The QRPer Board

So, I got my CW Morse N0SA paddle and took it out for it's first in-field use when I activated K-2166 and K-2176. There are lots of things to like about the paddle: it's very well built and it's possible to adjust it for exactly the feel I want. Even still, so far, it's not my favorite. Things may c...

Scott ... I finally had a chance to unwind my linked EFHW and take some measurements. Here's what I found: The 30m segment is 43' 10" long. Connecting the 40/20/15/10m segment makes the total length 63' 9". Of course everyone's dimensions will be slightly different, so YMMV. We're both in ...

A related question: As pointed out, an EFHW is resonant on multiple bands. For portable operations, where deployment conditions might vary, is it safe to trust the SWR will be as it should, or is some sort of SWR indicator recommended? My SW-3B doesn't have an SWR meter and I had the same concern, ...

I also have a linked EFHW, although I'm basically a slacker and went for the minimalist version, mostly because my Venus SW-3B only has three bands (20-30-40m). So, I have a 40m (66') EFHW, with one link at 49' 3" for 30m. That gives me all I need for now, and even with that I rarely pull the l...

I’m about to receive my first portable QRP rig—a QCX-mini—and am battery shopping. Specifically, I’m stuck between two Eremit LiFePo4 models (I live in Europe), 2 Ah or 4 Ah. I’m drawn to the compactness of the smaller one, and it appears that it can power the QCX for several hours. But I’d like to...

[snip, snip] One more question - Should I decide to start with the QCX+, what single band would you recommend for most general use? I've been off the air for a long time, and don't know where folks hang out these days... Jay KD9VGR If this helps, of the 276 QRP CW contacts I've had over the past se...

N8TGQ wrote: ↑Mon Sep 12, 2022 3:01 pm ...
Is there a notice from the FCC that they're exempt?

I thought avoiding contesting on the WARC bands was a convention ("gentlemen's agreement") and the practice among contest sponsors. Didn't realize it was an FCC requirement. Are you sure about that?

73 Skip K4EAK

I have an email to IARU asking if they have weighed in on this topic. I will be sure to share if I get a response. One thing I noted in searching the IARU site, was how they define a contest: Contesting consists of making the maximum number of contacts with other radio amateurs in a defined time. T...

Everyone keeps saying "POTA is not a contest." I know that's what POTA says, and it may be true. But POTA certainly has some contest-like elements. (We do have a leader board to show who's beating who in the activations department, and we do give out awards for performance, etc.) Has anyon...

Just to be clear, these homemade packs don't have a BMS (although I suppose one could be added). Instead, I just take the batteries out and charge them in a four-slot lithium battery charger. The upside is that these 18650 batteries cost less than a couple dollars each, which means a 3 Ah pack runs ...