[600MRG] [Elecraft] The K3 and the 630 meter band

[Edward R Cole]

Roger,

congrats on VK-land getting the new ham band; we are still waiting on 
action from the FCC in the USA.  Of course there are many of us with 
experimental licenses operating these frequencies.  I am a member of 
the ARRL 600 meter Experimental Group:
http://www.500kc.com/

I am cross-posting this to our 600m reflector.  You might be 
interested in signing up for that.  It is a moderated list so only 
those with active interest in 600m should apply:
http://www.500kc.com/Maillists.htm

Unfortunately, for use with the K3 it will only work down to 
490-KHz.  My understanding it is a hardware limitation so no firmware 
change will change this.  I use my K3 on 495-510 KHz using the TEST 
mode to drive with 0.1mw my converted NDB transmitter to 100w into a 
43x122 foot base-loaded inverted-L (ERP=4.15w).
http://www.kl7uw.com/600m.htm

It is also unfortunate that the KX3 will not be able to work down at 
472-478 KHz.  There will be a lot of equipment ventures once more 
countries allow ham use down there.

For those of us with K3 or KX3 it will require a transverter.  A 
logical conversion is from 80m to 600m.  Since the K3 can transmit in 
TEST on any freq. up to 30-MHz, using an LO of 10-MHz is a natural as 
one can use one of the super accurate OCXO freq. reference 
oscillators ($25 on e-bay) as an LO to a simple mixer and amps.  One 
would tune 10.472-10.478 MHz in TEST mode:
http://www.kl7uw.com/600m_XVTR.jpg

Building a simple 10mw transverter is not too difficult.  Adding 
amplifiers to 25w would be a good goal in my opinion.  RF output 
limitations of either 1w or 5w EIRP is likely with the new band.  For 
most realistic antennas this implies efficiencies of about 1%.  A 
dipole is only 1860 feet long and a 1/4 wave vertical 930-feet high!

73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
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Subject: [Elecraft] The K3 and the 630 meter band
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In Australia we have a new band. The 630 meter band. It covers 472 to 478 KHz.
They tell me there is a lot of interesting activity going on there.
I tried to tune there with my K3 but alas it would only go down to 490 KHz.
With RIT at -10 KHz and set to LSB, I could just start to hear 
signals at the top end of the band.
How annoying! So close! but so far!
Please Elecraft can you write us some software to extend coverage 
down to 472 KHz.
Being able to transmit there would be even better!

73
Roger, VK4YB


73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
dubususa at gmail.com
"Kits made by KL7UW"