[NLRS] 10Ghz "range" - preamps -

[Bill Davis Jr]

   Location, Location, Location .... then Conditions, Conditions, Conditions .... then Season, Season, Season etc

   I would not suggest that one can get an idea of ones "average" 10Ghz QSO range without a pretty big sample
of data. How does one "adjust" the data for a Buck Hill location to a portable? How does one "adjust" the data for
exceptional locations at one or both ends of a path? In general, last weekend was pretty good prop here. 

 
Gary  W0GHZ and I with 8watts, 18" dishes at 55ft can work almost every
day during the summer,but we have had a real struggle the last couple
years once we get out of the summer season. Even during the summer on
CW we quite often have
not a lot of margin to work with and we are at about 155miles or 245km.

  It is my opinion that one buys a preamp to make that difficult QSO possible more than perhaps increase your average. A
better
measure might be, how many times are you heard when you can't hear the
other guy? That will help you make that that call. There are quite a
few 8w portables out there that hear well ... With that 8w they will be
6db louder than you at 2W.
That 6db helps only you. If and when you
go to 8w... I would recommend revisiting the preamp issue if you don't
go with a preamp now.

73  K0AWU  EN37ed