Amateur Radio Codexery

QRP operation

Low-power amateur radio operation emphasizing efficiency and skill.

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In amateur radio, QRP operation refers to transmitting at reduced power while attempting to maximize a station's effective range; operators tend to limit their power to 5 watts or less, although some also consider SSB operation of up to 10 watts to be QRP.[1] The term "QRP" comes from the standard Q code, where QRP means "Reduce power"[2] Enthusiasts try to compensate for the weaker signal produced by low-power transmission through more efficient antennas and enhanced operating skills.[3]

Quick Facts

Power limit ssb
up to 10 watts PEP (some organizations say 5 watts)
Earliest popularization
1924
First commercial qrp transceivers
late 1960s
Example early transceiver
Ten-Tec Powermite-1 (1969)

Facts from the source article.

Key facts and history

Most amateur transceivers can output around 100 watts, and in the U.S. amateurs may transmit up to 1,500 watts, but QRP enthusiasts argue that such high power is rarely necessary and wastes energy.[4][5] QRP operation aligns with the FCC Part 97 rule requiring the minimum power necessary for communications.[5][6] Communicating with QRP is challenging because the operator faces the same propagation conditions as higher-power stations but with a weaker signal.[3] Popular designs often use the NE612 mixer IC, such as the K1, K2, ATS series, and Softrock SDR.[7]

In 1924, U.S. amateur radio magazines and journals began publishing reports, editorials, and articles that encouraged amateurs to reduce power output for experimentation and to reduce interference.[8] QRP operators often transmit with 5 watts or less, and some use as little as 100 milliwatts; power levels of 1 watt and below are termed "QRPP" by hobbyists.[9] Portable QRP operation on HF bands commonly involves enthusiasts carrying radios in backpacks and using whip antennas.[10]

What the cited sources add

Bradley Wells described QRP as a challenge that provides great satisfaction from making contacts the "hard way"[6] The ARRL's "Why QRP?" article states that the QRP Q signal originally meant "Shall I reduce power?" but was adopted by low-power enthusiasts as their banner.[11] That article also notes that operating "QRP battery power" for Field Day gives a multiplier of five.[11] The Michigan QRP Club encourages low-power operation with its newsletter, The Five Watter.[11]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "QRP operation" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Why QRP?", arrl.org (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "QRP operation" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Marchant, "Wireless Telegraphy: A handbook for the use of operators and students", Whittaker, 1914, p. 220 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "QRP operation" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: DeMaw, "W1FB's QRP Notebook", American Radio Relay League, 1991; H. Ward Silver, "Ham Radio For Dummies", John Wiley & Sons, 25 February 2011, p. 218 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "QRP operation" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "The ARRL General Class License Manual", American Radio Relay League, 1998, p. 3 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "QRP operation" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Wells, "QRP: More than a state of mind", American Radio Relay League, April 1984, p. 52; Arland, "ARRL's Low Power Communication: The art and science of QRP", American Radio Relay League, 2007; Dobbs, "QRP Basics", Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), 1 September 2012; H. Ward Silver, "Ham Radio For Dummies", John Wiley & Sons, 25 February 2011, p. 218 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wells, "QRP: More than a state of mind", American Radio Relay League, April 1984, p. 52. facts only, no text reused. arrl.org
  7. Wikipedia, "QRP operation" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Weiss, "The Five-Watt QRP Movement in the US, 1968-1981", Miliwatt QRP Books (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "QRP operation" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Weiss, "History of QRP in the U.S., 1924-1960", Milliwatt Books, 1987 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "QRP operation" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Wells, "QRP: More than a state of mind", American Radio Relay League, April 1984, p. 52; Arland, "ARRL's Low Power Communication: The art and science of QRP", American Radio Relay League, 2007; Dobbs, "QRP Basics", Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), 1 September 2012; DeMaw, "W1FB's QRP Notebook", American Radio Relay League, 1991 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Wikipedia, "QRP operation" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Brown, "Radio and Electronics Cookbook", Newnes, 2001 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  11. "Why QRP?", arrl.org. facts only, no text reused. arrl.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article QRP operation (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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