KX3 Setup For Contesting (Thanks for all the help!)

[Aaron Melton]

All,

I received a nearly-overwhelming amount of responses to my email and I
wanted to make sure I follow-up with you all to thank you and let you
know the results of operating in my first contest QRP with the KX3.

Although I failed to mention it in my original email, many of you
correctly assumed that I would be operating SSB.  I'm still not
proficient (and comfortable) enough with CW to go that route yet.  Of
course, digital is just point-and-click. :)

Many suggested using a high quality (or high gain) antenna.  I don't
know if you'd call what I'm using high quality, but it's what I've got
and it seems to get the job done well enough.  You can see my QRZ
profile for more information about it. (It's approximately 250' of wire
in a loop above my house.)

It seemed split right down the middle on whether to use "QRP" in my call
or not.  Ultimately, I decided to go with it: "KK4LOV QRP." I heard
several other stations announce themselves as QRP or portable.  We can
debate if it's right or wrong, but when heard, they ALWAYS received
preference from the station calling CQ contest.

Speaking of being heard, I avoided most pileups where the station
calling CQ even had difficulty keeping up with all the calls.  In the
few instances where I did throw my call in the pile, I paused at least a
second before stating my call.  I suspect the other station rarely heard
my actual call but frequently heard "QRP" unless my signal was being
drowned out by a QRO station.

As far as the KX3 setup was concerned, I received two bits of advice
which really seemed to help.
1. It was suggested I crank the speech compression ALL the way up.  I
had it on 10 (I think) and maxed it out at 30.
2. Adjusted my TX EQ settings: TXEQ1-16, TXEQ2-16, TXEQ3-8, TXEQ8-16.

All this and a lot of patience got me a "clean sweep" on the 13 Colonies
contest running this week -- all on 5 watts SSB. So thanks to everyone
for your help -- I'm sure this will improve my SOTA operations as well!

Aaron
de KK4LOV
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[Barry K3NDM]

Aaron,
Congratulations on a your first contest and the results. Keep at it and you'll discover that you can do quite a creditable job QRP as compared to many QRO operators. It really is just practice and timing.

We did a QRP Field Day last year and took a second place in our category and our score beat out many QRO competitors. We've been at it for a few years. So, you should be able to replicate our results with on the air practice. Chasing DX is a good way to practice. Again, congratulations.

Vy 73,
Barry
K3NDM




----- Original Message -----
From: "Aaron Melton" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email], [hidden email]
Sent: Saturday, July 6, 2013 5:36:08 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 Setup For Contesting (Thanks for all the help!)

All,

I received a nearly-overwhelming amount of responses to my email and I
wanted to make sure I follow-up with you all to thank you and let you
know the results of operating in my first contest QRP with the KX3.

Although I failed to mention it in my original email, many of you
correctly assumed that I would be operating SSB. I'm still not
proficient (and comfortable) enough with CW to go that route yet. Of
course, digital is just point-and-click. :)

Many suggested using a high quality (or high gain) antenna. I don't
know if you'd call what I'm using high quality, but it's what I've got
and it seems to get the job done well enough. You can see my QRZ
profile for more information about it. (It's approximately 250' of wire
in a loop above my house.)

It seemed split right down the middle on whether to use "QRP" in my call
or not. Ultimately, I decided to go with it: "KK4LOV QRP." I heard
several other stations announce themselves as QRP or portable. We can
debate if it's right or wrong, but when heard, they ALWAYS received
preference from the station calling CQ contest.

Speaking of being heard, I avoided most pileups where the station
calling CQ even had difficulty keeping up with all the calls. In the
few instances where I did throw my call in the pile, I paused at least a
second before stating my call. I suspect the other station rarely heard
my actual call but frequently heard "QRP" unless my signal was being
drowned out by a QRO station.

As far as the KX3 setup was concerned, I received two bits of advice
which really seemed to help.
1. It was suggested I crank the speech compression ALL the way up. I
had it on 10 (I think) and maxed it out at 30.
2. Adjusted my TX EQ settings: TXEQ1-16, TXEQ2-16, TXEQ3-8, TXEQ8-16.

All this and a lot of patience got me a "clean sweep" on the 13 Colonies
contest running this week -- all on 5 watts SSB. So thanks to everyone
for your help -- I'm sure this will improve my SOTA operations as well!

Aaron
de KK4LOV
______________________________________________________________
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Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft 
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm 
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html 
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[Fred Smith-2]

Aaron

Good job on the contest what more could ask for, well other than a
mono-bander at 100' 8>). Some of the time you can get an idea by listening
to the op if he might take the time to work you. If he is going machine gun
style with canned CQ and only the numbers I don't even waste my time as I
could care less about score. All that I do is search and pounce on ones I
need. If you want lots of contacts use digital modes or CW with all canned
responses like 95% of them do where all you do is push a button and a
decoder. The decoders work fine in most contests as the canned ones being
sent are mostly keyboard entries. They are not so good for DXpedition's


73,
Fred/N0AZZ
K3 Ser # 6730--KX3 # 2573--K2/100 # 6470-KAT100
P3/SVGA--KPA500--KAT500--W2

 unless you check the operation first to see what they are using never slow
down one of them trying to use a reader for CW.

I made 6 SOTA contacts in the last few days as I chase  those when I spot
one. In the fall several friends and I will be activating a few within our
area.

-----Original Message-----
From: Aaron Melton [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Saturday, July 06, 2013 4:36 PM
To: [hidden email]; [hidden email]
Subject: KX3 Setup For Contesting (Thanks for all the help!)

All,

I received a nearly-overwhelming amount of responses to my email and I
wanted to make sure I follow-up with you all to thank you and let you know
the results of operating in my first contest QRP with the KX3.

Although I failed to mention it in my original email, many of you correctly
assumed that I would be operating SSB.  I'm still not proficient (and
comfortable) enough with CW to go that route yet.  Of course, digital is
just point-and-click. :)

Many suggested using a high quality (or high gain) antenna.  I don't know if
you'd call what I'm using high quality, but it's what I've got and it seems
to get the job done well enough.  You can see my QRZ profile for more
information about it. (It's approximately 250' of wire in a loop above my
house.)

It seemed split right down the middle on whether to use "QRP" in my call or
not.  Ultimately, I decided to go with it: "KK4LOV QRP." I heard several
other stations announce themselves as QRP or portable.  We can debate if
it's right or wrong, but when heard, they ALWAYS received preference from
the station calling CQ contest.

Speaking of being heard, I avoided most pileups where the station calling CQ
even had difficulty keeping up with all the calls.  In the few instances
where I did throw my call in the pile, I paused at least a second before
stating my call.  I suspect the other station rarely heard my actual call
but frequently heard "QRP" unless my signal was being drowned out by a QRO
station.

As far as the KX3 setup was concerned, I received two bits of advice which
really seemed to help.
1. It was suggested I crank the speech compression ALL the way up.  I had it
on 10 (I think) and maxed it out at 30.
2. Adjusted my TX EQ settings: TXEQ1-16, TXEQ2-16, TXEQ3-8, TXEQ8-16.

All this and a lot of patience got me a "clean sweep" on the 13 Colonies
contest running this week -- all on 5 watts SSB. So thanks to everyone for
your help -- I'm sure this will improve my SOTA operations as well!

Aaron
de KK4LOV
-----
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______________________________________________________________
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Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html