. In addition, the red TX LED changes between dark red (TX focus) and bright red (VFO/radio is transmitting). Inside the LED are letters which identify different states (see below).
Green dot/LED - This VFO/Radio has receive (RX) and keyboard focus. RX and keyboard focus are always together.
Red dot/LED - This VFO/Radio has transmit (TX) focus
Setting up SO2R and SO2V starts in the Config menu:
Then if SO2V:
Then if SO2R:
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SO2R |
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SO2R |
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SO2R |
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SO2V |
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When operating SO2V (and SO2R), you also need to change your LPT keying from Radio 1 (default) to BOTH. Otherwise you will not get any keying on radio 2.
N1MM Logger is compatible with both the Top Ten Devices "DX Doubler" and the Array Solutions (aka WX0B) "SO2R Master". These products will automatically control keying, PTT and audio lines to each radio.
Hooking up these controllers will require a straight-through DB-25 cable from your LPT port of your computer to the input DB-25 connector on these products. For hooking up the rest of the keying and audio lines for these products, consult their respective manuals. Both products use the same pin-outs on the LPT port.
So far, neither of the manuals for these products mention setting up for SO2R with N1MM Logger. Each external device has two basic settings for software: "CT/TR/Writelog" and "NA". NA uses slightly different controls. To use N1MM Logger with these external devices, just configure the external controller for "CT/TR/Writelog".
To get N1MM Logger to correctly key and control these devices, you need to set up your keying as follows:
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Note: There were a couple of errors on the DX-doubler PC
board. Go to: http://www.qth.com/topten/appnotes.htm
to see the DXD mods. |
The WinKey device will work with two radios. WinKey has PIC pin 3 output, which is normal CW and PIC pin 5 which is PTT. Under software control Pin 3 can be Radio 1 CW and Pin 5 can be Radio 2 CW outputs. The serial port assigned to the WinKey device should have the "Hardware" tab "Set" and WinKey checked and Radio Nr set to 'Both'. Plus the SO2R activated on the "Hardware" tab. Then go to the "WinKey" tab and set Pin 5 function to "2nd CW"
The "K" output on the WinKey board goes to Radio 1 CW and the "P" output goes to Radio 2 CW. N1MM Logger takes care of all the switching provided you activate the proper radio.
All radios supported before will work with SO2R. Since many operators will use an older radio (no computer interface) to get active in SO2R, N1MM Logger will allow you to use any combination of computer controlled and non-computer controlled radios. If you use a radio that is not supported or has no radio control, do not set up a radio for it's COM port. You only set up that information when you have a computer controlled radio.
If you are using a radio with no computer control, when you select the SO2R Button on the 'Config | Config Ports | Hardware tab'. Select whether VFO A or VFO B will be computer controlled or manual.
Instructions for setting up 2 copies of MMTTY for use in SO2R.
One sound card can do 2 channels of RTTY decode. Just set MMTTY instances to the same card but one to left the other to right channel. MMTTY seems to transmit the same AFSK audio to both channels but that's ok cause the SO2R box only routes PTT to one of the radios at a time. A special stereo Y cable has to be made so one radio goes to the left channel and the other to the right channel.
If the above works depends a lot on the used soundcard/chip. In other instances MMTTY does not seem to like addressing Left/Right separately. In that case only one (the first) digital interface will receive anything and you are out of luck....
The following screen shot was taken by K2KW from a 17" screen. Notice the window symmetry for left and right VFO, as well as left and right band map. Essential information that is used by both radios was placed in the center: Check Window and Log Window. Of course other operators may have different preferences regarding window layout - but the most intuitive is to have the window layout reflect the equipment configuration.