In this installment, we survey the QRP equipment available new, in kit form and used.

Although many "full-power" transceivers can be adjusted to operate at QRP power levels (5 W or less), many operators prefer the QRP-only radios we'll be discussing. These often are much less expensive, consume less power to operate and are smaller and more portable.

The popular Yaesu FT-817 multi-band, multi-mode low-power transceiver.

Yaesu's FT-817

Let's begin with a recent equipment addition, the Yaesu FT-817. Originally designed for Japanese low-power licensees, the FT-817 was introduced in the US in the autumn of 2000. The FT-817 is a very compact, all-mode 5-W output transceiver covering HF as well as 6 and 2 meters and 70 cm. It's proven to be an extremely popular product for Yaesu.

Designed as a "backpack rig," the '817 is little (5.3 x 1.5 x 6.5 inches) and light weight (less than 2 pounds)--and it boasts a built-in battery compartment! The FT-817 is the smallest multi-mode, multi-band radio available. One small downside of FT-817 is the relatively high current consumption on receive (the ARRL Lab measured current drain on receive at 0.37 A), a factor that could limit its appeal to serious backpackers. For those able to carry spare battery power, the FT-817 can make for a full-featured QRP station on almost any band or mode. For more information visit the Yaesu Web site or join the FT-817 reflector.

The Elecraft K2 transceiver.

The Elecraft K1 and K2

The Elecraft K2 is a kit-based transceiver with performance that rivals factory-built radios costing over three times as much. The "bare" Elecraft K2 kit covers 80 through 10 meters on CW. Add-on kits can expand features to include SSB, an automatic antenna tuner, 160 meters, built-in battery, computer-control interface and audio filter.

Construction of a transceiver kit--especially one as challenging as the K2--can give a builder pride in their rig that's hard to match. Although the K2 is not recommended as a first kit, the superb manual and layout can guide even an average builder successfully through the process. Compact size and low power consumption make the K2 a favorite for portable operation.

The Elecraft K1 transceiver.

Elecraft also has introduced a "little brother" to the K2--the K1. Recently, Elecraft began offering the K1 as a four-band radio, although the original-flavor two-band model remains on the market. The K1 is CW-only and puts out 5 W. For more information on the K1 and the K2, visit the Elecraft Web site.

QRP "Classics"

A few "classic" QRP rigs remain available on the used market. Ten-Tec began its ham radio production with the Power Mite (PM) series. These CW-only QRP transceivers with direct-conversion receivers went on the market in the 1970s. PM series units today have become collectibles--more as curiosities than as radios you'd be likely to operate every day. Ten-Tec's next series of QRP radios, the Argonaut series, are also collector's items, but they still make good day-to-day QRP CW and SSB transceivers. Due to collector value of the Argonaut series, used prices often can exceed the original selling prices.

The Ten-Tec Argonaut 509 transceiver. This photo was from W8KC's "Virtual Ten-Tec Museum" site that, unfortunately, no longer is on the Web. Paul Valko, W8KC, hopes to rebuild the site on another server.

Following the Argonaut, Ten-Tec produced a switch-selected QRP/QRO transceiver series, the Argosy. Either of the Argosy series--analog or digital readout--would make a very suitable QRP radio--along with the possibility of switching in more power when desired. For additional information visit the "Unofficial TenTec Pages".

Ten-Tec is still involved in production of QRP equipment with its series of economical--but nicely performing--CW transceiver kits. Visit Ten-Tec's "QRP CW Transceiver Kits" page for more information.

Ten-Tec also has gone back to its roots and has a new low-power transceiver on the drawing board, the Ten-Tec Model 516. It will put out up to 20 W, but output is variable down to 1 W, SSB, CW and FM. It's expected to be available later this year. Visit the Ten-Tec Web site for details.

Another classic series of QRP transceivers were the Heathkit HW-7, -8 and -9. These CW-only rigs--originally kits--typically put out 2-3 W. The HW-7 and HW-8 employed direct-conversion receivers. The HW-9 had a single-conversion superhet receiver with a crystal IF filter; it also covered 80-10 meters, including the so-called "WARC bands."

The Heath HW-9, the last of the popular line that began in the early 1970s with the HW-7. These transceivers still are found on the used market.

The simplicity and low cost of these units made them very common in the 1970s and 1980s. Although very popular and occasionally highly modified, they are often a curiosity and considered a collectible radio today. An Internet search reveals many Heathkit HW-8 sites including The Heathkit Shop, the Heathkit HW-8 CW Transceiver page of Greg Greenwood, WB6FZH and KK4KF's Heathkit HW-7/8/9 Information Page.

MFJ Enterprises produces both ready-built QRP rigs with its 90xx CW and 94XX SSB series and in kit form with the Cub series. For information on MFJ's QRP radios visit the MFJ Web site.

As an added bonus for ARRL members, QST "Product Review" columns from 1980 to the present are available in PDF format on the ARRL Web site.

A fairly recent and extremely healthy trend in the QRP equipment arena is the large group of new kits available from various small companies and/or QRP clubs. Many of these radios started life as prototype units that piqued the interest of friends and fellow club members and led to the development of a cottage industry "kitting up" QRP transceivers. The low cost and relative ease of assembly make many of these kits an ideal first project for the novice builder and a great way to get your feet wet in QRP. For information on many of these kits visit K4MSW's "totally QRP" site and his "rigs" page. Also, see "A Table of QRP Transceivers New and Used," below.

Feedback and Letters

A few readers of my last column e-mailed me to point out my omission of monthly magazine columns devoted to QRP. Here is a quick rundown on these columns. QST's monthly column is "QRP Power" by Richard Arland, K7SZ. Mike Bryce, WB8VGE, has been writing a column for 73-Amateur Radio Today for a number of years. His current series on various "vintage" QRP rigs and his book on the Heath HW series are good sources of information to go along with this month's "QRP Equipment" column. Worldradio's monthly QRP column is written by Richard Fisher, KI6SN, and often has news and projects from various QRP clubs. Although there is no monthly QRP column in CQ, prolific contributor Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, frequently devotes his "World of Ideas" column to QRP or items of interest to QRPers. Ingram's recent book, QRP Now, also complements this month's QRP Community article with its sections on QRP equipment.

Please share your questions and comments or suggest items you would like to see covered in future columns via e-mail.

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.

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