SSB at QRP levels can be a bit challenging. I do have a KXPA100 and use
it. However, I only run QRP seriously for Field Day with a group who are
doing the same with KX3s. We do very well at 5 Watts, but we do have a
few acres of antennas. I have found two things that make a very big
difference, antenna height and minimizing antenna system loses.
You say you are running a fan dipole. You don't say what you are feeding
it with or how long your feed line is. I have a dipole up 40 feet and
feed it with open wire to a good 4:1 current balun where I transition to
LMR-400 to come into the house. You may not need a 4:1 balun for a fan
dipole, but a good 1:1 balun. And, this is only needed if you have a
fairly long run or want to extract the very last milliwatt out of your
system. I would tell you what we do for Field Day, the extremes we take,
but that would give away our competitive secret. ;-)
73,
Barry
K3NDM
------ Original Message ------
From: "Eballina" <[email protected]>
To: "Barry LaZar" <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected]
Sent: 6/21/2016 2:12:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KXPA100- How impactful to making contacts?
Thanks Barry, up about 30 feetr al top of
of inverted V. Ends of antenna up about 25 ft. SSB phone preferred but
did pick up PSK31 Signalink but prefer voice.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 21, 2016, at 1:54 PM, Barry LaZar <[email protected]> wrote:
You don't say how high your antenna is or what modes you are using.
However, If you aren't already there, I would get my antenna up at
least about 35 feet, 60 feet would surely be better. At QRP power
levels, I would focus on CW or PSK31, or one of the other weak signal
modes. The exception is 10 or 15 meters where anything that can be
radiated seems to work. The problem is 10 and 15 aren't open all the
time meaning you are going to need to do a lot of listening on these
bands if you want to be successful. There is a trick you might want to
employ, using the beacons that are there and knowing their schedule.
Just leave your receiver on on one of them, and when you hear it, you
know the band is open to that part of the world.
73,
Barry
K3NDM
------ Original Message ------
From: "Road Runner" <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: 6/21/2016 1:08:06 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] KXPA100- How impactful to making contacts?
Have had my KX3 for a couple of weeks and love it. Biggest issue I
have is even at 15 watts, unless conditions are right, I am having
issues making DX contacts. The KX3 is connected to an Alpha Delta
80-6 meter fan dipole. I have been thinking about getting the KXPA
100 but wonder whether it will be enough of a bang for the buck. I
use this at a summer cottage, at home I started with a Kenwood
Ts-590SG and eventually upgraded the rig with an Ameritron 811H to
get more punch. I have no problems getting picked out of pileup so
now...
So my question is for those of you that have gone the upgrade path
to KXPA100... Did you get enough punch or are you wishing you had
gone with more power? I am not really too crazy about going all the
way to the KPA500...
Sent from my iPad
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