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 Previous: Foundation for Amateur Radio Announces 2003 Scholarship Winners |  Next: QSL Addressing the Easy Way |
By Anthony A. Luscre, K8ZT
Contributing Editor
July 29, 2003
This column marks my 18th. Over the past few months snippets of information, e-mail from readers and news have filled my inbox. This month we'll empty it.
QRP Club and Internet News
In early June the NorCal and New Jersey QRP Club announced plans to merge. The resulting American QRP Club pulls together two QRP organizations that have been very active in encouraging homebrewing and kitting of QRP equipment. The club's two quarterly journals--QRPp and QRP Homebrewer--will be merged into Homebrewer. This will be a large-format magazine that includes some 70 pages (or more) on homebrewing and construction, operating, contesting and club happenings throughout the US. Both clubs will continue to conduct their own local meetings and sponsor large-scale yearly QRP get-togethers on their respective coasts--Pacificon and Atlanticon.
This talk of QRP club activity has reminded me to recommend that you join a QRP club or two. Clubs are available locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. For an extensive list of clubs and links to their web sites visit John Shannon, K3WWP's QRP Clubs Web page. QRP is definitely more fun and productive when you belong to a QRP club.
Following June's QRP Community column, I was delighted to receive an invitation from editor Mike Boatright, KO4WX, to write a column for QRP Quarterly, the journal of the QRP-Amateur Radio Club International (QRPARCI). As a longtime reader of this fine quarterly, I'm honored to add my new column "The QRP Home Companion" to this journal.
A new QRP mailing list for Linux users is now available. Visit QRPLinux-L to subscribe.
 The HW-8 Handbook (2nd ed) now is available |
Books
I bumped into Mike Bryce, WB8VGE, at a local hamfest in June, and he asked me to let my readers know that the second edition of The HW-8 Handbook now is available. The book is a great resource for the still-popular Heath HW-8 QRP transceiver. It also contains information on the HW-7 and HW-9 models. The latest edition is available from Mike's Heathkit Shop or call 888-476-5279. Bryce's Web site has more information on the book and other great information on Heath radios (QRP and QRO.)
In my January 2003 column, QRP Community: DXing--A Guide for Success Using QRP I'd recommended the fine book The Complete DX'er by Bob Locher, W9KNI, and regretted that it was out of print. At Hamvention 2003 I was delighted to find that it's back in print, and the third edition is available from Idiom Press. Although written from the QRO perspective, Locher has added a new section on QRP DXing. I think QRP fans will enjoy this book and will find many useful hints for QRP DX success within its pages.
 The new QRP Basics book by the Rev George Dobbs, G3RJV. |
In June's column I wrote that the Rev George Dobbs, G3RJV, had authored a new book, QRP Basics. The book is now available from the ARRL On-Line Catalog.
Probably my best discovery at Dayton was a comic book, The Adventures of Zack and Max from Icom. Not just any comic, this one does a great job of describing Amateur Radio for prospective hams of any age. Icom has done a fine job producing this information-packed, easy-to-follow booklet in comic book form. It's available as a free PDF download from the Icom Web site in two formats--as a black-and-white coloring book and as a full-color edition. Both versions can be printed for distribution at your next ham radio presentation.
 Icom has published a new comic book about Amateur Radio. |
Speaking of which, if you or your club are not doing ham radio presentations, I strongly suggest you start. You and a fellow ham can put together a presentation for your local public library or you can gear your program to fifth and sixth graders (or other appropriate school-aged group).
To be successful in getting your presentation in front of school students, you need to do your homework. Visit the ARRL School Teacher Resource Web page for some ideas. Ask your local school(s) what they would be interested in having you present. For more details and ideas on putting on a presentation for your local school, visit the "Presenting Amateur Radio to the Public" section of my Web page.
Ten-Tec Argonaut Odyssey-
In my April column, "QRP Community: The Odyssey of the Argonauts I have a correction and an addition. The 6N2 Model 526 VHF radio was grouped with software-defined radios that were user-ROM upgradeable. Although the 6N2 Model 526 shares the same case and chassis design and DSP with the newer Argonaut V, it does not have a serial port for user upgrade of its ROM.
In the same column I referred to the article "The Second Coming of the Argonaut" (CQ Nov 1971) and Ten-Tec advertising materials from early 1970s. I have received permission from Ten-Tec to post copies on my Web site.
The New 60-Meter Allocation
Many hams already have had a chance to test the waters on 60 meters--the new five-channel, USB-only allocation granted recently. The ARRL Web site offers a 60-Meter FAQ that covers the basics. So, what does this have to do with QRP? The first connection is the limitation of 50 W effective radiated power (ERP) on this band.
If you plan to use a gain antenna (ie, something other than a half-wave dipole), you will need to adjust your transmitter output to something less than 50 W PEP output to remain below the 50 W ERP limit. A QRP radio can be the perfect fit. Remember, however, that you'll have to maintain records on your antenna system and calculate its gain (easily done using computer-based antenna modeling software such as EZNEC). The second connection goes back to the Ten-Tec Argonaut Odyssey and specifically the Argonaut V. Because the Argonaut V is a software-defined radio, the ability to work the new band is just a software upgrade away. The N4PY Control Program by Carl Moreschi, N4PY, has added a feature to handle the channelized frequencies on 60 meters.
Homebrew 75-Meter SSB Transceiver
Attention all homebrewers! David S. Forsman, WA7JHZ, has designed and built an innovative 75-meter SSB QRP transceiver. Checkout the Web site of Don Adams, KJ7NJ, for details, including a schematic and photos. I especially like the unique way Forsman has linked three DPDT slide switches for transmit-receive switching.
Reader Feedback and Author Comments
A number of readers have commented on their successes with QRP on 6 meters during the spring/summer e-skip season. Give 6 meters a try! Even a simple dipole can net many contacts when the band is open.
That empties my e-mail inbox, but I'm always pleased to receive readers' questions, comments or suggestions dealing with the QRP Community column or low-power operating in general.
By the way, a calendar of QRP gatherings around the country is available on my QRP Community Web page.
Editor's note: Anthony Luscre, K8ZT, an ARRL member, lives in Stow, Ohio. He has
worked in the field of medical microbiology for 18 years and is now a
Technology and Computer Coordinator for a local school district. Luscre is an
avid QRP operator having earned DXCC, WAS and WAC using no more that 5 W
output. Readers are invited to contact the author via e-mail, k8zt@arrl.net
or visit his Web site.
| Previous: Foundation for Amateur Radio Announces 2003 Scholarship Winners | Next: QSL Addressing the Easy Way |
