The one guy I'd most consider my Elmer, K4DX (then WA4FVT), was not a QRPer by a long shot.  He was a DXer.  I remember the day I made my first DX QSO I walked down the street to use a pay phone to brag to Bill!

I read all the W1FB, W0RSP and W7ZOI articles and have always been somewhat interested in QRP operation.  I never had any friends that were rabid QRPers.  I did own a TenTec Argonaut for a while in the 80s, but I never used it very much.  After a few years of inactivity, I decided that QRP would be a good choice for my return to activity.  That was just over two years ago and I'm having as much fun as I've had in over 35 years as a ham!

Yes, I think a lot of people do.  I don't - I've had exactly one SSB QSO since getting my KX3 in November.  But a lot of the SOTA folks operate SSB only at QRP power levels.  I'm on the FT817 Yahoo Group, and a lot of those folks seem to operate SSB only also.

It's not for me, but that's why they have a mode switch!

The tuner is nice to have, but there is nothing special about the KX3 that requires it...it's just looking for a 50 ohm load like every other modern radio.  If you've got a T1 and are happy with it, the only reason to opt for the built-in tuner is to have it built in.  I've got a T1, but wanted the tuner in the radio so I opted for it, and will be selling the T1.

Isn't that more a limitation of your computer than the radio?  I know I could see 48kHz BW on my old laptop...and it's not much.  But I only played with it for an evening or two...actually, might be fun to hook up for the ARRL DX contest this weekend!

Hmmm. Pot, kettle?

When I wrote "in fact, this forum is in place to "Compare notes about the world of 5w or less"" I was quoting the published purpose of this forum - as posted by the owners of the forum.  They have chosen to limit discussions to that topic, and that is why I come here.  If I were interested in reading about QRO topics, I would look elsewhere.  And relative to 5 Watts, 20 Watts is QRO.

And what did you say your callsign is?

Not everyone who operates QRP does so with a small antenna.  Even portable.  Not everyone who is interested in, or owns and uses, the KX3 does so portable.  I do, but it is also my primary radio at home.


You appear somewhat out of touch with how many people choose to operate while portable.  For instance, I operate under the SOTA program, which generally requires less than an hour of operation.  Neither my FT817 nor KX3 have any problem with that amount of usage with the built-in AA-sized NiMH batteries I use with them.  I also have a variety of external battery packs I can use for longer operations if I choose to do that. 


Speaking out of both sides of your mouth again?  Please reconcile your comments:  "Rechargeables are no fun" - as an apparent dig at the subject radio and "I can connect it to my car battery...for charging" - referring to your "manpack".  What, exactly, is the difference?


I'm sorry I'm not up on photovoltaic systems, but I know there are many people who operate with portable solar panels charging their FT817s (and presumably KX3s, as the charging systems are similar).  So I believe what you suggest is being done.


I don't believe English is your native language, so I'm going to type slowly with the hope that you will finally comprehend.  Most QRP operators are not interested in external amplifiers.  The generally accepted QRP output level is 5 Watts on CW, and that is a perfectly effective and practical power level to use on a daily basis.  Many of us choose to limit ourselves to that power level, and in fact, this forum is in place to "Compare notes about the world of 5w or less".

If I wanted to run over 5 Watts, I have a radio with that capability, but I choose not to use it because I currently prefer to use only 5 Watts or less output power - and have done so exclusively for the past two years.  Using simple wire antennas.  Over 4000 QSOs in over 150 DXCC countries.  That is effective enough for me to be happy.


Of course you do if your intent is to operate for a shorter period of time.


If that works for you, I think you should.  I'd also recommend the HF Manpack group on Yahoo Groups as a more appropriate forum for discussion of radios that interest you.

The bottom line is that the KX3 is the best self-contained HF radio on the market that operates primarily at QRP power levels.  It may not suit everyone, but no single radio ever could.

What I really don't understand is why you are so ashamed of your callsign - why do you insist upon anonymity? 

I still have both, but only because I haven't taken the time to put all the FT817 parts together to photograph and list for sale. 

As I posted here after 18 days of use, the KX3 is a superior radio to the FT817 in almost every respect - certainly in receive performance. 

There are a lot of keyer chips and kits out there these days that could be built as internal keyers.  Most, if not all, are micro-controllers that have been programmed to act as keyers.  Look at Hamgadgets and Jackson Harbor Press for some alternatives.  I'm sure there are others that I'm just not thinking of right now.

Ah, the unidentified anti-QRP troll is back!

Is that the Nomad 27M?  What charge controller did you get?  Does it generate any HF noise?

Right, which is why they only offer a basic QRP DXCC and don't endorse it for additional countries.  Which is why I have been trying to get folks to submit their QRP DX country totals to me for inclusion here:  http://www.aa4ga.com/p/qrp-dxcc.html

NO!  You are not being objective at all!

No different that trying to DX with QRO!!!  You have the same frustrations, disappointment and anxiety potential - and a lot of patience and listening (a rare skill!) is required for DXing with QRO as well!  But you haven't mentioned that - why not??  Oh, and if you're not successful, or don't enjoy QRO operation, you've sunk a lot more money into it....which with more money at risk could lead to even more frustration, disappointment, and anxiety when operating QRO.  Oh my!

Are you a lawyer?  Do you think every single potentially negative aspect should be disclosed for every post about every subject? 

Sheesh!!

You still haven't said what the "smoke and mirrors" are that you're referring to!

Really?  I've never noticed that. 

Here's a secret a lot of non-QRPers don't know.  You'll hear many of these "naysayers", as you call yourself, say that the heavy lifting is really done not by the QRPer, but by the station doing the receiving.  And there is some truth to that indeed...but here's the secret:  A large contingency of QRPers like to work other QRPers!  That's right, they knowingly subject themselves to copying weak signals!  I'm active in SOTA, QRP Foxhunts, and various QRP contests, all of which often involve QRPers listening to other QRPers.  And many, if not most, of the times the S-meter does in fact move.  No, it's usually not pegging the right side, but it's usually not glued to the left either.

You write that as if that is a bad thing.  Who are you to judge the value of my QSOs?  I prefer short, contest-style QSOs.  I don't enjoy ragchewing...most of the ragchews I hear are boring conversations.   

So far in 2012, I've made over 2200 QSOs in 131 DXCC countries, all using 5 watts or less and an 80m doublet up about 45' or so or an EFHW sloper at the same height for 20m and 40m.  Trust me, I've worked plenty of stations and had many enjoyable evenings of operating, running QRP.

Possibly because that is what we've all been told for years.  Many (I suspect the majority) of folks start with 100 watt rigs and never QRO from there.  Some have never experienced an output level of over 5 watts.  In my case, I went the "traditional" route of starting with ~100 watts and later adding an amplifier.  But even later, I realized that amount of power isn't necessary for me to make QSOs or to enjoy radio.

What smoke and mirrors?  Maybe what you're smoking??

I'm not anti-QRO, well other than to the extent that it pollutes the bands with a bit more QRM than is necessary.  I have chosen to use a maximum of 5 watts for most of my operating.  That may change some day, it may not.  But as was mentioned earlier in this thread, to call QRPers' accomplishments "smoke and mirrors" and to effectively call us liars is rude.  I don't go to the amplifier-building forums and accuse people of running more power than necessary.  Why do you come here and disrespect our niche of the hobby?

And FWIW, CQ magazine and the ARRL have both been long-time supporters of QRP...and both of those entities have a vested interest in increasing the numbers of amateurs.  Do you think they would support QRP if they thought it was a ticket to nowhere and would discourage newbies?

Name here is Lee, OM.

No exaggeration at all.  I work in the fly fishing industry.  Many of my associates have fly-fished exclusively since they were kids.  When I say we take newbies out and "they catch fish", I of course don't mean as compared to catching deer or beaver.  What a ridiculous statement.  Perhaps I should have phrased it differently, but we often take out clients that have never fished before, try fly fishing for their first fishing experience, and are successful in catching fish.  Often.

Pretty much every place I trout fish, I see fly fishermen more than hold their own when compared with bait fishermen.  Primarily that's North Georgia and SW North Carolina, but I've been all over the country fishing.

Let's get this straight:  You've never tried fly fishing, but you know how it's done?  And because of this vast knowledge, you compare it to a particular style of radio operation?  Huh?  It certainly makes me wonder whether you've actually tried operating at the 5 watt power level before, or if you just know how to turn your radio down that low.

Yes, the more power you use, the easier it is to work folks.  I don't think anyone has denied that.  The better your antenna, the easier it is to work folks.  The better the propagation is, the easier it is to work folks.  And the converse is also true.

10dB is nothing when condx are good, and everything when they're not.  Guess what:  when there is a blackout from a solar flare, 30dB won't help! 

Do you think it odd that the IARU/NCDXF beacon system operates at 100W, 10W, 1W, and 100mW?  You might try listening sometime.  http://www.ncdxf.org/beacon/beaconschedule.html

If I'm listening to you ragchewing on 40m, and your signal running your SB200 (I'm guessing around 500 watts output) is 10dB over S-9 and my ambient noise level is, say S-1, do you not think I could copy you if you dropped your power to 50 watts, a 10dB decrease?  You should then be S-9....no problem.  What if you dropped your power to 5 watts, or another 10dB decrease?  Shouldn't your signal be S-6 plus a bit, based on 6dB per S-unit?  Shouldn't that be copiable too, considering my ambient noise is still probably 30dB lower than that?

Now, it's later in the evening, and my noise level is up to about S-3 and your 500 watt signal is down to S-5.  When you drop to 50 watts, you're not going to be much above my noise floor...and when you drop to 5 watts, well, I won't be able to copy you.

Those are both pretty realistic expectations of propagation between WV and GA, depending on time of day and general condx.  So, what does it prove?  Not much other than there are some situations when a path works at 5 watts, and some times when it doesn't. 

What is this "rest of the story" you're so concerned about?  I called a station in 7P8 tonight for about an hour and a half before I worked him on 30m running 5w using my 80m doublet.  He was pretty loud, so it was a bit frustrating that it took that long...but there was a lot of competition. 

5 watts is a very capable power level, whether you choose to believe it or not.  Yes, you do have to have reasonable antennas, but not necessarily huge antennas.  Yes, it is a bit more difficult than running at 100 watts at times...but no one said it was as easy. 

I've been licensed over 35 years, and I started off with a 40m dipole and probably about 100 watts output.  I moved up to more power and bigger antennas fairly quickly, and have been lucky enough to operate from some very large stations.  I get just as much satisfaction from operating my 5 watt transmitter into a smallish antenna as I did running 1.5kW to stacked Yagis.  Do I work as many people now as I did then?  No.  Do I work DX as easily as I have in the past?  No.  But I do make plenty of QSOs, and work a fair amount of DX. 

Is that enough disclosure for you?

Here's how I started working QRP:  I had been QRT for a few years, and was spending a lot of time in my fiancee's apartment.  I wanted to get active in radio again, so I got an old Drake receiver to listen around on.  I discovered (no surprise) that there was a lot of noise in the apartment.  So much that listening on an indoor antenna wasn't enjoyable at all.  I would drop a wire out the window where I could pick up enough signal strength over the noise to do some listening, but it still wasn't optimum.  I figured the best way for me to get on the air would be to go to a local park and toss a dipole up in a tree, so I decided to give a Yaesu FT817 a try - I'd always thought they were really just toys and not capable of much, but figured enough of them had been sold that there just might be something to it.  And there was.  Making domestic QSOs wasn't much of a problem, as long as I chose a band that was open.  DX, a bit more difficult, but as condx have improved, a fair amount of DX has been logged.  Unfortunately, this solar cycle peak has been pretty weak, otherwise, the DX results would be even better.  I also realize that it won't be long before the condx on the higher frequencies won't support QRP work.  I'm already planning on improving my 30 - 160 antennas, as I think that's where most of my time will be spent in a couple years.  In the meantime, I'm working as much DX as I can...and still looking for condx that will support propagation into the few zones I haven't been able to work yet...but that may never happen with my antennas and the current level of solar activity.  And I'm OK with that!

Why not?  I work at a fly shop and we take folks out who have never fished all the time (including kids)...and they catch fish!  I know a lot of folks who started out fly fishing.

Really??  Not where I fish!  ;-)

QRP to start with?  I don't know why not really...is it easier to make contacts with more power?  Yes, generally.  But novices used to be limited to crystal control and 75 watts input and made lots of QSOs.  That's probably only about 10 dB weaker than a 5 watt output QRP rig - not a huge difference.

The problem might be more of our instant gratification society.  I remember when I was a Tech (effectively a Novice - I was only on the Novice bands on HF) that it took a while to make my first QSOs.  I wasn't discouraged...it was a learning experience.  Of course, that was 35 years ago....