SSB QRP during the CQ WW WPX Contest

[@miken08003]

Cliff, so glad to see you back. I really love your videos and I have learned so much from you about QRP. I hope to hear you on the air 73 - KD5ET

[@christopherdeangelis6383]

So glad to see you back!

[@QRPSchool]

Thank you! - Cliff

[@TangoOscarMikeN3WS]

It can be more of a challenge, but it's thrilling when you do make that contact.

[@QRPSchool]

So true, Tom. There's something magical about talking to someone 2,000 miles away using a small battery-powered radio and a simple wire antenna. Take care... - Cliff

[@walteredwards544]

@@QRPSchool Great video. What type of antenna were you using?

[@QRPSchool]

Ye Olde Dipole. Nothing fancy. - Cliff

[@walteredwards544]

@@QRPSchool I'm using and End Fed. Seem to work pretty good

[@miketdyer6577]

Agree, most excellent seeing Cliff again on KZbin.

[@edrudolph1]

You're one of my favorite channels, great to see you back!

[@murphyp5494]

Glad to see you back! I ran QRP for the first time in a contest, and while it was challenging at times, it was great fun. I made several contacts with the midwest and east coast from here in San Diego. I was running an FT-817 with a G5RV invert V.

[@johnc3403]

Really good to see you back Cliff and enjoying radio out in the sun. You really gotta work hard with 5W SSB but I've always found it very rewarding. That 20+dB advantage you get with CW makes a huge difference in QRP... Nice video Cliff. John EI5JS

[@QRPSchool]

Hello to The Emerald Isle! I do appreciate the more concentrated energy of CW and having the computer decoding signals close to the noise floor while running Digital modes! Thanks for writing, John. - Cliff

[@gabrielguzmann1ufo905]

Thanks for the video! I always learn something new from your videos that helps me with my QRP, thank you.

[@QRPSchool]

Thanks for the kind words, Gabriel! - Cliff

[@nvrumi]

It's good to have you back, Cliff. You are one of my Elmers! I'm still waiting for my license to be issued but am busying myself assembling my station here at home, learning to build wire antennas, and figuring out what my portable rig is going to look like. You've given me plenty of ideas. Thanks and my best...

[@QRPSchool]

Hey, David. I'm honored to be helping you in some way, even if we've never had an "eyeball QSO". I can tell you are excited about working portable. Now that Spring is officially here, it's time to start getting out there and playing radio! Hope to talk to you on the air someday... - Cliff

[@1fanger]

Very neat, on a big hill, QSO-ing the big guns. Thanks, KC3BXZ

[@lmaoroflcopter]

November 4 Charlie? Charlie call? Charlie Golf? 59... Was that 2? 59... What in the world!? How on earth is that a 59 report!? Nice to see you on KZbin again. You have so much success with QRP :)

[@QRPSchool]

It's crazy, right? Just a shortcut to keep it easy for people logging... they can avoid having to type anything into the signal report as it defaults to "59". While it's a practical shortcut, it IS pretty goofy to hear someone struggling to hear you give you a "59". Oh, well. I'm not a contester... I just like to make some sure-fire contacts during contests. Have fun out there... - Cliff

[@thuff3207]

Thank you for the video! It’s good to see you portable.

[@leandroguerra4158]

It's good to have you back

[@W8EWH]

Glad you are back Cliff! Keep the videos coming.

[@rcbrush99]

So nice to see you back. I have missed your videos.

[@QRPSchool]

I appreciate your saying that. -Cliff

[@ke0ourwilliam982]

Glad you are back Cliff!

[@brianlink391]

3:09 The cop was like, damn lost my spot.

[@Bob814u]

Who's this guy?!!! Soooo glad to see you on a new video. I have been a subscriber since I got my license in 2014ish. Inspired me to go QRPp/P with 817 and MTR3B. Great to see you. 73 DE KE5ES

[@QRPSchool]

Hey, Steve. Thanks for the kind words! I can't tell you how glad I am to have Spring arrive. We've had a long cold, cloudy winter here in Nashville! I hope to take some motorcycle trips and ride my bicycle and take a radio along, of course. Have fun out there. Maybe I'll run into you on the air soon. - Cliff

[@JennyEverywhere]

Good to see you making new videos! Hope to work you someday! 73, Gwen NG3P

[@QRPSchool]

Thank you, Gwen. I just looked you up on QRZ.com and read your bio. You have an amazing set of talents and skills! I am sure you are an inspiration to those around you. 72 - Cliff

[@rogerparrett3242]

Excellent... Great to see you back... 73... Roger. NQ8RP

[@KX4UL]

I was excited this morning to see a new video from N4CCB, my favorite KZbin QRP channel. "Oh, just a radio nerd"...lol! Love watching you make those portable QRP contacts. Nice to see you back in action! 73 my friend!

[@QRPSchool]

Thank you, Gary. Spring is springing! It's time to get back out there. - Cliff

[@kc1kug82]

Crazy! Im operating as NE1C for WPX!

[@ZAR66]

Great effort. Love your videos.

[@QRPSchool]

Thanks for the kind words. 72 - Cliff

[@thormusique]

Very cool, thanks for sharing!

[@l4zy_jake]

Fascinating stuff! And all on 5w, too.

[@brink1962]

Nice job Cliff . Was in the contest too @20m with Kenwood Ts130V 10 W into a wire dipole under the attic. Funny to receive number 3000 whatever en give 008 ;-) Made some nice QSO's Europe to Canada USA East coast. 73 PA4J

[@geminieve6792]

LOL! Love the police peeking in 🙂

[@SteveParks]

Glad you are making videos.

[@triggertechie]

Very enjoyable and well put together. 73, Tryg

[@Hogdriver88]

Glad you are back! Looking forward to more videos...

[@gsansoucie]

I worked SSB on 17m and 20m a few months ago on my 7300 in the shack, that was the first phone for me in 15 or 16 years. I’ve never tried it on my KX2, but this video may have helped me, unfortunately I need a mic or a sweet headset like yours (I know there is a red version of the Heil, my birthday is coming up too). W1ND

[@CraigSheppard]

Ha! I got KT5J (your #2) as my #3, also running 5w QRP in my backyard on a portable setup. Nice going Cliff, always love your vids, great to see you again! 73 de W4CRG

[@QRPSchool]

Hey, Craig. Glad to hear you took to the great outdoors to make some contacts last weekend! How did you do? Like me, did you find yourself having to repeat your callsign a bunch of times? As it said in the description of my video, I didn't show the many, many times that my signal wasn't heard at all. That's just how it goes when running in Horton Hears a Who mode in a large contest. - Cliff

[@CraigSheppard]

@@QRPSchool I had about an hour on Saturday and made 7 contacts. Yes on the repetition, that seems to be par for the QRP course in a pileup. Time it right and they hear a letter or two and ask for a repeat. Sometimes you luck out and can find a station calling CQ and get him on the first call. Also like you, just had to give up on some stations. Not too long ago I made a QRP SSB contact to Kuwait, so it does work (if the other side has a big antenna!). 73 and good luck Cliff.

[@G0FUW]

Good to see you on the air and making videos Cliff. 73 Steve G0FUW

[@QRPSchool]

Thanks, Steve. I have other hobbies and a wife and run a small business. Sometimes it takes me a while to cycle back to the radio hobby. I still love amateur radio and am looking forward to getting back on the air now that Spring has Sprung! Take care - Cliff

[@timg5tm941]

Great job 👍

[@sidmi5utc980]

Hi Cliff, i stumbled upon your channel as i have an interest in QRP and watching your videos has reaffirmed my desire to pursue QRP a lot more. I have subscribed! 73 Sid MI5UTC

[@QRPSchool]

Hello, Sid. Working QRP is like fishing from the water's edge with a cane pole vs. fishing in a $1,000,000 boat. You're most likely going to catch a fish either way. It's just a different style and mindset. I really enjoy the less-is-more mindset of QRP. There's a bit of magic in working DX with a station that can fit in a lunch pail! I hope to talk to you on the air someday, Sid. - Cliff

[@sidmi5utc980]

Looking forward to it ! 73 Sid

[@pathopkins4500]

Great video Cliff 8-) Wonderful time on Winter Field Day 2019 on 20 meters and ORP even =) LOVE IT N4CCB Cliff 8-)

[@QRPSchool]

Congrats on your QRP success during Winter Field Day, Pat! - Cliff

[@rfdave3980]

Hey Cliff. Awesome your back!

[@tomkeady1750]

Cliff, good to see you back. I've been following since I got my tech in 2016 an upgrade to general in 18. You got me interested in QRP back then an I finally pulled the trigger on a KX2/3 clone, due to arrive today. I'm phone only at this point, will see how it goes. Very encouraging to see you making contacts on that crowded weekend and looking forward to more educational vids. 73 KE0JVS

[@QRPSchool]

Thank, Tom. Congrats on the QRP rig! QRP (5 watts) is only 2 S-Units below 80 watts. So, you WILL be heard as long as band conditions are reasonably good AND your signal is above the noise floor of the receiving station. You sort of have to take a small-dog-acting-like-a-big-dog mentality sometimes and just assume the other station won't know you're only running 5 watts. Have fun! - Cliff

[@tomkeady1750]

@@QRPSchool Cliff, thanks for the words of encouragement. I' thinking a single band dipole tuned (cut to freq.) antenna is my best bet for starting out portable, open to all you have to share. Tom

[@QRPSchool]

@@tomkeady1750 Yes. Keep it simple when you start out. Then keep it simple later! I could be happy with only 40m and 20m antennas. 20m is a DX band that is usually open during the day. 40m is open during the day and evenings. You're going to be able to talk to someone on one of those two bands. My SOTABEAMS linked dipole for 40m/20m is the antenna I use nearly all the time. It's basically a 20m dipole with an extra wire segment you clip to the 20m portion to make it into a 40m dipole. You can homebrew your own version of this with ease.

[@tomkeady1750]

@@QRPSchool Well the Ziegu X5105 arrived. First day made an Arizona contact, QTH SE Nebraska, then into Slovenia, over 5000 miles, both from home antenna, OCF Windom 6-40. Considering the "poor" propagation, I'm pretty happy. All contacts have been made on phone. Can't wait to get out portable.

[@QRPSchool]

@@tomkeady1750 Way to go, Tom! - Cliff

[@michaelhiggins7365]

I would like to see what antenna system you are using in your portable op's. Would be fun to see you throw a wire up a tree.

[@garysmith8455]

I am a new ham and enjoy nets and general rag chew on HF, but I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this demonstration ! I made two contacts with 100 watts and an end fed wire to Finland and Portugal during the same event JUST to say hello. I would like to get more into this facet of Amateur radio next (O: Would this also be considered POTA ?

[@recumbentogiro26]

Glad you're back. You've motivated me and now I have a QRP rig(Elad FDM Duo) and a Wolf River Coils vertical and I'm not doing too bad. I'm reaching out between 300 to almost 600 miles. My question is, what antenna are you using?

[@QRPSchool]

Ooh, I like that Elad FDM Duo... that's a cool little rig. The antenna I was using was just a dipole... nothing fancy. I have a drive-on base that will hold a telescopic fiberglass mast. I attached the center of the dipole to the fiberglass mast and raised it to about 25' and staked the ends to the ground in an "inverted V" configuration. In theory, your vertical should have a lower radiation take-off angle so you should be able to make some very long distance contacts when band conditions are good. Have fun. - Cliff

[@w3les]

I always let them know i am qrp.... gteat video de w3les

[@infoaffiliatemagic]

Very nice ... What were you using for an antenna and what band were you operating. Great QRP Video - Keep them coming.

[@QRPSchool]

Hello, Jack. I was on 20 meters using a dipole. Nothing fancy... like fishing with earthworms! :-)

[@mrquick1937]

Great video! Where did u get that tiny digital clock?

[@QRPSchool]

It's an MFJ cheapie. I removed the LCD clock from the aluminum mount to make it smaller. Here is a link to the clock: www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-107B

[@michaeledmonds3218]

Another excellent QRP adventure Cliff! I really have enjoyed your presentations of all things QRP. I recently bought a CW rig: HB-1B, Elecraft T-1, Sotabeams endfed and found a Palm mini lambic paddle. Still learning code after getting my General ticket. Question: What is that gizmo to the right of your KX2? Guessing it has something to do with your video production. Thanks, Steve, KZ5MSE

[@QRPSchool]

Steve, you have assembled a nice little kit for QRP portable ops! The gizmo to the right of my KX2 in the video is an MFJ LCD clock that I've set to UTC time for logging my contacts. I log the time of each contact in UTC time (the agreed-upon time system used by hams). I removed the LCD clock from the aluminum mount to make it smaller. Here is a link to the clock: www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-107B Thanks for watching, and for the kind words, Steve. - Cliff

[@michaeledmonds3218]

@@QRPSchool Sorry, got my left & right crossed. I meant the the gizmo to the "left" of your KX2, with the knobs and maybe a display at the bottom. Thanks

[@QRPSchool]

Steve KZ5MSE Ah, okay. It’s my audio recorder that I use to recorder my lavaliere mic and my radio simultaneously. See this link... www.zoom-na.com/products/field-video-recording/field-recording/h6-handy-recorder

[@neubert500]

Were you in Blount Co. Tenn? REALLY looked like one of our vehicles

[@QRPSchool]

neubert500 I was in Williamson County. (35.9820870, -86.8445638)

[@walshgeo]

Cliff, Great video. do you remember what your antenna setup was for this video? Thanks. 73 KB3WAQ

[@QRPSchool]

Hello, George. It was my trusty SOTABEAMS dipole. I deployed the center section at the top of my ~25 ft. fiberglass mast the first day. The second day, I hauled the center section up into a tree @ ~20ft. I use a dipole about 95% of the time when I'm working portable. It just works. thanks - Cliff

[@walshgeo]

@@QRPSchool Cliff, Thanks for the info. I just got my General a few months ago and trying different antennas. I have a homebrew 20m speaker wire dipole that I am experimenting with now along with my KX3. I work SSB don't know code yet. George

[@porkyfedwell]

Great video, even if it wasn't CW !! :)

[@QRPSchool]

If it was CW, I wouldn't have to send my call over and over again! I don't do a lot of SSB but it's good to show folks that QRP SSB is worth doing. I do like making contacts during CW contests, even though I'm not turning in my logs. - Cliff

[@porkyfedwell]

@@QRPSchool Yes, only kidding of course. Your videos really got me to start learning CW a couple of years ago so I could QRP more effectively and now I work at 18-22 wpm. I love your videos and hope there are many more. Kd8zm

[@QRPSchool]

@@porkyfedwell I knew you were kidding but we both know that it would have been more fun/satisfying if it was CW! Congrats on achieving 18-22 wpm. To me, that is the sweet spot. No real need to go past that for day-to-day use. That's about where I'm at, too. I can copy contest exchanges (short bursts) at 35 to 40 wpm but there's no way in Hell I could ever have a QSO at that speed. I don't even aspire to that kind of mastery because I don't want to put in the time to get there. I really admire the guys that can do that, though. - Cliff

[@porkyfedwell]

@@QRPSchool I also have no interest of increasing speed. Even at 20 wpm I suspect replies are discouraged for my CQ, and at 30 it would be an even smaller group.

[@barrykery1175]

Impressive ! You need a foot switch or use VOX. Pushing the button has to get old. Barry, KU3X/QRP

[@QRPSchool]

Barry Kery Hey, Barry. Yeah, It does get a little old. I do have a foot switch in the shack but didn’t want to take it to the muddy field. Honestly, I don’t mind pushing the button vs. carrying the extra gear/cable for use of only an hour or two. A KISS approach is good... but I often seem to complicate things!

[@dombaines]

Nice

[@moezera]

Nice!

[@jhorton1600]

I made a "QRP" contact one time. The guy was running 100W. He said it was low power because the limit is 1500W and he was running less than 10% of the limit. A LITTLE knowledge is a dangerous thing.

[@QRPSchool]

j horton Wow. I think a lot of people mistakenly believe that in running 5 watts, the person you’re talking to will only hear you at 5% of the volume compared to a 100 watt station. It doesn’t work like that, as you already know. My mission as a QRP Evangelist is to somehow get the word out that quadrupling your power only gets you 2 additional S-Units and cutting your power by a factor of 4 only reduces your signal strength by 2 S-Units. -Cliff

[@1958johndeere620]

Some contests say QRP is 100 or less. Some word it low power 100 or less in the contest rules.

[@jhorton1600]

@@1958johndeere620 Not a contest, just a contact.

[@NitinVarmaManthena]

What is the headphones you are using?

[@QRPSchool]

It's a RadioSport headset. Specifically, it's the model known as RS60CF-DDE/M360 as shown here: www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-013290

[@michaelzehrfeld7766]

...thats what i hate in the contest....have to give ten times the callsign - and get the "5/9xxx". Where´s the problem to give a real report and not only the 5/9? Is ist just the contest-software?

[@QRPSchool]

In a contest it’s all about speed. The logging software defaults to 5/9 and so it’s perfunctory. Everybody just says 5/9 to keep from having to take the time to enter a true signal report. Whenever I give someone a signal report that’s not 5/9 I usually say that this is a true or honest signal report. I appreciate knowing how strong my signal is to the receiving station. -Cliff

[@NitinVarmaManthena]

What are the headphones you're using?

[@QRPSchool]

It's a RadioSport headset. Specifically, it's the model known as RS60CF-DDE/M360 as shown here: www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-013290

[@NitinVarmaManthena]

@@QRPSchool Thank you.

[@goneflin]

Encouraging

[@sumebicak5817]

TA7AIZ 73S

[@StevenWilcox42]

Okay... there's a reason I like CW better. With good operators there's actually fewer mistakes. Good grief... basically everyone got your call wrong the first time.

[@StevenWilcox42]

@@QRPSchool Thank you so much for doing the video! Good stuff! Let me know if there's ever anything I can do to help you. As I'm sure you've discovered... the compression settings for SSB/Voice on the KX2 do really help compared to the out-of-the-box settings. And it really is cool to see real distances like that using QRP and SSB. Amazing. Carry on, Cliff!

[@forgetyourlife]

KT5J asks a dozen times for your call sign then gives a 5-9. WtF? such a dumb exchange.

[@nigelgriffin7016]

73 m6ltv nige

[@bobsullivan5714]

If everyone is 5-9, what's the point of doing these reports.