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QRP What, Why & How

Dive into the world of QRP (low-power) amateur radio with Jim Stafford, W4QO, as he shares insights, techniques, and equipment options. Discover the history, objectives, motivations, rules for success, and success stories in the realm of QRP operations. Explore QRP organizations, contests, and the wide array of equipment available for this rewarding style of amateur radio. Learn about QRP awards and challenges, and engage with a vibrant community passionate about minimalistic, efficient, and thrilling radio communication.

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QRP What, Why & How

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  1. QRPWhat, Why & How Jim Stafford, W4QO With foundation slides from Phil Salas - AD5X ARRL 2005 Bill Orr, W6SAI, Technical Writing Award Winner ad5x@arrl.net

  2. Jim at the Key

  3. W4QO Jim’s Bio • I am the past President of the 15000 member - QRP ARCI - the international QRP club promoting the construction and operation of low powered amateur radio gear. I have been to 15 of 17 Four Days in May events at Dayton. In 2010, I was honored by being named to their QRP Hall of Fame. I hold several of their QRP Achievement Awards, and I'm most proud of their 5 Band QRP DX award for 100 countries worked via QRP on each of 5 Bands. I also achieved Worked All States QRP in their 2011 Golden Jubilee Challenge where operators in all 50 states used the club callsign K6JSS. I just love this QRP stuff! Oh, I recently worked 100 "countries" at ONE WATT QRP and also worked 102 "countries" (not band countries) in one weekend in the 2013 CQ WW DX contest (QRP).

  4. Definition • QRP: Decrease Power • Or, QRP?: Shall I decrease power? • Originally used to give some relief from the broad spark signals in the early maritime wireless service • In Amateur Radio, it refers to low power operation. • QRP intrigues because of the minimalistic nature over lower power operations, the high distance-to-power results that can be achieved, and the pure satisfaction of making a contact with so little power. • QRP gear is natural travel gear.

  5. History of QRP • 1960: K6JSS started the QRP ARCI • Originally 100w – then to world standard 5 w (1981) • Definitions: • High Power: > 500 watts input • Medium power: 100-500 watts input • Low power: < 100 watts input (200 watts PEP) • 5 watts CW output OR 10 watts PEP SSB output • QRPP: Milliwatters - Less than one watt output power

  6. QRP Objective • Increase equipment and antenna efficiencies • Careful impedance matching • More efficient output coupling • More effective antennas • Improve operating proficiency • Bands vs time-of-day • Frequency vs desired distance • Improve design efficiency • 1) Size & weight decrease and maximum output power • 2) Minimize current draw • No lamps (except LEDs) • No digital display unless LCD • Maximize TX efficiency • 3) Use few components & pack the board tightly • 4) Use ICs if possible • 5) Sensitive RX - If you can’t hear‘em, you can’t work‘em

  7. QRP Motivation • Challenge of low power contacts • 5 watts is 13 dB below 100 watts (two S-units) • 5 watts is 23 dB below 1000 watts (four S-units) • No interference to TV, stereo, intercom, telephone, etc. • Simplicity of home-brew QRP equipment • Learn to apply electronic theory • Build low power emergency/portable equipment • Low cost way to get on the air and get that code speed up!

  8. QRP Rules for Success • Call strong stations • If a weak station is QRO, he may not hear you. • It is better to answer a CQ • Choose a very clear frequency when calling CQ • Call CQ properly • Use an effective antenna • Only a masochist uses a poor antenna with QRP • Be prepared to listen a lot

  9. How far can you go? • W4QO – 62 countries in Feb. 2006 ARRL DX contest – isn’t this at a sunspot minimum? • KO4WX California to New Zealand – 5 W and MP-1 • W4DU ARRL 160 Meter Contest - 2000 45 states, 22 countries and 3 continents -5 watts and GAP Vertical 700 mw accidental QSO • Ned Mountain – QRP Bicycle Mobile SSB to Siberia (he has the tape!)

  10. QRP Organizations • G-QRP Club (SPRAT) • http://www.gqrp.com • QRP ARCI (QRP Quarterly) • www.qrparci.org • American QRP Club (QRP Homebrewer) • www.amqrp.org • NoGaQRP Club • www.nogaqrp.org

  11. QRP Contesting • Great way to pick up QSOs, countries, states • Good operators with good ears • QRP ARCI - Sprints – QSO Parties • Adventure Radio Society – 1st Monday month • FOX Hunts – each Tuesday at 2100 eastern • Dozens of major contests each year have QRP categories – why? They want you to give them some QSOs! • Greatly Improve your operating skills

  12. QRP Awards

  13. What kind of equipment? • Normal 100 watt rigs turned down to QRP levels • New QRP Rigs • SGC-2020 MFJ-9xxx Argonaut V • Elecraft K1, K2, KX-1 plus T-1 tuner, MP-1, etc. • FT-817 IC-703 • Kits • Many club kits – NorCal, AmQRP, NoGA • Ten-Tec MFJ Cub Wilderness Radio • Small Wonders Labs – your best first QRP rig! SW-40 DSW-20 Rockmite ($30)

  14. QRP Rigs – Then and Now!

  15. QRP Equipment • Qrp Kits PFR-3A ~ $250

  16. QRP Equipment • Elecraft KX1 with paddle: elecraft.com • 4 bands ~ $300 - $400

  17. QRP Equipment • Elecraft K2 With Bail paddle: elecraft.com • ~ $760 - $950

  18. QRP Equipment • Elecraft KX3: elecraft.com • ~ $1000

  19. NoGaQRP Club • Serving the North GA area – Macon to Blairsville • Meets 2nd Saturday – Wieuca Road Bap Church • Meetings start at 10AM until ???? • Every meeting is Show and Tell – amazing stuff • Other events – Field Day, QRPTTF, FYBO, etc. • Projects: NoGaWatt meter, NoGaPIG, GA Sierra, Guppy, NoGaNaut, Georgia Cracker • Fun events – Run for the Kudzu, etc.

  20. Most fun in Ham Radio! • 1. Get a used rig – a $200 transceiver from eBay • 2. Listen/Study/Get your license/callsign • 3. Learn the code (CW) (Charlie Whiskey)(didah) • 4. Upgrade to General; get a 1x3 callsign • 5. Get your QSL made – cheapqsls.com ($12) • 6. Make a CW contact, then 10, then 100 (SKCC) • 7. Build your own rig – SW-40, TenTec, Qrpkits • 8. Go for an award – WAS, WAC, collecting QSLs. • 9. Enter a contest – Spartan Sprint, QRP ARCI Party • 10. Build antenna & go to THE FIELD – FD, a park • 11. Upgrade to Extra Class

  21. QSL CARDS • http://cheapqsls.com

  22. Conclusion • QRP challenge: Use the least power necessary to establish and maintain communications • QRP reduces QRM, and re-introduces an element of adventure & challenge that was part of amateur radio’s earliest days. • QRP gear is compact, portable, and inexpensive • QRP gear is great for the experimenter & the homebrewer • Sharpen your CW and operating skills

  23. What can you do with QRP? • Anything = use the skill, tenacity and patience to do it!! • Just remember: • “Power is no substitute for skill” (QRP ARCI) • QRP – When you care enough to use the very least! • “Use wits, not watts” (unknown) • “It is vain to do with more, what can be done with less” (William of Occam, 1290-1350) • QRP- The Thrill is Back! (W4QO)

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