VE3XD

 
The term QRP refers to low power operating. Usually this refers to operating with 5 watts or less with some enthusiasts of the art using less than 1 watt (milliwatts) of transmitter output. I began using QRP as a defense against some inadvertent interference my station was causing to the neighbour's TV. Until this could be corrected I began operating with 4 to 5 watts of output.

Much to my surprise it turned out to be a lot of fun and quite good contacts could be made at long distances when conditions were right. Within the first week I had been able to work over 40 countries including many Europeans, Japan and Australia. As of 1 March 2001 I'm over 100 countries and still counting.

Although some amateurs use special equipment for QRP, and some make their own, I just turn down the power on my Yaesu and on an external wattmeter it measures 4 watts at the lowest output. Crank it up just a touch and you get 5 watts. A good antenna is essential with QRP but even with the vertical signal reports are often 57 to 59.

Here is my log for the first month of QRP operating.

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