QRP thread

[N8YX]

Which radios do you use (or have used), antennas, station accessories and favorite operating methods? For purposes of this thread, 'QRP' is anything under 20w output - which covers the vast majority of the low-power stuff.

My current lineup consists of a TS-130V (80-10 SSB/CW), a TS-660 (15-12-10-6 (tel:15-12-10-6) AM/FM/USB/CW), a pair of FT-726Rs (15-12-11-10-6-2-430-440, FM/SSB/CW) and an FT-301S (80-10, SSB/CW/AM). All of these produce 10w PEP out, a bit less on AM. The '301 is hibernating. The others see regular use.

At one time I had a couple of modded HW-8s in the shack. They also got carted around to various locations in the saddlebag of my touring bikes then run off battery power after being set up in the field. Much fun was had with 2-3w CW into random wires.

I seem to recall that Tom, 'ECI owned an IC-703 a few years ago. And a couple of Ten-Tec QRPers are members.

[WØTKX]

The only "official" QRP rig I have is an Icom 251 A 2 meter all mode rig. I also use it on 6 meters with a Ten Tec 2m to 6m transverter. Don't use it much anymore, but it always surprises me when I do, it's got a hot RX and the Mutek preamp that's installed in it really kicks it up. CW is OK, but the QSK is a bit slow. Spoiled rotten with the QSK on my Ten Tec rigs, imagine that.

I do QRP fairly often with my Flex 3000, just drop the power. Had a dozen or more AM QRP contacts on 10 and 12 meters, which is a hoot.

[K7SGJ]

I have a Icom IC-703+ and a Yaesu FT-817ND. I use them with either a Buddistick which is a neat little antenna, or just a dipole chucked over a tree (actually cactus). I usually operate cw or PSK, although I have done some SSB. Although I'm not in to contesting, that is always a good time to see how well everything is working and to get some idea what they will do on the different bands. Besides, that's about the only times my signal is a 599/59. Go figure.

ETA I also have an old Sears Roadtalker 40 that I converted to 10M and ran mobile, which got me a QSL from Russia, and an old Pace CB that I also converted to 10M. The Pace only does AM, and the RT40 does SSB and AM. Those are tons of fun to operate. It's amazing what you can do with 4 watts.

[NQ6U]

Ten Tec Argonaut 505 I purchased from Ron. Haven't used it a lot, mostly due to a lack of a decent antenna on any band other than 10m (that's now fixed) but I did make one SSB QSO to ZL with it using that weird homebrew 10m Moxon.

[N2CHX]

Does the effective radiated power of 100 watts into a coat hanger count as QRP? :snicker:

[KG4NEL]

For the last 15 years, most of my QRP activity has been during Field Day. Antennas have been everything from a full-size quarter wave on 80 to a 40m 3-element wire beam to rotatable contraptions for 20 and higher. It really is all about getting as much wire or aluminum up in the air as possible.

[KG4CGC]

Anyone ever used Ramsey or MFJ QRP equipment?

[PA5COR]

My old FT 847 could go down to 1.5 Watts, th FT2000-D is 10 Watts minimum, not really QRP...

[N2CHX]

Anyone ever used Ramsey or MFJ QRP equipment?

I had a Ramsey 40 meter QRP pair back like 15-20 years ago. I lived nearby so I even shopped right in their store. It was sorta OK stuff. The transmitter chirped a bit and the receiver had lots of issues with BCB overload and regeneration instability, but it was OK for the price I guess.

[N8YX]

Anyone ever used Ramsey or MFJ QRP equipment?
An MFJ HF SWR meter and random-wire tuner accompanied my HW-8s whenever I took them afield. I really ought to repaint their covers and put the units back into service.

No experience with their HF QRP rigs, though.

[KG4CGC]

I see the monoband MFJ stuff for sale but for the same price one could purchase a used multiband rig, even up to 100w.

[N8YX]

I see the monoband MFJ stuff for sale but for the same price one could purchase a used multiband rig, even up to 100w.

Crazy, isn't it? What's needed here is a nice, modular setup like the Scout. If propagation on the upper HF bands stinks on a given day, I shouldn't have to pay a weight penalty by taking a rig with full spectrum coverage afield.

[K0RGR]

First QRP rig was an HW-7, which I thought was the greatest until I got an HW-8. Now, I still have the HW-8, and I have an FT817ND, that I call my 'Swiss Army Knife' because it does everything, sometimes well. I have used the 817 to digital and CW portable. For a while, I used it as a mobile rig on 20 meters, and actually did amazingly well with it - I keep thinking I'm going to put it back in my pickup, too. I don't think it's great for battery operation, but with a small gel cell, I've operated for quite a few hours. I used it in a phone Sweepstakes a short while back, and did amazingly well, using a dipole as an antenna - over 250 Q's in limited operating time.

I'd like to acquire a KX3 at some point and get more portable.

[KJ3N]

Field Day 2005: IC-703, 7AH gel Cell, AH-4, Huslter MO-2, MFJ 12-foot telescoping whip, camera tripod, and four 41-foot radials.

13982
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A couple of years ago, I did a little bit of FD from the house with the same IC-703 and gel cell, operating 1E. Using the regular antennas got me as far as HI. Not bad for 10w.

[NQ6U]

Looks like I picked the wrong day to go QRP:

13987

Fabulous band conditions, just fabulous.

[N8YX]

Looks like I picked the wrong day to go QRP:

13987

Fabulous band conditions, just fabulous.

That data doesn't take into account sporadic E events, and I've witnessed a number of them over the past week or two. Yes, the bands have sucked...and suddenly, 24-50ish MHz opens right up due to the presence of E clouds. It's a nice "feature" of summer.

[KJ3N]

Looks like I picked the wrong day to go QRP:

13987

Fabulous band conditions, just fabulous.

Can't be that bad. I'm hearing 5U5U on 15m SSB working NA.

[N8YX]

I found something very interesting while searching for a pair of "boots" for the '130V/'660:

http://www.qsl.net/ut2fw/dn600.htm

A pair of those plus a couple autotuners rated for 600w might make for an interesting setup.

[KJ3N]

I thought this was a QRP thread? :headscratch:

[N8YX]

I thought this was a QRP thread? :headscratch:

It is until I flip da switch!

I'm going to reconfigure the QRO section of the shack with all of my QRP gear and will need a low-drive amp of some sort for use when the bands truly stink. If they're open, I'll keep it turned off.

[W3WN]

Can't be that bad. I'm hearing 5U5U on 15m SSB working NA.Well, at least you're not hearing 5U7G. Or 6L6GT. Or 6V6G...

[N8XE]

I probably have more QRP gear than anything. My main QRP shack rig is my K2 that I built (my third one I built.. I kept selling them to build them again... ) When I go portable, I take my KX1 or K1 with me. I have a Buddistick that tags along. I would love to pick up a Buddipole someday.

I have an OHR500 with a QRP meter and a Digital Display collecting dust. I am thinking of selling it.

My FT817 is mostly used for some 2M USB and CW (I usually use my little 45W amp for that).

I also have a Norcal 40A that I have used a few times.

72,
Jason N8XE

[KG4NEL]

Well, at least you're not hearing 5U7G. Or 6L6GT. Or 6V6G...

I like hearing 6L6. Got that fuzz, yo.

[N8YX]

The '130V and accessories are up and running. I wish the bands were. :-|

[NQ6U]

The '130V and accessories are up and running. I wish the bands were. :-|

They are, at least, better than they were last time I checked:

13991

[WØTKX]

Jeebus. A index of 33? Yikes!

[NQ6U]

Jeebus. A index of 33? Yikes!

Hey, it's only a minor storm. And it's lower today:

14012

[N8YX]

The '130V and accessories are up and running. I wish the bands were. :-|
Got my other PS-20 in the mail yesterday, set up the TS-660 next to the '130V, spent 2h trying to un-fsck a hacked VOX-4 unit...everything up and running great but the bands are kaput. Hearing an occasional KP4 on 28.400 thanks to sporadic E but F-layer propagation seems to have tanked.

[AK4OT]

I just scored some more Tektronix stuff (a dmm and frequency counter - I have way better of both but I can't help myself. I love Tektronix stuff like Pat likes old radios) from these guys.

http://stores.ebay.com/Prestige-Test-Equipment?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

They have a directional coupler and was wondering if there is any reason why I couldn't just run the thru port out to my HeathKit can-o-watts dummy load and take the -20db port out to the tuner. I don't have anything that runs well below about 10 watts output. So, 10 in gets me 100 milliwatts out. I'm not a QRP guy but have been thinking about it. This looks like it would work great for 40 and 30 if the impedance isn't all jacked up at the -20db port.

Edit 3 days later - Ghz. Bummer. I shouldn't drunk shop.


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