LF: 137kHz activity

[Roger Lapthorn <rogerlapthorn@gmail.com>]

My QRPp 137kHz experiments are now on hold until next week as we've our younger grandson and his mum and dad with us for a few days, so I lose the shack as it doubles as a bedroom. Thank you for your reports thus far to my QRSS3 and WSPR tests.

From the tests this last couple of weeks I'm beginning to think Mal G3KEV was right. 

On 137kHz QRP just does not "do the business", unless one is prepared to erect a much beefier antenna, run more power than 5W from the PA, and be very patient with slower QRSS and DFCW modes. My "sphere of influence" would seem to be out to about 75km maximum with the system I currently have. Going up in ERP requires me to look more carefully at higher output PAs, heatsinking, rating of capacitors, thicker antenna wire (more obvious in the air to neighbours). It moves me away from my, self-imposed, QRP ethos in which I wanted to explore the limits of a truly simple QRP station on 136kHz. It has been a great learning experience for me though and there are still a few more dBs to squeeze out yet.

I'll be on again next week from Monday, probably giving 137.5kHz WSPR a good go, before drawing the tests to a natural close and leaving the band to the big gun stations.

73s
Roger G3XBM

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G3XBM   GQRP 1678    ISWL G11088