I was first licensed in 1995 and for the first two years the only HF transceiver I owned was an Index Labs QRP+, so I worked about 73 countries all QRP SSB in the next 2 years using only that rig and a center-fed Zepp antenna. It was certainly a challenge, especially considering that the original QRP+ only put out a little over 2 watts at best on SSB. The later mod (to the QRP++) improved the receiver front end and doubled the output power available on SSB to almost a full 5 watts. Woowee!!!

Since then I have become the proud owner of a Yaesu FT-740, followed by an Icom IC-706/MkIIG. The latter rig was meant to make it into my car as a mobile rig, but ended up as my 2m/70cm base station that occasionally gets switched into service as a second HF rig. One day I will get a nice quick-disconnect mounting scheme worked out for the 706.