QRP - the art of low power communications                                                           Home

Under construction.. further information will be added...tnx for understanding!

 

This page is about sharing my experience in relation with QRP equipment and QRP operations.

 

  • ATS-3B.1

    • The Appalachian Trail Sprint IIIB (ATS-3B) is a 6 bands HF CW/Digital modes 5W transceiver that fits into an Altoids tin, designed by Steven "Melt Solder" Weber KD1JV. The digital modes are directly generated with its DDS. It can be operated even as base station when it is used in connection with a QRP Base Station Accessory (QBSA) extension, also designed by KD1JV. The operation with a higher power, 20W, is possible by connecting it to JN1GLB Altoids PA.
    The PSK31 operations are possible with a simple connection to a Pocket PC (PDA) when running PocketDigi (free) software.
  • The Operation and Assembly Manual for version 3B.1 run #4 (the last)
  • The OK1IAK's modifications/extensions
  • The AE5X's blog with some other info about ATS-3B

  • Norcal NC-20A

    • - The Electronics of Radio by David B. Rudledge, KN6EK
    - Puff 2.1, the simulation software used in this book is available in the Resources and solutions section of the publisher website. The download link is here. I don't have any affiliation with Cambridge University Press; I just wanted to share with you a good resource, relevant for this QRP transceiver.

  • Heathkit HW-8

  • FT-817ND

    • "Yaesu FT-817ND is a cool little toy";... You can read such statements in many QRP related pages. And I have to admit that it is fully true.
    If we have to make an inventory of the existing features and performances available within 1 Kg package, I don't know if we can find too many others rigs having such features/size (high) ratio. There are available rigs having a bit higher dynamic range, or higher power, etc. But they don't have available all bands (HF+VHF+UHF) and all modes within such size and weight. And, I would say, the same price.
    Overall, it is not a perfect transceiver, but it is a good trade-off between what you get and what you pay.
    You have to keep in mind all the time that FT-817 is a QRP transceiver. Which means that you should not afford to use low efficiency antennas.
    When you are operating QRP, your "enemy" is not the low power; it is the loss of power, produced by the usage of short antennas (comparable with the operating wavelength).

     

    ft817

     

    I was interested to measure the weight of FT-817 and its related components. Using an electronic scale, I got the following:

    - the transceiver (itself), without battery pack: 926 grams;

    - the battery pack: 205 grams;

    - two rubbered antennas (as were provided by Yaesu): 65 grams;

    - the hand microphone: 170 grams;

    - the DC cable + ferrite bed: 53 grams.

    so, a total weight of around 1420 grams.

    Audio speech compressor with SSM2216
    During QRP SSB operating, the the speech processing is an almost essential feature to get through QRM and to increase the efficiency of transmitter PA.
    SSM2216 is an IC containing a microphone amplifier with variable compression and noise gating. This is the block diagram:

     

    SSM2216

     

    .... info will follow...