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Favorite Rigs For QRP Contesting?

Sep 23rd 2011, 17:11

K8AG

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Currently my favorite rig for QRP contests is an Orion 2. Yes it does get down sightly less than 5 watts. I have a couple of SW??+ rigs in the works to try contesting with them. Modded they have a receive current of about 20ma. Should be interesting.
Nov 25th 2011, 15:03

WA4JM

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Hi Sean,

My rig of choice has been the TenTec 516, but I ma now playing with the TenTec R4020. Fits in a small bag antenna and all.
Dec 6th 2011, 01:16

NQ2W

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Hi All,

For the Spartan Sprint and portable ops I use my Ten-Tec 1340 (40 meters) and my OHR 100A (20 meters). All of the other contests I put my Ten-Tec Jupiter front and center. The folks at Ten-Tec chuckled when I asked for a Jupiter that puts out less than 5 watts...but they found one. Sure is a pleasure to use. Hope to hear you all on the air during contests, QSO parties, sprints, or ragchewing. 72, Will, NQ2W
Mar 13th 2012, 20:25

KC9CS

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
I'm not sure why there's no mention of any full featured 100 watt rigs being used in a low power QRP output. I can dial back the output power to my Icom or Yaesu radios to QRP levels and have a lot of fun. From the field, then it's my KX-1. de Bill, KC9CS
May 7th 2012, 14:13

zs6rbj

Joined: Jan 25th 2012, 14:13
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
I have never owned a FT-817 always wanted one though. I use the IC703(hf only version). I recently bought a 12.6volt 6800mAH battery from the 409 shop. Still need to test it in the field and see how it performs. I have used the 703 for many years and it is very reliable and fun to operate. I especially like the internal tuner, it has tuned everything I have plugged into it so far. Not that I have much to compare it to, I would say it is a great rig. Just watch that voltage, its not happy when it gets a bit low....
Dec 19th 2012, 15:31

N7RVD

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Elecraft K2. Although, when I first started QRP contesting, I used a Heathkit HW-9. I'm thrilled with the K2. It is a much better radio.
Feb 6th 2013, 12:43

2000334485H80

Joined: May 29th 2007, 11:03
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
I started with a IC-703 Plus then a K2, K3 and now a KX3 have them all but the IC-703+..

I must admit the Elecrafts rule when it comes to QRP to QRO #1 in receivers also.

73,
Fred/N0AZZ
Oct 3rd 2013, 00:39

KC9EE

Joined: Oct 30th 2012, 14:10
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Lovin my KX3. Especially since it's my only rig at the moment. The receiver is phenominal. Thinking about just adding an amp to it so I can run in the LP cat also. .

Gary
KC9EE
Jul 11th 2015, 02:40

KB8AMZ

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Hello Sean,

Although not the best rig to use when I operate straight key I use my first rig, the Heathkit HW-9. For other operating I use the Yaesu FT817ND.

Best 72
Terry
KB8AMZ
Sep 2nd 2015, 02:50

WD3D

Joined: Mar 1st 2011, 09:28
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
I've used the Kenwood TS 590S with good results.
I can turn it down to one or two watts and it is very frugal with power consumption.
By comparison, my Yaesu FT 8900R - pushing 50 watts, uses almost 18 amps, while the Kenwood TS 590 - SSB / 100 watts only consumes about 12 amps when fully modulated.
I only see about 4 amps draw at 5 watts when fully modulated SSB and only about 1.5 amps when monitoring.

It has a very good receiver, and a built in processor and antenna tuner.

If you can work someone in just a couple of try's, then wouldn't you think that the extra power consumption and size would offset any gains you might think you get by using some type of portable or mobile transceiver.

There maybe more conservative transceivers out there, but they aren't going to have as good of a front end and filtering as the 590!
You got to hear em to work em!
Nov 7th 2015, 06:21

KH2SR

Joined: Mar 2nd 2014, 09:18
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
My favorite is the LNR LD-5. Check it out here:

http://www.examiner.com/review/tech-review-ld-5-hf-ham-radio-qrp-transceiver

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