Sunday, July 17, 2016

I just used Ed K3HTK's auto fldigi install script to install fldigi on my Raspberry Pi 3. The script works very well, I have my Pi connected to my KX3 - you can find the script at:  http://indyham.com/news/fldigi-install-script-for-raspberry-pi-latest-version-3-23-12/ . FLDIGI is a free program that offers many digital modes including PSK31, RTTY, Hell, MT63, Olivia and even CW. Versions are available for Windows, Apple OS X and Linux. You can download fldigi from :  https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/files/fldigi/


73, AL - VE3RRD

Thursday, July 14, 2016

QRP is most effective when using a "narrow-band" mode such as CW. Assuming the person receiving you has good CW filtering, 5W of CW has the same copy-ability at the receiving end as 100W or more of SSB voice. In most cases you will see a two S-unit (12 dB) or more improvement with CW as compared to SSB voice. See http://barrie-wax-group.dyndns.org/images/CWvsSSB.jpg and  http://wb9dlc.com/QRP_Works.htm for an explanation of the power density differences between CW and SSB.


The important skills the QRPer must develop aren't just communication/operating skills, but include a better understanding of the many aspects propagation (day, night, summer, winter, sunspots, solar flares, geomagnetic storms), as well as antenna concepts such as take-off angle, vertical vs. horizontal, antenna radiation efficiency, height above ground, dipoles, end-feds, verticals etc. etc. When you are operating QRP portable then you must choose between weight and size verses efficiency for the radio, the battery, the feedline, the antenna and the antenna configuration you plan to use. 
A high-power (QRO) operator just turns up the power and uses a giant yagi on top of his 100 foot tower to blast through, a QRP operator in the field fights for every fraction of an S-unit improvement he can get. It is definitely "skill instead of power".

Wednesday, July 6, 2016


The Amateur QRP Radio group, see their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/qrpradio/ is having their 1st International Amateur QRP Radio Field Weekend starting at 18:00 UTC on Friday 8 July until 18:00 UTC on Sunday 10 July.
Maximum power is 5W.
Goal: Work as many Amateur QRP Radio members as you can, from your shack or operating portable. Keep track of how many Amateur QRP Radio members you contact and tell everyone else about our Amateur QRP Radio Facebook group!

GROUP CALLING FREQUENCIES*
SSB (Single Sideband)
40 metres – 7.185 MHz
20 metres – 14.285 MHz
17 metres – 18.145 MHz
15 metres – 21.285 MHz
10 metres – 28.365 MHz
2 metres – 144.775 MHz
CW (Morse Code)
40 metres – 7.035 MHz
30 metres – 10.115 MHz
20 metres – 14.035 MHz
17 metres – 18.075 MHz
15 metres – 21.035 MHz
10 metres – 28.035 MHz

Amateur QRP Radio is an international group of amateur radio licensees who practice and enjoy QRP low power operations. More information may be found on the Amateur QRP Radio Facebook group. You can apply for an "AQRxxx" number which you can exchange with other group members when you contact them.