Found some time last night to spend at the rig most of the time during the week once things are done for the evening I'm just to tired for hobby time. Seems I found my second wind and I took advantage and flipped the K3 on. I was able to receive Turkey, Guernsey and Newfoundland. My five watts was just not making it. To bad they all would had been new DXCC's for me to add to the count. Booming in on 10m's was HC2AC from Ecuador a country that is already on my DXCC list. I dropped my power down to 1 watts and gave him a call. He came back to me right away with a great report. With one watt it gave me a 3,151 miles per watt contact. As I look back I should have dropped the power to 500mW's or less and moved the power upward to see how little it took to make the contact. Conditions were such that as fast as he was booming in HC2AC was down at the noise level and then gone.
6 comments:
Mike, The HC2AC contact is a great one. Just shows what can be done with very very low power. Pity about the other three, but that's the way it goes with QRP. You win some, you lose some. It's the same with 100 watts. If there's a DX station on and he has a pile-up, it can be tough going even with 100 watts. Hopefully conditions are on the up!
Hello Mike,
I found a nice opening on 15 meters into South America a few days ago. Sorry I missed this 10 meter opening. Sure wish I could orient my dipole east-west since I heard Tel Aviv. He just couldn't copy my call correctly with 10 watts.
I really loved Ecuador when I was there a few years ago. I admire the resourcefulness of the Incan culture. They're wonderful people...
Good afternoon Anthony, that is the challenge I like with QRP no DX QSO can really be a guarantee. Thursday evening was much better with regards to DX contacts.
Hello John, it's funny about the openings it sometimes a matter of being in the right place at the right time. I was on 17m last night and Israel was booming in. Now 17 meters I can get my K3 tuner to tune my dipole on that band. The SWR after the tuner is about 9.9!! Im thinking lots of my QRP power will be used up in heat. I gave him a go (4Z5MU) and I had to repeat twice but the contact was made.
Hello Mike, it's easy to forget that you work with indoor antennas. It's incredible hat you do with such low power. 73, Bas
Good evening Bas, I will say I continue to shock myself with the attic dipole in combo with the Elecraft K3. You gotta love this hobby eh!!
Post a Comment