Elecraft

Field day radio

Classic

List

Threaded

11 messages Options

Elecraft mailing list

Field day radio

Time is coming for field day. I operate as a one op, solar power usually from a not very populated state. Last year it was Wyoming, this year maybe in VE land some place.

Lets get to radios. Last year it was one of my K3s and I did well. I try to run 5watts for the multiplier, but if conditions are bad I'll use 100 watts and take the lower multiplier and shorter battery life

This year I am fortunate to have a KX3 and KXPA100, but I also have a Ten-Tec Argo Vl and the 418 amp. If any of you guys have both,which combo would you take,
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Elecraft mailing list

Re: Field day radio

Stupide me. I sent the email before I signed it!!!!!!!

George, W6GF
On Thursday, April 24, 2014 9:25 AM, george fritkin <[hidden email]> wrote:

Time is coming for field day. I operate as a one op, solar power usually from a not very populated state. Last year it was Wyoming, this year maybe in VE land some place.

Lets get to radios. Last year it was one of my K3s and I did well. I try to run 5watts for the multiplier, but if conditions are bad I'll use 100 watts and take the lower multiplier and shorter battery life

This year I am fortunate to have a KX3 and KXPA100, but I also have a Ten-Tec Argo Vl and the 418 amp. If any of you guys have both,which combo would you take,
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

KV5J

Re: Field day radio

You're asking that question in an Elecraft group? Why bother?

Keith, XE3/K5ENS

Jim Brown-10

Re: Field day radio

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

On 4/24/2014 9:25 AM, george fritkin via Elecraft wrote:
> If any of you guys have both,which combo would you take

The last two Field Days I've been part of a group that runs either 1A
battery or 2A battery from solar power, and we run 5W. Although there
are several KX3s in the group, we choose to run K3s so we can use P3s.
The K3s need a bit more current than the KX3s, so if you're pinched for
solar power, the KX3 would be the better choice. Also, I'm a member of a
big contesting club, and several of our members report that the KX3
performs quite well in a contesting environment.

One important caveat though -- don't even think of running SSB QRP on
Field Day. We learned that the hard way last year. We could run rates of
70 Qs per hour on CW, but were lucky to do 5 an hour on SSB.

73, Jim K9YC

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Milt -- N5IA

Re: Field day radio

Everything with a grain of salt. As in all Ham operations, it is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

The the station, and 3rd, the operators. And oh yeah; propagation.

In the past we have run QRP with K2 transceivers and solar power, and set a national record in our class. See the 2005 score line at http://www.eaars.org/fd7qpstats.pdf and photos at http://www.eaars.org/05fieldday.html

SSB was an integral part of the operation with one K2. That position made 822 Qs.

CW ops had two positions, and made a total of 1,193 Qs.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Brown
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2014 10:36 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Field day radio

CUT

One important caveat though -- don't even think of running SSB QRP on
Field Day. We learned that the hard way last year. We could run rates of
70 Qs per hour on CW, but were lucky to do 5 an hour on SSB.

73, Jim K9YC

-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2014.0.4570 / Virus Database: 3920/7389 - Release Date: 04/24/14
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Frank Precissi

Re: Field day radio

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

This field day myself and a friend are loading my K3/P3 in the truck and
going up to the high desert in way northern-california. We plan on running
1A on battery/generator.

Any helpful K3 protips for field day would be appreciated. :) This thread
makes me want to make a list of stations running K3's for FD so I can give
a shout-out to my fellow Elecraft brethren if we QSO.

Frank
KG6EYC

On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 10:36 AM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]>wrote:

> On 4/24/2014 9:25 AM, george fritkin via Elecraft wrote:
>
>> If any of you guys have both,which combo would you take
>>
>
> The last two Field Days I've been part of a group that runs either 1A
> battery or 2A battery from solar power, and we run 5W. Although there are
> several KX3s in the group, we choose to run K3s so we can use P3s. The K3s
> need a bit more current than the KX3s, so if you're pinched for solar
> power, the KX3 would be the better choice. Also, I'm a member of a big
> contesting club, and several of our members report that the KX3 performs
> quite well in a contesting environment.
>
> One important caveat though -- don't even think of running SSB QRP on
> Field Day. We learned that the hard way last year. We could run rates of 70
> Qs per hour on CW, but were lucky to do 5 an hour on SSB.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Elecraft mailing list

Re: Field day radio

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

All great tips so far. I know this is an Elecraft group, "but can we all get along". Both have merits

Keep the suggestions coming.

As I said last year I was in some obscure county in Wyoming. I was like a DX station in a pile up.

George, W6GF

Thanks for the info
On Thursday, April 24, 2014 10:47 AM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote:

On 4/24/2014 9:25 AM, george fritkin via Elecraft wrote:
> If any of you guys have both,which combo would you take

The last two Field Days I've been part of a group that runs either 1A
battery or 2A battery from solar power, and we run 5W. Although there
are several KX3s in the group, we choose to run K3s so we can use P3s.
The K3s need a bit more current than the KX3s, so if you're pinched for
solar power, the KX3 would be the better choice. Also, I'm a member of a
big contesting club, and several of our members report that the KX3
performs quite well in a contesting environment.

One important caveat though -- don't even think of running SSB QRP on
Field Day. We learned that the hard way last year. We could run rates of
70 Qs per hour on CW, but were lucky to do 5 an hour on SSB.

73, Jim K9YC

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Jim Low man

Re: Field day radio

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

Well, count me (us) as biased. For the past few years, the Zuni Loop
QRP Field Day has been an almost-exclusively Elecraft event.
Most stations use a K2, and one operator brought his K3. Last year, Cam
received his KX3 just in time to bring it and put it through its paces.
I expect that we'll see more KX3s this year.

BTW, this will be the 30th anniversary of the Zuni Loop Mountain
Expeditionary Force Field Day, from 7,000' in the San Gabriel Mountains
of southern California.
In honor of the anniversary, I secured the special event callsign K6Z.
Hope everyone will look for us when the time comes.

72/73 de Jim - AD6CW

On 4/24/2014 9:25 AM, george fritkin via Elecraft wrote:
> Time is coming for field day. I operate as a one op, solar power usually from a not very populated state. Last year it was Wyoming, this year maybe in VE land some place.
>
> Lets get to radios. Last year it was one of my K3s and I did well. I try to run 5watts for the multiplier, but if conditions are bad I'll use 100 watts and take the lower multiplier and shorter battery life
>
> This year I am fortunate to have a KX3 and KXPA100, but I also have a Ten-Tec Argo Vl and the 418 amp. If any of you guys have both,which combo would you take,
>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Jim N4KH

Re: Field day radio

In reply to this post by Frank Precissi

The two tips I might offer are: (1) lockout all the bands you won't be using
with the BND MAP function. The WARC bands as a minimum. Just makes it nicer
when QSYing from one band to another. (2) Load the K3 utility and your
field day config file on the computer you will be using. Just in case
something really goes south and you need to recover rig settings quickly.

We will be using my K3/P3 at K4BFT/4 FD (Huntsville AL Amateur Radio Club)
again this year on 40/15CW. We were fortunate to win class 4A last year.

GL & 73,
Jim, N4KH

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Frank
Precissi
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2014 1:37 PM
To: Elecraft Group
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Field day radio

This field day myself and a friend are loading my K3/P3 in the truck and
going up to the high desert in way northern-california. We plan on running
1A on battery/generator.

Any helpful K3 protips for field day would be appreciated. :) This thread
makes me want to make a list of stations running K3's for FD so I can give a
shout-out to my fellow Elecraft brethren if we QSO.

Frank
KG6EYC

On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 10:36 AM, Jim Brown
<[hidden email]>wrote:

> On 4/24/2014 9:25 AM, george fritkin via Elecraft wrote:
>
>> If any of you guys have both,which combo would you take
>>
>
> The last two Field Days I've been part of a group that runs either 1A
> battery or 2A battery from solar power, and we run 5W. Although there
> are several KX3s in the group, we choose to run K3s so we can use P3s.
> The K3s need a bit more current than the KX3s, so if you're pinched
> for solar power, the KX3 would be the better choice. Also, I'm a
> member of a big contesting club, and several of our members report
> that the KX3 performs quite well in a contesting environment.
>
> One important caveat though -- don't even think of running SSB QRP on
> Field Day. We learned that the hard way last year. We could run rates
> of 70 Qs per hour on CW, but were lucky to do 5 an hour on SSB.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email
> list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to
> [hidden email]
>

--
CW: NAQCC #6554 | SKCC #10435 | FISTS #16155 | SOC #1038 | FPQRP #3186
Digital: FHC #4224 | 30MDG #6370 | DMC #5698
Gear: K3 #7164 | P3 #3134 | KX3 #1787
http://vadept.com
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message
delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Doug Turnbull

[KX3 - K3] KX3 Utility and Kindle Firefox using Fire OS 3.0

In reply to this post by Milt -- N5IA

Dear Elecraft OMs and Yls,
I know this is a bit over the top but is there any chance that the
KX3 and maybe K3 utility programs might eventually be available for the
Kindle OS 3.0 operating system. This is a real stab into futility for which
I beg your forbearance.

There was something to be said for a single dominant operating system
but there you are. People are perverse and technology constantly changes.

Thanks for your time in reading this.

73 Doug EI2CN

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Phil Hystad-3

Re: [KX3 - K3] KX3 Utility and Kindle Firefox using Fire OS 3.0

Doug,

I am not sure about the Kindle but the Mac versions of the utility program should be reasonably easily modified to run on the iPad (or, even the iPhone). Doing it right may involve a design of new views and thus new view controllers and such but all the basic underlying logic may still be usable since it is written in Objective-C or even some parts in C which is the same as the iOS system on iPad.

When the iPad first was released I did this to a program that I had written for Mac OS X and since my Mac OS X version did not use a lot of touch features it was actually fair easy to convert -- of course, this was back in the days of Cocoa Touch when it was still close to Cocoa on OS X. Since the rename to iOS and lots of new features being added, it would probably be a little more work then I faced.

73, phil, K7PEH

On Apr 25, 2014, at 12:07 PM, Doug Turnbull <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Dear Elecraft OMs and Yls,
> I know this is a bit over the top but is there any chance that the
> KX3 and maybe K3 utility programs might eventually be available for the
> Kindle OS 3.0 operating system. This is a real stab into futility for which
> I beg your forbearance.
>
> There was something to be said for a single dominant operating system
> but there you are. People are perverse and technology constantly changes.
>
> Thanks for your time in reading this.
>
> 73 Doug EI2CN
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]