[Elecraft] KPA-500 vs others

[Jack Chomley]

On Wed, Jun 22, 2011 at 9:27 PM, Brian Alsop <alsopb at nc.rr.com> wrote:

SNIP>>
> For me, it is pretty convincing (I'm a primarily a DXer) that 1500 watts
> suits my operating needs, 500 watts does not.  For example two maps run
> this morning on 40M shows zero probability of making a contact with VK,
> however with 1500 watts it the probability becomes reasonable.
>
> One factor VOACAP can't consider is competition.   I think it is a given
> that more 5db power will suit you better in a pileup.  If you're an old
> goat and your biological clock it ticking, working what you can hear
> quickly makes sense.
>
> However, everyone's circumstances are different.  But at least one ought
> to try to evaluate them with available tools rather than just relying on
> word of mouth.
>
> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>

That might be fine, you use 1500 watts to get to VK.Trouble is,  VK has a
limit of 400 watts, and a very large percentage of VK operators only run 100
watts :-)
So, do you have a great RX to make up the difference?
To each his own, but I have heaps of success with 10 watts :-)
Generally, IF the propagation is there, I have a fair chance of making
contacts, provided I am not hearing just 1500 watt stations, everywhere :-)
I am not after quantity of contacts, just quality contacts!

73,

Jack VK4JRC