[Elecraft] KX3 Setup For Contesting?

Tue Jul 2 09:42:37 EDT 2013

Well all I work is DX and have worked some very good ones the exact way I
describe as well as DXpedition's both QRP and QRO. I'm not talking about the
KX3 or Fred's knowledge of the radios I have all his material books and PDF.
Versions. I plead "No Contest" as far as either the K3 or KX3 I always defer
to him about the radios.

 In fact yesterday I received my latest "QRP" QSL card ZK3N using the KX3
with the appended N0AZZ/QRP they too asked others to stand by for the QRP
station. You just need to know when to try I worked them on 20m at 05:47 utc
at other hrs it would have been impossible to work him on 20m. 

So all I can add to the OP is do what works for you mine may work for anyone
else. But I'm 31 countries away from QRP DXCC since I started on it
02/17/13.

73,
Fred/N0AZZ
K3 Ser # 6730--KX3 # 2573--K2/100 # 6470-KAT100
P3/SVGA--KPA500--KAT500--W2

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ariel Jacala
Sent: Tuesday, July 02, 2013 8:13 AM
To: Cady, Fred
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 Setup For Contesting?

I would listen to Fred - he wrote the book (quite literally) on the KX3
..... :-) my answer to the post says the same.

Ariel NY4G  

Sent from my iPad

On Jul 2, 2013, at 9:05 AM, "Cady, Fred" <fcady at ece.montana.edu> wrote:

> Hate to rain on the /qrp parade, but when I've operated on the DX side,
and particularly during a contest, believe me, I'm looking to work stations
as fast as possible. So that means that the station that catches my ear, be
it the loudest, or most in the clear, or on the right frequency at the right
pitch, or just timed correctly gets the response. Adding /qrp doesn't' help
(for me to pick your call out). In fact, it's pretty annoying to have to
wait through the unnecessary /qrp once I've zeroed in on your call. And it's
really, really annoying when stations just send qrp qrp without their call.
That's a bit like "last two". Yuck. Send your call at the right time on the
right frequency and you'll get through.
> My $0.02 worth and probably valid only for me.
> 
> Cheers,
> Fred KE7X
> 
> Fred Cady
> "The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration, and Operation 2nd Ed"
> "The Elecraft KX3 - Going for the Summit"
> www.ke7x.com
> www.lulu.com (20% discount code is JULYBOOKS13) fcady at ieee dot org
> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft- 
>> bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred Smith
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 02, 2013 6:46 AM
>> To: 'Aaron Melton'; elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 Setup For Contesting?
>> 
>> Hi Aaron
>> 
>> For official QRP SSB it's 10w instead of 5w. I'm not a contester but 
>> do work some of the contests looking for DX now mostly for my QRP 
>> DXCC. New contracts for my regular DXCC are getting harder to come by 
>> and have been fewer and far between so QRP just made sense.
>> 
>> When I'm trying to work a new contact I do append my call with a QRP 
>> many times I'm covered up by presentence pay off. Usually they will 
>> finally notice and you will hear a standby for the QRP station. Don't 
>> be surprised if a ORO station jumps in front of you it happens, just 
>> hang in the DX will know the difference.
>> 
>> Do I get them all no but that is why QRP is fun and SSB are the 
>> hardest contacts to make. CW and digital are the easiest way to work 
>> QRP that's why they are limited to 5w and not 10w like SSB. Good luck 
>> and enjoy you may not make the most contacts or the highest score but 
>> you will have fun.
>> 
>> 
>> 73,
>> Fred/N0AZZ
>> K3 Ser # 6730--KX3 # 2573--K2/100 # 6470-KAT100
>> P3/SVGA--KPA500--KAT500--W2
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
>> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Aaron Melton
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 02, 2013 6:44 AM
>> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 Setup For Contesting?
>> 
>> [Cross-posting between KX3 Yahoo Group & Elecraft mailing list.]
>> 
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> I'm sure at least a few of you read this email to see if this was a 
>> joke...
>> :D
>> 
>> I originally purchased a KX3 for portable ops, SOTA, etc. and it's 
>> been an awesome rig in that regard. However, I'd like to participate 
>> in a few DX contests from time to time and this is currently my only 
>> HF rig.  I know that operating QRP means I'm getting clobbered more 
>> often than not by higher power stations, but is like to know if 
>> anyone else has any tricks they'd like to share?
>> 
>> If you operate QRP (5 watts) during normal contests, what/how do you 
>> do?
>> 
>> I have experimented with the mic gain and its currently set to 30 
>> (which seems to provide the most power before detrimentally 
>> distorting my voice). I haven't touched this dial since week one.
>> 
>> I've alternated adjusting the voice compression at times, but haven't 
>> had much opportunity to get feedback from another station on how well 
>> (or
>> not)
>> it might improve cutting through the noise.
>> 
>> I've been told that taking some of the lows out of my voice (EQ?) 
>> might help as well?
>> 
>> Finally, I've started appending "stroke QRP" to the end of my call 
>> when contacting other stations. It doesn't make it more likely that 
>> I'll be heard, but if heard I find I usually receive preferential
treatment.
>> 
>> Have you any radio settings or techniques that would help a new(er) 
>> KX3 owner and wannabe contester?
>> 
>> Thanks!
>> 
>> Aaron
>> de KK4LOV
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