Nice review Bob. I’m A fan of everything that’s challenging. QRP is really quite amazing when you think about it. The same call that you think takes 100 watts can be done with only 5 if you’re persistent and the person on the other end is patient. Sometimes, it just works out right away though. QRP is a ham radio niche market that I think is growing, especially among younger licensees. Pretty cool.
Nicholas, the Elecraft KX3 is a 10 Watt transceiver. To be effective at that power level, a user of such would need the best antenna possible for effective, long range communications. The antenna should be a full size dipole, at a minimum. There are smaller antennas, such as whips, or magnetic loops, which do work, but an antenna that is high off the ground and offers a good SWR match, without the use of a wide range antenna tuner, is always the way to go. A typical dipole, cut to the band of operation, can be tuned, if needed, by the internal antenna tuner of the KX3. Of course, radio propagation is everything. You may have the best antenna system on the Planet, but if the propagation isn’t there, you do not have effective, long range communications. I would suggest studying how propagation works and understanding when the best time and frequency is to be able contact the desired location. All operators have to have knowledge of how the ionosphere works in order to communicate effectively.
Bob is a lefty. Did you reverse that paddle, or do you always use them backwards? How did it feel?
Nice review Bob.
I’m A fan of everything that’s challenging.
QRP is really quite amazing when you think about it. The same call that you think takes 100 watts can be done with only 5 if you’re persistent and the person on the other end is patient.
Sometimes, it just works out right away though. QRP is a ham radio niche market that I think is growing, especially among younger licensees.
Pretty cool.
If I wanted to use a kx3 for a home use only setup for CW, what else would I need to make it effective for long range transmissions?
Nicholas, the Elecraft KX3 is a 10 Watt transceiver. To be effective at that power level, a user of such would need the best antenna possible for effective, long range communications. The antenna should be a full size dipole, at a minimum. There are smaller antennas, such as whips, or magnetic loops, which do work, but an antenna that is high off the ground and offers a good SWR match, without the use of a wide range antenna tuner, is always the way to go. A typical dipole, cut to the band of operation, can be tuned, if needed, by the internal antenna tuner of the KX3. Of course, radio propagation is everything. You may have the best antenna system on the Planet, but if the propagation isn’t there, you do not have effective, long range communications. I would suggest studying how propagation works and understanding when the best time and frequency is to be able contact the desired location. All operators have to have knowledge of how the ionosphere works in order to communicate effectively.
Wow first comment, Nice radio thanks, Bob, from Henry WD5IAH