[Elecraft] #3814 is going QRO

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

I'm a 99.9% CW op too, but 10 W SSB will also amaze you. 

Back "in the day" as SSB was first taking root, 10W PEP was a very common
power level. Even us old AM types (I ran a 1950's Viking Ranger) weren't
running much more. My Ranger did 65 watts dc input to the final, which was
about 40 watts RF output. But of that 2/3 was in the carrier leaving about
28 watts in the sidebands. And, of course, only sideband is used so I was
actually running less than 15 watts in either sideband. 

And I worked the world when 20/15/10 was open on "phone", many times working
SSB stations by carefully zero-beating them. After a report exchange I'd
casually mention I was running a Ranger and enjoy the consternation when
they discovered I had a carrier and two sidebands. Of course, there was a
LOT of AM signals on the bands back then so there wasn't an issue QRMing
another QSO with the unneeded sideband a couple of kHz away like we have
today. 

Even many "big guns" of the era ran only medium power AM rigs (100 -150
watts input), so they were at most 3 dB - 1/2 S-unit - better. Kilowatt rigs
were much scarcer in the 50's and 60's than they are today.

So, unless some careless, heavy-handed "big gun" stomps all over you, you
can work just about anything you can hear with 10W PEP. 

But as all of us brass pounders know, they'll copy CW FB long after the SSB
signal is hopelessly 'in the mud' Hi!

73

Ron AC7AC


-----Original Message-----
After nearly one year of operating my K3 at 10 watts, and being continually
amazed 
at what it can work, it is going QRO!
New PA is on order from Elecraft and was shipped same day I ordered it.
Why you ask do I want to go to 100 watts if it works out so great on 10 w?
Need 50 watts or so to drive the 8877, and we're going full power for CQWW 
and ARRL 160.
It's been a fun trip, a real blast.  I urge anyone considering a K3 and
being a bit 
short on funds to not be afraid of going on the bands with 10 watts.  You
will 
be amazed.
CW of course.

Rick  K2XT