[Elecraft] KX3 Setup For Contesting (Thanks for all the help!)

[k3ndm at comcast.net]

Aaron, 
Congratulations on a your first contest and the results. Keep at it and you'll discover that you can do quite a creditable job QRP as compared to many QRO operators. It really is just practice and timing. 

We did a QRP Field Day last year and took a second place in our category and our score beat out many QRO competitors. We've been at it for a few years. So, you should be able to replicate our results with on the air practice. Chasing DX is a good way to practice. Again, congratulations. 

Vy 73, 
Barry 
K3NDM 




----- Original Message -----
From: "Aaron Melton" <aaron at aaronmelton.com> 
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net, KX3 at yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Saturday, July 6, 2013 5:36:08 PM 
Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 Setup For Contesting (Thanks for all the help!) 

All, 

I received a nearly-overwhelming amount of responses to my email and I 
wanted to make sure I follow-up with you all to thank you and let you 
know the results of operating in my first contest QRP with the KX3. 

Although I failed to mention it in my original email, many of you 
correctly assumed that I would be operating SSB. I'm still not 
proficient (and comfortable) enough with CW to go that route yet. Of 
course, digital is just point-and-click. :) 

Many suggested using a high quality (or high gain) antenna. I don't 
know if you'd call what I'm using high quality, but it's what I've got 
and it seems to get the job done well enough. You can see my QRZ 
profile for more information about it. (It's approximately 250' of wire 
in a loop above my house.) 

It seemed split right down the middle on whether to use "QRP" in my call 
or not. Ultimately, I decided to go with it: "KK4LOV QRP." I heard 
several other stations announce themselves as QRP or portable. We can 
debate if it's right or wrong, but when heard, they ALWAYS received 
preference from the station calling CQ contest. 

Speaking of being heard, I avoided most pileups where the station 
calling CQ even had difficulty keeping up with all the calls. In the 
few instances where I did throw my call in the pile, I paused at least a 
second before stating my call. I suspect the other station rarely heard 
my actual call but frequently heard "QRP" unless my signal was being 
drowned out by a QRO station. 

As far as the KX3 setup was concerned, I received two bits of advice 
which really seemed to help. 
1. It was suggested I crank the speech compression ALL the way up. I 
had it on 10 (I think) and maxed it out at 30. 
2. Adjusted my TX EQ settings: TXEQ1-16, TXEQ2-16, TXEQ3-8, TXEQ8-16. 

All this and a lot of patience got me a "clean sweep" on the 13 Colonies 
contest running this week -- all on 5 watts SSB. So thanks to everyone 
for your help -- I'm sure this will improve my SOTA operations as well! 

Aaron 
de KK4LOV 
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