K2 and DX

[Gary D Krause]

This weekend was fantastic for DX.  15 and 17 meters were open most of the day
at my location in Wyoming.  I worked a Japanese station on ten watts with my
K2.  He asked me to repeat my power level three times.  Apparently, he
couldn't believe I was only running 10 watts CW.  Of course the propagation
had a lot to do with it.  Then there is my antenna...a home-brewed,
non-resonant, multi band vertical.  Okay, maybe the vertical didn't have a lot
to do with it but, who cares.  I also worked the Canary Islands on the same
ten watts.  So, I figure it is a combination of propagation and K2 mojo.  This
weekend felt like the peak of a sunspot cycle rather than the bottom.

I also heard France and Germany.  DX isn't as easy to come by here in the
middle of the country.  I hear hams on the eastern seaboard working DX like
it's next door.

Gary, N7HTS



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[jeff martin-6]

And grayline prop Saturday and Sunday, 30 and 40 meters was great too...
Worked S58N, Mike on 30M CW and 40 SSB (first call!) both on my lil K2...
Gotta love it!

Jeff
N7KRT


--- On Mon, 11/16/09, Gary D Krause <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: Gary D Krause <[hidden email]>
> Subject: [Elecraft] K2 and DX
> To: "Elecraft" <[hidden email]>
> Date: Monday, November 16, 2009, 8:27 AM
> This weekend was fantastic for
> DX.  15 and 17 meters were open most of the day
> at my location in Wyoming.  I worked a Japanese
> station on ten watts with my
> K2.  He asked me to repeat my power level three
> times.  Apparently, he
> couldn't believe I was only running 10 watts CW.  Of
> course the propagation
> had a lot to do with it.  Then there is my antenna...a
> home-brewed,
> non-resonant, multi band vertical.  Okay, maybe the
> vertical didn't have a lot
> to do with it but, who cares.  I also worked the
> Canary Islands on the same
> ten watts.  So, I figure it is a combination of
> propagation and K2 mojo.  This
> weekend felt like the peak of a sunspot cycle rather than
> the bottom.
>
> I also heard France and Germany.  DX isn't as easy to
> come by here in the
> middle of the country.  I hear hams on the eastern
> seaboard working DX like
> it's next door.
>
> Gary, N7HTS
>
>
>
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>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

     
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[Ken Alexander-2]

Hi Gary,

I wouldn't sell your vertical short.  When I have time to get into the contests I've always use a vertical and find that the farther away the station is the easier it is (most times) to break the pileup when I use a vertical.  The low angle radiation advantage is noticeable.

My best, most exciting contact was with Seychelles in CQ Worldwide on 20m a few years ago.  I was using my KX1 at the time, running about 3 watts into a vertical.  He gave me 559.  I think the other trick was to re-visit 20m after everyone else had abandoned it for 40m in the afternoon.  He was sitting there, calling and calling.  I couldn't believe my luck.

I'll be in CQWW later this month with a 20m elevated vertical with four 5 ft radials!

73,

Ken Alexander
VE3HLS

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