I love QRP but run THP 2.5kfx generally in the evening on 75m as I cannot be heard well without the 1.5KW out. I don't like the life's too short for QRP statement as I have had some of my best contacts at less than 2W. I usually run 2W or less. I love 100 MW!
Bill K9YEQ -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 5:55 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 - just 500 watts? QRP, 100 watts, or QRO at 500 watts+ -- they all have their place. If one is operating portable with batteries on a mountain hike, there is no other reasonable choice than QRP, and sometimes antennas are compromise for that situation too, but many do enjoy making a bunch of contacts in that environment. 100 watts (well somewhere between 50 and 100) is normal for me at the home station. I will drop to 5 watts if operating near the QRP "watering holes" just so I don't cover up other low power stations, but for most causal QSOs, I run between 50 and 100 watts. I will have an amplifier on the air someday (I have done 55 years of hamming without one), but it will be used when conditions warrant it. Yes, contests often warrant it, and when trying for that elusive DX in a pileup. However, I will continue to run near the 100 watt level most of the time. Some of the guys I talk to on 80 meter SSB tend to razz me about not running more power, but they can hear me, so why run more - if I am only S-7 on their meter, but perfectly Q5 copy, why should I run up the electric bill just because they are running the legal limit and bragging about their S-9+60 reports. I just don't see the point. Oh yes, some of these guys are running ESSB too, but I prefer to limit my bandwidth. Just because it can be done is not a valid reason to do it IMHO. "To everything Turn, Turn, Turn --- To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" - based on the Book of Ecclesiastes and put to music by Pete Seegar in 1959. 73, Don W3FPR ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
