Keith - I was reading that the predicted low of the current cycle supposedly takes place this September.
Using my K1 @ 5W there has been an opening to Europe every day for the past two weeks on 15M....I was impressed that there were any stations outside of the usual North/South paths during sunspot minimums. I worked 12 different countries on 15M sometimes hammering out the QSO in a pileup with other higher power stations in the US. I'm REALLY impressed with ANYONE running under 100W on 160M!!!!!! 5W WAS on 160M with a 50ft vertical is SUPER-IMPRESSIVE! Congrats to N6WG. As others point out 40 and 20 are great havens for QRP operation with very little frustration and lots of QSO's. Definitely go for the K2 and upgrade as the need or urge arrives. 73 de Tom K2TA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darwin, Keith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <Elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 12:19 PM Subject: [Elecraft] QRP viability during solar cycle min? K1 or K2. Hmmm, the debate continues. But wait, we're approaching a sunspot min. My antennas are pretty limited. I have a 28 foot vertical (fed with a tuner near the base) for 40 thru 15 and a dipole at 25 feet but that is about it. No towers, no high wires, no yagis. How limiting will 5 or 10 watts (even with that Elecraft Mojo) be under current conditions? Are we entering into conditions where QRP with simple antennas will become rather frustrating? Is it K2/100 time? - Keith KD1E - _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
