First QRP uBitx contact.

[HomerBB]

Not seeing a forum dedicated to QRP I figured to drop this post in here.

I finally got the uBitx v5 basic radio put together and put up a 1/4wave GP for 20m together. The antenna is a 20' telescoping fiberglass crappie pole. I ran a wire cut for the band and two opposing radials above the ground 3' up at the antenna and 1' off the ground at the ends.

I dialed around 20m until I heard Lee, K7IOC, from Camano Island, WA. I managed to get a call in and he came back to me in Rogers, AR, 1633 miles. He was 59, he reported me 55.

Happy with my first QRP radio contact

 

[HomerBB]

Upgraded simple feedpoint.

 

[binrat]

I had an Ubtix. Got all the stuff to assemble it but was offered twice what I paid for it, so it left.
Good to hear you got some contacts.

 

[HomerBB]

I've made a few more contacts.
I had the version 4, but soldvit for money back. A local put it on the air and so I bought the version 5. It sat on the shelf unassembled for months. Fitbit together.
Those with whom I QSO find it remarkable that I work them with 5w PEP. I need practice breaking pile ups...

 

[camaro1]

I like qrp,, built a bitx40 a while back and I was using my yaesu ft-891 set down to 10w last summer outside ,, just got the yaesu ft-818 because I didn't want to wait any longer for the icom705 to be released. I was outside yesterday for a few hours and today for a little while. ssb contacts can be made and ft-8 contacts are very easy qrp

 

[HomerBB]

Maybe one day I'll figure out the ft8 thing.

 

[kopcicle]

Looks kinda familiar
'course I put the SG-230 at the base.
The bracket is an old rat-shack with a lathe turned bottom insulator.
The vertical is an old anodized aluminum telescoping marine whip with
collet/gland nuts at the base of each section, approx 34'.

Sure I posted this elsewhere but...
https://github.com/Dfinitski/N7DDC-ATU-100-mini-and-extended-boards
or
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Automatic-...629197?hash=item3b3fcf6e0d:g:K5kAAOSw2XteE1Iv

then



https://celeritous.com/2018/12/20/qrp-hf-6m-tuner-as-seen-on-hamnation/
or
https://github.com/K5ABL/HF_Tuner
@nomadradio I wonder what your purveyor of PC boards would say to this

And some random QRP stuffs...

https://afwfishing.com/afw_products/Surfstrand_Bare_Copper_Trolling_Wire_1x7.asp
AFW has other interesting products as well.

https://mgs4u.com/telescoping-fiberglass-tube-and-rod-price-list-2/?v=7516fd43adaa
and
https://mgs4u.com/telescoping-fiberglass-tube-and-rod-price-list-2/?v=7516fd43adaa#sample
Max Gain unlike AFW knows about us RF geeks. There is one exception at AFW (you know who you are. Yes they look in here and elsewhere evaluating if there is a consistent interest)
There are other composite tube (arimid, kevlar, carbon fiber) that are paying attention to the needs of portable antennas.

There are so many recent advances in storage power density and solar/wind/hydro/peltier/other that that may need its own thread.

@HomerBB Good thread, good ideas. Sustainable, practical, inventive, portable, and creative operation needs attention!

 

[HomerBB]

@kopcicle,
I have been hoping the powers that be would open up a dedicated QRP forum to help isolate the subject from the general population and stimulate interest.
Thanks for the links/post.

 

[binrat]

Maybe one day I'll figure out the ft8 thing.

I have done FT8 for a SOTA activation in the winter. Not fun sitting in a snow bank on top of a mountain watching the computer.

 

[HomerBB]

I have done FT8 for a SOTA activation in the winter. Not fun sitting in a snow bank on top of a mountain watching the computer.

That's a sin. Sitting on a mountain freezing your butt off for sota...
Just seems wrong.

 

[binrat]

That's a sin. Sitting on a mountain freezing your butt off for sota...
Just seems wrong.

3 extra points per summit in the winter. We still have 3-4' of snow right now.

 

[groundwire]

Lifes to short for qrp. No but seriously, thats coool, goes to show its all about the antenna, ground and how you set things up.

 

[HomerBB]

3 extra points per summit in the winter. We still have 3-4' of snow right now.

And, for a moment, I thought it was one of those "lesser" sins...

 

[Riverman]

@kopcicle,
I have been hoping the powers that be would open up a dedicated QRP forum to help isolate the subject from the general population and stimulate interest.
Thanks for the links/post.

QRP talk is like end fed talk. Most here look down on it. Perhaps someone with your standing can further the cause without the backlash. Hope so!
Love your setup, Homer!

 

[Riverman]

@kopcicle,
I have been hoping the powers that be would open up a dedicated QRP forum to help isolate the subject from the general population and stimulate interest.
Thanks for the links/post.