[Elecraft] Calling CQ on PSK-31

[Edward R Cole]

Well...my experience is that with a dipole on 20m all you need is 25w 
to work anyone.  I have worked many at 10w and an outside 
dipole.  With my K3/10 my max power out is 16w carrier and having no 
problems doing psk-31 using a HighGain TH3mk4 triband beam.  IMHO 
running above 25w on psk-31 is unnecessary (on 20m).  I can not 
provide an opinion for other bands as all my psk-31 has been on 20m.

However, I will soon be running psk-31 on 600m running up to 80wn (ERP~3w).

73, Ed - KL7UW
WD2XSH/45

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Message: 17
Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 15:46:09 -0400
From: "Tom W8JI" <w8ji at w8ji.com>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Calling CQ on PSK-31
To: "Elecraft" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>, "Frank MacDonell"
         <kd8fip at gmail.com>
Message-ID: <4304E524F84A4BFFBAF21D6E44788523 at radioroom>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
         reply-type=original

Frank,

There are multiple reasons you are not getting a response.

While it is true PSK is only a few dB better than CW under
ideal conditions,  some tend to pretend PSK is magical and
very low ERP will work wonders.
Unfortunately very weak signals are still very weak signals.
They will just be buried in the noise on the other station's
display. Even if they are printable when found, no one will
see you. Length of CQ is especially a factor when a signal
is really weak.


It's kind of like a world where everyone is equal and held
to the same low level, except with 5 watts and an indoor
antenna you are probably among the lowest of the equally
weak signals. You just won't stand out at all. CQing is not
the way to go when the signal is barely above noise. Have
fun calling people, that will be the best way with an indoor
antenna and 5 watts. CQing will be frustrating.


73 Tom



73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
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