[Elecraft] KX3 digital

[Bill Frantz]

I have done most of my QSOs on PSK31 and 5 watts. They include 
49 states (still missing Rhode Island), and about 16 DXCC 
entities including Japan, Cuba, Brasil, and Australia. You can 
have a lot of fun with 5 watts, and with QRP you'll have stories 
about the ones that got away.

Don's advice about narrowing your bandwidth is very good advice. 
I generally use the HI/Low bandwidth adjustments on my K3 to 
narrow the bandwidth around the station I am trying to contact 
until my 250Hz filter kicks in. (I lock the K3 VFO to avoid 
bumping it and moving the station on my computer waterfall.) 
Your KX3 has similar controls for the DSP bandwidth. I find my 
dynamic range limit is in the audio interface to the computer, 
and narrowing the bandwidth in the DSP gets rid of most of the 
other stations which overload the computer sound input.

Have fun with the digital modes.

Cheers - Bill, AE6JV

On 1/11/13 at 3:13 PM, ny4g at hotmail.com (Ariel Jacala) wrote:

>5 watts on PSK will work if you are in an empty section on the 
>waterfall.  In a crowded situation with strong signals nearby, 
>you will be stepped on and obliterated by the strong signal.  
>Certain DX stations are notorious for overdriving the waterfall 
>and wiping out other signals.  You are better off calling CQ in 
>location away from nearby strong signals.  At 5 watts your 
>printing on the waterfall can be faint depending on 
>propagation.  I did get Hawaii once on PSK with my K2.  My luck 
>with PSK has always been better at 25-30 watts.  That is just 
>the nature of this mode.  At QRP power, CW is much more 
>efficient.  Make sure you have enough drive to just trigger the 
>ALC circuit.  You are also better off decoding the PSK signal 
>with Fldigi or DM780 - just a better PSK experience with the 
>macros and all.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz        |Security, like correctness, is| Periwinkle
(408)356-8506      |not an add-on feature. - Attr-| 16345 
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com |ibuted to Andrew Tanenbaum    | Los Gatos, 
CA 95032