[Elecraft] KPA-500 vs others

[n5ge at n5ge.com]

I just fired up my Ham Cap and DX Atlas Applications that measure s/n ratio on a
AZ map.

Choosing VK4 as the other end of a 14MHz circuit, the predicted results at VK4
with a three element Yagi-Uda are as follows:

100w -  s/nr 40 dB

500w -  s/nr 47 dB

1500w - s/nr 51 dB

In all three cases the s/nr is adequate for two way communication.

The circuit between N5GE and VK4 on the one way path from N5GE could be as high
as 51 dB at VK4 if I'm using my 1500w TX, but on my end if VK4 is using 100w,
then my 1500w doesn't help make the s/nr at my RX even one dB better. 

Good antennas and RX are 30% of the equation and skill is the other 70%.

73,
Tom
Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
ARRL Lifetime Member
QCWA Lifetime Member
  

On Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:27:42 +0000, Brian Alsop <alsopb at nc.rr.com> wrote:

[snip]
>BTW in the 500 vs 1500 watt debate, there is a tool which can pretty 
>much settle the issue.  It's called VOACAP.  It is a propagation 
>coverage tool which allows you to specify your power, antenna and 
>produces a map of what coverage you'll get for the prevailing solar 
>indices and time of day.   There is a free online version at:
>
>http://www.voacap.com/prediction.html
>
[snip]