On-The-Air Activities in QRP
from
John Harper AE5X
on
March 16, 2005
View comments about this article!
Fun QRP Activities and Events
So you've got that QRP kit up & running and made a few contacts with it to
prove that it works. Congratulations!
Now what?
Thanks to the popularity of QRP and the vivid imaginations of those
involved, quite a variety of on-the-air activities exist that will allow you
to put that 5 watt built-by-you marvel through its paces. Here are the major
crowd-pleasers:
North American QRP CW Club
A newly-formed club, NAQCC sponsors innovative events including my favorite,
the monthly "80m Sprints". These Sprints offer multipliers for operating
with a straight key or bug and often have a theme which varies from month to
month. I'd never believed that 80m and QRP were capable of much more than
local QSOs, but in 3 months of these Sprints (and the curiosity they
inspired on 80m QRP) I now have 29 states and 9 countries on the band - all
with my battery-fed AT Sprint & dipole).
Other events from this club include sprints (short, 2 to 4 hour contests)
with a holiday-related theme, slow-speed sprints, old-time rig sprints,
sprints dealing with age and year-licensed of the operators - even a VHF/UHF
CW sprint. Unlike most contests, NAQCC typically schedules their events for
week nights which "spreads out the fun" since most other contests are on
weekends.
Adventure Radio Society
There are two main contests from this club: a monthly "Spartan Sprint" and
an annual "Flight of the Bumble Bees".
The idea of the monthly Spartan Sprints is to encourage development and
testing of lightweight radio gear suitable for outdoor, human-powered QRP
expeditions. This event is usually not conducted outdoors but rather is the
driving force to encourage development of efficient, lightweight equipment
suitable for that purpose such as hiking, kayaking or backpacking trips. A
typical Monday evening Sprint will consist of several dozen operators around
the country contacting as many of their counterparts as possible in a two
hour period. Station weight of the top scorers is usually 5 or 6 ounces!
This weight includes transceiver, batteries, earphones and paddles.
The annual Flight of the Bumble Bees puts all the testing of the monthly
sprints to practice - operators take to the hills, dales and meadows across
the country with their micro-stations in tow, and set up shop for 4 hours of
ionosphere-scorching fun, working the other Bees and those non-bees who are
participating from home. But wait - it's not over! Once the contest ends and
the Bees return to their normal human lives a large number of them post
photos of their excursions and soap-box reports of where they went, what
went right and (best of all!) what hardships they endured. Excellent reading
and great fun.
Fox Hunts
Fox Hunts take place every Thursday evening and draw quite a crowd. From
their website:
"The QRP Fox Hunt is a series of two-hour amateur radio events during which
QRP stations ("Hounds") attempt to work specific QRP stations designated as
"The Fox." Throughout any particular season, there may be a "dual hunt,"
with two foxes on the air at a time. These hunts are usually conducted in CW
but can be in any other mode the committee authorizes for a particular
season. This season's hunt takes place within +/- 10 KHz of 7.040 MHz QRP
calling frequency and starts at 0200 UTC, ending almost two hours later at
0359 UTC".
New England QRP Club's "QRP Afield"
This annual 6 hour contest takes place in September and affords an
opportunity to get outdoors and share in the on-the-air camaraderie of
contacting others who are interested in the same aspect of ham radio -
namely, building their own equipment and getting on the air with it, all the
while taking advantage of the fact that QRP is often synonymous with
portability.
Arizona sQRPions "Freeze Your Butt Off"
Leave it to a bunch of warm-weather QRPers in Arid Zona to come up with a
contest in which the multiplier is based on the temperature in this 8 hour,
outdoor contest. The lower the temperature, the higher the multiplier. Kind
of reminds me of Twain's "Tom Sawyer" where Tom conned his buddies and other
passers-by into white-washing his Aunt Polly's fence by pretending it was so
much fun. His reluctance to share the chore made everyone want to do it, so
being the decent lad that he was, he relented and let others do all the work
while he relaxed in the shade with thoughts of Becky Thatcher wafting
through his mind. Such is the annual FYBO which takes place in the dead of
winter (of course) when northern QRPers and others, sending poor CW from
numb fingers finally return to their warm cozy homes so they can email their
logs to Arizona. Sound like fun? It is!
QRP to The Field
One of my all-time favorites, this outdoor contest is similar to the two
contests above but usually includes a theme that varies from year to year.
Past themes have included bonus points for operating from near a state
border, a body of water or some other purely-for-fun modus operandi. Almost
as fun as an evening with Halle Berry, this is one of the most anticipated
contests in QRPdom and turn-out is excellent. Again, the fun comes in two
parts - the actual operating and then the reading about other op's
experiences a few days later. Do a Google search on this (and the other
contests) to see what I mean.
Impromptu and Roll Your Own
Every now and then a group of QRPers will get the idea to meet on a given
night, usually on 7040kHz and contact each other using milliwatt or
crystal-controlled rigs. Word gets out, others join in and a good time is
had by all. This usually follows the release of a new kit such as the Tuna
Tin II or the Rock- Mite rigs. There is no exchange, no points - just fun
contacting other folks with your peppermint-smelling, Altoids-housed,
ether-burning behemoth.
And remember that you need not wait for a club to come along and offer an
event. You can have your own personal goal with QRP in general or a specific
rig in particular. I am currently trying for WAS with my AT Sprint on a
9-volt battery and have 11 states to go. One QRPer worked DXCC with a Norcal
40. Others have their own goals known only to them.
More info and examples/results of past QRP Excursions at:
http://www.ae5x.com/QRP_Trips.html
John Harper AE5X
Portable QRP:
http://www.ae5x.com
This article has expired. No more comments may be added.
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by KC0RUP on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Great article. Within a few months after getting my General License I met some members of 4 state QRP Group. http://4sqrp.com/ My main interest was not QRP but in building projects, be it kits or your own ideas.
What I discovered was a bunch of the greatest guys in the world. Willing to help and go the extra mile if needed. And they loved to share information with others. Plus they didn’t care if you have been a Ham for 4 days or forty years, they were all in it to learn and to have fun doing it.
I thought, beside building kits what better way to learn about propagation, antennas, and just simply being effectives and efficient with RF power and such.
The more I learned the more I found that I needed to learn.
I joined FISTS to find someone to help me with my CW, but after only receiving a letter saying they were trying to find someone 6 months ago, a member of the 4 State QRP group starting helping me 3-4 time a week. We tried different experiments on 80 meters with different power setting and discovered that I could hear him as good with 5 watts as I could with 50 watts. And using CW only has help to improve my ability to send and receive. With the group we also use other modes like SSB and PSK31.
If you are looking for a group that likes to learn, have fun, build things, improve the hobby for others and themselves and just really do a great service to Amateur Radio look to QRP groups.
My success the first year as a Ham is directly related to the find friends I have made from the members of the QRP community.
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by WW6CW on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
You captured the allure of QRP operation just beautifully. Kit building is a blast, and if you’re not quite up to building kits, there are nifty new QRP rigs and portable rigs out there ready to go.
Thank you for a refreshing, positive and fun to read article.
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by K0EX on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Great article! Tnx for the nice summary of activities -- several of which I enjoy regularly, and some of which to me are new.
Just last nite, in a 20M opening to Central Russia, I worked a few Russians and Kazahkstanis at 2-5W output. What a thrill!
72
-Mark K0EX
mbr: FISTS, NAQCC, QRPARCI, etc.
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by KB1GMX on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Alas and alack..
You forget us V/U/S-HFers who do crazy things like looking for hills with a view, an RF view that is.
I also am QRP operator, only 6M and up are the chosen bands. To date 4 radios built and none QRO though one
is definately QRPp. If it doesnt run on batteries it's
tooo big.
One of my pet peves is there are far to many QRP contests CW/SSB or other even consider VHF or higher. It's fair to say that portable ops for VHF (and higher) are very easily done as there are plenty of small radios and antennas are ofcourse small even if they are quads or beams so why not? From a the top of a hill
here I havent done world busting DX but an average of
6 to 8 grid squares is easily done with no power at all. If there is any enhanced propagation things can be far more exiciting. I might add on VHF stations operating that way seem to attract attention.
Allison
KB1GMX
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by NE1RD on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Thank you for a nice article on one of the gems of this hobby:
operating QRP. If you're one who likes to set goals for yourself,
QRP offers some different ways to do it from operating with QRO
power.
For example, DXCC, making contact with 100 or more
far away places, is the premier ARRL operating award.
For the QRP version of the award you need only show your
log of 100 contacts in 100 different DXCC entities. Cards
or other proof of your contacts are not required. Since
obtaining the cards can be the most time consuming and
expensive part of the process, this "honor system" model makes
obtaining this award well within the reach of, say, young people
long on enthusiasm but short on cash.
One can set other goals, too. The 1000-miles-per-watt
award can be had by simply making a far-away contact with low
power. I worked Italy from my home on my KX1 at 2.2 watts
for an incredible 1680 miles-per-watt. Oh, by the way, this
was using a low-hanging random wire antenna!
QRP is a back-to-basics way to experience the hobby and I
must say I've enjoyed my QRP experiences immensely!
-- Scott (NE1RD)
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by KB6WIJ on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
This is a great article, John! However, one of your remarks seems to indicate that you've been doing this too long:
"Almost as fun as an evening with Halle Berry..."
I mean, I really love the hobby, but geez...
72! Joe
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by AE5X on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Thanks for the comments folks. K0EX suggested that I post the links to the events I mentioned. i should have thought of that but wasn't sure if they'd be formatted as hypertext links. Let's see:
NAQCC - http://www.qsl.net/kb3lfc/
ARS - http://www.arsqrp.com/ars/pages/pageone_material/events_idx.html
Fox Hunts - http://www.cqc.org/fox/
QRP Afield - http://www.qsl.net/wq1rp/
QRP to the Field - http://www.zianet.com/qrp/
If the formatting isn't right, the links are also at:
http://www.ae5x.com/events.html
73 all,
John AE5X
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by WA7NCL on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Don't forget Field Day! This is all time greatest opportunity for QRP. Last year we ran 2 K2s QRP for a 2A battery Station. With a good location in the Mtns and lotsa tall trees for the Antennas, we did pretty well. See our results under N7QT on QST web pages under Field Day 2004.
Also the ARCI Spring and Fall contests always have good activity. You can use logging software to make the scoring a snap. The Fall and Spring are also good propagation times generally.
CU on QRP!
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by N7BUI on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Nice article John. Though QRP operation frustrates the hell out of me sometimes with poor conditions, I have to admit that I keep lowering the power of the radio to see where the cutoff point of no communications is. Sometimes it is amazing to see "how low can you go?"
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by W6TH on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Well written and done John.
What a thrill to be able to communicate with such low power. I have hopes it keeps growing with activity.
100 watts/5 watts = 20 log = 1.3 x 10 = 13 db. 5 db per S unit means from S9 to S6+. Looks encouraging to me.
73, W6th
.:
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by N0IU on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Great article! The best QRP story I have is about my neighbor who not only had 5 Band DXCC, he had confirmed over 300 countries on each of those 5 bands using CW. Of course his Henry amplifer was a major factor in this endeavor! Thinking that he done just about everything he could in amateur radio, he built a QRP kit just for kicks. I remember his reaction... "WOW! You can really talk to people with less than 1500 watts!"
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by WA6BFH on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I am fascinated by this profusion of QRP’ing that has come about in the last decade or so. I’m guessing, and hoping, that because the idea of simpler design radios that run on batteries, this is something Ham’s can get their teeth into! Or better, a soldering iron and other tools of mind and instrumentality. The proliferation of the “QRP Experience” may be making for some very good Ham’s!
Afterall, if your using a radio that provides at least 20 decibels less signal than the typical Icom 706 etc, Ham’s have to do something to get a decent signal into the Ether! This is especially going to be the case when there is a motivation to stay toward the lower end of the HF spectrum, where much of those few Watts is going to be dissipated as heat in wasteful inductive antenna loading coils. I have seen wonderful examples though from Ham’s who operate “Field Day” from a campground near me in the Southern California mountains. They use Rhombic’s, Half-rhombics, Sterba Curtains, and other large aperture antennas to enhance some of those dB’s!
There too is another contrast I have been aware of since nearly my first entrance into our fine hobby. Some Ham’s look at this hobby as a scientific challenge, and some look at it as some sort of contest or personal trial. The distinction is striking! If a scientific Ham tells a story of working South America on VHF via a combined signal propagation mode of E-layer Skip, as well as Troposheric Ducting, the ‘Contester’ will likely reply, “how many Q’s did you get?” If our scientist answers, “Oh, three or four, there were only a couple dozen South Americans on, and I was more interested in the signal propagation mechanism” -- the contester will be stunned and dismayed! If by chance our scientist then offers that the band was only open for this for a couple of hours, the contester will say, ‘I could have made a few hundred Q’s on 20 Meters in that amount of time!’
So the QRP challenge may represent quite a contrast. In one of the posts already the statement was made on the number of countries and states worked with a QRP set-up on 80 Meters. He went on to make an analogy with 6 Meter operation. This pleased me as I used to contrast 80 Meter signal propagation with 6 Meters, in that I saw an analogy as far as how the band opened and closed, and the comparative signal to atmospheric noise ratio at these two divergent ends of the spectrum. So if our vigorous and enthusiastic QRP’ers pursue VHF like methods in their pursuits, that will really be Ham Radio!
Look at it this way, every time I double the distance of my communications path, I have lost 6 decibels (dB‘s) of signal. So if I started with 1 Watt, the guy at the other end is hearing a quarter of that power level -- or 250 milliWatts. Double it again and now he hears only 1/16th of a Watt, or 62.5 milliWatts! Now he may be using some spiffy gear and antennas to improve upon this so, what could be better in terms of a scientific and engineering approach!
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by W6TH on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Power should be secondary and more into the coupling to the atmosphere; antenna and heigth above ground.
As an example: I had my 10 meter antenna up at 80 feet using a 2 element quad. The US stations were very low in signal strength and the dx was extremely strong.
A 5 watt station using a 2 element yagi will produce a 5 db erp gain. 5 db equals a power gain of 3.16, so the outgoing erp will be 15.8 watts erp (Effective radiating power). A 3 element yagi will put out a 7 db gain which is equal to a power gain of 5.01. Therefore the radiated power will be 5 times the 5 watts and a erp of 5.01 times 5 watts 25.05 watts of erp.
The square of distance does not apply to long distance hopping, but in the line of sight. Won't go into that as that is of little importance when working skip bands.
Now the true qrp is running 1 watt and the 3 element yagi and now getting the 5.01 erp in watts.
Enjoy your qrp as it sure is fun.
73, W6TH
.:
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by WA6BFH on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Allison, while I certainly agree with your zeal in seeking that 10 to 30 dB mountain, how many Grid Squares are there in your part of the country, within 6 Meter ‘Direct Wave’ distance? Just a thought!
73! de John
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by N4KZ on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Nice round-up of QRP activities. In the past, I found the wintertime QRP fox hunts on 40 meters to be a blast.
I have operated QRP off and on for more than 30 years. I have more than 100 countries worked with low power but mainly on CW.
So, the recent purchase of a FT-817 opened up SSB QRP which has been quite interesting. I've had no trouble making many QRP phone contacts, including some on 40 meters on a recent evening. One of the other stations proclaimed me to be a "brave soul" to attempt 40 meter SSB QRP at night.
Conditions on 40 have been good at night lately because CW DX stations from Europe, Africa and the Caribbean have found their way into my log easily.
On one recent evening, I wanted to see if I could work into Europe on 80 meter SSB while running the FT-817. I found two strong Europeans in the DX window and although I called them for quite a while, I finally got through and got good reports from G and EI.
So, you can make it across the pond even on 80 meters with 5 watts out. BTW, I use an 80-meter full-wave horizontal loop for 80 and 40. It plays well.
73, Dave, N4KZ
Frankfort, KY
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by LNXAUTHOR on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
- great article! it's about time we've had a QRP-related article here!
- i operate QRP almost exclusively nowadays... my first HF rig was an FT-817 (still going strong, fingers crossed), but subsequent rigs are all kit-built and lower power: SST (2W 20M), Rock-Mite (500mW 20M), and an eight-year-old Norcal Forty-niner kit given to me by a friend (250mW 40M)...
- i really enjoy the building and experimenting... here are some of my favorites: homebrew dummy loads (using 1/4W, 1/2W, 1W, and 2W resistors), the NorCal BLT tuner, NoGA QRP Club Wattmeter, KD1JV Digi-SWR/Wattmeter, OHR WM-2 wattmeter, AZ Scorpion paddle, N0AXS keyer, SMD battery monitor, solar panel power, homebrew crappie-pole wire and hamstick dipoles, and more...
- portability, flexibility, learning, experimentation, development of good listening skills, learning good operator behavior, and taking part in the spirit of sharing information and outdoor activities are all part of operating QRP and QRP portable...
- an additional benefit is that QRP amateur radio can be a LOT less expensive! typical complete station [including antenna] costs can be less than $100!
- my understanding is that the definition of QRP today is 5W CW, 10W phone... some argue that ERP should be considered... and from what i've read, the definition of what consistutes QRP has changed over the years...
- anyone interested in learning more about QRP should go to:
http://www.qrparci.org/arcijoy.html
and get W0RSP's two books... especially the History of QRP (a real eye-opener for today's new operators)
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by W6TH on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I believe qrp should be considered with the erp.
Using 5 watts and a 3 element yagi is not qrp, but above qrp at a power of 25.01 erp. This is not qrp. A full wave loop will give a gain of approximately of 1.8 db of gain, that is close to a power gain of 1.58 so that makes a 5 watter go for 7.9 erp watts.
In my opinion 5 watts is the effective radiated power.
Sorry, but that is my outlook on qrp.
Best regards, W6TH
,:
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by W6TH on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I would like to ad this to prove my point:
A ham with the 4 element yagi runs a gain of approximately 8.25 db gain. This gain is over a dipole which has a gain of aproximately of 2.14 db gain, over an isotropic source.
This same ham runs a good 1.5 kw output to his 8.25 db gain 4 element antenna. His radiated erp will be over the power ratio of 6.31. Therefore his erp will be 1500 watts times the power ratio of 6.31, which in turn gives him the erp of 9465 erp watts.
Do you now wonder why he is first in line in the pile-ups and has that grin on his face while you are still putting your effort to get the same results?
There is no substitute for power in any means and ways. whether it is ham radio or our congress.
73 my friends, W6TH.
.:
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by LNXAUTHOR on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
- maybe a lot of folks would be interested in an article titled:
"What is QRP?"
:-)
- i've read that there has been some debate recently on other threads on exactly what constitutes QRP, but my understanding is that the antenna is not considered a factor by most (though ERP certainly is important), and instead, the definition relates strictly to transceiver output?
- interesting article and good discussions here!
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by WB2WIK on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Good article on 6m QRP'ing in the April '05 issue of QST, about Chip, N6CA. He's worked more than "100 million miles per Watt" on six, and is challenging somebody to break "1 Billion miles per Watt."
Of course, having a huge beam on a tall tower and listening to the band practically 24 hours a day helps a lot with this endeavor.
Bruce, K2RTH/4 (SK) was another huge 6m DX QRP enthusiast. Any time the band popped open the tiniest bit from CA to FL (where Bruce lived), K2RTH/4 was pretty much the first signal heard here, always on 6m CW, and almost always running QRPp (less than 1 W). One of my last QSOs with Bruce over this 2500 mile path was with him running 3 milliwatts on 50.100. That's 833,333 miles per Watt -- hardly a record, but pretty good anyway...
WB2WIK/6
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by WA6BFH on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
How about an article on "What is Gain"?
It seems to me that there is much discussion of this but, relatively little understanding. If you know your station gain, meaning all totaled gain, as well as all cumulative loss, you can then start from any given transmitter power. Or any receiver sensitivity as well!
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by W3DCG on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
That recent Pesky Texan Armadillo Chase was a real kick too!
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by W6TH on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
John WA6BFH
which way would you like it? DB or Isotropic? Maybe both?
.:
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by W6TH on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
John, here is a quicky from the internet.
----------------------------------------------------------Gain----------------------
Normaly expressed in decibels, dB
Power Gain (dB) = 10 Log 10 (RF Output Power / RF Input Power)
Gain is defined as the ratio of the output power to the input power in dB. Assume that the input power is 10 mW (+10 dBm) and the output power is 1 W (1000 mW, +30 dBm). The ratio will be 1000/10 = 100, and the gain will be 10 * log 100 = 20 dB.
It is much easier to calculate gain by converting the power to dBm first, so the gain of the above amplifier will be 30-10 = 20 dB. A simple reduction will reveal the gain. In tradition, all power is read in dBm and the gain is in dB.
Example:
A low noise amp (30 dB gain) cascades with a driver amp (20 dB gain) and a power amp (10 dB gain). The total gain will be 30+20+10 = 60 dB.
Frequently Used
Decibel Conversions
dB Power Ratio
O
1 (-1)
3 (-3)
6 (-6)
10 (-10)
13
17
20
30 1
1.26 (0.8)
2 (1/2)
4 (1/4)
10 (0.1)
20
50
100
1000
.:
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by W5ESE on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Thanks, John, for a great article. You wrote one
earlier on operating QRP while on hiking/backpacking
trips that was equally good.
I really enjoyed participating in the 80 Meter
Straight Key Sprints, Spartan Sprints, and ARSQRP
"Flight of the Bumblebees".
For me, kit building and QRP go hand in hand.
Many of us started out as Novices with simple
homebrew 1 or 2 tube crystal controlled
transmitters, and QRP kit building feels a
little like deja vu; a return to our roots.
And likewise for many new hams, participating in
QRP kit building allows them to enjoy the
satisfaction and pride from making contacts with
gear that they have had a hand in building and
debugging.
Another activity I enjoy alot is the New Jersery
QRP Homebrewer Sprint, that emphasizes getting on
the air with transmitters, receivers, or
transceivers that you've had a hand in constructing.
It occurs twice a year and is coming up soon on
Sunday Mar 27, 7PM to 11PM EST
Details at:
http://www.njqrp.org/data/qrphomebrewersprint.html
73
Scott
W5ESE
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by W6TH on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
John, now for antenna gain in both isotropic and DB.
Lets take the gain of a 1/4 wave vertical antenna ground mounted with radials. The vertical radiates 360 degrees and the take off angle is 32 degrees. Lets multiply 360 times 32 = 11520. The number of square degrees area in the surface of a sphere has been computed to be 41253. Now divide this number 41253 by the number of 11520... 41253/11520 = 3.580989583. Take the log of 3.580989583 and you will get .554003057. Now multiply 554003057 by 10 and you will get 5.540030577. This is the gain of the 1/4 wave vertical in DB. The number 3580989583 is the gain in isotropic or isotropic gain.
How can I now help you? Compliments of W6TH.
This is how the gain of antennas are done today, both ham and commercial.
.:
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by N6AJR on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I have done the ocassional qrp contact or two, but my biggest irritation is to be working a ssb contest, world wide, and have some one running 1 watt from austrailia or japan get mad at me because I can't get his call on the 5th or 6th try.
I will stay with you as long as I can hear you and in the last contest (int dx contest) I worked 3 5 watters and a 1 watter from japan with a 54 for the 4 watters and a true, move the needle, 53 for the 1 watt guy. but then you have to realize that I am running a 3 ell at 400 watts, and My station my not have your gain ( a good antenna works on rx too) but please don't get angry with me if I can't hear you..
73 and gud DX
tom N6AJR
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by WA6BFH on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
54 what?
Can you express that in dBm, or microvolts at 50 Ohms or whatever?
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by NS6Y_ on March 16, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Don't forget there's dBm, which is dB relative to a milliwatt.
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by VE3WMB on March 17, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
John :
Great summary!
I hope to work you again this year in QRPTTF.
Cheers ,
Michael VE3WMB
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by AE5X on March 17, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I'll keep an ear out for you, Michael as always! Will be using the KX1 but still haven't settled on a railroad-related location yet.
72,
John AE5X
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by K3ESE on March 17, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Great job, John, and thanks!
I operate 100% QRP HF CW, and since getting active in the hobby again, being able to build my own QRP rigs and test equipment has helped me learn a little bit about how RF gets that way.
Often, I'm having a QSO with someone, where I get at least a 559 report, solid copy easily for the other guy, and he's running 100W, and I always think, "why?" 8^D
It's really all about propagation. It's not unusual for me to be able to work a DX station through a busy simplex pile - if conditions are right. If they're not right, I don't work that station; I feel no desire to have a KW to crank so I can "get" the QSO...each and every contact is, to me, more fun because of the low power. All my antennas are simple wire antennas, also...more fun!
As for activities, please check out our QRP Barbershop Contest...here's the link:
http://www.io.com/~n5fc/barbershop_contest.htm
the next one is coming up Wednesday night, March 30.
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by W6TH on March 17, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Seems to be QRP with no set standards and yet so many records are being broken.
I probably can break more low power records just by using my horizontal oscillator within my television or my computer monitor.
What is needed is a standard setup to make it more competitive using just a single dipole or better yet, take advantage of the low angle of radiation that the verticals can provide. Verticals work best in the F2 layer.
I hear some very strong signals from QRP stations breaking a pileup and is it really QRP of 5 or less watts or has some-one mis-calculated their power level. Some thought should be given.
All previous records should be cancelled and begin from the beginning.
If you can't trust your mother, then who can you trust.
.:
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by WA6BFH on March 17, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
W6TH, and VWM
Charles, My reply post to you got somehow scrambled, and appeared above your most recent post.
I hope you don't think I was being vindictive, with the "Patriot" post, or the one preceding it! I'm just trying to promote sort of a "Live and Let Live" attitude.
I'm also encouraging W6TH, or whomever to write a real -- 'What is Antenna Gain' article.
I mean a real 'who, what, when, where, why', sort of article with references to noted antenna engineers etc. It would be cool to include data from such sources as the guys who did the original studies that lead to 'vertical tower' antennas for the "AM" Broadcast Band, or even simply references to the antenna studies that the military did around World War 2.
73! de John
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by W2LJ on March 17, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
John,
Nice to see a positive article on eHam for a change.
Thanks for giving NAQCC a plug - our next 80 Meter Sprint is the evening of Monday, March 21st. This one will feature bonus points for working YL/XYL stations.
Also, I think Marshall Emm is planning an "End to the Foxhunt Season" shebang on 40 Meters within the next week or two. Stay tuned to QRP-L for details!
73 de Larry W2LJ
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by KB1LKR on March 18, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
<quote>
54 what?
Can you express that in dBm, or microvolts at 50 Ohms or whatever?
<end quote>
I believe he meant signal report of 54, so Readability of 5 at a signal strength of S4.
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by NY7Q on March 18, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I was so inspired by the article..I got on 7040 last night and was amazed how many different kinds of CW ops were on. For the most, excellent ops. I looked around for my hand key and will wire it up tonight. So guys, you may just bring me back to ham radio in the old way that I have always loved...best to you all that operated down there....
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by KB1GMX on March 18, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
>>>Allison, while I certainly agree with your zeal in seeking that 10 to 30 dB mountain, how many Grid Squares are there in your part of the country, within 6 Meter ‘Direct Wave’ distance? Just a thought! <<<
I'm in fair location for VHF/UHF at about 200ft but
there is terrain around me. I am in eastern MA
(fn42hh) about 20 mi west of boston and from this site with a 30ft tower and 4 elements my 6m range is reliable at 20W for one or more grid squares around me save for FN52 (east of me) contact are definately maritime mobile. In several directions that becomes two grids away, though being near the coast that means there are grid in the wet unoccupied areas (ocean). If there is any propagation the number of easily accessable grids goes up considerably.
For 2m ops, I'm still power limited at 20W but the cc215WB at 36ft really helps and its common when
the band is active (someone there in otherwords)
to count on the same or better range than 6M.
Now I've taken a small (4ft long) 4 element beam
to the top of Nobscot hill barely 2mi from me and
on the same power I can do as good or better than
the 215wb on the home station. Nobscot is only 400ft
higher than my house but it's the highest bump in
Middlesex county and there is an easy road to the
top. If I go not too far away I have other bigger hills such as Greylock, wachusset, Monodnock, and
many others. Most are easily accessable or hikeable. From the C150 (cessna) those rather short numbers go right out the window. At 4000ft on FM simplex using
the VHF(118-136mhz) belly antenna the lowly 1.5W htx245 ht has done more than 200mi. No surprize there as the nominal aircraft VHF comm is typically 5-10W AM to a 1/4 wave vertical and I'm used to 60-80mi contacts to ATC. The Unicom frequencies (122.8 and others) are heavily shared and it's not uncommon to hear pilots 200-300mi away when at altitude!
How that give an idea of regional rage for VHF.
Allison
Kb1gmx
Allison
|
| |
|
VHF/UHF QRP
|
|
|
by K7VO on March 18, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
For Allison, KB1GMX, and anyone else interested in VHF/UHF QRP:
Bob Witte, K0NR, writes an excellent VHF QRP column in QRP Quarterly. If you don't get the magazine I do highly recommend it. (Yes, I must admit I now write for the magazine as well, but I've liked it for years.)
Bob also has a VHF QRP group on Yahoo! that has plenty of members (~125 at present) but not that much activity. It seems there are more than enough interested people right there to organzize a VHF/UHF QRP contest.
I should also point out that most of the existing VHF/UHF contests have separate QRP categories and that QRP-ARCI offers QRP versions of most of the major VHF/UHF awards, such as VUCC.
There was also an excellent article on VHF miliwatting (QRPpp) in the April, 2005 QST. by Chip Angle, NC6A.
Thanks to rigs like the Yaesu FT-817 a lot of people have discovered the joy of QRP at VHF and even UHF SSB/CW/digital. The groups, awards, and contests are out there.
FWIW, my main 6m rig is a National RJX-751 (JA version of the NCG 7/21/50) with 10W maximum out. My main portable 6m rig is a Tokyo Hy-Power HT-750 SSB/CW HT at 2W out. On 2m I have an Icom IC-290A (10W/1W) and two Mizuho portables (1W out). I am still looking for a Nishi Musen NTS-700 or Belcom LS-702 (1W 432 SSB HTs).
72/73,
Caity
K7VO/8
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by K7VO on March 18, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
John: Excellent article! Thank you for writing and posting it.
As many will have noticed a lot of QRPers stick to CW because it is about the easiest mode to get through with at low power levels. Most of the contests and activities mentioned are mainly or entirely HF CW. Nothing wrong with that. I have some neat QRP CW only rigs that I love to take out and get on with. Having said that...
There are hams that don't particularly like CW even if they passed a 20 WPM test once upon a time. QRP includes SSB and digital modes as well. Sprat, the publication of G-QRP, has a column devoted to SSB and digital. QRP-ARCI sponsors the annual Winter Firside QRP SSB Sprint contest. QRP is about low power operation. CW is just the most popular item in a virtual smorgasbord of operating modes. Pick the one that is most appealing to you at any given time.
For LNXAUTHOR: "What is QRP?" has been pretty well defined. All the major ham and QRP organizations (ARRL, QRP-ARCI, RSGB, G-QRP, etc...) have accepted a definition of 5W output CW/digital and 10W PEP output SSB. It is defined strictly by transmitter power output. That makes sense because it is something that can be easily and objectively measured. We can debate whether ERP makes more sense or if those power levels are right until the cows come home but that is the generally accepted definition and the one used for virtually all QRP contesting and awards.
So... if you can go crazy with antennas and increase your ERP by all means do so.
Allison brought up VHF QRP. I can take out a 200mW HT (Mizuho MX-2) and a small antenna on 2m SSB/CW and do very little or take it up on a mountaintop and work lots of people. There are lots of factors and QTH is definitely one of them, even on HF. I think a complex calculation that tries to take into account all different factors would be counterproductive. Let's face it, the playing field is NOT level. Do the best you can with what you have. Making the most with a minimal setup is part of the spirit of QRP.
72/73,
Caity
K7VO/8
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by N1KSN on March 18, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Great article! Portable QRP operation is my favorite ham activity, and this article captures some of the fun. I've been a Bumblebee a couple of times, the first involving a long (for me!) bicycle trip to a local state park with antenna support and radio equipment strapped to the luggage rack and my body. It was a great day to spend outside doing CW (and explaining myself to a curious park ranger).
I recently finished a 500 mw MicroMountaineer, which is sort of a semi-kit sold by Kanga US and designed by Wes Hayward, W7ZOI. Even at that low power and only six frequencies to use (a mod with two crystals and three fixed caps to bend them inspired by Wes' website) I've managed some nice contacts on 40 meters, and that was with a very ho-hum antenna.
When the 'spots were good, I remember an SSB contact out to NYC from my WI location. I ran 3 watts PEP from a SWL White Mountain 20 kit rig (no longer available) into a 20m Hamstick dipole. The other guy was pretty tickled and said "that's real ham radio."
Finally, don't forget HF/VHF/UHF bicycle mobile. More fun--if you don't mind looking like an UberGeek on the road.
For various reasons, some people don't like QRP and that's OK. To each his own. But if you haven't tried it, think about joining in on the fun.
Best,
Andy N1KSN
Menasha, WI
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by K4JSR on March 18, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I think we should all pester "Not Quite Dead Yet Electrical Dude" KA4KOE for an article about his
recent foray into the wilds running QRP.
Philip bought a PRC-2000 Manpack radio and took it into the wilds of Florida last week end. Philip sent
several of us a personal email w/photos of his foray
into portable qrp operation. It is enough to make me want to try it this summer. What the heck, with the
Grand Daddy of Southern Hamfests, Shelby, NC, biting
the big one this year--what else is there to do on Labor Day weekend? (Besides reduce the world's beer
supply!)
Anyway, everybody bug Philip about his first QRP in
the Boonies escapade! Show no mercy! Twist his CW
sending arm! Show him that "Vee haff vayz of making him talk"! Who knows, we may get a few new D.E.D articles out of him.
73, Cal K4JSR The friendly trogluddite curmudgeon
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by KA4KOE on March 19, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Yep, got it real bad here....writer's burnout. Cal, nil have emailed or bugged me for more DEDs, except for our small cadre.
I haven't even recorded all the ones I have written for TWIAR yet!!!
Went packin' today with the radio. Loads of fun.
PHILIP
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by K4JSR on March 19, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Feel uppity,
I'll just have to quench that burn out with beer when
Cathy and I are down there first week end of May!
I noticed in one of the pix you sent about last week-
end's QRP/Manpack (I cleaned that one up!) that you
were on 18.157 MHz for I while. At 1727 EST I worked,
along with about a zillion others, S9SS. Already got
the QSL from his state side QSL manager to prove it.
You still need to tell of your field trip experiences
on eHam. If you do, I'll admit to my insane jealousy
of your new play toy. I guess I'll just have to go get a gel cell and a small tuner and go play this summer. "You have", as Marcel Ledbetter* said, "done
flung a craving on me"!!
By the way, I saw Susan at the "Hootchie-Kootchee"
hamfest today. (Kennehootchee Hamfest in Marietta, Ga.) She agrees with me, you need to lighten up!
Her hubby, Mike, thinks so, also. So get good and
thirsty between now and about May 6. I am going to
drink you under the table and snatch your PRC-2000!
I'll give it back after I talk the batteries dry! :-P
Meanwhile eat your heart out on missing S9SS!!!
73, Cal K4JSR The KOE tormentor from Bethlehem, Ga.
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by KA4KOE on March 19, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Remember Cal,
You can't go half way and get an FT-897 or an IC-703. You gotta get a green radio. A heavy radio. A milspec waterproof radio. A radio that will survive the storm surge when you didn't. A radio that can kill as you swing it pendulum style in self-defense. A radio that triple underlines your entry into the elite geekdom of ham radio packsters. A radio that reminds you what its like to be mortal as your body aches as you trudge down the forlorn path, breathing heavily into the handset as you struggle to bark out a CQ, wondering if the ole' cardiac pump is up to the task.
Yes. This is living. This is what its like to work for your fun. Did a half mile on the trail today. Worked Croatia 9A9A from the trail along Highway 80 on the way to Tybee.
Yes Cal, you need a mean, green, radio machine. Likes I said, I know where a PRC-104 is----goto
http://www.muttmotorpool.com/k6ero/buyselltrade.html
Now shut your jealous trap and pony up with the lean green to get the green machine.
Feeleeep
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by K4JSR on March 19, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
No mean green packster machine for me. I'll leave the
mil radio operating to my oldest son who is with the
101st Airborne. Roughing it to me would be operating
mobile/portable from the air conditioned comfort of
a land yacht like a Winnebago.
I will happily leave running through the woods, half naked and screaming like Tarzan into a manpack radidio
to the likes of a wayward EE sweathog wannabe! If I
had the 2.2 kbux needed for an instant MI (I can't spell myocardial infarction!)yakkity box I wouldn't
be here. I would be under a palm tree, sipping a cool beverage from a coconut shell and looking at the YLs in bikinis (Until she-who-must-be-obeyed caught me.). I might just allow myself to go back to my land yacht and call you to see how your MI is coming
along. SEE? There is not a jealous bone in my body!
73, Fat Calbert HOHOHO! Love to play manpack!
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by WA2JJH on March 24, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Its fun. I have a K2. I find on SSB, I still do OK.
CW, I find it hard to notice ANY differance period!
I think the secret is a good RX, and a good resonamt antenna. I use a 15M inverted V.
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by WA2JJH on March 25, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hey Calbert,,,feeling left out? I have a RACAL TWT-100.
IT'S ot a manpack, but it does work on 12VDC
And Philip when you get tired of playing "soldier boy", I will trade you one of my harris rigs.
|
| |
|
RE: On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by K4JSR on March 25, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Mike, I never fell "left out". I'm not a Mets fan.
If I wanted to feel my heart rate go up while hamming
I would either talk to a YL or I would run a 10k road
race and talk on my talkie. By the way, I didn't start running in road races until I was 50, which is
much older than you or Philip are! Had to quit running 3 years ago because of heel spurs and arthritis. Unfortunately my runner's appetite stayed! Meanwhile I will find a more sedentary
method for achieving the big MI. The heel spurs and arthritis appreciate my not running any longer.
Besides, Philip's taunting of hurricanes does not seem to bother us enough this far inland to justify
an HF manpack. Toodles!
|
| |
|
On-The-Air Activities in QRP
|
|
|
by N2WN on April 6, 2005
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Seems to me there is a common thread here and that is a challenge. QRP, kit building, homebrewing, micro expeditions all reflect the desire to solve a problem or master a situation. I was attracted to that when I first became a ham, and little has changed in that arena since 1972.
I have found the folks on several QRP/construction related reflectors to be friendly, helpful and often rabid. It's a great spark.
My first QRP contact since becoming active again happened accidentally. I worked a KH6 on 80M (exciting as it was my first KH6 on that band) and he asked if I wanted to go for a QRP QSO. I thought, yeah right! But cranked the K2 down to 5 watts anyway and got a 339. It impressed me and I've done other QRP activities on 80 and 160. I give the folks who go low power on 160 a lot of credit, considering most only have a wire strung up.
I enjoy the hands-on feel that seems to be a part of QRP versus the bigger is better concept that seems to prevail with all too many. It's a little affordable adventure with lotsa neat folks.
cheers,
Julius
n2wn
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to discussions on this article.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Related News & Articles
To SOLF or Not to SOLF...
Warnings from Icom
USA 5 MHz Emcomm, Not Ragchew DX Contests
Other Recent Articles
VK5RJ Still Gracing the Airwaves at Age 101:
rec.radio.amateur.moderated -- 5 Yrs. Old:
Tune-In To The World -- Amateur Radio Gets People Talking:
Student Sends MIT Letter to Space:
Amateur Radio Club Talks to Hams Worldwide on Centennial:
|
