Easy to do with the NCDXF beacons. http://www.ncdxf.org/beacon/intro.html
Each station transmits at 100, 10, 1, and 0.1 W in its time slot, a range of 30 dB. Most of the time on 14.100, 4U1UN in NYC is readable here on the western frontier at all four power levels, although the 100 mW level isn't likely to be a pile-up buster. :-) The striking thing for me at least is that the apparent difference between 100 and 10 W [10 dB], while noticeable, really isn't all that great. I doubt I could pick out a 4 or maybe even 5 dB difference in most cases.
I'm firmly convinced that operator skill is the largest factor by a huge margin. NAQP's are 100 W max. Compare my NAQP CW scores [www.nccc.cc] with the scores of the "masters" like K6XX, K9YC, or most anyone operating at N6RO, W7RN, N0NI, or W9RE. They're at least 20-25 "dB" better than I am.
As far as DXing goes, my CQP buddy Larry, W4UAT, is at the top of the honor roll [5B] from a city lot in Livermore CA. I might get to 200 mixed if I ever got around to sending my cards in. The difference? -- I've watched him work DX, he runs circles around me.
If I was really serious about DX, and I had to choose 100W + P3 vs 1500W and no P3, I'd take the 100 W + P3 in a heartbeat. I originally bought mine as a "toy" ... today, it's really all I watch if I'm in a pile-up or contest.
And, contrary to at least one opinion, this is not "rope-a-dope" and I'm not sandbagging for the next contest ... I'm just not in the same league as those who win. Now, I did take "1st in W6" in a JIDX CW a few years ago. This could be accurately restated as "Next to Last in W6" too. :-))
73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015 - www.cqp.org On 4/24/2015 10:55 AM, dyarnes wrote:
What you may want to do is run a test with someone who can vary his power widely so that you can hear the difference yourself.
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