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 Previous: FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Letters for the Period Ending June 1, 2002 |  Next: In Brief |
By Anthony A. Luscre, K8ZT
Contributing Editor
June 4, 2002
The Four Days in May (FDIM) gathering held in conjunction with Dayton Hamvention has become an annual tradition for QRP operators. It's time to review Dayton Hamvention and FDIM 2002 and to find a QRP gathering in your neighborhood.
 Question: At 5 W each, how many QRPers does it take to make a kW? Answer: About 200 participants at the FDIM seminar. [Photos by author except as indicated] |
Dayton Hamvention and FDIM
Mention the name "Dayton" and hams the world around automatically think "Hamvention." Dayton Hamvention is three days of total ham immersion--the latest radios, equipment and accessories, a flea market with acres of used equipment and parts of every imaginable type plus old and new friends, forums, antennas sprouting everywhere like weeds, food and fun! What could be better?
Well, how about adding a day of QRP forums, a
QRP vendors' night, QRP building contests, QRP friends old and new, and of
course, food at the QRP awards banquet. Adding all that QRP fun means not
three, but Four Days in May--or FDIM. Sponsored by the QRP ARCI, FDIM was an instant
hit at its inception in 1996, and this year's FDIM was no exception.
 At FDIM Peter Zenker, DL2FI, talked about homebrewing using surface-mount devices (SMD). He brought along some of his handiwork--the "Tramp" eight-band transceiver. |
Thursday morning began a day of QRP related forums. With more than 200
participants at 5 W apiece, there was in excess of 1 kW of QRPers in
attendance. The evening continued
with a wattmeter
building project co-sponsored
by The Flying Pigs QRP Club and North Georgia QRP Club (NOGA). After a full day
of Hamvention on Friday, the fun was just beginning for the group. Friday
evening's QRP events included a vendors' night and a building contest,
featuring both homebrew and kit construction. Saturday, again following a full
day at the Hamvention, continued with an awards banquet. Highlights included
two new inductees into QRP Hall of Fame (Rich Arland, K7SZ, and Jim Kortge,
K8IQY; see below), many prizes donated by generous vendors and, of course, more
food and friends. Finish it off with the third day of the Hamvention, and you
have four QRP-packed days.
 FDIM features a homebrewing and kit-construction contest. Here is Mike Branca, W3IRZ, with a fine example of a "retro" homebrewed transmitter, using breadboard construction. The project was based on a December 1946 QST article "The Most Inexpensive Transmitter"--a complete crystal osillator for $3.95 by Byron Goodman, W1DX. |
Here is a brief run down on some of the QRP related highlights, new products and ideas from my four-day immersion.
I got a chance to see--and touch--a prototype
of the new Ten-Tec 516 Argonaut V.
The Argo V features IF DSP filtering, adjustable power output from 1 to 20 W,
full break-in (QSK) CW operation, general-coverage receiver and CW, SSB, AM and
FM transmit on 10-160 meters. Functions and features of the Argonaut are stored
in flash ROM and can easily be updated by downloading new software. Ten-Tec is taking orders now, and
the first shipments are planned for August.
 Dave Benson, K1SWL, of Small Wonder Labs shows off a few of his new kits. Left to right, SSB transceiver, DSW-2 (in his hands) and the PSK-10. |
Another exciting new transceiver kit, the Small Wonder Labs DSW-2, is on its way. I was able to see a prototype of the DSW-2 kit. Dave Benson, K1SWL, of Small Wonder Labs also showed off his new PSK-10 transceiver kit and an as-yet-unnamed digitally tuned SSB kit for 80 meters.
The Yaesu FT-817 introduction over a year and
a half ago continues to spawn many accessories and modifications to complement
its use. W4RT has added to its extensive line of FT-817 products the One BIG Punch
(OBP) speech compressor. The OBP can be installed either inside the MH-31
microphone or inside the FT-817 itself. Want to change frequency easily on your
FT-817? The Universal QSYer
allows you to tap in your frequency of choice on an external keypad. This
device originally was designed for the ICOM IC-706 and published in December
1999 QST
by John Hansen, W2FS. His new version supports the IC-706, the FT-817 and the
Yaesu FT-100.
 Oh, that's where that part goes. FDIM group SWR meter building project sponsored by Flying Pigs QRP Club with assistance from NoGa designers. [Photo by Richard Powell] |
After last year's popular first edition, the second edition of Hugh McCully, VE3AYR's Pack-It Reference for Your FT-817 was available to tote along with your FT-817.
George
Heron, N2APB and Joe Everhart, N2CX provided a very informative
presentation at FDIM on an antenna analyzer project. The Rainbow Antenna Analyzer II will be a
New Jersey QRP Club project for 2002. This project combines microcontroller
technology, RF digital synthesis, an LCD user display and computer interface
capability. This very powerful antenna analyzer kit will have a target price of
$100 and is supposed to be available this October. Also from NJQRP are issues
of The QRP
Homebrewer, the Islander Pad Cutter, the K8IQY Precision VXO Kit and the W1CG Lower Power Balun.
 From the Ten-Tec Hamvention booth, two views of the Ten Tec 516 Argonaut V, with a list of specifications in background. |
In my April column I suggested visiting Budd Drummond, W3FF's Home Page to
see his Buddipole--a pedestrian mobile antenna. Drummond was at Hamvention to display his latest project,
a commercial high tech version of the Buddipole.
The commercial version is built using an epoxy composite material that's light,
rigid and very strong.
 QRP Hall of Famer and QST "QRP Power" columnist Rich Arland, K7SZ, operating the Tuna Tin 2 at W1AW. [ARRL Photo] |
QRP Hall of Fame
The QRP Hall of Fame is an honor bestowed by the QRP Amateur Radio Club International on those who have made outstanding contributions to the QRP community. QRP Hall of Fame administrator Mike Czuhajewski, WA8MCQ, has announced that Rich Arland, K7SZ, and Jim Kortge, K8IQY, are this year's inductees. The Hall of Fame was begun in 1992, and there are currently 27 members. Membership in QRP ARCI is not required to be nominated or inducted.
Arland and Kortge are well known in the QRP community, and both have made substantial contributions to Amateur Radio over the years.
Rich Arland, K7SZ
Arland, a
three-term member of the QRP ARCI Board of Directors, is familiar to ARRL
members since January 2000 as the editor of the "QRP Power" column in QST.
Over the years, he's authored articles in the ham radio press as well as acting
as a spokesman and "evangelist" of QRP to the mainstream of Amateur Radio.
Before becoming the QST QRP editor, Arland wrote and edited a
QRP column for Worldradio for more than six years, as well as a QRP series
in CQ
magazine and numerous QRP articles in QST during the mid to late 1990s (including
"QRP Field Day Survival Guide," which appeared in the June 1998 QST).
Arland is the author of four books on QRP--including ARRL's
Low Power Communication--The Art and Science of QRP, available
from ARRL.
 Universal QSYer for keypad control of FT-817 frequency. Available as a kit or built and tested. |
In addition to writing on the subject, Arland has frequently spoken about QRP at hamfests around the country. His efforts have gained national and international recognition and respect for him as a radio amateur and for QRP as a vibrant force in our hobby. Many current QRPers were first introduced to low-power operating through Arland's efforts. For the past two years, Arland also has served as the master of ceremonies at the New Jersey QRP Club's Atlanticon QRP forum.
Arland has
recorded a six-part series on QRP for broadcast on the ham radio program aired
by HCJB in Quito, Ecuador. It's been broadcast at least annually for several
years.--compiled
from nominations written by W4DU and WA8MCQ
 QRP Hall of Fame member George Heron, N2APB (right), presents a Hall of Fame certificate to new inductee Jim Kortge, K8IQY, at the QRP banquet at Dayton this year. [Leslie Bearl, N0PPF, Photo] |
Jim Kortge's contributions to the QRP and homebrewing community over the last four years have been nothing short of spectacular. He is a meticulous and creative RF designer, a producer of kits, a patient and informative instructor, a public speaker at QRP events, an accomplished and published technical writer and an absolute master craftsman who has done more to champion the extremely successful "Manhattan-style" construction technique than anyone else in our hobby.
Kortge is the
designer of the immensely popular 2N2/40 transceiver, a 40-meter transceiver
constructed solely of 2N2222 transistors and winner of a NorCal design contest
a number of years ago. He wrote an article for NorCal's QRPp magazine concerning his
2N2/40 design that generated lots of excitement. Kortge continues to actively
manage a very popular 2N2/40 e-mail list on Yahoo.
 Two of the many fine offerings from the New Jersey QRP Club: QRP Homebrewer, a quarterly journal and the K8IQY Precision VXO kit. |
He's also
painstakingly encouraged every neophyte homebrewer, helped to source and find
parts and has updated his design to yield more readily reproducible results.
Many 2N2/40 transceivers are on the air today because of Kortge's assistance
and careful guidance, and that owner group is very loyal and appreciative.
 Budd, W3FF, demonstrates one of the many configurations in which you can use his Buddipole pedestrian mobile antenna. |
Since designing the 2N2/40, K8IQY has evolved the design to produce a 2N2/6 transverter. This project was the subject of a paper and talk at a prior year's Atlanticon and FDIM QRP forums. After listening to his presentation and reading the very thorough technical manuscript (published in the Proceedings), even QRP technical veterans were in awe.
Kortge has built a variant of the 2N2-series that focuses on the Manhattan-style technique that made him famous. He designed and produced the 4017 Transverter, which was presented at Atlanticon and FDIM QRP forums. The design was a hit, and the New Jersey QRP Club collaborated with Kortge to produce a kit of his 4017 design. More than 200 kits were sold.
As mentioned above, the NJQRP Club is collaborating with Kortge to produce the Precision VXO Kit.--compiled from the nomination submitted by George Heron, N2APB
Congratulations
to Rich Arland, K7SZ, and Jim Kortge, K8IQY, on their induction into the QRP
Hall of Fame!
 Hugh McCully, VE3AYR, holds his Pack-It Reference for Your FT-817. |
Jim Kortge, K8IQY
QRP Gatherings
If all this talk about FDIM has made you envious of the lucky attendees, let's talk about your opportunities to visit a QRP get-together coming to your neck of the woods. Many QRP clubs sponsor regional QRP conferences and conventions. Formats vary from small social events to formal technical conferences. Many are associated with or take place in conjunction with a hamfest or ARRL division convention.
Depending on the event, the program may contain technical presentations, group building projects, contests for homebrew and kits brought by participants. Expect to find parts swapping or vendors' tables, new kit announcements, contests, social gatherings, antenna "shoot-outs," operating events, award presentations, door prizes and, of course, food.
Many groups also make available printed
copies of their proceedings. So without further ado, take out your calendars
and pencil in an event or two from this handy table.
|
Date |
Event |
Location |
Sponsor |
Web Page(s) and/or e-mail |
In Conjunction with |
|
July 4-6, 2002 |
Lobstercon |
Brunswick, Maine |
New England QRP Club |
w1rex@megalink.net
|
|
|
July 13, 2002 |
4th QRP Get-together |
Essex, MT |
http://www.w7eca.org/hamfest.htm
|
Glacier/Waterton Hamfest |
|
|
July 26-28, 2002 |
Fort Tuthill |
AZ |
AZ ScQRPions |
http://www.arca-az.org
|
Arizona State Convention & Hamfest |
|
Aug. 2,3, 2002 |
Austin QRP Club |
Austin, TX |
Austin QRP Club |
|
Austin Summerfest Ham Convention |
|
Aug. 17 & 18, 2002 |
3 Days in Alabama |
Huntsville AL |
North Georgia QRP Club (NoGa) |
|
Huntsville Hamfest |
|
Oct 18, 19 & 20, 2002 |
QRPacificon |
Concord, CA |
NorCal QRP Club |
http://www.fix.net/norcal.html
|
Pacificon ARRL Pacific Division Convention |
|
Oct 18, 19 & 20, 2002 |
HFpack |
Concord, CA |
HFpack. The HF Portable Group |
|
Pacificon ARRL Pacific Division Convention |
|
March 28-29, 2003 |
Atlanticon |
Baltimore, MD |
NJ-QRP CLUB |
http://www.njqrp.org/atlanticon/
|
|
|
April ?, 2003 |
ArkieCon |
Ft. Smith, AR |
Fort Smith QRP Group |
Ft. Smith Hamfest |
|
|
May 15-18, 2003 |
FDIM |
Dayton, OH |
QRP ARCI |
Dayton Hamvention |
I am sure as readers see this table they will
have additional events and/or corrections, so I will maintain an updated table
in the "QRP Community"
section of my Web site.
 Who says kit enclosures have to be boring and ugly? Here is an example of the Epiphyte-III SSB transceiver housed in a classy homebrewed wooden enclosure by Tim O'Rourke, KG4CHX. |
Reader Feedback
It was great to meet many QRP Community readers in Dayton. Thank you for the encouraging words and for your enthusiasm. I hope to work many of those I met at Dayton as well as other column readers--QRP.
At the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) booth in Dayton, I was informed that one of the books I listed in my last column is now out of print. You may still be able to find copies of HF Antennas for All Locations by Les Moxon, G6XN, at your local dealers or through used book sources. The RSGB said it hopes to reprint the book, but it will take some time.
I received a few e-mails from readers praising the software "FT-817 Commander" by Simon Brown, HB9DRV. Brown has created this comprehensive software and offers it as freeware to all FT-817 users. Included are a full-featured computer interface to control the radio, memory management, DX cluster integration, scanning and custom band layouts.
In the next edition of QRP Community, I will discuss taking our QRP rigs to Field Day and other outdoor activities. Send me your helpful hints, experiences and information about field operations. Please share questions, comments and suggestions for future columns via e-mail as well.
Editor's note: Anthony Luscre, K8ZT, an ARRL member, lives in Stow, Ohio. He has
worked in the field of medical microbiology for 18 years and six years as a
Technology and Computer Coordinator for a 6000-student school district. Luscre
is an avid QRP operator having earned DXCC, WAS and WAC using no more that 5 W
output. Readers are invited to contact the author via e-mail, k8zt@arrl.net
or visit his Web site.
| Previous: FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Letters for the Period Ending June 1, 2002 | Next: In Brief |
