[Elecraft] OT: qrp - antenna is everything?

[Phil Wheeler]

Tim wrote:

>Hi folks -
>>From you pros - I'm curious. At the bottom of an 11 year cycle is it likely
>that a 5 watt or less qrp rig will still reach anywhere in the world if you
>assume the station can have ANY antenna it wants? In short, is it ALL about
>antennas?
>

Hard question to answer with certainty.  There are likely times when the 
bands are not open and no antenna nor power will do the trick.

But I do think the antenna makes a difference.  In 1998 or so I 
installed a modest 3-element tri-band beam (TH3Mk4) at 37 ft to replace 
the verticals and wires I had been using.  From here on the west coast 
it made a huge difference in my ability to hear and contact stations in 
Europe and elsewhere with qrp.

But I've used the beam through the low part of a cycle -- yet.

73, Phil