By definition, in CW (Morse code) , hams refer to running 5 Watts or less as 'operating QRP'. I love running low power and Gil and I have a regular sked from Virginia to Florida. He has run as low as .100 Watt (100 milliWatts), but usually runs 3.5 to ten Watts, depending upon what rig he decides to use that day.
However, there ARE times when it's handy to have a station running some power, like when the fellow you have a sked with , lives in a city, possibly in an apartment, and local electrical noise is high, so it HELPS him if he can have a more powerful signal to receive through the noise. The great thing though is tht you do NOT need to buy a BIG rig for power and then use your great QRP rigs onyl when it's easy. I just built a 140 Watt amplifier, from kitted components bought from Communications Concepts Inc. This is not a kit, in that you do not have detailed instructions. There is a quick 'cheat sheet' and the manufacturers' application notes to build it by. However, I just fired it up on ONLY 20 meters tonight and yes - it is absolutely working! Listening on internet web receiver, I gain roughly two to 2 1/2 S-units on a distant receiver. That makes a huge difference when there is noise. I plan to make the other output filter modules for other bands and then put it all into a metal box for easy use. However, this means that my QRP rigs, with their fine receivers and etc. now become my 'Big Rig'! It's THRIFTY too!
>de RadioRay ..._ ._