[Paddlewise] One watt --- five watts

     I am not an electrical engineer.  I don't play an electrical engineer 
     on television.  I only know what smart people tell me.  
     
     With that disclaimer, I was talking recently with the senior design 
     engineer of a company that makes handheld VHF radios, and asked him 
     about the practical differences between one and five watt handheld 
     VHFs.  His answer was that a five watt radio will give you more 
     "punch" to get out through other transmissions on a busy channel, but 
     that one watt will get out as <far> as five watts, other things equal. 
     Assuming this engineer to have a pretty good handle on such matters, 
     I'd say that the gent who saved a few bucks and got a one-watter 
     probably did okay --- assuming he can get out on a clear channel.
     
     For what it's worth ---
     
     Joq
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