QRP Is!

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Many of us enjoy the challenge of operating QRP, meaning low power operation. In the QRP world, low power generally means five watts or less on CW and 10 watts PEP or less on phone. Many QRPers use really low power called QRPp, meaning power output less than one watt (milliwatt range). Now that's a challenge!

My Elecraft KX2 QRP Transceiver
QRPing becomes even more fun when you build your own equipment. One QRP club I belong to is the Four State QRP Group. They regularly provide new and great QRP projects for hams to build. There are also several other clubs and companies that provide kits for hams to build. Click the link above to see some of my builds from 4SQRP and others. In addition to kits, 4SQRP sponsors several on-the-air activities and a growing annual convention in Branson (Missouri) called OzarkCon. It's a fun weekend with kit building time, presentations, swap and shop, and great fellowship with QRPers from all over the country.

I first got into QRP back in 1980 when I built a Heathkit HW-8 and joined the Michigan QRP Club. The HW-8 was a popular 2-watt CW transceiver used by many QRPers. Many are still in use today. My first contact was with DK4KK in Germany. That did it! I was forever hooked on QRP.

Operating QRP, I have worked all 50 states, all continents (including Antarctica), 33 CQ Zones, and a total of 146 DXCC entities. Plus, I have several first place contest finishes in the QRP category and have set QRP records (2001 & 2014) in two ARRL Divisions in the ARRL 10-Meter Contests. In the 2001 contest, I worked 62 DXCC entities and all continents with five watts into a Cushcraft R7 vertical antenna. Now that was a really fun weekend!