I must admit, my experience was quite different. I started as a
tech doing mostly 2M repeater contacts. When I upgraded my
license, I had an Icom 706M2G which I used with full size
dipoles. I discovered PSK31 at field day and started using the
Icom at QRP levels making many contacts on 20, 40, and 80M. My
log does show a very few excursions to 30-50 watts when QRP
didn't get through.
I also built a Small Wonders Labs PSK-20 kit and made many QRP
PSK 20M contacts with it. In a moment of weakness, my YL let me
buy a K3/10 and my first SSB contact in my log was the Elecraft
net. After using the K3/10 with compromise antennas during the
California QSO party, the YL said, "Yes, you need more power."
So I got the 100w amp, which is how it stands today.
I still use QRP levels for digital (except RTTY which is a high
power mode).
I would say, what a new to HF ham needs is:
Clean audio to help hear and be heard with digital modes and SSB
Flexible bandwidth control to limit noise and QRM
A good UI to avoid always needing to go to the manual
Good antennas. Wire dipoles up high are fine.
If you can't have a good antenna, 100w is an OK substitute, but,
"If you can't hear um, you can't work um."
IMHO, clean audio is worth several S units in getting your
signal through and understanding the other end. The Icom is
rather poor in this area, while the K3 and KX3 are excellent.
73 Bill AE6JV
On 12/4/14 at 8:27 AM, n...@comcast.net (Don Butler) wrote:
There are many transceivers readily available on the used market . some for
as little as $200 to $300. and, of course, they go on up from there.
Forget about all of those high tech bench testing numbers.. a beginner
simply needs a transceiver that works! I happen to have a $200 TS-520S
(with internal power supply) in my shack that I fire up every once in
awhile. I really doubt that most listeners can distinguish its 130 watt
signal from that of my 100 watt KX3/KPA100.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz | QRP: So you can talk about | Periwinkle
(408)356-8506 | the ones that got away. | 16345
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com | | Los Gatos,
CA 95032
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
