FeldHELL
contact from CO to IL on 20m with a simple dipole tossed out my office second
story window.
Steve AD0ES
On Feb 26, 2014, at 10:00 AM, elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net wrote:
Re: [Elecraft] New ham and the KX3
I see that you plan on starting with phone because you are learning
code
Yep. I operate RTTY/PSK/JT65 in DATA A/AFSK mode with my K3 using 2 $5
stereo cables from Radio Shack, and N1MM, MixW, or WSJT. I did it for
quite awhile with my K2 -- headphone jack to soundcard LINE IN and
soundcard LINE OUT to the mic connector through a little T-pad I built
into the
Sean,
Welcome to ham radio!
You'll absolutely be able to make QSOs with 10 watts and a Buddipole
on 10 meters (and sometimes 6 meters when the band is open). However,
I think you've been given good counsel to try something else if you're
at all handy or technically-inclined.
The absolute best
Hi folks,
I want to thank everyone who offered advice, it's invaluable to a new ham
like myself!
I've settled on the KX3 -- I like the fact that it's versatile enough to be
a decent base station and it can go on the road with me. Plus, it seems
that it has a lot of features that you generally
Depending on the money resources you can draw upon, I would suggest
getting the built in tuner option for the KX3. It really frees you up in
mobile and portable situations where you are merely stringing a wire up
into a nearby tree with another wire laying on the ground as counterpoise.
And, CW
Sean,
I see that you plan on starting with phone because you are learning
code. Let me suggest that you add PSK31 to your beginnings. It is a mode
that really works well at low powers and it's really easy to set up. You
will need a way to interface your computer to the radio, but that is
The problem with that suggestion is that the Tech licensee can only use
PSK31 on 10 meters. The 80, 40, and 15 meter allocations are for CW only.
73,
Don W3FPR
On 2/26/2014 11:10 AM, Barry LaZar wrote:
Sean,
I see that you plan on starting with phone because you are
learning code. Let
Ethan is right, 6 and 10-meters are fun!
One thing to remember, Sean, 6-meters can, and does, open almost
anytime, especially when we have occurrences of solar flares. I operated
from Ecuador last year and worked many US stations running the K3, at
100 watts, and a one-wavelength loop
Sean,
I think you'll love that KX3! I've had it's big brother K3 for almost four
years; this past Christmas my XYL got me a KX3. I've added only the internal
tuner (and battery pack/charger for camping trips) and have been having a blast
with it. In fact, I can count on one hand the number of
Sean,
As a software guy myself, I understand that you may be leaning toward
buying an antenna instead of building.
I like the idea of the LNR because it leaves more money in your pocket
to experiment with other antennas.
Get a good antenna book. Read all the chapters on wire antennas.
Definitely. I'm not even sure why I bought a microphone for my KX3.
I've got a Brown Brothers straight key and a set of paddles, and I'm
seriously thinking of selling them.
Digital modes are the way to go (then again, I ran RTTY more than 30
years ago -- 28KSR on autostart -- so I'm
With the current testing structure (for better or worse) he can make
Extra in less than a year.
Biggest problem I had with the Extra test was giving the test answers
and not the correct answers based on years of operating specialized modes.
73 -- Lynn
On 2/26/2014 8:15 AM, Don Wilhelm
I was really surprised at how well the KX3 did in the last RTTY contest at 5
watts. The KX3 was making contacts left and right barefoot and without a
computer running AFSK-D. What a rig. !! I was on a Hexbeam which probably
made more competitive. This underscores the need for efficient
Heh, using myself as an example: I took the 13 WPM code test at the FCC
in SF to gain the General (an imposing building, 555 Battery Street is
forever imbedded in memory). I held an Advanced for years but know I'll
never make 20 WPM code, it simply isn't one of my talents. Once that
The Par end fed is a good antenna choice and will enable operation on 10/20/40
without a tuner. You may also consider a push-up fiberglass pole - 30 footer
runs around $100 and works great with a couple of bungee cords and some
electrical tape. I usually tape the end fed match box a couple of
Sean, I stopped by the PAR Electronics booth at Dayton last year.
There was a lot of interest in a new trail-friendly antenna for 10/20/40m.
I asked one of the guys at the booth what was trail-friendly about it?
At which time he put one in the palm of my hand.
It winds up on a spool, and can
You can miss 13 questions on the Extra test, of which maybe 4 or 5 are
complex math.
When I took my Extra, there were 4, and I missed 7 questions.
You can safely blow off the math as long as you do well on the other
subsections.
-- Lynn
On 2/26/2014 12:02 PM, Rick WA6NHC wrote:
At one
Hi folks,
I recently got my Technician license and I'm working on my General and Extra.
I'm looking to get my first rig and I'm interested in the KX3. I was
considering pairing it with a Buddipole antenna, as my development doesn't
allow permanent antennas. While I use the KX3 at home, will
Sean, I think with a limited antenna, (Buddipole) extra power will not make a
huge difference. “You can’t work ‘em if you can’t hear ‘em.” is a truism. I
suggest for your home station, you experiment with “low profile” antennas.
Like a fine wire tossed up in a tree or draped out an upstairs
@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 7:23:13 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] New ham and the KX3
Hi folks,
I recently got my Technician license and I'm working on my General and Extra.
I'm looking to get my first rig and I'm interested in the KX3. I was
considering pairing it with a Buddipole antenna
I have used the BuddiPole, about 5 feet off the ground in an elevated
vertical configuration, and a K3 on 20 meters and it worked very well.
This was with three 17-foot radials. I have never used the BuddiPole in
a dipole configuration but I understand it also works very well.
As someone else
I just recently got the 100W amp for my K3, so most of my
operation has been at 12 watts and below. In looking through my
log, the vast majority of my 10M contacts are QRP, or 5 watts. I
use a home-brew vertical with a window screen ground plain on
the roof of my single story house for an
Welcome to probably the very best hobby in the world! ... or at least it
has been for me, I'm working on my 61st year with a license. I think
you picked a good one Sean!
To make contacts, antennas are everything. If you're running 5 watts
and go to 50W, that's at best 2 S-units, and
Welcome Sean,
There are two rules to antennas:
1) Put up the biggest one you can
2) If it stays up, it was too small
Seriously, though.
A really good chunk of fine wire (like Wireman #534 -- 26 gauge
copper-over-steel with a thin insulation jacket to make it harder to
see) will give
Sean,
Great location especially if you can be operating close the water (sea)
when resonant vertical antennas (I use vertical dipoles on a telescoping
10m fishing pole) should allow you to work the world qrp. I also have a
buddipole and it works fine in vertical configuration especially close
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