|
|
|
|
QRP...LOW POWER COMMUNICATIONS
AMATEUR RADIO - This page provides information about the radio activities at K5DZE. I was first licensed as KN5DZE in Columbus, MS in 1956. I have held Novice, General, Advanced, and Extra Class licenses. Other operations included being DA1EZ in Ludwigsburg, Germany (3 yrs) and HL9EZ at Camp Casey, Korea (1 yr). My favorite modes are CW and PSK-31, both of which work out particularly well for QRP (low power operation). While there does not seem to be a complete agreement on what constitutes QRP operation, I think most QRP enthusiasts agree that for CW, AM, FM and data modes the transmit output power should not exceed 5 watts. For SSB operation, the maximum output power should be no more than 10 watts PEP. (Some operators think that the power limit should be 5 watts on SSB as well.) A lot of QRP operators use only 2-3 watts and some often use even less, sometimes operating with as little as 500 to 100 milliwatts (1/2 to 1/10 of 1 watt)! Extremely low power of 1 watt or less is often referred to as QRPp and as you can imagine, this provides a real challenge to any operator. One of the neat things about using QRP rigs is that they can perform quite well in areas where more powerful rigs would likely be impractical or intrusive. This includes small apartments, condos, lake cottages, mountain retreats, camping trips, etc. These small radios and correspondingly small antennas can provide many fun contacts. I have been very active using PSK-31 on 80m to 10m. As mentioned, I am constantly surprised at how many stations I can work using just 5 watts in this mode. Using a Signalink USB, I have been cranking the power of the FT-920 down to 5 watts or less using a 284' loop and an S9V 31' antenna. It is no exaggeration to say that if I am patient, I can work most of the stations that I can hear that have a decent signal. The weak signals or rare stations don't always wind up in the log book, but it is really fun to catch so many stations on very little power. There are many QRP rigs available today and the low cost (particularly for kits) makes it quite affordable to just add a QRP rig to your Shack's equipment line up. It also makes it practical to have several different QRP rigs to operate. For more information, check the "WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT QRP?" section at the end of this page.
QTH: My home location is Dry Ridge, Kentucky, (EM78qs) about 34 miles southwest of Cincinnati and just off I-75 It sits on several acres of land next to a country club and golf course, so it nice and quiet and best of all, there are no antenna restrictions!
QSL: I QSL to Amateurs and SWLs for all cards received, or anytime a card is just requested. No SASE is required. I QSL direct or via the bureau. (Sorry, but I don't use LoTW.) I also use eQSL. Be aware that eQSLs are not acceptable to the ARRL and will not count for ARRL awards, but eQSLs do count for many other awards. eQSLs also offer awards that are equivalent to the ARRL's WAS, WAC, or DXCC awards, but use eQSLs for verification. Just let me know what you prefer. For DX friends, please QSL via the W5 QSL Bureau. Let me know that you do want a card and I won't wait to receive your QSL, but I will immediately send your card via the bureau. (I use the ARRL Outgoing QSL service unless asked to do otherwise). Like most Hams and beacon operators, I very much enjoy getting/sending QSL cards. Please let me know if you hear my beacon on the air. Your report will be most appreciated, and it will be answered. Note: As mentioned, the ARRL does not recognize eQSLs for awards although there appears to me no reason these are less secure than any snail mailed QSL if they have the Authenticity Guaranteed (AG) stamp on them. In fact, they seem more secure than a homemade card that can come from who knows where! If you would like to see this ARRL policy changed, contact your League representative and/or the League HQ and respectfully voice your desire for a change.
THE SHACK: These two pictures are close ups of the operating position. The 10m Beacon transmitter/keyer is at bottom left of the first photo.
(Click on thumbnail pictures with blue frames for larger view.)
ANTENNAS - My primary HF antennas consist of a 284' Full Wave Loop. You can read my article about this antenna in the OCT 2010 issue of Monitoring Times magazine. I had a nice S9V 31' vertical until some fellows doing yard work for us got into the radials and the buried coax. I decided to just take down what was left of the vertical and go with the Loop for all my HF needs. It turned out to be a good decision! (See my ANTENNA page for details on some these and several other antennas.)
"WATERING HOLES" FOR QRP: Like water holes in the desert, these CW Calling freqs are where many QRP Ops gather and its also where you can listen and snag QRP contacts. The freqs listed here aren't all of the QRP freqs, but these CW freqs will get you going. NOTE: If you run much power over 5 watts or so, please stay well off to the sides and away from these freqs so the true QRP rigs and the QRPp flea power ops (less than one watt output), can be heard and not be covered up. Listen a while and get the hang of it and then dive in. Hope to catch you there!
80 M -
3.560
--
QRP CW
17 M - 18.096 -- QRP CW WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT QRP ? QRP isn't for everyone I guess. Some ops sneer at low power and sadly, they can be down right condescending if you even ask for a contact. Fortunately, most non-QRP ops are very courteous and seem to get as big a kick out of working low power stations as QRP ops do running them! Over the years, I have run everything from Collins KW rigs with big antennas, to 100 watts with a dipole, but like a lot of other Hams I seem to have returned to how I started out. When I began as a kid back in the 50's, I ran 20 watts with a Heathkit AT-1 (remember that one?) and a Windom antenna using an antenna tuner built in a coffee can (thanks to W5WQQ). I had a blast with it! Today, another fun way to operate is put an entire rig in a brief case and take it where ever you go. I find the challenge of working folks with 5 watts or less to be a lot of fun! Taking a rig on a camping trip, to the park, to the lake, or to the mountains can be really enjoyable. If you are a hunter, you might compare QRP operations to hunting with a handgun or bow rather than with a rifle or shotgun. It takes a lot of skill, you don't shoot as often and you may not get something with every shot, but it's a lot of satisfaction when you do bag something. In QRP, skill is always a key ingredient since you don't have a lot of power to help force your way through to make contacts. Another thing I find neat is that for QRP DXCC and QRP WAS type awards, you don't need QSL cards... you just need a well kept logbook! Well, all this is just my opinion of course, but I know it is shared by many. Why not try QRP in your operations at home or for portable work? You may find it bringing back the real excitement of those first QSOs. One other thing about QRP...CW is a mainstay for QRP work. That is just a fact. If you enjoy CW operation then QRP is a natural for you. Likewise, if you just want to get more proficient at CW, QRP is a great way to get there. But CW is not all there is to QRP! SSB is very much in the QRP mainstream and it is great fun. In one afternoon, I worked 23 countries in less than 3 hours during the ARRL DX contest. I was running 10 watts SSB with an SG-2020 and a G5RV antenna at 25'. Also, have you tried the digital modes? You can literally work the world with QRP digital modes such as PSK-31. It is amazing how many DX stations operate PSK-31 and how many of them you can work with just a couple of watts on PSK-31. I now work PSK-31 as a primary mode and I am well on my way to working QRP/PSK31 DXCC just for the fun of it! For more information about QRP, use your favorite browser and look up "QRP" and QRP related subjects on the Internet. On the bands, go to the QRP "Watering Holes" on 40 and 20 Meters and listen to the ops that congregate there. Fast CW, slow CW, strong signals and weak-hard-to-copy signals are all there to dig out as part of the fun. Likewise, use the established PSK-31 freqs and you will find a host of QRP stations there. (Its hard to tell QRP from non-QRP stations on PSK!) Today, there are many really high quality QRP rigs available and you don't have to build your equipment if your aren't up to it or if you just don't want to take the time to do so. Also, there are a lot of nice QRP rigs available on the used market. Finally, one thing you will surely note is that a lot of QRP gear costs much less than the bigger rigs. This is particularly true about the great kit rigs which are fun and very capable. This makes it easier to have several QRP rigs to use at different times. There are several good QRP Clubs and some neat sites for you to browse around. Here are just a few links: http://www.qrparci.org/ QRP Amateur Radio Club International http://www.qrpme.com/ (Fun starter QRP rigs) http://www.fix.net/~jparker/wilderness/sst.htm (Imagine this rig in a military looking Cammo paint or a shiny Red or maybe even a bright Yellow! Quite a conversation piece!) http://www.elecraft.com/index.htm (Home of the KX1 and K1, a neat pair of very small CW QRP rigs. The K2 and K3 are also high quality rigs worth a real close look!)
QRP PSK31 While CW is really great for QRP work, operations using the PSK-31 digital mode have been very surprising for their effectiveness. Using only 5 watts as my maximum power, I worked all states and 60 countries on PSK31 in about a 90 day period. While is not exceptional, it has been surprising to me because it has been so easy with just a casual approach. On PSK-31, I have worked a number of stations that were running 1-2 watts with relatively small antennas. The implications of this capability are striking for those Amateurs who cannot put a big antenna or run a 100 watt rig for fear of getting the 'antenna vigilantes' after them or causing interference with neighborhood stereo systems. If you live in an apartment, condo, or other antenna/radio restricted area, try a low power rig like the ICOM 703, a Signalink interface, and use an antenna like the Hamstick on a short tripod or a PAR ENDFEDZ antenna (see the Antenna page) and I bet you can make a LOT more contacts than you ever thought you could!
PLANNED PROJECTS FOR 2010 :
Again, thanks for stopping by my QRP page... I hope to catch you on the bands !
QRPARCi - #10625 FISTS - #10636
SKCC #642 10-10 #72596
|
|
|
