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

[David Yarnes]

Willis and All,

I very much respect your opinion, but I reject much of it 
from my point of view.  In particular, your assertion that 
80% of the contacts would be lost at QRP levels.  I feel 
much of the problem of operating at QRP levels is the QRM 
from QRO stations!  A CW or PSK31 op, in particular, might 
tend to agree with this.  There are a lot more stations out 
there that should be turning their power down, there there 
are stations who need to turn their power up!

I also personally feel that your suggestion that "big 
antennas" and power is what we need to impress new hams just 
might be 180 degrees out of phase.  Not only are "big 
antennas" out of reach for me from a practical standpoint, I 
find the cost somewhat daunting.  I would think new hams 
might be scared off if they think getting a license needs to 
be followed by a very large outlay of money to get 
effectively equipped.  I've always found that emphasizing 
how easy it is to get started works better.  Let them 
develop their own opinion as to whether bigger is better.

Finally, and this may be a bit of "heresy", I question the 
absolute definition of QRP.  Yes, for contests and awards we 
do need a fixed level, but I also think it should be 
perfectly acceptable to say that running a K2 or Argonaut V 
at nearer their upper power limit is still "QRP".  To me 
it's all relative.  Not many folks will agree with me I 
fear, but I've always felt 15 or 20 watts was pretty much 
QRP in comparison to what most folks run.  Besides, there is 
a great disparity between me running 5 watts to my vertical, 
and another person running 5 watts into his 4 element beam 
at 70 feet!  In other words, just saying everyone must run 5 
watts doesn't make the playing field equal.

But all of this is just individual perception.  What works 
best for you is what you should probably do.  It's no big 
deal really.  The main thing is to enjoy what you are doing, 
and there is no sin in cranking up the power.  The beauty of 
this hobby is that there are so many different ways to 
approach it.  Nothing "cookie cutter" about it.

Dave W7AQK


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "WILLIS COOKE" <wrcooke at flash.net>
To: "Elecraft_List" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>; "dw" 
<bw_dw at fastmail.fm>
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:05 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP 
vs. QRO


>I would estimate that 90% of my QRO contacts would have not 
>been possible with QRP.  98% would not have been enjoyable 
>because I don't particularly enjoy contacts where repeats 
>are required to exchange any info.  I would guess that if 
>only QRP to QRP were legal the QRP stations would lose 80% 
>of their contacts.  This is based on QRP being 5 watts.  If 
>QRP is 1 watt or 100 milliwatts the problem will be much 
>greater.  If it is 10 watts, not quite so bad.  I really 
>think that QRP is generally bad for the hobby and reduces 
>my enjoyment when others use QRP, especially new hams that 
>don't understand the importance of big antennas and running 
>a reasonable amount of power.
>
> Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
> K5EWJ
>
>
> --- On Thu, 3/5/09, dw <bw_dw at fastmail.fm> wrote:
>
>> From: dw <bw_dw at fastmail.fm>
>> Subject: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP 
>> vs. QRO
>> To: "Elecraft_List" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
>> Date: Thursday, March 5, 2009, 4:34 AM
>> 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
>> :~/
>> -- 
>>   dw
>>   dw at sover.net
>>
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