What's it gonna take to transmit DX on 11 meters

[Christopher17]

Got a decent hill for my station, right at 500 feet elevation in Central Texas, I can here Jamica, Belise, Caribbean islands, Puetro Rico, Florida, George, Iowa, Carolina's, Illinois, California, New York, Kentucky, south America ,you name it, after being on the radio for 6 months, I've been able to talk back to the folks I can hear on 28 or any other skip channel for that matter about 5 times total in 6 months, I'm using a tuned and peaked but otherwise stock vintage TRC-431 on a1/4 wave ground plane, can talk local like we're in the same room, , my neighbor says I need a foot warmer, I'm saving back for a midgrade SSB radio that I can use for ham bands also once I have my ticket, I'm also constructing a 5/8 wave ground plane for 11 meters, nothing I can do about it today as Mr. Bill has my wallet all tied up, there is a local who has a 75 watter for a buck and a quarter, my thinking is at least 100 watts to even do anything, I might try the 75 since it's close to my budget, just frustrated with listening to y'all and y'all not being able to talk back....

 

[Highway Man]

around here "They" say 4 watts is all you need

 

[543_Dallas]

I wouldn't buy something cheap that you won't use later. The radio that you can use for HF when you get your ticket will likely be 100 watts anyway. I wouldn't waste money on a 10 and 12 meter export. Save up and find a nice yaesu, icom or kenwood. Something that will cover 160 thru 6 meters. Used ftdx1200s are going for under 600 now. Old hf rigs are cheaper. Just be prepared to make repairs and do your research. Some sound horrible on AM.

You don't need a lot of power when the band conditions are good. At this point in the solar cycle the conditions are poor. Go with at least 500 to 1kw if you get an amp. If you end up with a 100 watt radio you won't gain much with a small amp. I would avoid cb amps if you plan to go ham.

 

[sp5it]

When band is hot, barefoot is enough to work whole world.
Mike

 

[Robb]

around here "They" say 4 watts is all you need

Well, with a Yagi beam antenna, 4w will work just fine. Amps create gain, and so does a beam antenna. Gain makes distance easier to do - true. A Yagi does gain w/o being illegal, and amps are still illegal.

So, there is a way that you can do DX legally, or do it with an amp and be looking over your shoulder . . .

 

[Christopher17]

I wouldn't buy something cheap that you won't use later. The radio that you can use for HF when you get your ticket will likely be 100 watts anyway. I wouldn't waste money on a 10 and 12 meter export. Save up and find a nice yaesu, icom or kenwood. Something that will cover 160 thru 6 meters. Used ftdx1200s are going for under 600 now. Old hf rigs are cheaper. Just be prepared to make repairs and do your research. Some sound horrible on AM.

You don't need a lot of power when the band conditions are good. At this point in the solar cycle the conditions are poor. Go with at least 500 to 1kw if you get an amp. If you end up with a 100 watt radio you won't gain much with a small amp. I would avoid cb amps if you plan to go ham.

the icom 718 is what I was saving up for, about 600$ new with a warranty, should be a good enough rig for a new operater to learn on

Well, with a Yagi beam antenna, 4w will work just fine Amps create gain, and so does a beam antenna. Gain makes distance easier to do - true. A Yagi does gain w/o being illegal, and amps are still illegal.

So, there is a way that you can do DX legally, or do it with an amp and be looking over your shoulder . . .

I've been studying yagis, was surprised at the DB gain , will be my next antenna experiment after the 5/8 wave ground plane , didn't want to have to deal with a rotater , but if that's what it takes.

 

[oldtymer]

the icom 718 is what I was saving up for, about 600$ new with a warranty, should be a good enough rig for a new operater to learn on

I've been studying yagis, was surprised at the DB gain , will be my next antenna experiment after the 5/8 wave ground plane , didn't want to have to deal with a rotater , but if that's what it takes.

The ic-718 is a great radio for a new op or an old fart like me.
I had two of them in the past. One for a base & one in the truck when I was still
doing mobil.
Some gripe about no Fm or tuner. Who does FM on 10 meters? Crickets- Built in
tuners are as useless as Congress, Get an LDG & you will have something that will
make your station more versatile & give you a chance to play with wire antennas and
learn that a beam does not always have to be made of aluminum.
If I was just getting started it would be my choice, has everything you need to enjoy
the hobby.
I own a couple of radios that have lots of "Fluff" in them, most of which I never use.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

Lots of good points here, but I would get the foot warmer. If its in your budget it will allow you to try something new and keep you having fun. It also gets you familiar with any problems associated with an amp without having to learn on a 1kw amp. If things go great with the little amp or if the little amp goes poof, either way you will be learning about it without losing a bunch of money if something goes wrong. Then later on you could sell it to help buy the 718 or something similar.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

IMHO the single most important thing you can do to work DX is move up to SSB. Completely different world and MUCH easier to DX. Getting outside the regular 40 channels certainly does not hurt either.

 

[RT431]

27.555.00 USB international call frequency when the band is open. For the most part, good operators there.

 

[oldtymer]

IMHO the single most important thing you can do to work DX is move up to SSB. Completely different world and MUCH easier to DX. Getting outside the regular 40 channels certainly does not hurt either.

27.555.00 USB international call frequency when the band is open. For the most part, good operators there.

SSB is more efficient & quieter,also easier on the equipment.

Don't know if still applies but used to be a lot of DX around 26.285 usb also many years
ago. Mostly from the UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium. etc.

 

[CB590]

Got a decent hill for my station, right at 500 feet elevation in Central Texas, I can here Jamica, Belise, Caribbean islands, Puetro Rico, Florida, George, Iowa, Carolina's, Illinois, California, New York, Kentucky, south America ,you name it, after being on the radio for 6 months, I've been able to talk back to the folks I can hear on 28 or any other skip channel for that matter about 5 times total in 6 months, I'm using a tuned and peaked but otherwise stock vintage TRC-431 on a1/4 wave ground plane, can talk local like we're in the same room, , my neighbor says I need a foot warmer, I'm saving back for a midgrade SSB radio that I can use for ham bands also once I have my ticket, I'm also constructing a 5/8 wave ground plane for 11 meters, nothing I can do about it today as Mr. Bill has my wallet all tied up, there is a local who has a 75 watter for a buck and a quarter, my thinking is at least 100 watts to even do anything, I might try the 75 since it's close to my budget, just frustrated with listening to y'all and y'all not being able to talk back....

Had a Texas Star 350, just sold due to Mr truck bill.. downsized to RM 203 I had in my truck, still get same DX distance it seems with just about 100w as I had running 240w..

The other day early I got Illinois, TN, and Wisconsin.. all running barefoot power of about maybe 10w on 38 lsb.

Power does help get over the top when there is a mess, but as I found out it's sometimes about timing and paitience.

I just ordered in a used Galaxy 225 (Palomar amp copy) for $100. Should be in Friday then my RM203 goes back in my truck. I'm hoping for slightly better watts then the RM Italy was doing if I drive it just right and not over drive it..

That's another part in using an amplifier. Possibly overdriving and burning it up or just sounding like crap.

Also keep in mind for like 100w amp like the RM203 as example you need a 10-12amp power supply.. for the TS350 I snuck by with a 30/35 amp. But they all say get a 45-50 amp for that.

 

[7oh7]

Read all you can about
propagation, Yagi's, 1/4 wave, 1/2 wave and .64 wave antennas. They all play a factor.
Summary. You can be running 10,000 watts but with out mother nature you probably won't reach the end of your state!
had to edit..
Also you need to fully understand what "50 OHM IMPEDANCE" is!
Study the MFJ analyzer manual.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Had a Texas Star 350, just sold due to Mr truck bill.. downsized to RM 203 I had in my truck, still get same DX distance it seems with just about 100w as I had running 240w..

The other day early I got Illinois, TN, and Wisconsin.. all running barefoot power of about maybe 10w on 38 lsb.

Power does help get over the top when there is a mess, but as I found out it's sometimes about timing and paitience.

I just ordered in a used Galaxy 225 (Palomar amp copy) for $100. Should be in Friday then my RM203 goes back in my truck. I'm hoping for slightly better watts then the RM Italy was doing if I drive it just right and not over drive it..

That's another part in using an amplifier. Possibly overdriving and burning it up or just sounding like crap.

Also keep in mind for like 100w amp like the RM203 as example you need a 10-12amp power supply.. for the TS350 I snuck by with a 30/35 amp. But they all say get a 45-50 amp for that.

Running power is nice but entirely not necessary. I have run no more than 25 watts on SSB while mobile and have worked from here in Nova Scotia to all over Europe and the USA. Even worked mobile to mobile to Luxor Egypt and mobile to mobile to a geologist working in the Kalahari desert of Botswana and down into Argentina. All with 25 watts and on 11m. On the ham bands particularly 20m I have used nomore than 100 watts on SSB while mobile and worked all over the world. My greatest DX was to the 3B9C operation on Rodrigues Island in the Indian Ocean via longpath. That's 15,000 miles with 100 watts SSB and a mobile antenna. No offense but I just chuckle when folks get all excited and brag about working a station maybe 1000 miles away as if it was some great feat.

 

[357magnum]

SSB is awesome but I've talked Dx W/ & W/ out my amp . If you can make a wire dipole , cheap , satisfying & they work DX well if you have a way to hang it .I've talked Dx w/ my first radio TRC - 9 Realistic Xtal radio on a wire , stock mic , barefoot . It took me almost 50 years but 2 years ago I finally logged all 50 US States !