QRP Myths BUSTED: Power Levels Explained

In this video, we bust the myth plaguing HAM Radio... Is 100w better than 10w? We talk about what it really means to operate QRP and the QRP lifestyle.
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[@45auto]

Next time we'll talk about Crossfit.

[@TheSmokinApe]

You must have read my mind 😮

[@GSWEAR66]

Exactly what I was thinking! And vegan......

[@TheSmokinApe]

😳

[@houseofhamradio]

That is the first thing that crossed my mind too.

[@KH6WI]

How do you know that someone is a QRP Vegan CrossFitter? They tell you every five minutes

[@MrBtcruiser]

I enjoy working QRP because it brings *me* enjoyment in the hobby. I'm pragmatical about it. My antenna is a cloud warmer for the most part, my coax probably dissipates 1/2 of my 5 W output, and I'm totally reliant on exceptional ionospheric conditions to get anywhere (the other end having a massive HF beam array to make up for my deficiencies helps also,) but when the stars align - I have a boat load of fun. Oh did I mention I like to run FT8 and occasionally CW - LOL. Thanks for the video.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey MrBTc, I do operate QRP and enjoy it… my thing is that I don’t subscribe to some of the QRP dogma that seems to be floating around. Thanks for the comment 👍

[@KG6NLWMotoRadio]

Sonnnn 100w is QRP these days ;)

[@TheSmokinApe]

lol 🍻

[@haxwithaxe]

ROFL 😂 who killed your dog and left a QRP calling card? Very fun video!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching hax, glad you liked it 👍

[@ralphnunn3]

Obviously, a bit of tounge in cheek... Yes, I know that QRP enthusiasts tend to try to justify their existence. So, a lot of this is justified. But, it is actually fun to operate QRP. One difference - I usually DON'T tell people I'm operating QRP, unless they ask. Why tell people? Either they're going to hear you, or they won't.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Ralph, I operate QRP often because it is fun but I do think telling everyone is a little silly 👍

[@lifegettingintheway2710]

QRP is a burden on the listener, not the sender. If it works thank the listener. In CW the most used programmed message in the keyer is "say again?".

[@TheSmokinApe]

Right, the burden is on the listener and then the QPR'er gets to tell everyone how he made a great contact...

[@lifegettingintheway2710]

@@TheSmokinApe Can't wait until they discover the roger beep setting.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha

[@JayN4GO]

All cbers run qrp. I learned from the best

[@TheSmokinApe]

It’s true 👍

[@Steven_VE9SY]

Just remember, He who stirs the pot ...... 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TheSmokinApe]

You gotta stir the pot if you wanna know what’s in the stew…

[@EvanK2EJT]

Honestly, I usually run QRP in the field because the radios are tiny and light. It has nothing to do with WANTING to run QRP per se, and has everything to do with not wanting to carry a 100w radio and a big battery around on my back LOL

[@TheSmokinApe]

I do the same thing sometimes, makes total sense 👍

[@bassmanjr100]

💯

[@SpyStaMia]

The first rule of QRP Club is we do not talk about QRP Club!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Right 👍

[@keithhawkins4641]

Been a ham since the early 80's I have found that the antenna makes as much if not more difference than adding watts.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I would totally agree 👍

[@placeholder-065]

So it took you 45 years to figure that out.

[@keithhawkins4641]

@@placeholder-065 no just made a comment. figured that out first week!

[@placeholder-065]

@@keithhawkins4641 OK then. Take care.

[@chublez]

3db is 3db doesn't matter if you get it from the antenna or the radio if you can hear the other side of the conversation. Biggest advantage to antennas is you get that gain on the RX end also, second biggest is they can be cheaper than a radio upgrade and you're gonna need a better antenna eventually either way since you can't radio yer way out of a bad antenna. Still a bit silly to start QRP if yer not up for a challenge.

[@HAMFunko4pdi]

Ape, I must say,for a minute I thought you were serious, then I laughed and laughed and laughed. I sat and thought for a minute, took a look again, and said "Wait is he serious?" I honestly don't know at this time and that's a wonderful thing. Keep it up Ape.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’m not sure if I am serious or not either 😮

[@johnwest7993]

@@TheSmokinApe, there is indeed a very silly side to serious pursuits. Catch 22 described it all too well. The more serious people get, the more silly they get. I strictly follow the FCC regs, but everything else I will take pretty lightly. I find RF to be a fascinating hobby that I put a lot of time into. I build and experiment because I'm very curious about RF. I've built a 30 foot tall LowFER antenna with 2 miles of hand-wound wire in it, yes, 2 miles, and with a 3 foot diameter loading coil with 35 pounds of 8 gauge copper wire wound on it. That's pretty serious, but also quite silly. And I keep in mind that radio is still just a hobby.

[@WECB640]

Well done Ape. I personally like to oil my insulators and wax my coax for a better IMD and spectral purity. 👍

[@TheSmokinApe]

Good tip! Thanks for watching Hollywood 👍

[@mewintle]

Make sure you use gold contacts, Monster cables for your Ethernet and a dedicated power drop from your utility. Optical cables for your external speakers. I assume you’re using a tube-amp.

[@shanerorko8076]

You know what I do? I jump on a Kiwi SDR that is where I want to make contacts, I start at low power, then if my waterfall trace is blue I bring the power up until it's orange and red.

[@TheSmokinApe]

That’s a great tip 👍

[@elmoreglidingclub3030]

Great idea! I use KiwiSDR just to see where I’m being heard. Now I know how to improve the noise I’m making.

[@jwilly5336]

lol. I was rolling. Small battery. Change the scale. Nobody in that part of the country anyway. It’s in the water anyway.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad you liked it jwilly, thanks for watching…

[@89RASMUS]

If you're not causing a brownout when transmitting, you still have watts to spare. 👌

[@TheSmokinApe]

lol, right 👍

[@WR3ND]

The antenna is like the shape and position of a light bulb and the transmit power is its brightness. Why do I like QRP? 🤔 I tend to prefer the technical experimentation side of the service over the communication side as a pastime. Cheers. 😁🍻

[@TheSmokinApe]

That’s what is awesome about the hobby, something for everyone, thanks for watching 👍

[@prestonm4s]

This is the qrp ham version of not a Rubicon 😂😂😂😂 someone is engagement farming 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’m just taking about what I love, and that’s QRP!

[@Mo_feezy]

@@TheSmokinApe as a QRPer, I approve of this comment.

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@Mo_feezy 👍

[@daniell8387]

I think you should challenge yourself. My financial situation means that I have to improvise a lot of stuff. As a result I make my own transformers, baluns and antennas. Some people like the challenge of QRP. Others do pota/sota. Keep it fresh, lift each other up and don't be asshats.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Daniel. I do operate QRP and do enjoy doing it, what I don’t do is subscribe to the QRP dogma if it wasn’t obvious 👍

[@QRPSchool]

@@TheSmokinApe Can I gingerly ask what the "QRP dogma" is? I'm a big QRP nerd, but I've got three 100 watt HF radios on my desk. - Cliff

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Cliff. First, thanks for watching... I have watched many of your videos and respect the work you do to educate hams. You actually produce content that helps people be better hams vs the countless unboxing / affiliate link stuff that seems to be so popular. I tried to outline the QRP dogma behavior in my video but I'd be happy to expand, please keep in mind that I have three QRP radios on my desk... 1. Why the need to announce that you are operating QRP? I don't say "CQ 50 watts 20 meters 50 watts CQ" when calling? QRP operators are quick to say "it's about the antenna" when asked about why they do QRP. Why don't they announce "Dipole antenna, CQ dipole CQ"? No other group of operators choose to announce power level when calling CQ. It seems that there is some level of importance attached to the fact they are operating QRP... why? 2. Why the confusing rhetoric shifting between power measurement scales? It seems like QRP folks want to take a liner scale used for watts and translate it to db, which makes sense but they leave out the distinction of how exponential graphs work and their purpose. Then they take logarithmic derived values and apply them to a linear s-meter value. I appreciate the effort, but it feels like I am being sold a used car. 3. Why is it when a QRPer has a successful activation it is attributed to; skill, patience and antenna wizardry and when the activation is unsuccessful it's attributed to poor band conditions? Personally, I enjoy operating QRP to verify my operating skill and antenna building understanding. But I have ZERO desire to tell people that I am operating QRP when I do, it would seem that I am asking for a handout that I can later say I earned with expertise. If I choose to operate QRP, why would I want to make that known to the world unless I was looking for some form of validation? You see, I'm not against operating QRP, I just don't want favorable or special consideration for doing so.... I hope I haven't said anything upsetting and again I appreciate all you do to advance the hobby. Ape

[@QRPSchool]

@@TheSmokinApe Upsetting? No! I think I agree with everthing you're saying!!! (and thanks for the kind words) I NEVER use /QRP at the end of my call sign. I did many years ago and then I realized that some people are put off by it. If propagation is good between us, the receiving station might not even know I'm running QRP. Of course, a 100 watt (or even 1,500 watt) signal can be weak to the receiving station. When my signal is weak to the receiving station, maybe they'll have the patience to copy me. But, if I tell them I'm QRP up front, some percentage of those operators may be quicker to "turn the big knob" on me. Not pointing fingers... sometimes I don't have the patience to try to dig a weak signal out of the noise either. Fact: the one time I will absolutely "turn the big knob" is when someone with a straight key is sending poorly-spaced code! Life may not be too short for QRP but life is too short for me to sit here and try to figure out if you're sending an "A" or an "E" followed by a "T"! I know some may think I'm being unkind when I say that, but we all learned Morse Code by listening to perfectly formed code... so we are used to that rhythm (dot/dash ratio). Let's just stick with that instead of getting creative with longer than normal dashes, etc. Successful QRP-ing requires favorable band conditions. I don't really buy into the "special skill" thing. When conditions are good, anybody who tries can make some QRP contacts. When conditions aren't good, it's not much fun. Of course, some people have a higher tolerance for frustration than others. I don't really consider it a failure if I don't make many contacts. It was still fun to put the hook in the water and watch the bobber with anticipation. Sometimes the fish aren't biting. As far as antennas, I use a SOTABEAMS linked dipole 90% of the time. If propagation is good, my trusty half-wave dipole is all I need. I built a hex-beam a long time ago (made a video on it). At the end of the video, I tell people that a hex-beam antenna only gets you about an extra 1/2 S-Unit (3dB) over a dipole... so is it really worth dragging all those parts out into the field over a dipole??? (not to me) I'm not a fan of FT8, although it seems to have taken over most HF traffic. Live and let live. But, I have to say that I miss being able to have actual conversations like we used to be able to have regularly when PSK-31 was popular. It was good to type with you. Keep doing your thing! You have a lot of great videos. - Cliff

[@TheSmokinApe]

Sounds like we are on the same page, thanks for checking out the video Cliff 👍

[@LionRoars918]

It's the 800 watt guys on FT8 that are annoying. The QRP guys are rock stars.

[@TheSmokinApe]

💯

[@DominicMazoch]

800w on FT8 is like duck hunting with patriot missiles!

[@davidc5027]

800 is QRP compared to my 1.5kw!

[@QRPSchool]

@@davidc5027Going from 800 watts to 1,500 watts gets you 1/2 of an S-Unit on the receiving end. Because math.

[@placeholder-065]

800W on FT8 is the bare minimum !

[@DonzLockz]

You cracked me up Ape! You do it well with a straight face. You should go into politics! 😂 I'm only allowed to do QRP anyway.😊💪

[@TheSmokinApe]

I should go into politics 🤔

[@mikehemeon2473]

It's more about the antenna than the amount of power. That goes for all of ham radio. Try running a linear when the power has been out for a week or longer. QRP is where it's at!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Exactly, it’s all about the antenna…

[@johnwest7993]

@@TheSmokinApe, I used to say that too, but after 1 good sunspot cycle I realized that it was even more about conditions, be it height up the mountain, atmospherics, or sitting out on the plains 9 miles away from the nearest power-line. I remember back in the early 1970's talking to the same group of Aussies and not missing a word, every evening after about 8:00 pm for a month or more on 27 MHz till about 11 pm when they would fade out. I was running a SSB CB putting out 18 Watts from my car in Colorado Springs, Colorado. When conditions are that good you hardly have to turn your radio on to get through.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I totally agree that band conditions, antenna and power all play a role in making contacts 👍

[@mewintle]

“Nothing goes over my head. My reflexes are too fast”

[@AllFouRoux]

This video is great, and the only thing I love more is that there are people in the comments who are falling for some of the quips.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching AFR

[@davidc5027]

Very entertaining. Was smiling the entire time.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Awesome David, glad you liked it 👍

[@BargainBasementHamRadio]

The Egghead speak is strong with this one! I was rolling!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Indeed it is, I saw your email…. You will have one coming your way.

[@BenTrem42]

#Lateral ... pret'near _I'm not listening._ Who won QRP 73 Contest in Canadian Marites? *_Moi_* ... VE1CBV ("Cape Breton Volvo") CW QRP, circa 1998. My point? Who watches the individual operator? I'd done countless FD weekends. And as in infantry ("jar-heads" are extraterrestrial) it's always the few. (Truth? I'd trim my FT just to have 1 of them in platoon.) I got distracted. Blow by blow ... I gave up on "social" decades after me and mine launched it. (Late 1970s; peak of the anti-apartheid movement, to propagate our "corporate involvement" research.) But fact is? we could do some ace real-time ... Twitch contest?! 🙂

[@Ressy66]

voacap seems interesting, when setting my locale way down yonder, 10w on the bands I prefer (40/15) are like watching that last tiny ripple blip on a scope, 100w and it lights up like xmas, thats using prop chart and wheel, not sure how you got your screenies, I'll keep playing and find that part, however, its tell me right now there is no way I should be getting anything on 15, yet I'm hearing Spain and Germany, thats at 0130 utc. its nice but yes some of its results are subjective, espesh with thew qrp v 100w+ ;) Nice tool tho Ape, thanks for making us aware of it.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Ressy, I got my maps with the REL button on the bottom of the screen 👍

[@dreupen]

YOU ARE GUILTY of talking QRP smack and promoting felonous activities and if they are .... Monkey talk.. Tanks for the chuckle. Next up, Baofeng Myths BUSTED? Spurious are not a problem outside of city limits and hey most folks aren't affected... Love it. That should tease some ham cronies. Trash talk aside, I have always enjoyed your videos. Thanks.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks dreupen, glad you liked the videos 👍

[@3henry214]

How the hell were you able to make it through the entire video with a straight face? It must have been from exceptional editing... you forgot to include in the QRP mech list... the proverbial illuminated shack sign. "Some of this looks pretty impressive with contacts getting across to Asia and Europe... but they're probably asleep at this time, so it doesn't really count".... LMAO

[@TheSmokinApe]

It was hard to no laugh 👍

[@KT0DDW]

You're KILLING ME... STOP... 🤣😂🤣... NICE VIDEO.... QRP over and OUT and roger beep....

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching KT0ODW, glad you liked it 👍

[@moozoowizard]

I'll take every db i can get. Cable, antenna, transmitter. For me its about making the contacts not how challenging it is.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Fair point 👍

[@miketaylor6700]

No one with a ham radio lives out there in the middle of nowhere where our propagation is great.. so it doesn’t really matter. Bahahaha

[@TheSmokinApe]

Right 👍

[@VE9ASN]

A few moments listening to the IARU beacon project will instantly show you the massive difference between 100, 10, 1 watt and 1/10th of a watt. 73.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Great point Les, thank you 👍

[@KN4VA]

HA. Wait. What? Is this more flat earth stuff? 73

[@TheSmokinApe]

😮

[@RandallRash]

End result is most QRP'ers make the poor sap on the receiving end lean forward, strain, and adjust all their dials to pull out the weak signal. Maybe Hams that receive QRP should get most of the credit. LOL.

[@TheSmokinApe]

The guy on the RX side gets the privilege of working a QRPer 👍

[@barrybogart5436]

They just need a better receiver. Like an Elecraft.

[@m7trsradio]

Great video. Anyone can buy an amp with 10BKW and work the world with ease. Where is the fun in that. Just an easy ride. QRP is a skill and more satisfaction when you make that long QSO. Just enjoy the radio with what you have. 73 mate

[@TheSmokinApe]

Agreed, work with what you have and do what you like 👍

[@jdschauss]

I operate QRO from home. I like to operate QRP portable for one reason only - because it allows me to get on the air when I otherwise would not be able to. However, if some miracle of physics were to occur which would allow me to operate QRO with equipment the same size as my QRP stuff, I'd operate QRO portable. I don't care what anyone says, I'd rather have 100 watts.

[@TheSmokinApe]

100 > 10, can't argue math... 😳

[@robertmeyer4744]

nice ! when a solar storm hits and band is closed. does not matter if you have 1 watt or a KW. not getting DX. when the bands are super 1 watt seems like a KW . all comes down to the SUN. some times the best antenna not doing DX and times any wire will do DX . for a few days in NY 10/11/12 meters been way down . today really hopping . does not matter if you are QRP or QRO most hams have MFJ stuff ! 73's

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching and for the comment Robert 👍

[@hamradioqrp-k0klb]

Hilarious !!.. Sooo funny.. thx for the laugh!! I bet you didn’t know I operate QRP QRP k0klb QRP QRP, but I like to keep it a secret.. so, Shhhhh (just like my signal) keep it between us.. lol

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching K0KLB, glad you liked it 👍

[@jdschauss]

"Another thing, FT8 isn't actually amateur radio, so it doesn't count either." You have reached into my soul and drawn out my innermost being.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha, glad you liked it 👍

[@anti-popfpv4638]

I just fly drones but I relate so much. Isn't that cute ? These "pilots" are not "operators" so they blast a 5.8g vtx at 400w in these tiny places, get insane echo feedback and think bumping up the watts and changing to omni antenna's will solve the issue.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Oof.

[@Siskiyous6]

"Appeal to authority is a logica lfallacy" - TheSmokinApe Your QRP bias is based on you being a CB guy. I do find 10W on FT8 to be pretty good.

[@TheSmokinApe]

But FT8 isn’t real ham radio 😮

[@dylanschulz2404]

lol I don't know how I missed this one! I like messing around with 1 watt to 800 watts (my current peak power). I just give the QRP only types a hard time about always working 20 meters on up. If QRP is the only way to operate then why don't you work more 160-40 meters! I think there is a saying or meme somewhere that states, "The station that pulled your puny-ass signal out of the noise, deserves the award!"

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Dylan, they do put the burden on the RX station

[@hamradioexperience]

So if you're a vegan crossfitting QRP op, which do you introduce yourself as first? 73,

[@TheSmokinApe]

That’s a pretty difficult question to answer 🤔

[@bill-2018]

I've operated 5 Watts and less for 30+ years, mainly c.w.. Solar power and battery so minimal power drain. I look at VOACAP. Get on the QRP frequencies for QRP ti QRP contacts. Better to not say QRP on calling CQ because some people are biased and won't answer you. I use resonant dipoles 20m to 10m and a resonant inverted vee for 60m at 5.262 MHz. For other h.f. bands I made a copy of a Joystick with tuner. G4GHB.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Bill, thanks for watching the video 👍

[@CriticalThinker-42]

Another good one Ape! 🤣😂🤣😂🤣 QRP is like all those New Miracle Antennas that get released and bragged about Loud and Proud when the sun spot numbers are high. BUT when the sun spot numbers bottom out, SILENCE! QRP rigs and New Miracle Antennas get mostly shelved or sold and the 100 watt rigs and long term proven design antennas replace them. (my observations since '76) 73 -mike

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Mike, thanks for watching 👍

[@adistef]

After this video I checked my rig and turned ON the "punchy signal" and "clean 5W" options in the menu; I really don't know why the default was OFF, but now life is so much better and I am really enjoying QRP Lifestyle 😁

[@TheSmokinApe]

Sounds like you are well on your way!

[@thomashardy9994]

The roller coaster of emotions seeing that elusive POTA state activating, then noticing qrp.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Thomas, thanks for watching 👍

[@jeffmoore344]

Ape this cracked me up, I have an old ten-tec and old I-com 703 both QRP only radios on my desk and I enjoy Pota hunting and activations with them. My wife sets 2 feet away from me using the FT-DX10 at 100 watts and along with that YL voice of hers she steals my contacts every time, but I do enjoy QRP, and if you cant laugh at this or yourself then to quote one of my favorite youtubers you should go watch a cat video it will make you happy :) also I liked the science behind this very cool keep the videos coming 73 KE8OUO

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Jeff, glad you liked it and thank you for watching 👍

[@Ezzell_]

I prefer WQRP

[@TheSmokinApe]

who doesn't?

[@DavidLopez-bz4rj]

5w are 37 dBm and 100w are 50 dBm, so the difference is 13 dBm, right? Or two Smeter signal bars... it really is a difference but not so much as people think... Unfortunately many hams have antennas that are poor performers, specially on low bands, so they have to rely on power (of others too) Give me a pair of 300 ft towers and I will be QRP for life.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah, 13db. Thanks for watching David 👍

[@Robert-vu9wv]

Funny! I'm near the Ocean and would be exploiting that as well as the Grey Line Terminator and several other variables, that's what makes QRP interesting. Not awake in Asia? Wake them up.

[@TheSmokinApe]

lol, thanks for watching Robert 👍

[@RB01138]

As someone new to ham radio (just studying), I am a little confused. Was he making fun of QRP and "anti" QRP, or just QRP? Edit: I miss heard which was 10W and 100W.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I was kinda making fun of QRP

[@georgeetherege8347]

FT8 isn’t really Amateur Radio… Ah, another ham who really understands. Right-on! In Amateur Radio you’re supposed to actually talk to-or converse with (maybe using Morse Code) the person on the other end. No, it doesn’t count if your computer is making a contact (with the other person’s computer) and you look at the monitor to determine if it was successful. FT8 is to Amateur Radio as batch processing is to computing.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Right! We need to have established rules of what ham radio is and isn't! 🤔

[@StanHirson]

Very funny! Got me to subscribe!

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@StanHirson awesome man, thanks for watching 👍

[@mjktrash]

I'm struggling to know if you're serious, or just poking fun at yourself in the first half of the video... ; ) I'm going with a little of both. Or maybe poking at the rest of us blowing 100 _VERY_ dirty watts out of horrible antennas.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I was poking a little bit of fun at everyone 👍

[@jj25397]

I run my Icom 7100 QRP, which means I have it wide open. At least, that's what the full legal limit guys tell me... :)

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha

[@lifegettingintheway2710]

There is an important point to share. Radio modes that we listen to with our ears are subject to these logarithmic power changes because our ears are log curve sensors. We can barely hear a 6db change in power. But - for those modes where the listener is a device - all the data modes, television, etc, are linear and far more efficient of bandwidth. That is why a (tr)uSDK system running wspr protocol on a few watts into a loop antenna can be "heard" by another similar machine 11,000 miles away but can't be heard in the next county by a human.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Great point, thank you LGITW 👍

[@chuckfinley858]

That's what I like, empirical evidence and real world results! People can say what they want but results speak for themselves! Good job Ape!😁😁 73

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Chuck, glad you liked it 👍

[@DrSteveMorreale]

If we all pool our resources together and each run very long antennas we may just be able to operate at exceedingly low watts, then we'd only have to connect each of the receiving radios into the antennas... wait... that's basically just the internet. At least we wouldn't waste power going into the ocean.

[@TheSmokinApe]

And people wonder why the oceans are getting warmer…

[@paaao]

😂 so good... "another myth busted" Gotta love big opinions. No matter which side of the fence you lean towards, it still feels the same when you fall and hit the dirt.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey paaao, thanks for watching 👍

[@The411]

I can reach anywhere on my GMRS with a good antenna because it's all line of sight since the earth is flat. The power myth is only to sell expensive radios!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Right 🍻

[@slick8086]

The VOACAP part of hamclock is pretty neat.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Sure is, thanks for watching Slick 👍

[@CQBlindHams]

Us blind hams don't care, We can't see the difference between 10 or 100 watts. QRO 4 life.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I have to admit, more power is more fun 😮

[@temporarilyoffline]

TNX ES 73 DE KM9G/QRP

[@TheSmokinApe]

QRP QSL QRP

[@MichaelEdwards2]

All that matters is you enjoy what your doing. A friend of mine who use to write for Radcomm in the UK worked the world on 1 Watt CW. took him a while but that was his goal and he loved it. I have now just gone from 100 Watt to a 705 as I want to use more science to get me out of the house to find me location and antenna efficieny to work the world. Its horses for courses. I could buy a KW amp and its like shooting fish in a barrel. Ok an amp is only transmission and not receive but it gets me out there. If its qualty you want then ill just use the mobile phone or even Discord. Thats what I love about amatuer radio. I ride a new Harley but I cant keep with the sports bikes but I can see the country side and give my misses a good ride. I live right by Arti Moore home that heard the Titanic disaster ok the world had less RF interference then en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artie_Moore but what an experiance.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Totally agree, I couldn’t care less what other hams do as long as they are having fun 👍

[@TheRealEtaoinShrdlu]

"appealing to authority" is a logical fallacy, and something you want to avoid. What you are doing here is appealing to the data/facts.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I know, and that’s why I said it…. There was just a touch of sarcasm in the video right?

[@rsedaker]

Honestly, I did a couple spit-takes from this video! Damn funny stuff!

[@TheSmokinApe]

lol, thanks for checking it out 👍

[@JohnUsp]

If you do this test on Easter Island you will see that there is no difference between 0.1W and 1000W, just water.

[@TheSmokinApe]

LOL

[@mike94560]

TX power is only half the equation. A good antenna helps both TX and RX. I was testing my FT8 (hehe) into a dummy load and a nearby ham's rig heard it and automatically spotted me on the Internet. Dummy loads attenuate the signal but do not eliminate it.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Don’t forget solar conditions! Thanks for watching and the comment Mike 👍

[@jeffwinget5928]

This is awesome and hilarious! Qrp, CQ!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Jeff, glad you liked it bro 👍

[@W6IWN_Radio]

Thanks for the detailed information, Ape!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for checking it out 👍

[@MikeN2MAK]

I can get away with QRP because meat and dairy add 6dB 😂

[@TheSmokinApe]

Right. Thanks for watching Mike 👍

[@mrkopecky]

Great, now I gotta get my QRP on and learn FT8. Love the grey line interaction.

[@TheSmokinApe]

lol, thanks for watching Mr K 👍

[@mj-dd2fb]

Corollary to shooting RAW in photography. Surely there's an "I run QRP" tee like the "I shoot RAW" tee some photographers wear. Great vid, Ape!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks M J, glad you liked it 👍

[@josephw8jxq137]

I use Bluetooth transmission line, (no loss) feeding a 400 ft rhombic at 1 watt giving me 100w ERP, only when the sunspot number is at 275.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I need some of that BT line 🤔

[@K5JHP-John]

Okay, I’ll do the FT891 instead of there G90.

[@TheSmokinApe]

The g90 is a pretty sweet radio, I really miss the one I sold

[@loraz0]

Thank you for the video shi*tpost. I shall spread it far and wide.

[@TheSmokinApe]

You're welcome!

[@prephampaul]

🤣(that's all I can think to say)

[@TheSmokinApe]

lol, thanks for watching Paul 👍

[@ssbb5962]

QRP4L!! Here's your T-shirt design

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha! Thanks for the comment 👍

[@macgyver5108]

What we've got here is passive aggressive _gold!_ 😅

[@TheSmokinApe]

Lol

[@bduff5004]

You’re a funny guy!!!!! Love it.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks bduff, glad you liked it 👍

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

Sad ham talking about Sad Hams. Sad😢

[@TheSmokinApe]

Fantastic post! But the truth is; sad ham commenting on a video of a sad ham talking about sad hams…. Another myth busted son, you are welcome!

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

@TheSmokinApe Physics is physics, bro. I guess I am glad I am not exposed to all the people you seem to be. Life is too short for that

[@WG5Xradio]

C’mon man, you know 1500-1=QRP. 😂😂

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha

[@AllFouRoux]

People who are running 100 watts are just adding QRM which is getting in the way of my QRP QSO's honestly

[@TheSmokinApe]

Am I falling for the quip?

[@AllFouRoux]

​@@TheSmokinApein the words of Tom Petty, "Free Fallin'"

[@TheSmokinApe]

Ah

[@wildweasel6898]

I once told a guy on air that I operate a qrp radio because I only had enough money for a g90. He laughed at me and told me qrp is 5 watts or less and he operates at 3 watts and goes out of state daily....no big deal. 😂

[@TheSmokinApe]

Whatever you are doing, a QRP guy will say you are wrong.

[@bassmanjr100]

​​@TheSmokinApe And a non-QRPer will follow him to do the same. 😂 I don't QRP, but I think I've heard 'life is too short for QRP' a hundred times. Usually followed by FT8 isn't ham radio and telling me how CW is the best. Wires X isn't radio or real operators HF DX. All of this junk is too prevalent in thr hobby.

[@KA4UPW]

This is great. Do it again using SSB, AM, FM. And etc.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’m pretty sure they will be more VOACAP videos 👍

[@KA4UPW]

@@TheSmokinApe Love your no nonsense approach and your damn good on man video production techniques. 👏

[@HAMFunko4pdi]

FT8 not really HAM radio..............lmao

[@TheSmokinApe]

Good one, right?

[@Ezzell_]

Is anyone els having progress bars flashing while wathing this or other channels? Some channels are flash and some are not.....?

[@TheSmokinApe]

?

[@Ezzell_]

Like I have a dirty phone screen but I don't. I can go to another channel and all is good. Watching yours tonight the play progress bar and paid promotions warning flashes about twice a second. Driving me ape shot crazy...... .see what I did there...

[@TheSmokinApe]

I do see. It should only pop up in the beginning, I’ll go back a double check the settings. Thanks for the heads up 👍

[@slappomatthew]

Omg I’m dead. This is awesome

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad you liked it Matt 👍

[@slappomatthew]

What’s the max bandwidth for tx on the 705?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Ya know, I’ve never checked 😮

[@thebnbaldwin]

That's funny shit right there Ape!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Brian, glad you liked it 👍

[@dangerwillrobinson23]

Yeah, but can you QRPp? 😅

[@TheSmokinApe]

That’s a whole new level of rules 😮

[@Andy2e0ree]

Well no one knows you call sign lol

[@TheSmokinApe]

I don’t even know it

[@dancingjim1]

So is QRP your ham radio pronoun?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Ya know, that’s pretty funny 👍

[@kchaney56]

I always choose the higher wattage.

[@TheSmokinApe]

The way the good lord intended!

[@teflone121]

Sounds like being a vegan.

[@TheSmokinApe]

It kinda does

[@bassmanjr100]

Congratulations, I think you were able to piss off all ham operators in under 10 minutes. Impressive! 😂

[@TheSmokinApe]

It was hard work but I got it done 👍

[@chublez]

Just the sad ones. Most of us know when we're being silly and lean into it.

[@bassmanjr100]

​@chublez It was a joke. I agree, sad hams have no sense of humor. Fortunately, I rarely meet one. Most hams are pretty nice folks.

[@jamess1787]

A little late for april fools. 😅

[@TheSmokinApe]

I ain’t fooling 😮

[@houseofhamradio]

Thanks for a great chuckle Ape. Once again you make it real. I do both 100W and QRP. Mostly only QRP out in the field. there is a noticeable difference between the two. I can get away with QRP a lot of the times on CW but I know I would get more contacts with 100W. They are both fun and have their place. 73 Bob WV7W

[@TheSmokinApe]

I agree and I even operate QRP sometimes 😮