You guys are typical of ham radio operators today. That's why it won't survive.

lol

The reason I don't use my call sign is there is no freedom of expression on the repeaters or on the ham sites. Instead there is a pack (rat) mentality where any type of individuality is attacked by "group mentality" bullies followed by threats. You guys just proved it.

Bullies are cowards. They display their cowardice by 1) Typing back what the person wrote as though they are too stupid to remember (to demean the person) then 2) subtly baiting the person just to get a hostile response - instead of saying whats really on their mind they make an imbecilic comment, wait for the negative response but especially wait to see if others join them since they don't have the courage to stand alone (90% of today's hams by my best guess) 3)Then when others agree with them they become bold all of a sudden and make overt or covert threats.

Guess what - I know where you live but you don't. But don't worry. Ideas are enough to disarm or if need be finish off most of you since you can't win the psychological battle. So who of you are willing to admit you are the cowardly, pack mentality drones I just described? Those who aren't don't worry my words will have no effect on you. You may think I'm a bully but I'm just very strong since I don't need anyones help. So can you make rational arguments without reverting to threats. If not come and get me. lmao

No actually I have a "don't talk to imbeciles" complex.

To all those who responded sensibly, thanks. To the flamers go jump in a lake.

JD

If that's what I'm doing why respond to my post?

Sorry I don't respond to posters who type in what I wrote  as though I am too dumb to remember what I wrote. Probably someone with the ARRL.

Nice countries total! However a lot of QRPers such as myself have only one or two bands and don't have antennas for 80 meters so we don't have as much opportunity unless we turn down the big rig (mine doesn't have the ears my QRP radios have). Also Europe is generally open best when I'm arriving at work and Asia when I'm asleep. I'm left with working Latin, South American, and a few Euro stations in the evening.

I guess what I'm saying is few of use can arrange our schedules for the limited band openings during solar minimum. It's the impractical aspects of working DX right now that makes it difficult not that QRP doesn't work. No one would argue QRP doesn't work.

JD

I've been on 10140khz past advertised weekends but saw no trace (pun) of activity there.

JD

100 is the magic number. When solar flux climbs above 100 with low A and K indexes the gloomy days of ham radio/qrp will be over. Should be in 12-15 months.

ARRL section leader will not response to my attempts to contact him on air or by email. I suspect he may know or be friends with these individuals.

JD

Thanks for the responses - yes it's FBI. I'll let you know what happens.

JD

I would begin with a basic 100 watt radio such as a used FT-840 first and get some operating experience under your belt. Then turn down the power to five watts and see how well it works for you. If you have fun doing that buy and build an easy QRP kit such as the SW20 or the Wilderness SST.

I don't recommend starting out with QRP especially with current band conditions. Focus now on learning good operating skills.

Right now for new QRPers there is a lot of emphasis on building amps to overcome the poor band conditions. It's better at this point in the sunspot cycle to improve your listening and operating skills and worry about catching rare DX later when conditions improve. In a year or two you will be able to work some great DX with two watts and a dipole and you'll forget about amps and they will gather dust.

It's not that life is too short for QRP, it's that working DX with QRO becomes boring very fast when it's too easy. The advantage of QRP is it's difficult, unpredictable, and often surprising which makes it the most fun type of operation.