K3WWP's CW Stories

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Gale - WA7KJC

I've been visiting your web site for a long time and feel like we are old friends even though we have never met. I intended to write to you a long time ago but just never remembered when I had a moment to spare. But I have one now so here goes.

I have been licensed since 1965 and have always been an avid CW operator and experimenter. In fact, I would say that CW and homebrew equipment and antennas is amateur radio to me. I've operated other modes (SSB, AM, FM, RTTY) and still have fun doing so on occasion but CW is where my heart is. I know we have this in common.

Your dedication to CW and QRP are an inspiration to me and you have been very instrumental in my own move to QRP operation and becoming a member of FISTS. I now operate QRP almost exclusively and have so much fun I think there must be something illegal or immoral about it... just kidding of course.

Just for the record, your articles on the effectiveness of simple antennas and "minimalist QRP" operation have been the most encouraging to me. When I read that you were working stations all over the US and parts of the world with antennas that I thought would be dummy loads at best, I just couldn't wait to give it a try. I now have a 44 ft dipole up 30 ft fed with ladder line. I built my own version of a Z-match (basically a NorCal BLT) and have two QRP rigs. I have a lot of fun on 20 meters with my home built SW20 and on 30 meters with an OHR Explorer II that was given to me about a year ago. I operate everything from a single 12 volt 7AH battery. I also have a Kenwood TS-820 but it seldom gets used anymore.

I would never have dreamed that I could make contacts so easily with under five watts using a "compromise" wire antenna. The frosting on the cake is that I can often enjoy long QSOs although the reduced power sometimes results in cutting the visit short when conditions change. I have been operating QRP for over a year now and have had many enjoyable QSOs... thanks in a big way to your encouragement.

When you are through reading this page, close this window to return to the Stories index - or - click here to go to my home page if you came here from elsewhere.