Honestly, I usually run QRP in the field because the radios are tiny and light. It has nothing to do with WANTING to run QRP per se, and has everything to do with not wanting to carry a 100w radio and a big battery around on my back LOL
3db is 3db doesn't matter if you get it from the antenna or the radio if you can hear the other side of the conversation. Biggest advantage to antennas is you get that gain on the RX end also, second biggest is they can be cheaper than a radio upgrade and you're gonna need a better antenna eventually either way since you can't radio yer way out of a bad antenna. Still a bit silly to start QRP if yer not up for a challenge.
Ape, I must say,for a minute I thought you were serious, then I laughed and laughed and laughed. I sat and thought for a minute, took a look again, and said "Wait is he serious?" I honestly don't know at this time and that's a wonderful thing. Keep it up Ape.
@@TheSmokinApe, there is indeed a very silly side to serious pursuits. Catch 22 described it all too well. The more serious people get, the more silly they get. I strictly follow the FCC regs, but everything else I will take pretty lightly. I find RF to be a fascinating hobby that I put a lot of time into. I build and experiment because I'm very curious about RF. I've built a 30 foot tall LowFER antenna with 2 miles of hand-wound wire in it, yes, 2 miles, and with a 3 foot diameter loading coil with 35 pounds of 8 gauge copper wire wound on it. That's pretty serious, but also quite silly. And I keep in mind that radio is still just a hobby.
You know what I do? I jump on a Kiwi SDR that is where I want to make contacts, I start at low power, then if my waterfall trace is blue I bring the power up until it's orange and red.
After this video I checked my rig and turned ON the "punchy signal" and "clean 5W" options in the menu; I really don't know why the default was OFF, but now life is so much better and I am really enjoying QRP Lifestyle 😁
It's more about the antenna than the amount of power. That goes for all of ham radio. Try running a linear when the power has been out for a week or longer. QRP is where it's at!
@@TheSmokinApe, I used to say that too, but after 1 good sunspot cycle I realized that it was even more about conditions, be it height up the mountain, atmospherics, or sitting out on the plains 9 miles away from the nearest power-line. I remember back in the early 1970's talking to the same group of Aussies and not missing a word, every evening after about 8:00 pm for a month or more on 27 MHz till about 11 pm when they would fade out. I was running a SSB CB putting out 18 Watts from my car in Colorado Springs, Colorado. When conditions are that good you hardly have to turn your radio on to get through.
I remember using a 25 watt HTX 10 meter rig in 89/90 and I regularly made contacts around the US, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia from Oregon with just a simple homemade compromised dipole. No baluns or tuners. I did what I could afford as a high school student. If I had to have a 100 watt rig, I would have made zero contacts because I would have never been able to afford one. You do with what you got. That’s the real spirit of ham radio.
The antenna is like the shape and position of a light bulb and the transmit power is its brightness. Why do I like QRP? 🤔 I tend to prefer the technical experimentation side of the service over the communication side as a pastime. Cheers. 😁🍻
QRP challenges the receiving station. Sometimes it is really a struggle to copy a QRP station. At the same time we really enjoy the success of QRP. The amazing feeling of a QRP QSO is just awesome. I don't think it's helpful to say one is better than another.
voacap seems interesting, when setting my locale way down yonder, 10w on the bands I prefer (40/15) are like watching that last tiny ripple blip on a scope, 100w and it lights up like xmas, thats using prop chart and wheel, not sure how you got your screenies, I'll keep playing and find that part, however, its tell me right now there is no way I should be getting anything on 15, yet I'm hearing Spain and Germany, thats at 0130 utc. its nice but yes some of its results are subjective, espesh with thew qrp v 100w+ ;) Nice tool tho Ape, thanks for making us aware of it.
I think you should challenge yourself. My financial situation means that I have to improvise a lot of stuff. As a result I make my own transformers, baluns and antennas. Some people like the challenge of QRP. Others do pota/sota. Keep it fresh, lift each other up and don't be asshats.
Hey Cliff. First, thanks for watching... I have watched many of your videos and respect the work you do to educate hams. You actually produce content that helps people be better hams vs the countless unboxing / affiliate link stuff that seems to be so popular. I tried to outline the QRP dogma behavior in my video but I'd be happy to expand, please keep in mind that I have three QRP radios on my desk... 1. Why the need to announce that you are operating QRP? I don't say "CQ 50 watts 20 meters 50 watts CQ" when calling? QRP operators are quick to say "it's about the antenna" when asked about why they do QRP. Why don't they announce "Dipole antenna, CQ dipole CQ"? No other group of operators choose to announce power level when calling CQ. It seems that there is some level of importance attached to the fact they are operating QRP... why? 2. Why the confusing rhetoric shifting between power measurement scales? It seems like QRP folks want to take a liner scale used for watts and translate it to db, which makes sense but they leave out the distinction of how exponential graphs work and their purpose. Then they take logarithmic derived values and apply them to a linear s-meter value. I appreciate the effort, but it feels like I am being sold a used car. 3. Why is it when a QRPer has a successful activation it is attributed to; skill, patience and antenna wizardry and when the activation is unsuccessful it's attributed to poor band conditions? Personally, I enjoy operating QRP to verify my operating skill and antenna building understanding. But I have ZERO desire to tell people that I am operating QRP when I do, it would seem that I am asking for a handout that I can later say I earned with expertise. If I choose to operate QRP, why would I want to make that known to the world unless I was looking for some form of validation? You see, I'm not against operating QRP, I just don't want favorable or special consideration for doing so.... I hope I haven't said anything upsetting and again I appreciate all you do to advance the hobby. Ape
@@TheSmokinApe Upsetting? No! I think I agree with everthing you're saying!!! (and thanks for the kind words) I NEVER use /QRP at the end of my call sign. I did many years ago and then I realized that some people are put off by it. If propagation is good between us, the receiving station might not even know I'm running QRP. Of course, a 100 watt (or even 1,500 watt) signal can be weak to the receiving station. When my signal is weak to the receiving station, maybe they'll have the patience to copy me. But, if I tell them I'm QRP up front, some percentage of those operators may be quicker to "turn the big knob" on me. Not pointing fingers... sometimes I don't have the patience to try to dig a weak signal out of the noise either. Fact: the one time I will absolutely "turn the big knob" is when someone with a straight key is sending poorly-spaced code! Life may not be too short for QRP but life is too short for me to sit here and try to figure out if you're sending an "A" or an "E" followed by a "T"! I know some may think I'm being unkind when I say that, but we all learned Morse Code by listening to perfectly formed code... so we are used to that rhythm (dot/dash ratio). Let's just stick with that instead of getting creative with longer than normal dashes, etc. Successful QRP-ing requires favorable band conditions. I don't really buy into the "special skill" thing. When conditions are good, anybody who tries can make some QRP contacts. When conditions aren't good, it's not much fun. Of course, some people have a higher tolerance for frustration than others. I don't really consider it a failure if I don't make many contacts. It was still fun to put the hook in the water and watch the bobber with anticipation. Sometimes the fish aren't biting. As far as antennas, I use a SOTABEAMS linked dipole 90% of the time. If propagation is good, my trusty half-wave dipole is all I need. I built a hex-beam a long time ago (made a video on it). At the end of the video, I tell people that a hex-beam antenna only gets you about an extra 1/2 S-Unit (3dB) over a dipole... so is it really worth dragging all those parts out into the field over a dipole??? (not to me) I'm not a fan of FT8, although it seems to have taken over most HF traffic. Live and let live. But, I have to say that I miss being able to have actual conversations like we used to be able to have regularly when PSK-31 was popular. It was good to type with you. Keep doing your thing! You have a lot of great videos. - Cliff
There is an important point to share. Radio modes that we listen to with our ears are subject to these logarithmic power changes because our ears are log curve sensors. We can barely hear a 6db change in power. But - for those modes where the listener is a device - all the data modes, television, etc, are linear and far more efficient of bandwidth. That is why a (tr)uSDK system running wspr protocol on a few watts into a loop antenna can be "heard" by another similar machine 11,000 miles away but can't be heard in the next county by a human.
Make sure you use gold contacts, Monster cables for your Ethernet and a dedicated power drop from your utility. Optical cables for your external speakers. I assume you’re using a tube-amp.
nice ! when a solar storm hits and band is closed. does not matter if you have 1 watt or a KW. not getting DX. when the bands are super 1 watt seems like a KW . all comes down to the SUN. some times the best antenna not doing DX and times any wire will do DX . for a few days in NY 10/11/12 meters been way down . today really hopping . does not matter if you are QRP or QRO most hams have MFJ stuff ! 73's
I enjoy working QRP because it brings *me* enjoyment in the hobby. I'm pragmatical about it. My antenna is a cloud warmer for the most part, my coax probably dissipates 1/2 of my 5 W output, and I'm totally reliant on exceptional ionospheric conditions to get anywhere (the other end having a massive HF beam array to make up for my deficiencies helps also,) but when the stars align - I have a boat load of fun. Oh did I mention I like to run FT8 and occasionally CW - LOL. Thanks for the video.
Hey MrBTc, I do operate QRP and enjoy it… my thing is that I don’t subscribe to some of the QRP dogma that seems to be floating around. Thanks for the comment 👍
I operate QRO from home. I like to operate QRP portable for one reason only - because it allows me to get on the air when I otherwise would not be able to. However, if some miracle of physics were to occur which would allow me to operate QRO with equipment the same size as my QRP stuff, I'd operate QRO portable. I don't care what anyone says, I'd rather have 100 watts.
Great video. Anyone can buy an amp with 10BKW and work the world with ease. Where is the fun in that. Just an easy ride. QRP is a skill and more satisfaction when you make that long QSO. Just enjoy the radio with what you have. 73 mate
TX power is only half the equation. A good antenna helps both TX and RX. I was testing my FT8 (hehe) into a dummy load and a nearby ham's rig heard it and automatically spotted me on the Internet. Dummy loads attenuate the signal but do not eliminate it.
I once told a guy on air that I operate a qrp radio because I only had enough money for a g90. He laughed at me and told me qrp is 5 watts or less and he operates at 3 watts and goes out of state daily....no big deal. 😂
@TheSmokinApe And a non-QRPer will follow him to do the same. 😂 I don't QRP, but I think I've heard 'life is too short for QRP' a hundred times. Usually followed by FT8 isn't ham radio and telling me how CW is the best. Wires X isn't radio or real operators HF DX. All of this junk is too prevalent in thr hobby.
I just fly drones but I relate so much. Isn't that cute ? These "pilots" are not "operators" so they blast a 5.8g vtx at 400w in these tiny places, get insane echo feedback and think bumping up the watts and changing to omni antenna's will solve the issue.
As a newb deciding between a G90 and a FT-891 as my first rig, I appreciate your sobering take. Without much real-estate or budget, I’m leaning towards the G90, just in hopes that it’ll be good enough. Not because it’s “QRP” :)
I don't think you can go wrong with the G90. Just don't think it will be your last radio. Buy it and have fun. Then save up for a 7300 or similar and keep the G90 for portable. Put the 7300 in the shack.
Ok, out of all those absurdities(which I know was the joke), the only points I will agree on(or disagree with the joke) are that it does take a certain level of skill or knowledge to successfully work with QRP, and it does take a hell of a lot of patience. Anyone can fire up a 100W radio and work nearly anyone(within reason), even with a mediocre antenna and a "tuner", hell I've done that on lazy nights, when I just want to talk to people.
How the hell were you able to make it through the entire video with a straight face? It must have been from exceptional editing... you forgot to include in the QRP mech list... the proverbial illuminated shack sign. "Some of this looks pretty impressive with contacts getting across to Asia and Europe... but they're probably asleep at this time, so it doesn't really count".... LMAO
End result is most QRP'ers make the poor sap on the receiving end lean forward, strain, and adjust all their dials to pull out the weak signal. Maybe Hams that receive QRP should get most of the credit. LOL.
Thanks for a great chuckle Ape. Once again you make it real. I do both 100W and QRP. Mostly only QRP out in the field. there is a noticeable difference between the two. I can get away with QRP a lot of the times on CW but I know I would get more contacts with 100W. They are both fun and have their place. 73 Bob WV7W
I've operated 5 Watts and less for 30+ years, mainly c.w.. Solar power and battery so minimal power drain. I look at VOACAP. Get on the QRP frequencies for QRP ti QRP contacts. Better to not say QRP on calling CQ because some people are biased and won't answer you. I use resonant dipoles 20m to 10m and a resonant inverted vee for 60m at 5.262 MHz. For other h.f. bands I made a copy of a Joystick with tuner. G4GHB.
As a QRP operator I was digging this video. Then I thought to myself I do need a shirt or hat or something to represent my lifestyle. And then you started talking about buying merch etc. I then realized the satire intended and I felt like I was the joke. I am the joke. Thanks Ape, this was a hilarious take. I’m not a regular viewer but I’ll be watching now for sure. Well done.
At my advanced age I like to get out and enjoy the fresh air and hunt pota........carrying my ic705 with it's internal battery (only) and the bare necessities of a 20 meter half wave whip on a wolf river coil tripod base is about all i can manage! After about an hour of having a fantastic time hunting I can pack up and head home before wetting myself. Keeping it light and simple enables me to enjoy the hobby more.
As someone new to ham radio (just studying), I am a little confused. Was he making fun of QRP and "anti" QRP, or just QRP? Edit: I miss heard which was 10W and 100W.
Hey Ape! You wouldn’t happen to be the station along Grand Ave in Surprise? There is a tower and beam that gives me a serious case of “I want it” every time we come down there from Bullhead City to visit our son. De n7kme (and Pam, Kb7ryb)
There’s a qrp channel that did the 10 vs 100 watts using a radio connected to a dummy load and the other using the regular antennas, both on the same desk… ignoring noise level, etc… then people pointed that out and he did the same test on a web sdr 250 km away. In his mind he proved that 10w delivers the same signal that 100 does. The worst is that it’s actually a big channel, which influences many new hams.. hindering their experience. You should also do a video about the “Amazon link in the description “ RUclipsrs. 73!
lol I don't know how I missed this one! I like messing around with 1 watt to 800 watts (my current peak power). I just give the QRP only types a hard time about always working 20 meters on up. If QRP is the only way to operate then why don't you work more 160-40 meters! I think there is a saying or meme somewhere that states, "The station that pulled your puny-ass signal out of the noise, deserves the award!"
Although I am a QRPer, I had to laugh at the truisms you quote here! 🤣 When folk evangelise QRP with almost religious fervour, people are left thinking "If it's so good, why do they have to sell it so hard?". The over sell is counterproductive. I like the construction side of QRP and using low power when conditions permit, when conditions don't permit, I turn up the power to a sufficient level. Each to their own.
If we all pool our resources together and each run very long antennas we may just be able to operate at exceedingly low watts, then we'd only have to connect each of the receiving radios into the antennas... wait... that's basically just the internet. At least we wouldn't waste power going into the ocean.
I laugh every time I see someone using 40m NVIS two states away to 'prove' there is no difference between 10w and 100w. After two years operating 10w and 100w from Hawaii, I can definitely say I get about 7-10x the number of QSOs with 100w compared to 10w on SSB.
@@bassmanjr100 Most of those videos are trying to tell you there is no difference between 10 and 100 watts. Working the next state over doesn't prove they are the same, it just proves that 10w will work one state away.
YOU ARE GUILTY of talking QRP smack and promoting felonous activities and if they are .... Monkey talk.. Tanks for the chuckle. Next up, Baofeng Myths BUSTED? Spurious are not a problem outside of city limits and hey most folks aren't affected... Love it. That should tease some ham cronies. Trash talk aside, I have always enjoyed your videos. Thanks.
@ No not at all. It's the guys running BIG power and splattering down 3 and up 3 and then complaining that the POTA guys are taking up all the available Frequencies when they are making 7 frequencies unusable because they are running big power. I actually heard one bragging he was running 2K. When I took my test 30+ years ago I'm pretty sure one of the questions on the test was how much power should you use....and the answer was you should only the "minimum " amount of power necessary to make a contact. With the solar cycle almost peaking and the bands in such great shape, they don't need to be running that much power and yes splattering all over. If I can talk from Texas to Europe on 5w and get 57/58 reports then they don't need to run so much power just to gain an s unit or two. That's my position.
This is why I love the g90. First cause I can't afford anything better then there's the fact I don't fit in anywhere. No standard 100w so I'm not breaking pileups and too much to call qrp.
I prefer my 705 over all other radios. Qrp needs patience and propogation condition understanding. My best was a station from Moscow 5 watts and 817nd. Thanks for the video 🎉
Like I have a dirty phone screen but I don't. I can go to another channel and all is good. Watching yours tonight the play progress bar and paid promotions warning flashes about twice a second. Driving me ape shot crazy...... .see what I did there...
5w are 37 dBm and 100w are 50 dBm, so the difference is 13 dBm, right? Or two Smeter signal bars... it really is a difference but not so much as people think... Unfortunately many hams have antennas that are poor performers, specially on low bands, so they have to rely on power (of others too) Give me a pair of 300 ft towers and I will be QRP for life.
Hilarious !!.. Sooo funny.. thx for the laugh!! I bet you didn’t know I operate QRP QRP k0klb QRP QRP, but I like to keep it a secret.. so, Shhhhh (just like my signal) keep it between us.. lol
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Next time we'll talk about Crossfit.
You must have read my mind 😮
Exactly what I was thinking! And vegan......
😳
That is the first thing that crossed my mind too.
How do you know that someone is a QRP Vegan CrossFitter? They tell you every five minutes
Honestly, I usually run QRP in the field because the radios are tiny and light. It has nothing to do with WANTING to run QRP per se, and has everything to do with not wanting to carry a 100w radio and a big battery around on my back LOL
I do the same thing sometimes, makes total sense 👍
💯
Been a ham since the early 80's I have found that the antenna makes as much if not more difference than adding watts.
I would totally agree 👍
So it took you 45 years to figure that out.
@@placeholder-065 no just made a comment. figured that out first week!
@@keithhawkins4641 OK then. Take care.
3db is 3db doesn't matter if you get it from the antenna or the radio if you can hear the other side of the conversation. Biggest advantage to antennas is you get that gain on the RX end also, second biggest is they can be cheaper than a radio upgrade and you're gonna need a better antenna eventually either way since you can't radio yer way out of a bad antenna. Still a bit silly to start QRP if yer not up for a challenge.
The first rule of QRP Club is we do not talk about QRP Club!
Right 👍
Ape, I must say,for a minute I thought you were serious, then I laughed and laughed and laughed. I sat and thought for a minute, took a look again, and said "Wait is he serious?" I honestly don't know at this time and that's a wonderful thing. Keep it up Ape.
I’m not sure if I am serious or not either 😮
@@TheSmokinApe, there is indeed a very silly side to serious pursuits. Catch 22 described it all too well. The more serious people get, the more silly they get. I strictly follow the FCC regs, but everything else I will take pretty lightly. I find RF to be a fascinating hobby that I put a lot of time into. I build and experiment because I'm very curious about RF. I've built a 30 foot tall LowFER antenna with 2 miles of hand-wound wire in it, yes, 2 miles, and with a 3 foot diameter loading coil with 35 pounds of 8 gauge copper wire wound on it. That's pretty serious, but also quite silly. And I keep in mind that radio is still just a hobby.
If you're not causing a brownout when transmitting, you still have watts to spare. 👌
lol, right 👍
You know what I do?
I jump on a Kiwi SDR that is where I want to make contacts, I start at low power, then if my waterfall trace is blue I bring the power up until it's orange and red.
That’s a great tip 👍
Great idea!
I use KiwiSDR just to see where I’m being heard. Now I know how to improve the noise I’m making.
After this video I checked my rig and turned ON the "punchy signal" and "clean 5W" options in the menu; I really don't know why the default was OFF, but now life is so much better and I am really enjoying QRP Lifestyle 😁
Sounds like you are well on your way!
Sonnnn 100w is QRP these days ;)
lol 🍻
It's the 800 watt guys on FT8 that are annoying. The QRP guys are rock stars.
💯
800w on FT8 is like duck hunting with patriot missiles!
800 is QRP compared to my 1.5kw!
@@davidc5027Going from 800 watts to 1,500 watts gets you 1/2 of an S-Unit on the receiving end. Because math.
800W on FT8 is the bare minimum !
It's more about the antenna than the amount of power. That goes for all of ham radio. Try running a linear when the power has been out for a week or longer. QRP is where it's at!
Exactly, it’s all about the antenna…
@@TheSmokinApe, I used to say that too, but after 1 good sunspot cycle I realized that it was even more about conditions, be it height up the mountain, atmospherics, or sitting out on the plains 9 miles away from the nearest power-line. I remember back in the early 1970's talking to the same group of Aussies and not missing a word, every evening after about 8:00 pm for a month or more on 27 MHz till about 11 pm when they would fade out. I was running a SSB CB putting out 18 Watts from my car in Colorado Springs, Colorado. When conditions are that good you hardly have to turn your radio on to get through.
I totally agree that band conditions, antenna and power all play a role in making contacts 👍
“Nothing goes over my head. My reflexes are too fast”
"Mostly because i cannot talk to them on the air" is gold
lol
Very entertaining. Was smiling the entire time.
Awesome David, glad you liked it 👍
I use Bluetooth transmission line, (no loss) feeding a 400 ft rhombic at 1 watt giving me 100w ERP, only when the sunspot number is at 275.
I need some of that BT line 🤔
"FT8 isn't really ham radio, so it doesn't even count." I LOL'd!
@@groundowl3098 lol
I remember using a 25 watt HTX 10 meter rig in 89/90 and I regularly made contacts around the US, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia from Oregon with just a simple homemade compromised dipole. No baluns or tuners. I did what I could afford as a high school student. If I had to have a 100 watt rig, I would have made zero contacts because I would have never been able to afford one. You do with what you got. That’s the real spirit of ham radio.
Work with what you got and and have fun, that’s for watching FW 👍
lol. I was rolling. Small battery. Change the scale. Nobody in that part of the country anyway. It’s in the water anyway.
Glad you liked it jwilly, thanks for watching…
The antenna is like the shape and position of a light bulb and the transmit power is its brightness.
Why do I like QRP? 🤔 I tend to prefer the technical experimentation side of the service over the communication side as a pastime.
Cheers. 😁🍻
That’s what is awesome about the hobby, something for everyone, thanks for watching 👍
QRP challenges the receiving station. Sometimes it is really a struggle to copy a QRP station. At the same time we really enjoy the success of QRP. The amazing feeling of a QRP QSO is just awesome. I don't think it's helpful to say one is better than another.
I’m not really saying QRP is bad, I am saying that some QRP seem to have an elitist mentally and it off putting 👍
voacap seems interesting, when setting my locale way down yonder, 10w on the bands I prefer (40/15) are like watching that last tiny ripple blip on a scope, 100w and it lights up like xmas, thats using prop chart and wheel, not sure how you got your screenies, I'll keep playing and find that part, however, its tell me right now there is no way I should be getting anything on 15, yet I'm hearing Spain and Germany, thats at 0130 utc. its nice but yes some of its results are subjective, espesh with thew qrp v 100w+ ;) Nice tool tho Ape, thanks for making us aware of it.
Hey Ressy, I got my maps with the REL button on the bottom of the screen 👍
I think you should challenge yourself. My financial situation means that I have to improvise a lot of stuff. As a result I make my own transformers, baluns and antennas. Some people like the challenge of QRP. Others do pota/sota. Keep it fresh, lift each other up and don't be asshats.
Hey Daniel. I do operate QRP and do enjoy doing it, what I don’t do is subscribe to the QRP dogma if it wasn’t obvious 👍
@@TheSmokinApe Can I gingerly ask what the "QRP dogma" is? I'm a big QRP nerd, but I've got three 100 watt HF radios on my desk. - Cliff
Hey Cliff. First, thanks for watching... I have watched many of your videos and respect the work you do to educate hams. You actually produce content that helps people be better hams vs the countless unboxing / affiliate link stuff that seems to be so popular.
I tried to outline the QRP dogma behavior in my video but I'd be happy to expand, please keep in mind that I have three QRP radios on my desk...
1. Why the need to announce that you are operating QRP? I don't say "CQ 50 watts 20 meters 50 watts CQ" when calling? QRP operators are quick to say "it's about the antenna" when asked about why they do QRP. Why don't they announce "Dipole antenna, CQ dipole CQ"? No other group of operators choose to announce power level when calling CQ. It seems that there is some level of importance attached to the fact they are operating QRP... why?
2. Why the confusing rhetoric shifting between power measurement scales? It seems like QRP folks want to take a liner scale used for watts and translate it to db, which makes sense but they leave out the distinction of how exponential graphs work and their purpose. Then they take logarithmic derived values and apply them to a linear s-meter value. I appreciate the effort, but it feels like I am being sold a used car.
3. Why is it when a QRPer has a successful activation it is attributed to; skill, patience and antenna wizardry and when the activation is unsuccessful it's attributed to poor band conditions?
Personally, I enjoy operating QRP to verify my operating skill and antenna building understanding. But I have ZERO desire to tell people that I am operating QRP when I do, it would seem that I am asking for a handout that I can later say I earned with expertise.
If I choose to operate QRP, why would I want to make that known to the world unless I was looking for some form of validation? You see, I'm not against operating QRP, I just don't want favorable or special consideration for doing so....
I hope I haven't said anything upsetting and again I appreciate all you do to advance the hobby.
Ape
@@TheSmokinApe Upsetting? No! I think I agree with everthing you're saying!!! (and thanks for the kind words)
I NEVER use /QRP at the end of my call sign. I did many years ago and then I realized that some people are put off by it. If propagation is good between us, the receiving station might not even know I'm running QRP. Of course, a 100 watt (or even 1,500 watt) signal can be weak to the receiving station. When my signal is weak to the receiving station, maybe they'll have the patience to copy me. But, if I tell them I'm QRP up front, some percentage of those operators may be quicker to "turn the big knob" on me. Not pointing fingers... sometimes I don't have the patience to try to dig a weak signal out of the noise either. Fact: the one time I will absolutely "turn the big knob" is when someone with a straight key is sending poorly-spaced code! Life may not be too short for QRP but life is too short for me to sit here and try to figure out if you're sending an "A" or an "E" followed by a "T"! I know some may think I'm being unkind when I say that, but we all learned Morse Code by listening to perfectly formed code... so we are used to that rhythm (dot/dash ratio). Let's just stick with that instead of getting creative with longer than normal dashes, etc.
Successful QRP-ing requires favorable band conditions. I don't really buy into the "special skill" thing. When conditions are good, anybody who tries can make some QRP contacts. When conditions aren't good, it's not much fun. Of course, some people have a higher tolerance for frustration than others. I don't really consider it a failure if I don't make many contacts. It was still fun to put the hook in the water and watch the bobber with anticipation. Sometimes the fish aren't biting. As far as antennas, I use a SOTABEAMS linked dipole 90% of the time. If propagation is good, my trusty half-wave dipole is all I need. I built a hex-beam a long time ago (made a video on it). At the end of the video, I tell people that a hex-beam antenna only gets you about an extra 1/2 S-Unit (3dB) over a dipole... so is it really worth dragging all those parts out into the field over a dipole??? (not to me)
I'm not a fan of FT8, although it seems to have taken over most HF traffic. Live and let live. But, I have to say that I miss being able to have actual conversations like we used to be able to have regularly when PSK-31 was popular.
It was good to type with you. Keep doing your thing! You have a lot of great videos. - Cliff
Sounds like we are on the same page, thanks for checking out the video Cliff 👍
The Egghead speak is strong with this one! I was rolling!
Indeed it is, I saw your email…. You will have one coming your way.
A few moments listening to the IARU beacon project will instantly show you the massive difference between 100, 10, 1 watt and 1/10th of a watt. 73.
Great point Les, thank you 👍
There is an important point to share. Radio modes that we listen to with our ears are subject to these logarithmic power changes because our ears are log curve sensors. We can barely hear a 6db change in power. But - for those modes where the listener is a device - all the data modes, television, etc, are linear and far more efficient of bandwidth. That is why a (tr)uSDK system running wspr protocol on a few watts into a loop antenna can be "heard" by another similar machine 11,000 miles away but can't be heard in the next county by a human.
Great point, thank you LGITW 👍
The roller coaster of emotions seeing that elusive POTA state activating, then noticing qrp.
Hey Thomas, thanks for watching 👍
Great, now I gotta get my QRP on and learn FT8. Love the grey line interaction.
lol, thanks for watching Mr K 👍
This video is great, and the only thing I love more is that there are people in the comments who are falling for some of the quips.
Thanks for watching AFR
Well done Ape. I personally like to oil my insulators and wax my coax for a better IMD and spectral purity. 👍
Good tip! Thanks for watching Hollywood 👍
Make sure you use gold contacts, Monster cables for your Ethernet and a dedicated power drop from your utility. Optical cables for your external speakers. I assume you’re using a tube-amp.
nice ! when a solar storm hits and band is closed. does not matter if you have 1 watt or a KW. not getting DX. when the bands are super 1 watt seems like a KW . all comes down to the SUN. some times the best antenna not doing DX and times any wire will do DX . for a few days in NY 10/11/12 meters been way down . today really hopping . does not matter if you are QRP or QRO most hams have MFJ stuff ! 73's
Thanks for watching and for the comment Robert 👍
This is the qrp ham version of not a Rubicon 😂😂😂😂 someone is engagement farming 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I’m just taking about what I love, and that’s QRP!
@@TheSmokinApe as a QRPer, I approve of this comment.
@@Mo_feezy 👍
Very funny! Got me to subscribe!
@@StanHirson awesome man, thanks for watching 👍
Fantastic video, so true. I always enjoy your content!
Thanks for watching Keith, glad you liked it 👍
What’s the max bandwidth for tx on the 705?
Ya know, I’ve never checked 😮
"Another thing, FT8 isn't actually amateur radio, so it doesn't count either."
You have reached into my soul and drawn out my innermost being.
Haha, glad you liked it 👍
ft8 isn`t amateur radio .... hahahahahahaha .... what is it??
@@jomckarth4836 It's a computer talking to another computer.
The VOACAP part of hamclock is pretty neat.
Sure is, thanks for watching Slick 👍
You’re a funny guy!!!!! Love it.
Thanks bduff, glad you liked it 👍
I enjoy working QRP because it brings *me* enjoyment in the hobby. I'm pragmatical about it. My antenna is a cloud warmer for the most part, my coax probably dissipates 1/2 of my 5 W output, and I'm totally reliant on exceptional ionospheric conditions to get anywhere (the other end having a massive HF beam array to make up for my deficiencies helps also,) but when the stars align - I have a boat load of fun. Oh did I mention I like to run FT8 and occasionally CW - LOL. Thanks for the video.
Hey MrBTc, I do operate QRP and enjoy it… my thing is that I don’t subscribe to some of the QRP dogma that seems to be floating around. Thanks for the comment 👍
This is great, I had a lot of fun listing on the band with you are podcasting on
Thanks Duane, glad you liked it 👍
I'll take every db i can get. Cable, antenna, transmitter. For me its about making the contacts not how challenging it is.
Fair point 👍
Thanks for the detailed information, Ape!
Thanks for checking it out 👍
ROFL 😂 who killed your dog and left a QRP calling card? Very fun video!
Thanks for watching hax, glad you liked it 👍
I operate QRO from home. I like to operate QRP portable for one reason only - because it allows me to get on the air when I otherwise would not be able to. However, if some miracle of physics were to occur which would allow me to operate QRO with equipment the same size as my QRP stuff, I'd operate QRO portable. I don't care what anyone says, I'd rather have 100 watts.
100 > 10, can't argue math... 😳
Great video. Anyone can buy an amp with 10BKW and work the world with ease. Where is the fun in that. Just an easy ride. QRP is a skill and more satisfaction when you make that long QSO. Just enjoy the radio with what you have.
73 mate
Agreed, work with what you have and do what you like 👍
TX power is only half the equation. A good antenna helps both TX and RX.
I was testing my FT8 (hehe) into a dummy load and a nearby ham's rig heard it and automatically spotted me on the Internet. Dummy loads attenuate the signal but do not eliminate it.
Don’t forget solar conditions! Thanks for watching and the comment Mike 👍
I'm all of 3 minutes in, but this is funny as hell. Love it!
Glad you like it DS 👍
Corollary to shooting RAW in photography. Surely there's an "I run QRP" tee like the "I shoot RAW" tee some photographers wear. Great vid, Ape!
Thanks M J, glad you liked it 👍
Some making fun of FroKnowsPhotos?
@@bigloon1 You know it!
I once told a guy on air that I operate a qrp radio because I only had enough money for a g90. He laughed at me and told me qrp is 5 watts or less and he operates at 3 watts and goes out of state daily....no big deal. 😂
Whatever you are doing, a QRP guy will say you are wrong.
@TheSmokinApe And a non-QRPer will follow him to do the same. 😂 I don't QRP, but I think I've heard 'life is too short for QRP' a hundred times. Usually followed by FT8 isn't ham radio and telling me how CW is the best. Wires X isn't radio or real operators HF DX. All of this junk is too prevalent in thr hobby.
I just fly drones but I relate so much. Isn't that cute ? These "pilots" are not "operators" so they blast a 5.8g vtx at 400w in these tiny places, get insane echo feedback and think bumping up the watts and changing to omni antenna's will solve the issue.
Oof.
So If I'm on a repeater with a 5W HT can I claim QRP? asking for a friend. 73
I don’t see why not… answering for a friend 👍
As a newb deciding between a G90 and a FT-891 as my first rig, I appreciate your sobering take. Without much real-estate or budget, I’m leaning towards the G90, just in hopes that it’ll be good enough. Not because it’s “QRP” :)
The g90 is a great and fun radio 👍
@@TheSmokinApe thnx for the vote of confidence. Thinking I was wishful not hitting 100W.
I don't think you can go wrong with the G90. Just don't think it will be your last radio. Buy it and have fun. Then save up for a 7300 or similar and keep the G90 for portable. Put the 7300 in the shack.
Ok, out of all those absurdities(which I know was the joke), the only points I will agree on(or disagree with the joke) are that it does take a certain level of skill or knowledge to successfully work with QRP, and it does take a hell of a lot of patience.
Anyone can fire up a 100W radio and work nearly anyone(within reason), even with a mediocre antenna and a "tuner", hell I've done that on lazy nights, when I just want to talk to people.
I don't disagree with any of that...
No one with a ham radio lives out there in the middle of nowhere where our propagation is great.. so it doesn’t really matter. Bahahaha
Right 👍
How the hell were you able to make it through the entire video with a straight face? It must have been from exceptional editing... you forgot to include in the QRP mech list... the proverbial illuminated shack sign.
"Some of this looks pretty impressive with contacts getting across to Asia and Europe... but they're probably asleep at this time, so it doesn't really count".... LMAO
It was hard to no laugh 👍
If you do this test on Easter Island you will see that there is no difference between 0.1W and 1000W, just water.
LOL
Just out of curiosity what is a QPR'er? typo? Good job on this video as always 73.
A QRPer is someone who operates their radio at low power levels 👍
@@TheSmokinApe, but they asked what a QPR'er was.
Oh, I must have been typing at QRP levels and made a typo 😮
Someone who "Creatively" improves their antenna earth Ground plane resistance.....
Yeah.. and I like calling QC QC.. just to keep people on their toes!
End result is most QRP'ers make the poor sap on the receiving end lean forward, strain, and adjust all their dials to pull out the weak signal. Maybe Hams that receive QRP should get most of the credit. LOL.
The guy on the RX side gets the privilege of working a QRPer 👍
They just need a better receiver. Like an Elecraft.
Thanks for a great chuckle Ape. Once again you make it real. I do both 100W and QRP. Mostly only QRP out in the field. there is a noticeable difference between the two. I can get away with QRP a lot of the times on CW but I know I would get more contacts with 100W. They are both fun and have their place.
73 Bob WV7W
I agree and I even operate QRP sometimes 😮
This is great.
Do it again using SSB, AM, FM. And etc.
I’m pretty sure they will be more VOACAP videos 👍
@@TheSmokinApe
Love your no nonsense approach and your damn good on man video production techniques. 👏
I've operated 5 Watts and less for 30+ years, mainly c.w.. Solar power and battery so minimal power drain. I look at VOACAP. Get on the QRP frequencies for QRP ti QRP contacts.
Better to not say QRP on calling CQ because some people are biased and won't answer you.
I use resonant dipoles 20m to 10m and a resonant inverted vee for 60m at 5.262 MHz. For other h.f. bands I made a copy of a Joystick with tuner.
G4GHB.
Hey Bill, thanks for watching the video 👍
As a QRP operator I was digging this video. Then I thought to myself I do need a shirt or hat or something to represent my lifestyle. And then you started talking about buying merch etc. I then realized the satire intended and I felt like I was the joke. I am the joke. Thanks Ape, this was a hilarious take. I’m not a regular viewer but I’ll be watching now for sure. Well done.
👀 Yeah, I was joking a little bit. Thanks for watching 👍
At my advanced age I like to get out and enjoy the fresh air and hunt pota........carrying my ic705 with it's internal battery (only) and the bare necessities of a 20 meter half wave whip on a wolf river coil tripod base is about all i can manage! After about an hour of having a fantastic time hunting I can pack up and head home before wetting myself. Keeping it light and simple enables me to enjoy the hobby more.
Sounds awesome, thanks for watching NWH 👍
People who are running 100 watts are just adding QRM which is getting in the way of my QRP QSO's honestly
Am I falling for the quip?
@@TheSmokinApein the words of Tom Petty, "Free Fallin'"
Ah
As someone new to ham radio (just studying), I am a little confused. Was he making fun of QRP and "anti" QRP, or just QRP?
Edit: I miss heard which was 10W and 100W.
I was kinda making fun of QRP
@@TheSmokinApeWent sailing over my head.
Most of my best qrp contacts were by complete accident because i forgot to turn the power back up 😂
Haha 😂
Congratulations, I think you were able to piss off all ham operators in under 10 minutes. Impressive! 😂
It was hard work but I got it done 👍
Just the sad ones. Most of us know when we're being silly and lean into it.
@chublez It was a joke. I agree, sad hams have no sense of humor. Fortunately, I rarely meet one. Most hams are pretty nice folks.
Hey Ape! You wouldn’t happen to be the station along Grand Ave in Surprise? There is a tower and beam that gives me a serious case of “I want it” every time we come down there from Bullhead City to visit our son. De n7kme (and Pam, Kb7ryb)
Not me
Well shucky darn. That antenna setup is HUGE
Entertaining and informative. I like it.
Thanks Daniel 👍
You're KILLING ME... STOP... 🤣😂🤣... NICE VIDEO.... QRP over and OUT and roger beep....
Thanks for watching KT0ODW, glad you liked it 👍
There’s a qrp channel that did the 10 vs 100 watts using a radio connected to a dummy load and the other using the regular antennas, both on the same desk… ignoring noise level, etc… then people pointed that out and he did the same test on a web sdr 250 km away. In his mind he proved that 10w delivers the same signal that 100 does. The worst is that it’s actually a big channel, which influences many new hams.. hindering their experience.
You should also do a video about the “Amazon link in the description “ RUclipsrs.
73!
Hey ve2zdx. You simply can believe everything you see on YT.
I should do that video 🤔
Do tell. Which video? Don't be shy...
"Appeal to authority is a logica lfallacy" - TheSmokinApe Your QRP bias is based on you being a CB guy. I do find 10W on FT8 to be pretty good.
But FT8 isn’t real ham radio 😮
lol I don't know how I missed this one! I like messing around with 1 watt to 800 watts (my current peak power). I just give the QRP only types a hard time about always working 20 meters on up. If QRP is the only way to operate then why don't you work more 160-40 meters! I think there is a saying or meme somewhere that states, "The station that pulled your puny-ass signal out of the noise, deserves the award!"
Hey Dylan, they do put the burden on the RX station
I would like to congratulate you for coming out of the QRP Closet. (Edit: LOL)
😮
Although I am a QRPer, I had to laugh at the truisms you quote here! 🤣 When folk evangelise QRP with almost religious fervour, people are left thinking "If it's so good, why do they have to sell it so hard?". The over sell is counterproductive. I like the construction side of QRP and using low power when conditions permit, when conditions don't permit, I turn up the power to a sufficient level. Each to their own.
Hey Ace, I’m totally tracking. Thanks for watching 👍
Omg I’m dead. This is awesome
Glad you liked it Matt 👍
You cracked me up Ape! You do it well with a straight face. You should go into politics! 😂
I'm only allowed to do QRP anyway.😊💪
I should go into politics 🤔
If we all pool our resources together and each run very long antennas we may just be able to operate at exceedingly low watts, then we'd only have to connect each of the receiving radios into the antennas... wait... that's basically just the internet. At least we wouldn't waste power going into the ocean.
And people wonder why the oceans are getting warmer…
I laugh every time I see someone using 40m NVIS two states away to 'prove' there is no difference between 10w and 100w. After two years operating 10w and 100w from Hawaii, I can definitely say I get about 7-10x the number of QSOs with 100w compared to 10w on SSB.
I think the point is that if you want to FT8 the next state 10w is fine. Not everyone is chasing DX on HF. There is no right or wrong way to ham.
I’m right there with you HSE 👍
@@bassmanjr100 Most of those videos are trying to tell you there is no difference between 10 and 100 watts. Working the next state over doesn't prove they are the same, it just proves that 10w will work one state away.
Right
QRP is the Arch Linux of HAM Radio lol I love this video "I Operate QRP btw" should probably be a T-Shirt ;)
Haha
Okay, I’ll do the FT891 instead of there G90.
The g90 is a pretty sweet radio, I really miss the one I sold
Honestly, I did a couple spit-takes from this video! Damn funny stuff!
lol, thanks for checking it out 👍
QRP4L!! Here's your T-shirt design
Haha! Thanks for the comment 👍
That's what I like, empirical evidence and real world results! People can say what they want but results speak for themselves! Good job Ape!😁😁 73
Thanks Chuck, glad you liked it 👍
YOU ARE GUILTY of talking QRP smack and promoting felonous activities and if they are .... Monkey talk.. Tanks for the chuckle. Next up, Baofeng Myths BUSTED? Spurious are not a problem outside of city limits and hey most folks aren't affected... Love it. That should tease some ham cronies. Trash talk aside, I have always enjoyed your videos. Thanks.
Thanks dreupen, glad you liked the videos 👍
I just have various 100 feet towers and stacked yagis to make that qrp guys happy. 😊
@@jareguiky that should help 👍
Ok.. I’m sitting here laughing and also trying to figure out what the myth is that got busted!
Bahahaha
Hey Mike, when you figure it out can you let me know?
I always choose the higher wattage.
The way the good lord intended!
What we've got here is passive aggressive _gold!_ 😅
Lol
I'd rather be QRP than a splatterbox. I guess "minimum amount of power to make a contact" doesn't matter to some.
Is your position that any radio operating more than 10w is a splatter box?
I need an example of what power level the splatter rolls in?
@ No not at all. It's the guys running BIG power and splattering down 3 and up 3 and then complaining that the POTA guys are taking up all the available Frequencies when they are making 7 frequencies unusable because they are running big power. I actually heard one bragging he was running 2K. When I took my test 30+ years ago I'm pretty sure one of the questions on the test was how much power should you use....and the answer was you should only the "minimum " amount of power necessary to make a contact. With the solar cycle almost peaking and the bands in such great shape, they don't need to be running that much power and yes splattering all over. If I can talk from Texas to Europe on 5w and get 57/58 reports then they don't need to run so much power just to gain an s unit or two. That's my position.
This is why I love the g90. First cause I can't afford anything better then there's the fact I don't fit in anywhere. No standard 100w so I'm not breaking pileups and too much to call qrp.
The g90 is a great radio for people to experience HF
It’s not the size of the wand it’s the magic of the magician
💯
I prefer my 705 over all other radios. Qrp needs patience and propogation condition understanding. My best was a station from Moscow 5 watts and 817nd. Thanks for the video 🎉
The 705 is a fantastic radio. Thanks for watching and for the comment 👍
I run my Icom 7100 QRP, which means I have it wide open.
At least, that's what the full legal limit guys tell me...
:)
Haha
Is anyone els having progress bars flashing while wathing this or other channels? Some channels are flash and some are not.....?
?
Like I have a dirty phone screen but I don't. I can go to another channel and all is good. Watching yours tonight the play progress bar and paid promotions warning flashes about twice a second. Driving me ape shot crazy......
.see what I did there...
I do see. It should only pop up in the beginning, I’ll go back a double check the settings. Thanks for the heads up 👍
The internet spotting network doesn’t help my qrp results at all but I use it anyway since it’s actually another form of radio. 🙄
Haha
5w are 37 dBm and 100w are 50 dBm, so the difference is 13 dBm, right?
Or two Smeter signal bars... it really is a difference but not so much as people think...
Unfortunately many hams have antennas that are poor performers, specially on low bands, so they have to rely on power (of others too)
Give me a pair of 300 ft towers and I will be QRP for life.
Yeah, 13db. Thanks for watching David 👍
TNX ES 73 DE KM9G/QRP
QRP QSL QRP
QRP is a burden on the listener, not the sender. If it works thank the listener. In CW the most used programmed message in the keyer is "say again?".
Right, the burden is on the listener and then the QPR'er gets to tell everyone how he made a great contact...
@@TheSmokinApe Can't wait until they discover the roger beep setting.
Haha
Hilarious !!.. Sooo funny.. thx for the laugh!! I bet you didn’t know I operate QRP QRP k0klb QRP QRP, but I like to keep it a secret.. so, Shhhhh (just like my signal) keep it between us.. lol
Thanks for watching K0KLB, glad you liked it 👍
I prefer WQRP
who doesn't?
Congratulations, you've done it. I'm mad.
lol, thanks for watching 👍