The amp is a tool. Everyone knows what it does and how it does it, leaving
aside technical issues.
The amp is a toy. If you want to play more on ham radio, the amp helps you
talk with geezers who are hard of hearing. Or, completing vital
communications to people with whom without an amp would not hear you.
If you dont need the tool, you may want the toy. You may want the tool and
ignore the toy aspect.
Lotsa hamming gets done with Qrp power levels. Most hamming is done with 100
watts. If you're suffering from CCRemia, you may need an amp just to be able
to do what 100 watts does with a really good antenna. You know this because
most of the people who answer you have at least really good antennas. You
cannot hear people with modest antennas, because they cannot hear you.
If you have good antennas, then rationalizing an amp will depend on how much
hamming you do. If youre hamming all you want and whenever you want, you
neednt have an amp.
If youve noticed that almost everyone with a good antenna says youre below
S5 most of the time while theyre S7 or better you may want to consider an
amp.
If most stations who return your call have amps and good antennas, then you
know that you are at least underpowered. Correspondingly, if you have a good
antenna and the responding weaker station expresses that he has
trouble getting responses, as in a mobile station. Then with an amp, the
mobile station will get more responses as antenna options are limited to
mobile antennas. More people will hear him, antennas notwithstanding.
Only the most eccentric of us runs an amp at full power all the time.
Amps are fun because you have more fun when you use them judiciously.
Like all tools and toys, there is a learning curve, the sooner you begin,
the sooner you can claim expertise.
Some of us buy our last amplifier first, like the latest Alpha. Most of us
begin small and work our way up after mastering it. It may take decades, but
eventually you will have an opportunity to get all the amp you will ever
want or need. At that point you would be wise to consider one that does the
kinda hamming you want it to do. If you dont do CW, why bother with a QSK
feature on the amp? If you do CW and love it, why would you buy one without
QSK capability?
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