[Elecraft] K1 band selection -Friendly opinions

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Depends upon which band is "open". 

The "WARC" bands (including 17 meters) are great, but the simple truth is
they are not as well populated as the old standbys (10, 15, 20, 40, 80,
160). I think that's due, in part, to the popularity of multi-band coax-fed
antennas. Those antennas that cover the WARC bands (12, 17, and 30 meters)
are less common and more expensive. And there are still a significant number
of old "pre-WARC" rigs out there that don't cover those bands. Of course
that will slowly change, just as the "new" 15 meter band slowly became a
"standard" after its introduction in the 1950's. 

If I had to make that choice, I'd take 15 meters in a moment because:

1) As the spots return it'll be open more often. Sunspots provide for a
higher MUF, so the MUF will cross 21 MHz more often than 25 MHz. Indeed,
that's true now.  

2) There are more stations on 15 meters.

For the *best* DX conditions, one wants to be working very close to the MUF,
not just "below" the MUF. That's what makes the added bands so great when
you can QSY to follow it. So for chasing maximum DX perhaps the 17 meters
might provide a small advantage *when* conditions are right, but if I were
limited to one or the other, I'd stay with 15.

Either way you're going to have a lot of fun with that K1, Carl! 

Ron AC7AC


-----Original Message-----
A brand new K1 is awaiting my soldering iron.

For the past week I've been agonizing over band selection

15 meters or 17 meters?


What's yer guess folks?  Which band will be best when the sunspots return?

Carl
WA7CS