[Elecraft] Alligators and Bats

[Vic Rosenthal]

Ed Juge/NM wrote:
> 
> What I do experience frequently is giving the other station a lower sig.
> report than he gives me when he is running +/-100 watts and I'm running 5 or
> 10.  

This is an interesting discussion.  I'm a firm believer in using just the
necessary power for a solid QSO, so I'm often turning the wick up and down.  One
thing that I've learned is that a few db make a BIG difference when conditions
are marginal.  Recently I was trying to work a weakish JA on 160M.  I called him
with 15 watts from my K2 -- he just kept CQing.  I turned on my amp (400 watts)
and called him -- QRZ?  I got several QRZ's, but couldn't make a QSO.  Finally I
switched to my other exciter to get more output from my amp (800 watts) and made
the QSO.  In this case, 3db made all the difference.

73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA