[Elecraft] P3 on DXpeditions (was P3 and SSTV)

[gary bartlett]

	I was all set to take my P3 to CY0 with N0TG and crew because I had
convinced myself that it would be the perfect tool for pile-up management as
the DX station.  I even went so far as having (very nice) matching K3/P3
cases made up by Rose.  The P3 case has sufficient remaining room for
cables, keyers, paddles, spare batteries, small tools, and cans, and is a
convenient complement to the K3.  Unfortunately the trip fell through
because of weather and everything below is still theory. 
	
	I figured that I could use the P3 to look around any given band
before I started creating a pile-up to see how much damage I might be doing,
and once I found the best (i.e., least offensive) portion of the band, I was
going to use the Span adjustment in Tracking Mode to set the upper boundary
of the pile-up so as to be able to contain the mess without worrying about
undue growth.  

	Then I was going to use the QSY knob regularly to drive the K3, when
required, to quiet areas of the pile-up and/or also to search through the
pile-up for my next target after I had finished with the one that was
already in the queue.  Both were intended to assist in keeping the rate up.
I was also curious to know if one could become as proficient with the P3
using the QSY knob in the Tracking Mode as one could by the conventional
method of tuning around with the K3 and listening only.  One certainly can
use that technique successfully in S&P contesting and I predict that one can
learn that skill in DXpeditions such that one was not always stuck with a
single method when running pile-ups. 

	As a contribution to the overall operation, I had a multi-band wire
dedicated to my K3 and I intended for all operators to use that with the P3
as a decision-making tool when moving around the bands at their stations.
Maybe catch an odd opening that way at a time when such occasional openings
were starting to show up in the current cycle.

	Finally, I was guessing that the P3 would be the perfect tool for
keeping QRM off my transmit frequency since interference would be so
obvious, and I could then use a little TX frequency agility to dance around
them.

	This was before the introduction of the P3 Fixed-tune Mode which
probably would have made things even better again for a P3 nut.

	I heard a DXpedition recently in which it was clear that the
operator was monitoring his TX QRG in something close to real time, so
perhaps someone has now already used a P3 on a DXpedition and can report on
its utility for that purpose.

	73,
	Gary, VE1RGB

	

	

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian Alsop
Sent: April 25, 2011 9:46 AM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3 and SSTV

Even more basic, why would a DXpedition want to bring a P3 along?  Extra 
box, weight, cables and no benefit.

73 de Brian/K3KO