[Elecraft] # 5607 first contact QRP!

[Stephen Roberts]

You're right of course. It takes some time to get comfortable with QRP and its limitations, and you're right, that it can be a source of frustration for many new hams.  Your are also absolutely right that when you ad a crappy antenna to the mix, it can be very frustrating indeed. But that's the fun of learning and discovering all that is ham radio. 

I started with an OHR 100a 40m rig and a homebrew magloop antenna set up on a tripod in my kitchen. I was happy as a clam and simply didn't know what I was missing and found plenty of QSO's to keep me occupied while I figured out what it was all about. I had other ham friends telling me that I was setting myself up for disappointment if I didn't get at least a 100W radio, but I stuck it out and never felt that I was missing much. I still feel that way, and I'm still having fun.


72/73
Steve

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Roberts-W1SFR
Sudbury, VT
http://www.kx3helper.com
Fists, CW OPS, QRP ARCI, SKCC, NEQRP, NAQCC, FP, ARRL, Green Mountain Wireless Society
(802)779-7489 (cell)









On Feb 5, 2014, at 5:10 PM, Vic Rosenthal K2VCO wrote:

> Actually, many QRPers seem to be saying that it's /easy/ to work the world with 5 watts and a crummy antenna, and it's sinful to use more power, or, God forbid, a beam.
> 
> It is /hard/ to work DX with 5 watts and a low dipole (or worse, a Buddipole or similar antenna). This can be very frustrating to new hams who have yet to develop the operating skills that make this possible.
> 
> QRP is great fun, but the 13 dB between 5 and 100 watts is very significant. And the difference between a short, loaded vertical and a beam can be even more significant.
> 
> On 2/5/2014 1:34 PM, EricJ wrote:
>> Sorry to point out the obvious, but that could be said of any power
>> level. And add band conditions at any particular point in time. There's
>> nothing magic about 5 watts out and there's no more magic at 100 watts
>> out. 100 watts will get out some times when 5 watts won't, but 5 watts
>> (or far less) will get out a lot more times than most hams realize. I
>> think that's all most QRPers are saying.
>> 
>> Eric
>> KE6US
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 2/5/2014 12:18 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
>>> Sorry to be a wet blanket, but it's the antennas and the operators (on
>>> both ends) that makes QRP work (or not).
>>> 
>>> 73, Jim K9YC
> 
> -- 
> 73,
> 
> Vic, K2VCO
> 
> Fresno CA
> 
> http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html