Qrp operating tips, Swl (shortwave listening) tips – Elecraft KX1 Manual User Manual

Page 71

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LECRAFT

QRP Operating Tips

Antennas: When you're using low power, a good antenna and ground
system can make a big difference. There are many references on
antennas available, including the ARRL Antenna Handbook.

QRP Frequencies: Low-power enthusiasts can be found at certain
"watering hole" frequencies on each band, listed below (kHz). An
asterisk (*) indicates European or alternative QRP frequencies.

80 m: 3560

40 m: 7040 (*7030)

30 m: 10106 (*10116)

20 m: 14060

Calling and Listening: Calling CQ with low power may be
frustrating unless you have a very good antenna. Expect to spend far
more time listening. Keep transmissions short, especially when
working other QRP stations, which will often be at or even below the
noise level. Narrower filters (less than 500 Hz) and slower code speeds
(less than 20 WPM) should be used when conditions are marginal.

SWL (Shortwave Listening) Tips

Tuning Range: The KX1 can tune a wide range on each band:

80 m: 1-5.5 MHz

40 m: 5-9.5 MHz

30 m: 8-12.5 MHz

20 m: 12-16.5 MHz

The 80 meter and 30 meter frequencies are available when the optional
KXB3080 (30 m and 80m) or the KXB30 (30 m only) modules are
installed.

The useful tuning range is actually somewhat smaller, since signals
will fall off as you tune outside the ham bands (note the exception to
this described in the next paragraph).

Using the KXB30 or KXB3080 on 30 and 40 meters: If you have the
KXB30 or KXB3080 option installed, you'll be able to use the
associated ham bands and receive nearby SWL segments. But this
option has another important function: its tuning capacitors will be
turned on automatically on 40 meters if you tune below 6.7 MHz. This
re-resonates the band-pass filter at about 6.2 MHz, greatly improving
sensitivity in the popular 49-meter SWL segment (5.9-6.4 MHz).

Tuning AM or SSB signals: The FILTER control should be set fully
clockwise when listening to broadcast stations. While you can listen to
AM or SSB stations in any of the KX1's three receive modes
(CW/LSB/USB), LSB or USB provide two advantages: elimination of
the CW receive offset, and 5 kHz rather than 1 kHz tuning steps. You
can use 10-Hz steps to fine-tune (zero-beat) AM signals.

Frequency Memories and High-Priority Memory: Commonly-used
SWL frequencies can be store in frequency memories. If you often
switch to a time reference such as WWV (at 5, 10, or 15 MHz), you
can designate the associated memory as high-priority for quick access
(see page 67).

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