// When I'm not traveling, I DX (sometimes I *am* the DX). On this topic, maybe I can hijack the thread but it still pertains the P3 functionality.
I also occasionally travel down to Caribbean and operate CQ WW from places. I would love to have the pan-adapter handy when faced with pileups. Here are some possible benefits: - You have a visual picture of how large your pile is and it makes it easier to steer clear from congested areas. - You have a visual picture of your own TX FQ. You will know soon enough once lids start causing trouble on your TX frequency so that evasive actions can be taken. - Sometimes there is another pileup going on below or above your frequency. If the callers trying to work someone else overlap with your own,your rate takes a dive as you find yourself answering folks who are actually not calling you. In my case, P3 is too big (volume-wise) and there is no space to fit it in carry on suitcase along with K3, PSU, Cables, Laptop, Keyer etc. By looking at parts list from P3 manual, perhaps we can significantly shrink the depth of the unit by making the Top, Bottom and Side panels (E100362, E100363, and E100361) shorter if Elecraft would be willing to manufacture and provide such kit. We always have an option to use the hacksaw but it would not look pretty :-) 73, Nick ve3ey On Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 9:59 PM, Rick WA6NHC <happymooseph...@gmail.com> wrote: > You're preachin to da choir son. Fine job though. > > K1N was awful for DQRM, lids and untrained idiots. 3G0ZC the next week > wasn't quite as bad, nor as rare. E30FB is rough here on the West Coast > due to lack of signal strength, conditions and the same crowds. You can't > hear, what isn't there. > > I see that problem cause as twofold: Lack of noobs seeking an Elmer for > proper training NOT covered adequately in the classes or tests; Lack of > folks willing to become an Elmer to guide the newcomers. That's WAY off > topic for here. > > Putting in perspective and back on topic; the P3 was almost totally > useless for K1N, except to watch and measure the height and width of the > pileup (there WERE no holes to utilize in that pack). What you said is > very true, the subreceiver helped, about as much because of the reasons you > stated too. Together however, is still a deadly combination, by watching > the (group of) signal(s) on the P3 that the DX is working, quickly tuning > the receiver to the most likely being worked and confirming by ear, they > allowed me to gain 13 Q's with K1N on a low dipole and some power (it's all > in the DX pattern recognition, if they're not purposely avoiding a > pattern). The other operating style was simply work the edges of the > pileup, don't be in the middle. > > P3 and KRX3 in 'normal' DX collecting... fish:barrel. They are the sole > reason I have 250 'entities' in the log over the last couple years. When > I'm not traveling, I DX (sometimes I *am* the DX). Oh yes, the KPA500 > helps, a LOT since I'm on a sole dipole. > > I don't see things improving in the ranks, so anyone looking at the > purchase of the K Line should simply keep the budget open ended and collect > everything as they can. P3 first (plan on the SVGA card too, your eyes > will never improve), then a KRX3, then flesh it out with more. > > Let's look at your budget too. The P3/SVGA combo costs versus the KRX3 > with filters (mine are all filled the same in both, for diversity and to > minimize what my failing ears are subjected to when listening in two > places). Add in that you'll have to replace the Synth card when you add > the KRX3 (or obtain two used ones, storing the new one for later, but why) > and I suspect that financially as well, the P3/SVGA will be more reachable > first. > > That's my best reasoning for the P3 and why it should be first. It's the > better of the two choices and it's more financially obtainable. > > Whatever you choose, good luck and good hunting. > > Rick wa6nhc > > > > On 3/9/2015 6:02 PM, Randy Farmer wrote: > >> I would agree that the P3 should probably take priority over the >> Subreceiver for a new buy, mostly due to the many different things it can >> do for you. But... my experience this weekend trying to work E30FB on 20 CW >> sure made me glad I had the Sub. I would never have worked them using just >> the scope. >> >> Problem is, it seems the way people try to work DX these days makes it >> virtually impossible to depend on a visual cue to know who's being worked >> by the DX if there's a pileup of any size at all. E30FB had the pile spread >> out for better than 20 kHz, and the scope showed a constant morass of >> signals all across the entire span. Aside from the obliviots who >> continually send their call whether the DX is listening or not, there are >> many who apparently see nothing wrong with coming back or continuing to >> call when the DX operator replies to a call that obviously isn't theirs. >> Every time E30FB would answer a complete call there were dozens of >> perfectly timed signals that jumped up all across the extent of the pileup. >> Luckily, using the second receiver I managed to stumble on to one that >> turned out to actually be the guy he was working. A minute or two of >> careful listening around that frequency revealed the operator's tuning >> pattern, and after just a couple of calls I was in the log too. >> >> If you really want to work rare DX these days you're going to NEED the >> second receiver. This isn't due to any problems with the capabilities of >> the P3 -- it's the result of operating practices that continue to >> deteriorate. You'll need all the tools you can get and all the cunning you >> can muster to work DX through the Doofus curtain these days. >> >> 73... >> Randy, W8FN >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to happymooseph...@gmail.com >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to nick.ve...@gmail.com > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
