[Elecraft] KX-2 wish list

[roncasa]

 > K2DLJ wrote:

  Bottom line: Only one station acknowledged hearing me, and I was such a 
bad
> copy that he gave up on the qso before it started. I think with 5 or 10
> watts I would have made it.

SNIP

> QRP operating success depends greatly on finding great locations and
> operating at the best times. When I operate portable I may not be at a 
> good
> radio location, and the time of day for radio operation is often not the
> best. I want to be able to make a contact from anywhere, at any time, for
> emergency purposes (and to be able to operate when the xyl  wants to stop
> for a break). The reality is that no QRP HF radio easily makes contacts
> under these conditions, and I need every little edge I can get. A few dB 
> of
> signal improvement means a lot.


You're correct about needing perhaps few db improvement.

1 S-unit (on a meter, not by ear) consists of 6 db increase in received 
signal strength.

Thus, a transmit power must be increased FOUR times (400%) to achieve a 
received signal strength of
ONE S unit.

This means you have to increase from 5 to 20 watts to gain 1 S unit (400% X 
5).

 An increase to anything less will make a "tiny" difference. However, even 
an S 5 can sound like 599 to the ear.
All this depends on the propagation Gods. I do a secret ritual before air 
time (smile).

72
Ron, wb1hga