Calm down QRP enthusiasts, don't get your coax in a twist!
Notice the title is in quotes. I didn't say that. I mean, you know, I like to think that I have a little QRP cred. I list a lot of QRP-oriented blogs, links, etc. and operate QRP now and then myself.
My long-time elmer W6WU said that in a recent e-mail exchange. Now, before you go sending him hate mail, let me tell you about Dan Keefe's contribution to ham radio, to me personally.
When my interest in ham radio was re-kindled around the end of '96 Dan found me on a ham forum inquiring about CW. Dan, who has brought along dozens of CW ops (his last effort was with a group of new ops in Chile), offered his help. That was the start of a beautiful friendship that continues today. Not only did he get me on my way with respect to CW, but he lit a fire under my ass, as I'm sure he'd put it. He inspired me to lift my sights from General to Extra and coached me the whole way. Six months later I had the Extra ticket, back when a code test was still required. He continued his coaching, sometimes good cop, sometimes bad, until I got my Morse legs under me. I will be forever grateful to him for that.
Not only for the above, but because Dan served his country as a Marine (he fought at Chosin Reservoir in Korea), is a self-made millionaire, became a radiology therapist mid-life when he was bored, and continues to help homeless veterans to learn new skills that can get them work, and so many other things, I have a deep respect for this guy.
You have to understand that Dan lives his life in a straightforward, direct manner. Educated, but plain spoken he will often make an off-hand remark as above, with no intention of dissing anyone (idiot politicians are the exception). He just means "Life's Too Short ... for me". Having passed 80 years of age and with health problems, that is especially true now. Maybe the next time you hear someone carelessly diss QRP you'll remember that it doesn't make them a bad person.
My attitude is live and let live. I'm not a fanatic about what power I'm using, though I know the thrill of HF QRP DX, it's as fun as a barrel of coatis. But, sometimes, I just like to get on the air and ragchew or work a lot of ops and I don't want to struggle to do it. I want to see how far I can reach QRO, too. People who diss QRO or QRP might be suffering a little lack of self-confidence in the final analysis, though that's hard to fathom in Dan's case.
73!
Casey,
ReplyDeleteYour reference to Chosin made me take notice. One of the ushers from our church passed away yesterday. He was at Chosin.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mycentraljersey/obituary.aspx?n=stephen-hyduk&pid=157925904
Maybe your friend new him?
Larry W2LJ
Larry,
DeleteI asked Dan in an e-mail, but his reply was just that the Frozen Chosin are dying by the thousands now and that most of them are still in Korea in shallow graves. Sad, very sad. Dan has been trying for many years to get our government to repatriate the remains of those soldiers, but so far it has fallen on deaf ears.
Hi Casey, I like QRP but when I need more power I do so. On 6 meter I use most of the time QRO. I am not a purist, also using the modes I like. Not only CW, but also SSB, FM digi modes, AM or anything what can radiate goes into the air. ;-) Ham radio is a hobby so I enjoy it as much as I can. 73 Paul
ReplyDeleteHello Casey, just like Paul I'm not a QRP purist as well. I like all aspects of HAM radio. Life is too short to experiment with everything inside the hobby. And life is too short in general just like say. 73, Bas
ReplyDeleteGood morning Casey, I was QRO all the way with my FT-1000mp with 200 watts output. I had entered the Canada day contest and was belting out all 200 on SSB....well until the doorbell rang. Being I live in a very antenna restricted area it was stealth for me along with low power. So I was pushed into QRP and learned to love it. Yes QRO is just fine and I have no problem with it but thank goodness there was QRP or my ham days were numbered.
ReplyDeletePaul, Bas, Mike,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. I realize some folks are just not able to go QRO because of neighbors, but it seems they have decided instead to excel at QRP, which is great!
As you guys go for QRP and QRP(p) I'm going to be going in the opposite direction soon, for a while anyway. More on that later.