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Watts or Antenna most important for DX?

I was a mobile cber in the 70's. Got back into the hobby about two years ago. I bought a RCI 2970N2 with a Wilson 5000 for my truck. Found out there is a lot more going on in 10 meters than there is on 11. Got my tickets. The DX has been very good the last couple of days. Made contacts in Japan Hong Kong and West Malaysia the last two afternoons. This morning I made two contacts in Germany and one in the Czech Republic. So if you a good radio and a good antenna and if conditions are good you can make a lot of long distant contacts. I'm just east of San Diego.
 
W5LZ said:
Going strictly by the title of the thread, power is a loosing proposition from the start. The antenna can make more difference than power.
There are 'catches' to that, primarily what's practical and reasonable. Then, the results are always determined by propagation, like it or not.
- 'Doc
Click to expand...

Yep. A Moxon at 40ft and 100W will more than work the world.

7500 miles with 1 watt USB is my best to date for QRP.
 
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I will have to agree with everyone. I always liked "it's not all about the power it's what's on the tower" or in your case on the car. A little power never hurt but I would definitely begin with the best antenna and location possible for the mobile.
 
Antenna is the heart of your system, a good antenna system, coax, mounts, connectors, bonding and a good antenna, all help make a good antenna system. Don't skimp out when getting your antenna system setup right IMO. Doing these things will definitely help. With the radio you have now, it should not be an issue to dx as you have plenty of power. Get your antenna system setup right and you should have no problem with dx'ing as long as conditions provide. This Is JMO. Good luck and god bless.
 
Unit 194 said:
1.Mother Nature
2.Antenna
3.Power
Click to expand...


#1--You have no control over whatsoever.

#2--A good antenna benefits the receive as well as transmit.

#3--All the power in the world won't make you hear the other guy any better.

That's my take on things. I would rather have an excellent antenna and a mediocre radio than a mediocre antenna and a super whiz-bang golly-gee radio and an amp to go with it. Been Dxing for 35-36 years and never ran any more than 100 watts....just didn't need too.
 
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Captain Kilowatt;464113 Been Dxing for 35-36 years and never ran any more than 100 watts....just didn't need too.[/QUOTE said:
Uh oh. You're going to have to change your screen name to Lieutenant 100 Watts. (y)

73,
RT307
Click to expand...
 
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Captain Kilowatt said:
#1--You have no control over whatsoever.

#2--A good antenna benefits the receive as well as transmit.

#3--All the power in the world won't make you hear the other guy any better.

That's my take on things. I would rather have an excellent antenna and a mediocre radio than a mediocre antenna and a super whiz-bang golly-gee radio and an amp to go with it. Been Dxing for 35-36 years and never ran any more than 100 watts....just didn't need too.
Click to expand...

Oh boy, you are old. :)

Sent from my GT-S5690M using Tapatalk 2
 
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Talked to France, Netherlands, and Ireland with a 4 element Yagi with a tuned-up/stock Uniden Pres Grant (NO amp) just this month from here on the West Coast. That was on the regular CB band; not freeband BTW - lol. The trick was finding a frequency that wasn't cluttered; not easy to do on the CB band. This Sirio beam has proved to me that it can whip its weight in wolverines. Of course, the skip conditions have been unusually cooperative lately too . . .
 
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