Re: AO-27/FD Lessons Learned

["John Fincher" <jfincher@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Steve and the group,

I kind of wonder the same thing from time to time.  It is pretty 
difficult to get into AO-27 on 5 watts especially on weekends and 
super especially on FD.  This is not to say that it can't be done.  
If you time it just right, you can squeeze in there.  I usually tape 
my downlink so I can hear what I sounded like and my 5 watts gets 
through just fine when it makes it.  If I'm there, I'm there 100 
percent, if not, then its only noise.  Needless to say, on the 
weekends, it's mostly noise.

I wonder too, if there ought not to be a regularly scheduled QRP day 
on AO-27 or maybe a portable day where the goal is to run as little 
power as possible preferably 10 watts or less.  This could make for 
some fun experiments like can it be done with 1 watt or less?  The 
satellite itself is only putting out something like 500mW, I think.  
Perhaps a better way to rate the sending station is by estimated EIRP 
-- 1 watt into a 20db gain antenna is not QRP!

Maybe we could set 1 or 2 days a month and call them QRP days?

John KM5EX

note:  I'm sure this will get me flamed big-time as you probably 
already have been, Steve,  but like it or not folks, thats what I 
think.  You're welcome to try to change my mind -- logic and reason 
are all it takes!  Address all flames to /dev/null


On  3 Jul 98 at 23:02, STEVE DIGGS wrote:

<snipped>

> So is that the deal? Is the old ham guide to run the lowest power to
> get the job done out the door? If so, FB! I can run 50 watts just as
> well as the next guy.
> 
> Maybe we need to revisit this power issue and think about
> experimenting with QRP passes, just to see what's really required.