[Elecraft] [K2] XV50 vs FT817?

[Tim O'Rourke]

I would strongly disagree on several points!
I have run 6 meter QRP for years and they do not call it the magic band for nothing.
I have 50+ countries on 6 meter QRP at last count.
I run QRP from QTH as well as mountain tops and when conditions are right you do not need more than a few watts for SSB or CW and yes most VHF contest have CW activity although not as much as I would like.
As for the virtues of KXV verses the 817 I use both but the 817 is my mtn top rig even with the higher current drain I like one rig for all bands, I use a 220 5 watt xverter fron a QST article with the 817 also. The KXV's are more sensitive and have a little more output and I use them at QTH. I like the ease of switching bands and the offsets for keeping frequency easy to see.
Personaly I just do not like taking my K2 and transverters mountain topping. 
Tim W4YN


Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K2] XV50 vs FT817?
To: "Peter Wollan" <peter.wollan at gmail.com>,
	<Elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <BD1E3CEA7D744B80AFC4CCF7084403BF at BILLSLAPTOP>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

Peter,

There are no VHF CW contests, per se. There is usually some 50 MHz CW activity 
in the June ARRL VHF QSO party and the July CQ WW VHF contest, but this is 
probably about 10% or less of the activity level on SSB. DX chasing, on the 
other hand, is typically more fruitful on CW. But chasing 6 meter DX with QRP is 
an exercise in frustration. DX signal levels are simply too weak for QRP.

For 6m SSB, you will want at least 100W output into a decent directional antenna 
to be competitive in the Low Power category of ARRL VHF (up to 200W). There are 
no power categories in the CQ WW, so you're competing directly against the KWs 
in this one.

Bottom line -- Outside of extremely strong 50 MHz sporadic-E openings, "VHF" and 
"QRP" don't really go together that well, though some guys do seem to enjoy the 
challenge. For me, life is too short for 6m QRP. :-)  I enjoy making QSOs too 
much, I guess.

Good luck,
Bill W5WVO


Peter Wollan wrote:
> An XV50 + KIO2, adding on to a QRP K2, is getting within shouting
> distance of the cost of an FT817.  Could someone comment on the
> relative merits, for use as a first multimode VHF rig?  My guess is
> that the XV50 is better, but does less.  In addition to just exploring
> on CW and SSB, I'd want to participate in some VHF CW contests.
>
>    Peter N8MHD

Tim O'Rourke 
W4YN at ARRL.Net
Low Power Amateur Radio Rocks 
Member of Flying Pigs,ARCI,GQRP,RSGB,ARRL Life Member
NHRA Life Member