++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 16:40:32 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] opening "dead" bands In this e-mail I'll provide some information about the K2's SCAN feature. At the end, I'll propose an interesting experiment that anyone can participate in. SCAN Mode Frequently the bands are open, but you don't know it because your receiver is sitting at one frequency--if it's turned on at all. It's for this situation that we added the K2's "smart" SCAN feature. If you haven't used SCAN yet, I'd encourage you to give it a try. Set up the A and B VFOs (A below B) for the desired scan range on any band, then STORE this in one of the ten memories, but HOLD rather than TAP the # key when prompted. The display will show "SCAN". To stop scanning, tap any button. To resume scanning, you can RECALL the same memory (again HOLDing the # key until SCAN appears on the display), or you can program PF1 or PF2 as SCAN resume. The latter has the advantage that takes only one switch press, and it picks up scanning where you left off. You can select one of three scan rates, too: before you store the scan memory, just tap RATE to pick 10, 50, or 1000 Hz steps. These translate to slow, medium, and fast scanning. (The 1 kHz steps will jump right over some potential signals, especially if you're using a narrow filter.) For more details, see Advanced Operating Features in the K2 Owner's Manual. I use SCAN while doing other things around the shack, and am often surprised to hear the K2 unsquelch and offer up some unexpected DX. This is especially true on the higher, quieter bands, such as 15 meters. Our SCAN routine will generally unsquelch only when it finds a modulated signal, not on steady carriers, hence the "smart" part. However, on very noisy bands, such as 40 meters at night, you may need to turn the preamp off (and even the attenuator on or RF GAIN down) in order to keep SCAN from stopping too often. The Experiment Here's a casual operating experiment we can do over the next few days (or anytime) to see just how "open" some of these "dead" bands might really be. Everyone who whose call ends in the letters A-L simply call CQ on their favorite spot, at their favorite operating time; and everyone whose call ends in M-Z, set up and run SCAN. If you don't have a K2, you'll have to "scan" manually ;) My call ends in an R, so I'll be scanning....right now I'm scanning on 15 meters. 73, Wayne N6KR ++++++++++++++++++