It's so much fun to operate ham radio when your on about 50W of power. Unfortunately, the cost of a 50W, let alone a 100W transceiver, is astronomical. Luckily, there's a solution: QRP. The world of low-powered radio communication is full of endless possibilities. With activities such as POTA (Parks on the Air), SOTA (Summits on the Air, usually done from a mountaintop), or even QRP clubs, the world of less than 5 watts is limitless. Unfortunately, low power comes with the consequence of low power. Sometimes, you'll fruitlessly call CQ for an hour with no response, or you'll succumb to QRM, or really bad interference. But don't let that scare you away, as QRP can be really fun! It's all part of the challenge.
As a QRPer myself, I like to build radios, and that's where QRP becomes an art and a trade. QRP rigs are often simple to understand, comprising of at least two transistors. The infamous Pixie kit is a fine example of QRP. Simple to build and easy on the pocketbook, this small radio only outputs around 500mW up to a watt with only two transistors.
So how does one begin to operate a QRP station? In this post, I'll explain a few simple steps to get started.