> Yeah, the less-that-or-equal-to 5W output rule for a rig to be in the
> QRP catagory is a recent (historically speaking) requirement. It's all
> relative of course, for 25W is QRP when the other fellow is running 
> 250W. Maybe for glowbuggers, we should call 25W *output* QRP.

Jeff and the gang and the QRP'rs on the side.....

Traditionally, one should consider the basic classes of amateur gear
that historically was constructed.  In the early days (1920's and
early 1930's) there were only 4 classes of power available to hams.

Class 1.  Typically 201A triode power --- usually 1 watt or less output.
          These rigs ran mostly on battery packs of 90-135 volts on the
          plate.  This is QRPP today, at its finest.  This kind of
          thing would be the 12BY7 xtal novice rig of today.

Class 2.  Typically 210 triode power --- usually 1-4 watts output.
          These rigs ran mostly on line or motor-generator/dynamotor
          power (although some were run on large wet cell battery
          systems) of 250-700 volts on the plate.  Inputs usually were
          around 10 watts, although you could push one to 25 watts if
          you were careful.  The plate dissipation was 7.5 watts (hence
          the name of ``7.5 watter'' for the tube, generically).
          This is QRP today, at its finest.  This kind of thing would
          be the 6L6 xtal novice rig of today.

Class 3.  Typically 203 triode power --- usually 10-20 watts output.
          These rigs ran mostly on line power and occasionally on
          motor-generator/dynamotor power.  Inputs were usually 50-100
          watts at voltages from 500-1250 volts on the plate.  The plate
          dissipation was 50 watts (hence the name of ``50 watter''
          for the tube generically).  This is almost QRP, since in
          modern usage, we rarely push them as far as they were pushed
          in the old days.  In Hartley oscillator use, running at 10-15
          watts input, that still is ouput of the 5 watt class, and should
          be considered QRP.  This kind of thing would be the 807 or 6146
          class rig of today (except in self controlled oscillator use,
          where an electron coupled oscillator using a 6146 should still
          only run at 5 watts output for stability.

Class 4.  Typically 204A triode power --- usually 50-100 watts output.
          These rigs ran mostly on line power.  Inputs were usually
          100-250 watts on plate voltages of 1000-2500 volts.
          The plate dissipation was 250 watts (hence the name of ``250
          watter'' for the tube generically).  This is big gun power,
          even today.....

So, for the usual ham in that era, classes 1, 2, or 3 were what were
mostly found.  Considering the modern 5 watt output power, that would
include classes 1 and 2, even by 1929 standards.  It could even include
the class 3 in self controlled oscillator use. 

So, to a great extent, most of us bottleburners are still borderline QRP,
even today.

Food for thought.  Now back to the Hartley oscillator and to see if I can
squeek maybe 3 watts out of it.

73/ZUT DE NA4G/Bob UP