QRP

QRP means "decrease your power" — in amateur radio QRP simply means low power (5W or less output to the antenna).

On 30m, the QRP calling frequencies or center of activity frequencies are: 10116, 10106. However, these frequencies are very often used by high power stations and split DX pile ups and 10126 is a good alternative which may become the prime QRP frequency.

G4ALG Clock

A more viable option for QRP communications on 30m may be to use frequencies that are not a round 1000 Hz, i.e. not a round kHz — because most hams now use frequencies that read .000 on the display. Thus, using a random frequency in between, or at least something other than .0, is a good bet to be free of QRM (interference), an important factor in QRP communications.

For just US $ 55.00 one can now buy an easy to build fully featured CW 5W transceiver, with dual VFO, RIT, digital readout to 10Hz, 200Hz filter, sensitive receiver, for the 30m band, along with internal keyer, on-board straight key, frequency memories, keyer memories, and more. Check out the QCX from QRP Labs here: http://qrp-labs.com/qcx.html

Thousands of hams are now purchasing this kit and getting on air, giving a boost to the CW and QRP revival which has already been underway in recent years. Two-way QRP contacts around the world are possible on 30m, especially if one is able to operate from a low-noise environment, and with the small QCX and battery and a temporary portable antenna this should be easy to achieve and encourage us more to go out into nature.

Those who are interested in 30m QRP communications and would like to set up skeds or share their experiences, please post in the forums we'd love to hear from you.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License