45,868 miles with an attic antenna……SHUT UP!!!
The K3 is ready to go at 100mW's |
To make things interesting as I was not "contesting" in the true sense I started to drop my power as I gave out contest points. I started at 1.5 watts to CR1X in Finland that worked out to 2755 miles per watt. Update....Thanks to PE4BAS my distance to CR1X who is in the Azores not Finland is 2417 miles per watt, thanks Bas for the info! He had no problem copying me so down went the power. I leveled out at 100mW's just for the reason this is as low as the K3 will venture.
Proof 100mW's is on it's way...no SWR showing |
Below are the top 4 low power contacts all at 100mW's
1. HA8JV 45,868 miles per watt
2. IR9Y 44,558 " "
3. 9A1A 44,187 " "
4. OL7C 42,496 " "
Until this contest my personal best Miles per watt 16,737 miles per watt when making contact with ZS4TS at 500mW's. Even at 100mW's being copied was easy and I was very surprised. I did not want to drop my power to the point were the contest station was spending his valuable time trying to make contact with me, but that never happened. I am now in the market for an attenuator do get my power output to below 100mW's and see what happens. I was looking at the Hendricks 41db attenuator. It's a kits and looks like a very nice unit.
To bad its only during contests when those good dx stations are on
Woo Hoo! That’s really fun to hear! Congrats on a FB accomplishment.
72,
Kelly K4UPG
Good evening Brian, yes it’s true that at contest time the big guns are out and more importantly really listening for signals as well. I have made many a contact with mW power during search and pounce times after dinner in the evening. But contests sure do help that’s for sure.
Thanks for stopping by the blog and taking the time to comment.
Mike
Thanks very much Kelly for the encouragement.
Mike
Mike,
What type of antenna were you using? What are it’s details – height, constructions, etc. I’ve just started playing with qrp power levels (my rigs only go to 5 watts) so I’m looking to learn.
Thank you!
Rob
W8MRL
Good morning Rob, great to hear that you are trying out QRP operations. I have over the years been very surprise at what QRP power can do. As for your questions I have your email address and I am not going to take up lots of space here. I will send you an email with the answers to the questions and if you have any more you can email me back. Thanks for stopping by the blog and leaving your input.