What is QRP?
The abbreviation QRP is actually one of the acronym Q codes used in amateur radio. QRP means “please reduce power“. Today, QRP means to operate using low power, and a ham is said to be operating QRP when his CW output power is 5 watts or less or his SSB output is 10 watts or less.
Here, antenna type or quality is not an indicator. The goal is to show what you can do with low power. Of course a good antenna will make your work easier.
Well, let’s say you have a 100W HF device. We call HF because the QRP job is usually HF experience. It can be normal or morse type conversation. Why use the device at 5W or less when you have to operate the device at full power and make a booming QSO? The answer is very simple: Experience and skill !! Can there be anything as enjoyable as making QSO with 5W, especially in contest or long distances?
The following frequency table can be used for QRP.
Band | CW/Morse | Voice |
160m | 1810 kHz | 1910 kHz |
1843 kHz | ||
80m | 3560 kHz | 3985 kHz |
3690 kHz | ||
60m | 5346.5 kHz (Ch2) | |
40m | 7030 kHz | 7090 kHz |
7122 kHz | 7285 kHz | |
30m | 10106 kHz | |
10116 kHz | ||
20m | 14060 kHz | 14285 kHz |
17m | 18096 kHz | 18130 kHz |
15m | 21060 kHz | 21285 kHz |
21385 kHz | ||
12m | 24906 kHz | 24950 kHz |
10m | 28060 kHz | 28365 kHz |
28385 kHz | ||
6m | 50096 kHz | 50185 kHz |
2m | 144060 kHz | 144285 kHz |
Italics and bold frequencies are especially preferred frequencies in Europe.
How can I start QRP, where to start?
First you must be a good listener before making QRP calls. Then, if your device power is 5W or above, change the output power from the settings to the QRP level and try to make a QRP with CQ call at a clean frequency with a nearby station.
Once you have some experience, you can create your own device to make a QRP. With some components sold in the Internet (eg http://www.qrpkits.com or https://qrpguys.com), you can create your own QRP transceiver device. Nowadays HF Signals µBITX/BITX40 kits are popular.
You can then join the QRP contests and join the following QRP events.
Organisation | Web site |
---|---|
Adventure Radio Society | www.arsqrp.blogspot.com |
eHam.net QRP forums | www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php/board,23.0.html |
GQRP Club | www.gqrp.com |