Contact Kanga USA -  I think they are carrying the German QRP stuff now.

N8ET operates Kanga USA

When I took my General CW test it was 13 wpm. I was nervous as heck because I had just passed the General Written by the skin of my teeth.  So the QSO starts and for about 5 seconds I don't recognize any of it...my brain forgot Morse Code...so I tried to relax a bit and I managed to copy the names, the QTH's the rigs, the power...just bits and pieces.

I got 8 out of the 10 written questions right by using my crummy copy and guessing at a few words.

Now I am a Extra...I only missed on the Extra written and the 20 wpm test was gone by a month.

Some call me an Extra Lite...those hams can kiss it.

Nate

Where did you get your info?  Small Wonder Labs has NOT discontinued the SW+ series of kit rigs.  Dave discontinued the DSW II series...NOT the SW+ series.

The SW+ rig is STILL the best bang for the buck in a good QRP transceiver.  You can't beat it for $55.00 shipped.

I ordered a SW20+ on June 21 and it shipped today.

I highly recommend the SW+ line of QRP kit rigs.

Sean,

Welcome to the QRP end of the spectrum.  It's a blast.

There are a lot of QRP rig kits out there you can choose from. One small one that fits in a Altoids box is the Hendricks QRP Kits rig called the DC40 Deluxe Transceiver. It's about $30 or so and you need to supply the antenna, connectors and knobs.

http://www.qrpkits.com/dc40.html

The rig I usually recommend to new QRPers is the Small Wonder Labs SW40+ rig.  It's about 2.5w max, a little bigger than an altoids box, but it is a fantastic little rig. Great receiver and very clean transmit. This model sells for $55 shipped. You add the case, antenna, connectors and knobs.

www.smallwonderlabs.com

In QRP you'll find out, antenna, antenna, antenna...I've been hooked on QRP and wire antennas for almost 10 years, I find it to be a very enjoyable segment of the hobby.

I have a Elecraft KX1 as my main QRP rig right now. You can see it at:

www.elecraft.com

73

They are a lot more expensive, BUT they have a replacement option, thicker walled tubes, and a wider tip on the end than the fishing poles have.

20' fishing pole is $12.99, 20' Jackite pole is $29.95

I'll bet the Jackite is a better built product.

I started with paddles, I still use paddles, and I am what is called a paddle slapper.

The whole iambic theory is just too much to worry about, squeeze now, don't squeeze now...just slap the things back and forth...

73 de KB9BVN

I'm kicking my own butt because I have bought, build and eventually sold THREE of the 20m versions. I shudda kept one. I had the Jackson Harbor chip in the last one, it was a GREAT rig.

Very nice.

Very nice indeed.  We broght the antenna launcher this year and got the dipoles up almost 50 feet...we thought WE were doing well with that!

If you want a small multi band CW only QRP rig...get the K1 or the KX1 from Elecraft.

Excellent rigs.  I take mine camping all the time.

Last summer I built a "Fishing Pole Vertical" from instructions I found on < http://tinyurl.com/n6e42 > called the IK-STIC 2.  It uses the 20 foot Crappie pole that I bought from World Radio at Dayton.

This little vertical has been doing FB for me on 15m through 40m and you can actually wind it for 80m as well.

My friend, Ivin W9ILF, was at Gander Mountain (a national chain of outdoor sporting goods stores) and found a 20 foot Crappie pole similar to mine for less than $13.00 - the brand is Creekside and after looking at it, I can see where it is more rigid than the SD20 I bought in Dayton for $20.00

Anyway, Ivin was trying to figure out what to do with the thing when he came across the Norcal QRP website and saw the Norcal Doublet antenna.  He seached for computer ribbon wire but had no luck.  So he just used two pieces of 50 foot stranded 22g insulated wire.  One piece up each side of the pole (using electrical tape to hold them there) with two "elements" at 22' long in the inverted V config.  He's been having great success on 40m with his SW40+ at 1.5w - He's worked MD, KY, MI, and a few others from central Indiana.

So if you want a neat lightweight semi portable antenna...try a fishing pole!

I saw a posting today on the QRP-L archives that Small Wonder Labs has discontinued the famous DSW II rig, and the SWL Noise Bridge Kit.

I'd like to thank Dave Benson K1SWL for all the hard work he puts into running Small Wonder Labs.

I have built many SWL kits, and they are of the highest quality and they WORK like crazy.

The SW40+ is still one of my all time favorite rigs.

73

11F is an amazing QRP operation. Which EOC were you guys running out of?

I was with the W8PIG Flying Pigs QRP Club International 3A Battery team in SW Ohio.  We had a couple of K2's, a FT890, a FT817 GOTA, and a 6m SSB rig all at 5w or less.

We managed just over 5100 points.  Missed WAS due to not having contact with SC, MS, or WV...which is incredible...20m we our best band and we had dipoles strung in the trees at about 40 to 50 feet.

Lots of fun, lots of great food, and lots of ham radio fellowship. Our team came from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and the UK.

Can't wait until next year!

Do a search for "Tuna Tin"

I've decided to build a SW20+ rig with the intention of mounting it in my car. Right under the dash.

I intend to add the Freq Mite and the NORCAL Keyer.

I am looking for mods for this rig that will boost the ourput to 4w or so. I have a miniboots amp kit here, unbuilt, but I really wanted to use that with my NC40A.

Any other ideas?

Thanks es 73

On Saturday the 10th of June, I worked LU5DYV with my Mobile KX1, 2w, and a 20m Anttron Hamwhip antenna while driving out I-70 toward Indy.

As soon as that was over, I worked a station in Albequerque NM and got a 599.

When its working it is REALLY working.