Dave, I wouldn't say Surprised, more like curious.
Obviously my 5W is not going to break a pileup and that's no surprise but when contesting stations with low signal levels here are working one station right after another and when I call & they hear me, that's the usual. When a station is coming in 10 over & can't hear me no matter how many times in the night I go back & try to reach them, I have to wonder why that is. The hypothesis I entertain is they use more power than they need but conditions and directive Rx antennas certainly do make a difference. As to the Clicks, the K3 on this end sure is an equalizer. I use the 250Hz filter & run the digital filter down to 50 Hz and its such a big help, Clicks just aren't an issue any more. I loved all of my old rigs, especially the Collins S line, but there is no comparison to today's technology for contesting. Good luck in the contest & 73, Gary KA1J > I'm not sure why you would be surprised running QRP that stations that were > "loud" couldn't hear you. You're at a 13 db disadvantage at a minimum. Ad > in clix (and there plenty of them) plus QRM the guy is experiencing on the > other end. . .and, well, there you are. . .you can't be heard. That said, > it is all still great fun. Condx to JA from here in Iowa this morning were > quite good 73. . . Dave, W0FLS > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Gary Smith" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2016 11:22 AM > Subject: Re: Topband: CW160 > > > > Interesting conditions here last night. I > > heard a whole lot of DX that simply could > > not hear me. I'm running QRP and don't > > expect to work everything I hear but one > > thing for sure, the overall conditions > > were really nice. It was fun to take a > > break and listen to EU working other EU & > > SA and hear both ends of the QSO on 160. > > > > Not sure how good the conditions were for > > everyone though, Herb & I worked but he > > was one of the very few Caribbean stations > > I was able to get a Q with. OTOH, I worked > > several California stations as well as OR > > & WA so the band was selectively open. > > > > An interesting experience is to hear > > stations who have one of the loudest > > signals but are unable to hear me. You > > have to figure their Rx must be difficult, > > either that or they are running power > > beyond their ability to hear. I > > encountered that quite a bit and again, > > running QRP, often my signal not going to > > be heard but when someone has such high > > signal levels here and can't hear me at > > all, they might want to cut back on their > > power or, get better a better Rx ability. > > Maybe their Rx antennas were pointed in > > another direction? > > > > Absolutely not pointing a finger, I just > > saw that happen so very often. I know if I > > were running more power, I'd make a whole > > lot more Qs. Conversely, if they heard > > better, they would have made a lot more > > Qs. > > > > I'd really like to have the chance to work > > a 160 at an excellent location with and > > excellent Tx/Rx set of antennas. Wires in > > not tall trees are the best I can do and I > > have so much fun with them. However, it > > would be nice to experience competition > > with everything stacked in my favor. I'm > > sure we all feel that way. Its been years > > since I was at a super station and I'm > > ready for that experience again; that was > > back in 1986 and so long ago that they had > > just started running CT by K1EA which was > > first released the year before. > > > > Another have at it tonight so maybe I'll > > pick up some of those stations I couldn't > > break last night? > > > > 73 & good luck, > > > > Gary > > KA1J > > > >> Good luck to all! > >> > >> 73, > >> > >> Gary > >> KA1J > >> _________________ > >> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > >> > > > > > > > > _________________ > > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > > > > _________________ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
