Diet days ahead

We were four here over the holiday with much eating and drinking by all. Now down to three and all of us on  restricted diets.

Champagne was good but I have to remember that my liver is a senior citizen as well as the rest of me. So, back to a Brittany-brew or two for lunch and that's it.

Very little radio activity. A couple contacts with the east coast of NA and nothing more.

I am using my FT-857D almost exclusively for now. I like the ability to use the DSP feature when necessary. Not the best-of-class but pretty effective. I run it at 5-10 watts using my 7 amp power supply, which is more than adequate for that power level.

One of the bloggers on my reading list, a creative writer, had  an interesting recent entry. Among other thoughts he expressed a resolution to use the full ten-watt capability of his new "QRP" transceiver and I agreed with him.

The subject brought back memories of the very early 1980's and one of my first transceivers, the Kenwood TS-130V. It was one of several fine Japanese rigs manufactured for the new Japanese radio amateur entry-level license which had 10-watts as maximum power authorized. The new operators worked the world with those ten watts.

I always thought that ten watts should have been the standard power proposed by the new QRP organizations. That is for all modes and CW not set at 5-watts.

Well, that was and is my thoughts on the matter. I made some remark about the power compliance being set in some smoke filled room at three in the morning. You know, the way politicians pass bills around much of the world.

I am a believer in running as little power as possible even if a few choice DX stations escape me. A number of reasons for that which I may relate one day.

Only able to read a few pages of my USN WW1 book but it continues to be most enlightening. The USN  did not have the largest number of the world's fighting ships, but was very instrumental in escorting transatlantic merchant carriers and USN destroyers played an important role in fighting the U-boats of the day.

The author made quite a case for young men to enlist in the USN as it was 1918 and the Armistice not yet signed. The slaughter continued.