A dipole-type antenna should be at least 1/2 wavelength high for decent DX performance and preferably a full wavelength. An inverted V is not as good as a dipole. And the high bands are poor now in the summer and as the sunspot cycle declines. So that's one strike against you. You are running low power. Strike two. And you are trying to use SSB. You're out. If you don't like CW, I would suggest PSK, which seems to get out well with low power. If you really want voice and DX then you should consider both raising your antenna and increasing power.
Vic 4X6GP > On 21 Jun 2016, at 21:31, Eballina <eball...@cfl.rr.com> wrote: > > I am feeding it with about 80 ft of coax. Barry I would never dream of asking > for the "secret recipe"!😜 > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Jun 21, 2016, at 2:28 PM, Barry LaZar <k3...@comcast.net> wrote: >> >> 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" <eball...@cfl.rr.com> >> To: "Barry LaZar" <k3...@comcast.net> >> Cc: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> 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 <k3...@comcast.net> 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" <eball...@cfl.rr.com> >>>> To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >>>> 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 >>>>> ______________________________________________________________ >>>>> 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 k3...@comcast.net > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 k2vco....@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
