[Elecraft] KPA100 recommended max power for digital modes?

[Don Wilhelm]

Doug,

While low power may have been the recommendation, I started in PSK31 in 
2000 when I had only a K2/10.  I ran it in the 5 to 10 watt range.  When 
I revealed my power level, many ops asked why I was running only that 
much power.

So the "push for higher power" has been going on since shortly after the 
beginning of PSK31.

While I do use it occasionally, that factor and the preponderance of 
"hello, brag sheet, goodbye" QSOs has soured me on the mode.  It used to 
be a lot of keyboard to keyboard ragchew QSOs, but that is rare these 
days.  No opportunity to get to know something about the ham you are in 
QSO with.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/22/2014 5:05 PM, Doug VE3VS wrote:
> Hi Glenn,
> I started using PSK31 many, many years ago, when it was first introduced by
> a ham in the UK. It was made very clear to operators that minimum power
> should always be used for a QSO.  It was suggested that more than 10 watts
> was excessive. As mentioned in one of the other replies, many transmissions
> can fall within the receiver passband when using this mode. If you, or
> anyone else uses much higher power, that strongest signal will "take over"
> the passband on most receivers, spoiling other QSOs that are going on at the
> time.
>
> I have noticed over the past five years or more there has been a steady
> increase in the power being used by thoughtless or unknowing operators. As a
> result of this power creep, I have drifted away from a mode that I once
> thoroughly enjoyed.
>
> With your KX3, you should not normally need an amp to use PSK31.
>