[Elecraft] Considering a KPA-500

[Fred Jensen]

Easy to do with the NCDXF beacons.

http://www.ncdxf.org/beacon/intro.html

Each station transmits at 100, 10, 1, and 0.1 W in its time slot, a 
range of 30 dB.  Most of the time on 14.100, 4U1UN in NYC is readable 
here on the western frontier at all four power levels, although the 100 
mW level isn't likely to be a pile-up buster. :-)  The striking thing 
for me at least is that the apparent difference between 100 and 10 W [10 
dB], while noticeable, really isn't all that great.  I doubt I could 
pick out a 4 or maybe even 5 dB difference in most cases.

I'm firmly convinced that operator skill is the largest factor by a huge 
margin.  NAQP's are 100 W max.  Compare my NAQP CW scores [www.nccc.cc] 
with the scores of the "masters" like K6XX, K9YC, or most anyone 
operating at N6RO, W7RN, N0NI, or W9RE.  They're at least 20-25 "dB" 
better than I am.

As far as DXing goes, my CQP buddy Larry, W4UAT, is at the top of the 
honor roll [5B] from a city lot in Livermore CA.  I might get to 200 
mixed if I ever got around to sending my cards in.  The difference? -- 
I've watched him work DX, he runs circles around me.

If I was really serious about DX, and I had to choose 100W + P3 vs 1500W 
and no P3, I'd take the 100 W + P3 in a heartbeat.  I originally bought 
mine as a "toy" ... today, it's really all I watch if I'm in a pile-up 
or contest.

And, contrary to at least one opinion, this is not "rope-a-dope" and I'm 
not sandbagging for the next contest ... I'm just not in the same league 
as those who win.  Now, I did take "1st in W6" in a JIDX CW a few years 
ago.  This could be accurately restated as "Next to Last in W6" too. :-))

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015
- www.cqp.org

On 4/24/2015 10:55 AM, dyarnes wrote:

> What you may want to do is run a test with someone who can vary his
> power widely so that you can hear the difference yourself.