Topband: QRP/Poor antenna stations ARRL160

[Tom W8JI]

While some people do hear much better than they receive all the time in all 
directions, and are a waste of transmitter power, the issue often involves 
more than just power levels.

Any analysis is flawed unless it considers TX antenna efficiency, QRM 
levels, as well as differences in patterns when split antennas (separate RX 
TX antennas) are being used. A big problem is getting operators to listen in 
other directions when using directional RX antennas.

Contests are especially a PITA so far as QRM on the eastern half of the USA, 
and I'm sure it is this way in Europe. All it takes is a wide signal 500 Hz 
or more away, or a weak local signal nearly on frequency, to kill someone's 
receiving.