QRP IS!
What is QRP? Well it's operating using 5 watts or less. QRP isn't for everybody. If you're one of those amateurs who get offended by anything less than 59(9), don't try it. If your operating skills aren't good enough to work the guy across the street without an amplifier, you're not a canidate either. If you enjoy building your own equipment, operating portable, want to improve your operating skills, looking for a challenge, or just want to see what we get out of it, you might have what it takes.
When my elmer first started telling me about QRP, I laughed and said NO WAY. That didn't sound like anything I wanted any part of. I still had the "CB mentallity" of power, power, and then more power. Guess who got the last laugh. He likes big amps and I like tiny little transcievers that fit into big pockets. I don't think I ever worked a QRP op until I started operating QRP. Now I'll hang in there until the band drops or I fall asleep behind the key to give the other op the contact. I was calling CQ in the sweeps in '97 in the novice subband on 80 and this extremely weak station kept on calling me. I kept telling him try back in a little while when the band got in better shape. After about 30 minutes, he must have gotten tired of hearing that and as he was clearing out, I heard /QRP clear as a bell. I sent /QRP? I heard RRRRRRRRRR. It took another 45 minutes but he got the contact, multiplier, and as I found out later, a new state QRP on 80. Was it worth it? You bet! Had this happened 2 months before, I wouldn't have stuck with him but I had just started working QRP and I knew what he was going through. I can honestly say from my experience, QRPers are the most considerate group of amateurs.
The first thing you'll find out is that operating QRP can be extremely frustrating and yet enjoyable at the same time. While I haven't broken anything yet, it's probably just a matter of time. You will not get many 59(9) reports unless you contest so don't expect them. I could really care less about how strong my signal is anyway. It's making the contact or having a ragchew that counts anyway and not keeping a big ego happy, right? You have to get used to not being able to work everything you hear. Don't get me wrong, you can still more more than most if your operating skill are up to snuff. You just have to be able to adjust to the situation when you need to. I'm not trying to chase you away from operating QRP before you start, just letting you know some of the downsides up front. One of the biggest thrills I ever get on the radio however, is breaking a big nasty pile up to work a new one using a couple of watts. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning and have been known to jump up out of my chair yelling. During the ARRL 10 meter contest this month I managed to work a WAC using 2 watts (including 2 JAs and a UA9). I did get a little irritated hearing KY, NC, and SC all backscatter knowing I had no chance of working them. All I can say about trying to work someone backscatter while QRP is an impossibility so don't waste your time.
I already mentioned contesting QRP style. I know many people reading this will think "Yeah right". If you enjoy contesting or paper chasing then you will really like putting your operating skills to the extreme test. Excluding 160 meters, I haven't operated any CW contests running over 3 watts in over a year. There's no doubt in my mind that I have much better operating skills due to that fact! I don't care if I beat anybody else on a scorecard posted in a magaine. That's getting back the big ego many are burdened with. Every year I try to do better than I did the year before and if I accomplish that, I won. What did I win? I know that my skills are improving and that's my goal. If your into feeding an ego, most contests put QRPers in their own category so the competition isn't as strong either. Did that get your attention? Another enjoyable way to contest QRP style is to get into their contests. There are many just for the QRP crowd. Crowd? Yes crowd. QRP is the fastest growing part of our hobby. It seems like there is at least one dedicated QRP contest every 2 or 3 weeks and QRP clubs are also a dime a dozen.
Odds are you already have everything you need to work QRP. If you have a rig that's capable of 5 watts or less, an antenna, and either a key or microphone, you're ready to go have fun. Many QRP ops, myself included, like to build their own rigs. Some people homebrew them from scratch, while others prefer building kits. I fall into the kit building group and I have a NorCal 40A 40meter transciever and a Wilderness Sierra multiband rig. I'm wanting to add the Elecraft K-2 multiband transciever kit to my shack but I'm still saving up the greenstamps. I had fun putting both rigs together and was nervous as I gave both the smoke test. Since I sometimes operate with a G5RV, I needed a tuner so I built an LDG QRP Automatic Tuner. That was the toughest kit I've dealt with due to the components being so close together. Solder smoke blurred my vision a few times. I've also noticed many of the QRPers using other homebrew equipment including antennas. I've had enough wire hanging over my house to rewire it. I will say if you can use an antenna with gain, DO!! Taking advantage of antenna gain whenever possible is just common sense. I was actually told on a reflector that I was cheating using my yagi????? If you figure that one out, let me know. But seriously, dipoles work fine and better if that's all you have.
By the way, 72 is the QRPers version of 73. Well that's about it for now but I'll add more when I think of it.
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