Congrats Bill! Think you're too modest, experience counts too ;o) I had my first golden log 130 QSOs, 66 multipliers all good. K3, no second Rx for this contest, only one short beverage and only 100 watts. Good enough for 8th in the US.
I'm sure you noticed the recent IARU 3830 soapbox postings, MANY K3s now used for top scores, and more converts seem to be on the way: http://www.eskimo.com/~mwdink/3830/IARU%20Soapbox%20July%2014%202009.txt Seen more postings on the 4 square Rx arrays, sounds like if you have the room it's the way to go. Still playing with my second Rx, much to learn yet. GL in NAQP RTTY! 73, Julius Your questions in order: 1. My main TX array is similar to a 4-square and my RX antennas are 7 Beverages ranging from 600-1100'. I have my K3 set up so I normally listen on both (i.e. in diversity) but I can also quickly switch between the TX array only or the Beverages only. I also sometimes use an inverted-V for "local" stations in NA/SA instead of the vertical array. 2. Diversity can be very helpful to fight the QSB characteristic on 160. I've sometimes heard signals switching back and forth between ears several times within a second. I believe this allows me to copy calls and exchanges the first time without the need for repeats. It also helps me copy callers from multiple directions simultaneously. 3. My QSO score reduction was from 435 claimed to 428 final which is fairly good (1.6% error rate). Considering how weak signals can be on 160, the unique power exchange is often a challenge to copy correctly. I miscopied 1 call and 6 power exchanges. The comment from OL0W below is not necessarily very scientific but FWIW... "Only for fun, when the band was already closing, I decided to try what I will be able to work with QRP. Using longer callsing OK1DSZ and the power reduced to 5W I spend about 10 minutes calling several east coast big guns. The award for the best ears goes to W4ZV, who was worked as easily as with the kilowatt earlier in the night. K8PO and W2FU were worked with several repeats. The others just kept CQing without any reaction with exception of K1TTT, who apparently heard something, but not enough for the QSO." > A good number of people in EI are purchasing K3s at this time. It not only has about the best performance but offers probably the best value with the opportunity to build up the radio gradually. Shhhh!!! We don't want to publicize our competitive advantage. ;-) Tim KT1D corrected me on K1XM's location...it's actually W1KM where he was one of the ops and it was an all K3 operation. 73, Bill ----- Julius Fazekas N2WN Tennessee Contest Group http://www.k4ro.net/tcg/index.html Tennessee QSO Party http://www.tnqp.org/ Elecraft K2/100 #4455 Elecraft K3/100 #366 Elecraft K3 #1875 -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-Diversity-Rocks%21-tp3252406p3258254.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
