I've been a ham for 8 years. Only very recently has 10M been open like it sometimes is now and I have been working the new to me band.
Over the last several years I have worked much of the world on 20 and 40M using about 500 watts when needed. Only very rarely have I wished for more. Antennas are a hexbeam at 40',a 40M 2 element monobander at 75', and an Inv V OCF dipole with apex at 70'. Amp is ALS-600 with the 10M mod.
15M also improved a lot recently and hexbeam works fine; same as previous experiences with 20M.
When working 10M I consistently have difficulty being heard even with the amp. Hexbeam 10M SWR is below 1.2 and I can hear fine with it. Also tried tuning up OCF Dipole on 10M just for a comparison and have the same problem.
Looking for comments, maybe this is typical. I do have a 1500w. amp but it's not even connected as I have found the 500w. amp to be adequate the vast majority of the time.
thx to anyone taking the time to offer advice.
You never need more than about 200W max on 10-meters, even 100W is fine. The key to getting out on 10-meters is the antenna. Usually running a dipole won’t cut it, you really need more like a Yagi with some directional gain. Even a 2 element will work, but 3 elements or more is better. 10-meters is one of my all-time favorite bands and it was a blast back in the mid to late 70’s during cycle 21. I worked guys all over the country and overseas running a lot of old modified tube CB’s even with only 30W to 50W out. Again, the antenna is the key, not running a bunch of power.
Right now 10-meters has not been in very good shape. There is activity down at the lower end of 10 once and a while but it’s been kinda weak and you can occasionally hear the repeaters up at the high-end, but the band and the cycle still isn’t really there yet and whether it will improve is questionable.