I was running low power to an inefficient antenna due to planning restrictions. I felt a lot of stations took their time to complete QSOs with me, to only get a multiplier of 1.5 for the qso, when IMHO they deserves the full 3 for a QRP station.
Perhaps have categories (for 160) based on maximum antenna height multiplied by transmitter power, being easier to work out than ERP, and effectively giving a bonus for stations who go for more efficient small antenna. An estimate of my antenna efficiency is about 5% but have WAC on 160 with 200w max TX power (limited by auto ATU at base of antenna). I would reckon that is equivalent to QRP WAC wit ha 1/4 wave vertical over a salt water ground plane. [email protected] wrote: > What would be much more fair is to go by ERP. 5 watts from one of tho se > sophisticated antenna farms may very well be stronger than 100w or even > 600w from, let's say, a Butte rnut with a vestigial radial field. T he > Butternut guy gets no consideration (in fact, generally he gets derision) > but the (often louder) 5 watt guy is hailed as a great big QRP hero (hi > hi) . Somehow, r unning a compromise antenna marks us as not caring but > running QRP is "noble". > > To me, the weird thing is that, at least for most of us running compromise > antennas, our choice is made out of the necessities of real life, that is, > we do what we can do from a small lot or an antenna restricted development > or where zoning laws are especially hostile to amateur antennas. In some > cases , it's may even be a concession to a neighbor that be insan e (don't > ask me how I know). The decision to use 5 watts, on the other hand, is > basically whim. M ost of our radios output 100w out of the box, so one > operates at 5 watts because he wants to, not because he has to. A nd > there are plenty of reasonably priced used 600w+ amps available if one > wants even more power that basically only take desk space, no zoning > required. -- Brian D G3VGZ _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
