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SSB QRP

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roncasa

SSB QRP

I realize many here are in the QRO group as evident by K3 mail (smile)
but here's to hoping there are some QRP'ers in the mix.

Can you share your experiences using QRP SSB. Whether they be rag
chewing, contesting or working a net. Do you use a speech processor or
specific mikes. Things like that.

I wud like to know of any specific freqs, nets groups or websites
dedicated to this faucet of our hobby that you may also share.

(I am aware of QRP Amateur Radio Club International and their listed SSB
freqs)

Thank you for sharing,

you may also reply direct so as to keep the list uncluttered ....

72
Ron, wb1hga
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wayne burdick

Re: SSB QRP

Administrator

Hi Ron,

If an SSB station is strong, it's likely they'll hear you with lower
power. Consider an S-9 SSB signal with low band noise, from a station
running 100 W. If you're running 10 W, you'll probably be somewhere
between S-7 and S-8 at their end. A good antenna at either end helps
both stations.

My favorite SSB band for local purposes is 40 m, and for DX, 17 m, 15
m, and 10 m. I routinely use a K3 or KX3 at 10 to 12 W on SSB.

The antenna I use most often is a 50' random wire, fed roughly in the
middle with 300-ohm twinlead, an Elecraft BL2 balun in the shack, and
a short piece of coax to the rig. I then use the ATU in the rig to
match this antenna on 160-6 meters. Despite this modest antenna, my
SSB results have been excellent.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

On Apr 17, 2012, at 12:43 PM, ron wrote:

>
> I realize many here are in the QRO group as evident by K3 mail (smile)
> but here's to hoping there are some QRP'ers in the mix.
>
> Can you share your experiences using QRP SSB. Whether they be rag
> chewing, contesting or working a net. Do you use a speech processor or
> specific mikes. Things like that.
>
> I wud like to know of any specific freqs, nets groups or websites
> dedicated to this faucet of our hobby that you may also share.
>
> (I am aware of QRP Amateur Radio Club International and their listed
> SSB
> freqs)
>
> Thank you for sharing,
>
> you may also reply direct so as to keep the list uncluttered ....
>
> 72
> Ron, wb1hga
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Jessie Oberreuter-2

Re: SSB QRP

In reply to this post by roncasa

Ron,

Admittedly, I'm mostly a cw op, and really only operate during the
summers, but nearly every time I've decided to scare up a contact, I've
succeeded. A few weeks back, I was sitting in a friend's van waiting for
him to do something in the house and had a nice 2m FM simplex contact over
about 50 miles on 20w -- just had to call CQ 4-5 times. A few months
earlier, I was playing with an MFJ 40m ssb adventure radio (stock mike,
radio's built in compression), and had a nice chat with a fellow in Texas
from my Washington QTH at ~10w. My antenna was a trap dipole on the roof
at about 30'. It probably took 20 minutes of listening and tuning around
between other tasks until I found a conversation; as it was winding down,
I gave a call and we were off! My club operates Field Day QRP, and I used
to take the Sunday morning 20m SSB slot with great success. Rig is a K2
with a Heil #4 element; the antenna is typically a hamstick dipole up 15'.
Dunno if I was using any compression.
From my experiences, the challenge is usually in getting the
conversation started. I don't know how much of a practical difference QRO
makes when calling CQ, but once you find someone to talk to, power doesn't
seemed to be much of a problem :).
The other thing I can say is that technique and awareness of what
things might be like at the other end is important. I generally give my
call three times for both cw and phone, and on phone, I usually use the
phonetics twice and the third time use just the letters, but keep them
well separated (on CW, I tend to send the call at different speeds, both
for intelligibility and as a hint to the other op that I'm happy to work
across the range). When I'm talking to the other person, I automatically
repeat key words, figures, and any word that isn't part of casual
conversation, and keep the exchanges short so the other person can
immediately report lost words and changing conditions. Habits that make
communication easy in spite of power or conditions keeps it fun for
everyone. -kb7psg.

On Tue, 17 Apr 2012, ron wrote:

>
> I realize many here are in the QRO group as evident by K3 mail (smile)
> but here's to hoping there are some QRP'ers in the mix.
>
> Can you share your experiences using QRP SSB. Whether they be rag
> chewing, contesting or working a net. Do you use a speech processor or
> specific mikes. Things like that.
>
> I wud like to know of any specific freqs, nets groups or websites
> dedicated to this faucet of our hobby that you may also share.
>
> (I am aware of QRP Amateur Radio Club International and their listed SSB
> freqs)
>
> Thank you for sharing,
>
> you may also reply direct so as to keep the list uncluttered ....
>
> 72
> Ron, wb1hga
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

Gary Marklund

Re: SSB QRP

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Wayne,

How high is that antenna?

73
Gary
KJ7RT

Sent from my iPad

On Apr 17, 2012, at 13:08, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi Ron,
>
> If an SSB station is strong, it's likely they'll hear you with lower
> power. Consider an S-9 SSB signal with low band noise, from a station
> running 100 W. If you're running 10 W, you'll probably be somewhere
> between S-7 and S-8 at their end. A good antenna at either end helps
> both stations.
>
> My favorite SSB band for local purposes is 40 m, and for DX, 17 m, 15
> m, and 10 m. I routinely use a K3 or KX3 at 10 to 12 W on SSB.
>
> The antenna I use most often is a 50' random wire, fed roughly in the
> middle with 300-ohm twinlead, an Elecraft BL2 balun in the shack, and
> a short piece of coax to the rig. I then use the ATU in the rig to
> match this antenna on 160-6 meters. Despite this modest antenna, my
> SSB results have been excellent.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> On Apr 17, 2012, at 12:43 PM, ron wrote:
>
>>
>> I realize many here are in the QRO group as evident by K3 mail (smile)
>> but here's to hoping there are some QRP'ers in the mix.
>>
>> Can you share your experiences using QRP SSB. Whether they be rag
>> chewing, contesting or working a net. Do you use a speech processor or
>> specific mikes. Things like that.
>>
>> I wud like to know of any specific freqs, nets groups or websites
>> dedicated to this faucet of our hobby that you may also share.
>>
>> (I am aware of QRP Amateur Radio Club International and their listed
>> SSB
>> freqs)
>>
>> Thank you for sharing,
>>
>> you may also reply direct so as to keep the list uncluttered ....
>>
>> 72
>> Ron, wb1hga
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

daleputnam

Re: SSB QRP

In reply to this post by roncasa

Hey Hi Howdy Ron,
One particular phone net that might be of interest is the Elecraft SSB Net that gathers at 1800z each Sunday on 14.3035, there are a number of K3s some qrp,some not, that check in from all over the country.

--... ...--
Dale - WC7S in Wy

> Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:43:32 -0400
> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] SSB QRP
>
>
> I realize many here are in the QRO group as evident by K3 mail (smile)
> but here's to hoping there are some QRP'ers in the mix.
>
> Can you share your experiences using QRP SSB. Whether they be rag
> chewing, contesting or working a net. Do you use a speech processor or
> specific mikes. Things like that.
>
> I wud like to know of any specific freqs, nets groups or websites
> dedicated to this faucet of our hobby that you may also share.
>
> (I am aware of QRP Amateur Radio Club International and their listed SSB
> freqs)
>
> Thank you for sharing,
>
> you may also reply direct so as to keep the list uncluttered ....
>
> 72
> Ron, wb1hga
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Mel

Re: SSB QRP

Ok, so a little off topic, but got to tell you about the time I was getting on 2M SSB. I worked real hard at building up a 25 w SSB station. While in the garage in Milpitas CA, I was testing into a dummy load and at the end of my test, a voice came back saying, "Thats pretty good where are you.?" That was the begining of many SSB QSO on 2 Meters. Here is the rest of the story, the other ham whose name I have forgotten was doing the same thing in Palo Alto, CA across the bay. Now that is QRP. Dummy load to Dummy load, hi. QRO is when you need it, now QRP is for FUN......

Mel, K6KBE

--- On Tue, 4/17/12, Dale Putnam <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Dale Putnam <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] SSB QRP
To: [hidden email], "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 3:13 PM

Hey Hi Howdy Ron,
One particular phone net that might be of interest is the Elecraft SSB Net that gathers at 1800z each Sunday on 14.3035, there are a number of K3s some qrp,some not, that check in from all over the country.

--... ...--
Dale - WC7S in Wy

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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Dunc Carter - W5DC

Re: SSB QRP

oops
back thirty yeas ago. I worked 48 states on to meters running 25 watts.

Dunc, W5DC
On 4/17/2012 5:23 PM, Mel Farrer wrote:

> Ok, so a little off topic, but got to tell you about the time I was getting on 2M SSB. I worked real hard at building up a 25 w SSB station. While in the garage in Milpitas CA, I was testing into a dummy load and at the end of my test, a voice came back saying, "Thats pretty good where are you.?" That was the begining of many SSB QSO on 2 Meters. Here is the rest of the story, the other ham whose name I have forgotten was doing the same thing in Palo Alto, CA across the bay. Now that is QRP. Dummy load to Dummy load, hi. QRO is when you need it, now QRP is for FUN......
>
> Mel, K6KBE
>
> --- On Tue, 4/17/12, Dale Putnam<[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> From: Dale Putnam<[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] SSB QRP
> To: [hidden email], "[hidden email]"<[hidden email]>
> Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 3:13 PM
>
>
>
>
>
> Hey Hi Howdy Ron,
> One particular phone net that might be of interest is the Elecraft SSB Net that gathers at 1800z each Sunday on 14.3035, there are a number of K3s some qrp,some not, that check in from all over the country.
>
> --... ...--
> Dale - WC7S in Wy
>
>> Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:43:32 -0400
>> From: [hidden email]
>> To: [hidden email]
>> Subject: [Elecraft] SSB QRP
>>
>>
>> I realize many here are in the QRO group as evident by K3 mail (smile)
>> but here's to hoping there are some QRP'ers in the mix.
>>
>> Can you share your experiences using QRP SSB. Whether they be rag
>> chewing, contesting or working a net. Do you use a speech processor or
>> specific mikes. Things like that.
>>
>> I wud like to know of any specific freqs, nets groups or websites
>> dedicated to this faucet of our hobby that you may also share.
>>
>> (I am aware of QRP Amateur Radio Club International and their listed SSB
>> freqs)
>>
>> Thank you for sharing,
>>
>> you may also reply direct so as to keep the list uncluttered ....
>>
>> 72
>> Ron, wb1hga
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

wayne burdick

Re: SSB QRP

Administrator

In reply to this post by Gary Marklund

25' on one end and 15' on the other.

When I get the urge to use a big antenna I visit Eric :)

Wayne

On Apr 17, 2012, at 1:50 PM, Gary Marklund wrote:

> Wayne,
>
> How high is that antenna?
>
> 73
> Gary
> KJ7RT
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Apr 17, 2012, at 13:08, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Hi Ron,
>>
>> If an SSB station is strong, it's likely they'll hear you with lower
>> power. Consider an S-9 SSB signal with low band noise, from a station
>> running 100 W. If you're running 10 W, you'll probably be somewhere
>> between S-7 and S-8 at their end. A good antenna at either end helps
>> both stations.
>>
>> My favorite SSB band for local purposes is 40 m, and for DX, 17 m, 15
>> m, and 10 m. I routinely use a K3 or KX3 at 10 to 12 W on SSB.
>>
>> The antenna I use most often is a 50' random wire, fed roughly in the
>> middle with 300-ohm twinlead, an Elecraft BL2 balun in the shack, and
>> a short piece of coax to the rig. I then use the ATU in the rig to
>> match this antenna on 160-6 meters. Despite this modest antenna, my
>> SSB results have been excellent.
>>
>> 73,
>> Wayne
>> N6KR
>>
>> On Apr 17, 2012, at 12:43 PM, ron wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> I realize many here are in the QRO group as evident by K3 mail
>>> (smile)
>>> but here's to hoping there are some QRP'ers in the mix.
>>>
>>> Can you share your experiences using QRP SSB. Whether they be rag
>>> chewing, contesting or working a net. Do you use a speech
>>> processor or
>>> specific mikes. Things like that.
>>>
>>> I wud like to know of any specific freqs, nets groups or websites
>>> dedicated to this faucet of our hobby that you may also share.
>>>
>>> (I am aware of QRP Amateur Radio Club International and their listed
>>> SSB
>>> freqs)
>>>
>>> Thank you for sharing,
>>>
>>> you may also reply direct so as to keep the list uncluttered ....
>>>
>>> 72
>>> Ron, wb1hga
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Gary Gregory

Re: SSB QRP

*Wayne,

Just worked NH6I on the Big Island and he was running 5W, went down to 2W
and I responded with the K3 set at 1W....

Exxchange at these power levels was S0 and Q5 on SSB...I then went to 0.2W
and was heard by Norm @ S0..but only Q4....

Aaaaah...does that qualify me for QRP status?....:-)
Gary
*
On 18 April 2012 10:22, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

> 25' on one end and 15' on the other.
>
> When I get the urge to use a big antenna I visit Eric :)
>
> Wayne
>
> On Apr 17, 2012, at 1:50 PM, Gary Marklund wrote:
>
> > Wayne,
> >
> > How high is that antenna?
> >
> > 73
> > Gary
> > KJ7RT
> >
> > Sent from my iPad
> >
> > On Apr 17, 2012, at 13:08, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Ron,
> >>
> >> If an SSB station is strong, it's likely they'll hear you with lower
> >> power. Consider an S-9 SSB signal with low band noise, from a station
> >> running 100 W. If you're running 10 W, you'll probably be somewhere
> >> between S-7 and S-8 at their end. A good antenna at either end helps
> >> both stations.
> >>
> >> My favorite SSB band for local purposes is 40 m, and for DX, 17 m, 15
> >> m, and 10 m. I routinely use a K3 or KX3 at 10 to 12 W on SSB.
> >>
> >> The antenna I use most often is a 50' random wire, fed roughly in the
> >> middle with 300-ohm twinlead, an Elecraft BL2 balun in the shack, and
> >> a short piece of coax to the rig. I then use the ATU in the rig to
> >> match this antenna on 160-6 meters. Despite this modest antenna, my
> >> SSB results have been excellent.
> >>
> >> 73,
> >> Wayne
> >> N6KR
> >>
> >> On Apr 17, 2012, at 12:43 PM, ron wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>> I realize many here are in the QRO group as evident by K3 mail
> >>> (smile)
> >>> but here's to hoping there are some QRP'ers in the mix.
> >>>
> >>> Can you share your experiences using QRP SSB. Whether they be rag
> >>> chewing, contesting or working a net. Do you use a speech
> >>> processor or
> >>> specific mikes. Things like that.
> >>>
> >>> I wud like to know of any specific freqs, nets groups or websites
> >>> dedicated to this faucet of our hobby that you may also share.
> >>>
> >>> (I am aware of QRP Amateur Radio Club International and their listed
> >>> SSB
> >>> freqs)
> >>>
> >>> Thank you for sharing,
> >>>
> >>> you may also reply direct so as to keep the list uncluttered ....
> >>>
> >>> 72
> >>> Ron, wb1hga
> >>> ______________________________________________________________
> >>> Elecraft mailing list
> >>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> >>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >>>
> >>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> Elecraft mailing list
> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >>
> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

--
Gary
VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile
Elecraft Equipment
K3 #679, KPA-500 #018
Living the dream!!!
______________________________________________________________
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wayne burdick

Re: SSB QRP

Administrator

In reply to this post by roncasa

Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

> Just remember that in the 1950's, as the use of SSB grew rapidly, a
> typical SSB rig ran 10 or 20 watts PEP.....If you operate your 10 or
> 20 watt PEP SSB rig just like it was a 100 watt rig, you'll make a
> lot of QSOs just like any QRO station.

This is why we requested that the KX3, at nominally 10 W PEP, be
categorized under "HF Transceivers," not "QRP Radios," at
www.eham.net. The KX3 is a medium-power radio.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Matthew Pitts

Re: SSB QRP

In reply to this post by roncasa

Ron,

There is also the HFPack group; http://hfpack.com

They aren't all QRP Ops, but they welcome low power and portable operators.

Matthew Pitts
N8OHU

------------------------------
On Tue, Apr 17, 2012 11:13 PM EDT Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

>Just remember that in the 1950's, as the use of SSB grew rapidly, a typical
>SSB rig ran 10 or 20 watts PEP. That was equivalent in "talk power" to a 100
>watt A.M. rig, and the bulk of the A.M. rigs of the day only ran 50 watts or
>so output (back the power was measured as D.C. input to the final tube.
>Figure perhaps 75 percent efficiency max).
>
>Yes, we had the "rock crushers" and "California kilowatts"(who bragged about
>running a kilowatt input to the driver stage and they didn't discuss on the
>air what the finals were running) but they were in the extreme minority on
>the phone and CW bands.
>
>If you operate your 10 or 20 watt PEP SSB rig just like it was a 100 watt
>rig, you'll make a lot of QSOs just like any QRO station. Over the years I
>have run into some Hams who say "If you aren't running at least 100 watts,
>you aren't worth a QSO" but they are so mired in their narrow beliefs that
>they can't have fun anyway. And they are in the minority.
>
>Unless I'm looking for another QRP station to work, I avoid calling CQ/QRP.
>Frankly, it says to a lot of operators that if they are not QRP, you don't
>want to talk to them.
>
>If you are looking specifically for fellow SSB QRP operators, here are some
>frequencies to check out (all in kHz):
>
>3985
>7286
>14285
>18130
>21285 (Europeans)
>21385
>24956
>28300
>
>73, Ron AC7AC
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>
>I realize many here are in the QRO group as evident by K3 mail (smile) but
>here's to hoping there are some QRP'ers in the mix.
>
>Can you share your experiences using QRP SSB. Whether they be rag chewing,
>contesting or working a net. Do you use a speech processor or specific
>mikes. Things like that.
>
>I wud like to know of any specific freqs, nets groups or websites dedicated
>to this faucet of our hobby that you may also share.
>
>(I am aware of QRP Amateur Radio Club International and their listed SSB
>freqs)
>
>Thank you for sharing,
>
>you may also reply direct so as to keep the list uncluttered ....
>
>72
>Ron, wb1hga
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>______________________________________________________________
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LA8OKA

Vedr: SSB QRP

In reply to this post by roncasa

Hi Ron.

I work QRP SSB a lot using my Elecraft K2, ICOM IC-703 and the Yaesu FT-817.
I'm an casual contester who mainly attend the big contests like CQ WPX SSB, CQ WW SSB, SAC SSB and WAE SSB and a few others if I have the time and the will to do so.
Most of the time however, I try to work DX when I'm QRP, I mainly operate QRP from my cottage, visting my parents and when I'm traveling.
Most of the time I can make a QSO with everybody I hear on the air, I don't apply any special trixs to be able to do so, it's more like a religion, if I belive it's possible to make a QSO, the QSO is possible to do. On the other hand, if I belivieve it's not possible, then it ain't going to happen!
So it boils down to believe, faith and confidence.
When the transceiver has speech processor, I use a moderate compression level.
When I have space (in the luggage or on the QTH) I use a homemade windom antenna with a 6:1 balun, and a current balun made of 10 snap-on ferrites.
I have an old picture of the windom here: http://arcticpeak.blogspot.com/2007/04/portabel-windomantenne.html
The text is in Norwegian, but a funny Google translation is available here: http://translate.google.no/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Farcticpeak.blogspot.com%2F&sl=no&tl=en&hl=no&ie=UTF-8
There is a picture of the current balun here (with funny Google translation): http://translate.google.no/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Farcticpeak.blogspot.com%2F&sl=no&tl=en&hl=no&ie=UTF-8
When I don't have space for the windom, I use light weight dipoles made for 40 m and 20 m.
Pictures here: http://translate.google.no/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Farcticpeak.blogspot.com%2F&sl=no&tl=en&hl=no&ie=UTF-8
On the dipoles I use the same snap-on ferrite current balun as I use on the windom.
The Elecraft T1 tuner, and the internal tuners on the K2 and the IC-703 will tune the 20 m band dipole from 40 m and up to 6 m, and the 40 m band dipole form 80 m and up to 6 m.
When luggage space is limited, I use RG-174, but I use RG-58 when it's possible.
I use the original mikes that comes with the transceivers or the Heil Traveler headset.
With 5 watt and simple wire antennas I have worked many DX stations on SSB, including Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan and of course the US, which of course isn't any DX for you americans, but it is DX for me when I'm working QRP from Norway.
Even with only 1 watt of power it possible to work DX when running SSB!
So turn on your transceiver, hook up the antenna, push the PTT and start working stations!

Martin Storli
LA8OKA
Oslo, Norway

ARCTICPEAK's Radio pages!
http://www.arcticpeak.com/radio.htm

________________________________
Fra: ron <[hidden email]>
Til: [hidden email]
Sendt: Tirsdag, 17. april 2012 21.43
Emne: [Elecraft] SSB QRP

I realize many here are in the QRO group as evident by K3 mail (smile)
but here's to hoping there are some QRP'ers in the mix.

Can you share your experiences using QRP SSB. Whether they be rag
chewing, contesting or working a net. Do you use a speech processor or
specific mikes. Things like that.

I wud like to know of any specific freqs, nets groups or websites
dedicated to this faucet of our hobby that you may also share.

(I am aware of QRP Amateur Radio Club International and their listed SSB
freqs)

Thank you for sharing,

you may also reply direct so as to keep the list uncluttered ....

72
Ron, wb1hga
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Bruce Chadbourne

Re: SSB QRP

In reply to this post by roncasa

To several who posted their interest in the K3 QRP experiences let me add
several anecdotes from last night alone.
I heard a South American SSB station calling QRP - I had no trouble hearing
him at all here in New Hampshire - I called back at 100w repeatedly and he
never heard me although he worked several US stations.
A short while later I was working Australia, 12m JT65. We had such an easy
time of it we dialed down the power - I was working him with 1/2 watt with
my G5RV antenna (he had a dipole). Isn't propagation wonderful! And isn't
the K3 a nice tool.

In the last year or so with the K3 I have had several good experiences of
dialing down the power and still working some great DX, including SSB. I
have plans to move into an antenna-restricted community (with some serious
concerns about operability), but I believe I'd rather have fun overcoming
that hardship with some stealth and a good pair of K3 ears, rather than
with the braun of a tower and the full legal power limit.

(Now, if we could only convince those illegal, foul-mouthed yahoos on 20
and 40m to go QRP!)
Bruce / KE1CY

--
Bruce Chadbourne
8 Forest Dr
Merrimack NH 03054
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Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy-3

Re: SSB QRP

In reply to this post by roncasa

Ron,

After buying my K2/100 about ten years ago, first commercial rig owned since
being first licensed in 1946, I did not start to build the KPA100 amplifier
until a year had passed because I was having too much fun using the K2
barefoot both on SSB and CW. The great majority of my SSB contacts with the
K2 were with DX stations outside of Europe, on both 40m and 15m, with the K2
usually running 5 watts.

With the K2 I use its internal speech compressor set to 3-1. The mike which
I use is part of a Heil Prost Plus headset, and I prefer to use the
"ragchewing" mike element not the "DX" element. For me a 2.1 kHz bandwidth
crystal filter in a transmitter is more useful than a wider filter for
working SSB DX.

My first 6m SSB QSO in the 1950s (from VE2) was an sporadic E contact, using
the output of the final mixer of a 6m exciter which I was building. Must
have been only milliwatts :-)

73,
Geoff
LX2AO es GM4ESD

On April 17, 2012, at 21:43 +0200, ron wrote:

> I realize many here are in the QRO group as evident by K3 mail (smile)
> but here's to hoping there are some QRP'ers in the mix.
>
> Can you share your experiences using QRP SSB. Whether they be rag
> chewing, contesting or working a net. Do you use a speech processor or
> specific mikes. Things like that.

<snip>

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Bill K9YEQ

Re: SSB QRP

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Ah yes the 50-60's. This is one of the marvels of the K series, it takes me
back to the joy and the innovation of my early 60's radio experience. The
KX3 is such a unique piece of equipment. The direct conversion and the
quality is beyond anything I could have imagined back then. I intend on
using mine particularly as my qrp station, but I have also used the K3 for
the same as well as 1.5 Kw driver. I am not trying to slight my KX1 or K2.
:-). Got to enjoy those too.

73,
Bill
K9YEQ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 10:53 PM
To: Ron D'Eau Claire
Cc: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] SSB QRP

Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

> Just remember that in the 1950's, as the use of SSB grew rapidly, a
> typical SSB rig ran 10 or 20 watts PEP.....If you operate your 10 or
> 20 watt PEP SSB rig just like it was a 100 watt rig, you'll make a lot
> of QSOs just like any QRO station.

This is why we requested that the KX3, at nominally 10 W PEP, be categorized
under "HF Transceivers," not "QRP Radios," at www.eham.net. The KX3 is a
medium-power radio.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Edward R Cole

Re: SSB QRP

In reply to this post by roncasa

To add to what others have stated: I ran my K3/10 at 12w on SSB (I
know it was stated as 16w but I have revised my measurements with
more accurate readings - Bird43+25H element vs the 100H).

I have checked into the Elecraft SSB Net on 20m often with NC copying
me. I check in an 80m net locally will no problems if conditions are
reasonably good. Most 100w stations are reading S9+ so I come in at S7.
I made a CW contact using 5w on 12m to provide a ham in SC, AK for WAS.
I made several contacts on 10m during the winter's open conditions this year.

I run a Hygain TH3mk4 triband beam at 50-feet which helps and
inverted-V on 80m hung at 40-feet in the center. Good antennas go
far to help running QRP.

My mic is a Heil HM10-5 that I have had for twelve years and used
with a prior rig. I run mic at 21 and comp at 20 for voice. I set
equalizing per Don W3FPR's quide lines. Always get great audio
reports (its a K3, of course).

I now run 270w on 20-15m, 240w on 10m and 200w on 80m with a CCI
EB27A amplifier:
http://www.kl7uw.com/HF-300PA.htm

Have had reports I sound louder than QRP (only 14 dB?).

73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
======================================
BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com
EME: 50-1.1kw?, 144-1.4kw, 432-QRT, 1296-?, 3400-?
DUBUS Magazine USA Rep [hidden email]
"Kits made by KL7UW" http://www.kl7uw.com/kits.htm
======================================
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Matt Zilmer

Re: SSB QRP

In reply to this post by roncasa

Hi Ron,

When I received K3 #24, it was a week before CQ WW SSB in 2007. It
was a K3/10 then. With an end-fed long wire at 30 feet, I worked 17
new countries on 15 and 20m.

No special equipment here at that time. Just the K3 running 10W and
less. With an old Shure desk mic. No special techniques either,
just standard persistence and a loss of voice over time. Eric told me
later that I'd had the Mic Level set to Low, probably. He was right.
My audio was down and I still met objectives (new countries for my
list...).

Now, we're doing the same thing with KX3 #6, here. SSB, CW, Data
Modes, you name it. The KX3 has turned my head around, and got me
much more involved in and excited about what can be done with QRP
levels. Again....

Someone listed a lot of QRP SSB frequencies here the other day. I
hang out on these a lot. 14285 and 7286 have proven most interesting.

Despite all the above, I'm primarily a CW and data modes op. But
sometimes it's OK to pick up the mic and have a QSO in native dialect
instead of CW shorthand.

There are a LOT of QRPers that own Elecraft equipment. In a way, the
KX3 is a return to their legacy, but with incredible improvements in
the technology and inventiveness going into the product.

73,
matt

On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:43:32 -0400, you wrote:

>
>I realize many here are in the QRO group as evident by K3 mail (smile)
>but here's to hoping there are some QRP'ers in the mix.
>
>Can you share your experiences using QRP SSB. Whether they be rag
>chewing, contesting or working a net. Do you use a speech processor or
>specific mikes. Things like that.
>
>I wud like to know of any specific freqs, nets groups or websites
>dedicated to this faucet of our hobby that you may also share.
>
>(I am aware of QRP Amateur Radio Club International and their listed SSB
>freqs)
>
>Thank you for sharing,
>
>you may also reply direct so as to keep the list uncluttered ....
>
>72
>Ron, wb1hga
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html