LF: LF/MF QRO/QRP

[Roger Lapthorn <rogerlapthorn@gmail.com>]

Dear Mal

With your QRO on the LF and MF bands and your fine antenna set-up you are able to work some impressive DX and set some great records; that's great for you.  But why can't you understand, and respect, that some of us seek different challenges in the hobby that are equally valid? 

Mine own fun is seeing what can be done with low power (5W or less)  from the PA. On the HF bands this has netted me well over 100 DXCC on SSB (and on CW) with small "back yard" antennas never bigger than a wire dipole. Even on 6m I've worked across the Atlantic with around 2.5W ERP a few summers back and I've lost count of the countries and QTH squares worked on 6m and up. QRP does actually get results, and frequently these are two-way QRP contacts with simple homemade gear.

Now, in the last couple of years I wanted to test the practical limits of 5W from the PA to modest "small garden" antennas on the LF and MF bands too. Yes, getting DX results on these bands is a lot harder and I am indeed thankful to good stations and modern digital techniques to help. But finding out by experiment that a very modest, low ERP, LF/MF station can indeed span hundreds of miles is every bit as valid as working transatlantic DX with QRO and huge antennas, fun though this must be. On VLF there is little doubt that power counts and one of the reasons I have kept to earth mode experiments so far is that I do not really want to TX with high power or to extensive antennas that are unlikely to be neighbour accepted. 

All I ask is that you enjoy the hobby your way and that you let others do the same their way, with mutual respect. So please, no more silly childish jibing and let us ALL enjoy the hobby together. We cannot afford to put off people keen to experiment at LF whether QRO or QRP.

73s
Roger G3XBM




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