QRP Myths Debunked!

In this video, I debunk a dozen QRP myths. I'll list them here in the Description along with their timestamps so you can jump directly to a particular myth.

0:11 QRP gear is typically small, but we know that bigger is always better. After all, this is America, damnit.
0:56 People won't want to talk to you if your signal isn't loud.
3:13 QRP is only for portable ops.
4:05 The goal is to make as many contacts as possible, so I need as much power as possible.
6:19 "Real Hams" have an amplifier. I need one in order to get Street Cred.
6:51 QRP requires a fancy, expensive beam antenna to amplify inherently weak signals.
7:54 A QRP signal, logically, can't travel long distances.
8:30 You will turn into some kind of QRP weirdo.
9:30 QRP requires learning Morse Code.
10:53 People won't hear you, so working QRP is frustrating.
11:40 Transmit 5 watts and your signal will sound 20x weaker than 100 watts.
14:12 Life is too short for QRP.

[philhayward]

Had a licence for just over 28 years. Only made my first ever HF contact on just over a year ago and that was on 25 watts. Bought myself a 100 watt rig and started working the world every night from my shack. Got very boring very quickly....I might as well be using a mobile phone. Went back to 10 watts or less on an IC-705 and Xeigu 6100, made some portable antennas, got out out of the shack and started doing SOTA, POTA or just working portable. Suddenly Amateur Radio is interesting and challenging again. I am still working hams around the world, just not as often but it is far more enjoyable when you make that contact. I still have a 100 watt rig but it just sits in the corner of my shack collecting dust.

Cheers
Phil ZL2VTH

[kdtxo]

I would have to say that QRP SSB is the only reason I maintain my ham license. There is no greater thrill than to converse with someone located half way around the planet on 5 watts of energy. QRP is nice because I find myself listening for suitable signals rather than mindlessly blathering superficial boilerplate conversations endlessly. I feel like a surfer "catching a wave" when I make a contact. Riding the ionosphere is where the real challenges are in ham radio. Rather than using power to "bend nature to our will" we QRP "freaks" prefer to surf nature and let the nature take us along for the journey. Thanks for the video - KD5TXO

[JustMe-dvix]

QRP/CW is the most fun, HAM radio at it's best

[miketaylor]

For some reason a ‘myth’ was in my head that the louder stations were closer and if I wanted to talk to more distant stations I had to deal with very weak or stations way down in the noise. I’m finding it’s more about propagation than anything… I often can hear N. Carolina clear as a bell (from Idaho) and Montana is in the noise floor. Thanks for this video.

[ralphnunn]

LOL LOL LOL LOL - 'The guys who say that have a short one'... That one cracked me up!

[David-kmin]

Hi, in the UK our power limits have just gone up. Our foundation licensees now have 25 watts, before it was 10 watts. I have been listening around for these stations and I have noticed no increase in signal strength or readability.
Nice video, all the best David M0DUU

[hamradioqrp-kklb]

Live Long and QRP..!!!.. Good points.. Thx for sharing ..

[kyleinokc]

Great to see you making content again!

[paulweston]

I love QRP it's like fishing with 2 lb line. You lose hooks but when you catch a DX one on 1 or 2 watts it sure feels good!

[marknesselhaus]

I am with you 100%. I have been a Ham for 50 years and strictly QRP for the last 30. Current station is a Heathkit HW-8 and and a homebrew double sideband suppressed carrier transceiver for 75M QRP. I still have my old Novice boat anchor receiver ( Hammarlund HQ-110 ). Antennas here are dipoles for 20 and 15 and a EFHWA for 80 and 40. I am not into contests but still make as many contacts as I want. The stations I work are usually very surprised when I tell them that I am running 2 watts and always give me a thumbs up about the older equipment I am using. 73 and keep having fun on the air de WA4JAT

[fintronics]

I just made my QRP 100 country award all CW all 5 watts on a wire antenna. This is what we call FUN! (W2BX/QRP)

[fintronics]

Great video Cliff. Good explain on Pwr vs s-units. "a short one" love that!

[pybnd-sota]

Agree with all - But its not only between the "big and the small" guys. Also inside the QRP comunity I often found dispute about using 10W on SSB - That 10W on SSB is no QRP - Despite my view that it makes total sens to consider that a 5W CW signal is a completly outher story than 5W on SSB. First due to bandwith and second to the avarage power of a 10W PEP SSB signal. Practice shows that making a DX contact on SSB 10W is much more challenging than on CW with 5W. Using the same logic that this people use, 5W on FT8 should not be considered QRP. QRP is simply a operation on low power - And a 10W PEP SSB signal spraed over 2.4kHz bandwith is even less low power compared to a 5W pure carrier with a very tight bandwith. I woud appreciate your view about this topic - Thanks 73

[bartsta]

You are right. I use yaesu ft818 and it is my only transceiver. 8000 km it’s possible. 72

[DeeegerD]

Recently saw a guy make a 9600 mile contact on less than a watt. Amazing what you can do when conditions are right.

[csttom]

I love that you are making some videos again. You are responsible for me building my KX1 about 10 years ago.

[fernyfg]

I work 70% in field and I take my Qrp radio setup with me and have a blast for hours. When I get home using my home base it does not give me the same excitement, so I normally turn down the power to 10 watts and the fun kicks in.

[Porco_Utah]

I do mostly SKCC operation, I notice SKCC people do mostly less than 100 watts. I used to had 400 watts AL-811 with 811 x 3 tube, but, I often had a situation they can hear me, but I can not hear them. so I let the amplifier go. AG6JU

[QRPNet-Livestream]

Great info.. QRO Folks who join the QRP SSB net livestream on Sundays are amazed at how low they can turn down the power and still be heard. So much fun and learning experiences..

[franciscolopez]

It is very true that working low power is a lot of fun. One time, this guy from England had a good laugh when he found out that I was only transmitting 10 to 15 watts sometimes 20 depending on my modulation ang copy me 5x7/8. While he was transmitting 1kw with a 6 element 10 meter monobander. Well, that yagi can really pullout my signal from my halfwave vertical 30 feet above the ground. Propagation really is the key. Thought I just wanted to share and I am from the Philippines by the way. Thank you and all the best.