Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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A few years back in our little farming community, there was a fellow
whose name was Francis. Francis was an avid hunter. At this time, the rumor went around the community that Francis had been fined for deer jacking. Out of his truck one night, with a spot light, he took a shot at a plastic deer planted by game wardens. Soon it became a joke .Sir Francis the deer slayer. Something within me seemed to understand Francis point of view. He was a pragmatist .. He had little interest in the thrill of the hunt. He was focused on the efficiency of the catch. Although QRO is far from illegal, it does seem to be somewhat more focused on the efficiency of the catch than the thrill of the hunt. So there is a certain un-romantic reality to QRO vs. QRP. I'm wondering, what percentage of contacts you've made QRO, that you would estimate as not attainable QRP. I hope I didn't break the list rules getting off-topic with the story :~/ -- dw [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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Life is too short for QRP ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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In reply to this post by dw-4
Obviously a troll.
Steve Ellington [hidden email] ----- Original Message ----- From: "dw" <[hidden email]> To: "Elecraft_List" <[hidden email]> Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 7:34 AM Subject: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO A few years back in our little farming community, there was a fellow whose name was Francis. Francis was an avid hunter. At this time, the rumor went around the community that Francis had been fined for deer jacking. Out of his truck one night, with a spot light, he took a shot at a plastic deer planted by game wardens. Soon it became a joke...Sir Francis the deer slayer. Something within me seemed to understand Francis' point of view. He was a pragmatist... He had little interest in the thrill of the hunt. He was focused on the efficiency of the catch. Although QRO is far from illegal, it does seem to be somewhat more focused on the efficiency of the catch than the thrill of the hunt. So there is a certain un-romantic reality to QRO vs. QRP. I'm wondering, what percentage of contacts you've made QRO, that you would estimate as not attainable QRP. I hope I didn't break the list rules getting off-topic with the story :~/ -- dw [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.8/1985 - Release Date: 03/05/09 07:54:00 ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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The world is too small for QRO...
Hans / LA2MOA QRP-ARCI #11898 2009/3/5 Steve Ellington <[hidden email]> > Obviously a troll. > > Steve Ellington > [hidden email] > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "dw" <[hidden email]> > To: "Elecraft_List" <[hidden email]> > Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 7:34 AM > Subject: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO > > > A few years back in our little farming community, there was a fellow > whose name was Francis. > Francis was an avid hunter. > At this time, the rumor went around the community that > Francis had been fined for deer jacking. > Out of his truck one night, with a spot light, he took a shot at a > plastic deer planted by game wardens. > Soon it became a joke...Sir Francis the deer slayer. > > Something within me seemed to understand Francis' point of view. > He was a pragmatist... He had little interest in the thrill of the hunt. > He was focused on the efficiency of the catch. > > Although QRO is far from illegal, it does seem to be somewhat more > focused on the efficiency of the catch than the thrill of the hunt. > So there is a certain un-romantic reality to QRO vs. QRP. > > I'm wondering, what percentage of contacts you've made QRO, that you > would estimate as not attainable QRP. > > I hope I didn't break the list rules getting off-topic with the story > :~/ > -- > dw > [hidden email] > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.8/1985 - Release Date: 03/05/09 > 07:54:00 > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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In reply to this post by Steve Ellington
I'd say on 160m that although DXCC is possible (or was possible in the past)
on 160m, a high percentage of the contacts I have made on that band are not possible with QRP. If there is a relatively common DXCC entity (who needs another DL?) the odds are good for QRP given good conditions. If it's a rare one near the noise floor and you aren't lucky enough to be the first to hear it and if conditions are not ideal, you are going to have to crack a pileup--and if you are not QRO there is little chance of that on 160m. That is my experience--which is of course subjective. But you can be a little more objective if you look at the 160m DXCC list maintained my ARRL. Start at the top and work down till you find a few QRP operators. There are none for a long, long time. The thrill of working BY on 160m at 1.5 kw is to me just as satisfying as working 3A on 160m with 5w. They are just very different activities, both a lot of fun. Bob W2WG -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Steve Ellington Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:33 AM To: dw; Elecraft_List Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO Obviously a troll. Steve Ellington [hidden email] ----- Original Message ----- From: "dw" <[hidden email]> To: "Elecraft_List" <[hidden email]> Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 7:34 AM Subject: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO A few years back in our little farming community, there was a fellow whose name was Francis. Francis was an avid hunter. At this time, the rumor went around the community that Francis had been fined for deer jacking. Out of his truck one night, with a spot light, he took a shot at a plastic deer planted by game wardens. Soon it became a joke...Sir Francis the deer slayer. Something within me seemed to understand Francis' point of view. He was a pragmatist... He had little interest in the thrill of the hunt. He was focused on the efficiency of the catch. Although QRO is far from illegal, it does seem to be somewhat more focused on the efficiency of the catch than the thrill of the hunt. So there is a certain un-romantic reality to QRO vs. QRP. I'm wondering, what percentage of contacts you've made QRO, that you would estimate as not attainable QRP. I hope I didn't break the list rules getting off-topic with the story :~/ -- dw [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.8/1985 - Release Date: 03/05/09 07:54:00 ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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In reply to this post by n7ws
Couldn't let this slide.. please forgive, but QRP with the K2 + 9 years come
April 4, 2009 equals: Mixed: 328 (one shy of the HR) SSB: 307 CW: 322 160: 60 80: 118 40: 251 30: 250 20: 306 17: 301 15: 296 12: 266 10: 253 Band countries: 2101 Total DX Qs: 3327 Many calls, many hours, some disappointments, crazy in a way (!), much joy, and a little K2 QRP that has NEVER failed. It was built by N4TD, not me. Oh... modest antennas, an understanding XYL (Rosie, KA4S), buddies who have listened to me for 9 years talk about QRP (ugh) and retired. Does QRP make one a better operator? Perhaps. Try it, you may like it.... 73, lynn W4NL ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wes Stewart" <[hidden email]> To: "Elecraft_List" <[hidden email]>; "dw" <[hidden email]> Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:27 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO > > Life is too short for QRP > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.8/1985 - Release Date: 03/05/09 07:54:00 ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by n7ws
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wes Stewart" <[hidden email]> > Life is too short for QRP Yes, obviously a troll, but a QRP QSO starts on the receiving end. Without the ears on the distant end, a QRP rig just transmits another noise lost to ground absorbtion and spatial dispersion. If there ARE ears on the distant end, QRP is working 40 with something about the size of a sandwich, using a flexible wire thrown through a tree with a tennis ball, setting on a rock in the sun, soaking up a warm breeze somewhere in hiker heaven. Last ARRL DX, whether QRP or not was in the exchange, so I knew when the signal worked was QRP. Some of them weak enough that 5 was not cleanly copied, but a sent "QRP" was clear enough to verify the "5" I thought I heard. There were some 4's and a couple of 1's. No 0R001's this year. For that pile of 40m QRP EU stations (including the ever-larger super-secret EU self-masochistic death by QRP suicide club aka SCEUQR), the big secret was my K3 and anti-click firmware NB and a 5 element quad on a 220 foot catenary. My QRO transmit didn't make the difference for them. My RX was QRO :>) Working some Asians across the EU grey line who were also QRO, that was 2 way QRO that required the most of everything. Drop to 100 watts and I don't hear him, he doesn't hear me. At QRO just barely above the absorbtion both ways. Don't run QRO on the CQ's, he never knows the path was open at the whisper level. But there were far more QRP than grey line Asians. Help a struggling QRPer. Buy a K3 and work a bunch of them. (I love my battery K2, and K2 RX with DSP is really good, but its big brother is better at RX). 73, Guy. K2/K3 #1239 ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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In reply to this post by Lynn Lamb, W4NL
Lynn,
I'm curious. Would you mind revealing the modest antennas you've used over 9 years to achieve your amazing feat? Dick, K2ZR Lynn Lamb, W4NL wrote: >Couldn't let this slide.. please forgive, but QRP with the K2 + 9 years come >April 4, 2009 equals: > >Mixed: 328 (one shy of the HR) >SSB: 307 >CW: 322 > >160: 60 > 80: 118 > 40: 251 > 30: 250 > 20: 306 > 17: 301 > 15: 296 > 12: 266 > 10: 253 > >Band countries: 2101 >Total DX Qs: 3327 > >Many calls, many hours, some disappointments, crazy in a way (!), much joy, >and a little K2 QRP that has NEVER failed. It was built by N4TD, not me. >Oh... modest antennas, an understanding XYL (Rosie, KA4S), buddies who have >listened to me for 9 years talk about QRP (ugh) and retired. > >Does QRP make one a better operator? Perhaps. > >Try it, you may like it.... 73, lynn W4NL > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Wes Stewart" <[hidden email]> >To: "Elecraft_List" <[hidden email]>; "dw" <[hidden email]> >Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:27 AM >Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO > > > > >>Life is too short for QRP >> >> >> >>______________________________________________________________ >>Elecraft mailing list >>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >>Post: mailto:[hidden email] >> >>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> >> > > >-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.8/1985 - Release Date: 03/05/09 >07:54:00 > >______________________________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >Post: mailto:[hidden email] > >This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > > > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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In reply to this post by dw-4
DW and all:
A slightly different hunting analogy might be more illuminating. Here in Maine, bear hunting is very popular. There are two ways to go about it. If you're a local, you learn the bears habits and habitats, and you go out and stalk the bear, and if you are very much smarter than the bear (most people are not) you eventually get a clear shot, and BANG! you become the proud owner of a bearskin rug. This is rather difficult to do, and a great sense of accomplishment, prestige and bragging rights that attach to being a genuinely skilled hunter. If you're a city slicker from New York you go about it the other way, hiring a local guide who puts out a big bucket of stale donuts (I'm not kidding, they really do it) in a known bear hangout; then you wait for the bear to come and BANG! that's his last donut. The guide makes a lot of money, the city slicker basks in the illusion that he's "hunted" a bear, and the locals think the city slicker is more to be pitied than despised. In an age of the Internet, cheap worldwide telephone coverage, et cetera, talking to a person on the other side of the world is no big deal. The reason we take up ham radio is for the thrill of the hunt, and the sense of accomplishment that comes from honing a genuine skill. To those who would say that life is too short for QRP, I would answer that in my experience, life is too boring with QRO. In a typical DX contest, using QRP and a wire antenna, if propagation is minimally decent, I might make 500-600 contacts competing against stations 2-3 S-units stronger than me. This includes breaking pileups for rare multipliers. This suggests to me that the number of contacts unattainable with QRO is very few. The tradeoff is time. In a contest, using 100 Watts and a dipole, I can crack a multiplier pileup on maybe the 4th or 5th call. Using 5 Watts and a dipole, it takes dozens of calls to crack a multiplier pileup. I do crank my K2 all the way up to 100 Watts when the propagation simply will not support a QRP signal. This is a damnably common problem in the current sunspot climate. 73, Steve Kercel AA4AK dw wrote: > A few years back in our little farming community, there was a fellow > whose name was Francis. > Francis was an avid hunter. > At this time, the rumor went around the community that > Francis had been fined for deer jacking. > Out of his truck one night, with a spot light, he took a shot at a > plastic deer planted by game wardens. > Soon it became a joke…….Sir Francis the deer slayer. > > Something within me seemed to understand Francis’ point of view. > He was a pragmatist….. He had little interest in the thrill of the hunt. > He was focused on the efficiency of the catch. > > Although QRO is far from illegal, it does seem to be somewhat more > focused on the efficiency of the catch than the thrill of the hunt. > So there is a certain un-romantic reality to QRO vs. QRP. > > I'm wondering, what percentage of contacts you've made QRO, that you > would estimate as not attainable QRP. > > I hope I didn't break the list rules getting off-topic with the story > :~/ > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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In reply to this post by dw-4
Hi DW et al,
I am sure it is quite different on HF, but on 6m EME (where I spend most of my time), I must agree with the slogan that "Life is too short of QRP". No matter how much power you run on 6m EME, it almost always seems like it is not quite enough, and most every contact requires careful planning, preparation and patience! And that is already using the weak signal digital mode of JT65A, which essentially gives you another 10 dB over CW. The vast majority of my 6m EME contacts are not audible, and would never have been possible on CW. So from my standpoint, the entire issue of whether to run QRP or not is irrelevant. I basically am operating like a QRP station every time I get on the air (even though I am actually running QRO). There sure are a wide range of different niches in this hobby, all with quite different vantage points, aren't there? ;-) But there still are many concepts and equipment features - like a sensitive receiver - that appeal to us all. GL and VY 73, Lance dw wrote: > A few years back in our little farming community, there was a fellow > whose name was Francis. > Francis was an avid hunter. > At this time, the rumor went around the community that > Francis had been fined for deer jacking. > Out of his truck one night, with a spot light, he took a shot at a > plastic deer planted by game wardens. > Soon it became a joke…….Sir Francis the deer slayer. > > Something within me seemed to understand Francis’ point of view. > He was a pragmatist….. He had little interest in the thrill of the hunt. > He was focused on the efficiency of the catch. > > Although QRO is far from illegal, it does seem to be somewhat more > focused on the efficiency of the catch than the thrill of the hunt. > So there is a certain un-romantic reality to QRO vs. QRP. > > I'm wondering, what percentage of contacts you've made QRO, that you > would estimate as not attainable QRP. > > I hope I didn't break the list rules getting off-topic with the story > :~/ -- Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8) P.O. Box 73 Frenchtown, MT 59834 USA QTH: DN27UB TEL: (406) 626-5728 URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj 2m DXCC #11, 6m DXCC #815 ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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In reply to this post by dw-4
I would estimate that 90% of my QRO contacts would have not been possible with QRP. 98% would not have been enjoyable because I don't particularly enjoy contacts where repeats are required to exchange any info. I would guess that if only QRP to QRP were legal the QRP stations would lose 80% of their contacts. This is based on QRP being 5 watts. If QRP is 1 watt or 100 milliwatts the problem will be much greater. If it is 10 watts, not quite so bad. I really think that QRP is generally bad for the hobby and reduces my enjoyment when others use QRP, especially new hams that don't understand the importance of big antennas and running a reasonable amount of power.
Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ --- On Thu, 3/5/09, dw <[hidden email]> wrote: > From: dw <[hidden email]> > Subject: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO > To: "Elecraft_List" <[hidden email]> > Date: Thursday, March 5, 2009, 4:34 AM > A few years back in our little farming community, there was > a fellow > whose name was Francis. > Francis was an avid hunter. > At this time, the rumor went around the community that > Francis had been fined for deer jacking. > Out of his truck one night, with a spot light, he took a > shot at a > plastic deer planted by game wardens. > Soon it became a joke…….Sir Francis the deer slayer. > > Something within me seemed to understand Francis’ point > of view. > He was a pragmatist….. He had little interest in the > thrill of the hunt. > He was focused on the efficiency of the catch. > > Although QRO is far from illegal, it does seem to be > somewhat more > focused on the efficiency of the catch than the thrill of > the hunt. > So there is a certain un-romantic reality to QRO vs. QRP. > > I'm wondering, what percentage of contacts you've > made QRO, that you > would estimate as not attainable QRP. > > I hope I didn't break the list rules getting off-topic > with the story > :~/ > -- > dw > [hidden email] > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: > http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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In reply to this post by Stephen W. Kercel
There are so many variables contributing to the thrill. The hunter may have gone for the target efficiently because he may have been jazzed about testing a new ammo load he'd developed, and picked the "easy" target to try it on first. Or he may merely be trying to feed himself and his family, and so didn't want to dither around. Speaking for myself, I run 100/50/5 watts, depending on what I'm trying to do and what appeals to me at any given moment when I sit at the radio. I'm almost exclusively low power on CW, because it's a very efficient use of power for communications. And it's boatloads of fun (to me). But I'll goose the power up on SSB. I like rag chewing, and at least on sideband, the extra power can mean the difference between keeping a chat going a bit longer or losing it to QSB. There, the thrill is in meeting someone new, chatting with them, and learning about who they are and why they are smiling. So "unromantic" may well depend on the "romance" that lights any given ham's fire in the first place. Homebrewing either QRO or QRP gear and making contacts with it? Handling traffic in an emergency, where the extra power can sometimes help? Running barefoot QRO and still be chosen as the next station on that rare DX station's list, despite the folks blasting away with kilowatt amps? Or running QRP exclusively, as I did for several years, with a HW-8 I built? The nice thing about ham radio: It's a mighty big tent. It's all good stuff. With best regards, Pete On Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:34:49 -0500 "Stephen W. Kercel" <[hidden email]> wrote: > DW and all: > > A slightly different hunting analogy might be more illuminating. Here > in Maine, bear hunting is very popular. There are two ways to go > about it. If you're a local, you learn the bears habits and habitats, > and you go out and stalk the bear, and if you are very much smarter > than the bear (most people are not) you eventually get a clear shot, > and BANG! you become the proud owner of a bearskin rug. This is > rather difficult to do, and a great sense of accomplishment, prestige > and bragging rights that attach to being a genuinely skilled hunter. > If you're a city slicker from New York you go about it the other way, > hiring a local guide who puts out a big bucket of stale donuts (I'm > not kidding, they really do it) in a known bear hangout; then you > wait for the bear to come and BANG! that's his last donut. The guide > makes a lot of money, the city slicker basks in the illusion that > he's "hunted" a bear, and the locals think the city slicker is more > to be pitied than despised. > > In an age of the Internet, cheap worldwide telephone coverage, et > cetera, talking to a person on the other side of the world is no big > deal. The reason we take up ham radio is for the thrill of the hunt, > and the sense of accomplishment that comes from honing a genuine > skill. > > To those who would say that life is too short for QRP, I would answer > that in my experience, life is too boring with QRO. > > In a typical DX contest, using QRP and a wire antenna, if propagation > is minimally decent, I might make 500-600 contacts competing against > stations 2-3 S-units stronger than me. This includes breaking pileups > for rare multipliers. This suggests to me that the number of contacts > unattainable with QRO is very few. The tradeoff is time. In a > contest, using 100 Watts and a dipole, I can crack a multiplier > pileup on maybe the 4th or 5th call. Using 5 Watts and a dipole, it > takes dozens of calls to crack a multiplier pileup. > > I do crank my K2 all the way up to 100 Watts when the propagation > simply will not support a QRP signal. This is a damnably common > problem in the current sunspot climate. > > 73, > > Steve Kercel > AA4AK > > > dw wrote: > > A few years back in our little farming community, there was a fellow > > whose name was Francis. > > Francis was an avid hunter. > > At this time, the rumor went around the community that > > Francis had been fined for deer jacking. > > Out of his truck one night, with a spot light, he took a shot at a > > plastic deer planted by game wardens. > > Soon it became a joke…….Sir Francis the deer slayer. > > > > Something within me seemed to understand Francis’ point of view. > > He was a pragmatist….. He had little interest in the thrill of the > > hunt. He was focused on the efficiency of the catch. > > > > Although QRO is far from illegal, it does seem to be somewhat more > > focused on the efficiency of the catch than the thrill of the hunt. > > So there is a certain un-romantic reality to QRO vs. QRP. > > > > I'm wondering, what percentage of contacts you've made QRO, that you > > would estimate as not attainable QRP. > > > > I hope I didn't break the list rules getting off-topic with the > > story :~/ > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html -- Peter N. Spotts -- KC1JB http://www.kc1jb.net (under construction) Email: [hidden email] QRP-ARCI # 4174 | North American QRP CW Club # 2446 Flying Pigs QRP # 1983 | SKCC # 4853 | QCWA #34679 W5JH Black Widow paddle #601 ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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In reply to this post by dw-4
Most of my contacts are QRP, despite having a 100W PA available. I
was taught a long time ago to use only (about) as much power as was needed to establish and maintain contact. The operating method usually entails starting at 2W and working up through 5W to see if the contact will work out if I'm calling someone's CQ. If I'm calling CQ, I try for a while at the lowest setting and continue to work up over time to 5W, sometimes 10W. I seldom need to go over 5W though. If the bands are dead, as they've been on/off recently, whether or not you're using QRO or QRP, you can still just be talking to yourself. That's OK, becase half the time the bands are dead it's because everyone's convinced themselves that since they don't hear anything there's nothing to hear. I worked CQ WW DX a month after my K3/10 arrived, and had a great time - but didn't break any of my own prior bests. This was before having the 100 W PA installed. I had _never_ worked ZS before using < 100W and did it on 8 Watts with a long wire. Five other _new_ countries (for me) also, mostly on 40m split. All that being said, I find it quite difficult to break pileups with QRP. Always have. Mostly timing and operating skills are used since QRP can't truly stomp through a pileup of signals being received at 20-30 dB higher levels. Mostly timing though. QRP can make you work harder though, than QRO. You don't have power to use as a breaker bar, but you have everything else you've _learned_ about operating. And after a while it isn't so difficult and kinda fun to try low power first, then work up to what it takes to make and maintain the contact. QRP CW is actually amazing and can get surprisingly good results. SSB is not as forgiving and often has lower throughput. QRP JT65 on 80m or 40m at night gets truly stellar results. 73, matt W6NIA K2 #2810 K3 #24 On Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:34:00 -0800, you wrote: >A few years back in our little farming community, there was a fellow >whose name was Francis. >Francis was an avid hunter. >At this time, the rumor went around the community that >Francis had been fined for deer jacking. >Out of his truck one night, with a spot light, he took a shot at a >plastic deer planted by game wardens. >Soon it became a joke .Sir Francis the deer slayer. > >Something within me seemed to understand Francis point of view. >He was a pragmatist .. He had little interest in the thrill of the hunt. >He was focused on the efficiency of the catch. > >Although QRO is far from illegal, it does seem to be somewhat more >focused on the efficiency of the catch than the thrill of the hunt. >So there is a certain un-romantic reality to QRO vs. QRP. > >I'm wondering, what percentage of contacts you've made QRO, that you >would estimate as not attainable QRP. > >I hope I didn't break the list rules getting off-topic with the story >:~/ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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In reply to this post by Lynn Lamb, W4NL
I couldn't agree more. I had the linear and all the power for years. DXCC in the 275 range. Now I'm starting over and it's much more fun with the K2 and now the K3/10 and my trusty G5RV. 73,72 Mike, W9QS EX: KN6TBP (1956), K1DGQ, DL4KM, K5LJN, W9FRR, W9KVF K3, K2, OHR500, Norcal 20, SP1 Fists #12327, FP #268, OOTC #4423, QRPARCI #9521 --- On Thu, 3/5/09, Lynn Lamb, W4NL <[hidden email]> wrote: > From: Lynn Lamb, W4NL <[hidden email]> > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO > To: [hidden email], "Elecraft_List" <[hidden email]>, "dw" <[hidden email]> > Date: Thursday, March 5, 2009, 9:03 AM > Couldn't let this slide.. please forgive, but QRP with > the K2 + 9 years come > April 4, 2009 equals: > > Mixed: 328 (one shy of the HR) > SSB: 307 > CW: 322 > > 160: 60 > 80: 118 > 40: 251 > 30: 250 > 20: 306 > 17: 301 > 15: 296 > 12: 266 > 10: 253 > > Band countries: 2101 > Total DX Qs: 3327 > > Many calls, many hours, some disappointments, crazy in a > way (!), much joy, > and a little K2 QRP that has NEVER failed. It was built by > N4TD, not me. > Oh... modest antennas, an understanding XYL (Rosie, KA4S), > buddies who have > listened to me for 9 years talk about QRP (ugh) and > retired. > > Does QRP make one a better operator? Perhaps. > > Try it, you may like it.... 73, lynn W4NL > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Wes Stewart" <[hidden email]> > To: "Elecraft_List" > <[hidden email]>; "dw" > <[hidden email]> > Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:27 AM > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP > vs. QRO > > > > > > Life is too short for QRP > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > > Please help support this email list: > http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.8/1985 - Release > Date: 03/05/09 > 07:54:00 > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: > http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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Administrator
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>>> Life is too short for QRP.
This may prove true in my case (just ask my wife; I used up several of my lives designing the NC40A, Sierra, SST, Safari-4, KX1, K1, and K2). But sometimes, the neighbors are too close for QRO. No matter how clean your transmitter is, if your antenna is practically on top of their CATV coax or FM radio whip, you may cause interference, because many consumer receivers have very poor out-of-band rejection at RF and IF. Dropping power can sometimes make a huge difference. Your neighbors get their entertainment devices back, and your entertainment device becomes more...challenging/sporting/efficient (take your pick). I love the snap of fresh, hot electrons in the early morning, but I also really like QRP -- especially in the field. There's nothing like making DX QSOs with a hand-held rig and a wire tossed into a tree. 73, Wayne N6KR --- http://www.elecraft.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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In reply to this post by ROBERT CARROLL-4
Hi Bob,
You may want to qualify that with depending on your QTH and antenna system. Well and goal... One often hears how impossible it is to be competitive or even work anyone on 160 without power. Power may make some things easier, but even that won't help without a decent antenna, skill, timing and a reasonably quiet QTH. 80 is a bit better, but probably because more folks operate there than on 160. I'm always tickled when I beat QRO folks out in pileups or just catch a new one running LP and even QRP on 160. Listening and thinking pay off big time running LP and QRP... If someone wants QRP WAS and DXCC on the top band, assuming they have a decent location and antennas, pound hard at it now. The conditions this season have been outstanding. QRP WAS is doable. Probably the hardest part is being on the air night after night and catching the best openings on an otherwise quiet band. I'm at 113 DXCC running LP since 2005, about 30 DXCC QRP (mostly in the last year). No four square here ;o) 73, Julius n2wn
Julius Fazekas
N2WN Tennessee Contest Group http://www.k4ro.net/tcg/index.html Tennessee QSO Party http://www.tnqp.org/ Elecraft K2 #4455 Elecraft K3/100 #366 Elecraft K3/100 |
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In reply to this post by WILLIS COOKE
Willis and All,
I very much respect your opinion, but I reject much of it from my point of view. In particular, your assertion that 80% of the contacts would be lost at QRP levels. I feel much of the problem of operating at QRP levels is the QRM from QRO stations! A CW or PSK31 op, in particular, might tend to agree with this. There are a lot more stations out there that should be turning their power down, there there are stations who need to turn their power up! I also personally feel that your suggestion that "big antennas" and power is what we need to impress new hams just might be 180 degrees out of phase. Not only are "big antennas" out of reach for me from a practical standpoint, I find the cost somewhat daunting. I would think new hams might be scared off if they think getting a license needs to be followed by a very large outlay of money to get effectively equipped. I've always found that emphasizing how easy it is to get started works better. Let them develop their own opinion as to whether bigger is better. Finally, and this may be a bit of "heresy", I question the absolute definition of QRP. Yes, for contests and awards we do need a fixed level, but I also think it should be perfectly acceptable to say that running a K2 or Argonaut V at nearer their upper power limit is still "QRP". To me it's all relative. Not many folks will agree with me I fear, but I've always felt 15 or 20 watts was pretty much QRP in comparison to what most folks run. Besides, there is a great disparity between me running 5 watts to my vertical, and another person running 5 watts into his 4 element beam at 70 feet! In other words, just saying everyone must run 5 watts doesn't make the playing field equal. But all of this is just individual perception. What works best for you is what you should probably do. It's no big deal really. The main thing is to enjoy what you are doing, and there is no sin in cranking up the power. The beauty of this hobby is that there are so many different ways to approach it. Nothing "cookie cutter" about it. Dave W7AQK ----- Original Message ----- From: "WILLIS COOKE" <[hidden email]> To: "Elecraft_List" <[hidden email]>; "dw" <[hidden email]> Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:05 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO >I would estimate that 90% of my QRO contacts would have not >been possible with QRP. 98% would not have been enjoyable >because I don't particularly enjoy contacts where repeats >are required to exchange any info. I would guess that if >only QRP to QRP were legal the QRP stations would lose 80% >of their contacts. This is based on QRP being 5 watts. If >QRP is 1 watt or 100 milliwatts the problem will be much >greater. If it is 10 watts, not quite so bad. I really >think that QRP is generally bad for the hobby and reduces >my enjoyment when others use QRP, especially new hams that >don't understand the importance of big antennas and running >a reasonable amount of power. > > Willis 'Cookie' Cooke > K5EWJ > > > --- On Thu, 3/5/09, dw <[hidden email]> wrote: > >> From: dw <[hidden email]> >> Subject: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP >> vs. QRO >> To: "Elecraft_List" <[hidden email]> >> Date: Thursday, March 5, 2009, 4:34 AM >> A few years back in our little farming community, there >> was >> a fellow >> whose name was Francis. >> Francis was an avid hunter. >> At this time, the rumor went around the community that >> Francis had been fined for deer jacking. >> Out of his truck one night, with a spot light, he took a >> shot at a >> plastic deer planted by game wardens. >> Soon it became a joke…….Sir Francis the deer slayer. >> >> Something within me seemed to understand Francis’ point >> of view. >> He was a pragmatist….. He had little interest in the >> thrill of the hunt. >> He was focused on the efficiency of the catch. >> >> Although QRO is far from illegal, it does seem to be >> somewhat more >> focused on the efficiency of the catch than the thrill of >> the hunt. >> So there is a certain un-romantic reality to QRO vs. QRP. >> >> I'm wondering, what percentage of contacts you've >> made QRO, that you >> would estimate as not attainable QRP. >> >> I hope I didn't break the list rules getting off-topic >> with the story >> :~/ >> -- >> dw >> [hidden email] >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:[hidden email] >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: >> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: > http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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On Mar 5, 2009, at 1:35 PM, David Yarnes wrote: > > I also personally feel that your suggestion that "big > antennas" and power is what we need to impress new hams just > might be 180 degrees out of phase. Spot on. New hams need to see what kind of experience they can have with low power, old(er) radios, and "typical" antennas. > > Finally, and this may be a bit of "heresy", I question the > absolute definition of QRP. I couldn't agree more with this. 5 watts (or 5 mW) into stacked long boom 8 element 20M beams on a 180' pole is not the same as the same low power into a dipole, or GAP vertical, or whatever those not so flush with cash (or compulsive) can manage. Maybe the definition should be based on ERP instead of power out the backside of the transmitter. Skill is always a significant factor, but so are $$ when it comes to success at low power levels (or any power level). There is no such thing as a level playing field, since most can't quite handle the freight of the helicopter needed to haul the beams to the top of the big stick. Grant/NQ5T Guessing this thread will soon be quashed :-) ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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In reply to this post by w7aqk
David, this conversation upsets me a great deal. I am a member of SKCC and I see the QRP thing tearing it up at the moment. That the conversation is coming to the Elecraft reflector as well is doubly upsetting.
I am not totally against QRP, but the bragado that is taking place here and elsewhere leads the inexperienced to think that all they have to do is buy a QRP rig and a Buddypole and work the world. I see newbie after newbie crying that no one will work them for some perceived reason and the real reason is that no one hears them. The best, cheapest, most effective rig for a newbie is to buy a 100 watt transceiver and put up a dipole or Carolina Windom or such. Deed restrictions sometimes limit them to an attic antenna or a trap vertical or something small. To influence them to use a compromised antenna system and QRP is little short of criminal. It is certainly rude and not in the best interest of the hobby. I see numerous posts by newbies that are upset that every contact is a minimum exchange then 73. They want to rag chew with people, but they are running QRP. Of course you can rag chew with your next door neighbor at QRP and if you catch a great opening sometimes you can carry on for a few minutes before QSB gets you. But most of the time it is a struggle to get your name, qth and club number. To hear QRP advocates saying that they are the essence of ham radio and great operators revolts me. Worst of all is talking about trying a call with 100 mw then 1 watt then 2 watts I find totally rude and repulsive. I seldom see the need for more than 100 watts, but I will turn it up if I need to. The only time I turn it down to QRP is if you tell me you are QRP, then I will turn the power down until you can't hear me either. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ --- On Thu, 3/5/09, David Yarnes <[hidden email]> wrote: > From: David Yarnes <[hidden email]> > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO > To: [hidden email], "Elecraft_List" <[hidden email]>, "dw" <[hidden email]> > Date: Thursday, March 5, 2009, 11:35 AM > Willis and All, > > I very much respect your opinion, but I reject much of it > from my point of view. In particular, your assertion that > 80% of the contacts would be lost at QRP levels. I feel > much of the problem of operating at QRP levels is the QRM > from QRO stations! A CW or PSK31 op, in particular, might > tend to agree with this. There are a lot more stations out > there that should be turning their power down, there there > are stations who need to turn their power up! > > I also personally feel that your suggestion that "big > antennas" and power is what we need to impress new hams > just might be 180 degrees out of phase. Not only are > "big antennas" out of reach for me from a > practical standpoint, I find the cost somewhat daunting. I > would think new hams might be scared off if they think > getting a license needs to be followed by a very large > outlay of money to get effectively equipped. I've > always found that emphasizing how easy it is to get started > works better. Let them develop their own opinion as to > whether bigger is better. > > Finally, and this may be a bit of "heresy", I > question the absolute definition of QRP. Yes, for contests > and awards we do need a fixed level, but I also think it > should be perfectly acceptable to say that running a K2 or > Argonaut V at nearer their upper power limit is still > "QRP". To me it's all relative. Not many > folks will agree with me I fear, but I've always felt 15 > or 20 watts was pretty much QRP in comparison to what most > folks run. Besides, there is a great disparity between me > running 5 watts to my vertical, and another person running 5 > watts into his 4 element beam at 70 feet! In other words, > just saying everyone must run 5 watts doesn't make the > playing field equal. > > But all of this is just individual perception. What works > best for you is what you should probably do. It's no > big deal really. The main thing is to enjoy what you are > doing, and there is no sin in cranking up the power. The > beauty of this hobby is that there are so many different > ways to approach it. Nothing "cookie cutter" > about it. > > Dave W7AQK > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "WILLIS COOKE" > <[hidden email]> > To: "Elecraft_List" > <[hidden email]>; "dw" > <[hidden email]> > Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:05 AM > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP > vs. QRO > > > > I would estimate that 90% of my QRO contacts would > have not been possible with QRP. 98% would not have been > enjoyable because I don't particularly enjoy contacts > where repeats are required to exchange any info. I would > guess that if only QRP to QRP were legal the QRP stations > would lose 80% of their contacts. This is based on QRP > being 5 watts. If QRP is 1 watt or 100 milliwatts the > problem will be much greater. If it is 10 watts, not quite > so bad. I really think that QRP is generally bad for the > hobby and reduces my enjoyment when others use QRP, > especially new hams that don't understand the importance > of big antennas and running a reasonable amount of power. > > > > Willis 'Cookie' Cooke > > K5EWJ > > > > > > --- On Thu, 3/5/09, dw <[hidden email]> > wrote: > > > >> From: dw <[hidden email]> > >> Subject: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of > QRP vs. QRO > >> To: "Elecraft_List" > <[hidden email]> > >> Date: Thursday, March 5, 2009, 4:34 AM > >> A few years back in our little farming community, > there was > >> a fellow > >> whose name was Francis. > >> Francis was an avid hunter. > >> At this time, the rumor went around the community > that > >> Francis had been fined for deer jacking. > >> Out of his truck one night, with a spot light, he > took a > >> shot at a > >> plastic deer planted by game wardens. > >> Soon it became a joke…….Sir Francis the deer > slayer. > >> > >> Something within me seemed to understand > Francis’ point > >> of view. > >> He was a pragmatist….. He had little interest in > the > >> thrill of the hunt. > >> He was focused on the efficiency of the catch. > >> > >> Although QRO is far from illegal, it does seem to > be > >> somewhat more > >> focused on the efficiency of the catch than the > thrill of > >> the hunt. > >> So there is a certain un-romantic reality to QRO > vs. QRP. > >> > >> I'm wondering, what percentage of contacts > you've > >> made QRO, that you > >> would estimate as not attainable QRP. > >> > >> I hope I didn't break the list rules getting > off-topic > >> with the story > >> :~/ > >> -- dw > >> [hidden email] > >> > >> > ______________________________________________________________ > >> Elecraft mailing list > >> Home: > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > >> Post: mailto:[hidden email] > >> > >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > >> Please help support this email list: > >> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > > ______________________________________________________________ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > > Please help support this email list: > http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
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In reply to this post by Grant Youngman
> -----Original Message----- > From: [hidden email] [mailto:elecraft- > [hidden email]] On Behalf Of Grant Youngman > Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 11:56 AM > To: Elecraft Mailing List > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO > > Spot on. New hams need to see what kind of experience they can have > with low power, old(er) radios, and "typical" antennas. > I contacted K5D twice during their two weeks on the air. Once with my K3 and 20m dipole and once using a friends station in Canada with LOTS of power and an 80m Yagi at 150'. I have to admit it was kind of fun to stomp in on 80m when they started calling for 7's. There was an obvious queue of people waiting to get through in 7 land judging by the calls from 7's "pretending" they didn't realize K5D was still asking for 6's. :) Being 1st through was like shooting a deer with an elephant gun. The 20m contact from the K3 with the dipole was far more satisfying! I had tried for 2 previous nights but the conditions just weren't right. Hearing my call come back on the 2nd try caught me off guard! I was getting ready to settle in for another futile attempt against competition that sounded far more powerful than my barefoot setup. It was a pleasant surprise! :) 73, Adam http://ka7ark.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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