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 Previous: Surfin': Low-Cost Satellite Has High-End Aptitude |  Next: ARRL Going to the Mat on 70-cm Band Threat |
By Anthony A. Luscre, K8ZT
Contributing Editor
January 28, 2002
Given a bit of luck and a lot of patience, you can earn your DXCC or WAC (Worked All Continents) awards. Doing it while running 5 W or less "QRP" can be a wonderful challenge, however. Our new QRP contributing editor has achieved both awards while running 5 W or less.
More than likely, you've heard of QRP--running low power, 5 W or less--to make contacts. You may have worked someone who was QRP or even thought about trying it yourself. To find out more about QRP, there's no better way than to take a tour of the "QRP community." The QRP community is a neighborhood loaded with great resources for everyone--from beginners to old-timers. As your tour guide, I'll be pointing out the highlights--and I'll apologize up front because there's so much to see, we just can't cover it all--at least not in a single column.
QRP Organizations and Clubs
Let's begin at the international level with
two fine clubs that have been around for many years. Although the QRP Amateur Radio Club International is
located in the USA, and G-QRP in
the United Kingdom, their memberships are truly international. Both clubs produce
excellent quarterly newsletters. The QRP Quarterly and SPRAT, respectively, are
full of great QRP information including articles on building, operating,
antennas, accessories, helpful hints, operating, social events and membership
news. Membership dues are very reasonable, and both organizations issue a
lifelong membership number. A few years ago, the QRP-ARCI instituted its annual
"Four Days in May" event--a combination QRP symposium, hamfest and social
gathering that coincides with the Dayton Hamvention but is held at another
location not far from the "big" show.
There are regional and state clubs devoted to
low-power operating. Some regional and state-level QRP clubs have gained
recognition beyond their local boundaries and have become national or even
international in scope. The Northern California QRP Club--better known as NorCal-- has gained
widespread respect for its innovative kits
including the '49er, 38 Special, SMK and BLT tuner. They also produce a fine
quarterly publication, QRPp. Unlike the national clubs, this
club meets monthly.
The Southwest Ohio-based Flying Pigs QRP Club has an international membership. Their motto says it all: "No dues, no rules, just fun." Their publication, Bacon Bits, often provides a humorous outlook on technical topics. Visit their Web site and become a member; you can't beat the price.
Other notable state/regional clubs and their Internet links include the Colorado QRP Club, Knightlites, Michigan QRP Club, NJ-QRP, Northern Georgia QRP and The Arizona ScQRPions.
QRP Connections on the Internet
Our neighborhood would not be complete without considering the Internet-based QRP resources. These include listservers, mailing lists, Webzines and Yahoo groups. One of the most popular is QRP-L, a listserver or reflector. The large daily volume of messages on QRP-L covers a wide range of topics. In addition to the messages the QRP-L group also sponsors operating events.
Many QRP clubs maintain mailing lists or listservers. Check their Web pages for information on how to subscribe to these lists. Web sites and mailing lists aimed at QRP equipment devotees including Elecraft K2 and K1 transceivers, the Yaesu FT-817 transceiver and Ten-Tec.
Two additional organizations--although not strictly QRP--by their very nature attract a lot of QRP devotees. The Adventure Radio Society is a great group of men and women who combine Amateur Radio with their love of the outdoors. There's also HFpack, the HF Portable Group.
 K8ZT in his shack. Operating desk equipment includes (l-r) an Elecraft K2, Yaesu FT-817, Ten-Tec Argonaut 515, Kenwood TS-690 (power turned down to 5 W) and computer running LOGic Logging Software. Don't worry, this is only part of the shack. There is plenty of clutter and other equipment on the workbench outside the photo. |
Some QRP Print Resources
We finish this visit to the QRP community with an abbreviated list of printed materials.
When we continue our tour of the QRP community next time, we'll take a look at QRP equipment, explore QRP operation and pass on some helpful hints to help you succeed in QRP.
Editor's
note:
Anthony Luscre, K8ZT, an ARRL member, lives in Stow, Ohio. He has worked in the
field of medical microbiology for 18 years and is now a Technology and Computer
Coordinator for a 6000-student school district. Luscre is an avid QRP operator
having earned DXCC, WAS and WAC using no more that 5 W output. Readers are
invited to contact the author via e-mail, k8zt@arrl.net or visit his Web site.
| Previous: Surfin': Low-Cost Satellite Has High-End Aptitude | Next: ARRL Going to the Mat on 70-cm Band Threat |
