[Elecraft] KX3 in the ARRL International DX contest

[Jimk8mr at aol.com]

Add me to the list of KX3 ops in the ARRL CW DX Contest.
 
I spent about 11 hours as HI/K8MR, operating with very simple wires from  
the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino resort in Punta Cana. Totaled 615 QSOs with 172  
Multipliers. There were some very slow times for us,  especially on the low 
 bands, when European signals were booming in, much louder than stateside. 
But we  couldn't work them in this contest  :-(
 
Best rate was an hour+ of 140/hr on 15 (and some 10) operating under a  
beach hut with a 10 foot piece of wire strung around the underside of the hut's 
 framework. Precautions were used to protect the radio: I taped over all 
unused  connecters and screw holes, and kept the radio in a ZipLoc bag, open 
only enough  to get out the coax and keyer and headphone lines. Sent by hand 
and logged on  paper from the beach!
 
Night time operation (and late afternoon after the internal batteries ran  
out) was from the room with wires run from our fourth floor balcony.
 
Jim, W8WTS, was also with me and shared time at the radio, using HI/W8WTS.  
I don't have his final results but I believe they were similar to mine.
 
I was able to pack all the radio stuff in the equivalent space of slightly  
less than a carry on suitcase. (A few tools did have to go in checked 
luggage).  Definitely a new horizon in contest expeditioning!
 
 
73  -  Jim   K8MR