Topband: ARRL 160CW Contest QRP Portable Op

[kolson at rcn.com]

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. 

73, Kevin K3OX      


----- Original Message -----

From: "Milt" <miltn5ia at gmail.com> 
To: topband at contesting.com, "Robert Harmon" <k6uj at pacbell.net> 
Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2015 8:59:13 PM 
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160CW Contest QRP Portable Op 

Hmmm.  If that is the case, then QRP should NOT be used on any band for 
contesting or otherwise.  That is the name of the game; dig out the weak 
ones. 

I personally have nothing against QRP, having operated QRP in the Stew Perry 
contest for 16 of the 19 runnings.  I even have a plaque on the wall for #1 
World operating QRP. 

IMHO the SPDC is the BEST contest to use QRP because #1-You get more points 
per given Q, and #2-The other station gets equal compensation in points for 
copying your QRP signal.  What could be more fair? 

CU all in the SPDC as N7GP during my daylight hours and as N5IA during the 
core night time 14 hours.  I will make the best effort to put every caller 
in the logs; even the real strong QRP guys and the QRO stations I can barely 
discern through the din, static and fades receive equal treatment. 

73, and Merry Christmas to everyone everywhere. 

de Milt, N5IA 

-----Original Message----- 
From: Robert Harmon 
Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2015 6:43 PM 
To: topband at contesting.com 
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160CW Contest QRP Portable Op 

Herb, 

I feel the same way. 
I have nothing against QRP, but for me personally I don't have the 
desire to 
handicap myself with QRP power especially on 160.  It doesn't seem fair 
to me for the guy 
on the other end to be burdened with trying to dig my weak signal out so 
I can make another 
contact.  ( Just my opinion, guys. ) 

73, 
Bob 
K6UJ 

On 12/24/15 3:44 PM, Herbert Schoenbohm wrote: 
> Peter, If you think calling CQ in a contest while  running 5 watts and not 
> getting a single reply is fun then have at it. Working some stations with 
> 100 watts is more fun for me. 
> 
> 
> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ 

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