[Elecraft] Alligators and Bats

[Ron D' Eau Claire]

David, G4DMP wrote:

> Like you, Julian, I cannot understand the obsession some people have in
> always wanting to run maximum power.  I think it may perhaps be due to a
> culture difference over this side of the Atlantic.  To my mind, a K2
> would lose much of its original appeal if it ran anything over 15W.

There's a world of difference between running "maximum power" and running a
power comparable to the other station when the other station is having
trouble copying.

One of the things I've noticed about this thread is the lack of 'extremism'
in the discussion. Sure, some folks are really committed to running QRP at
ALL times, but they don't demand everyone do it. We don't seem to have any
kilowatt addicts here; perhaps because the K2 won't support that sort of
power easily just yet.

Yes, there has been a 'cultural difference' for some time. Not just across
the Atlantic, but from all 'sides' of this great hobby. I got my Ham license
in Southern California in the 50's, as the heyday of the "California
Kilowatt" was just beginning. The US economy was booming while Europe and
much of the world was struggling to recover from the devastation of World
War II. Things were very good here back then once the Korean conflict
reached an armistice. American families could generally live well and buy
all the latest 'goodies' of the time on the income of father alone. A
"California Kilowatt" usually referred to a station running a kilowatt AM
phone (and there was good evidence that many of them  were running a good
deal more than that) often running the biggest and best equipment money
could buy. The power meter stayed to the peg, even if they were chewing the
rag with a buddy a mile away.

It's no accident the 1950's was when the QRP movement began in earnest as
well.

But the California Kilowatts or the milliwatt maniacs who had no use for the
other side of the question did not represent the bulk of Hams.

Extremists who cannot see another's point of view in any cause are seldom
very good neighbors or fun to be around, but as long as hams are humans
we'll have them on all sides, QRP-QRO, VHF-HF, SSB-CW. Find an issue and
there will be people on both sides - some of them at the very edges and
unwilling to listen to anyone else. It's the rest of us in the middle ground
seeking understanding, cooperation and demonstrating a willingness to help
the other operator who make the hobby what it is: a place where all points
of view about communicating via "radio" are respected as long as they follow
the laws of the land.

Personally, my hat's off to all the ops who contributed to this thread in
the spirit of gentlemanly fun and comradeship, exploring how we feel about
all the issues around "Alligators and Bats". It shows just what an
outstanding group of Hams hang out on this reflector.

"Snap", "click", "thump" (sounds of soap box being put away)...

Thank you,

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289