[Elecraft] who does the work in QRP?

[ron]

Well, lets deal with facts on your hypothetical QRO station:

Transmit power 500 watts S-9 +10 db
                50  watts S-9 (+ 10 db over 9)
                12.5watts S-8
                3.1 watts S-7

You lose 1 S-Unit each time you're reducing power by 1/4.

One S-unit consists of 6db increase or decrease in received signal 
strength. Transmit power must be increased FOUR TIMES to achieve a 
signal strength increase of one S-Unit!

A QRP signal is mighty respectable at S-7 on anyone's receiver.

I will still prefer my K1.

Ron, wb1hga

Chuck Guenther wrote:
> All the rationalizations and anecdotal experiences aside, 

there is no escape from the physical reality that a 100 watt

station will be 13 dB stronger than the same station running QRP 5 
watts.

  Whether or not this 13 Db is crucial depends upon propagation

conditions and noise and QRM levels at the receiving end.