QRP Home Companion
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Introduction- Summer 2003
Welcome to the first edition of the QRP Home Companion column. As a long-time reader, I was honored when Editor Michael Boatright, KO4WX asked me if me if I would be willing to write a regular column for the QRP Quarterly. In this first column I want to give you an overview of who I am, what I will cover each issue and a few tidbits of information for you to chew on until the next QRP Quarterly.
Who is K8ZT?
First here are the facts—I am 47 years old and have been a ham since 1981. I live in Northeast Ohio with my wife Linda, KA8ODP, and our teenage children Aaron and Erica. I am employed as a Technology Director for a small public school district (which means I am responsible for all aspects of technology: computers, software, repairs, purchasing, installation, network administration, staff training, Internet access, district web page, telephones, etc.) Welcome to the first edition of the QRP Home Companion column.
I had been interested in becoming a ham since my high school days but did not know how to become one. After college and marriage, my wife read a newspaper piece about a class to get your Amateur Radio license being held in the area. She did not have to ask me twice, I was ready to go. She agreed to go along with me. After a few months we both had our Novice licenses. My call sign was KA8NRC. I upgraded to Technician later that year.
How I came to be a QRPer was the result of a radio advertisement I had lusted over in an electronics magazine from my high school days. I had been very active in Boy Scouts and camping so the Ten-Tec PM-1 in the ad seemed like the perfect radio, lightweight, low battery drain and very
Back in the pre-Internet days, the main source of information for a new comer to any hobby was magazines written on the subject. I love to read and definitely needed more information to actually get on the air, so I subscribed to the big three: QST, CQ and 73. I soon spent my lunchhour at work accompanied by a ham magazine. I read an article about QRP (unfortunately I don’t remember the exact article) and two clubs, the G-QRP and QRP-ARCI. The next day I sent off checks to join both clubs. The two quarterly QRP journals soon became my favorite reading material and I waited impatiently for each new issue to arrive.
With the two QRP journals as encouragement and my QRP rig, I proceeded to get on the air and actually work stations. I didn’t know “that QRP wasn’t the best way to start out as a new ham” as others would later tell me. That is how I started my almost exclusively QRP ham adventure of over twenty years. Starting with the Argonaut’s approximately two watts taught me many trick to make contacts with little power. Along the way I read many invaluable operating, equipment and antenna hints in the QRP Quarterly.
In the mid 1980s, through the QRP Quarterly, I learned about an informal gathering of QRP operators at a now defunct downtown hotel in Dayton. I had
Let’s fast forward to 2000 (don’t worry I will fill in the gaps in future columns.) In 2000, I upgraded my license to Extra Class and after many agonizing hours I decided to change my call sign to K8ZT. (To read my article “Selecting an Ideal Vanity Call Sign” and get a copy of a spreadsheet to assist you, visit . This article led me to write a monthly column on QRP for the ARRL’s website called The QRP Community. You can visit www.arrl.org to read past columns, just search using “QRP Community” or my call sign. That is enough about me for now (maybe too much!)
What is the QRP Home Companion column?
My goal for each edition is to highlight a few of the many different aspects of QRPing. We will be taking a look at operating events, contests and awards. I will keep you up-to-date on gear for the QRPer including kits, homebrewing and commercial equipment. I will pass on hints and tricks for QRP success and fun. Each column will include a wide variety of QRP resources (both in print and on-line.) Let me start out with a variety of QRP links you can find on my website’s QRP page
I welcome your input and suggestions for this column. Please contact me via e-mail. Thanks for the opportunity to write for the QRP Quarterly and hope to work you on the air, QRP.
QRP DXing- Fall 2003
You might remember, from my last column, that I began my ham career with a Ten-Tec Argonaut 515 QRP Transceiver. When I first received my license I was disappointed that I was not working any DX. Initially I feared that my QRP rig would not be able to work DX. Luckily, I found out that QRP level operation was not my problem; my problem was ignorance of propagation and international band plans. Unlike then, I now know that my CQing in the novice portion of 40 Meters did not result in DX because most DX countries did not have privileges above 7.100! Also my late evening calls on 15 Meters were unsuccessful because band propagation had shut down hours ago!
Keys to My DX Success
Eventually I became more aware of international band plans and the multiple cycles of propagation (day/night, seasonal and 11 year.) Soon being on the right band at the right times began to yield my first DX contacts.
Over the years I have learned a lot more “tricks” to working DX with QRP. Many of these tricks are applicable to not only DXing but also contesting, award chasing and even routine day-to-day operations. If you happen to also operate QRO, skills built with these QRP DXing operation tips can almost give you an unfair advantage over typical QRO operators (HI HI!)
Ten Tips for QRP DXing:
1) Operate!
Get on the air! More time on the air can definitely increase your chances, especially if you know when and where to hang out.
Listen carefully, check weak signals that others skip over, thoroughly explore the bands for “hidden” DX. If you find the DX before the horde descends, your chances to work the DX are much greater. Listen to the stations the DX station is working for a good idea of propagation and the DX station’s operating style. Listen to how and where the DX station is working other stations. Is he working split--i.e. listening “up” or “down” in frequency, answering late callers, systematically moving his listening frequency or asking specifically for QRP stations?
3) Timing, Timing, Timing
Develop good response timing Knowing when to respond, pacing, emphasis and calling techniques will increase your chances of success.
4) Learn about propagation
Consult forecasts, check daily numbers (SFI, A and K), use propagation prediction software and review your logs from bygone seasons, years and solar cycles. Choose your operating times to favor the area of Earth you are trying to contact. The ARRL Propagation page http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html on the ARRL Web site has lots more information on this fascinating topic.
5) Work contests
Worldwide contests provide a plethora of potential DX contacts--sometimes even the rare stuff. It’s remarkable how well your QRP signal can be heard when it means a point for the contester on the other end. For tips on QRP Contesting, see my two ARRL columns-QRP Community: Contesting http://www.qsl.net/k8zt/qrp-com.html
Visit my web page http://www.qsl.net/ k8zt/racg/racg.html for the Radio Amateur's Conversation Guide by Jukka, OH2BR and Miika, OH2BAD.
7) Optimize your station & Learn how to use your radios’ features
Spend a few quality hours with your radios and their manuals. Learn how to properly operate your gear and how to use special features. For example, know how to quickly set up your rig for split-frequency operation. Put up the best antenna(s) you can. Keep your station in good operating condition
8) DX spots and news.
Use the many sources of DX information to learn about DX opportunities. Sources range from magazine articles to real-time spotting networks.
Visit http://www.benlo.com/dxmon.html for the excellent freeware program DX Monitor by VE3SUN
9) Keep good records
Use full-featured logging software that can track DX worked and monitor your progress. Learn the most effective methods to get QSL cards from the DX stations you have worked.
10) Set personal goals
Working the 330-plus DXCC entities can be a very overwhelming task for the new DXer. Setting more reasonable and modest personal goals can help a DXer to maintain motivation. The first 100 confirmed DX contacts qualify you for the ARRL basic DXCC Award Other goals might be a specific number of new ones each year, working all the entities on a specific continent, etc.
QRP Contesting- Winter 2004
Many QRPers love contests and others hate them. If you are in the former group, I don’t need to give you reasons to work contests with QRP. But, if you are in the latter group, I have a suggestion for you. Don’t think of it as a contest. Instead, think of it as an excellent opportunity to make lots of QRP contacts. You might ask, “Why are contests a great place to make contacts?” Here is my list:
1) There are a lot of stations on the air. Just as in a chemical reaction, more molecules in a given space greatly increase reactions; more stations on the air increase the chances of making contacts.
2) Many of the stations on the air are well equipped with big antennas, the best equipment money can buy and highly skilled operators… which means all the better to pull our QRP signals out of the mud.
3) Serious contesters spend their own money to travel to DX locations (both common and rare) and put them on the air for us to work.
4) Serious contesting stations, even rare DX, really want to work you because you are worth points to them!
So, my advice: If you like contests, get on the air and rack up a great score with QRP. If you don’t like contests, get on the air, give out your exchange and ignore the other station’s exchange. Don’t bother keeping score, work only the hours you want and ignore the competition. You will rack up lots of QRP contacts and DX.
The following are a few tips for successful contesting. If you don’t care about your score, you can pick and choose from the following tips. If you are serious about competing, you will want to follow most of my hints and explore other resources for even more tips. (See a list of contesting web resources at the end of this column.)
1) Know when contests are held.
Visit websites of WA7BNM or SM3CER or read QST and CQ magazines’ contesting columns. (There are still plenty of good contests in the next few months.)
2) Know the rules for the contest and the exchange, if you don’t know the exchange you will not make other contesters very happy.
3) Use contesting software. Read the documentation and practice using before the contest.
4) Know operational features of your equipment (especially if you plan to work “split” on 40 phone.)
5) Timing, Timing, Timing Develop good response timing. Knowing when to respond, pacing, emphasis and calling techniques will increase your chances of success.
6) Keep current on Propagation conditions to help plan your operating schedule.
7) Scheduling is your plan for when you are going to work each band and what geographic area you expect to contact. Veteran contesters often spend considerable time scheduling. Although you need to be flexible, due to changes in band conditions, a well-planned schedule can greatly increase your effectiveness and overall score.
8) Choose your category. Based on your antennas, operating times and style, you
9) Pick contests that favor your operating style. Choose your favorite: mode, operating times, exchange style, venue-- DX, domestic or state. Don’t forget the QRP club sponsored contests (see the QQ Contesting Column and AMQRP calendar<http://www.amqrp.org
/contesting/contesting.html>.
10) Set personal goals. It’s hard to finish first if you are just starting out in contesting, if you have a minimal station and/or antennas or if you have limited time to operate. Instead choose goals that measure your own progress at your own pace. Goals can even be very specific: working those last few states for WAS on 40 Meters, adding to your DXCC total, working all counties in a specific state (all QRP, of course.)
11) Persistence and follow-up
If you want to score high or even win, you have to “stay in the chair.” You have to maximize your time on the air and then submit your log to the sponsor in the proper format by the deadline.
Bonus Hint- if you want to work DX, and don’t want to get clobbered for hours by QRO stations, operate during two key times-- Thursday and Friday before the contest (when all the DXpeditions are setting up and testing their equipment) and the last few hours of the contest (when most of the stations have already worked each other and you are “fresh meat.”)
Contesting Resources
I have collected a number of contesting links on my website along with links to two web columns I wrote on contesting.
Try QRP contesting this winter. You might really like it. Hopefully, you will work me so I can get a few more points, QRP of course.
Make Mine "To Go"- Winter 2004
Many hams, especially new hams or retirees, have very little permanent space to devote to a ham shack. Let’s take a look a temporary shack that allows QRP equipment to be moved into place and to become instantly operational. One very effective way to create this portable shack is a wooden box with horizontal shelves inside and no front or back. A sturdy handle assists in moving your shack. A nice touch is a handle that will fold down when not in use. Removable front and rear doors can be added if the shack will be transported longer distances and/or encounter rougher transporting environments.
Building your own portable ham shack is an easy project, even for beginners. There is no “tune up,” and it is guaranteed to work the first time. Here are the step-by-step instructions. Feel free to customize them for your needs. Please remember, safety first, whenever using power tools.
1) Gather the equipment you would like to package. Stack and arrange equipment in desired configuration then measure, allowing extra space for dividing shelves.
2) Select necessary wood. For shallower cases you can use 1-inch pine or hardwood in widths of 6, 8, 10 or 12 inches (remember this is nominal size; actual size of wood is smaller). For deeper cases use 3/4 or 1-inch plywood cut to your desired depth. For the internal shelves you can use 1/4-inch tempered hardwood or plywood.
3) Measure and mark your wood. You will need two lengths of pine or hardwood for the top and bottom equal to the width of your equipment plus one inch. The 1-inch space will allow you to insert foam strips on both sides of the equipment. This compressed foam strip will then help to hold equipment from sliding out of the case.
4) Cut measured wood, making sure to make a square cut (if you have access to a radial arm saw, this can assure a proper cut). Prepare strips of shelving material to the same depth as top and bottom pieces; rip using table or radial saw or cut carefully by using a circular or jig saw (clamping a straight edge on the wood to guide the saw is one trick to get a better cut).
6) To measure side pieces, place bottom piece under stack of equipment with a piece of shelving material between each layer of equipment. Place top piece on equipment. Mark one side piece by placing it vertical next to stack. Make a mark at top of edge of each piece of shelving material. Mark top of side piece and add 1 inch to allow for finishin
7) Using marks of shelf positions on side piece, add thickness of shelving material above each mark.Using first side piece as a guide, transfer marks to second side piece.
8) Grooves
Above each shelf mark cut a 1/4-inch deep groove across the side piece. This can be done with a router, radial arm saw, or circular saw (clamping a straight edge on wood to guide the circular saw will result in neater grove).
Complete all grooves, then assemble, temporarily, to test fit everything. Mark top of side piece and cut to finished length.
9) Drill Holes.
On a flat surface, align the four pieces, lying on their back edge, into a rectangle. Drill pilot holes for screws on side pieces.
10) Finishing
Sand all pieces. If staining, apply stain now before assembly. Apply desired finish/ sealant and allow to dry. Two coats with a fine sanding in between may be necessary to get desired finish. Also apply finish/ sealant to the yet-unassembled shelves and let dry.
Use wood glue and screws to assemble. Use a square to assure proper alignment of all corners. On the back of the case, metal “L” brackets can be added to strengthen and maintain square corners.
12) Test fit shelves by sliding into grooves; fit should be snug. Sand edges of shelves, if necessary, to fit.
13) Install shelves.
Use a small amount of wood glue in each groove and then slide the shelves into their final position.
14) Attach handle(s) to case. Attach rubber feet or rubber molding strips to bottom to prevent scratching surfaces you place case on.
15) Install Equipment
When all glue and finish are thoroughly dry, place equipment into their final locations. Then insert foam between equipment and side panels as necessary to hold in place. For foam with adhesive on one side, visit your hardware store’s weatherproofing aisle. If equipment heights on a shelf vary, you can also use foam above and/or below pieces of equipment.
You can then customize as desired. Possibilities include attaching a surge protector power strip to back of case to manage multiple plugs, removable “lids” for front and back, create an extra shelf with front and back covers to store accessories (key, microphone, cables, etc.) when not in use. An extra “enclosed” shelf can also be used to store gel cell batteries for truly portable operation. For equipment with microphone, headphone or other connectors on the side you will need to cut a small access “window” in the side piece.
Spring Cleaning- Spring 2004
I am writing this in March, and here in Ohio, spring is beginning to emerge from the snowy ground. Spring can be a rather ambivalent season for hams.
First, the bad news— good propagation surrounding the equinox is fading, noise on the low bands is increasing, preventing winter’s easy QRP QSOs on 160 and 80 meters. The major contests are over. The extra time to operate or build that results from decreased daylight and lack of yard work is rapidly fading (yes, there is at least one advantage to life in Northern climate!) Finally the “honey do” list of outdoor chores is growing fast.
Now, the good news— hamfest season has begun. Dayton and the accompanying QRP-ARCI’s Four Days in May are only weeks away. The weather is much more friendly for QRP field activities. ARRL Field Day planning has begun in earnest, the season for growing antennas and towers has begun and we can finally put away the winter coats, hats and gloves!
Just like taxes, spring is inevitable; so let’s take a look at some things a QRPer can do to take advantage of the season
Spring Cleaning of the Shack. Start with your operating position. Clear the remnants of snacks, meals and liquid refreshment that have accumulated from extended hours of operating (especially contesting.)
Dusting is best accomplished with a combination of soft cloths and small paint brushes (½ to 1½ inch are good sizes) and careful use of a small canister vacuum cleaner. You want to be careful not to scratch plastic displays, suck up small connectors or damage painted surfaces.
I would suggest checking insulation of all power feed cables (12 VDC & 110 VAC) and connections to equipment. Make sure there are no “pinch points” or sharp edges on the desk and equipment that can damage wire insulation. Don’t forget to check under the desk for damage to multi-outlets and/or surge protectors.
Work Bench & Junk Box With the hamfesting season upon us, it is a good time to clean that workbench. This will allow you to gather up your surplus equipment, built kits and excess components and sell them. Conversely check to see what components or new equipment you need to finish that lingering winter building project, get on a new band or mode and/or just put aside a few spares (I always need more PL-259s and ¼ and mini plugs.)
Tower and Antenna Supports Start with all ropes and guy lines. Check turnbuckles, clamps, knots and anchors. Check lines for damage or deterioration. Trim tree branches that can interfere with guys. Check bolts, nuts and other hardware of tower base connections. Visually inspect towers and rotors for damage. Use a pair of binoculars for this initial inspection safely from the ground. Whenever you have to climb your tower, take time to do an up close
Feed Line & Antennas
Feed Line, Coax Connectors Coax & can be damaged by wind, rain, ice and UV radiation. Connectors can become infiltrated with moisture. Periodic replacement of coax is necessary to prevent losing all of your precious QRP watts before they ever reach the antenna, let alone that station on the other side of the world. Special attention should be paid to weatherproofing all coax connections and pigtails. I recommend a combination of high quality tape, moldable coax sealing compounds, moisture displacement pastes and/or rubber boots.
When checking antennas, pay particular attention to feed points and matches. Antenna traps can be very susceptible to damage by ice if drainage holes become clogged or are incorrectly oriented (insects can aid this clogging with spider webs and wasp nests.) Beam antenna’s elements can often work themselves loose with the aid of wind, ice and perching birds. Failing to check for loose elements cannot only result in loss of antenna gain, but can also become a very dangerous spear as they fall to earth.
Get Outside; Enjoy the Weather and Operate Portable QRP. Spring is a great time to put together a “field kit” so you can operate portable for an emergency or just for fun. Contrary to the old saying, antennas put up when the weather is not lousy really do work. Use the spring and summer to experiment with and put up some killer antennas, because you know the good-old days of winter operating are just around the corner!
Filling In Holes- Summer 2004
Gloom
and doom
Recently, at the Dayton Hamvention, I overheard two different conversations between two pairs of hams. The first pair was discussing the approaching sunspot minimum. With gloom and doom in their voices they commiserated about the lean days ahead for DX. One even said, “I probably should sell off most of my HF equipment before the used prices fall too far.”
The second pair of hams were seasoned DXers, you know the type, Top of the Honor Rollers. Again the topic was full of gloom and doom. The first one said, “there is not much reason for me to get on the air anymore. I have them all confirmed except three. Those damn islands have not been on the air in years and probably will not be on soon if ever again.” His friend replied, “You can say that again. All there is to do is read the DX tips sheets and watch the DX Cluster. Turning on the radio is a total waste of time!”
What’s
wrong here?
First,
Amateur Radio is supposed to be fun. Second, our speakers talk as if
they have
done everything there is to do in ham radio when in fact they are
focusing on
only a very narrow niche. When their focus is only on a narrow niche it
does
appear that they have done everything there is to do. But,
magically the
whole picture changes if we only take a short step back and look again.
With
our view no longer confined to a very narrow point, we quickly see a
vast
number of new things. It then quickly becomes clear that there are
still many
things to do and goals to accomplish.
" I can see
clearly now..."
The first is to try something new. Try a new operating mode, a new band, a new operating style (QRP, contesting, DXing, etc.), a new activity (home brewing, kit building, restoring boat anchors, fox hunting, APRS, etc.), a new public service (ARES, RACES, traffic handling, etc.) or a new ancillary activity (teaching ham classes, elmering, radio club officer, ARRL appointment, writing articles, etc.). There are many new possibilities and I hope you try many of them. In fact, many of you may have ended up here by deciding to try that QRP thing after burning out with QRO.
The second path is to expand on something you already enjoy but with new goals and enthusiasm. I will describe this second path as filling in the holes.
Filling In the
Holes
Let’s use those seasoned DXers as our first example of filling in the holes. Sure, he has almost all of them worked and confirmed, but probably not on all bands or modes! So a very easy way to renew the enthusiasm of the DX hunt for a new one is to add new bands and/or modes for the ones he already has. Now with a new challenge at hand, there is a good reason to turn on that radio.
Computerized logging makes it easy
to know what DX
band/mode entities are needed. For information on computerized logging
and
software that can benefit the QRPer, you may want to read my ARRL Web
column:
Software
for the QRP Shack.*
Surprisingly to
many, even a modest
vertical antenna (I use a Butternut HF2V) on a small suburban lot can
allow the
QRPer to work both 80 and 160 meters. So give the lowest bands a try.
You will
probably have much better luck communicating with your QRP signal
during the
lower atmospheric noise seasons of late autumn through early spring. So
now,
during the summer months, is the time to plant some antennas for low
band use
this fall. I also have a recent article on the web:
Low Power Visits the
Low Bands.*
In addition to DXing, there are plenty of other opportunities to fill in the blanks. One of the most common and accessable is QRP WAS on multiple bands. A little planning and scheduling can pay big dividends when filling in the holes in WAS. State QSO Parties are a good source of both states and counties within those states. Field Day is another good opportunity to rack up the states, operate QRP from the field and prepare for emergency communications all in one event. ARRL’s Sweepstakes contests (CW and SSB) in November are also excellent times to work states. Being scheduled in late fall, this is also an especially good time to work states on 80 and 160 meters. In fact, I am hoping to complete my own 80M QRP WAS this fall.
Worked all states and need another challenge? QRP USA-CA (worked all USA Counties Award) requires confirmed QSOs with all 3076 US counties. This award can keep even a busy QRPer occupied for a while!
With all this talk of awards, don’t forget to checkout the excellent awards offered by our QRP-ARCI.
Until next time, why not try filling in some holes. I think you will have a very good time.