[UK-CONTEST] QRP

[Christopher Plummer]

Ken,
 
I normally use a MFJ antenna anlyser as a calibration (rough) source when out at the start of a 160m DF hunt to make sure the RX is working and tuned to the right frequencies.  This is done with a dummy load screwed in to the output socket, everyone onsite can hear the signal from S9 at 1m out to 20m away..  just shows that the case and dummy load radiate as well.
 
Some years ago a friend of mine, G3SCJ, loaded up a 6' flourescent tube on 10m from a KW 2000 and worked a number of Stateside contacts S 6 to 9.  It was interesting to see tube light up and the striations travel up and down the tube as he spoke..... I suppose it gave as good a signal as a magnetic loop these days, goodness knows what the impedance was though.
 
Chris G8APB
 

> Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 14:07:18 +0000
> From: ken.g3lvp at btinternet.com
> To: uk-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] QRP
> 
> 
> 
> My MFJ-249 produces about +25dBm - 300mW. It's not too surprising that this can be heard some distance away.
> I remember hearing a tale that one of the amateurs on the staff of Brentwood (Essex) GPO HF receiving station
> (now QRT) worked the USA one night shift using a BC221, also not too surprising as the antenna
> used would either have been a Rhombic or Franklin array.
> 'Dummy' loads have also been known to radiate too, I believe the 20kW TX at Ongar radio HF on the London - New York HF circuit once ran all night on the (un-screened carbon filament) dummy load, the story at the time was that no one noticed!
> I also remember Ernie G3ERN(long SK) working the USA with a single(OC71?)transistor TX on 160M.
> 
> 73...
> 
> Ken
> 
> G3LVP
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ? I wonder if anybody has a DX record for a QRP QSO using an MFJ antenna analyser?
> I was tuning my top band dipole with the MFJ and was told that my radiated signal from it
> was S-9 plus 20 db about 3 miles away at a friend's house. Carrying this further, I then managed
> to "QSO" another friend about 8 miles way at about S-6, followed closely by yet another with a
> signal report of about S-6 around 18 miles away.
> 
> ? So, be careful when using your MFJ, you never know who is listening!
> 
> Oh yes, a superb method of keying was simple hand capacitance on the tuning, producing a
> 
> somewhat chirpy note, but readable!?
> 
> 
> ?Can anybody beat this record?? It reminded me of my leg-pull in the late fifties, when I managed
> to give Pat G3IOR a ZL0 on 20m CW by keying my Heathkit GDO, loosely coupled into my end
> fed zepp.
> 
> ?
> 
> 
> Regards from Roger, G3LDI
> Swardeston, Norfolk.
> 
> 
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> 
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