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The NAQCC September 2015 Challenge

All challenge info such as rules are now in the hands of Gary K1YAN. Email him with any questions in that regard at pix_email_k1yan (1K).

The results on this page are the responsibility of Hap K7HAP. Email him with any questions in that regard at pix_email_k7hap (1K).


PREMISE:
QRP ... the challenge of communicating with just a few watts. Lets take it up a notch and make those contacts with even fewer watts, actually with less than a single watt. Too challenging? Well consider this ... I worked a fellow in New York running 20 mW with a one transistor transceiver and he was getting close to his goal of working all states east of the Mississippi. That is a challenge!!


TIME FRAME:
The first day of the month 0000Z through the last day of the month 2400Z


RULES:
Make 10 QSOs during the time period using 1 watt or less of output. The contact must be started, carried on and finished with QRPp power. Starting at higher power and cutting back to QRPp levels is not allowed. The other station may be running any power. Only you must be QRPp.


AWARDS:
A certificate and Participation Point go to everyone who makes the 10 QRPp QSOs and reports their results before the deadline.

A Participation Point goes to everyone who makes at least 1 QRPp QSO, and reports their results before the deadline.


PRIZES:
A choice of an item made by master woodworker Gregg WB8LZG as shown on our prizes page here goes to someone selected via a random drawing from all who participate and submit a report for this month's challenge. A person can only win once, then they become ineligible for future drawings.


LOGS:
For your report tell us that you made the required 10 QSOs, or if not all 10, how many you did make.

Please preface any comments you want posted with "SOAPBOX:" so we will know what you want posted and what is private.

Send your results to:

E-mail: pix_email_k7hap (1K)

You must type that address into your email program.

Subject must read: (your call) NAQCC (month) Challenge

For example: K3WWP NAQCC May Challenge

Postal mail:
Hap - K7HAP
8532 Canterbury Dr.
Annandale, VA 22003

All entries must be RECEIVED before the 10th of the following month at 2400Z.


Final Results:

Calls of those who made the 10 QRPp QSOs:
K3WWP
PA9CW
G3JFS
N1JI
KD3CA
MW0RSS
VE6RI
N8XMS
KB1UOH
KA4WJB
KA2PBO
WA2FBN
K1YAN
W2JEK
W2JAZ
KB1UOH
K1IEE
N7KM
WI5H
N8BB
SM5MEK
K0FNR
N4IVE
VE9BEL
N9SE
G3RSP
K3JZD
KF7WNS
All the above get a certificate and participation point.
All below get only a participation point.

Calls of those who made less than 10 but at least 1 QRPp QSOS:
WG8Y
WB1GYZ
K8UDH

Soapbox:
K3WWP: My 10th QRPp QSO at 900 mW came when I worked WK0B on 30 meters at 0127Z on the 5th. Conditions were not all that favorable for QRPp work this month, but nevertheless it wasn't all that much of a challenge to make it to 10 such QSOs. I worked two Hurricane Katrina memorial stations K5G and K5P, ON4UN, V44KAI, OX3XR, F8DGY (nice chat about my QRPp with Chris), HT7C, K9IL (long rag chew), KC1EET, and the aforementioned WK0B. I've got to get back to some serious QRPp work. I need 10 more countries for QRPp DXCC. When I worked him, I thought OX might be new, but it wasn't. Not even a new band-country was worked. It's a lot of fun working with QRPp, and it does work well, even with my simple antennas and poor location. I didn't think of it at the time, but I should have tried some QRPp with the big antenna farm at Skyview when we were there on August 30 just for a comparison. Maybe next year when we go back. I doubt if any of the 10 I worked will be reading this, but if so, thanks very much for your help. Now on to the European Chapter challenge where I have one word down, and two to go. That may be rough with the current conditions.

PA9CW: This is my first participation in the NAQCC challenge. Yesterday it was a great evening for QRPP. I believe the conditions where above normal. It was very easy to make these ten QSO on 30 meters. I'm mostly ( 95 % ) QRV on this favorite band. I use a very simple UFB 13 antenna from Fritzel. It's just one element for 12 / 17 / 30 meter. Only 7 meters above groundlevel. Thanks, Tonnie NAQCC #7029.

G3JFS: Even in fairly average conditions with a clear channel and a good operator at the other end it is quite easy to work stations at 1000 miles or more with 1 watt on the higher bands. Conditions in recent weeks have been atrocious and only last week in the G-qrp club Summer Sizzler activity I really struggled to make contacts with 5 watts. I certainly did not expect to do much with 1 watt and was really surprised at how easily I completed the challenge. I doubt if my signal was ever 599 but at least I exchanged basic qso info with all of the stations worked. It is thanks to Vin K1RM's patience in digging my call out from the noise that I got a USA station in the log.

N1JI: I ran 900 mW from my KX3 into a doublet for this challenge. I was surprised that two of my contacts ended up being ragchews. The best DX was YO8OU for just over 5000 miles per watt.

VE6RI: I had to hop between 20, 30 and 40 meters with condition changes to make the ten contacts. I listened and called only strong stations to increase the chances of making contact.as I figure a strong station also has a good antenna system and should hear my one watt CW. 73, Bob, 3734.

N8XMS: With the great receiving gear that almost everyone has these days, making QRPp contacts is really not all that difficult. I got my 10 QSOs mostly on 30 and 40 meters with 900 mW into a very old Cushcraft R7 trap vertical, and with generally poor band conditions. In addition to several solid rag-chews in the neighborhood of 300 miles or so, I also worked C6A, XE, and P4 for some DX contacts. I think that now I might turn it down to 200 mW and see if I can do it all over. A lot of fun!

KA4WJB: I made 10 contacts on 20 and 40 meters using my Ten Tec Century 21 with power turned down to 500mW into a 40m loop and a Gap Voyager 4. I had great results with mostly DX contacts. I worked Cuba, Aruba, Nicaragua and Netherlands Antilles. Also some locals in Ga, Mo,Tx and Md. I had a great time with such a small amount of of RF.

KA2PBO: This was more than an operating challenge for me .My main rig doesn't go down to QRPp levels so back in August I built up the TX section from a Rockmite and built a Tuna Tin II as a backup. I was xtal controlled at 600mw on 40 meters but completed the challenge last night with VA3IED who was QRP portable in Algonquin Park. Great fun ! Thanks to all the folks who organize these events! Rick

WA2FBN: Made my ten QRPp calls using an half wave end fed and MTR radio. Had to run radio at minimum voltage - 5.6 volts ; produced about 700mW. Batteries didn't last too long before they dropped too low. Managed to work a couple of DX - ON4UN and C6ANT. Also manage a rag chew for over a half hour. 72 Ken

K1YAN: Not much good propagation here but did manage to work 4 states and C6, HB0 and P4. Ran 750 mW with my IC-746 and a HB attenuator. Netted QRPp DXCC countries 25 and 26 on 30 meters in the process.

W2JEK: Used my OHR-500 at 900 mw. Had 5 DX qso and 5 W/VE QSO'S. On Sept 9 when conditions were supposed to be poor P40ER was heard on 20m. After hearing him work a couple of DL'S I took a chance and called and had a QSO. Also had a 2 way QRP QSO with K9GHD. Had 7 QSO on 20m with one each on 15, 30, and 40M. A good challenge despite the poor conditions. One of my friends thought something was wrong with his receiver things were so bad.

W2JAZ: This month's QRPp challenge inspired me to use my little Softrock Ensemble RXTX xcvr running 700mw, though it took a while to remember how best to use it for CW. I initially used the keyboard with PowerSDR but then converted to HDSDR using my brand new American Morse little straight key. I was going to stop at 10 QSOs but it was so much fun and challenging that I kept going. Hungry was my best distance! Not bad for 700mw and a Carolina Windom at 45'. 73, Rick

K1IEE: Had a good time with the challenge. Pleased to work DL5ANT and a good QSO with G3RSP who was operating at 800mW. I used the HW-9 at 900mW and OCF wire ant. Thanks to all 73 Dick

N7KM: I've enjoyed the challenge. I started the month camping at 9600 ft North of Zion National Park near Cedar Breaks National Monument. I used my KX3 at 900 mW. My antenna was a #22 speaker wire linked dipole on 20 and 40 meters which worked very well. It seemed too easy so I reduced power to 500 mW for the rest of the month. When I got home I switched to my NorCal 40A reduced to half a watt into a ZS6BKW doublet at 40 feet. To my surprise almost all QSOs ended up being rag chews some lasting 45 minutes. The challenge netted 21 contacts including 10 states and Mexico longest distance was IL. I heard Shin, JA1NUT, and think I got multiple QRZs but it was a no go. That would have made my month. Thanks for holding the event, playing with antennas and watching propagation was good mental exercise for an old guy:)

WI5H: Thanks for all the work done by the NAQCC gang on all of the events, challenges, awards etc.. My favorite challenges have been homebrew gear and now QRPp. Thanks to the OMs who were on the other end of each QSO. Most of them were QRP and at least 2 were also QRPp. 72 Curtis

N8BB: Was a very rewarding start to the QRPp challenge, got my 10 in the first 5 days then things started to get ugly, conditions progressed to a very low rate although I did finish with 31 qrpp. My best was with KB5JO at 5mw that worked out to about 204,000 mpw but I was on my yagi at that time so probably works to about 100,000 mpw. I have an Elecraft KX3 and can get way down with the SOTABeam extreme qrp attenuator so when things are good I am having a great time.

WG8Y: Great Challenge. I about didn't do it. Well, was tuning around Sat nite, the 26th & heard the TEXAS QSOP guys with big signals & said why not,they want Q's Used my FT-817D at 500mw First 8 QRPp contacts were with Texas. It was a wonder that my signal was heard thru all the QRM. Had a couple really fast Q's & a couple guys worked hard to finally pull all my info. Thanks guys. I actually made 10 Q's in approx an hour, but dropped 2 off my list. Why is because I had built one of the 2nd generation PIXIE 2 kits. You know, the ones that are coming in from China for a few bucks. Well, I didn't expect much but thought I'd put one together with a 7.030 crystal. I made 2 contacts with 2 stations in 3 Land a couple days later,the 28th. so they had to be added. I was putting out app. 300 to 400 mw. No side tone so I know my fist must have sounded really great on their end. Clickidy Clack. Hi Hi

SM5MEK: This month was realy a great challenge, the conds were very bad until the last days of the month, the last 3 days I got long wanted 6 missing qso's. I was using my FT817 with 0.5 W and vertical antenna BHA250dx, and my IC-703+ with 1 W and portable antenna I just did. (VA-3) se more abt this antenna at my homepage www.sm5mek.se . See antennas, vertical antenna with 80m.

K0FNR: Set the FT817 to 0.50 W---worked 23 SOTA activations in CO, CA, WA, AR, TN ,SC.

N4IVE: This was my first time doing an NAQCC Challenge and I found no difficulty making contacts at 1w or less. I got good signal reports from as far away as washington and new hampshire. This was a lot of fun and I look forward to the October Challenge.

N9SE: 26 QRPp QSOs. Lowest power used: 15mW. Best distance: 76,668 Miles/Watt

K3JZD: I did not start on this QRPp challenge until 24SEP15. In the last six days of the month I made a total of 23 QRPp QSOs: one on 20m while running 400mw; two on 15m while running 500mw; and twenty on 40m while running 500mw. I used Softrock RXTX Ensemble SDRs, with a dipole on 40 and a beam on 20 and 15. I worked 11 different states and had four DX QSOs: two Croatian stations on 15m and two Russian stations on 40m. I routinely found a lot of DX stations on the low end of 40m who were making quick "RST & 73s" type of QSOs. But, even though there were breaks in the action where I could have gotten in a clear call to them, most of them were running at a higher speed than I can handle right now, and I am only capable of semi-break-in operation with these SDR transceivers. But, I expect to go after them later while using QRPp power, once I get to where I can copy them better :-)

KF7WNS: I finished building my "1 Watter" QRPp Xcvr on September 6. The output is set at 880 mW. Since then, through the month of September, I made 77 contacts. Working 28 states and 3 provinces. Antennas used are 3 wave length long wire @ 45' and 20M EDZ @35'. Having lots of fun. See you on the bands. 72, Gary

WB1GYZ: I didn't think I'd ever make a contact using such low power to an open-wire fed 80m loop. Cdx were often discouraging but was able to make four QSO's. It's hard to believe what is possible with less than one watt. I turned down my Knwd 940 all the way but it was still reading 5 watts out. Then I tried lowering the ALC to drop the output even further. Using the 20 watt scale of my tuner's RF meter, I was able to satisfy myself that the output, was indeed, less than one watt. I've always thought QRPp ops were a fringe bunch of hams who thrived on frustration. Now, I'm hooked and must number myself among them. A tip o' the cap to all volunteers. Bob

K8UDH: This was my first experience with QRPp. Built an attenuator to reduce my output power and had a great time. I'm hooked on QRPp.