Hi Wilson, Contrats on your successful FD effort.
Wayne N6KR > On Jun 26, 2023, at 7:29 AM, Wilson Lamb via Elecraft > <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> wrote: > > I know it's OT, but want to comment on FD operation here in NC. > I wouldn't even consider going on SSB for FD!But our SSB station on 40/15 > made over 700 QSO, with several ops of modest experience but sensible people. > K3 and double bazooka. They were pleased. > I made almost 400 CW QSOs, K3 and 80m dipole/window line/MFJ tuner. > I had a 98% success when calling and many replies, often multiples, when > running. > There were MANY strong signals on 40 and 20 at all hours I was on, so I > didn't do 80. > Almost all CW was good, partly thanks to computer keying, and I encountered > maybe three poor ops, not rude, just inexperienced/unpracticed. I like SK > and used it about 30% of the time. I prefer SK for FD, because one can > taylor speed/weight style to conditions and other op's experience. There's > no reason to expect everyone to deal with 25 WPM from the computer. They all > did fine with 15 WPM from the SK, sometimes with the dahs stretched a little. > The little rudeness seen was obviously competent ops who couldn't muster the > manners to wait their turn. > A couple times I had to ignore them several times to ever get my weaker > station's exchange! I expect they are the same people who call DX stations > when the DX is trying to reply to someone else. Owning a big station and > expensive gear IS NOT empowerment to trounce everyone in your way! > All in all, one could hardly ask for better conditions and operation. Most, > NOT ALL, people who go to the trouble to learn CW seem to pick up some > manners along the way! Of course, there are many fine SSB ops, including a > couple of our XYLs, but the low bar to entry does cause problems! > Perhaps we need a new mode designator, CBSSB? > > > One problem I see is that people have the feeling that a slipshod antenna, or > a commercial whizbang/wonderthingy, will get them by. It does, but with many > fewer QSOs and more frustration than they could have with a little more work! > After 66 years of hamming, I'm becoming fonder of ladder line and window > line. The commercial window line has saved my bacon many times and tolerates > more poor practice than expected. After some outdoor tuner problems, I gave > up "proper" practice and ran my window line under our van and up through the > port in the floor, past many other cables, to my little MFJ tuner. It worked > very well, as reported above. Yes, I may have lost a dB or two, but the flat > top at 65 feet got them back! Besides, there's no connector problem and I > can make fine splices in one minute, using a pocket knife and a pair of > pliers! I expect a better BALUN would get me a dB back, but the tiny one in > the MFJ seems to be fine at 100W. > > > We also had successful K3 digi which were successful, as was our HB > BBQ/potluck dinner for 35 ops! > > > End of OT report. Did YOU work W4EZ? > > > Wilson > W4BOH ______________________________________________________________ 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
