Initial Experiences with KX3

Posted on by February 4, 2014
KX3 next to my 756 Pro III

KX3 next to my 756 Pro III

Now that the family Christmas celebrations are all done, I have finally been able to spend a little time with my new KX3.  I was very surprised that such a well performing transceiver could come  in such a small package.  After connecting an antenna and applying power I was surprised by how quiet the receiver was.  Initial A/B comparisons with my Icom 756 Pro III demonstrated that the KX3’s receiver was certainly on par with the 756 Pro III, but with a somewhat lower noise level.

My next step was to  make some contacts.  I connected a key and tuned across the 12m band and found PJ5/K6NAO (St. Eustatius) calling CQ.  I listened to him work a couple of stations before I gave him a call.  I was surprised when he returned my call on the first try.  I was  impressed that I had gotten through the pile-up  running only 8 watts (not true QRP, but still impressive).

Over the next couple of days I’ve worked Panama, the Virgin Islands, Antarctica, New Zealand, Alaska, Cuba, Bolivia, Finland and Belgium.  Two of the contacts were even SSB.  I also had a nice SSB QSO with a New Mexico station who gave me a 58 signal report.  This evening I even worked two stations in Japan.

My first few days with the KX3 have been very enjoyable.  I’m planning to use the KX3 in the NAQP CW Contest this weekend.  Hope to hear all of you.

73,

Fred, KC9QQ

Cube Sats Launch

Posted on by January 6, 2014
Cube Sats being Launched from ISS

Cube Sats being Launched from ISS

I don’t know how many of you saw this photo on the today’s Astronomy Photo of the day, so I am showing it hear in case you missed it.  The cube-sats are near and dear to we hams since they often carry Ham Radio beacons or repeaters.

This photo shows three cube-sats being released from the International Space Station last November.

73,

Fred, KC9QQ

In the Deep Freeze

Posted on by January 6, 2014
Heavy Snow and Frigid Weather at the QTH

Heavy Snow and Frigid Weather at the QTH

Well the snow has finally stopped, but the temperatures have been sitting -8 to -10 F  all day.  The temperatures are supposed to fall as low as -17 F tonight.  The storm that passed through yesterday and last night dumped a little over 12 inches of snow at my QTH.  The first 8 inches of snow was very wet and heavy.  The snow built up on the trees and brought a quite a few limbs down.

 

Limb that Brought Down Doublet (the broken wire can be seen to the left of the limb)

Limb that Brought Down Doublet (the broken wire can be seen to the left of the limb)

 

Unfortunately, one of the limbs brought down my 80M doublet.  This snow is going to have to melt off before I can make repairs to the doublet because I need to get up on my roof to retrieve the center insulator.  This is only the second time the doublet has come down in 5 years–both times it was hit by falling tree limbs!

 

 

During the worst part of the snow storm my log periodic accumulated close to an inch of very wet snow on the elements and boom.  The 55′ element tips were drooping almost 4 feet at the worst point.  Fortunately, as the wind picked up yesterday afternoon, most of the snow was blown off the elements.  The Orion rotor is not having any problem moving the 10-30LP8 and XM-240.  I have been trying to rotate that beam every few hours just to keep things from getting frozen.

I hope to work some of you during the NAQP CW contest this weekend.  Of course I won’t being working anyone on 80M this weekend!

73,

Fred, KC9QQ