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I've been reading, in small doses, "The History of QRP in the U.S., 1924 - 1960" by Adrian Weiss, W0RSP. So after reading about some of the beginnings of the QRP movement it is interesting to note in 1924, QST Technical Editor, Robert S. Kruse, 1XAM, went on the offensive in  promoting low power operation. His methods however were a little different than might be tried  today.

It seems that Kruse felt that American operators had become too enamored with high power operation and that the QRM and inefficiencies of high power operation were precluding the "grassroots" operator from even hearing DX stations. Weiss writes,

 "QST continually derided the abuse of power among American amateurs by coining a long list of derogatory epithets for the high power types. Such names as "watt-hog", "ether buster", "tribe of ampere hounds", "ampere chaser", "thunder factory', "watt burner" and "most miles per gallon" flowed across the pages of QST, leaving little doubt as to the attitude of the QST staff, and presumably the ARRL, to combat the developing dependence upon brute power by American amateurs in place of the ideals embodied in the QRP Operator...."

In, December 1923, the very first QRP contest, The Station Efficiency Contest, was announced with this subtitle, "Miles Per Watt: An Argument For The Small Set and For Intelligence In Place of Brute Force" Weiss comments, "In other words, the use of low power was inextricably linked with intelligence and diametrically opposite to high power"

Further Kruse argued, "...what if his brute power does let him cover 4,000 miles, isn't he still inferior to the other man who handled his power correctly and went twice as far per watt?"

So there you have it, QRP operation = Intelligence.

Need we say more;-)

The book goes into much more detail about the attack on high power operation and rising credibility of the QRP operator in those early days. Interesting reading and entertaining as well.



Mike Crownover, AD5A, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Texas, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

Tonight: 20 meter WSPR before all signals fade out.

Paul Stam, PC4T, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from the Netherlands. Contact him at [email protected].

Once upon a time FM swept away AM, but DV is taking its time despite some clear advantages.



Rob Law, MW0DNK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Anglesey, Wales. Contact him at [email protected].

A magnificent eruption ejected a massive cloud of solar plasma out away from the Sun, into interplanetary space on September 29th (2013/09/29).  A long filament of plasma hovered above the photosphere, captured by the magnetism in the Sun’s northern hemisphere.  Then, it erupted in spectacular energy as seen by the Solar Dynamics Observatory, and by Stereo and SOHO spacecraft. This plasma eruption produced a stunningly beautiful coronal mass ejection (CME).

Coronal mass ejections are often associated with solar activity such as solar flares, but a causal relationship has not been established. A coronal mass ejection is also produced when a plasma filament (or prominence) breaks away from the magnetic clutch of the Sun, escaping the gravitational pull. While many plasma ejections originate from active regions on the Sun’s surface, such as groupings of sunspots associated with frequent flares, any plasma formation could break away. Near solar maxima, the Sun produces about three CMEs every day, whereas near solar minima, there is about one CME every five days or even less frequently.

When a CME passes Earth (not all CMEs are directed toward the Earth), it could cause geomagnetic disturbances, triggering aurora and causing disruption of shortwave radio communications.

Although this CME was not aimed at Earth, it passed by the Earth with a glancing blow from the plasma cloud on October 2-3 2013. This caused a geomagnetic storm (minor level), which lowered the Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) over many ionospheric radio-wave propagation paths on shortwave radio.  This lowing of the MUF is often regarded as a
degradation of shortwave radio conditions.  Some aurora is also produced, though this event did not cause much significant aurora.

Here’s a video showing the magnificent plasma eruption and CME:

Credit: SOHO/Stereo/SDO/NASA

More info: http://SunSpotWatch.com and on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/spacewx.hfradio

Aurora Watch: http://Aurora.SunSpotWatch.com

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John Smithson, Jr., N8ZYA, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from West Virginia, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

Series Six Episode Twenty of the ICQ Amateur / Ham Radio Podcast has  been released. The latest news and Martin, M1MRB & W9ICQ discusses using a PC as test equipment.

•​VK amateurs win reprieve for 2300-2302 MHz
•FCC dismisses 'Encryption' petition
•YL Activity Week
•Guantanamo Bay
•School to launch 434 MHz balloon
•The question is: .... "Explain amateur radio?"
•Amateur Radio well underway in Kosovo
•Turkish Special Event
•Swedish Radio Hams on 472 kHz
•White House recognizes Radio Ham as 'Champion of Change'

 

 

Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at [email protected].

Series Six Episode Twenty of the ICQ Amateur / Ham Radio Podcast has  been released. The latest news and Martin, M1MRB & W9ICQ discusses using a PC as test equipment.

•​VK amateurs win reprieve for 2300-2302 MHz
•FCC dismisses 'Encryption' petition
•YL Activity Week
•Guantanamo Bay
•School to launch 434 MHz balloon
•The question is: .... "Explain amateur radio?"
•Amateur Radio well underway in Kosovo
•Turkish Special Event
•Swedish Radio Hams on 472 kHz
•White House recognizes Radio Ham as 'Champion of Change'

 

 

Colin Butler, M6BOY, is the host of the ICQ Podcast, a weekly radio show about Amateur Radio. Contact him at [email protected].