Seeing joyful reports of snagging DX under challenging conditions, such as just posted by Bill, KA3IXF, adds so much pleasure for me to this great hobby. Not only are they testaments to the fine Elecraft products, but they also attest to the operating skills of so many in the Elecraft Forum group.
Comparisons of DX worked don't mean much, however, until they include antennas used. In Bill's case, the key words are "with my homebrew, helically wound dipole sitting on my window sill." Now, that's a challenge well met. Good job, Bill! To the phrase, "Anybody can do it with power," I'd like to add, "Anybody can do it with low power and a good antenna." It's the hams in our happy group who operate under extremely limited conditions that draw the most admiration from me. I can't imagine how discouraging it must be at times for someone living, for example, in a restrictive condo building having to run QRP with wire tacked to an interior wall, a shortened vertical sticking out a window in the darkness, or a stealth antenna tucked in a hidden location. I know those antennas will work and have experimented successfully with them myself, but the skills required to make long-distance contacts with such limitations expresses to me the real heart of ham radio. Hat's off to all of you operating in such a manner, and your enthusiastic postings add a wonderful flavor to the daily forum. Keep the joyful shouts coming! 73, Dale - K6PJV, Sacramento <snip> Just worked Cyprus, 5B4AGC, 14.027, on my K2, from my third floor apartment, with my homebrew helically wound dipole sitting on my window sill. WOW !!!!!!! 73, Bill KA3IXF <end snip> _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Not to burst anyone's bubble but please keep in mind that Propagation the
past two days have been above normal. In fact they were excellent. This is very much a Big factor. And when the propagation returns to normal the next few days the amp will go on to overcome the absorption losses. Best Regards, john-n3drk ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dale Kretzer" <[hidden email]> To: "Elecraft Mail Posting" <[hidden email]> Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006 8:20 AM Subject: [Elecraft] Operating skill Seeing joyful reports of snagging DX under challenging conditions, such as just posted by Bill, KA3IXF, adds so much pleasure for me to this great hobby. Not only are they testaments to the fine Elecraft products, but they also attest to the operating skills of so many in the Elecraft Forum group. Comparisons of DX worked don't mean much, however, until they include antennas used. In Bill's case, the key words are "with my homebrew, helically wound dipole sitting on my window sill." Now, that's a challenge well met. Good job, Bill! To the phrase, "Anybody can do it with power," I'd like to add, "Anybody can do it with low power and a good antenna." It's the hams in our happy group who operate under extremely limited conditions that draw the most admiration from me. I can't imagine how discouraging it must be at times for someone living, for example, in a restrictive condo building having to run QRP with wire tacked to an interior wall, a shortened vertical sticking out a window in the darkness, or a stealth antenna tucked in a hidden location. I know those antennas will work and have experimented successfully with them myself, but the skills required to make long-distance contacts with such limitations expresses to me the real heart of ham radio. Hat's off to all of you operating in such a manner, and your enthusiastic postings add a wonderful flavor to the daily forum. Keep the joyful shouts coming! 73, Dale - K6PJV, Sacramento <snip> Just worked Cyprus, 5B4AGC, 14.027, on my K2, from my third floor apartment, with my homebrew helically wound dipole sitting on my window sill. WOW !!!!!!! 73, Bill KA3IXF <end snip> _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
In reply to this post by dalekretzer
>From: n3drk <[hidden email]>
>Date: Thu May 18 10:26:06 CDT 2006 >To: Dale Kretzer <[hidden email]>, Elecraft Mail Posting <[hidden email]> >Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Operating skill I think the K2 and the accomplishment of buiding it yourself, along with propagation prediction and hit and miss are all part of the fun. Tomorrow may be a bad day, but there will be a good one on the horizon. When propagation is bad, I usually listen to brodacast shortwave or build some more. Have Fun Bill KA3IXF >Not to burst anyone's bubble but please keep in mind that Propagation the >past two days have been above normal. In fact they were excellent. This is >very much a Big factor. >And when the propagation returns to normal the next few days the amp will go >on to overcome >the absorption losses. > >Best Regards, > >john-n3drk > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Dale Kretzer" <[hidden email]> >To: "Elecraft Mail Posting" <[hidden email]> >Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006 8:20 AM >Subject: [Elecraft] Operating skill > > > Seeing joyful reports of snagging DX under challenging conditions, such >as just posted by Bill, KA3IXF, adds so much pleasure for me to this great >hobby. Not only are they testaments to the fine Elecraft products, but they >also attest to the operating skills of so many in the Elecraft Forum group. > Comparisons of DX worked don't mean much, however, until they include >antennas used. In Bill's case, the key words are "with my homebrew, >helically wound dipole sitting on my window sill." Now, that's a challenge >well met. Good job, Bill! > To the phrase, "Anybody can do it with power," I'd like to add, "Anybody >can do it with low power and a good antenna." It's the hams in our happy >group who operate under extremely limited conditions that draw the most >admiration from me. I can't imagine how discouraging it must be at times for >someone living, for example, in a restrictive condo building having to run >QRP with wire tacked to an interior wall, a shortened vertical sticking out >a window in the darkness, or a stealth antenna tucked in a hidden location. >I know those antennas will work and have experimented successfully with them >myself, but the skills required to make long-distance contacts with such >limitations expresses to me the real heart of ham radio. > Hat's off to all of you operating in such a manner, and your >enthusiastic postings add a wonderful flavor to the daily forum. Keep the >joyful shouts coming! > 73, > Dale - K6PJV, Sacramento ><snip> > Just worked Cyprus, 5B4AGC, 14.027, on my K2, from my third floor >apartment, with my homebrew helically wound dipole sitting on my window >sill. WOW !!!!!!! >73, >Bill >KA3IXF ><end snip> >_______________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Post to: [hidden email] >You must be a subscriber to post to the list. >Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm >Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > >_______________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Post to: [hidden email] >You must be a subscriber to post to the list. >Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm >Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
In reply to this post by n3drk
Good propagation most certainly is a big factor in QRP DX work, John,
but I feel you may have missed my point. Assuming poor propagation, if I make a QRP contact 600 miles away with a decent antenna, and my buddy across town with the same power and a dinky wire hanging out the window does nearly as well or the same, I like sharing his joy at success under such trying circumstances. Working DX under all sorts of varying conditions is another talent I greatly admire, and I think the combination of these varied pursuits amongst we hams adds wonderful flavor to the hobby. I laud your skills as well, John, in snagging those elusive hard ones. Cheers, Dale -K6PJV ----- Original Message ----- From: "n3drk" <[hidden email]> To: "Dale Kretzer" <[hidden email]>; "Elecraft Mail Posting" <[hidden email]> Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 10:26 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Operating skill > Not to burst anyone's bubble but please keep in mind that Propagation the > past two days have been above normal. In fact they were excellent. This is > very much a Big factor. > And when the propagation returns to normal the next few days the amp will > go on to overcome > the absorption losses. > > Best Regards, > > john-n3drk > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Free forum by Nabble | Edit this page |