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@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
