This is something I have asked myself over the years…
Penntek TR-35 QRP Transceiver
It seems that it is more than just the low power. It is the lifestyle of using small radios with little power into some sort of cobbled together antenna. (The antenna bit here is of my own doing, some QRP ops use really nice antennas and the performance speaks for itself) It is making contacts on this compromised system. It is using morse code with these little radios, as I also have a love of CW. It is something to do with the kit being small enough to fit into a small backpack including the battery. All this and more…
You see, I have never really wanted to deal with all the headaches that come with using amplifiers. They have all sorts of things that happen with them that you have to build infrastructure to support. Things like making sure your transmission line can carry the power, you HAVE to make sure that the system is properly grounded, all of it. If it isn’t grounded properly then there is all sorts of odd stuff that happens, like the cabinet becoming “hot” with stray RF and can cause RF burns if you touch it. You have a much more complicated system that must be connected correctly or you will damage something. You have to make sure your output from your transceiver is set to the correct level or you can damage the input to the amplifier, and so on. You also have to make sure your antenna is rated for the power you are delivering to it. I prefer simple systems that don’t require all the considerations that QRO involve.
ICOM IC-705 setup for a POTA activation.
QRP doesn’t have to deal with any of this. It does have other considerations though. Things like how efficient your antenna is or what the angle of takeoff is for your antenna. How much loss is in the transmission line? This is a big concern as you are already starting out with limited output power so a lossy transmission line will just exacerbate the problem.
Even with these short comings, I still find using low power to be really rewarding. The personal satisfaction of making a contact with just a couple of watts of power over great distances is intriguing and rewarding at the same time. Now, QRP is not without frustrations, like you answer a CQ just for them to keep calling as they can not hear you. Another problem is QSB will just shut off a QSO due to poor band conditions. Another problem I see is that others will start using the frequency I am on because they can not hear me and do not know I am already in a QSO. This is pretty common to be honest…
Small travel CW keys are really cool to collect.
One thing I have seen is that you either love it or hate it and there really is no in-between. You are either a QRO (high power) or a QRP (low power) ham radio operator… Strange how divided the hobby is in this regard but it is. Anyway, these are some of the reasons I am drawn to QRP operations and not QRO, what do you like about the mode you prefer? Leave me a comment and lets see what people like!