"Bob Miller" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 07 Oct 2007 10:36:32 -0400, James Barrett
wrote:


I'm not worried about the low power either. I think having a high
powered radio for my first rig would make me lazy. It would be easier
for me to pump out wattage rather than fine tune my antenna. Besides
that, when I am ready for higher power, I could add an amplifier. One
thing at a time. ;-)

Most of the current solid state 100 watt HF rigs have a menu
adjustment that allows you to lower your power to the 5 or 10 watt
level, so you have a choice of power output, depending on band
conditions. With a QRP-only rig, you're stuck at that power level.
It's also a power level that works best in the CW or digital modes, as
opposed to SSB.

bob
k5qwg

I Agree with Bob - I operate QRP when the mood strikes me and propagation is
good. I have a Kenwood TS-870SAT which is adjustable from 100 Watts down to
a little less than 5 Watts. Have worked DXCC QRP - 2/3 SSB, 1/3 CW, but this
was at the solar cycle peak.

Propagation is poor now because we are at the bottom of the solar cycle
URL:
http://www.dxlc.com/solar/solcycle.html

At the peak of the solar cycle one can work the world with 5 Watts (if
propagation is favorable) particularly on the upper bands - 10M thu 15M. The
next solar peak is around the year 2011

Building your own antenna for multiband is challenging. A G5RV comes to
mind - but usually requires an external tuner (even if your rig has an
internal tuner). Most modern rigs may cover a 3 to 1 mismatch and a G5RV can
be well out of that range on some bands.

Good Luck
Lamont