[Elecraft] K3 6/10M pre-amp

[Jim Brown]

On 7/7/2013 11:10 AM, Keith Heimbold wrote:
> I think a preamp with the K3 is an absolute necessity out here in Southern California with a small six element antenna for 6m.

Whether a preamp is needed depends entirely on your own noise level, and 
as another post noted, the antenna gain.  With a 4-el Yagi on a fairly 
long boom (3-el SteppIR), I definitely DO need a preamp.  I use an ARR 
GasFET at the K3 patch point that I bought long before the K3 existed.  
There's an easy way to figure out if you need a preamp.  If the noise 
level increases by at least 6-7 dB when you connect the antenna, you 
don't need a preamp.

> Btw, I have not heard before anyone on the east coast refer to their location as a black hole for 6m.  This is definitely a first for me.  When you live in Southern California and you get the chance to DX to Europe about one or two days every decade.

Your surely have that right.  Out here in the SF Bay Area, I've NEVER 
heard EU on 6M, and there have been VERY few Es openings this season.  
The last good one was the first day of the June ARRL VHF contest.  At 
the same time that we watch the east coast working EU, the Caribbean, 
and each other.  In six seasons, I've worked 13 countries on 6M with 
500W and that SteppIR. Out here, DXCC on 6M is something you do in a 
lifetime from a high QTH with a BIG antenna. I know that K6QXY and K6KLY 
have done it, and it took them a LONG time.

73, Jim K9YC