[Elecraft] K2 2644 & the PA QSO Party: SSB Lessons Learned

[Fr Stephen King]

This passed weekend I took some time to operate the PA QSO party from here
in Western New York.  They have a QRP division, so it seemed a worthy test
of the new station location here near Buffalo and a new antenna (40m doublet
up only about 30 feet).

My goal for the contest was to sweep all 67 counties.  I was planning on
doing most of my operation on CW since there was a point bonus for CW
contacts and as I "knew" CW is the "proper" QRP mode.

Well, as it turned out, most of the activity on 40m (the only band I could
operate really because of the constraints of propagation and antenna) seemed
to be on SSB.   So I decided to give it a shot. I've only made a handful of
QSO's on SSB with the K2 (including the Heil mic), operating under the
notion that SSB and QRP really do not mix ...

Well, I set out hunting and pouncing for counties!  I did not make my goal,
but did work 60 (of 67) counties.  More significantly, I found I could
eventually work just about every station I could hear at the 5w level.  When
I mentioned I was working QRP I got some very good signal reports.

Bottom Line:  I was truly amazed at how well my little 5w of SSB was getting
out.  I never really tried SSB in the past because of my false notion that
QRP and SSB are incompatible.  I have seen the light!  Admitting your
problem is the first step to recovery!  So, if you are like me and have
never given your QRP SSB with your K2 a try -- try it!  You might be as
amazed as I was!!!

Now when is that Phone SS weekend ......?

Peace & 73
Stephen
W3SMK
K2 #2644