Let me put in a context easily understood... You get dates with good looking YLs all the time not just one time with one good looking YL.
More data as I just took a look with the RBN at 6AM on April 3, transmitting on 7013 kHz. I was heard in the 400-to-900-mile range running 300 milliwatts. That tells me two things as the PNP CW transmitter can yield consistent contacts and the need for a solid design with appropriate harmonic filters. Low power out of ham band signals can be heard at great distances.
I have run QRP for many years but at the watt level not milliwatts. The solid acid test of course is real contacts not the RBN. But the Reverse Beacon Network is a strong indicator of performance especially if it is consistent.
The two crystals (7030 and 7055 kHz) I have coming are frequencies considered as watering holes and lots of activity and so that should set us up for the real acid test. (I really splurged and paid $10 including shipping for the two rocks. I stole money from my grocery budget.)
I will stop posting on this subject in deference to those who do not do home grown radios. Guess this being a holiday weekend the bands will be choked with contests and POTA/SOTA crap. So maybe a good time to work on the T/R sequencer.
Them that know, survive. I had a near cardiac arrest experience yesterday when I bought 6 gallons of gas and that took two $20 bills. I have a 20-year-old car and get about 23 mpg. So that comes to 23 * 6 = 138 mile range. That means two weeks of visits to the cemetery to visit the XYL (60 miles) and a doctor visit on Monday (28 miles) and three trips for groceries, banking and miscellaneous (30 miles). That leaves me 20 miles for a buffer. Thank You, Donald Trump for starting a war!
73's
Pete N6QW
