Hi, Keith, WB2VUO here on the 3rd shift again (only 2 nights this week)
I have finished with my WSPR tests with the FT-817 and the ground
mounted vertical. I ran between 1/2-watt and 2 watts, +27dBm to +33dBm
and (Predictably) got far more spots on the higher power.
At +27dBm, I was spotted in IL and FL. There were no extended openings,
I had spotty propagation, but the mode made it through. DX was 500 -
950 miles
At +30dBm, I added spots from the Mid-West into KS and MN, DX was 500 -
1350 miles
At +33dBm, I added OH/KY and DX into PY/LU. DX was 375 - 6500 miles I
also ran into a heating problem with the FT-817 and the high TX duty
cycle. I will not be running the higher power for multiple 2-minute
key-down TX times. The case around the final amp board was up to 50C or
higher. It was uncomfortably warm to the touch.
Next month, finances allowing, I will get Ultimate 3S QRP beacon board
and heat-sink the 2N7000 PA for 100% duty. I will be on 10 for sure,
but may get the relay board and a couple of LPF boards for multi-band
operations.
Thanks for the posts, spots and reports. More activity soom!
73, Keith, WB2VUO/work
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