[Elecraft] Is it my KX3/antenna or is it lousy band condx?

[donovanf at starpower.net]

Hi Mike, 


You're in a perfect storm of 
- high urban noise, 
- QRP power, 
- inefficient modulation if you're using only SSB voice 
- low sunspot activity, 
- a very inefficient antenna, and 
- an urban environment that makes any antenna much less efficient 


Spokane is surrounded by beautiful rural parks and public lands 
w here you can easily escape your high urban noise environment. 


You didn't mention what modulation you're using. If you're using 
only SSB voice, you've chosen the least efficient modulation method. 
CW or the highly efficient digital modes such as FT8 or JT65 are 
far better choices for QRP power. 



You'll enjoy much better success if you focus on the 40, 30 and 20 
meter bands which are much less affected by the current low sunspot 
conditions. 17 meters can also be a good choice for QRP power and 
simple antennas on days when when propagation is favorable. 


While y our vertical with a minimal ground system could be an adequate 
antenna on the ocean front hundreds of miles from your QTH, its a 
terribly inefficient antenna in your urban environment 


Any horizontally polarized antenna would be a much better choice. 
A half wave horizontally polarized dipole or a properly engineered 
half wave end fed antenna are much better choices. Horizontally 
polarized antennas at least 15 feet high are fairly efficient for 
domestic contacts. They perform much better for DX contacts if they're 
on a hilltop, mountaintop or steeply sloping terrain. 


If you're a member of a local radio club they can help you quickly 
gain some success. 


73 
Frank 
W3LPL 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Mike Parkes" <mspmail2 at gmail.com> 
To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2017 4:33:41 PM 
Subject: [Elecraft] Is it my KX3/antenna or is it lousy band condx? 

Okay I am reaching our to the Elecraft enthusiasts here for some feedback 
if anyone cares to chime in. 
I am just getting back on the air after years away from the hobby, so I am 
not that familiar with band conditions in general. It looks like the 
sunspot cycle is heading for the cellar (if it isn't already there). 

Recently bought a KX3 and a Buddistick vertical (like, 2 weeks ago). Love 
the KX3 it is a great radio... however... so far my efforts to hear much of 
anything, much less make a contact with someone, has been frustrating to 
say the least. I live in an apartment and am surrounded by power lines for 
one thing. The background noise level on 40 is pretty bad varies but is 
s7-9 mostly. I took my setup to a nearby park and the bands were 
definitely quieter. So the local manmade noise level is an issue (and one 
reason I chose the KX3 was the hope that its rcvr and filtering could help 
with that.) 

Have yet to make a single contact, so I am just wondering if I just 
happened to choose a really lousy period of solar conditions for HF? Or is 
the base loaded vertical a joke? 

I would love to be able to find another ham even close by just to try and 
get some sort of an HF QSO even if it is with someone down the block. 
...I can tune down to the AM broadcast band and was able to hear some local 
AM stations. :) 

Mike AB7RU 

(On a side note the tuner in the KX3 is great!. That thing was able to get 
a match for 80 meters on the Buddistick which was showing something like 
25:1 swr. The KX3 tuner clicked and rattled for a while and found a match 
to <2:1. Not sure how much actual RF is going out, probably not much... but 
I was amazed it could tune to that high an SWR.) 
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