I've had excellent results with a variety of properly fed random wires when
operating QRP portable.
73, Barry N1EU
On Sat, Mar 19, 2016 at 10:42 PM, Reed <w4jz@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> I see several on the list are interested in QRP, in general, plus
> operating portable. I've been in QRP for over 40 years, mostly on CW then
> digital. I don't do contest or go looking for DX, but that is just me.
> Others love it, which makes Ham Radio so much fun. Something for everyone!
> I call myself a professional rag chewer no matter the mode. Love talking
> to new & old hams. Now that I have retired & able to operate portable more
> I am enjoying the phone bands! Great mode, but QRP doesn't work as well on
> this mode in the current sun spot cycle. When, if, 10 meters opens up then
> yeah 5 watts works pretty good, but 25 to 40 watts on phone seems to be the
> best low power for good 15 to 30 minute QSOs into a GOOD resonant antenna.
>
> A short vertical or random piece of wire you'll probably need more power.
> Please don't do that! You'll enjoy the hobby much more using a good
> resonant antenna. A fan dipole is really easy to build for 40 & 20 meters
> & don't cost much to build if money is tight. A center fed zepp also works
> great for multiband, but expect some noise from the feed line as on some
> frequencies it will act as a vertical antenna.
>
> I used this antenna back in the 70s running about 500 milliwatts from a
> Heathkit HW-8. Back then we called it QRPp. QRO was above 5 watts!
> Probably little harder to do that today with band conditions up/down & also
> not as good as they were then, but boy it sure was fun. Had a ham in Spain
> say, "Bet you will never believe how much power I'm running?" I said, "How
> much?" He said, "5 watts out." I said, "Well, I'm only running 500
> milliwatts." He never came back to me. :( I guess I shouldn't have
> busted his bubble!
>
> There is a little quarterly magazine, Amateur Radio Club International
> (ARCI) http://www.qrparci.org/ that has a world of information on QRP &
> portable operations. You get 4 magazines per year & they even have contest
> for those interested in that part of the hobby. I've subscribed since the
> 70s and really have learned a lot of useful information that has helped me
> over the years.
>
> There are other QRP organizations & also on portable too. Just Google and
> you should find them. Here is one off the top of my head.
> http://www.fpqrp.org/
>
> 73,
> Reed W4JZ
>
>
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