New to HF

[AC2OY]

I'm very new to HF and very new to DX as well. It can be very frustrating but I keep trying. I hear some guys who bomb my s-meter like 20 over!! They must have amplifiers worth five times my radio!! I tried to get Hawaii a few times so far to no avail. I'm having even more trouble with my logging software linking up to LOTW but I'm sure I'll figure it out or get a guy in my club to help me. The farthest DX I got so far was either Slovenia or Lithuaina I think? Good DX everybody!!!

 

[AK9R]

While high power is nice, it's all about the antenna. Every antenna is a compromise...you just have to decide how much performance you need to do what you want to do and then develop your antenna to suit your needs and your budget. I've worked Hawaii from central Indiana on several bands from 80 to 10m using a 27 foot vertical antenna and 100 watts.

Also, some modes are more likely to get through than others. The reason the big-time DXers and contesters still use CW is that it gets through when other modes won't. I'm not a CW operator, but I've found that RTTY works almost as well. If you are trying to break pileups using SSB, you will have to be very persistent.

If you are having problems with LotW, first make sure you are properly registered using TQSL. Then get with the developer of your logging software to make the process work for you. I've used HRD and DX Lab Suite and the LotW updating process is seamless...once you get everything set up correctly.

 

[AC2OY]

Thank you Bob I will email the guy.

 

[pyro424]

Thank you Bob I will email the guy.

As the other fellow mentioned it really is not all about power. No need to rush out and buy a amplifier. It is all in the antenna. Think of having a really expensive stereo but with crappy low quality speakers. You could have the most powerful expensive stereo amp but without decent speakers it will still sound like garbage. That in an analogy that sort of compares to the importance of your antenna when it comes to radio. Also keep in mind that it takes a lot of power to get results on the other guys S meter. You need to DOUBLE your power every time you want to show an S unit stronger to the receiving station. So for instance you would have to double from 100 watts to 200 watts to gain another S unit. Then you would have to double from 200 watts to 400 watts, then to 800 watts etc. For each S unit. So really just with a simple 100 watt radio you have already done pretty well. Anyways just some other ways of looking at things. Most certainly the most important thing to put money and time into is the antenna system first, then worry about amplifiers. Often these days I see newcomers to the hobby put up a G5RV or similar antenna and buy an amp. Well kinda backwards if you ask me. They should invest the money in a beam, tower first. Remember the high end stereo with crappy speakers analogy. Not much different really.

 

[AC2OY]

Thank you Nighthawk for the incite. I have a Comet 250-B mounted to a flagpole up about maybe 45 feet? Tonight I absoulty killed it with DX I made about 12 contacts some pritty far away,including three on 17. I'm learning to be more patient to get through the pile ups and it is working. I'm curious to see just how far I can actually reach. So far I think my furthest contact might have been Estonia? I am having fun!!