Rich Moseson has put a call out on the QRP e-mail reflectors for articles:
Hi everyone,
I know this is short notice to be making this request, but CQ is looking for unique QRP-related stories for our annual QRP Special in the February 2020 issue. Have you made an unusual accomplishment, built and used something really cool with great results, taken your QRP station out portable and come back with a great story? Do you have a project article to share?
If you do, please drop me a note at and let me know your idea. We've got a short turnaround right now, so I'd need to hear from you ASAP and have finished articles in 2-3 weeks (before Christmas).
Vy tnx in advance and 72/73 for a great holiday season,
Rich W2VU
Editor, CQ
Rich was kind enough to publish an article of mine in the 2014 CQ QRP Special Edition. I know a lot of you out there have some really cool experiences and some very good QRP ideas.
Time to get published!
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
As someone who writes a website on long wave economic depressions and prepping, I reckon the old coot who runs www.urbansurvival.com is about the last one on earth you'd hear a QRP story from. But, since I didn't see an email to submit via, a short story about two of my favorite hobbies (prepping and ham radio) could be of interest.
ReplyDeleteLike many hams, we live in the East Texas Outback on 30 acres; Land of God, guns, and grub, by some people's estimates. With little traffic, low taxes, and 100-foot high antenna supports in the form of Southern and Loblolly pines, what's not to love?
In the prepping (Faraday cage, metal garbage can) I salted away an old 20-meter 3-watt rig built 5-6 years back. The idea was simple: If the SHTF, would I be able to keep up comes if all the other gear, save maybe some of the tube rigs, be able to "go the distance?"
Hauling the rig "out of the can" first problem was 12 volt power. We have a big grid-tie solar setup, but that's 24 Volts. Still, the load of QRP was so light that "tapping up a couple of 6-volt deep cycles from ground fired the rig, though from sitting in the can for several years of hot Texas summers, a shot of DeOxit on the key jack was required. DeOxit as some to toss in a prepping kit? Novel finding...
Next step, as both a FISTS and SKCC type was to start listening around. Without too much effort, with the beam pointed up West/Northwest, I was able to pull in a 5-5-9 out of the SF Bay area. On the map it was around 1,600 miles, which penciled out to 800-miles per watt. Pretty sure that without a beam it would be tougher, but should the SHTF (for real) the bands would be a lot quieter.
I joined, long ago, the 1,000 mile per watt ranks. Even with a couple of solid state rigs with big amps online, the experience reminded me that when push comes to shove, the reason I've stayed active in the hobby for >55-years is everywhere you turn, there's competition with the only score-keeper that matters.
Ourselves.
Vy 73
de AC7X