On 7/7/2013 11:10 AM, Keith Heimbold wrote:
I think a preamp with the K3 is an absolute necessity out here in Southern California with a small six element antenna for 6m.
Whether a preamp is needed depends entirely on your own noise level, and as another post noted, the antenna gain. With a 4-el Yagi on a fairly long boom (3-el SteppIR), I definitely DO need a preamp. I use an ARR GasFET at the K3 patch point that I bought long before the K3 existed. There's an easy way to figure out if you need a preamp. If the noise level increases by at least 6-7 dB when you connect the antenna, you don't need a preamp.
Btw, I have not heard before anyone on the east coast refer to their location as a black hole for 6m. This is definitely a first for me. When you live in Southern California and you get the chance to DX to Europe about one or two days every decade.
Your surely have that right. Out here in the SF Bay Area, I've NEVER heard EU on 6M, and there have been VERY few Es openings this season. The last good one was the first day of the June ARRL VHF contest. At the same time that we watch the east coast working EU, the Caribbean, and each other. In six seasons, I've worked 13 countries on 6M with 500W and that SteppIR. Out here, DXCC on 6M is something you do in a lifetime from a high QTH with a BIG antenna. I know that K6QXY and K6KLY have done it, and it took them a LONG time.
73, Jim K9YC ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
