If you want to work a DX station in a pileup, you have to learn how to Work Split. In this video, I explain the process, give an example with a diagram, and then show how to Work Split with a KX1, KX3, and a FT-817.
Category Archives: Operating
Bike. Radio. Japan!
I took my KX2 this morning when I went out to ride my bicycle. I found a good place to put up my dipole where I could be in the shade. After working 2 Japanese stations, I used my phone to record video of me working a third station so you can share in the joy of portable QRP.
Why not take your radio with you when you go out for a walk, a hike, bike riding, etc. You never know what will happen!
PSK31 Digital Mode
If I only had 30 minutes to teach and demonstrate the PSK31 digital mode, this video is what I’d say and show. PSK31 is an excellent mode for QRP and you can work a lot of DX with it. If you haven’t tried it, you should! – Cliff
Four Days In May – 2016
I recently returned from the Four Days In May QRP event in Dayton, OH. Here are some thoughts on the fun of meeting QRP rock stars, seeing the debut of the Elecraft KX2, and hanging out with like-minded QRP Nerds. I also share a couple of interesting QRP contacts.
Bottom Line: Plan to attend FDIM next year!
QRP ARCI: http://http://www.qrparci.org/
Elecraft KX2: http://www.elecraft.com
Steve WG0AT: https://www.youtube.com/user/goathiker
QRPMe: http://qrpme.com
New England QSO Party – From Bobcat Ridge
This past weekend, I took the Mountain Topper radios (3B and 5B) to Bobcat Ridge and worked a bunch of stations. In this video, I show my antenna setup and work 5 or 6 stations. At the end of the video, I show all of the stations I worked.
Not bad for 3 watts and a wire antenna. I was only transmitting for about 90 minutes, total. The various contests running this weekend made it super-easy to work QRP!
FIRST LOOK: MTR-5B (Mountain Topper 5-Band)
LNR Precision (www.LNRPrecision.com) recently released the first production batch of their new Mountain Topper 5-Band QRP radio.
The MTR-5B is THE new pocket-sized QRP radio to have. Highly Recommended!
As soon as I took it out of the box and hooked it up, my first contact was CN8KD in Morocco on 30m. I take that as as good omen for all of the fun I will have with this amazing little rig.
In this video, I show you the improvements over the (still awesome) MTR-3B radio. I then hook it up to an antenna and take it for a spin, letting you see the new four-line LCD display and some of the many cool features.
Band-Pass Filters for QRM
In this video, I explain how band-pass filters can reduce or eliminate QRM (interference).
Using a spectrum analyzer, I demonstrate a band-pass filter that I built based upon an article I found in the September 1988 edition of QST magazine. The article can be read here:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/8809017.pdf
Winlink Digital Mode
Winlink lets you easily send/receive email from anywhere on the face of the Earth with your HF radio. This is a key component of disaster preparedness for hams who will step up and provide communications for others in a time of need. (The impending Zombie Apocalypse is reason enough to learn this, people.)
In the first 7 minutes, I give you the background information on Winlink… what it is, why it’s important, and how it works. Then, I fire up the computer and a QRP radio (naturally!) to do a demo of sending and receiving email.
ARRL International DX Contest
I played around in the ARRL International DX Contest this weekend for a total of about 8 hours. During that time, I worked 49 countries!
I’m NOT a contester. I’m not really even all that great at CW but I do enjoy it. If I can do this, you can do this, too.
The contest exchange of information was:
DX Station: Call sign, Signal Report (always “599”) and Power Level
American Station: Call sign, Signal Report (always “599”) and State abbreviation.
In this video, I show you my station setup and then record my screen so you can see me working some DX stations via QRP.
Don’t miss the Bonus Track at the end of the video…
-Cliff