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

[Fred Smith]

Aaron

Good job on the contest what more could ask for, well other than a
mono-bander at 100' 8>). Some of the time you can get an idea by listening
to the op if he might take the time to work you. If he is going machine gun
style with canned CQ and only the numbers I don't even waste my time as I
could care less about score. All that I do is search and pounce on ones I
need. If you want lots of contacts use digital modes or CW with all canned
responses like 95% of them do where all you do is push a button and a
decoder. The decoders work fine in most contests as the canned ones being
sent are mostly keyboard entries. They are not so good for DXpedition's


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

 unless you check the operation first to see what they are using never slow
down one of them trying to use a reader for CW.

I made 6 SOTA contacts in the last few days as I chase  those when I spot
one. In the fall several friends and I will be activating a few within our
area.

-----Original Message-----
From: Aaron Melton [mailto:aaron at aaronmelton.com] 
Sent: Saturday, July 06, 2013 4:36 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net; KX3 at yahoogroups.com
Subject: 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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