40m QRP by DL1DN

 Jay W5OLF kindly sent me the link to this video for a QRP transceiver based on my rig linked yesterday. 

21MHz (15m) QRP CW - my homebrew "Pipit"

Many years ago I designed and made this QRP (800mW) CW rig of 15m. 

It worked remarkably well and worked some impressive DX. 

For several months it was the only rig I used, out of choice. Every QSO was so satisfying. It appeared in GQRP SPRAT. It was in the days before schematic drawing packages, so the schematic was hand-drawn. I used Neosid toroids as these were at hand, although I am sure Amidon ones would be suitable with turns adjusted.

Values are on my webpage. As with all my designs, please use this as a starting point for your own ideas and do not be afraid to change things if this makes the design better! The SBL1 mixer can certainly be replaced by similar double balanced mixers or a homebrew version.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/15m-qrp-cw-pipit .

PW 2m QRP contest today (Sunday)

Later, I hope to be on 2m SSB briefly to give away a few points in the PW QRP contest. I entered last year and will do so again, although with no chance! It is on 0900-1600z. I know G2XV will be active for the Cambridge Club (CDARC)

See http://www.pwcontest.org.uk/ .

UPDATE 1533z: as we had a family BBQ I only worked G2XV.

20m FT8 QRP (Friday)

At about 1630z, I QSYed to 20m FT8 using the tiny indoor loop and 2.5W.  Up to this time I was on 2m FT8 QRP.  After 5 minutes, 17 stations spotted on RX, but nobody has yet spotted me on TX.

UPDATE 1812z: 85 stations spotted on RX with just 1 station spotting my QRP on TX.

UPDATE 2115z: 148 stations spotted on RX and 3 stations have spotted me on TX since just before teatime. I shall be going QRT later.

15m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

It is now 0822z. A few moments ago my 15m FT8 QRP was turned on with 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop. So far, 11 stations spotted on RX and nobody has spotted me on TX.

UPDATE 1048z:  8 stations have so far spotted my QRP on TX and 126 stations have been spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1458z:  188 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX and 9 stations spotted me so far on TX. 2 QSOs. The map shows the stations spotted here so far on the loop: I am impressed that something so small works so well.

QRP YouTube channel

As many know, QRP is the part of our hobby that I enjoy most. Southgate News reports that the GQRP Club has a new YouTube channel devoted to QRP. Great idea.

The latest GQRP Convention talks are there. These were online this year. Well worth watching.

See https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClhe-ybLZzpnJh80VmFuS-A/videos

Tenner 10m QRP Transceiver

Before the last sunspot maximum I designed and made the Tenner 500mW 10m CW QRP transceiver. Especially in Es openings this is capable of plenty of contacts. It has crossed the Atlantic Ocean several times.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10m_tenner

QRP on YouTube

A recent visit to YouTube suggested there were lots of videos about QRP operating. As you know, a lot of fun can be had with low power.

See https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=qrp

QRP convention online

Because of the Covid-19 restrictions the GQRP convention is online this weekend. GQRP members can access the talks for £4. Normally it is held in Telford. Maybe next year?

See http://www.gqrp.com/GQRP_Conference_Agenda.pdf

QRP transceiver ideas in RSGB RadCom

FETer 80m CW transceiver

It was pleasing to see my article in the August 2020 edition of RadCom on ultra simple QRP transceiver ideas. There are a couple of circuit ideas, one for 80m and one for 10m. 

These are extremely simple circuits that would make nice wet weekend lockdown projects. One uses just a single FET and the other just 2 transistors. Remember, these are complete transceivers!

As I state in the article, please don't be afraid to experiment. My hope is that, like me, you adapt the circuits to find what works best for you. The circuits are simple and like all simple rigs, they are compromises.

Both work and have been used on the air. More details are on my main website and YouTube channel.

Practical Wireless QRP contest this Sunday

This is this Sunday, June 14th. As portables are unlikely to be on, for this year only the power allowed has been increased to 10W. I believe you can operate for any 4 hour period in the contest hours. Rules are in the June 2020 copy of PW. I expect they are on the web too. If I remember, I intend to come on for a little while. Quite often I am away and miss this. Not this year!

QRP rendezvous

A reminder that there is a QRP rendezvous regularly on 14.060MHz CW. See photo. This is not a contest.

GQRP Club

For more years than I care to remember (!) I have been a member of the GQRP Club. Every quarter they produce an excellent magazine called SPRAT. Many times before I have said that if all other magazines had to go, SPRAT would be the last. It is brilliant with lots of ideas each quarter.

QRP has been a passion of mine ever since I started: QRP DXCC was achieved years ago, I think entirely on 10m. These days I use QRP mainly out of laziness and just enjoy it. If I fail to get a QSO, there is always another day. If I work DX great, but I rarely seek it.

As a member you can buy the entire collection of SPRATs on DVD. This alone is worth joining for.

See http://www.gqrp.com/ .

10m QRP

Whilst rummaging through some old photos I came across this one. It dates from the late 1980s I think and shows me (still with some hair!) operating 10m SSB from my parents back garden. The rig would have been my 2m MX2, with my homebrew transverter producing about 1W pep SSB on 10m. The antenna was a mag-mounted base loaded whip on the grass lawn. As I remember, several USA stations were worked. On another occasion I recall copying a 6m Canadian beacon indoors from my parents house with a whip on the FT817.

The Tenner 10m CW QRP transceiver

Apart from summer Es, 10m is not the best DX band. Give it a few years, it may be quite different and 10m DX should be easy with QRP.

Perhaps now is the time to get building. Remember that all of Europe can be worked with QRP every May, June and July. Once the F2 openings really get going the USA should be workable with QRP regularly. In both cases, just a low wire dipole is all that is needed - no beams, nothing big in the air.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10m_tenner

G3RJV - special SPRAT

As you may recall, the Rev George Dobbs, one of the founders of the GQRP club died recently. To many of us he was an inspiration. Certainly I owe him a lot.

This morning I received a very special SPRAT, the magazine of the GQRP club. This special edition was filled with tributes to this great radio amateur. As the years roll on, I hope we can continue to work QRP in his honour.

See http://www.gqrp.com/

QRPclub newsletter

The latest PDF version of Vestnik is now available.

See http://club72.su/vestnik/qv20.pdf

New QRP mag online

The latest edition of Vestnik is now available as a .pdf download.

See http://club72.su/vestnik/qv19.pdf

Club 72

Just got this from Oleg:

"Dear Club 72 members and friends,
today Club 72 is 9'th Birthday! Club was born in January 14, 2010.
Thanks ALL for gathering and friendship! The best wishes for ALL you!"

New QRPclub magazine

The latest QRPclub magazine is available for download.

See http://club72.su/vestnik/qv17.pdf