Topband: QRPers calling CQ in the SP ?

[Jim Brown]

Rick has provided excellent advice on all counts. A few comments -- 
W6JTI and N6WG are both superb operators -- W6JTI, W6GJB, and I worked 
FD together this year QRP, and won class 1A Battery, and Frank regularly 
turns in great scores -- 3830 lists him as the top QRP score west of 
Chicago for CQWWCW, top QRP score in ARRL 10M,  #2 west of Chicago in 
ARRL DX CW. N6WG has been inactive for several years -- his XYL has had 
health issues.

Second, emphasizing Rick's advice for a QRP op to NEVER send anything 
extra, and NEVER repeat anything the other station has copied correctly. 
Once he's got your call right, NEVER send it again, only send your 
exchange, and ONLY send parts of the exchange that the other station 
hasn't gotten right.  Example -- if I'm being copied as K0YC, I'll send 
"K9 K9 K9". If he's got my call right, I'll send only "CM87", and if 
he's having a hard time (he's asked for repeats more than once), I'll 
repeat it several times without his asking. Likewise, in ARRL 160, I'll 
send only "SCV" as a repeat.  Remember, making a successful QSO means 
catching the PEAKS of QSB -- don't waste time sending anything 
un-necessary.

Third, successful QRP requires catching optimum propagation times, and 
prop on 160 can vary a LOT during the night and from one night to 
another in ways that aren't predictable.  It's worth studying chapters 
in the ON4UN book that address propagation.

73, Jim K9YC

On Fri,12/25/2015 9:27 AM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:
> Here is my 2 cents worth:
>
> 1.  Running QRP with a decent antenna makes sense.
> W6JTI runs up great QRP scores from his mountain
> top.  N7WG worked tirelessly to get a 50 foot
> vertical up on a postage stamp lot in the SF
> Bay Area and was a fixture in 160 meter contests
> for years.  He even achieved 160 meter WAS QRP.
> I used to work him on ground wave from 50 miles
> away at 2PM local time using my Bay Area beverage.