I'd also like to add a shameless plug for QRP activity. Every month NAQCC runs a two hour sprint, this month it's being held this Thursday from 0030Z to 0230Z. Always attracts a good number of operators usually around 7035-7045 or 14060 MHz. 1 watt or less is often used. So ignore the crummy band conditions and seek out the action.
Cheers Larry VA3NU
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On May 13, 2019, at 3:03 PM, na5n_qrp <na5n@...> wrote:
chuck adams writes:
There is no activity that I hear from QRPers on the calling frequency of 14.060MHz. I know the you think the bands are poor for QRP, but look at my spots made with just 1W with a dipole
The bands are fairly poor for everyone. An even playing field QRP/QRO unless you're running big power into a beam.
14.060 is where I work most of my QRP stations daytime plus that's also the SOTA hangout, also mostly QRP. I participated in the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon this weekend where bonus points were given to QRP stations. I worked 51 stations with the KX2. So far, there are 77 logs submitted in the QRP category out of the 217 logs submitted so far, and 14 in the 1W or less category, so that's a lot of QRP activity in a general QRO event. I worked three 1-watt stations, OR, PA and FL no problem. Wondered if they were Diz' rigs? And, a few familiar calls from this group.
RBN is useful but also shows how sporadic propagation can be. On my CQs, RBN reported everything from 3dB to 27dB in different parts of the country. On SKCC, I got many stations telling me "WOW GREAT SIG FER QRP" from both coasts. Heck, I worked them last month with the same 5W and wire antenna! So good PR for QRP.
As Chuck says, RBN is a good guide for who is on, how your QRP signal is getting out and where in the country they seem to be the best. The CW speed reported on RBN is also a general guide as QRPers generally call CQ 18-20 wpm (not the 25-35 range) and those in the 12-18 wpm range are generally the SKCC fellas using straight keys, and many I've worked are also QRP. They hangout 7.050-7.060 and 14.050-14.060.
So get on the air and make contacts. Bands are rough at times, but you can still make contacts QRP. It will only get better in the next year or two as the sun wakes up.
72, Paul NA5N
