QRP folks do not ESTIMATE . . . . go to a VHF UHF convention and watch the antenna measurements . . . . of course you can SPECULATE or GUESS but that is the ambiguity that is introduced . . . a more accurate means of measuring QRP is the measurement of output power that has been in use by the amateur community for the six decades I have been around . . . antenna gain measurement is not simple . . . it is the execution of the assembly and construction ( the devil is in the details ) of an antenna . . . keep the guess work out of it . . . there was an advertisement some years ago for the ALPHA Amps . . . "life is too short for QRP" . . . if the goal is to set aside a frequency or repeater for challenged signals (compromised antennas and low power rigs ) that is fine . . . express it in the terms you want to convey . . . . QRP for most of the amateur community is measuring 5 watts output at the rig . . .if you want : tell them HT use only with Arrow, Elk, eggbeater and vertical antennas . . . . then you will effectively communicate your goal . . if that is your goal . . . . QRP is not a relevant term if you want to have a place for HTs with small compromised antennas . . . folks get lazy and use short cuts . . . unfortunately . . . .
Jim W9VNE
----- Original Message ----- From: "Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF" nigel@ngunn.net To: "Jim Danehy" jdanehy@cinci.rr.com Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 12:04 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] what is QRP
QRP is not generally based on ERP. It's usually taken to be 10W PEP SSB or 5W carrier power max for other modes.
I think QRP on sats used to be considered to be less than 10W ERP. It's not difficult to estimate feeder loss and antenna gain.
Jim Danehy wrote:
QRP is a measure of the transmitter output . . . on a practical basis how would an operator accurately measure the ERP if you were using ERP (effective radiated power) as a QRP benchmark . . . you would need instrumentation to measure the feedline losses and sophisticated instrumentation to measure the gain of an antenna . . . most of that type of instrumentation is beyond the average amateur radio operator . . . . but most do have access or use of a watt meter . . . . thus the simple way of calculating QRP . . . ERP is used primarily in satellite operations because it affects the transponders (not FM repeaters) I have had several private emails in response to my comments about QRP . . . I have seen folks operate the CQ WW CW contest in the QRP category with stacked beams or monoband beams . . . . I have never seen a definition of QRP that went into ERP . . . . they just use the transmitter output with all of the ambiguities that brings . . . have fun Jim W9VNE _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
-- <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Nigel A. Gunn. G8IFF W8IFF (have also held KC8NHF, M0NHF, 9H3GN) 1865 El Camino Drive, Xenia, OH 45385-1115, USA 937 825 5032 e-mail nigel@ngunn.net www http://www.ngunn.net Member of ARRL, GQRP #11396, QRPARCI #11644, SOC #548, Flying Pig #385, Dayton ARA #2128, AMSAT-NA LM-1691, AMSAT-UK, MKARS, ALC <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>