[GreenKeys] Scope vs Lavoris

[Eugene Hertz]

>IMHO, the scope is the biggest "Tennessee Go-Fast" device in the RTTY shack until you know what you're looking at. The meter on the ST-5's and -6's, the IRL and the Flesher TU-170 is/was more than sufficient for users with Beginning through Intermediate skill levels. I only have one now because the ST-6000 already had it installed. It tells me little that my ears don't. 
> 
>If you can't identify 170 vs 850 shift, or discern the distinct sound of a lime of RY's (or 46's, if your USOS is OFF) or make an educated guess that a particular group of sounds is a QBF tape, then your scope is just warming the air up in your shack. 
> 
>Once you CAN do the above, the scope can be useful. 
> 
>Just my opinion from 36 years of FSK, on the ham bands and afloat... 
> 

Well, perhaps once I've had so many years of FSK under my belt, I too won't need a scope. But with less than 5 years, I can tell you for me it is very helpful. I can tune in a signal in about 1-2 seconds (especially now that I have marked axiis on my scope to correspond to the tuning of the ST6).  No way I can do that by measuring the points on my VFO at which the print drops off, then split the difference.  

I also use a panadaptor. Another very useful addition to the shack--although certainly many can agree that they too don't tell you anything a well-trained ear cannot hear. I guess visual aids help me. 

Thanks to everyone with the advice and explanations of this stuff.
Eugene