Really, how difficult can QRP be?

[WB6RQN]

Stan, is it necessary for you to be rude to everyone?

Telling the truth is NOT being rude. Dispelling myths is not rude.

But you aren't tell the truth, you are expressing an opinion. They aren't necessarily the same thing.

You don't like QRP (which is fine) but you told Katekebo that he/she was not a competent operator. That is just plain rude, especially since it is more than likely not true. Both he and the other operator have chosen to have a QSO. Remember the other operator who answers the CQ has decided that he/she wants to have the QSO by answering. They are happy and both are competent.

Surely you know rude as you have called me many names here on eham because my views do not match yours.

If I am rude it is only because you are my role model. And, no, my view does not match yours in this but you being rude is independent of that.

All kidding aside, how hard it is for the other station to extract the signal from the noise is about link margin, not just transmitter power. It is very possible to operate QRP and have a very Q5 signal, making it armchair copy for the other guy.

Thinking that operating a FT-817 at your kitchen table with a Miracle antenna on 5 watt SSB is going to get to get you contacts because you are "technically competent,  precise, disciplined and VERY PATIENT" is ridiculous.

I don't think so. I run QRP most of the time, albeit on digital modes rather than SSB, but even SSB QRP works fine if propagation is good and noise is low. QRP works for me and I make lots of contacts. QRP is just peachy. Of course a more efficient antenna is going to improve link margin as is a directional antenna. So I have a choice to make up link margin with either antenna or power. Both work. Doing it by skill, i.e. looking for the right propagation conditions, building a better antenna, and then using a mode that best uses the available power, is going to net you a substantial number of contacts even if your transmitter power is low.

Under those conditions the only reason you will get a contact is because some "big-rig "all mouth," guy is gonna give you one with his legal limit and beam antenna.

No, it matters very little how much power the other guy is running. A low-noise, high-gain RX antenna is doing a lot to increase link margin and make copy possible. In the other direction he only needs to run as much power as the QRP station is running in order to have the same link margin, assuming comparable receivers and noise floors. Propagation can be asymmetrical but most of the time it is symmetrical so the link margin will be the same in both directions assuming comparable receivers.

73 de Brian, WB6RQN/J79BPL

[KD8IIC]

 Back to topic now ; I have found that folks running phone QRP are always welcome and treated as a novelty QSO, especially on 40m. I have yet to hear anyone giving a QRP phone op a hard way to go. I enjoy doing it as a way to test my station's antennas and I also enjoy answering QRP CQ's. Most memorable are those of father and sons on vacation or out on their porches enjoying their day together...73

[K9IUQ]

You don't like QRP (which is fine) but you told Katekebo that he/she was not a competent operator.

First Katebebo said ops that are not QRP are:

I see no point in being one of the big-rig "all mouth, no ears" guys.  If you want to chat with somebody on the other side of the world easily and without any technical challenge, why not just use an Internet chat or a cell phone?

Now who was rude?

It is not that I do not like QRP. I just get weary of QRP ops thinking some how they are better ops then the higher power ops that have to listen to their weak signals.

Stan K9IUQ

[K9IUQ]

I enjoy doing it as a way to test my station's antennas

I test my antennas on WSPR where everyone uses QRP.

The only mode where you can get truthful and meaningful  signal reports.....

Stan K9IUQ

[AK7V]

I used to be 100% QRP -- now I only do QRP for some contests or if I'm out in the field.

It works.  I did CW, but did manage to make a few SSB contacts at 5 watts.  Like the others have said, having a good antenna is key.  A half-wave dipole worked best for me.  I also have a Pac-12 small vertical but it didn't work as well for me.  I could make CW contacts on it, but never did SSB with it (not that I tried a whole lot).

Get outside with a QRP rig during a contest -- you'll make plenty of contacts.

[KJ4RQV]

Well, to update my original post. While I was at the Huntsville, AL hamfest I came across a FT-817 with tuner, Wonder antenna,mic,key and backpack for a good price so I bought it. I have read all your posts and while some were discouraging, I hope to have fun on QRP and there it is. Thanks to all for the input.
Don
KJ4RQV

[AE4RV]

Cool, try it out. It's a popular rig.

You might add efficient modes like PSK and CW to your mix. SSB ragchewing will be a really big challenge. SSB contesting on the other hand should be pretty fun if propagation is there. And if propagation is really there SSB ragchewing will work, too.

[N2RRA]

All I can say is I enjoy QRP just as much as QRO. I'm sending a QSL card out today after receiving N3JFD card. Our QSO took place on 40m CW while I was mobile using a Yeasu FT-817 from Queens to Westchester county. We QSO'd while I was mobile and was nice to have that QSO on the long ride home.

All done with 5 watts and the typical QRN you'd get on 40 meters. We managed to hold it just as I got home. The QRP QSO lasted about 25-30 minutes and did it on a Lake Wood 40m ham stick mag mounted.

I've had QSO's with ON4UN, VP9GE, K5KDG which you can see on YouTube under N2RRAny and many others. I work DX and state side all the time sometimes just running a hamstick. I've also ran my Icom 7000 running QRP from the shores of Puerto Rico which you can see on my web site under "about me" in my navigation menu.

I've seen videos guys running QRP with coil loaded verticals out the rear PL-259 jack with two counterpoises with 5 watts on a gel cell sitting on the park bench. So is it absurd for someone to make a contact with very little? No!

Is it the most efficient? Hell no, but it can be done and is up to the individual to experience ,learn and know better down the road. For some common sense is common and for others not so common sense.

QRP is awesome and enjoyable but you need to use common sense. With antennas efficiency and bigger is better if using lesser power. Running QRP height is might. All this is true but doesn't mean a wire hanger isn't enough to get a little R.F. out to the ionosphere to make the contact.

Use common sense running QRP and think mono band, efficiency and height. 

73!

[WB0FDJ]

Don

Good luck with your FT-817. It's the swiss army knife of QRP radios. I have one, bought it several years ago when I lived in an apartment and the only hamming I could do was taking it to my local park and setting up with batteries and one of those portable antennas. First day out I made several long CW QSO's to stateside hams and a DX QSO to Switzerland. Back in the day when I ran only my old Argonaut I made a lot of SSB contacts (I have looked my logbook from that time) and everyone I talked with got as much of a kick out of working me as I did working them. QRPers tend to hunt and pounce so you will probably not be sitting calling CQ for hours (as some have suggested) but rather you might start by tuning the band for bit and trying the "easy" ones.

When I moved into my present home I used the FT-817 as my only rig for over a year and filled up pages of my logbook having fun.

You may wish to check out the website for the QRP ARCI. They list everything from contests to technical info. The contests are fun, you will make a lot of contacts with other guys in the same boat you are. Have fun with the rig. Don't listen to the naysayers, go out and see what you can do with your rig, you will likely be amazed at what can be accomplished with skill and, yes, luck!

Doc WB0FDJ

[AD6KA]

  "it requires [one] to be technically competent,  precise, disciplined and VERY PATIENT."

Eh, I dunno about all that, sounds kinda like self serving puffery to me..
(And yes I do build QRP rigs and operate QRP occasionally).

IN the final analysis, what it REALLY takes is good propagation!
73, Ken  AD6KA

[AE4RV]

  "it requires [one] to be technically competent,  precise, disciplined and VERY PATIENT."

Eh, I dunno about all that, sounds kinda like self serving puffery to me..
(And yes I do build QRP rigs and operate QRP occasionally).

IN the final analysis, what it REALLY takes is good propagation!
73, Ken  AD6KA

I think participating in QRP sprints has most definitely made me a better operator.

[WB6BYU]

what it REALLY takes is good propagation!

But that is true of ham radio in general - you can't make a contact even at full power if the band
isn't open.  It is simply a matter that a QRP signal needs about 20 to 30dB less path loss than
a QRO signal for the same signal strength at the other end:  on a path that is marginal in the
best of times, QRP will be very difficult.  But when signals are S9 + 20dB and the noise floor is
S5, QRP works just as well, and running an amp may be considered a violation of the "minimum
power required" clause in the FCC rules.

I recently worked some pileups from a rare DX prefix.  The stations that identified /QRP were
actually stronger than many of the QRO stations we struggled to pull out of the noise, even
though they were off the back of the beam.

If your primary purpose in ham radio is breaking pileups to work rare DX stations, QRP won't fit
your operating style.  (It requires good operating skills, and the patience to wait for good
propagation.)  If you want to have casual rag chews to wherever the band happens to
be open, it works pretty well.  It's all a matter of setting appropriate expectations.

[KE7WAV]

I hope you have fun with your new 817.  I haven't played with one yet, but I have heard some great things about them.    I hope it is an invest you will love.
Dale has made some great points.
I work a lot of QRP anywhere from 1W to my rigs top output of 50W.  I love being at 5W or less, but there are times I reach up and turn it up to 20-25W when the band is not cooperating as much as I would like.
Radio is my hobby so as long as I am having fun, then HAPPY DAY!
My neighbor Don thinks I am nuts-- he is a KW contester and he loves his radio that way. 
My point is enjoy your hobby in the way that suits you.
73 and GL
KE7WAV

[W6MQI]

Don
 If you really want to make easy contacts using QRP join the SKCC ( Straight Key Century Club) there's lots of guys running QRP, and they have really good QRS elmers as well. Also I noticed you don't have CW listed as one of your operating modes why not whats with that? com'on That's like talking to only guys, and not gals your missing half the fun unless that's what you like.  CW Don this is where it's at for best results right now I'm so close to CW QRP DXCC I can taste it just a few more to go. I might add this was done with out the aid of some bogus net or emailing stations for a QSO just spin the VFO it's amazing  what one can do with a little effort.

73 Dave
The most repeated three letters running CW QRP  "AGN"

[KD0NFY]

Over the weekend I worked Belgium on 20 meters SSB with an FT-817 and a 28 foot kite pole vertical.  I also called quite a few stations that never heard me.  But that's the way it goes!