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

[Grant Youngman]

On Mar 5, 2009, at 1:35 PM, David Yarnes wrote:

>
> 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.

Spot on.  New hams need to see what kind of experience they can have  
with low power, old(er) radios, and "typical"  antennas.

>
> Finally, and this may be a bit of "heresy", I question the
> absolute definition of QRP.

I couldn't agree more with this.  5 watts (or 5 mW)  into stacked long  
boom 8 element 20M beams on a 180' pole is not the same as the same  
low power into a dipole, or GAP vertical, or whatever those not so  
flush with cash (or compulsive) can manage.

Maybe the definition should be based on ERP instead of power out the  
backside of the transmitter.  Skill is always a significant factor,  
but so are $$ when it comes to success at low power levels (or any  
power level).  There is no such thing as a level playing field, since  
most can't quite handle the freight of the helicopter needed to haul  
the beams to the top of the big stick.

Grant/NQ5T
Guessing this thread will soon be quashed :-)