[Elecraft] Best band for low cost DXing?

[Jim Brown]

On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 05:57:34 -0700, Darwin, Keith wrote:

>Those are my thoughts.  What are yours?

The best band for DXing is the one on which you can put up the 
most effective antennas compared to other hams who want to work 
that DX. 30M is a very nice band because of the 200W power 
limitation in many parts of the world, and the ease of putting up 
a decent antenna. 

40M is also a nice DX band, again because antennas are easy and 
fewer big guns have beams. 80M is a nice band for DX if your QTH 
allows a relatively high dipole or a vertical with radials. 160M 
is tougher, because propagation is often just good enough for a 
QSO with high power to get over the noise, and because big 
antennas are required. I've done quite well with a 70 ft top-
loaded vertical with radials on 160, but I need to use the KW amp 
to much DX. 

The problem for a little pistol on 20M and 15M is competition from 
guys with lots of aluminum. 17M is a nice DX band because it's 
less crowded. 

As to which antennas are best -- that will depend a lot on your 
QTH. At mine, a ground-mounted vertical on 30 or 40 is a waste of 
time, but it's great on 80 and 160. But I've got tall trees that 
let me get dipoles up high, and they work great. Which antenna 
works best will also depend on band conditions. There are times 
that a high angle will get DX that a low angle will miss, and vice 
versa. 

73,

Jim K9YC