Yes, it's that old chestnut - life's too short for qrp. I've heard the expression a million times. I'm sure some people think QRP operators must be on a shoe-string budget and have no choice but to buy a low-power radio, but that's absolute tosh.
And although my licence restricts me to 10W, who's to know if I use a 1kW Linear to reach those DX stations? Me!!
I just don't feel the need for more power - I love QRP!! I could pass my Intermediate exam in a heartbeat, which would give me extra power, but I just have no interest in it. I find it much more thrilling to obtain a DX contact using 4W than 400W. In fact, it always makes me chuckle when operators tell me they're "only running 100W" and then I go back to them and declare my 10W or less 😂
I suppose it's a bit like biking. I've had small capacity bikes and big bikes (up to 1700cc), but my absolute favourite is 400cc. The bigger, more powerful bikes can reach 0-60mph in less than 3 seconds with absolute ease - it's just twist and go!
But to ride the roads quickly on a small bike is far more challenging and rewarding. You have to be skilled and focused enough to wring out every last bit of available power from a 400cc bike and make sure that you are maximising the power and torque bands by being in the right gear at the right time. It's all much more involving! I've toured Scotland with friends on powerful sports bikes and left them behind me on my little 400 Honda. Great fun!
I have to admit though, most of my radio time is not spent in the home shack - it's spent in the great outdoors, so my perspective is probably different to others.
People regularly mock the idea of working QRP. I see it on various internet platforms, on-air, at radio clubs and even (quite surprisingly) in magazine adverts! There are even Badges, Cups and T-shirts available to help reinforce the idea that QRP is a bit of a waste of time. So what's the problem?
Well let's not forget that in most cases it's just a bit of humour! But like any joke which is repeatedly aimed at a particular group, it can become a little tiring - especially when you keep hearing hams talking about QRP on the radio as though there's something a bit odd with low-power operators.When I mention that I made a contact with someone thousands of miles away, I often get asked how much power I used and when I tell them I used 10W (or less) they smirk and imply that I'm lying.Well, apart from the fact that I'm only licensed to use 10W, I actually prefer to use less when possible! I've made SSB voice contacts with people 7,000km away using just 2.5W and got a 55 report from them (eg. KE5EE).
It gives me great pleasure listening to QRO operators from my region struggling to get a contact logged with someone and then I manage to do it with my little IC-705. It's even more amusing when I know that they're using a monster antenna and I'm using a portable dipole or an end-fed wire.
Yes we all know that I could pump up the power and in reality no one would know any better, but I would know and that's the whole point - I'm playing radio for me not for others!
Even when I go on a Field Day with a club, I wouldn't dream of leaving my QRP radio at home. I'd much prefer to make ten contacts with 1W than making fifty contacts with 100W on the Club Radio. I love the challenge of QRP.
If people want to use 100W, 400W or 1500W, then that's up to them. I don't think any less of those operators - they've paid their money and chosen their preferred operating method just like I have. For me, QRO is like fishing in a bucket - it gets boring real soon. I know only too well that sometimes 10W just won't get you where you want to be and in my mind, I just think "I need to get to a higher location or a better take-off point". Or I need to improve my antenna.
The harder I have to fight for a contact, the happier I am when I get it. Getting the station set up optimally and in the right location is my "power". And it all ties in with my enjoyment of going outdoors. Thankfully, my wife is also happy to go out with me for the day. We prepare a picnic, choose somewhere to go and while I play radio she can enjoy a good book, walk the dog or just chill out for a few hours.
When I'm at home, I spend very little time in the shack to be honest. Most of my time is spent with my IC-705 in the garden or in at my holiday home connected to a magnetic loop. If it was at all possible, I would sell my high-end radio and invest in an amazing antenna array, but that's never gonna happen due to local restrictions.
So what when I'm stuck at home and conditions are poor and my 10W limitation is getting me absolutely nowhere?? Well that's when I switch to my DVMEGA CAST which allows me to have some great chinwags with anyone in the world on FUSION, DSTAR and DMR.
After two years of being a licensed operator, I absolutely know that I will never need 400W and will therefore never take my Advanced test (not that I'd have a hope in hell of passing it). I might take the Intermediate just so that I can use more power in my truck on 2M & 70cm FM. That is where I will admit to feeling limited. But then again, 2M FM occupies an extremely small part of my operating time.
VIDEO OF MY TRANSATLANTIC QSO - 9W using Elad FDM
So please, let's stop the "Life's too short for QRP nonesense" 😂. Or shall we start the "Life's too long for QRO" mantra?
10 comments:
Well Said!
QRO'rs dont understand how antennas work.. They think MORE POWER is the solution. Boy if they only knew.. I have a friend who has been a HAM since the later 60's and he went out to a beach in New Hampshire and his Icom 703 in a backpack and a super antenna on a 2 foot mast sticking out of the backpack.. Walking on the wet sand at the shore line he was king of the band at 10 watts.
Its amazing how this all works I myself is still learning but I am so Fascinated by QRP I started a Facebook group and doing very very well.. so please all who reads this i am inviting you to join.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/iloveqrp
Thank you for this wonderful post MadDog! 72,73.. to you sir!
I agree. Run an old TS-120V/10W and K2/10W. That's all I have. If prop is not QRP friendly, well I take the dog for a walk or pick up a book. 72 de Dick F8WBD.
Thanks for the visit to the blog Michael.
73, Tom, M7MCQ.
Absolutely Dick. I have MANY hobbies and if there's a reason that I can't play with one toy, I just pick up another, lol.
Best wishes and thanks for visiting the blog mate.
Tom, M7MCQ.
I combine 2 worlds: QRP and CW. Morse code because of its high efficiency and the fact that it is a beautiful universal language. QRP because this is a great challenge. It is a matter of patience, knowledge of propagation, antennas, .... It brings out the best of radio amateurism. 72 Peter OO7Z
Hello Tom. You gave me some useful tips a few months back and I subsequently bought an IC-705 and a Bandspringer Midi antenna. The IC-705 is an amazingly sophisticated gadget, so sophisticated that I think that I will be learning how to fully use it for the rest of my life! I have not got my head around the D-Star stuff yet. I used (sometimes) to use my FT290R to access local 2m fm repeaters 30-odd years ago, before a long lapse in my amateur radio activities. Can the all-singing all-dancing IC-705 not be used in this way?(with an appropriate antenna, obviously) That is my first question, if you can help, please? Next, I have spent a whole day at High Willhays on Dartmoor, calling "CQ SOTA", and otherwise returning to others' CQ calls, and have worked - nobody! Similarly, I have spent a few days on Christ's Cross hill in Devon (another Marilyn) with my old FT290R and the best I could do was to (almost) speak to a net through a N Devon repeater and they said that they could not hear me well at all! I was using an old HB9CV antenna on these occasions. I haven't given up hope yet, but I wonder if you could suggest a reason for these problems. Someone said that maybe my HB9CV was dodgy after so many years in the garage. Myself, I feel that the mic (which is a CB one bought recently from a ham shop) might be at fault. Any other ideas, please? Thanks, Clyde. G1TCH.
Hi Clyde,
I'm so sorry that I haven't replied earlier! BlogSpot stopped sending me notifications for some strange reason, so I didn't know people had been commenting.
I will respond to you via your email address on QRZ.
Apologies again mate.
73, Tom, M7MCQ.
100% agree Peter! Shame that more people don't 'get it'.
Thanks for visiting the blog mate.
73, Tom, M7MCQ.
Absolutely !! Just discovered your blog and think you must be a long lost brother of mine !! I have a 705, 3 x tru SDX, motorbikes and love QRP from the hills. Originally from Manchester and used to paraglide on the back of Winter Hill as well ! Enjoy your content and Qrp related reviews. 73’s, Neil, G1AAD
Hey brother Neil :-)
Thank you for visiting the blog - much appreciated. Hope to work you some time.
73, Tom, M7MCQ
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