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Monday, September 20, 2010

They can't all be 599

nor should they be!

As a QRPer, there have been many times when a QSO has gone very well until I mentioned my output power.  Then all of a sudden, I become very difficult copy and the QSO comes to an abrupt halt as I have gone from 599 to 339 in a mere matter of seconds.  I am sure that this is legit, sometimes, as we've all had QSOs abruptly close like that due to changing band conditions.  But other times, I think it's psychological.

If you work stations that are only 599 and never weaker than that, you are going to miss a world of good contacts.  I got on 40 Meters tonight and started calling CQ without much luck.  I took a break for a bit and heard a less than optimal signal calling CQ.  The station was K2HYD/1 in Maine.

As it turns out, Ray K2YHD and I have QSOed several times before; but mostly in QRP Sprints.  Tonight we had a nice ragchew.  Ray is up in Maine doing some work in a state park, helping the park Rangers.  He was in his tent, using his KX1 and was sending out a 4 Watts signal out to a wire antenna up in the trees.  Ray was 559 with some QSB at times; but between the K2's filters and the gray filter between the ears, I was able to get 99 & 44/100th's % of what Ray was sending.  By the way, another "trick" I use is to make judicious use of the RIT knob to bring the CW pitch to a tone these tired ears can handle better.  I lost a lot of high end hearing as a result of photographing concerts back in a younger lifetime and different line of work.  Ear protection wasn't thought of back then like it is today.

But I digress.

If I hadn't bothered answering Ray because his signal wasn't blowing me out of the water, I would have missed out on a wonderful QSO.  Sometimes you have to dig a little deeper for those gems, you know?  And when you do, you will have found how worthwhile the effort was!

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

4 comments:

  1. hello Larry,
    "By the way, another "trick" I use is to make judicious use of the RIT knob to bring the CW pitch to a tone these tired ears can handle better."
    Absolutely, I did the same thing, it truly helps. Good luck, 73 Paul

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  2. I had a chance to talk to Ray on a 70cm repeater on his way from NC to VA (and eventually ME) a few days ago. My first chat with him. Enjoyed meeting him, and hope he makes it to a club meeting (in NC) sometime. Nice to hear that he made it to ME alright and is enjoying his "vacation".

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  3. Well put, Larry. The "599" mania is most pronounced in digital modes where it seems few people are capable of doing anything beyond pushing a few function keys. And as "599" is the macro default ... During my recent trip to SM7 land, I had about 120 contacts in digital modes, and more than 80% were "599". All with 5W and improvised antennas. RST has lost all meaning.
    73, Hermann, DF2DR

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  4. There IS some psychology with these contacts. I was shocked recently with the same response.

    Funny isn't it?

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