Re: [PLUG] [OT] SW radio question

[Keith via plug <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>]

On 10/21/22 13:31, Rich Freeman wrote:
> On Fri, Oct 21, 2022 at 12:34 PM Keith via plug
> <plug@lists.phillylinux.org> wrote:
> > Fair enough but if we're talking about voice comm
> I don't think the email I replied to was actually specifically talking
> about anything.  It certainly made no mention of voice comms.
>
> NVIS is great, but you're not going to use it to talk across the
> Atlantic, which was the only use case mentioned in the email I replied
> to.
>
> Until you define scenarios you can't really talk about whether a given
> setup will address them or not.  I didn't intend to offer any
> constructive solutions, because none were asked for.
>
> I was just pointing out that a 5W QRP rig isn't some magical
> communications bullet.  It has certain capabilities but you need to
> think about what you want to use it for.  Just because people
> sometimes use them to talk at long distances doesn't mean that you'll
> be able to do so.  You can definitely have fun with them and should do
> so if you want to.  They might even be useful in an emergency,
> assuming you have the right antenna and somebody to talk to.
>
> As far as WW3 goes, I'm not worried.  It isn't that I don't think it
> could happen.  It is just that if nobody is going to be making new
> CPUs for the next 30 years, I don't see what the point is in food or
> water...  :)

I was the one who brought up QRP in response to Steve who was wondering 
just how far 5 watts would go.  I answered that based on my experience 
and explicitly stated that "worldwide communication is not the immediate 
concern".  While I did say "Depending on what mode you are using 5w can 
work very long distances", which is true, I said nothing about FT8 since 
I don't play with digital modes on HF, nor would they most likely be the 
primary communication mode in a serious disaster situation.  I said 
nothing about QRP being magical in any sense, long or short range.  I 
did however said that HF is reliable, which again, is true across a wide 
range of scenarios.  There is plenty of evidence that indicates this.  
ARRL certainly highlights how amateurs get involved in various project 
that does include various disasters and primary resource outages.

Apologies if you weren't talking to me but this is an increasingly 
active topic of conversation I find myself in these days .  There are 
many people who are concerned about the state of world today and do want 
to engage in more preparedness activities, including radio. I think this 
good thing.

Now see, had you only said "chips" instead of "CPUs", I could have ended 
on a punny  :D

--
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Keith C. Perry, MS E.E.
Managing Member, DAO Technologies LLC
(O) +1.215.525.4165 x2033
(M) +1.215.432.5167
www.daotechnologies.com

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