[Elecraft] who does the work in QRP?

KT5X kt5x at cybermesa.com
Tue Dec 26 14:31:50 EST 2006


> QRP...the real skills are at the other end.  
< boy...am I asking for trouble with THAT line!>  LOL.

Yes and no...  Here's the thing

In a ragchew or traffic handling, that may be true when the QRP signal is weak.

But this is NOT the case in DX'ing, as in, get your call across to work a DX-pedition or the like.  Yes, the guy on the other end has to copy a relatively weaker signal,

but all the skill of slipping your weak signal through the cracks of a pile-up, or through the rise and fall of ionospheric waves rests with the QRP operator, make no mistake.

When I am DXing QRP, I listen, listen, listen, listen, and rarely transmit.  When I actually transmit, my success level, QSO's per call, is far higher than when QRO when my tendency is throw my signal at it 'cause I know it is getting there.

QRP on 160 meters (from New Mexico):  It took me 20 minutes to work R1FJT, Franz Josephland, QRO.  It took another forty-five, but just ONE call, to work him QRP, five watts, with our club call.  What a great night.  I was watching him on the grayline chart.  He was in his grayline and stayed there for 90 minutes that night.

that's the thrill and skill of QRP.

72,  Fred KT5X (W5YA/qrp)


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