[Elecraft] Alligators and Bats

[Richard Mulvey]

On Thu, 2002-01-10 at 07:23, Jim Campbell wrote:
> Ron D' Eau Claire wrote:
> > 
> > But I am always aware that when I work a QRO station while I am running a
> > barefoot K2, I have just 'volunteered' him to make a QRP contact whether he
> > wanted to or not. I try to stay aware of the changing band conditions,
> > realizing that if the band isn't in the very best shape he is likely working
> > much harder to copy me than I am him, and the reason for that is because of
> > my choice to limit myself to low power.
> 
> Thanks, Ron, that explains something that I have experienced from time
> to time in the last few months that I have been back on the air.  As
> soon as I would tell the other station I was QRP, they wouldn't come 
> back to me.  I couldn't understand why.  Now I do.  As a result, I
> usually don't share that I am QRP until near the end of the QSO. 
> 

   Interesting.  In the past ( almost ) decade that I've been hamming, I
can't recall noticing that the other drops out any more often when I
identify as QRP, as when QRO, under average band conditions.  Certainly
when things are marginal, the difference between 5W or less and 100W
will make or break the contact.

   Simple physics dictates that there will be times when you can hear
the QRO op, and he can't hear you, running QRP.  And a lot of QRP'ers
seem to make the assumption that the other guy can hear as well as he
did when he was 20.

> I suppose that if I identified myself as a QRP station when I answered
> his call (i.e., de W4BQP/QRP) it would give him a choice, but then I
> would have fewer QSOs than I now do. Maybe I will try it and see what
> happens.

   I think we all need to remember is that we do make it harder on the
other guy when we run QRP - especially if we want to rag chew.  I've
never quite understood the common QRP mentality that we're somehow being
"better" ops by whispering across the room, while the other guy uses a
normal speaking voice.  Personally, the enjoyment I get from QRP stems
more from the ability to construct my own gear, and use it on the air. 
But I always keep its limitations in mind when I do.

- Rich