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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