Leveraging the Art of Dual-Receive: Yet Another LooK

Over the last (approx.) 5 years, I have been playing around with nearly a dozen different
combinations of switches and filters in conjunction with the (20 yr. old) Yaesu FT-1000mp. 
After a recent station revamp of the WQ6X setup in Concord, I was prompted to take yet another
look at the ideas being tried out @W7AYT; some of them have worked admirably, while others have Bombed HORRIBLY.

While it all began with the original article, a dozen different Blogs were eventually added
showcasing the Dual-Receive capabilities being exploited to improve WQ6X operations from
the SF East Bay.  A bibliography of the related Blog entries appears at the end of this Blog entry.  Those Blog entries represent the various combinations of external audio filters I have been combining in various combinations over the last 8 years.

Although the Yaesu FT-1000mp is over 20 years old, it has been my choice for leveraging the most efficient radiosport operations from the San Francisco East Bay; however NoT without the addition
of an array of switch boxes and external audio filters.  Because I love to knob-twiddle, external filters offer up plenty of adjustments for tailoring reception during the different radiosport
events I play around in nearly every weekend.

While I could produce a hand-drawn block diagram to document the different

hookups, sometimes a picture conglomerate can accomplish the same thing.

Currently, the Main-RX runs through an Autek QF-1A into an MFJ-784 DSP Unit. 

Additionally, the Sub-RX runs through an Autek QF-1A into a JPS NIR-12 DSP unit.

The output of BOTH units is run through an inexpensive Rockville Line Mixer.
The Rockville mixer can accommodate four "stereo" devices, allowing
the operator to "blend" any combination of the following devices:

1. CH-1 - Audio from the ICOM-7000
2. CH-2 - Audio from the Elecraft K3/0 (for NX6T remote)
3. CH-3 - Audio from the FT-1000mp without any filtering.
4. CH-4 - Audio from the FT-1000mp via the DSP filters.

Output from the Rockville mixer box is routed thru a 4-device stereo audio switch,
sending the audio to either Wireless headphones or powered stereo speakers.
Having a pair of unused outputs on the switch box enables the possibility of
routing audio thru a pair of wired headphones or a different speaker system.

Prior to the introduction of the Autek QF-1A audio filters, I utilized a pair of MFJ-752B & MFJ-752C filters.  While operationally the Autek & MFJ units are similar, the efficacy of the QF-1A completely surpasses the MFJ units.  Then again, MFJ-784 DSP unit outperforms the NIR-12 in most cases.

The WQ6X Contest Blog contains a number of BLOGs on the subject of external audio processing, including:

• [x] - LEARNING the ART of LEVERAGING DUAL RECEIVE
• [x] - The DR. Validates Cascading Filters
• [x] - WQ6X SOUND PROCESSING: Stereo-CW - it's EASIER than You Think
• [x] - Some Further Thoughts regarding Stereo CW
• [x] - WQ6X SOUND PROCESSING: SOUNDING OFF about SOUND
• [x] - WQ6X SOUND PROCESSING: Maximizing the Art of Experimentation
• [x] - Analog or Digital Audio - Which should we choose?
• [x] - Q-Filtering for Fun and Profit
• [x] - Q-Filtering for Fun and Profit - Part 2: What I've Learned So Far
• [x] - Q-Filtering for Fun and Profit - Part 3: The Journey Continues
• [x] - Learning to PLAY in 2020

Do YOU make use of external filters and switches?

Tell me about YOUR results.