[Elecraft] who does the work in QRP?

[N2EY at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/26/06 6:27:25 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
roncasa at verizon.net writes:


> 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.

Yup - *if* the receiver is really 6 dB per S unit. 

Now look at these numbers:

Transmit power 1280 watts S-6
                         320 watts S-5
                           80 watts S-4
                           20 watts S-3
                             5 watts S-2

If the receiving station can't dig out your S-2 signal, no QSO.

> 
> 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.
> 

*if* the path is such that you are S-7.

73 de Jim, N2EY