Depends upon which band is "open". The "WARC" bands (including 17 meters) are great, but the simple truth is they are not as well populated as the old standbys (10, 15, 20, 40, 80, 160). I think that's due, in part, to the popularity of multi-band coax-fed antennas. Those antennas that cover the WARC bands (12, 17, and 30 meters) are less common and more expensive. And there are still a significant number of old "pre-WARC" rigs out there that don't cover those bands. Of course that will slowly change, just as the "new" 15 meter band slowly became a "standard" after its introduction in the 1950's.
If I had to make that choice, I'd take 15 meters in a moment because: 1) As the spots return it'll be open more often. Sunspots provide for a higher MUF, so the MUF will cross 21 MHz more often than 25 MHz. Indeed, that's true now. 2) There are more stations on 15 meters. For the *best* DX conditions, one wants to be working very close to the MUF, not just "below" the MUF. That's what makes the added bands so great when you can QSY to follow it. So for chasing maximum DX perhaps the 17 meters might provide a small advantage *when* conditions are right, but if I were limited to one or the other, I'd stay with 15. Either way you're going to have a lot of fun with that K1, Carl! Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- A brand new K1 is awaiting my soldering iron. For the past week I've been agonizing over band selection 15 meters or 17 meters? What's yer guess folks? Which band will be best when the sunspots return? Carl WA7CS _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] 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
