[Elecraft] Fw: CQ WW DX CW Contest

Wed Nov 27 18:02:01 2002

----- Original Message -----=20
From: Robert Boerhorst=20
To: [email protected]=20
Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2002 10:33 PM
Subject: CQ WW DX CW Contest

Om's/Yl's,

First of all, my congrats to Dave, G3YMC, with his outstanding results =
in the CQ WW Contest. (QSO rate abt. 1/3min).
I also took part in the contest, but due to other commitments I was only =
able to took part for 4 hours,
split over 2 days. I worked only 51 stations on 80/40/20/15/10m, 27 =
countries, 8 US & 1 Canadian, all East Coast, the rest Europe. (QSO rate =
1/6min). My objectives were to see (1) how my K2 would behave in a big =
contest environment and (2) to work some new DXCC countries. The  K2 =
worked flawlessly as expected, but no new countries. I own a selfbuilt =
basic K2,
# 2406, CW only, with only add's-on KAF2 & NB. I normally use a 700 Hz =
or 400 Hz bandwidth and where necessary the KAF2.
I have the original X-tal's - as delivered with the set - in use, =
grounded on the top only. I added a second ground wire on the top of =
each X-tal that goes to the unused groundholes for the SSB-module. The =
filters were adjusted with the help of "Spectrogram" and the shape of =
the filtercurves is about the same as the shape of the curves of N0SS =
filters after renewing his X-tals. So I have no intention to order new =
crystal's for my K2. Up till now I also have not noticed (with a warmed =
through set) any frequency drift during longer QSO's, say for abt. 20-30 =
minutes. I did not measure that with "Spectrogram".
During the contest I used abt. 4 Wtts out in a small 2-el Hybrid Quad =
antenna at abt. 30 ft. high for 10/15 m, a GP highest point 30 ft. for =
20 m and wire dipoles for 40 & 80 m at abt 21 ft. high. Due to =
environmental problems I cannot go much higher. The antennes are of =
course too low for serious DX work, but up till now I have confirmed =
QSL's of 95 DXCC countries worked QRP only. So there is hope for =
everyone with less then optimal antennes.
Summarising I find the K2 a big success with the complements to Elecraft =
and its designers and customer support group.
I also still own the Heathkit HW-8 & HW-9 from the past. And from more =
recent times the INDEX QRP+ which are all gathering dust.

73/72,
Robert, PA0RBO

GQRP Club member # 6918
Benelux QRP Club # 783

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