Single Operator Two Radio

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CTU Presents
Single Operator Two Radio - A learning
experience Don Beattie, G3BJ
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SO2R why ?

• In contests, many trade-offs
• Band, beam heading, CQ or search pounce
  getting these right is important
• SO2R reduces the number of choices, and so
  improves the score especially the mult total

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What is SO2R ?
A capability in an amateur contest station
that allows one operator to maximise band
coverage and QSO rate by working two bands at
once. SO2R involves listening on one band whilst
transmitting on a second. It does NOT involve
transmitting two signals at the same time !
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Contests most suitable for SO2R

• Multiband (single band only with big antenna
  spacing)
• Where multipliers count once per band
• Lower rate contests (but beware the allure of
  rate when its really mults that matter)

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How does it work ?

• Band 1 1
• CQ
• Listen for replies
• Send exchange
• Receive exchange
• Acknowledge and QRZ

• Band 2 2
• Search for mults
• (Search for mults)
• Search for mults
• (Search for mults)
• Search for mults
• Advanced only

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Lets start by listening
EA8ZS CQWW 2004 (CT1BOH) 125003  15 
OH2KM125023  15  PA3AAV125104  10
TO4A125116  15  OK1AJR125129  15 
DL8HCO125144  15  US7IM
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Lets start by listening
EA8ZS CQWW 2004 (CT1BOH) 125003  15 
OH2KM125023  15  PA3AAV125104  10
TO4A125116  15  OK1AJR125129  15 
DL8HCO125144  15  US7IM
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Requirements for SO2R

• Two complete stations with no interaction between
  them when one is transmitting on one band and the
  other receiving on any other band
• Appropriate SO2R controller
• Good logging software with SO2R capability
• Good station ergonomics
• Good operator skill !

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Myth This is for big guns

• No !
• It may be even more relevant to (and easier for)
  lower power, modest antenna stations
• This presentation considers the full
  implementation of SO2R, but dont forget it works
  well for more modest stations

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A typical SO2R station
Linear (Auto ?)
BPF Auto
Antenna Auto
Tx/Rx
Control of keying, PTT,and audio routing
Paddle
SO2R Controller
Headphones
Microphone foot switch
Control of keying, PTT,and audio routing
BPF Auto
Linear (Auto ?)
Antenna Auto
Tx/Rx
Note 1 Auto tracks the transceiver band 2
Computer interface not shown
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Why auto-switched ?

• Tiredness errors
• A momentary lapse of concentration and the BP
  filter can be blown, or an antenna balun cooked
• Rapid band-switching to chase mults made easier
  if amplifiers are autotune

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Transceiver requirements

• No specific requirements other than good contest
  radios, preferably with second receiver.
  Preferably two identical rigs
• Must have CAT
• If wide antenna spacing is possible, good phase
  noise performance is particularly important to be
  able to use in-band SO2R

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Linear amplifier requirements

• Ideally auto-tune (but not essential)
• Quiet (there will be two running !)
• Does not trip when a second strong signal is
  close by (or stubs will be needed). Solid state
  amplifiers can sometimes be touchy here

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Antennas

• A wide set of options
• One good antenna per band is the simplest
• Alternatively, two triband yagis (or one yagi and
  a vertical), and one antenna per band for LF
• Even just two multi-band verticals suitably
  spaced
• Care needed to handle antenna switching home
  built box or commercial unit (e.g. Array
  Solutions six-pack but does not easily support
  tribanders)
• Above all, think about the combination of
  antennas that you will need (and can implement !)
  and how you want them switched

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G3BJs antenna solution

• Two feeders to the antenna field.
• One complete set of antennas (not all
  mono-banders) on each feeder, remotely selected
• Band data, decoded from both FT1000MPs, drives
  the selection of Dunestar BP filter and antenna
• A/B switch allows reversal of antenna banks
  between the transceivers (band data moves at the
  same time)
• Home-brew antenna switch (in hermetically sealed
  box) one commercial switch UTP control lines

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G3BJ Antennas

• Bank A
• 10-40m yagi
• 80m dipole
• 160m dipole

• Bank B
• SteppIR (6-20)
• Titanex V160HD (40-160m 87ft vertical)
• Butternut HF6V

K9AY and beverage receive antennas to each
transceiver Bank A and bank B fed to the
transceivers can be reversed
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Receive antennas

• Care needed, as there will be one transmitter
  on-air whilst using the receive antenna(s)
• Ideally either wide separation, or switched BPF
  on the receive antennas
• If close-spaced, protection of active components
  in rx antenna (and transceiver) needed

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SO2R Controller

• Home-brew or commercial
• At a minimum must handle A/B switching linked to
  logging programme, and audio keying routing.
  Building-in Win-Key and DVP is also helpful (but
  not essential can be outboard)
• Simple home-brew design available (although
  removal of LPT1 becoming a problem) mail
  g3bj_at_btinternet.com
• Commercial products include Micro-Ham II/II and
  EZMaster

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(No Transcript)
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(No Transcript)
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EZMaster
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EZMaster plenty of connectivity !
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MicroHam 2R
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Software for SO2R

• Must cater for two-radio operation
• Win-Test, N1MM, SD and Writelog all do this
  some better than others
• Must interface with SO2R controller Most handle
  MicroHam, Wintest handles EZMaster as well.
• If home brew controller, assertion of LPT pins 14
  (rig select), 16 (PTT) and 1/17 (CW) essential

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Picture of logging screen - WT
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Putting it all together

• Check out all interactions
• Is lock-out enabled to prevent same-band transmit
  ?
• For difficult interactions, use ?/4 open stubs
  (take care with multiband antennas !)
• Once the hardware is set up, configure and get
  used to the software switching radios and audio
  levels
• Configure all CW messages dont worry at this
  stage about run and SP differences
• Configure DVP messages

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Typical initial CW messages

• F1 test C/S C/S test
• F2 5nn SER
• F3 tu C/S test
• F4 C/S
• F5 logged call
• F6 nr ?
• F7 ?

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Practical hints

• Never use the paddle on CW !
• Always use auto-CQ
• Turn the monitor off (both SSB and CW)
• Use headphone full latch mode to start with -
  dont use audio blend until you are happy with
  the basic SO2R operation
• Have a good ergonomic layout of equipment
• Beware delayed logging giving band/mode errors

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One SO2R layout (pic)
G3BJ
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K1TTT
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4O3A
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G3SJJ
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Getting proficient ?

• Introduce audio blend (including Win-Test
  advanced features) - next slide
• Move to SO3V ! CQ on Rig 1/VFO1, mult hunting on
  Rig 2, working and mult hunting on Rig 1 VFOs 1
  2 (needs special audio routing management)
• Alternate CQ (when business is slow)

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(No Transcript)
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Getting proficient ?

• Introduce audio blend (including Win-Test
  advanced features)
• Move to SO3V ! CQ on Rig 1/VFO1, mult hunting on
  Rig 2, working and mult hunting on Rig 1 VFOs 1
  2 - next slide
• Alternate CQ (when business is slow)

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SO3V

• CQ
• Listen for replies VFO1
• Send report
• Receive report
• TU QRZ

• Listen on rig 2
• Listen on rig 2 and
• rig 1 VFO2
• Listen on rig 2
• Listen on rig 2 and
• rig 1 VFO2
• Listen on rig 2

Only practicable when conditions are right !
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Getting proficient ?

• Introduce audio blend (including Win-Test
  advanced features)
• Move to SO3V ! CQ on Rig 1/VFO1, mult hunting on
  Rig 2, working and mult hunting on Rig 1 VFOs 1
  2
• Alternate CQ (when business is slow) next slide

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Alternate CQ

• Band 1 tx/rx 1
• CQ
• Listen for replies
• CQ
• Listen for replies
• CQ
• Listen for replies

• Band 2 tx/rx 2
• Listen for replies
• CQ
• Listen for replies
• CQ
• Listen for replies
• CQ

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CT1BOH _at_ P40E
13803  40  K5IID13823  40  RD3R13841 
40  NZ5A13901  40  W1HR13919  40 
RV6LN13944  40  IK4UNH13956  40 
OH4R14009  10  HC8N14018  40 
K4FPF14032  40  S56A14056  40 
VE3EJ14106  40  DJ5MW14115  40 
K3ONW14125  40  K1ZZ
13428  40  K4IE13440  40  W1ZS13510  10 
ZL6QH13526  40  EA4KA13537  40 
DL2TG13556  40  WB2FUE13607  40 
VE3NZ13624  40  K5WAF13635  40 
YT7AA13634  40  DF6MU13717  40 
F5NGA13727  40  OZ1CBW 13741  10 
LQ7D13752  40  EA6IB
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CT1BOH _at_ P40E
13803  40  K5IID13823  40  RD3R13841 
40  NZ5A13901  40  W1HR13919  40 
RV6LN13944  40  IK4UNH13956  40 
OH4R14009  10  HC8N14018  40 
K4FPF14032  40  S56A14056  40 
VE3EJ14106  40  DJ5MW14115  40 
K3ONW14125  40  K1ZZ
13428  40  K4IE13440  40  W1ZS13510  10 
ZL6QH13526  40  EA4KA13537  40 
DL2TG13556  40  WB2FUE13607  40 
VE3NZ13624  40  K5WAF13635  40 
YT7AA13634  40  DF6MU13717  40 
F5NGA13727  40  OZ1CBW 13741  10 
LQ7D13752  40  EA6IB
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Conclusions

• SO2R is a demanding style of operating
• Its success is partly about the hardware and
  software, but mainly about the operator
• Dont expect to construct an SO2R station and
  immediately achieve results. Self-training takes
  time !

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Sources of more information

• k8nd.com
• qsl.net/ct1boh/so2r.htm
• zs6aa.files.wordpress.com
• rttycontesting.com/so2r.htm
• hg6n.hu/ha1ag/so2r/so2r.htm
• gm4aff.net/so2r.htm

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Questions?