[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Report for July 10th & 11th, 2011

[Merv Schweigert]

Its been kept a secret for a few years now but is bound to come to light,
its been found that during a weekend with high activity, such as a contest
all the K3s that are on the air suck the RF from the bands,
Everyone using the K3 is searching for every stray smidgen of RF out
there and as we all know if a K3 is tuned to a signal it extracts a
certain amount of energy from that signal,  thus when there are many
K3s active and tuned to these weak signals there is almost no RF
left to extract for others.
Thats why you hear the comments "my K3 hears signals others do not"
etc.  They can be called RF suckers in one sense, the more k3s active there
are the worse the "propagation" or conditions will become.
You may have noticed in the past few years since the introduction of the
K3 that conditions have not improved and in fact seem to be getting
worse,  perhaps in correlation to the number of K3s in use?
Elecraft is working at fever pace to try and come up with some solution
to this problem,  and firmware is in testing stages for the K3 to transmit
a very low level signal back on the air to replace the RF that it has
sucked out.  So standby when you hear conditions improving you know
that the test have been successful and E will shine again with new and
futuristic developments in the hobby.
So far it does not appear there are any lawsuits over the removal of so
much RF from the spectrum,  but it is suspect they may be forthcoming
by other radio manufacturers who are undated by calls their radios are
not receiving as well.
The retransmit module will be a small daughter board that will fit in the
K3 with no problem and will be minimal charge.  Those not installing the
new update will be subject to being called signal hogs and signal suckers
and if found participating in contests will be disqualified.
73 and good DXing Merv K9FD/KH6

> I've noticed the same thing.  It's as if something is absorbing our signals.
>   Things are happening!!!
>
> Gary, N7HTS
>
>
> On Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:11:07 -0700
>    "Kevin Rock"<kevinr at coho.net>  wrote:
>    
>> Good Evening,
>>     What in the world has happened to propagation lately?  On twenty meters
>> before the net I scanned the band and found a number of folks on the air.
>> But when I called the net I heard nothing for the entire time.  First
>> skunk for me in nine years.  I guess it had to happen sometime but why did
>> it not occur during the depth of the solar cycle?  According to
>> SpaceWeather.com there are many spots on the sun but they are not
>> improving propagation.  During the last few months I keep checking to see
>> if my antenna has fallen down.
>>      Luckily forty meters was not as bad.  It is still limited to the West
>> Coast but at least I could hear a few folks.  Only the first two on the
>> following list however.  The next two were relayed to me by Dale.  I heard
>> just a peep from Phil but nothing at all from Don.  Guess San Diego is out
>> of my range!  I wonder where my twenty meter signal was landing?  It sure
>> seems to have missed North America.
>>
>>     On to the lists =>
>>
>>    On 14050.5 kHz at 2200z:
>> No stations heard.
>>
>>    On 7045.5 kHz at 0000z:
>> K6PJV - Dale - CA - K3 - 1183
>> NK6A - Don - CA - K3 - 4569
>> NS7P - Phil - OR - K3 - 1826
>> AE6II - Don - CA
>>
>>    I can only hope twenty meters improves over the week.  I know the
>> weather is going back to wet and chilly again.  For the next week the
>> highs will be in the 50s.  I am glad I still have wood left for the
>> stove!  We had a few days of warm weather and sun.  That was nice.  74
>> degrees one day felt hot.  I am glad the thimbleberries were in full bloom
>> for the warm days.  The bees have been very active with them right outside
>> my radio shack window.  Hopefully a lot of berries will be set since these
>> are my favorites.  Year by year my patch of them grows larger.  It won't
>> be long before I get to compete with the deer to eat them :)
>>     Until next week stay well,
>>        73,
>>           Kevin.  KD5ONS  (Net Control Operator 5th Class)
>>
>> -
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