Sunday Morning with QRP

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It was a contest weekend so on Saturday I worked a lot of European & South American stations on SSB running 1500 watts. My resent 40 meter antenna installation of the 2 vertical phased array worked really great, I was able to work all the stations I heard except one in Kuwait but the whole world was calling him. Saturday night I thought I'd try some 40 meter QRP CW. That was a lost cause because of all of the contest SSB interference (QRM) Sunday morning I fired up the Small Wonder QRP rig running off of a 12 volt battery. I was running one watt CW and calling CQ several times a very strong station from Wisconsin answered, He was QRP also running 5 watts. I received a 599 and I sent a 599 back. After a short QSO I signed off with 73 and SK. It is still amazing just how such low power can travail hundreds or even thousands of miles. If you know CW and have a good antenna give QRP a try, Its addictive .....

Jack Demaree
www.wb9otx.com

Field Day At WB9OTX 's QTH 2015

It was a fun afternoon working with a QRP (5 Watts) station, battery power, and a portable antenna. (BuddiPole) I didn't break any records for the most QSOs but It was a fun time. My very good friend Jammie (KC9MWU) stopped by and we had a very long great visit. Here are a few photos of the lone wolf equipment set up............... Please forward ........

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Kenwood TS-130V QRP

I have had this radio about a year but the VFO was defective. I bought a VFO but it was for a 120 and would not work. Months went by before I found another one and this one was for a 130. I installed it and it now tunes like it should. Another problem was the dial light was out and after reading in a 130  forum I learned where to order a replacement LED. It arrived and the radio was disassembled and the LED inserted where the condesant one was. The covers were put on, the power switch flipped, and we now have a light green dial light. This weekend was the CQ magazine's world wide SSB contest and the bands were wide open. I worked several countries all over Europe with only 10 watts of power. Tons of QRM but all stations heard were contacted. Yes I did have to call some of them 3 or 4 times. I used 10 and 20 meters with my triband beam antenna. This radio has a grate receiver and good out going audio. I guess its a keeper.

QRP = Very low power for Ham Radio

Yaesu FT-817 and  LDG Tuner

Every day for the past month or so I have been using a very small low power radio (Yaesu FT-817)  to contact other Hams all over the world. The output (RF watts) comes in 5, 2.5, 1, and; 500 milawatts. My antennas are very good and this is a must for QRP operating. You will not need the LDG tuner if your antennas are resinate  I have made several CW (Morris code) contacts, but the most fun I've had is using an operating mode called JT9. JT9 is a digital mode and is relatively new. It's creator is K1JT and not only has he made JT9 but also JT65 and others. I used JT65B to work all continents on the 144 Mhz.(2 meter) band via the moon (EME). The radio must be interfaced with a computer to use these digital modes and I use the products from West Mountain,

West Mountain, plug and Play

 but there are many other companies producing sound card computer interfaces. The computer can be about anything, old or new. The software is free from K1JT's web page. The radio that I use is a Yaesu FT-817 but you can use about any radio that the power can be turned down on. I'm sure this mode of operation is not for everyone, but if you are tired of using SSB or CW try JT65 or JT9. You can talk to the world with just a very few watts..... Jack WB9OTX

the world of Ham Radio

What a day in the world of Ham Radio. Propagation has not been this good for 11 years. This cycle has been very slow in the beginning but it has peaked late, many days in the last month have been 150 or above. This morning on 28 Mhz. (10 meters) operating a digital mode of JT65 and QRP power of only 2 watts I have worked all over Eastern and Western Europe. Two days ago I worked Australia on 40 meters with 10 watts of power. If you have not tried JT65 & JT9 you are missing tons of low power QSOs. Give it a try, you'll like it......... Jack WB9OTX

X1M Platinum

X1M SSB CW 4 watt xceiver

The postman dropped off this little QRP rig today about noon. I had to solder the power connector on witch took about 15 minutes, I put an adapter on the BNC antenna receptacle so I could use a PL259. I flipped the power on and the internal speaker came to life. I got a stiff neck bobbing  my head to focus my bifocals in on the very small LED menu. Its going to take a few days to remember all the menu ajustments. The first contact was to a station in So. Dakota on the 20 meter SSB band, my report was 44. The second contact was on 75 meters and the guys couldn't get over how good I sounded with only 4 watts of power. I was running S8 to 9 with good audio. I called CQ on the 20 meter QRP frequency but received no replies. Tomorrow is another day and I can't wait for 15 & 10 to open up. I'm going to build a portable antenna for 40 and 20, also a small nicad battery pack to operate portable back packing. I can run 1500 watts with other radios I have but I get a bigger kick out of the flea power this little radio puts out..... Jack WB9OTX
Flash: 10/20/13 Ten meters was open today. I worked about 12 or 15 stations all over Europe. I am getting more proficient with the menu commands now. A great fun radio, I love it !!

QRP Ham Radio

I know most readers of this blog are not Ham radio enthusiasts, but I just wanted those who are to hear about the fun I've had the last few days with a little rig named Yaesu FT-7. It is considered a QRP (low power) rig with only 10 watts output. I have used it only on 75 and 40 meters so far but it covers 75 through 10. It is a basic no frills radio, no menus no squelch, no memory keyer, no memories, no split vfo, no general coverage receive, no dsb. With all that said it just has the switches and knobs you need to make contacts. I have made several contacts on 40 meters with great reports, both on audio and signal strength. I just worked a fellow in Virginia that was running 800 watts, I gave him an honest 57 and I received a 59. I do have a very good antenna and I give the credit of the good reports to it. I have found it is best to not tell that I am only sending out 10 watts as it makes the guy on the other end feel bad. If you are a new ham and on a budget think about buying a vintage rig, perhaps made in the 70s or 80s. These rigs are built like a tank and can be picked up at a bargain price. Spend any extra money you have on the antenna system. Have fun and look for me on the bands..........Jack WB9OTX