[Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO

[Lance Collister]

Hi DW et al,

I am sure it is quite different on HF, but on 6m EME (where I spend most of my 
time), I must agree with the slogan that "Life is too short of QRP".  No matter 
how much power you run on 6m EME, it almost always seems like it is not quite 
enough, and most every contact requires careful planning, preparation and 
patience!  And that is already using the weak signal digital mode of JT65A, which 
essentially gives you another 10 dB over CW.  The vast majority of my 6m EME 
contacts are not audible, and would never have been possible on CW.

So from my standpoint, the entire issue of whether to run QRP or not is 
irrelevant. I basically am operating like a QRP station every time I get on the 
air (even though I am actually running QRO).

There sure are a wide range of different niches in this hobby, all with quite 
different vantage points, aren't there? ;-)   But there still are many concepts 
and equipment features - like a sensitive receiver - that appeal to us all.

GL and VY 73, Lance

dw wrote:
 > A few years back in our little farming community, there was a fellow
 > whose name was Francis.
 > Francis was an avid hunter.
 > At this time, the rumor went around the community that
 > Francis had been fined for deer jacking.
 > Out of his truck one night, with a spot light, he took a shot at a
 > plastic deer planted by game wardens.
 > Soon it became a joke…….Sir Francis the deer slayer.
 >
 > Something within me seemed to understand Francis’ point of view.
 > He was a pragmatist….. He had little interest in the thrill of the hunt.
 > He was focused on the efficiency of the catch.
 >
 > Although QRO is far from illegal, it does seem to be somewhat more
 > focused on the efficiency of the catch than the thrill of the hunt.
 > So there is a certain un-romantic reality to QRO vs. QRP.
 >
 > I'm wondering, what percentage of contacts you've made QRO, that you
 > would estimate as not attainable QRP.
 >
 > I hope I didn't break the list rules getting off-topic with the story
 > :~/


-- 
Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8)
P.O. Box 73
Frenchtown, MT  59834  USA
QTH: DN27UB
TEL: (406) 626-5728   URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj
2m DXCC #11, 6m DXCC #815