[PaQSO] QRP Operations

Wed, 23 Oct 2002 11:46:17 -0400

Mike, I can say without hesitation that when I hear /QRP or /M, I give them
immediate priority.  If I asked a /M or a /QRP to stand by, I would be
embarrassed to say so, unless of course another medium power station advised
that they had priority traffic for whatever reason.  

The next rather obvious statement is, if you are in fact operating /QRP or
/M and don't sign with those designators, don't expect priority treatment.
Again, that should go without saying.  My opinion, go with the /Q or /M.
You are right however in that chances are I will comment, on SSB only, what
a nice signal you have, assuming you in fact do have a strong signal.

Regarding the thread about Rover, Mobile and Portable ops, I've been
Portable for the PaQP since getting my license in 1991 but I have to say,
listening to what the mobile and rover folks go through, I think I'm quite
satisfied with Portable.  Don't get me wrong.  To be competitive, it takes a
lot of planning, and quite a few hours of execution to put together a really
effective Portable operation, and I would be the last one to minimize the
efforts required.  But again, the Rover and Mobile headaches to be dealt
with make you folks a really special breed.  

Best regards.

Bob, N3FR  

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2002 10:32 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [PaQSO] QRP Operations

As long as we are stirring the pot a bit I'll put this out to the group.
The last two years I have operated the party QRP.  As a QRP station I sign
/QRP in both SSB and CW.  I always tended to think this was the way to do it
when operating and collecting bonus for it.  I am a poor cw operator at
best, so I am not as competitive in this category as I should be, but it
keeps the neighbors from calling and complaining.

I have noticed most QRP stations don't sign as such.  By not doing so
exchanges are shortened resulting in more time over the contest period for
qso's.  Additionally you wouldn't be asked questions such as, How much
power? & What antenna?  When the bands are good this would result in a
higher rate of qso's per hour.  

Additionally I must add that it would be easy to operate at 100 watts and
then claim QRP at the end.  The difference to listener on a good band is
slight but during a contest the  additional power and resulting 2-3 S Units
increase makes a big difference.  Hopefully this hasn't occurred but if you
don't sign QRP no one would ever question your signal during or after the
party.

After considering these things if not a requirement next year if I do QRP I
don't think I'll sign it.  Although a few times in the party stations did
put at the head of the line due to my QRP signing I think the times savings
would be more beneficial.  

Mike, N3BUD  

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