Using /QRP in CW contests

[Guy, K2AV]

Since we have so many QRPers on this reflector...

Each to his own in how they want to identify themselves in casual
operation.  But if you use /QRP on the end of your call in a CW
contest you place yourself at an immediate disadvantage beyond your
choice of power levels.

If you are going to call running stations, please don't put /QRP in
your logger's call sign field.  Stick it in your CQ string if you put
it anywhere.  Even though I've made over 2000 40m Q's multiple times
in ARRL and CQ DX tests, and you can't do that if you don't copy 90%
of calls right the first time, I rarely can copy a call sign in the
form <prefix>/<callsign> correctly the first time, even if it is loud.
 My mind is simply NOT EXPECTING it.  I do better with the trailing
form <callsign>/xxx *IF* and only if I cleanly copied the callsign
before the / .  If the signal is in the noise, and I don't have the
front of the call, /QRP is just confusion.

Further, the longer calls are, the harder to copy.  Worse, often a
weak station will be copyable ONLY on the VERY TOP of QSB peaks,
lasting only for a few letters.  Anything you send that isn't your
call sign hurts your chances -- adding spurious P,Q,R to the letter
soup I am trying to construct a call from does NOT help.  And if I
hear a / in there you can bet I'm trying to construct a leading extra
prefix that doesn't exist.  Thank you for your assistance...

EVERY contest there are a few stations where the ONLY part of the
callsign string I got cleanly was "/QRP", and they did NOT go into the
log. I can't send them an email to explain how they hurt themselves
because I don't know who they were....  The only thing I know is that
"/QRP" is part of the reason I didn't copy them.

BTW, note that I do NOT consider QRPers a nuisance to be put up with
in contests, quite the opposite.  I really try hard for the weak
signals.  Those are the ones I work that maybe nobody else can, and
that is score differential.  So bring 'em all on.  Please just don't
send /QRP after your call.

Tell your QRP friends.

73, Guy.
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[WA6L]

Very well put!  Thank you for posting this.

The majority of my operation in contests and otherwise is as a QRP station.  I have never seen any reason to add the /QRP suffix to my call.  It does not help either station and as you state so well, it can actually hurt.

When contesting as a QRP station you quickly get a feel for which stations are going to be able to hear you and which ones won't.  For those who won't hear you, due to either poor conditions or because of a pileup, you mark their location on the band and try again later.  For those who will be able to hear you, they don't need to know (and don't care) that you are QRP.

73,

John, WA6L

[g3ymc]

In fact in many countries of the world the suffix /QRP is not allowed or is a grey area in their licences.

I operate QRP but will NEVER send G3YMC/QRP. If a station calls me with /QRP I might make a note in my logbook that they are QRP but will omit the suffix from the callsign I put in the log and not use /QRP in responding to them. Many operators will do the same. In a contest you should certainly never use it, it slows down the exchange and virtually none of the contest stations you work will actually log it. It also causes big headaches for LOTW and eQSL in that as a different callsign it won't match with what the other chap sends so you won't get those cards.

And I always tell people that those who send /QRP in a pileup get 559 reports. I get 599 like everybody else!

73 Dave G3YMC
K2 #2298 5W QRP