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I recently posted a question to the Elecraft reflector asking (among those who have them) what might be the most efficient upgrade to a bare-bones K3 in a contesting or DXing situation. Thoughtful replies were made both to the list and to me via email.
Here is a synopsis of those replies: Continue reading 'The most beneficial K3 upgrade: Sub-Receiver or Panadapter?'»
Radio
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Contesting, K3
This was the first contest I’ve been able to participate in since getting the K3 in April and I’ve been waiting for just such conditions – crowded bands, numerous stations calling simultaneously, QRN, etc – to really see how the K3 performs.
I spent spent time both contesting and just tweaking with the K3.
First, the contest itself:
As my interest in contesting grows, this particular one is emerging as my favorite. I like the CQWW, ARRL DX contests, and others, but lack the ability or interest to hang in front of the radio for 48 hours of continuous dots & dashes. I mainly like them for the new band-countries they offer and the practice in pile-ups when the rare ones appear. But the 10-hour limit in the NAQP’s is a snap as long as “local conditions” don’t interfere… Continue reading '2010 North American QSO Party (CW) and the K3'»
Radio
| Contesting, K3
If you don’t have enough trivia in your life…or if you’re a contester and want to see how many other contesters use the KX1, an SB220 or logging software like you, click on over to here.
And just think – someone actually put all that together…3750 stations have inputted/input their data so far.
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Comments Off Nothing says serious contest station like Barney videos and sippy cups.
I was fortunate in this afternoon’s FoBB to have the assistance of my 2-year old granddaughter who is staying with us for a few weeks as her parents (both in the Air Force) tend their duties. Too hot here to go outside anyway, my hat is off to those who endured the heat and set up from afield. Continue reading 'FoBB and sippy cups'»
Until three hours into it, I wasn’t even aware there was a contest this weekend. I normally ignore non-HF CW contests so it’s not surprising that this one didn’t show up on my radar.
But I did see the announcement and remembered that I had a new 6m antenna that, up till now, had garnered me a Grand Total of 5 QSOs. That’s not the antenna’s fault – band conditions and a complete lack of knowledge of anything relating to the 6m band had me pretty much ignoring it altogether. Continue reading 'Fun on 6 meters'»
Radio
| 6m, Antennas, Contesting, K3
Contest results - DXCC countries worked
As anyone who participated in the contest will tell you, 15 meters was great.
Over the course of the weekend I operated for about 10 hours and 15m was the money band. But a combination of good conditions and some excellent stations made the other bands seem pretty amazing as well. Continue reading '2010 ARRL International DX Contest ruminations'»
Radio
| Contesting, DX
Comments Off 
I guess the pace of the contest at some points was such that I didn’t look at each & every piece of info presented by the N3FJP software I was using. But I worked two stations whose QTH I was unaware of at the time and happy to learn about later. Continue reading 'CQWW: two surprises via LoTW'»
Radio
| Contesting, QSLs
Well that was fun but I’ll still be hearing ole Sam Morse’s code in my sleep and all day at work tomorrow, I’m sure.
I operated for about 20 hours, all search and pounce concentrating in parts on participating in pile-ups (to test various techniques and to get the country) and just tuning around looking for new band-countries. Antenna was a single 80m dipole (used on all bands) up 70 feet; power was 100 watts.
Highlights of the contest and the week leading up to it: Continue reading 'CQWW and year’s end DX status'»
Radio
| Contesting, DX
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