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Preface: The band conditions during the CT were only average, in comparison to the weeks prior to it. The two dipoles I use (20m & 40m) had simply been thrown over the rooftop, which was wet all weekend, due to constant rain. The radiation effectiveness therefor was probably close to none. The only positive side is that this rooftop is roughly 15-20m high, clear of other buildings. The first morning, I worked about 20 mostly european stations within less than 40min. Although 20m was packed with QRO stations, it never took me more than 2 calls. Apparently, this high noise level already troubled the ft817, as I had to use the IPO funktion TOGETHER with the ATT. Of course, I have to admit I don't own the narrow CW filter, which would have made life easier. But even without it, week stations were readable, and I worked a few of those difficult and weak "closer stations" between 300km and 700km distance. (Between ground and first air-wave), these are, seen from my QTH, especially stations over the alps, like OE and HB9. The second morning, I looked for DX. Again, there was no way you could listen in without the combination of ATT and IPO. Something that bothered me all along, but then I found I could still make out DX. The far out DX like VK or JA I could not copy, which was more of an antenna problem I think. I could make out Africa and Carribean though, without problems. I started calling a few, and ended up with J3A (Grenada) for a start. Then, I saw HC8N (Galapagos Islands) in the DX-cluster. Now that would be a challenge for the RX! I had to reduce the RF-Gain slightly to weaken stronger neighbouring stations, but yes, there he was HC8N in CQ TEST. To my disbelief, I managed to work him after about 5min of calling. With 5watts into a roughly dimensioned dipol lying on a wet roof!!! Whilst looking for further DX, I worked two US guys, just to make sure they are within range too, and continued scanning the band. EA8 was nice, but after the HC8 not astonishing anymore. Then came OY working split up 2kHz. Oh geez....where's the manual??? Ah...ok...you have to press the function button to get into the softkey menu, then turn the left dial until the desired menu comes along (A/B, A=B, Split) and then push split. Quite easy. Ok, the TX VFO was set 2kHz above the RX QRG, but I wanted to check were most of the callers were sitting. Problem is, the menu automatically dissapears after pushing one button. So, again, via the function key into the menu, "A/B" to flip the VFOs, and listen on the callers QRG. By that time the DX station was calling again, and the callers were listening. So I did the whole thing in reverse, to find that now I was on the "quite" QRG again, as the crowd had it's turn of calling. I decided to dump the idea of working split with this toy of a rig. Looking over that issue again after the contest, proofed I was wrong. The Menu does dissapear, but only visually. If you press the "A" button, which if the menu were to be displayed resembles the "A/B" button, you still swap VFOs!!! So yes, working true QRP split style is possible, you just have to keep in mind the menu doesn't display it. To give you a fill in on 40m: No DX present during daytime, and when I checked in the evening, I found it impossible to compete with only 5watts. I had to reduce the RX-Gain about 50% ontop of using IPO & ATT, and still, I had big guns hit at a solid s9+40. I heard 4U1ITU and VIC, but even at such close distance...no chance with 5w. I only did 3 QSOs on 40m, all to neighbouring countries. Conclusion: Working DX with QRP is possible, we all new that. In a big contest, it's a little harder. But it works. Even under such terrible antenna conditions as I had (and have) to cope with here. The FT817 does an excellent job if you keep in mind it was not designed to be a contest rig. Yes, strong neighbouring signals will disturb you, and yes, there are no filters to try and compensate that, but you can reduce the signal levels with the gain, IPO and ATT, and then use your ears. The great sensitivity of the rig still is enough to pick out DX, even with cut back gain. The handling of the rig is easy, but as described above requires you to read the manual fully. Most enjoyable to me, is the fact that you don't need much equiptment to operate. No bulky power supplies, (I used the powersupply of my flatbed computerscanner, about 8 x 3 x 5cm), no baluns, tuners what so ever, (just a simple wire dipole) and best of all, only this tiny little rig sitting on your living room table! |