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VP6DX on 160M... MAN, talk about EARS!

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Tom Hammond-2

VP6DX on 160M... MAN, talk about EARS!

Wheeee!

Just worked VP6DX on 160M... feeding ONLY the CENTER conductor of my 80/40/30M
dipole with about 120' of coax laying on the ground (170' total coax length)
and an estimated 20:1 SWR into the K3s ATU... which the KAT3 matched to <2:1
without complaint!

NOT ONLY THAT... as I was checking the 'metering' of the above listed
parameters,
I happened to check my POWER setting... 8.2W output... seems I'd set the POWER
down in an effort to get an external ATU to give me a better 'starting' match
for the KAT3, but finding that the external ATU couldn't hit 160M I took it out
of the line BUT forgot to return the POWER to 100W as intended...!!

So not only did I work 'em with a MUCH less than optimum antenna (probably only
a few PERCENT efficient), I further hobbled myself 9and them!) by
running (nearly)
QRP.

AND they still heard me!

73,

Tom N0SS

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w7aqk

Re: VP6DX on 160M... MAN, talk about EARS!

Good grief Tom! Can't you make it difficult?

Dave W7AQK

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Hammond" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 3:14 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] VP6DX on 160M... MAN, talk about EARS!

> Wheeee!
>
> Just worked VP6DX on 160M... feeding ONLY the CENTER
> conductor of my 80/40/30M
> dipole with about 120' of coax laying on the ground (170'
> total coax length)
> and an estimated 20:1 SWR into the K3s ATU... which the
> KAT3 matched to <2:1
> without complaint!
>
> NOT ONLY THAT... as I was checking the 'metering' of the
> above listed parameters,
> I happened to check my POWER setting... 8.2W output...
> seems I'd set the POWER
> down in an effort to get an external ATU to give me a
> better 'starting' match
> for the KAT3, but finding that the external ATU couldn't
> hit 160M I took it out
> of the line BUT forgot to return the POWER to 100W as
> intended...!!
>
> So not only did I work 'em with a MUCH less than optimum
> antenna (probably only
> a few PERCENT efficient), I further hobbled myself 9and
> them!) by running (nearly)
> QRP.
>
> AND they still heard me!
>
> 73,
>
> Tom N0SS
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>

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Bill W4ZV

Re: VP6DX on 160M... MAN, talk about EARS!

In reply to this post by Tom Hammond-2

Tom Hammond-2 wrote

So not only did I work 'em with a MUCH less than optimum antenna (probably only
a few PERCENT efficient), I further hobbled myself 9and them!) by
running (nearly)
QRP.

AND they still heard me!

Tom Hammond-2

Re: VP6DX on 160M... MAN, talk about EARS!

Hi Bill:

>Not to knock the K3 performance at all (I have one and love it), but you
>really have the following to thank:
>
>1. VP6DX's location has no man-made noise.
>2. Phased parallel Beverages looking at you (see their website
> antenna layout).
>3. Probably the finest 160 operators on the planet (e.g. DL3DXX & others).

Oh, I wasn't trying to blame it all on the K3... just that they (the group)
had excellent operators/location/antennas/equipment. It usually takes ALL
of that!

>This reminds me of some on the QRP list who crow about "their" performance.
>Most of the heavy lifting is actually done by the stations on the other end
>of the QSO who have exceptional RX capabilities.

IN NO WAY was I even considering touting ANYTHING on this end, Bill. It
HAD to be on their end...

As I recently wrote to Dave, W7AQK:

I just KEEP ON STEPPING ON MY OWN TOES every time I dance!

Those guys out there on Ducie have been having it MUCH TOO EASY...
they NEEDED a challenge and it was I who gave it to them... and
dammit, they overcame the challenge to work me anyway... <G>

It was DEFINITELY NOT MY PERFORMANCE, but theirs.

73,

Tom

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n6wg

Re: VP6DX on 160M... MAN, talk about EARS!

In reply to this post by Tom Hammond-2

Good job, Tom.
I managed to work them on 30m and 40m cw last night
with my 5w K2 and wire antenas.
Now the only bands I lack QSOs on are 10m and 6m.
Since I don't work 6m, I'm not sweating that one :-)
73, Bob N6WG
The Little Station with Attitude

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Hammond" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 2:14 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] VP6DX on 160M... MAN, talk about EARS!

> Wheeee!
>
> Just worked VP6DX on 160M... feeding ONLY the CENTER conductor of my
80/40/30M
> dipole with about 120' of coax laying on the ground (170' total coax
length)
> and an estimated 20:1 SWR into the K3s ATU... which the KAT3 matched
to <2:1
> without complaint!
>
> NOT ONLY THAT... as I was checking the 'metering' of the above
listed
> parameters,
> I happened to check my POWER setting... 8.2W output... seems I'd set
the POWER
> down in an effort to get an external ATU to give me a better
'starting' match
> for the KAT3, but finding that the external ATU couldn't hit 160M I
took it out
> of the line BUT forgot to return the POWER to 100W as intended...!!
>
> So not only did I work 'em with a MUCH less than optimum antenna
(probably only

> a few PERCENT efficient), I further hobbled myself 9and them!) by
> running (nearly)
> QRP.
>
> AND they still heard me!
>
> 73,
>
> Tom N0SS
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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

Don Nesbitt

RE: VP6DX on 160M... MAN, talk about EARS!

In reply to this post by Bill W4ZV

OK, this is getting ridiculous! I just worked them on 21.002 QSX 21.026,
first call, running 1 watt output to my wire here in Georgia! Oh my
Grandma, what great ears you have! Don N4HH K3 #83

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bill W4ZV
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 9:51 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] VP6DX on 160M... MAN, talk about EARS!

Tom Hammond-2 wrote:

>
>
> So not only did I work 'em with a MUCH less than optimum antenna (probably
> only
> a few PERCENT efficient), I further hobbled myself 9and them!) by
> running (nearly)
> QRP.
>
> AND they still heard me!
>
>

Not to knock the K3 performance at all (I have one and love it), but you
really have the following to thank:

1. VP6DX's location has no man-made noise.
2. Phased parallel Beverages looking at you (see their website antenna
layout).
3. Probably the finest 160 operators on the planet (e.g. DL3DXX & others).

This reminds me of some on the QRP list who crow about "their" performance.
Most of the heavy lifting is actually done by the stations on the other end
of the QSO who have exceptional RX capabilities.

73, Bill W4ZV

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n6wg

Re: VP6DX on 160M... MAN, talk about EARS!

In reply to this post by Bill W4ZV

You are so right, Bill. And we appreciate the heck out of them.
QRP is great fun, but the other guy has to be able to hear us
or it's no go.
73, Bob N6WG

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill W4ZV" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 6:50 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] VP6DX on 160M... MAN, talk about EARS!

>
>
>
> Tom Hammond-2 wrote:
> >
> >
> > So not only did I work 'em with a MUCH less than optimum antenna
(probably

> > only
> > a few PERCENT efficient), I further hobbled myself 9and them!) by
> > running (nearly)
> > QRP.
> >
> > AND they still heard me!
> >
> >
>
> Not to knock the K3 performance at all (I have one and love it), but

you
> really have the following to thank:
>
> 1. VP6DX's location has no man-made noise.
> 2. Phased parallel Beverages looking at you (see their website
antenna
> layout).
> 3. Probably the finest 160 operators on the planet (e.g. DL3DXX &
others).
>
> This reminds me of some on the QRP list who crow about "their"
performance.
> Most of the heavy lifting is actually done by the stations on the
other end
> of the QSO who have exceptional RX capabilities.
>
> 73, Bill W4ZV
>
> --
> View this message in context:
http://www.nabble.com/VP6DX-on-160M...-MAN%2C-talk-about-EARS%21-tp155
85992p15590442.html

> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
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