Dave Edwards KD2E wrote:
I had my novice just before VFOs were allowed.
I had a question about their use.
They all seem to have an RF output, and a keying jack.
So, did you have to run two wires from your bug/key/keyer
.....one to key the rig, and one to key the VFO??
I'm thinking either that, or you ran a wire from one
of the accessory contacts of your dowkey to
the keying jack of the VFO. This would keep the VFO on
during transmit mode.
Just wondering what was typical.

Looking at the Heath HG-10 VFO (mates with the DX-60,
DX-40, DX-20, etc.), they provided a key jack
on the back of the VFO.

The VFO itself is wired to the keying line of the rig,
with different circuits in the VFO for either cathode keyed,
or grid block keyed rigs. A spot switch on the VFO
allows VFO spotting without transmitting.

If the VFO doesn't suffer from chirp, you can key it
at the same time as the rig, resulting in full break-in (QSK)
operation using a separate receiver antenna,
or perhaps an electronic TR switch. Only chirpy VFO's
must be left oscillating all the time, which causes a back-wave
(tone heard during key-up) if you are transmitting
on the same frequency as you are receiving.

Since the VFO output frequency is multiplied
in the associated novice class transmitter, chirp becomes
more of a problem on the higher frequency bands.

73,
Ed K4PF