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Author Topic: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII  (Read 318 times)

ZL1BBW

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #15 on: October 04, 2022, 03:15:32 PM »

Why is it important to zero beat?
So the two (or more) stations are on the SAME frequency. 
I have a kenwood 590 and it's delightfully good at rapid zero beating.  There is nothing more impressive then seeing a number of stations QSO all within a few hz of each other.  Really makes it ez to listen to as my filters are pretty steep.

Please, PLEASE don't try on purpose to be exactly on the same frequency as OTHER stations that are CALLING someone !!!  Is this meant to be a joke??  Really??

Anyone that has ever been DX, or has activated a WWFF / POTA park on CW (and that is now hundreds of people every week!) will tell you they do NOT want two stations on the same frequency calling them.  That just turns into one solid tone.  Being at least 50 Hz off the CWing station is much better than using that evil DSP function on newer radios that matches their freq exactly.  70 or 100 Hz off is even better.

I can't count how many times I have been at a park this summer and had to just listen to 2 or 3 signals exactly zerobeat that turned into one long tone, what a waste of time, theirs and mine.  Then if I get one or two letters clear at the end of the mess and I ask for that partial call, both (or more) call again, OK, I won't even start on THAT rant.  THAT bad practice is becoming very prevalent, but that's another topic.

So please don't use the Zerobeat function on DX or park stations with a chance of more than one station calling, please.  That is NOT a joy to listen to....

Glenn AE0Q

Its annoying when someone does zero beat with and just keeps on calling.

I find most stations spread a little up the band by 200 - 700Hz,  then you get the real slick op, he comes at 100Hz down, stands out on the scope like everest.
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ex MN Radio Officer, Portishead Radio GKA, BT Radio Amateur Morse Tester.  Licensed as G3YCP ZL1DAB, now taken over my father (sk) call as ZL1BBW.

N6YWU

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #16 on: October 04, 2022, 03:21:21 PM »

The sidetone frequency should be the same as the offset.  Turn off the break in, hit the key so you hear the sidetone but don't transmit, and match it to the CW stations tone.

Before I started developing SDR software, I used to a lot of guitar tuning apps.  Why?  Because a lot people, even those learning to play a musical instrument, need a bit of help matching tones accurately.  If you're one of those, you can use a musical strobe tuner (box or app) next to your radio.  Set your side tone to a musical pitch (E5 is a common one), and then use the stroboscopic tuner to help you zero beat the CW signal. 

With some SDRs, one can line up a CW signal on the spectrum or waterfall with a marker on the display to zero beat (or offset to a sparse hole if there seems to be a pile-up).
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AE0Q

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Re: Zero Beating an IC-756ProII
« Reply #17 on: October 04, 2022, 06:41:27 PM »

Naw, it's completely benign- sort of like a modern "magic eye" tuning tube, but with a meter instead.
It's not "benign" when 3 people use it at the same time :-)
No emissions, just a tuning indicator. What's the harm, unless someone tunes to deliberately QRM a QSO?

I didn't mean they were keying the radio to tune in, I meant all calling at the same time, sending their calls, dead zerobeat :-(  It's horrible...
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