[Elecraft] KAT500: Miracle on 160m

[eric norris]

Like many others I have been chasing TX5K around the bands.  I have an HF-2V vertical for 40/80/160 (with 160 resonator), though it is far too short at 31' to be effective on 160m. A couple of years ago I upgraded the radial system from 6 to 66 radials, and it works pretty well on 40m.  I have trouble making contacts even a couple hundred miles out on 160m.

One night while TX5K was working endless Europeans on 80m, I tuned on to TX5K's 160m QRG and found silence.  I started doing something else in the shack, then I heard QRL? Then CQ CQ de TX5K UP 3.  No one was there!  I frantically put the K3 into split mode (so easy), and started to call with 100 watts, forgetting that the antenna was tuned 20 KHz higher up for digital work.  The KAT500 started tuning, and I frantically hit TUNE on the K3 and the KAT500 made a margarita.  He started working other stations and my heart sank because I knew the only way he would hear my pipsqueak ERP signal would be with no one else there.  With the pileup growing I kept calling, and by SOME MIRACLE he came back to me!  Amazing!  It gave me quite a giggle to see the green square on 160 in DXA while trying to get him on 40 and 80 the next few nights.  You just never know!

73 Eric WD6DBM