After the first years operation using my K2 and running QRP,
I
was both pleased and a bit surprised at the some of the results noted
in my logbook.
Using the five watts that distinguishes a contact as being QRP, I managed to make contact with a station from all 50 of the states with only one, the state, Wyoming still waiting for confirmation by QSL card.
In the quest for DXCC. running QRP CW I managed to work 64 countries with 33 confirmed by cards.
There are a great number of hams out there who's logs may show
much more impressive results than I have obtained,
but I find my
results interesting for a number of reasons.
First reason is that I have never consciously decided to run QRP as my major mode on the HF bands.
This was simply the result of having an opportunity to get a K2 kit from a friend at more than one third off the normal price, then operating at low power for a time before adding the amp.
It was thought I would add the 100 watt option as soon as possible but now I am committed to continue running QRP until I have completed the 100 countries needed for DXCC
Another point to note is that when using only five watts, the tighter you make the equipment specs around your shack, the more success you will have.
A fact we all know but one that is made blantly clear when running QRP.
Tweaking up the antennas for the best possible results can be better for the logs than adding another 95 watts to bring you up to the normal operating wattage of many of todays rigs.
Making the operation smother and more reliable is always going to result in more impressive totals in the logs.
One last thought from this years operation was that to increase totals in field day or other contests I might work, I would be better served by sharpening my skills rather than running 100 watts.
Just being able to copy most of the callsigns the first pass will have a dramatic influence on totals as well as decreasing the number of broken calls.
To that end good practice materials such as the code course by K7QO as well as becoming active in your local traffic nets can help sharpen your skills emensly
I have no doubt that I will one day add the 100 watts to the K2 and kick the signal up a bit but I have learned a ton from running low power
I look forward to my second year of running QRP and believe that with the contuined sharpening of my skills, along with improvement of the antenna and related equipment in the shack, I should not only make my goal of DXCC/QRP/CW but also extended the limits of my enjoyment of the hobby.
Simply adding a small battery and portable antenna also allows a
QRP operator the ability to operate from nearly anywhere.
If your
finding that the hobby is no longer holding the kick it once did you
might find this aspect of operation just the shot in the arm you
needed to kick things back into gear.
In any event, dial back the power on your rig for a few months of operation and you might just be amazed what you find in the logs and in your enjoyment.