QRP Myths Debunked!
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- čas přidán 15. 03. 2024
- In this video, I debunk a dozen QRP myths. I'll list them here in the Description along with their timestamps so you can jump directly to a particular myth.
0:11 QRP gear is typically small, but we know that bigger is always better. After all, this is America, damnit.
0:56 People won't want to talk to you if your signal isn't loud.
3:13 QRP is only for portable ops.
4:05 The goal is to make as many contacts as possible, so I need as much power as possible.
6:19 "Real Hams" have an amplifier. I need one in order to get Street Cred.
6:51 QRP requires a fancy, expensive beam antenna to amplify inherently weak signals.
7:54 A QRP signal, logically, can't travel long distances.
8:30 You will turn into some kind of QRP weirdo.
9:30 QRP requires learning Morse Code.
10:53 People won't hear you, so working QRP is frustrating.
11:40 Transmit 5 watts and your signal will sound 20x weaker than 100 watts.
14:12 Life is too short for QRP.
Had a licence for just over 28 years. Only made my first ever HF contact on just over a year ago and that was on 25 watts. Bought myself a 100 watt rig and started working the world every night from my shack. Got very boring very quickly....I might as well be using a mobile phone. Went back to 10 watts or less on an IC-705 and Xeigu 6100 , made some portable antennas, got out out of the shack and started doing SOTA, POTA or just working portable. Suddenly Amateur Radio is interesting and challenging again. I am still working hams around the world, just not as often but it is far more enjoyable when you make that contact. I still have a 100 watt rig but it just sits in the corner of my shack collecting dust.
Cheers
Phil ZL2VTH
If I may butt in? I also got to the point I no longer use my home shack. I put a small battery, antenna (end fed) analyzer, one of my QCX mini, and a mountain topper in a back pack, hop on my duel sport and head to the mountains. Fun.
Phil - I have heard a similar story from so many hams. You're absolutely right. It's more fun when it's not automatic or easy. - Cliff
I had a QTH before with a big tower, top notch radios and big yagis with QRO power. It was fun for a while. Now these days I'm using an endfed havewave inverted-L antenna and low power radios. I enjoy every contact much more. Even when it's a local EU station I like it knowing my little radio and wire antenna (cheap) does cover +750 miles. It gets even more exciting when I cross the oceans and work far DX with the same setup. So I agree with most points Cliff brought to our attention ;-) 73, Phil ON4VP
@QRPSchool what is your favorit QRP radio at the moment we speak ?
I would have to say that QRP SSB is the only reason I maintain my ham license. There is no greater thrill than to converse with someone located half way around the planet on 5 watts of energy. QRP is nice because I find myself listening for suitable signals rather than mindlessly blathering superficial boilerplate conversations endlessly. I feel like a surfer "catching a wave" when I make a contact. Riding the ionosphere is where the real challenges are in ham radio. Rather than using power to "bend nature to our will" we QRP "freaks" prefer to surf nature and let the nature take us along for the journey. Thanks for the video - KD5TXO
I love the way you put that. I am new, running an end fed antenna, Max 20 watts, and I'll stick with making simple antennas and see how I do. I've picked up Romania, Argentina, and a guy in England. Better antennas, not more power. Surf the propagation. I appreciate that you said that. 73 KD9ZMK
QRP/CW is the most fun, HAM radio at it's best
Ditto!!
Great to see you making content again!
For some reason a ‘myth’ was in my head that the louder stations were closer and if I wanted to talk to more distant stations I had to deal with very weak or stations way down in the noise. I’m finding it’s more about propagation than anything… I often can hear N. Carolina clear as a bell (from Idaho) and Montana is in the noise floor. Thanks for this video.
"a ‘myth’ was in my head that the louder stations were closer". That's a logical deduction, but I'm glad your experience has taught you that it's all about propagation. It's very strange that we often can't hear someone nearby, but can hear someone far away. I know the science behind it, but it's an interesting phenomenon. Thanks - Cliff
LOL LOL LOL LOL - 'The guys who say that have a short one'... That one cracked me up!
Hi, in the UK our power limits have just gone up. Our foundation licensees now have 25 watts, before it was 10 watts. I have been listening around for these stations and I have noticed no increase in signal strength or readability.
Nice video, all the best David M0DUU
Live Long and QRP..!!!.. Good points.. Thx for sharing ..
Yup, Im a Weirdo. Have been for a long time. Love QRP. And yes, occasionally I have trouble making a contact, but it's propagation, not my 4.5w. Working on increasing my head copy of CW, I've alwasy struggled with that. But I will keep plugging away at it. So much to learn in this hobby. You really never stop learing. And for me that's one of the benifits.
Yup, I'm a weirdo. 🙂
73
If I may butt in?
Ya Head Copy, I need to spend more time on the air, and listining to W1AW code sent at diffrent speeds, I am ok at 18 wpm but would like to get to 20 wpm.
I'm currently only about 15 wpm. But i'm making contacts. And Yes, I need to get on the air more too. and now that nice weather is in the forecast, I really have no excuse not to get out and play radio more.
The noise floor where I live is about a contstant S6, so I really need to go elsewhere to do any serious radio.
I'm with you. I'm a "life-long learner" and have other hobbies that also consume my time. It's always fun to learn new things and there is so much to learn and experiment with in the ham hobby. - Cliff
I love QRP it's like fishing with 2 lb line. You lose hooks but when you catch a DX one on 1 or 2 watts it sure feels good!
Absolutely! It's exciting to reel one in like that. - Cliff
I'm a POTA guy and have activated every state and DC (AK next month), all QRP. I'm mostly CW and can't imagine lugging more into the field...good prop gets me everywhere and I was SOLD when I was hitting Europe from a SOTA summit in CA with my MTR4b on 9 volts....never looking back. Great video!
LOL! .... need a beam, tower, new house, alimony :) Great video Cliff 73 KB3JC
It's best to "keep mama happy", in my opinion! - cliff
Agree with all - But its not only between the "big and the small" guys. Also inside the QRP comunity I often found dispute about using 10W on SSB - That 10W on SSB is no QRP - Despite my view that it makes total sens to consider that a 5W CW signal is a completly outher story than 5W on SSB. First due to bandwith and second to the avarage power of a 10W PEP SSB signal. Practice shows that making a DX contact on SSB 10W is much more challenging than on CW with 5W. Using the same logic that this people use, 5W on FT8 should not be considered QRP. QRP is simply a operation on low power - And a 10W PEP SSB signal spraed over 2.4kHz bandwith is even less low power compared to a 5W pure carrier with a very tight bandwith. I woud appreciate your view about this topic - Thanks 73
I agree with everything you're saying. Yes, this is a contoversial topic in the QRP community. I totally agree that it's easier to work DX with CW than SSB. With compression and transmit EQ adjusted to maximize your SSB output, it's still not as efficient as CW.
My personal take on this is that doubling your SSB power only gets you an extra 1/2 S-Unit and, most of the time, that extra 1/2 S-Unit doesn't make or break the ability to complete the contact. To my way of thinking, doubling your power on SSB to 10 watts isn't really enough of an advantage for any reasonable person to claim thatit's cheating or unfair. I personally stick to 5 watts if I'm working SSB with QRP, but I'm not going to say anything negative about someone using 10 watts with SSB.
Thanks for the excellent comment - Cliff
Great video. I've never needed an Amp, owned one for a month or two when my dad became a silent key. Traded it for a Kenwood TS-930. Anyway, dad told me to build the best Antenna SYSTEM I could and I'd work the world. I enjoy Portable Radio (emergancy preparedness, and camping) Low power/QRP fits the bill. Digital modes are great, need to get past the 5 wpm on my Morse Code and I'm sure I'd like that too. Thanks
I've noticed over that years that when I'm running QRP the 100 watt stations usually send me a signal report two S-units lower than the one I send to them. Thank you for your great explanation at 11:40 of why cutting 95 watts of power results in a signal that's only 2 S-units weaker.
I love that you are making some videos again. You are responsible for me building my KX1 about 10 years ago.
I am with you 100%. I have been a Ham for 50 years and strictly QRP for the last 30. Current station is a Heathkit HW-8 and and a homebrew double sideband suppressed carrier transceiver for 75M QRP. I still have my old Novice boat anchor receiver ( Hammarlund HQ-110 ). Antennas here are dipoles for 20 and 15 and a EFHWA for 80 and 40. I am not into contests but still make as many contacts as I want. The stations I work are usually very surprised when I tell them that I am running 2 watts and always give me a thumbs up about the older equipment I am using. 73 and keep having fun on the air de WA4JAT
I work QRP whenever I go out into the field, about once a week. My little IC 705, a 5aH battery, and a ham stick, has gotten me contacts from my QTH in MA, to CA, and even Ireland. Luck, good propagation, and someone with a good radio and the knowledge of how to pick you up out of their noise, speaks volumes.
Well done. You never know what you're going to catch when you go radio-fishing! - Cliff
"radio-fishing" sounds like something that should be trademarked! 🙂
Just this evening i have worked two QRP stations from USA on 20mt.. im always happy when a QRPer answer my CQ and i love to dig weak signal in the noise floor. 72 de IK1LBL
You are right. I use yaesu ft818 and it is my only transceiver. 8000 km it’s possible. 72
Great video Cliff. Good explain on Pwr vs s-units. "a short one" love that!
Good to see you back in the ring! I missed your luminous sensible perspective.
Recently saw a guy make a 9600 mile contact on less than a watt. Amazing what you can do when conditions are right.
So true! Wish I could have been there to see that. It's always an exciting moment to witness something like that. - Cliff
I've been a qrp operator since 1978 and have made thousands of qrp contacts. Also your videos say what I have found true for over fourty years. It does take a smart op to work the world with 5 watts or less, any idiot can buy a expensive transceiver and an even more expensive amplifier. Thank you for a great video believe me I love QRP.❤😊
And yes I love fishing Ultraligt.
man, I had a great time with this video :); really enjoyed it! :D; I will have to also share it with xyl :)
QRP is my mindset on all bands and all modes. Men in the chats bragging about high power splatter boxes with garbage antennas and I outperform them with 1/4 the power, a clean radio, and amazing home brew antennae. Thanks for waxing on about the non-linear relationship between power and readability. Don’t stop.
Love the logic :) I'd have to say it has been a long time since I've hear the words "velveteen rabbit" used in a sentence. I've been wearing my badge of honor since 2021. Cheers. You have a great sense of humor. This was entertaining. Thank you.
Thanks so much, David! - Cliff
It is very true that working low power is a lot of fun. One time, this guy from England had a good laugh when he found out that I was only transmitting 10 to 15 watts sometimes 20 depending on my modulation ang copy me 5x7/8. While he was transmitting 1kw with a 6 element 10 meter monobander. Well, that yagi can really pullout my signal from my halfwave vertical 30 feet above the ground. Propagation really is the key. Thought I just wanted to share and I am from the Philippines by the way. Thank you and all the best.
“Weirdo’s” 😂
Can’t deny it though can we? My missus called me Rain Man (Dustin Hoffman) when I wandered around the garden with a SW radio.
I really enjoy QRP, it’s a proper buzz and it gives you the opportunity to get outdoors and incorporate exercise into the hobby. Some days are frustrating but then you get the good days when the almost impossible happens.
Enjoyed the video, made me laugh a few times. 73.
Amen good sir! Thanks for this fun and informative vid! I’m a pretty new/inexperienced ham (KI5TXG). Just a couple days ago I was running 5w SSB here in southcentral Texas on 20m band and made a QSO clear as day with a POTA ham in northeast Georgia (over 1,000 miles away) who was running 20w. More watts does not always mean better or clearer :) And I love your fishing analogy…I enjoy the hunt :)
Very good indeed. Thank you for your presentation.
There is always that seldom followed rule, Part 97.313 (a) An amateur station must use the minimum power necessary to carry out the desired communications.
So, no matter how much power you have available, start out with the lowest power setting and work up from there, if necessary. You’d be surprised with how much you can do with very little power. 73 de ka4ezy, Mike.
Okay, you had me at weirdos and smoked briskets! LOL. Thanks for the mythbusting, or perspective checking.
Thank you very much for another awesome and very informative video. Keep the good work.
Thanks, Rene. Good to see you at the WCARES meeting yesterday. I was too busy setting up my video gear to talk much. Let's go to lunch sometime. - Cliff
@@QRPSchool, I agree with @renegta, its great to see you making content again Cliff! It was your videos that inspired and encouraged me to study, take the exam and get my amateur radio licence here in the UK - so a big thank you from me!
I work 70% in field and I take my Qrp radio setup with me and have a blast for hours. When I get home using my home base it does not give me the same excitement, so I normally turn down the power to 10 watts and the fun kicks in.
Yes! For me, I live in a big neighborhood so my noise floor pretty high. I love working portable with that quiet noise floor, compared to what I have here at home. - Cliff
I do mostly SKCC operation, I notice SKCC people do mostly less than 100 watts. I used to had 400 watts AL-811 with 811 x 3 tube , but , I often had a situation they can hear me , but I can not hear them. so I let the amplifier go. AG6JU
Thanks for doing this video. I also like QRP so most of your comments resonate with me.
In my, almost 20 yrs of being a ham, the past year and a half have been the most fun. That’s because I bought the (tr)uSDX and finally the G90. It’s such a thrill to sneak in under the “big guns” and get that contact with 20w or less. Life is too short “NOT” to QRP.
Making a contact on any of the bands using low power is a challenge. This is true but it requires skill and patience. Like landing a 20lb salmon with 3lb line. The metaphor is one that I have been using for years. Patience and skill.
Have worked QRP off and on for some 40 years !
I am still amazed at how little power is required to make great contacts !
One thing I've learned over the years, is that some times you have to use finesse to make contacts, which adds to the fun !
And typically makes for better operators !
Experience pays big dividends !
I think if more people used lower power, and controlled their,
" C.B. " radio over modulation splatter, we all could gain more enjoyment !
Sounds reasonable to me! I have a co-worker who loves fly fishing. I haven’t tried it but it seems like a beautiful way to spend some time outdoors. Thanks for your comment. -Cliff
I always enjoy your passion on your videos. I am always changing what I do, I never left the hobby, when I get board I change what I am doing. I have had much fun with QRP and continue to. QRP on the birds works well to.
I'm generally interested in doing more with less. I'm also interested only in practical regional communications (out to 300km/180mi). I'm also interested in grid-down/off-grid/EmComm communications where less power consumption can mean more time transmitting with a small battery and folding solar panels. I'm also interested in how to get the most out of an antenna system in general. Then there's also the satisfaction of making contacts with lower power. I kind of feel like if someone makes a contact with 100W and I make the same contact with 10W, I win. Like the guy who can process a huge tree with just a hatchet, or survive a -20° night with just their clothes, a knife, and a fire steel, or the bow hunter vs someone with a .308, etc.
I've been a ham for 44 years and I've never owned an amplifier.
Cool! It’s been 37 years for me. No amplifier, ever. Now, if Elecraft wanted to give me one of their $7,000 amplifiers, I’d have a hard time saying no… 😊
Great to see you on CZcams again, Cliff! 73
Thanks for your great videos. I started doing SOTA on SSB last year with an ICOM 705, and had to be sure to bring along a battery so I could boost myself from 5 watts to 10 watts. That's half an S unit. Going forward, on long hikes I'm leaving the extra battery home! Plus I took a morse code class and am going to start activating with CW this year. I ran 10 watts on SSB last year three separate outings was able to hear France with a 57 signal. Wow.
CW is a game-changer for QRP. Not only is it heard better than SSB, it's just more fun. I just got my Elecraft KH-1 (after waiting for 6 months) and I worked California from my back porch with their four-foot telescopic antenna! I couldn't believe it. - Cliff
Great vid. New ham here, a QRP radio is my one & only. I've made 6,000km SSB contacts (58, 59 signal report) QRP with good band conditions and I'm making 16,000km (10,000mile) contacts from Canada to Australia on FT8 almost daily. 73!
Great job! - Cliff
Great video. I rarely operate above 20W on my FT891 not sure if it does 100W :) I've worked VK to Le Reunion off the coast of Africa with FT817 on wire dipole 3metres above ground. Reading K3WWP's web site, I'm now converted to QRP + Wire antenna's + CW and loving it. Thanks for posting, 73's
Agreed on all points. I usually run QRP in the field (as you can probably tell from my profile pic lol). If band conditions are good I'll get MASSIVE pileups on 5w .....or less even. My KX1 only puts out about 3.5w on a good day, and I have absolutely no problem making contacts. One of these days I'll do a QRPp POTA activation and see how low I can go and still get it done. I'm willing to bet if conditions are good I can get it done on 100wm.
Just bought a Xiegu G90. Decided to experiment with a center fed wire dipole in the peak of my third floor attic roof. With 20 watts, I have made contacts from PA to Colorado, England, Northern Ireland, and Serbia. I’ve only had it set up for a week and a half and haven’t spent many hours on it yet. I was concerned about the combination of the indoor antenna and the 20 watts, but I’m not anymore. 😊 I haven’t done any POTA yet but I’m looking forward to experimenting with that with some ham friends of mine. Great video. 73’s. KC3WVX
Just activated 3 parks in LZ this weekend with 5W SSB, quarterwave whip antenne. Had contacts all over Europe and Canada. QRP works!
Great info.. QRO Folks who join the QRP SSB net livestream on Sundays are amazed at how low they can turn down the power and still be heard. So much fun and learning experiences..
I will confess my ignorance. I did not know about this. Must check it out... - Cliff
Hi Cliff.. 2300 utc.. we find an open frequency and work the folks as they check in.. no waiting on a list.. use the livestream to see the net frequency on our radios.. We’d love to hear from you sometime. Hope you can stop by and see “how low you can go”.. (There are more net details on my qrz page for k0klb) 73!!
@@QRPSchool Hi Cliff.. thx for stopping by the net.. I saw you in the chat.. When control came back to me I called for you on the radio to see if you were out there and wanting to come in and play QRP.. We always love to hear from all the YT celebrities, LOL... Hope to hear from you on the radio soon.. 73.. and I enjoy your videos.. k0klb
sorry to be so late in responding! I came to the live stream but couldn’t hear the stations at my house with my high noise floor! I logged into a websdr receiver and could hear both of you fine. Maybe I’m in a bad location, with both of you sending signals over my head! Anyway, I was going to try to talk to you on my rig while listening on websdr but got called to dinner. I’ll try again at some point. This is a very great thing you’re doing! -Cliff
I just made my QRP 100 country award all CW all 5 watts on a wire antenna. This is what we call FUN! (W2BX/QRP)
Awesome....im a wierdo....mission accomplished.....got over that ego problem years ago . Life been more funner ever since.
You can reverse the #1: life is too long for qro ;) thanks for a great one!
ooooh so does that mean I can never make a smoked brisket? I mean I didn't really want to but now that I know I can't... haha fun video, thanks! I'm learning morse code and I'm not QRP, add that to the list ;)
Good to hear you, 73 and take care
Superb Video 100% right on Thanks Cliff I have been working stations QRPP as of late and 300 milliwatts to 1 watt has become a lot of fun. I started with a Small Wonder Labs Rockmite for 40 meters. I have since upgraded to a N2APB SDR Cube transceiver with the 80/40 TX module. I worked 5 states in 1 hour with the Rockmite 40 , yes challenging with the xtal control on TX but gives that special thrill and sends me back to my early Novice days in the early 70s. 73 J
Yes! When you have an amplifier, you can usually work everyone you can hear. That becomes boring. Where's the challenge? QRP makes hamming more fun. - Cliff
I’ve logged contacts in the NorthEast USA all the way from far west Texas with a cobra148gtl on 5 watts ssb. Same with a Galaxy 949 on ssb. If you don’t have money to spend on a $600 radio start with a$25 old radio from the swap meet and learn the fundamentals of radio n antenna matching. You’ll have tons of fun.
Two comments. First, propagation is king. Working a NJ ham from TX, he was 599 at 3 watts. I was 439 running 500 watts. One way paths can be vexing. I’ve seen small power increases make a difference in ease of copy. Heavy QRN day and he went from 20 to 30 watts and while his strength didn’t change the ability to copy got much easier. The old Novice rigs had a limit of 75 watts input which resulted in around 33 watts out and we had fun. I’m usually careful about suggesting QRP for new hams as some patience is required and new folks may not have much. QRPis easier when the sun is active but it is a fun mode. I’m 99% CW but when hunting POTA I run 5 watts from a Kenwood TS-480 to a vertical.
Thanks for your comment. I agree with you. Propagation is everything. And I definitely would not advise new hams to go to QRP too soon. We turn the power down so that we feel more of a sense of accomplishment when we make contacts. I think it’s better for new hams to make a lot of contacts in order to feel a sense of satisfaction before they try to lower their power. Thanks again. - Cliff.
20-10 meters have been so open that everyone is getting accustomed to it. When I got licensed 4 years ago, you couldn't talk to hardly anyone above 17 meters, now you can shove a welding rod in your G90 and make a contact! I continue to improve my shack and portable antenna systems which keep pushing back the project of building an amplifier. 73, KF0BBU
Thanks, Cliff. Life is too short, not to QRP!
Thank you for a great video. I've been licensed since 1974 and I have never used more than 100 watts and I have been using QRP for many years now also. All of your points are very true and well presented. If QRP is good enough for Sasquatch then it is good enough for me. 73 de WB9NYI
You're the first person I've heard use fishing as an analogy for ham radio. Im relatively new and used it as an analogy myself when i was explaining it to someone.
Life is too short for QRP. The hero in a QRP contact is the poor guy on the other end digging the QRP station out of the noise...
Dale, that would make sense if all QRP contacts were with stations deep in the noise floor. When conditions are good, the other station doesn't even know you're QRP. Also, a station running 100 watts (or more) can have a weak signal if propagation isn't good. You are under no obligation to try to work weak signals. Just turn the big knob if you feel it will be too much work to try to copy a weak station. I've done that many times. - Cliff
Nice video! I enjoy QRP when the conditions are good or the bands are active. Sometimes 5 watts isn't enough. I've taken an IC-705 to Aruba a few times and with 5 watts I was pretty much limited to FT8. There just weren't enough strong CW or SSB signals I could work. Bumping up to 50 watts was a lot more fun including a successful POTA activation at AW-0001. My view is to think about what you want to learn or the experience you want to have and keep it simple. Being resourceful and making it work with simple antennas and low power is very satisfying even if not strictly QRP. Enjoy! K1AV
When propagation is good, you can have a lot of fun with QRP. When propagation is not good, we might as well go do something else or crank up the power. People who are into QRP intentionally turn the power down so that when we make successful contacts, we feel a real sense of accomplishment. That’s really all there is to it. We can’t expect to have success all the time with QRP, and most of us are OK if the fish sometimes aren’t biting. It’s all good. I still have some 100 watt contacts at times. Thanks for your comment!
Nice video cliff and spot on.
Was out Pota QRP Today. 61 Q’s with the KX 3 in 2 hours in the pouring rain and a compromised antenna.
A lot of fun.
Greg WA3GM
Nice work! Just curious, what were you using for an antenna, Greg? -Cliff
@@QRPSchool
Just a 17 ft whip on a k400 mount on the car
Cliff! Glad to hear you on CZcams... I've missed your videos. You've taught me a good many fundamentals. I still owned my little Mountain Top'R MTR2b... love that thing. But most of the time I use my QRP Labs, QCX Mini 20m. I have every transceiver Hans makes. My copy is still shaky, but it's my favorite mode. Portable Ops are my thing... Mid-Winter, I sit in my Jeep, nice and warm.
Ours is an amazing, and fun hobby.
de W7UDT ID SK ee
I have been QRP for 30 years. I worked China today QRP on a Buddy pole 10 meters. Thrilling and ATNO. Still riding high on that hours later! Get on board!
Haaaaaa😅😅😅😅 man, I literally laughed here in my work place with your last comment. Very accurate, a short "life".
I have worked all South America, and part of Europe SSB with 5-10watts, using EFHW, Dipoles, magnetic Loops, Delta loop, verticals in salty water. So, it does work.
Try a horizontal loop antenna for some killer QRP DX performance. Search Google for " loop skywire antenna" ...best features are it's Omnidirectional, has very low takeoff angle (longer DX) and it's cheap as hell (use copperclad steel wire and 3/4" ladder line) as with all wire antennas, bigger and higher is better. 73's, kd5txo
Good to see you back!
Thanks - Cliff
The only time I fish with dynamite is when the game warden is with me, yeehah
Velveteen Rabbit. That’s a blast from the past. 😂
I'm happy to be a geek! I've been licensed since 1965. I enjoy playing golf. I do smoke food and, btw, I did get 105 countries confirmed with one watt CW and a doublet at 30ft. Just go for it. Life's far too short to be 'normal'!
Fantastic! - Cliff
Excellent
good one!
Good Job Cliff. Well said, you got my vote for QRP Ham of the Year.
Thanks for the kind words. I don't know if "QRP Ham of the Year" is actually a thing, but I would nominate Thomas Witherspoon (K4SWL) for all of his portable ops videos.
@@QRPSchool Yes Thomas is near the top of the list, I am not into contesting as he is with POTA but I got to say he is good at it.
No I believe you are QRP Ham of the Year because you are most educational, and You are the one that got me intrested in QRP, watching a video of yours taking a bicycle out and throwing a line up in a tree having fun making morse contacts.
I’m proud to say… I’m a QRP weirdo! 😂🤣😂🤣72!
Yes! QRP Weirdos Unite! - Cliff
Well stated Cliff…… but I think you preaching to the choir. Those that make statements like you are showing already have their minds made up. Most QRP hams started out that way but I see few converts from the kilowatt/beam crowd. We both have fun and enjoy the hobby but the preference seems to be in the genes….. ha!
Hey, Dave. Maybe a QRP Weirdo will forward this video to a QRO Weirdo who will secretly watch it and give QRP a try. (this may be wishful thinking on my part) - Cliff
Another myth is that QRP requires more skill on the part of the QRP operator. It's the receiving station operator that needs skill to copy the weak signal. I've enjoyed operating QRP since 1980, but I confess frustration when a weak QRP station replies to my CQ. It's exhausting to copy.
Yes, but satisfying. I had a 3.2.9. report and I gave him the same. We made it.
G4GHB.
@@bill-2018 Just had a 329 report yesterday. 17M 4W FL to CA.
@@bob-N4REE Good stuff.
Weak signals or poor conditions and c.w. gets through. I've had a number of QRP to QRP QSO's, 1 Watt up to 5 W.
350 mW out from a Pixie on 5.262 MHz (QRP freq.) got me a QSO at 180 miles (both 5.7.9.) with a SWL report from Uttrecht at 220 miles. QSO's from 60 miles to 180 so far but it's not a very active freq.
73, G4GHB.
A novel way is to think 660 miles per Watt.
With nearby stations on 40m for example the signals and volume of the incoming stations coinsy but sometimes with incoming dx stations signal I will have a lot of volume so I can hear them great but only see there signal if I hit the pre amp ,in other words the dx signs don't always coinsy 🤔sometimes they do and sometimes not
I like QRP and used it off an on over the last sixty years. Never mentioned it was QRP to anyone but did say it was home-brew under 10 watts. Never did contests. I liked it when I was heard on the other side of the world but the only record of it was penciled into my log book. I didn't carry it around like an iPhone photo album. The only mode I've ever used is CW and RTTY. It is kind of sad to me how defacto segregation has overrun amateur radio in my lifetime. The qrp world I'm really diving in to is WSPR. I get to wake up in the morning as see how effective my gear is relative to others in my region which is nobody. Power transmitted and measured in db is exactly how the human ear works. Very non-linear and why digital modes (unheard except by the demodulator) and linear and can hear the difference in S-units. The demodulator for CW is the meat between the ears and why we can't hear a 3db change in CW transit power.
Qrp all day.
My analogy for QRP is fly fishing. Bait fishing is easier, requires less skill, and typically nets you many more fishes. Fly fishing is more challenging, more rewarding, and requires skill through hands-on experience. The end result, for me, is that both bait fishing and fly fishing are simply fun. However, unless I am fishing purely to feed myself, fly fishing is simply more rewarding.
Good one. As someone else once said: Fly fishing is to fishing what ballet is to walking.
Great one... I will share this one on the channel as I find it too good not to 😁😁. 73, YO6DXE.
Great! Thank you! - Cliff
@@QRPSchool Thank you as well. QRP for life 🤝😁
HMMM, I can be a weirdo without QRP. BUT, I CAN BE ONE ALL OVER THE WORLD
…yes, and if you watch some of my videos, you’ll see me making contacts in Morocco, Japan, Easter Island, Russia, etc., all while QRP. So, we can both be weirdos all over the world, using various power levels. We weirdos need to stick together. :-) -Cliff
@@QRPSchool absolutely. I am doing SWL for now. I have a plan to buy a low power HF rig, but listening arouns can help.
Nowadays, QRP is often mentioned in the same breath as SOTA, POTA, Outdoors etc. It cannot be denied that a link with portable low power equipment is quickly made. It's not for me. Where are the days a big manufacturer designed a big size transceiver with low power only? Yes, one can purchase a 100 Watt transceiver and crank the power down. Well, the last two Yaesu's I bought don't go any lower than 5 Watt. And that's according to their software. An lab grade outboard meter shows an actual higher output. Yes, you can make an attenuator and the big power is there when you need it. All true of course. Still, those days of Ten Tec Century's and Argonauts, where have they gone?
What I am saying is that QRP does not have to mean small portable gear only. I hope a manufacturer/builder will realise that one day. Meanwhile, I am happy with a SDR transceiver on a big screen that offers me a power calibration going as low as 60 mWatt. Now we're talking!
Another person mentioned 10 Watt SSB not cutting it most of the time. I can see their point, 20 Watt would be a more convenient standard for phone QRP on the average (QRP) transceiver. A note that I would like to add though is that with the right audio processing, that 10 Watt SSB into an efficient antenna system can sound really loud. I've made plenty of milliwatt SSB QSOs. Just make sure your audio and talking power is clean and loud. Push all available power into the antenna.
Digital modes? Just go on 30 Meter band if your licence allows. Five Watt and an efficient wire antenna system is plenty to work the world repeatedly.
Do I use 100 Watt or more. Yes, when I want to SSB ragchew on 40/80 and not test the other person's patience :) 72/73
Great comment. Thank you! - Cliff
I think you forgot to say ten gallon hat with two pint head ha ha
Nice! Thanks, Peter. -Cliff
Normal dudes smoking a brisket. lol!
I will suggest that if you are on frequency, they will hear you, or they won't, big deal
Yes, the key to QRP is "If propagation's good", meaning high sun spot numbers and hot bands like 20 meters.
QRP isn't a challenge then. We'll see if you QRP guys stick it out, and never run more power, when the sun spot numbers bottom out, or when you decide to try the tough stuff, like 160 meters SSB during any summer.
73 -mike
Hey, Mike. Well, we don't have a "hive mind" in that many of us use 100 watts when QRP isn't possible. Some QRP'ers even own (gasp) amplifiers! I don't own an amp but I've got three 100 watt radios on my desk. When propagation is NOT good, why bother playing radio at all? It's just going to be an exercise in frustration. So, we turn the power down in order to feel more satisfaction when we're successful. That's why we do it, but when turning the power down will knowingly lead to frustration (like 160m SSB), I don't know why anyone would put themselves through that. Bottom line: it's all good. QRP is great when it works. When it doesn't work, we turn up the power or go do something else. Take care - Cliff
@@QRPSchool said "When propagation is NOT good, why bother playing radio at all?"
I do it because of:
1) my love for radio, or as I think about it as Magic Radio. Because to me its still Magic that I can communicate to anyone, over long distances, with out wires (CB'er in the late 60's, Ham licensed since '76, Commercial Licensed in '77, and retired from the communications electronic field);
2) I can find a better educated and more intelligent group of people (for the most part) to learn from and commune with, and to discuss ALL sides of an issue with... with way more options to accomplish this than on CB, GMRS, FRS... If I'd loved QRP, for the sake of QRP, I could have stuck with CB.;
3) When I make that rare contact, at a place and time that normally it would never happened, I feel like I accomplished something. Like when a Ham was flying aeronautical mobile hundreds of miles away and I went outside with my 2 meter hand held and worked him. But when everyone can work the world on low power with a compromise antenna or non-antenna (coat hanger, screen door…)… its fun but not challenging…;
4) Because I sometimes want a challenge in my hobbies, like when I took up building and flying Radio Controlled airplanes; designing, building and flying High Power Rockets; home brewing electronics equipment for my specialized wants and needs... Lets face it, people like to play, and spend tons of time and money on computer games because they find them fun and challenging. Make things too easy and they can become boring. People who take on challenges and overcome them are less prone to boredom. I haven’t been bored, anytime, since I was a child.
I didn't say QRP'rs have a "Hive Mind", that's apparently something that's touchy in the back of your mind or you wouldn't have mentioned it. All I did was point out that QRP, like all aspects of life, isn't all sunshine and rainbows. It has advantages and disadvantages. Therefore both should be brought up with equal emphasis, so people don't get into it thinking that it IS all sunshine and rainbows, buy specialized equipment, and become disappointed, or bored with it when cycle 25 drops out. Explore more aspects of our hobby With Eyes Wide Open, don't be too narrowly focused... that often leads to boredom, burnout and/or disappointment, with emptier pockets.
73 -mike
"I didn't say QRP'rs have a "Hive Mind", that's apparently something that's touchy in the back of your mind or you wouldn't have mentioned it." Thanks for your analysis. You DID say, "We'll see if you QRP guys stick it out, and never run more power..." so you were lumping us all into a group, right? In my reply, I pointed out that many of us a ALREADY running more power at times. I'm not really in the mood to argue today. I think we agree on more things than we disagree. - Cliff
@QRPSchool 🤣😂🤣Thanks for the laugh!
I see, Cliff, that you deleted my calm, logical, and well reasoned reply that put things into perspective and Debunked Your Spin, pulling things back to reality.
Doing this admits that your QRP School channel is just following your current agenda, not reality. If you and your viewers are indeed using both the most common, 100 watts, power level and QRP, then there's really no need for this Channel at all, is there?
One video telling people to try low power because its also enjoyable would have been enough. Or, Better Yet, having a General Ham Radio School, educating people in the various aspects and intricacies of ham radio while occasionally suggesting they also try QRP would have done more people more good, while not appearing like an agenda on your part. Or delving into the SWR debate, as to how much a high SWR actually affects your transmitted power using science, not opinion, to settle it once and for all. Or… ( thousands of other more helpful concepts)
Lets face it, all the schooling that's Actually needed for QRP during good propagation, is how to reduce power on your more flexible 100 watt rig because making any contact with lower power is fulfilling due to it being a bit more of a challenge. You did say “When propagation is NOT good, why bother playing radio at all?” which eliminates the Real challenge of QRP.
I'm glad you admit that your really not a QRP guy. It emphasizes my points, most of which you deleted.
Both being Hams, I'm sure there's a Lot of things we have in common. But the main thing we apparently don't agree on is Niche Marketing Of Ideas targeted at a slice of a hobby that will almost disappear when Cycle 25 ebbs, leaving many people with QRP equipment that usually gets shelved, or sold, if its priced cheaply enough.
OR Is That Your Underlying Agenda?
To pick up better QRP equipment at Bargain Prices when the market for QRP equipment fades???
BTW, I do my writing in a word processor and save it, so the following is My Reply that You Deleted. It makes things easier to refer back to and quote...
“@QRPSchool said "When propagation is NOT good, why bother playing radio at all?"
I do it because of:
1) my love for radio, or as I think about it as Magic Radio. Because to me its still Magic that I can communicate to anyone, over long distances, with out wires (CB'er in the late 60's, Ham licensed since '76, Commercial Licensed in '77, and retired from the communications electronic field);
2) I can find a better educated and more intelligent group of people (for the most part) to learn from and commune with, and to discuss ALL sides of an issue with... with way more options to accomplish this than on CB, GMRS, FRS... If I'd loved QRP, for the sake of QRP, I could have stuck with CB.;
3) When I make that rare contact, at a place and time that normally it would never happened, I feel like I accomplished something. Like when a Ham was flying aeronautical mobile hundreds of miles away and I went outside with my 2 meter hand held and worked him. But when everyone can work the world on low power with a compromise antenna or non-antenna (coat hanger, screen door…)… its fun, but not challenging…;
4) Because I sometimes want a challenge in my hobbies, like when I took up building and flying Radio Controlled airplanes; designing, building and flying High Power Rockets; home brewing electronics equipment for my specialized wants and needs... Lets face it, people like to play, and spend tons of time and money on computer games because they find them fun and challenging. Make things too easy and they can become boring. People who take on challenges and overcome them are less prone to boredom. I haven’t been bored, anytime, since I was a child.
I didn't say QRP'rs have a "Hive Mind", that's apparently something that's touchy in the back of your mind or you wouldn't have mentioned it. All I did was point out that QRP, like all aspects of life, isn't all sunshine and rainbows. It has advantages and disadvantages. Therefore both should be brought up with equal emphasis, so people don't get into it thinking that it IS all sunshine and rainbows, buy specialized equipment, and become disappointed, or bored with it when cycle 25 drops out. Explore more aspects of our hobby With Eyes Wide Open, don't be too narrowly focused... that often leads to boredom, burnout and/or disappointment, with emptier pockets.”
Now you can Delete this reply, and that reply again.
OR you can claim it wasn't deleted by you, it was a Glitch in the Matrix, which we won't believe.
73 -mike
I didn’t delete your reply. I’ll leave this screed here so that others can follow your fine logic. Have a nice day. -Cliff
everything above 10 watts must be banned in HAM. forever
Lol. He listed British inventions
I don't think so. Please educate me, if you will. - Cliff
These are straw man arguments.
Brilliant & very true. I love the dynamite vs light tackle school of thinking.... Ive only been a ham since 2018, and obviously the "100W minimum mentality" was where i started. Since 2024 I have been playing with QRP + morse code. I'm having a lot more fun nowadays, and tinkering a lot more. Different strokes for different folks as they say., whatever floats your boat and blows your hair back. Thanks for the video. Best 73 .. de zs6akw
Most S-meters on models from the big 3 are rather 3dB until they reach S9. Anyway I don't pay too much attention on S-meters. 49 years a ham, mostly CW and now because of more activity FTx.
73 es dx
Gust ON6KE
I know that’s not true for Elecraft and Flexradio. What is your verifiable source for this information?
@@QRPSchool I mentioned the big three, not these 2. A very reliable source are the in-depth reports from Rob Sherwood NC0B from Sherwood Engineering. No discussion there. Most of NC0B's reports are found on DJ0IP web site. Examples: TS-890S, IC-7851, FTDX-10, TS-590SG, etc..
Forgive me. I'm pretty skeptical by nature. You're saying that Rob Sherwood has put in writing that Kenwood, Icom, and Yaesu radios are factory-calibrated so that their S-Meters only have a 3dB difference between S-Units... not the (correct) 6dB difference? Link, please. thanks - Cliff
To future readers: Gust (ON6KE) sent me a private email with several Rob Sherwood reports for two Kenwood radios, two Icom radios, and a Yaesu radio. While S-Meters are supposed to be calibrated for each S-Unit to be 6dB apart... and that is the case with my Elecraft and Flexradio transceivers (each an SDR, if that matters)... the reports Gust sent showed Rob Sherwood found that these five radios had S-meters that were not linear. They each showed only 2.5 to 3dB between S-Units instead of 6dB. As best I can recall, they were set up correctly for S9 and above, but were not correct below S9.
So, I thank Gus for pointing out that not all radio's S-meters are linear and calibrated correctly. If you had one of those radios, when the transmitting station you listened to doubled their power (a 3dB increase), you'd see a full S-Unit difference instead of the expected half S-Unit difference. Everything I said in the video is still true, but I should have pointed out that not all radios have an S-meter that is calibrated correctly. Therefore, the results of YOUR testing may differ from mine.
Get an on-the-air friend to cut their power by a factor of 4 (a 6dB decrease). For example have them go from 100 watts to 25 watts while you watch. See if your S-meter shows a 1 S-Unit decrease (as it should) or something else. - Cliff
@@QRPSchool Thanks.
But then, as you well know, we can give a signal report according to what we hear and not what any meter says.
QRP/CW is the most fun, HAM radio at it's best