Single Operator 2 Radio (aka SO2R) is an operating technique that when done properly, can add many extra QSOs 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 QSOs 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 QSOs 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 receivers 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 receivers 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. 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
Backslash ( \ ) - Once you have launched your second Entry Window, the \ key will likely be your most widely used key in SO2R. The \ key will move RX focus between Entry Window A & B (often referred to as Radio 1 & Radio 2 respectively). When using the \ key to control RX focus, you really don't have to worry where TX focus is. By using the \ key to control only RX focus, when you hit a Fn key or Enter (using ESM), the TX focus will move to where the RX focus is, and send the corresponding message.
Example: You are CQing on Radio 1, and S&Ping on Radio 2. Both RX and TX focus start off in your Run Entry Window (Radio 1 in this example). You are S&Ping on Radio 2, and you hear someone on the S&P radio you want to look up in your Check Window. Hit the \ key to move RX focus to the S&P Entry Window. You type in the call, and you need it, and are just waiting for a good time to send your call. If no one is answering your CQ on the Run Radio, just hit the Enter Key (assuming you are using ESM), and the TX focus will move from the Run Radio to the S&P radio (Radio 2), and send your callsign (actually the first ESM message in the S&P sequence). Assume that station comes back to you, and you copy his exchange. Hit Enter again to send your exchange, and you just made a S&P QSO. Now move the RX focus with the \ key to the Run radio, or just leave it in the S&P Entry Window if S&P is proving more fruitful at the moment.
Now let's assume in the middle of the S&P QSO, someone answers your CQ on Radio 1. Your exchange just happens to be sending on the S&P radio. To copy the call on the Run Radio (while your exchange is being sent on the S&P radio), hit the \ key to move RX focus to the Run Radio, and type his call in the Run Entry Window. Assuming your exchange is finished sending on Radio 2, just hit Enter again, and the TX focus will move back to the Run Radio, and the program will send his call and your exchange on the Run Radio. You now have QSOs going on both radios! Just move RX focus as needed to send/copy on what ever radio you need.
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Note: In the above examples, you never have to control where TX focus is, since TX focus always moves automatically to where the RX focus is when Fn or Enter (ESM) is used. This should be your standard operating mode, as you only need to worry about using a single key to do most of your navigation between the two Entry Windows. |
Ctrl+Enter, or Ctrl+Fn - Using these commands will send the corresponding message on the alternate radio; with the alternate radio defined as the radio that does not have RX focus. Using Ctrl+Fn (or Ctrl+Enter) will only move the TX focus to send the message - RX focus will stay in it's current location. Once the message is sent, TX focus will remain on the alternate radio. This is done by design.
The most common scenario would be if you are CQing on Radio 1, but you are not getting callers. You hit the \ key to copy a callsign on the S&P radio. Without moving the RX focus from the S&P radio, at some point you will probably want to send another CQ on the Run Radio. You do this by hitting Ctrl-F1 or Ctrl-Enter. You will also likely use these commands if you have a QSO in progress at the same time on both the Run and S&P radio. The easiest way to send a message at the right time on the other radio is to use these commands, and leave RX focus where it is.
Pause Key - If both TX and RX focus are in the same Entry Window, hitting Pause will move both TX and RX focus to the other radio. If TX and RX focus are split between the Entry Windows, the pause key will move TX focus to where RX focus is. Mostly you will use this key in order to get your foci back in sync.
Ctrl+Right Arrow and Ctrl+Left Arrow - These commands will force both TX and RX focus to the right or left radio.
Ctrl+B: Dueling CQ's. This feature was initially coded, but is not working correctly at this time. You may be able to send alternate CQs on each radio, but there are many aspects of this feature which are not finished yet.
Requested Dueling CQ Features:
Setting up SO2R and SO2V starts in the Config menu:
| Then if SO2V:
| Then if SO2R: |
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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.
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.
N1MM Logger is compatible with most hardware SO2R controllers like the Top Ten Devices "DX Doubler", the Array Solutions (aka WX0B) "SO2R Master". These products will automatically control keying, PTT and audio lines to each radio. New prodcuts like the microHAM MK2R can be fully controlled via USB but also via LPT port (legacy).
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. All products use the same pin-outs on the LPT port.
DX Doubler and SO2R Master have 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 DX Doubler modifications. |
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.
| Operation Mode | Jumper 1 | Jumper 2 | Jumper 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | 1-2 | 4-5 | 8-9 |
| Stereo | 1-2 | 5-6 | 8-9 |
The Normal Mode are the CT/TR/WriteLog settings in the manual. N1MM uses the same convention as CT/TR/WriteLog, but the DXD manual does not reflect this.
The STEREO mode is for use with the Top Ten Devices DX Doubler. It will probably work with other SO2R controllers which use pin 5 on the LPT port to switch audio between radios.
The Stereo Mode was fashioned after the NA Stereo feature, i.e. use a keyboard command to toggle from the run station's audio in both ears, to one radio in the left ear and other radio in the right ear. The Stereo feature toggles pin 5 alternately high and low on the LPT port.
To use the STEREO feature with the DX Doubler, the DXD should be configured for CT/TR/Writelog with the exception of JUMPER 2. Move JUMPER 2 from PINS 4-5 to PINS 5-6. This puts the control signal from LPT-pin 5 into the logic in the DXD. Now, with the DXD AUDIO control switch set to "Auto", the tilde key (actually it's an unshifted tilde, or simply the ` key) will toggle the STEREO mode on and off.
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Note:
With the DXD Audio switch in PTT mode, the stereo capability is
disabled and the DXD operates normally in the PTT mode.
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Stereo "ON" will split the audio: Radio-A/left ear, Radio-B/right ear. Stereo "OFF" means full audio from the RUN radio in both ears.
| TILDE Toggle | DXD Audio Mode |
Run Radio | S&P Radio |
| "NA" mode OFF | AUTO | Both
Ears | Both
Ears |
| "NA" mode ON | AUTO |
Left Ear |
Right Ear |
| Auto/PTT OFF | PTT |
Left Ear |
Right Ear |
| Auto/PTT ON | PTT | Both
Ears | Both
Ears |
N1MM further refined the
STEREO feature by building the following macros so you can automate the
process:
{STEREOON} {END} {STEREOOFF}
These macros are included in the function keys (Message Buttons) to
switch the audio automatically according to the operator's preference.
(refer to Macros Definitions, section 36.1.1) If Stereo Macros
are used, you can momentarily toggle the Stereo state using the tilde
key if needed. Once a Fn message is sent that includes a macro, the
Stereo feature will go back to it's programmed state.
Example for F1 - CQ Message Button : {STEREOON} CQ TEST * * TEST {END} {STEREOOFF}
In addition to enabling NA-style stereo operation, DXD users have another option, that of using the tilde key or the {STEREOON/OFF} macros to switch between the DXD's Auto and PTT modes. This requires a simple hardware modification, described below.
Normally, the only way to put both ears on the non-transmitting radio (for aggressive S&P) is to manually switch the DXD from Auto to PTT position. But this means you must take your hand off the keyboard. The DXD can be modified so Auto/PTT operation is switched from the keyboard, with a small mod inside the DXD:
With this modification, the {STEREOON} macro really functions as {AUTOON}, while the {STEREOOFF} macro will switch the DXD to PTT mode.
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Two channels heard |
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Normal one-radio setup |
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External switching required for SO2R |
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External switching required for SSB SO2R |
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$5 SO2R |
Two sound card SO2R or $5 SO2R is a cheap way to get into SO2R. The only extra device needed to your computer is an extra $5 soundcard and some cables to the radios. Serious competitors should probably use a hardware device that can insure lockout.
One
radio and one sound card to play wav files and record new messages and
mute the microphone when playing wav files.
Select '1 -
Single Card - One radio, No Sound Card SO2R' on the 'Audio' tab and
setup the top part of this dialog.
The sound is centered
rather than set to a radio channel.
Not
SO2R but two radios and one sound card to play wav files and record
both radios.
Select '2 - Single Card - Two radio, No Sound
Card SO2R' on the 'Audio' tab and setup the top part of this dialog.
In order to use SO2R with one sound card, CW only, you'll need to define your radios as SO2R in the Hardware tab and select '3 - Single Card - Two radio, Sound Card SO2R, CW Only' on the 'Audio' tab. Setup the top and bottom parts of this dialog.
SO2R
with one sound card. The drawback here is that no switching of the
phones is done.
Note that you will have to wire a cable to
the cd or aux input of a sound card in order to make use of this
feature.
This is an example how to set up the configurer. Note that the top part should not matter. For #3, we are interested in the bottom frame.
This picture shows the mixer for my sound card (windows default mixer). The mute buttons and the balance sliders will change while CQing, then back after the message is over.
Kudos to David, K1TTT for coding all the
interfaces necessary to allow SO2R with two cheap sound cards. Check
the pictures below and see how easy it all is. K1TTT also designed the
switching rules and wiring.
Note that you will have to wire a
cable to the cd or aux input of a sound card in order to make use of
this feature.
In order to use SO2R with two sound cards,
you'll need to define your radios as SO2R in the Hardware tab and
select '4 - Dual Cards - Two radio, Sound Card SO2R' on the 'Audio'
tab. Setup the top and bottom parts of this dialog.
CW - Yes, it will work for CW as well. The CW is not shown since you already have solutions for that. You can use separate serial, parallel or USB ports to separate the CW. You can use radio or Serial/Parallel/USB port PTT to two rigs. If you want to, you can use pin 14 and a relay to switch, but that is not necessary. The headphones work the same for either mode.
RTTY - We have not discussed the implications for RTTY yet.
Two Sound Card SO2R - SO2R State Table
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NC - no change, whatever user has set
Note 1 - could use dual on non-CQ-ing radio while cq is playing on the other one, but would have to switch off when cq stops to get back to just main for full stereo. This would mean having some way to save the dual setting for the non-cq radio and switching it on/off for each cq. Maybe useful for times when doing dueling cq on combinations like 20 and 40m where you wanted to listen on both vfo's on 40m. This is the case I would probably prohibit and always force dual off on both radios for full auto. Or if dual was on prohibit full auto and force one rig auto instead.
| Advanced SO2R rule 1 | Tuning either VFO/Radio will result in the RX focus moving to that VFO/Radio if, and only if, both entry windows have empty call fields. |
| Advanced SO2R rule 2 | RX focus is moved to the Run/TX radio when it finishes sending CQ (or Fn) message, UNLESS there is text entered in the S&P Entry Window. |
| FOCUS ANTI-BOUNCE (FaB) | After CQ (or Fn) has been sent on the Run Radio and RX focus has moved to that radio, don't let tuning of S&P radio grab RX focus until 1000 ms has passed. |
Let's say that someone just answered your CQ on the Run radio (of course Advanced SO2R has already moved RX focus there from the S&P radio) and you have entered a callsign in the Run Entry Window. As you tune the S&P radio while you are working the guy on the Run Radio, RX focus will stay on the Run Entry Window. It's assumed that you will not want RX focus moved to the S&P radio during the middle of a Run QSO. After you log the Run QSO, and you continue to tune the S&P radio, RX focus will again move to the S&P radio if there's nothing in the Run Entry Window.
Focus anti-Bounce (FaB): was created for the serious SO2R op who's got both right and left audio listening to the S&P radio while transmitting on the Run Radio. Let's say you are CQing on the Run Radio, and tuning on the S&P radio. Many SO2R ops will not be listening to the Run radio CQ sidetone, and will only be listening to the S&P radio. If you are still tuning the S&P radio when the CQ just finished, FaB will keep RX focus on the Run radio for 1000 ms. This brief delay will let you stop tuning the S&P radio, so RX focus stays on the Run Radio. If FaB wasn't there, and you didn't realize that the CQ was over, RX focus would bounce to the Run Radio at the end of a CQ, and then bounce back to the S&P radio since you are still QSYing. Thus if someone answered your CQ, you would often type that callsign in the S&P radio/entry window!
| ON/OFF Macro | You can turn on/off Advanced SO2R by using macros in CW/SSB key buttons: {ADVSO2RON} {ADVSO2ROFF} |
| ON/OFF Shortcut | Turn on/off Advanced SO2R with Ctrl+Shift+I |
| RX FOCUS CONTROL (Override): | The backslash key (\) will always move RX focus to the "opposite" vfo/radio and stays there until another action/state takes RX focus control (in case RX focus ends up where you don't want it) |
| Adjustable delay | Advanced SO2R now has an adjustable delay set via CTRL+SHIFT+N |
| FocusOther | Another method of focus control set via Ctrl+Shift+K |
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Focus stays where it was (VFO A) | ||||
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Focus stays where it was (VFO B) | ||||
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 screen above was taken by K2KW from a 17" screen.
The screen shot above was taken by F6IRF and gives an example of a SO2R screen for RTTY.