I second Cookies comments. The self righteous of the comments from some QRP advocates is a continual annoyance. I have seen these same comments time and time again on the reflector. Let it go!
Why do the QRP fanatics have to lobby so hard for thier cause? Can't they let people make thier own decisions? One size does not fit all! There is a real insult to those who do not hold thier views hidden (or not so hidden) in thier comments. If you think I am talking to you, I probably am! Do us all a favor and do not reply. We already know your opinion! This is the kind of stuff that makes some people not want to use the reflector. I hang in here because of the wealth of technical info. I have my mail all presorted by sender and Subject. I also use the delete key! So no lectures on how deal with this. BTW, I have a KX1 (fully loaded with the smd cw tuning aid that I built myself) that I use when backpacking in the High Sierras and when hanging out in Golden Gate Park here in San Francisco. I also have a K3-100 kit. As nice as it is, it was only when I picked up an Ameritron 811-H amp that I started making progress on several awards. In no time I got the last five states I needed for WAS CW and am close to getting DXCC. Before I got the amp, I had 85 confirmed countries. I now have 92 and am awaiting cards/LoTW for 17 recent contacts! I live on a small San Francisco lot and use a twisted semi-flattop dipole cut for 40 meter cw. It is a real sky warmer but with the amp and 500 watts it covers the world. I have parts of a Cushcraft MA5B for 20. The two element Yagi on 20 really helps even though it is heavily trapped and low to the ground. Again, the 500 watts really helps! -----Original Message----- snip............... .... this conversation upsets me a great deal. I am a member of SKCC and I see the QRP thing tearing it up at the moment. That the conversation is coming to the Elecraft reflector as well is doubly upsetting. I am not totally against QRP, but the bragado that is taking place here and elsewhere leads the inexperienced to think that all they have to do is buy a QRP rig and a Buddypole and work the world. I see newbie after newbie crying that no one will work them for some perceived reason and the real reason is that no one hears them. The best, cheapest, most effective rig for a newbie is to buy a 100 watt transceiver and put up a dipole or Carolina Windom or such. Deed restrictions sometimes limit them to an attic antenna or a trap vertical or something small. To influence them to use a compromised antenna system and QRP is little short of criminal. It is certainly rude and not in the best interest of the hobby. I see numerous posts by newbies that are upset that every contact is a minimum exchange then 73. They want to rag chew with people, but they are running QRP. Of course you can rag chew with your next door neighbor at QRP and if you catch a great opening sometimes you can carry on for a few minutes before QSB gets you. But most of the time it is a struggle to get your name, qth and club number. To hear QRP advocates saying that they are the essence of ham radio and great operators revolts me. Worst of all is talking about trying a call with 100 mw then 1 watt then 2 watts I find totally rude and repulsive. I seldom see the need for more than 100 watts, but I will turn it up if I need to. The only time I turn it down to QRP is if you tell me you are QRP, then I will turn the power down until you can't hear me either. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ ______________________________________________________________ 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
