[Elecraft] Vedr: SSB QRP

Wed Apr 18 05:06:56 EDT 2012

Hi Ron.

I work QRP SSB a lot using my Elecraft K2, ICOM IC-703 and the Yaesu FT-817.
I'm an casual contester who mainly attend the big contests like CQ WPX SSB, CQ WW SSB, SAC SSB and WAE SSB and a few others if I have the time and the will to do so.
Most of the time however, I try to work DX when I'm QRP, I mainly operate QRP from my cottage, visting my parents and when I'm traveling.
Most of the time I can make a QSO with everybody I hear on the air, I don't apply any special trixs to be able to do so, it's more like a religion, if I belive it's possible to make a QSO, the QSO is possible to do. On the other hand, if I belivieve it's not possible, then it ain't going to happen!
So it boils down to believe, faith and confidence.
When the transceiver has speech processor, I use a moderate compression level.
When I have space (in the luggage or on the QTH) I use a homemade windom antenna with a 6:1 balun, and a current balun made of 10 snap-on ferrites.
I have an old picture of the windom here: http://arcticpeak.blogspot.com/2007/04/portabel-windomantenne.html
The text is in Norwegian, but a funny Google translation is available here: http://translate.google.no/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Farcticpeak.blogspot.com%2F&sl=no&tl=en&hl=no&ie=UTF-8 
There is a picture of the current balun here (with funny Google translation): http://translate.google.no/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Farcticpeak.blogspot.com%2F&sl=no&tl=en&hl=no&ie=UTF-8
When I don't have space for the windom, I use light weight dipoles made for 40 m and 20 m.
Pictures here: http://translate.google.no/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Farcticpeak.blogspot.com%2F&sl=no&tl=en&hl=no&ie=UTF-8
On the dipoles I use the same snap-on ferrite current balun as I use on the windom.
The Elecraft T1 tuner, and the internal tuners on the K2 and the IC-703 will tune the 20 m band dipole from 40 m and up to 6 m, and the 40 m band dipole form 80 m and up to 6 m.
When luggage space is limited, I use RG-174, but I use RG-58 when it's possible.
I use the original mikes that comes with the transceivers or the Heil Traveler headset.
With 5 watt and simple wire antennas I have worked many DX stations on SSB, including Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan and of course the US, which of course isn't any DX for you americans, but it is DX for me when I'm working QRP from Norway. 
Even with only 1 watt of power it possible to work DX when running SSB!
So turn on your transceiver, hook up the antenna, push the PTT and start working stations!

Martin Storli 
LA8OKA
Oslo, Norway 

ARCTICPEAK's Radio pages! 
http://www.arcticpeak.com/radio.htm

________________________________
 Fra: ron <roncasa at verizon.net>
Til: elecraft at mailman.qth.net 
Sendt: Tirsdag, 17. april 2012 21.43
Emne: [Elecraft] SSB QRP

I realize many here are in the QRO group as evident by K3 mail (smile) 
but here's to hoping there are some QRP'ers in the mix.

Can you share your experiences using QRP SSB. Whether they be rag 
chewing, contesting or working a net. Do you use a speech processor or 
specific mikes. Things like that.

I wud like to know of any specific freqs, nets groups or websites 
dedicated to this faucet of our hobby that you may also share.

(I am aware of QRP Amateur Radio Club International and their listed SSB 
freqs)

Thank you for sharing,

you may also reply direct so as to keep the list uncluttered ....

72
Ron, wb1hga
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