I'm pretty new to amateur radio, and very new to qrp and cw. I want to purchase a new radio and am considering Elecraft KX2 or 3. My concern is, will qrp still work even when we leave the current sun cycle? I have only been activating for a few months and don't know what to expect. I hate to drop $2,000 dollars on a qrp (10 watt max) radio, and then be frustrated with more challenging conditions. I have only activated about 15 pota parks using qrp and have only really experienced one day where I had a lot of difficulty getting 10 contacts qrp.
Thanks,
QRP coming out of 25 sun spot cycle
Re: QRP coming out of 25 sun spot cycle
Conditions have been pretty rough all year, at least on the weekends. You still make contacts though. Don't worry about it. You will still make contacts. I don't have a radio that expensive as the ones you listed. You can always get something more budget friendly, maybe not as convenient. I have an Icom IC-718, no it's not QRP but you can turn the power down to QRP, not really that fun to lug around though, a TruSDX...this is a budget friendly radio though it's not all band, a collection of QRPp kit rigs, like rockmite, pixie, cricket, tuna tin. It's all fun, a bit more of a challenge. Out of that the TruSDX is the most usable if you're going to be on the go. But just tossing it out there...you don't have to spend that kind of money. QRP labs looks like they have a bunch of budget rigs that look admirable. You could get a handful of portable rigs for under the price of a KX2 or 3.
But I'll double down on what I said early on...don't worry about the band conditions. There's been a couple days recently where the bands sounded unusable, and that's going to happen occasionally regardless of the sun cycle. The only actual thing that keeps people from making contacts are people looking at the solar forecast and seeing it's only fair so they decide to not get on the air. Don't do that.
But I'll double down on what I said early on...don't worry about the band conditions. There's been a couple days recently where the bands sounded unusable, and that's going to happen occasionally regardless of the sun cycle. The only actual thing that keeps people from making contacts are people looking at the solar forecast and seeing it's only fair so they decide to not get on the air. Don't do that.
Re: QRP coming out of 25 sun spot cycle
I'm a fairly new operator as well (this time around).
I'll note that amateur radio has an extensive legacy (decades!) of QRP operators/enthusiasts. QRP activity will not fade away with the changing sun cycle. It was QRP builders/operators that first interested me in radio 27 years ago.
I'll also note that I have had lots of fun with my under-$200 QRP-Labs QMX transceiver: 5 bands, all modes, QRP. I'm also finishing building a QMX+: same radio but for 6m-160m. You can get either radio assembled or as a kit (QMX+ is relatively easy; QMX is a much compressed form factor and significantly more challenging). It's a great-sounding radio, very portable, and easy to use.
OTOH, if you have the cash and the inclination for a KX2/KX3, those seem to be pretty much the top of the line!
72 de Todd W2TEF
I'll note that amateur radio has an extensive legacy (decades!) of QRP operators/enthusiasts. QRP activity will not fade away with the changing sun cycle. It was QRP builders/operators that first interested me in radio 27 years ago.
I'll also note that I have had lots of fun with my under-$200 QRP-Labs QMX transceiver: 5 bands, all modes, QRP. I'm also finishing building a QMX+: same radio but for 6m-160m. You can get either radio assembled or as a kit (QMX+ is relatively easy; QMX is a much compressed form factor and significantly more challenging). It's a great-sounding radio, very portable, and easy to use.
OTOH, if you have the cash and the inclination for a KX2/KX3, those seem to be pretty much the top of the line!
72 de Todd W2TEF
Re: QRP coming out of 25 sun spot cycle
Todd is correct!
Don't let dwindling solar cycles scare u away from qrp. Sure it's tuffer to make Qs but thats the fun of the challenge.
Maybe u can find a used penntek tr35 or 45 somewhere. Tho not all band like a kx2/3 both are easier on the bank account
72s and have fun !
de k8zfj
Don't let dwindling solar cycles scare u away from qrp. Sure it's tuffer to make Qs but thats the fun of the challenge.
Maybe u can find a used penntek tr35 or 45 somewhere. Tho not all band like a kx2/3 both are easier on the bank account
72s and have fun !
de k8zfj
Re: QRP coming out of 25 sun spot cycle
This is my fourth cycle and my second cycle of "Only QRP", I have made lots of contacts even at the lowest points of the cycle. It does become more important to have decent antennas (At least a EFHW or dipole not a short compromised antenna) and it is also becomes more important to pick the right time of day and band to use.
Since I live in a country with very few (active) hams most of my QSO's are DX of 8000km or further so that makes it even more difficult.
And as always CW rules!
73, Rudi de ZS6DX/ZS2M/ZS1BT/V51VE
Since I live in a country with very few (active) hams most of my QSO's are DX of 8000km or further so that makes it even more difficult.
And as always CW rules!
73, Rudi de ZS6DX/ZS2M/ZS1BT/V51VE
-
Brian - K3ES
- Posts: 118
- Joined: Fri May 27, 2022 12:55 pm
- Location: NW Pennsylvania
Re: QRP coming out of 25 sun spot cycle
I am a newer ham, first licensed in 2020, near the last solar minimum. I got my start with QRP, so that i could participate in Parks on the Air (POTA), beginning in early 2021. I activate parks using 5 watts and CW mode. I have never had a problem getting contacts, provided: 1. I used a decent antenna (dipole, EFHW, or EFRW), 2. I used bands and times of day to help me, and 3. I was persistent.
At the peak of the Solar cycle, I was successful with compromised antennas. Truthfully, my hardest-fought POTA operations have happened over the last few months, as solar flares and CMEs messed up propagation. Success was still possible by applying provisions 1, 2 & 3, but QSO count has been way down.
Now the good news: there are many more POTA and SOTA operators than there were in 2021, so you can count on hunters and activators to be on the air almost any day of the week. If POTA is your thing, this is really good news.
Oh, and if you want real, long-term proof of QRP's viability, take a look at K3WWP's web page (http://k3wwp.com/index.html). He documents his daily QRP CW contact streak that started on August 5, 1994, and continues to the present day, more than 21 years later. He uses wire antennas, and his main rig is currently a KX3.
Best 72 de Brian - K3ES
At the peak of the Solar cycle, I was successful with compromised antennas. Truthfully, my hardest-fought POTA operations have happened over the last few months, as solar flares and CMEs messed up propagation. Success was still possible by applying provisions 1, 2 & 3, but QSO count has been way down.
Now the good news: there are many more POTA and SOTA operators than there were in 2021, so you can count on hunters and activators to be on the air almost any day of the week. If POTA is your thing, this is really good news.
Oh, and if you want real, long-term proof of QRP's viability, take a look at K3WWP's web page (http://k3wwp.com/index.html). He documents his daily QRP CW contact streak that started on August 5, 1994, and continues to the present day, more than 21 years later. He uses wire antennas, and his main rig is currently a KX3.
Best 72 de Brian - K3ES