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 DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to those:

- who have shared their experience and k'Ilowledge with others
- who have led, like Kruse, Hatry, Schnell, Handy and Battey
-- numberless QRP'rs who have endured against the odds
- unsung heroes, the receiving operators, who make QRP possible

ii
 in ilr£
J!L~~, 1924--1960

~hria:n ~ ~iss
~®~jJ

vlWilliwatt
rnooku
833 Duke St. 1183
Vermillion, SD 57069

iii
 First Edition 1987
Copyright 1987 by Adrian Weiss
(833 Duke St. #83, Vermillion, SD 57069)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, includ-
ing photocopy, mechanical, electronic, computer or information storage or re-
trieval without permission in writing from the publisher.

Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number: 87-061707

ISBN 0-9614139-1-3

Acknowledgements

The photos (and/or schematics) found on the following pages are reproduced
from QST (issue given in accompanying text) with permission of the Editor:
47, 63, 80, 81, 109, 118, 119, 120, 123, 124, 125, 126, 128, 129, 133, 134, 158,
159, 160, 168, 176, 177, 178, and flyleaf.
The photos (and/or schematics) found on the following pages are reproduced
from CQ with permission of the Editor: 156, 161, 164, 185, and flyleaf.

Typeset by Milliwatt Books with 'PowerText' typesetting formatter (Beaman

Porter, Inc., 417 Halstead Ave., Harrison, NY 10528) on a Hewlett-Packard
LaserPlus.

Printed by BookMasters, Ashland, Ohio. The poor quality of several of the

photographs reproduced in this book is attributable to deteriorated originals and
is not the responsibility of BookMasters.

Printed in the United States ofAmerica

iv
 Contents
1. The K8EEG Story 1
A Visit from The Old Man 19

2. Prologue to Exploration: The Unknowns 22

I. From Spark to C.W. - The Vacuum Tube 22
II. Exploring Unknown Territory: The Shortwaves 27
ill. From Flat-tops and Counterpoises to Antennas 34

3. OAP Pioneers on the Frontier, 1923-24 39

I. The New American Amateur and QRP 40
II. Kruse Launches the QRP Movement 42
ill. QRP Exploits in 1924: U.S. Amateurs Outdone 44
IV. American QRP'rs Enterthe Battle 47
V. The Emergence of the QRP Operator 49

4. 1925: QRP Takes the Spotlight 55

I. Exploring 40 and 20 Meters 55
II. QRP Records and the Jewell QRP Contest 57
III. QST's 'Special QRP Issue' 63
IV. Col. Foster (c9CK): 'A Man and His Hobby' 66

5. 1926-27: Newcomers and DX'rs 72

I. QRP Features and Experiments in Radio Broadcast 73
II. Finally - Windom (8GZ) Brings a Record Home 79
Ill. Of, By and For the Beginner 82
IV. Exiled to Foreign Parts-IARU Reports 86

6. 1930-1941: Grassroots vs. High Power ORM 96

7. QRP Gains Ground: 1930's 108

I. Without Fanfares: The Low Power Work Goes on 108
II. ORP's Few Brief Moments on Stage 111
ill. Flea Power Transmitters and the Thrills of QRP 119

8. The QRPr's Story: In Their Own Words 128

I. Sutter's 'Portable Five' 128
II. Brief QRP Operating Reports 130
ill. Flea Power in the Artie 132
IV. Pecos River QRPp - Circa 1934 135
V. Perfect Summer Plus ORPp 138

9. The Uprising of '37: The 'Flea Power Association' 143

10. 1945-1960: Before the Transistor 152

I. A Few QRP Triumphs, Mostly Routine QRP 152
II. ORP Transmitters and Testimonials 155
III. QRP'rs in KW Country 163
IV. How's (QRP] DX? 167

11. 1954-1960: Milliwatts and Miles 178

Epilogue 188

v
 Preface
My own history as a radio amateur carried within it the seeds for the writing
of this book - ''The KSEEG Story" makes that obvious. But that doesn't explain
why there is a book after all. That's another story. During all those years in which
I plied the ham bands with QRP, I did not know that I was a QRP'r. I thought I
was just another garden variety ham who happened to b1:e low power transmit-
ters (or couldn't afford better), and got satisfaction from building and making
contacts with them. Then something happened to change that when I opened up
a sample copy of Mike Czuhajewski's (WA8MCQ) "QRP /8" newsletter that
arrived in 1968 as part of a mailing to all '8' district members of the 100-watt
QRP Club International members. As I glanced through the dittoed contents, I
experienced the stunning revelation that others were out there who battled away
at the QRM and odds with low powered transmitters. For the first time, I real-
ized that I belonged to something in amateur radio! Prior to that, I never really
belonged to any recognizable group - they had 'real' equipment like high power,
store-boughten rigs and exotic antennas and were 'real' hams. I never saw a pic-
ture in the ham magazines of anything that looked like my 'station'. I was merely
a 'make-shift, make-do' ham who didn't have the goods to belong with DX'rs and
County Hunters and other groups of real hams - until "QRPp Corner" and the
QRPp news in "QRP/8" showed me my place! I was so excited that I immediate-
ly fired off a letter to WA8MCQ offering to submit a little article about my 'pride
and joy' of the moment, a two-stage transistor transmitter with a transistor v.f.o.
- it wasn't much, but I wanted to share it with my particular breed of radio
amateurs! That desire has kept me writing about QRP all these years.
But there is something essentially different about this History of QRP that
separates it from the rest of my writing. We all know by now that we belong to a
recognizable group of radio amateurs because of the growth of QRP in the last
decade or so. But most of the new QRP gang doesn't realize the whole story.
What I want to give QRP'rs in this book is a new sense of identity - a sense of
belonging to a tradition in amateur radio that stretches right back to the very
beginning, a tradition which, in fact, is rooted in the highest ideals of American
amateur radio.
The genesis of History of QRP in t/ie U.S., 1924-1960 merits comment. This
book is an expansion of the history section of Tlie QRP'rs Guide to Trr.111s111ission
Lines, Antennas, Propagation and DX'ing: The History, Theory and Practice of
QRP; another section has already been published as The Joy of QRP: Strategy for
Success, and the section about antennas, propagation and DX'ing will be
forthcoming by 1989 if all goes well. I began The History of QRP because I was
originally curious about what the early QRP'rs did in the way of conquering dis-
tance with low power, knowledge and skill. I did not expect to uncover the wealth
of material that emerged.
The original history section of The QRP'rs Guide had been completed several
years ago with the focus entirely on the exploits of early QRP'rs until 1927. When
I began preparation for publication recently, 1 had the time to look beyond that
original cutoff date, fust working with the 1945-60 period. I found a marked dif-
ference in the manner in which low power work was presented in the later peri-
od. The presentation of the QRP'r as the antidote to the 'watt-hog, ether-buster',
a constant feature of editorial treatment in the 1920's, was entirely absent. That
contrast brought into focus the theme underlying the role of QRP in American
amateur radio. The materials of the 1930's were then researched with the objec-
tive of determining if and when an actual shift had occurred in the role of QRP.
From that research emerged a continuous tradition in the presentation of
QRP stretching from Warner, Kruse and Harry through Schnell and then Handy
and Battey. Its central theme was the antithesis between the low power operator

vi
and his association with the concept of Kruse's New American Amateur, and the
QRM-generating high power operator. Any reference to the one automatically
implied the existence of the antithetical partner. In a sense, QRP was a distinct
element of amateur radio in the early days primarily because many American
amateurs inconsiderately exceeded the regulatory qualification on the 1000-watt
power Limit by using powers far in excess of what was needed to maintain com-
munication. In other words, without the 'watt-hogs', there would have been no
QRP'rs. Until about 1937, the exploits of the low power operator (and hence the
use of low power itself) provided the prima facie evidence in the case against the
abuse of the American power limit and the destructive influence that it exerted
on American amateur radio. After that point, the ARRL ignored the issue and
QRP lost its previous pivotal role in American amateur radio. This shift seems to
coincide with the maturation of the ARRL from a 'club' with a flexible, direct
connection to its membership through QST, to an 'organization' with a Board of
Directors deciding a policy that precluded any official response to criticisms
which might antagonize a portion of the membership. At about the same time, an
official headquarters was erected, and by 1939, QST had 'gone slick' with an
editorial format which endured almost unchanged until the present. Any re-
ference to the use of excessive power was and is done in the most diplomatic,
polite and deferential terms imaginable, if at all. And so, without the battle
against its arch-enemy the 'watt- hog', QRP languished into a nebulous oblivion,
lacking the publicity it had previously received.
The approach followed in this book can be characterized as "popular history"
in the tradition of Eileen Powers' Medieval People and other books like it. Such a
history combines the historian's presentation of facts and interpretation with
original source materials for the reader's own perusal and interpretation. In
keeping with my scholarly training as a literary historian, I have attempted to
thoroughly research the available historical materials and honestly describe and
interpret the facts and ideas found therein. However, the History of QR.P is not
directed at a scholarly audience, but to others like myself who want to enjoy QRP
both in operating with low power and learning more about it. My objective was
to write a book that I would enjoy reading for years to come, and so far, I still
enjoy it despite the tedious tasks associated with publication. I sincerely hope
that it will provide many hours of enjoyment, and hopefully valuable inspiration,
to its readers.
In closing, I want to recognize my debt to those who contributed to this book
in various ways. Associate Professor Sylvia Wheeler of the University of South
Dakota kindly provided helpful comments about Chapter 1 for which I am grate-
ful. I am especially indebted to the E ditor of QST for permission to quote exten-
sively from that journal, to reprint several entire articles, and reproduce
numerous photos. Without this generosity, the History of QRP would indeed be a
slim volume! Similarly, I am grateful to the Editor of CQ magazine for permis-
sion to quote materials and reproduce photos. And I wish to express special
thanks to Robert Curtis, WlEXZ, for copies of his original logs and notes as well
as his comments regarding 'The Flea Power Association'. Finally, we are all in-
debted to those many QRP'rs who took the time to write their stories for publica-
tion and thus provided modern QRP'rs with a sense of their place in a tradition
which stretches back to the beginning!
A history such as this is never completed as long as more historical material is
available. Please submit anything ofpotential interest to the author.
Adrian Weiss
WORSP (ex-KBEEG)
August 10, 1987

vii
The Full-page Announcement of the J ewell 1926 Radio Contest (see page 60)

·-----·---··----------------- --·----------------·:ll
:J
I " .MORE MILES PER WATT" ii
:1
:1
:.
I JEWELL !j"
fi

i!
1926 Radio Contest !i
For I'
Amateur Operaton Licemecl
by U . S. and Canadian
Governments

':•
A 21·1•••1 wauh • hh a iM>1id whllf"
s old ha nd tn.,ut'd un • nd • Thi , ;: con1est was tir~ l announced at th e Third
Lord t:Jain
k<tf'd u cbt>mo "fmf'nl
1sn b u 1ropb
Jir• irll bf.ton H•
1 f or ·"a
, . uons
• I A . R.R · L Con\·en •. 1un
· h C!' Id .an Ch.l('a~o 1n
• ~!I
1·;:,~·h",C-'!iit:!\ ~:rot~d:';. J-.n"!•::
I :
~:~!~dto b~h•!h:mU';h~cS'''S~::: ~~
C a nadia n Covnnmtnt" who h..,.
.\ ugusl. It ia being held in thr intfre1ta of eflkienry
uf opl•ration and t:fficienc~· in the last analysi ~ i" the
t:oal O ( tht.• amAt (lUt.
'i
i!i
~~~l;.~'t'dtra~':,;:~..;.~.mr~, "'!'1
1 : .. ,,~! DX n·cords tn th-.. f ulurt will prob11blr make ::
trlf"l'nph7. 1ti.t mo.i m11.-. ~' ••U 1.:ar<'fu! mention of power input in order to '-'!'lahli1'h t:t
" ' 'H •
11
d • •"" " uf
3
uu mil" 0
' a mile:i prr "'' Alt bosis for diatuu ion. T
1: 1

Miles pl'r watt i,; an ex~cllent cr ite r ion of station efficiency and en- fil'
ables credit to lie gi\'en to the ~mall ~tatio11 which is oper ated in accord- I~
ance with the best enKi!1eering principles. It allows such a station to
compete on a favorable basi11 with the more powerful stations, which may
reach furth er by sheer power. 'lj
And lo ml'a~ure the input Jewell instruments cont inue t o be found the
mose reliabl e, 1H:curate and dependahle in~t ruments for the amateur. They
I:l!,
·:.j :::.11

i. are especially adapted lo his needs and will pro\·e a necessity for the well-
·, =::! equipped transmitter. "

l,
·H
,:1·
Je::~·,~~:::~:/:::::~::··~. j 1650 W ALM.IT STUET 1•:.1
', ':
CHICACO I!!
~ ··MORE MILES PER w.11rr· j
:~-------"'·=~=--'--..=-·.-;-:.-.;=-~~-£''""---·--,-.,_._,_;;:=-=r-:!:!---.!--.,_-_£___. . . , ,_,.,~.......!".!••-------·.~
(,-:-1· . ~A\' \'OU ~AW IT ll' Q ~ T-JT 1Dl!:.'<Tl~Jr$ YOU A.ND 11.&l.PB Q 8 T

viii
 Chapter 1
The KSEEG Story
and
A Visit From the Old Man

Anyone who is interested enough in radio to pick up this book and begin
reading about QRP operation probably has already felt the fascination which
makes QRP operation so rewarding to a rapidly increasing number of radio
amateurs around the world. We are drawn to radio in the first place because it
enables us to communicate across vast distances with other people whom we will
never meet face to face. Amateur radio's very essence is the act of communica-
tion and it appeals to an inherent need in the social animal that Man is. And the
beginning is the most exciting period in the experience of radio amateurs. That is,
when the fascination with radio is felt in its purest fonn, still fresh and untried,
full of unknowns and sutprises. Regardless of our age, we feel like children who
are confronted with a 'magic' that can perfonn wonders beyond their ability to
understand or explain. It is a magic that seems supernatural, and that type of
phenomenon captivates the human imagination. We find it difficult to believe
that we are actually hearing someone thousands of miles away speaking to us in a
wavery voice or in fluttery code signals. The magic is evidenced only in the eerie
sounds coming from the phones or speaker, sounds which are u.nlike others we
hear in our environment, but which are manmade nonetheless. Like the Siren's
Song, they call to something deep in human nature, and many of us respond by
sitting intently before the receiver for hours on end, trying to fathom the mystery
of radio, feeling the desire to reach out and talk back. That desire to communi-
cate is what leads us to acquire the Novice license.
For most of us, the big moment came when months of study, code practice,
and building placed us in front of the equipment with which we hoped to talk
back to the sounds coming through the speaker. We felt like the early pioneers
who first demonstrated that long distance communication via the ionosphere was
possible, like the early trail blazers who moved ever higher in frequency, always
wondering whether or not they would make contact. We reached for the key
those first times with the same intense anxiety, our minds focused intently upon
the flight of the invisible radio signal from our antenna and out into the endless
reaches of space, wondering, "will it work, will I be heard?" We held our breath
through the slow milliseconds separating our first 'go ahead' from the hoped for
response, and when the response came, there was that feeling of elation and the
explosion of pent-up breath in the thrill of success. Most of us have felt this in
our early radio experience. For many, the experience has lost its mystery because
of the reliability of making contact with high power equipment. But many of us
have rediscovered our beginnings again in operation with low power because we
are confronted with the suspense, we always wonder "Will he hear me?" each
time we reach for the key or mike. We frequently re-experience our first days and
weeks as amateurs when operating QRP.
It hasn't been all that long since I went through such a re-experience of the
early days. Sometimes I wonder whether other QRP nuts get carried away like I
do. I suppose that my behavior would appear rather strange to someone who has
not felt the mystery of radio. An observer would see a grown man sitting in front
of a radio in a dimly lighted room, bent inte;itJy over the keyer, slowly sending
code signals, pausing, and then jumping in his chair as a signal comes back to him
through the speaker, exclaiming something like "Wow, he's coming back 10 me, he
heard me. Fantastic!" That still happens to me, and I've been working the world

1
 Chapter 1: First Transitor DX - UA 1 and ZM2AFZ

with low power for over a quarter of a century. Many contacts make me forget
that I'm an adult, and I spontaneously react just like the kid I was back in the
mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania in my early days. I don't know how
many other low power fanatics behave like that, but I'd be willing to bet that
many of them do, judging from their excitement in telJing me about special con-
tacts weeks after they occurred. We all encounter these special contacts when
operating with low power. That is why the typical QRP operator takes over
eyeball conversations at club meetings with enthusiastic, highly detailed narra-
tives of his latest QRP exploits. In looking back over the last decade, I can re-
member many such contacts. The amazing thing is that I can actually recall them
in detail, sometimes even remembering the sounds and propagation effecrs.
I remember my first solid-state DX contact back in 1971 and how it amazed
me, even though I knew it was entirely possible both from theory and my early
experience with low power back in the sunspot peak of the late 1950's. I was
using homebrew solid-state gear. The direct conversion receiver had grown from
a simple oscillator, mixer and audio amplifier into an all-band unit with a three--
stage active audio filter and IC audio amplifier driving a speaker. lt was housed
in a homebrew cabinet made from duct material, and painted a black- crackle
finish. It was a good receiver, for what it was. The transmitter used a 2N2102 in
the final for about 700 milliwatts output on 20 meters. I had just finished work on
a homebrew yagi constructed from bamboo poles wrapped in aluminum foil for
elements (see CQ Magazine, June, 1976), with a T.V. mast boom and rotator. It
was a beautiful antenna, and later I described it as a prehistoric eagle alighting
on a slender pole. I had built the yagi to get the edge I felt I needed to span the
oceans, but I didn't expect results so soon. As I sat in the cold basement shack
that morning, I found it hard to believe that the UA1 was responding with my
familiar 'K8EEG', and that we continued for 20 minutes, experiencing difficulty
at both ends, but completing the contact. There I was, communicating across
some 6000 miles of ocean and land, using homcbrew equipment and only 700
milliwatts output! Not only was it possible, I was doing it! The excitement of my
first days as a Novice came back to me during that contact. I became obsessed
with working DX again.
A couple years later, I had an experience that stands out from all the rest. By
this time, I had built more sophisticated equipment and had increased my output
to 4 watts. One evening in April, 1973, right at the bottom of the sunspot cycle, I
was tuning around an otherwise dead 20 meter c.w. band and came across a
pileup with ZM2AFZ as the focus of attention. Even though all the indicators
suggested that I didn't have a snowball's chance of working him, I gave him a
quick 3x3 call when he signed, and believe it or not, he came back to me, explain-
ing that I had the best signal of the dozen or so west coast stations calling llim. I
routinely informed him of my power, and then the contact became a very unique
experience. He 'broke' me and requested verification of the 4-watt power, which
I gave, and he then proceeded to become excited, indicating his disbelief that
such low power could be pounding into New Zealand with such strength.
Meanwhile, the rest of the pack waited and listened to his exclamations about
QRP and my signal strength. After about 15 minutes of rapid exchanges, he sug-
gested that we move up into the DX phone band, and he'd record my signal and
play it back to me so I too would believe its strength. So we QSY'd and he played
the tape. WOW! T here's no way of describing it. There I was, sitting in South
Dakota with my QRP rig, and I was hearing a recording made in New Zealand,
and my signal was literally rocking the very foundations of his shack! His record-
ing mike was at some distance from the speaker - he positioned it de!Jberately so
that I would get the full effect of the phenomenon -- and the reverberation and
strength was simply incredible. I never really believed a 599 report before that

2
 Chapter 1: First Transitor DX -- UA 1 and ZM2AFZ

experience, but I do now. I sat t11ere grinning and 'wowing' as he played back
every transmission ror the next half- hour or so until we had both drunk deeply or
the mystery that we confronted. It was a very strange experience in which the past
mingled with the present moment, when all the magic seemed to engulf my con-
sciousness as I sat Jjstening to the playback. In my early days, I was always fas-
cinated by listening to an incoming signal and trying to imagine the person who
was sending it, the details of his shack, the topography of his location. This time,
I was the person sending it, I was where it was coming from across a 20,000 mile
journey. The signals always come from another like myself, fascinated with the
magic of radio that allows me to communicate with other human beings, curious,
excited, surprised that I can reach out into all the comers of the earth, and make
contact with another person.
For some reason, I find that low power operation always provides its greatest
thrill when it duplicates the experiences of my early days; back then, I used
homebrew transmitting gear, simple antennas, and often tinles makeshift operat-
ing situations. It seems somewhat strange to me that, afrer designing and con-
structing many different receivers, transmitters, and transceivers, I still develop
such an intense affection for each new unit which is plugged into the antenna and
used to make contacts. I suppose it has something to do with the suspense or the
early days and the question of whether or not the thing will work. When it docs,
it becomes intertwined with the success of my first rig, and the same exhilaration
is present. J remember a particular instance. I'd designed and built my Viking 3x5
(see CQ, May, August, 1980) for my personal use, and had not intended to pub-
lish an article about it because of the complexity of the project. The '3x5' was the
culmination of many years of dreaming about the ultimate portable transceiver
and what it would do. My first contacts with it confirmed my hopes that I'd put
the dream into reality, and operating with the '3x5' brought new vigor into my
operating. But, to get to the story.
Viking 3x5 Transceiver. The '3x5' sits atop the schematic. Measuring 3' x 5•, the
unit is capable of 5 watts output on 20 meters, v.f.o. controlled. The shielded upper
right corner contains the transmitter circuit (2N5589 final), with remaining space
filled by the receiver p.c. board. To the front are the microswitch key, 12v antenna
current Indicator bulb, and L- network. The reel carries 66ft antenna and monofil.

I took the Viking .k5 along on my motorcycle camping trip during the summer
of 1979 on the ou1side chance that I'd be able to operate from different locations
in a portable situation. Naturally, a potential campsite was ranked according to

3
 Chapter 1: Viking 3x5 Camping Trip and UA 1 DX

the antenna supports it offered in the form of tall trees. I pitched my tent in Iowa
beside a large lake with an hour to spare before t he clouds that had followed me
all day began to drench the landscape. It wasn't very comfortable lying on my
stomach in the small puprent floor and supporting myself on my elbows, just like
I did when I first started out in radio. lt was difficult to hold the single earphone
with one hand and tune the transceiver with the other, or to hold the mjcroswitch
which I used as a keyer with the fingertips of my left hand, while trying to send
intelligible code with my right hand. But I had many excellent conracts all over
the U.S. using the 66ft wire strung between two trees. In fact, during the several
hours each day spent in the tent to escape the rain, I don't recall failing to QSO
anyone I called. I wasn't hearing much DX, but one afternoon, I did manage to
pull a weak UAl out of the noise and gave him a call - just in case. Damn if he
didn't come back with a 559 and copy me solid for our 15 minute contact. I
couldn't quite believe it. There I was, out in a tent by a lake, with no a.c. power
lines in sight, nothing for an antenna but a 66ft piece of Nr.28 wire slung between
a couple trees, and I was talking to a fellow ham in Russia.
After the conract, I went outside in a state of amazement and walked up a
little rise from which I could line up my tent with Russia. I sat there, puffing on
my pipe in vacation leisure, looking along an imaginary line through my tent to
the distant location of Russia, trying to grasp the enormity of the distance, the
mountains and oceans between us. I t made the place, the tent, the antenna, and
me all seem very small, even minuscle, in a vast world. I t made me feel that sense
of awe at the magic of radio, a magic which made it possible for a man occupying
a small speck of land to reach across distances which are difficult to visualize
imaginatively and communicate with another such as myself, with a distant stran-
ger who in all probability sits there in a foreign land and looks toward me across
frozen tundra or whatever is there. Even though our respective political leaders
have decided that we are enemies and consequently stockpiled sufficient nuclear
weaponry to annihilate us both, we can outflank the politicians and wish each
other well on a personal basis because of the magic of radio.
In sitting there and thinking about this, I was reminded of how, in my early
days, I was in1pressed with the fact that I listened to news reports and commen-
taries on Radio Moscow and wondered how those Russians could be as bad as
our U.S. propaganda of the time said they were. Perhaps the fact that I had just
finished speaking with one of them while lying on the tent floor reminded me of
how I listened to them in my early days, prostrate on the floor in front of the old
RCA receiver. Since I was on vacation, I had nothing to do but periodically check
my unsuccessful fishing line, operate in the rain, and otherwise j ust sit around
and think things over and rummage in my store of memories. I got to remember-
ing in considerable detail how it all started for me.
This fascination I have for radio started way back when I was a boy of about
age 7-8 or thereabouts. My memories are of a dimly lighted Jiving room with my
dad sitting beside the old RCA table model shortwave receiver with Classical
music fading in and out, and with an announcer interrupting with comments in a
language which I did not understand. The darkness and warmth, the presence of
my dad, and the eerie fading of the beautiful music made an impression on me
which has never left me, and which, even at this late date, is evoked whenever my
consciousness is focused upon the far-away world wltich spills through a
loudspeaker or earphones. Since then, I have always been driven to seek out that
far-away world and to revel in its mysteries.
At first, I was able to appropriate the RCA table model receiver when my dad
purchased an elaborate Midwest hi-fi outfit from my uncle. This new receiver
occupied the position of prominence in the living room, and although the shiny
polished coppertone front panel was impressive, it lacked the warmth of the

4
 Chapter 1: The KBEEG Story

wood cabinet of the RCA. I found the perfect spot for the RCA for my travels
into far-away worlds. Between my parents' bed and dresser was a space just wide
enough for me to lay in lengthwise, with the receiver on the floor against the
back wall. It was like a little cave, and even in the daytime, the light was dim. I
stretched a piece of copper wire about 20ft along from that corner of the house
to a small tree about 8ft off the ground, and ran it into the receiver through a
window next to the dresser. Seems I couldn't spend enough time huddled on the
floor in front of the receiver, looking at the two green dial scale lines while listen-
ing. It was almost as if by looking long enough and hard enough at the two glow-
ing green lines, I would be able to actually see where the sound was coming from
out there, and of course, my imagination would take over and I would see far-
away places in my mind and I would dream of them. I was in a constant state of
amazement that I could hear a voice or music that was originating in a place
thousands of miles away at that very instant.
One day, while waiting for my dad to buy cigars and a Sunday newspaper at
the Westside News Store, I stumbled across a shortwave listener's magazine on
the news stand and flipped through the pages, discovering lists of stations, with
frequencies, times of broadcasting, programs, and with short articles on
shortwave Listening. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed with a wave of excite-
ment and had to have that magazine. It became a focal point of my attention for
weeks as I lay in front of the receiver, trying to correlate what I was hearing with
the information the magazine provided. I would seek out stations listed in the
log, but I rarely had success, since the RCA calibration left much to be desired.
But every now and then, I'd find what I was looking for and I would be thrilled
for days with the experience of tuning across the vast unknown spaces that the
spectrum represented to me and finding something I recognized and knew from
reading the magazine.
When I joined the Boy Scouts, another magazine became very influential in
regard to my interest in radio - Boy's Life. The Scout publication carried a
shortwave listening column as well as sponsoring a big shortwave listening con-
test every winter. That was my first contest in radio, and it was exciting as well as
frustrating. I would lay in front of the receiver with log sheet and pencil, waiting,
sometimes a half-hour, for the station identification information which would
allow me to log that station. Oftentimes the foreign language announcements
would make no sense whatsoever, and I'd search the shortwave magazine log
listings endlessly for some indication of what I was listening to. By the end of the
month long contest period, I had managed to· gather hardly more than two pages
of entries, but I sent the log in anyhow, and months later I was delighted to see
my score way down in the official results list -- not quite at the bottom. I was
astounded at the high scores, and couldn't figure out how they managed. But they
did it, and so could I, and I made up my mind to make it to the top next year.
That year was the important one. The Boy Scouts were most helpful. I ac-
quired a straight-key c.w. buzzer practice unit from the troop, learned the code,
and spent endless hours sitting on the floor next to a footstool, which seived as a
table, practicing the code. It took forever, but finally I had learned and could
recognize all the characters when sent very slowly. Ed Krynock, the young Scout-
master, would drill me with the 'dah di dah dah' routines whenever the chance
arose. But as yet I could not practice copying on the air because the old RCA had
no b.f.o. My grandmother had a really super shortwave receiver laying around
unused, and it had a b.f.o. I had always dreamed of getting the old 1935 Silver-
tone, and, now that my interest in radio was firmly established in the minds of my
parents, I finally cajoled everyone involved into letting me 'borrow' it. It was a
beauty. The metal cabinet was finished in black crackle (I suppose because of the
impression the old Silvertone made on me) and it had a large round dial about

5
 Chapter 1: The KBEEG Story

eight inches in diameter, with about five separate dial lines of different colors
(blue, yellow, green, and red) set in a black dial face. It had two dial pointers, one
for the main tuning, and the other for band spreading. The b.f.o. had an adjus-
table frequency, and the bandwidth had several settings. To me, the Silvertone
was the real thing! I talked my dad into giving me half of the space on one of his
work benches in the basement for my radio shack, and that spot became the
focus of my existence for several years to come.
With the Silvertone's b.f.o. capability, I could set out to learn the code in ear-
nest. At first, what I could hear on the hambands was indecipherable, but even-
tually I began to catch individual letters, and finally groups of letters. I heard
about the WlAW Code practice sessions somewhere, and finally found WlAW
after several weeks of searching. That did the trick. It wasn't long before all of my
listening time was spent in the c.w. section of 20 meters, and I was astonished at
all the foreign stations I was hearing. Needless to say, my desire to talk to them
was inflamed, and getting my own license became the passion of my life. It would
take several years before I actually established contact with one of them, but it
was my goal. So I turned in earnest to getting my license.
A borrowed How To Become a Radio Amateur became the most important
book in my life. I'd managed to scrounge a couple copies of CQ and QST, and I'd
read and re-read the articles until they began to make some sense. To an eleven-
year old boy, 'grid-leak' and 'bias' and 'r.f. choke' conjured up images hardly re-
lated to radio theory, and these were mysterious words with a hidden power to
me, just like the words of the religious ceremonies in Latin, but they were also
keys to the mysterious world of radio, and I learned them and what they meant,
even if I didn't have the slightest conception of what they represented in terms of
radio theory. When I finally found an old copy of the ARRL Handbook in the
local library, I was ecstatic - here was the 'bible' of amateur radio and it had
everything in it that I needed to know.
But it was very difficult for a boy, working on his own, to grasp how all of this
'radio stuff actually worked. I recall puzzling for days over a receiver circuit front
end tank coil. I understood that, in elec.tric circuits, wires had to be connected,
and I couldn't see how the circuit could work if the primary and secondary wind-
ings of the tank circuit had no physical connecrion. At first, I decided that the
printer had made an error and left out a line which would show the wire connect-
ing the primaries and secondaries of all the coils. Pleased with my discovery, I
dutifully drew connecting lines between the primaries and secondaries of all the
coils to correct the printed schematic, and to save the next guy who got the book
the trouble of figuring out what I had just corrected, or worse yet, of actually
trying to build it the way the schematic showed, and being disappojnted when it
didn't work. I'd study one section of the Handbook, and go back to another, and
eventuaUy, each time I'd go back another question would be answered, another
aspect of the 'radio magic' would make sense. This took a long time and a great
deal of puzzling over the secret mysteries I was attempting to master. Ultimately
the process would require two years before I acquired the Novice Class ticket.
By the time the Boy's Life contest rel.led around the next year, my code speed
had crept up to about ten words per minute, and I was ready to assault the top of
the score list. My strategy was simple -- while the rest of the guys were scrounging
stations on the broadcast bands, I'd be sitting on 20 meter c.w. just racking up a
big score. In fact, I did a lot better, log,,,cring about 260 stations in about 45
countries. It was quite an accomplishment at the time, and the great improve-
ment in score was the result of a lot of determined effort in learning the code.
When the results finally appeared in print, I started looking for my name at the
top and as my finger traced farther down the page, my spirit was swept with a
wave of disappointment - I found it way down around #38 on the list. I couldn't

6
 Chapter 1: The KBEEG Story

believe that I was that far down, but I was, and after the disappointment passed,
a new determination arose for the coming year. It would be the biggest contest
ever sponsored by the magazine, with two or three National Radio shortwave
receivers as top prizes, and about fifteen other tangible prizes. The ARRL Code
Sessions became a moral obligation, just like church on Sunday. I'd keep the
receiver tuned to c.w. stations as I studied over the Handbook and License Manu-
al, as weU as looking through QS'I's and CQ's. I'd try to get away with doing my
lessons while listening, but my mother was an ex-school teacher and figured that
my homework efficiency would be lowered considerably in this approach.
In the meantime, I began scrounging around garbage dumps looking for
junked radios whenever the occasion arose. Most of the junkers I'd stumble ac-
ross were total losses due to corrosion and deterioration, but every so often, I'd
come up with a real find. For a while, I'd check the parts in them against the
parts I could make out in Handbook pictures but this was problemmatic, since
most of my finds were so old that the parts no longer corresponded to anything
I'd find in a picture. Even so, I'd tear the parts out and save them, figuring I'd
find out what they were later. Once I found a receiver of the late 1920's variety,
with the tubes that looked like lightbulbs. I actually got this on.e to work on the
local station on the a.m. band, and it was a great triumph for me. It gave rise to a
love of tinkering behind the panel that has remained to the present. I still didn't
have much of an understanding of what made a radio work in theory though.
Events converged in the spring of my seventh grade year. The big contest
rolled around and I was almost ready to take the Novice Exam at the same time,
but put it off until the month long contest period was over. All of my effort went
into the listening contest. I had decided that, while the Rules stated that only a
one hour listening period could be logged each day, the top placers used clocks
which ran considerably slower than the ordinary variety, and that the only way to
compete was to use a similar interpretation of the Rules. I played it too honest
though. I only squeezed about two-three hours of listening into one hour's worth
of log entries, and I figured this would be stretching the Rules enough to win a
brand new receiver. My log was phenomenal. I forget the exact numbers in-
volved, but I logged over a thousand stations in about 148 countries. The log was
about fifty sheets long. When I sent it off, I was certain that I'd turned the trick.
Who could beat that? So I went ahead on the license exam.
One of the locals, W3PON, who used the phonetics 'poor old nelly' on the air,
obliged me by administering the exam, and let me know I'd gotten the percentage
necessary to pass. He was impressed with my code speed, and told me that, as he
watched me easily copying at 5 w.p.m., he kept speeding up to about 12 w.p.m.
until I began to get nervous. He got a good laugh out of my misery! I didn't mind
though. I'd be a ham shortly!
My efforts turned toward putting together a transmitter. I finally found a
simple circuit that I decided to attempt. But the parts list revealed that my
junkbox had a lot of useless material in it, except for a power transformer of un-
known output, something that looked like it would pass for a power supply a.c.
filter choke, a key jack, some screw-terminal strips, and wire. I checked out what
I needed in the Walter Ashe Catalogue, and could put the thing together for
about $8.50, not including crystal This was a considerable sum of money in those
days, especially for a kid. My parents didn't consider the investment important
enough to back the project. So I was in a quandry, and my frustration grew as the
days passed and all I had managed to accomplish was studying the article and
circuit till I had memorized it. I was no closer to having a transmitter on May 5,
1955, when my WN3COB call arrived in the mail! I was elated at having my own
call, and inscribed it on all my school notebooks and personal belongings, as well
as restroom walls and other likely graffitti locations. The world would know that

7
 Chapter 1: The KBEEG Story

WN3COB was around, but unfortunately, they'd find out by reading the call
rather than hearing it on the air.
Out of desperation, I decided that my only approach to getting the transmitter
parts was to visit local hams as often as possible and beg, borrow, or steal
whatever I could. I got pretly sneaky about it. On the first visit to one of the local
hams, I'd pretend great interest in his demonstration of his rig, but my shifty eyes
would be scanning his workbench for parts I could use. I'd mentally note what I'd
seen and where. Then the next phase was launched, namely, acquiring what I had
located. I managed this by going back for another visit, and since the rig
demonstration had been taken care of on the first visit, I would pretend that my
wandering eyes had just 'noticed' the stuff on the work bench, and I'd get very
enthusiastically interested - "Boy, what's all this stuff? Gee you sure must know
a lot about radio stuff to use all these parts." And I'd end up, after the buttering-
up phase, just stumbling across the very part I'd noted before and would go on
about how this is the very last part I needed to finish my transmitter and get on
the air, but I had no money, and so, in a real gloomy tone, I would conclude that
I'd just have to wait till I got the money. It is a credit to the typical generosity of
the ham population that I never had to ask for one single part -- they were all
offered to me by the individuals involved, who were very pleased to help out this
bright eyed kid. In this manner, I picked up the 5Y3, 6V6, two new octal sockets,
an electrolytic filter capacitor, a 140pF a.p.c. variable capacitor, and a 2.SmH r.f.
choke, plus a few odds-and-ends. By the time my birthday rolled around in late
June, I was hard at work cutting a chassis out of masonite board, screwing it
together, mou.nting all the sockets and jacks and switches. r took painstaking care
to do a perfect job so that I could be proud of my first transmitter.
The 'WN3COB Special' 3-Watt Transmitter. Both power supply and transmitter
are built on chassis of masonite stock. The power supply uses a 240 v.a.c. transfor-
mer scrounged from a receiver, with 5Y3 rectifier; the large vertical filter choke is at
right. The 6V6, a.p.c. plate tuning capacitor, and plate coil on 3• form are visible,
with the 6V6 obscurring the octal socket used as a crystal socket.

There were several 'custom' additions to the basic chassis. Since I couldn't
afford a meter to monitor output, I decided to use a flashlight bulb in series with
the antenna lead as a tuning indicator. But purchasing a pilot-light socket and red
face was out of the question. So I scrounged one of the red plastic geegaws that
decorated the gun-belt of one of my friends, glued that to a stand- off washer,
and glued that to the front of the panel. I salvaged a pilot Light socket from a

8
 Chapter 1: The KBEEG Story

junk radio, and used a feed-through washer that fit snugly around the bulb as the
means of mounting the bulb behind the red plastic face. All the pictures in the
magazines showed plug-in coils, so I used the base of an old five prong tube and
a socket from a salvaged radio for the plug-in coil hardware. The octal socket
that served as a crystal socket could hold two crystals, so I added a switch from
an old radio for two-crystal switching capability. One major problem was that the
a.p.c. variable had no shaft: it was a screwdriver adjusted type. After a lot of
searching, I found a knob whose shaft receptacle extended beyond the front of
the knob-body about 1/4-inch, and then it was just a matter of fitting it over the
a.p.c. variable mini-shaft. I wound the tank coils on a form salvaged from another
radio. In a final effort to make the transmitter look like the real thing, I tried
painting it with aluminum primer that I found laying around my dad's work
bench. l couldn't succeed in getting the professional metal appearance that I
wanted, so I didn't paint the front panel.
When I finished the project, I was really proud of the results, meager though
they might seem now. Meanwhile, I'd talked my dad into paying me for washing
the car, and had enough to purchase a crystal, which, after much deliberation,
was picked for 7177 kHz, operation -- right at the edge of the old Novice alloca-
tion. When I finally had it all ready to go, l hooked a Christmas tree bulb across
the output terminals as a dummy load, and the red glow of the bulb sent chills up
my spine when the realization flooded into my consciousness that all the effort
that I had put into radio for the past years was ready to pay off! I picked up
about 100ft of scrapped 300 Ohm twinlead and cut it to length for a 40 meter
folded dipole, and mounted it at the dizzy height of Sft! But it loaded up and the
glow of the output indicator bulb was proof that I was putting a signal on the air.
The 6V6 was developing 3 watts r.f. output, according to recent measurements.
But, alas, I called stations for a couple weeks without making a single contact
until one of the locals came across me on 7177 kHz and gave me a call. That was
my first QSO and I was so nervous that I had to keep correcting mistakes every
other letter that I sent. I had decided that I'd waste a lot of time on the air using
my full name 'Adrian', so I'd use the 'handle' - 'Ben'. When Tom came back
after my first 'RST QTH NAME' routine, he solved the name problem by calling
me 'Ade', short for 'Adrian'. Later we talked about my failure to get out, and he
noted that I had to get my antenna up off the ground. So I scaled the first of
many roofs and tied the end of the antenna to the ch.inmey-mounted T.V. mast,
with the other end up in a tree at about 30ft. That turned the trick! I started
making contacts regularly after that.
The hassles of getting this whole operation on the air had made me forget
about the Boy's Life SWL Contest which I had figured I'd won hands-down. But
one day a strange five-foot long package was waiting for me when I got home
from school and I was totally baflled as to what it could be as I cut it open. Inside
was an FM omnidirectional dipole antenna, and I was even more baffled - until,
finally, I realized that I was waiting for a shortwave receiver, and what I had won
was an FM antenna! I'd only managed to rank 15th in the SWL Contest - stiU far
away from the top!
But the disappointment quickly passed, for in the late afternoons of chilly,
overcast, autumn di:ys, I was hearing WN3COB coming back to me over the
speaker from states all over the eastern part of the U.S. And in the wee hours of
the night, when my parents were asleep, I'd sneak down to the basement and sit
bleary-eyed in front of the old Silvertone, warmed emotionally by the glow of its
big dial, and I would stare into it intently as I tried to see where the W5's or WO's
were located out in tJrnt mysterious radio world from which they were calling me.
As autumn dragged on and winter propagation set in, the W6's and W7's started
rolling in and I concentrated on calling them. Finally, one night my slow c.w.

9
 Chapter 1: The KBEEG Story

brought back the long-awaited 'QRZ' from a W6, and I strained nervously to put
as much intelligibility into my little signal as possible in order to get through to
him. He dug me out of the QRM and after about 20 difficult minutes, I had final-
ly successfully spanned the continent. I was ecstatic for days after that contact,
and more were forthcoming. I walked in a sense of awe that I had mastered the
mysterious radio world. I was finally talking back to those signals from out there,
and they were hearing me. That was ever so much more fascinating and exhilarat-
ing than just listening!!
So it was then, and still is! Sitting up there behind my tent, I found myself
rather amused at my limited boyhood comprehension of the mysteries of the
world of radio. But the memory of staring into the soft glow of the dial and press-
ing hard on the key to make my signals more intelligible was as fresh as the ex-
perience of working the UAl from my tent moments earlier. I was impressed
with the fact that certain parts of the radio experience remained exactly the same
now, despite the passage of many years. I wondered about the differences that
the years had brought, differences which didn't change the essence of the ex-
perience. Of course, the externals were quite different. Back then, I used homeb-
rew transmitters with a single tube or two built into wood chasses with scrounged
parts. Now I use solid-state transceivers no larger than a paperback book and
capable of far more sophisticated operation. Such equipment was only a boyhood
dream back then.
But other differences had occurred, perhaps more significant differences be-
cause they had given me an insight into how mysterious the world of radio actual-
ly is, always withholding a portion of its secrets no matter how much I learn
about it. Years of study had allowed me to answer a.LI the questions about radio
that I had puzzled over as a 12 year-old. But those years had raised even broader
questions about .Man and the world he lives in, and how radio fits into that pic-
ture. The mystery of radio, I discovered, was only a segment of the vast mystery
of the universe and life itself. My boyhood fascination with the unknown that was
'out there' was the same fascination that .Man has felt about the vast cosmos
since his very beginnings. I realized that, as I had stared into the dial and tried to
decipher the sounds coming from the radio, I had been driven by the same desire
to know which had turned the eyes of the ancients toward the vast sea of stars
above them in the night sk-y, and had triggered their imaginations to decipher the
secrets of that sk-y. It was the same desire to know which led ancient cultures to
discover the regular patterns of stellar motion and the meanderings across the
sk-y of a few irregular 'stars' which they named 'planets' or 'wanderers'. They
sensed that the movements of these celestial bodies were in some unfathomable
way related to human existence, with its ebb and flow, and from their imagina-
tions emerged the 'science' of astrology, the astronomical observatories scattered
throughout the ancient world at Stonehenge and other places, the geocentric
Ptolomaic universe and its complex mathematical proof, all of which evidence a
sophisticated effort at understanding the heavens. Complex influences upon
Man's destiny were imagined to emanate from the stars; and Christian theology
of the Dark Ages hypothesized that God transmitted his plans for the human
race thru the stars, reserving angelic messengers for special occasions. But Man
experienced the same desire to know when he looked about himself in this earth-
ly environment, seeking to decipher the secrets which underlay the workings of
familiar phenomena, the workings of his own mind and body, and ultimately, life
itself. To the modern mind, the explanations which the intellectual curiosity of
the ancients generated are incredibly naive and almost ludicrous. But no more
naive and amusing than my boyhood concept.ions of such magic words like 'grid
leak' and 'r.f. choke'. When confronted with the unknown, human nature is
driven to understand it, and as a boy, I ex-perienced that drive and wondered and

10
 Chapter 1: The KBEEG Story

puzzled; little did I realize that my inquisitiveness tied me directly to a thousand

generations that preceded me. My years of schooling revealed that connection
and helped to explain why the radio experience had not changed in its essence -
the mystery of radio calls to the human soul itself, and that call and the soul's
response is ageless and timeless. The glow of that dial and the sounds emanating
from the Silvertone triggered my imagi nation and fed it the material with which
to weave unlimited visions which my human need to understand required. And I
imagined magical influences and forces in operation out there not unlike those
imagined by the ancients.
K8EEG College Transceive r. Measuring 3 x 4 x 5 inches, the crystal controlled
unit provided 3-4 watts output on 80, 40, and 20 meters using a 12AT7 dual-triode
oscillator buffer/doubler driving a 5763 final. The pi-net coil, plate and antenna
a.p.c. capacitors are mounted at right of front panel, with oscillator homebrew slug-
tuned co/ls at rear. The voltage tripling power supply filter capacitors fill the left rear
and obscure the regenerative receiver section at left front panel. A filament transfor-
mer was canied separately.

My education had followed a rather curious direction that kept me in touch

with both the world of empirical observation and the world of imagination, which
is fed by in tellectual curiosity. Scientific subjects never failed to capture my in ter-
est because they promised an understanding of the mysterious forces that called
me t o my radio. But the philosophy and li terature revealed the imaginative and
intellectual efforts of many others in their attempts to explain how all the bits
and pieces fit t ogether as a whole, and made sense of Man's place amidst the vast
powers operative in a limitless universe. The poets I encountered spoke of Na-
ture and her forces as almost personal entities interacting with M an as one being
with another, and what they wrote often reminded me of the intimate com-
munication with Nature I knew in my radio experience. As a boy, I had spent
many hours in front of the receiver, puzzling over the strange effects superim-
posed upon incoming signals that mnde them flutter, waver, take on a 'watery'
characteristic, fade in and out rapidly, disappear only to reappear and r each even
stronger peaks than before. It was as if these effects contained some kind of en-
coded message about the behavior of the forces which made radio possible.
When I learned to recognize these effects, they took on a familiarity that made
me feel close to something, or someone, more properly. The poets spoke of such
a feeling, and I could identify with it. Of course, science offered im personal ex-
planations of the dynamics of electromagnetic wave propagation, but for some
reason, the impersonality of these explanations never robbed the radio ex-
perience of its essential familiarity. The view of the world through the eyes of

11
 Chapter 1: The KBEEG Story

science reveals a stark, cold, panorama of forces and phenomena occurring re-
gularly according to inunutable Jaws or physics, and that is ultimately the true
view, but it can never outweigh the emotional intensity experienced by a human
being interacting on a personal level v.'ith those laws and forces.
Ultimately, we radio operators find our fascination to be based upon a per-
sonal interaction with Nature as the poets would have it, or else we become pure
scientists and cease to be interested. In that case, we miss the meaning of radio in
the overall picture. We are human beings, and we relate to all phenomena out of
our personalities. Every exploration into the unknown is ultimately a confronta-
tion between an individual human being and Nature, and unless we explore in the
totality of our being, we miss the significance of our discoveries. Consider Mar-
coni's exploration into the unknown realm of overland, and then transoceanic
communication via the propagation of electromagnetic waves. Behind l1im Jay
Man's age-old effort to communicate beyond his immediate environment. Since
the dawn of history, Man has attempted to extend his range of communication,
but he had always been limited in his ability to reach our and speak to others
beyond the reach of his voice and vision. He devised many methods to extend
that range - dnims, flags, signal fires, smoke signals, mirrors, written documents,
and the like. But the limits were quite narrow until the discove.ry or radio. Mar-
coni must have understood that his efforr to test the possibility of communicating
with electromagnetic waves placed him on the brink of the greatest break
through in human history -- the ability to communicate across vast distances in-
stantaneously. Surely Marconi must have felt as well as understood the magnitude
of his possible success as he sat in that shack in Newfoundland listening to the
clock tick down to the appointed time for the test. Surely the scientist's 'my
hypothesis is substantiated by this experiment' must have been totally over-
shadowed by his human realization that 'now we can speak across continents,
across oceans.' Indeed, the laws of Nature, including those governing electromag-
netic wave propagation, have little meaning unless placed in the context of
human ex-perience. What gives those laws their magical dimension is the human
imagination that adapts those laws to the benefit of mankind.
So it seemed to me, as I mulled over the differences the year's had brought to
my radio experience, the essential feature was that radio had remained an impor-
tant part of my life precisely because I was human and it gave me a direct contact
with the secrets of the universe, as well as enabling me to communicate with
others like myself. With my radio, I would ride Nature's own forces to do what
Man had dreamed of since time immemorable and had even created Gods such
as Mercury to symbolize.
My reminiscences were cut short by the return of the showers, and I headed to
the tent, and during the last few days of my vacation, I'd periodically return to
pondering the experiences and realizations that separated me from that boy I
was. In looking back upon my mental meanderings, several experiences take on
special significance.
One afternoon, T was sitting on the lake shore, with the steep tree-covered
bank behind me, my bobber floating in front of me, as it had for days without a
bite, and kept feeling reminded of some experience which I could not quite drag
out of the comer of my memory. It had something to do with beginnings and
fascination. The key to the riddle was that I wasn't being reminded of one of my
own e>.-periences, but of the experience of seeing the spark of fascination ignite
and Oare up in the faces of a group of youngsters whom I'd just introduced to the
magic of radio. The memory came flooding in upon me as soon as I turned the
key. I saw in their faces what my own beginning must have looked like. I suppose
I hadn't thought of the radio experience as having a 'beginning' before that ex-
perience with those kids. When I started out, I did it alone, and I never saw in

12
 Chapter 1: Summer Camp Radio Instructor

some older ham's face that sa(jsfaction that comes from recognizing the spirit of
his beginning reappearing in a youngster.
It happened during the summer between my junior and senior years of col-
lege. In April, I had realized that I was running out of money and had no pro-
spect of a summer job. Just by chance, r ran across a 'Summer Job Opportunities
for Students' brochure in the tibrary, and one ad caught my attention immediate-
ly. A camp in southern West Virginia wanted to hire a college student with a ham
license and equipment to teach radio as part of the camp's program - for money!
That was difficult to believe in the context of my experience of summer jobs - to
get paid for teaching other people about the thing that had been an obsession for
me during most of my life? I had the application letter in the mail four hours
later, and in it I mentioned every possible marketable form of skill or experience
that I possessed -- years of Boy Scouting, varsity athletics, debate, leadership
awards, and everything else I could think of. When I received an acceptance let-
ter in mid-May indicating a salary of $350, I was astounded. I had never dreamed
of such a thing, and yet it was a dream come true! Early June found me traveling
south thru the mountains, beside a broad, swift-flowing river. It was like a para-
dise, a perfect setting for this 'dream come true' of teaching radio.
During my wanderings from location to location, I'd built my station into a
large wooden fruit-crate, and I'd developed a portable, collapsible antenna by
winding 250ft of wire on a four foot bamboo pole and 3ft fiberglass fishing rod.
I'd hang the assembled antenna from the ceiling or lean it against the wall when
operating. For matching purposes, I placed a variable capacitor across several
turns at the bottom of the antenna, and adjusted for maximum antenna current
with top-feed. The rig was homebrew using a 6L6 final, and v.f.o. control on 80-
40-20 meters. It didn't look like the rigs in the pictures in the magazines, but it
worked well!
My job was to introduce a group of 7-14 year-olds to radio, and teach them
enough to enable them to build a shortwave receiver to take home as their camp
project. For our first class, which met in a corner of the 2nd floor of the large,
open, crafts building, J began by explaining amateur radio to them, and then
demonstrating the code as a prelude to a couple demonstration contacts. I ex-
plained the code to them first, showing them how some letters sounded so that
they would understand what was going on. The demonstration consisted of
making 2 contacts and having the other guy say 'HI' to selected members of the
group. I spelled out the incoming letters, and when one of the group recognized
his name, he'd get wide-eyed and exclaim "Hey, that's me he said HI to!" Need-
less to say, they listened ever more intently, staring at the weird contraption
which relayed greetings to them from hundreds of miles away. Everyone tried to
get in on the act. There were constant reminders: "Tell him to say HI to me". I
did After the demonstration, the kids were all excited and all talking at once, but
the gist of their comments was the same: "Can I learn to do that?" The two
demonstration QSO's had their desired effect, but one of them served a double
purpose - it showed me something that put hamming in an entirely serious light
... but I'll teU about that a tittle later.
I explained to the group all that was necessary for becoming a ham - studying
regulations and theory from scratch and passing an exam, and learning the code.
I cautioned them that we only had about 6 weeks, and that each individual would
have to work very hard, but I'd teach them what was necessary. I told them not to
say 'yes' unless they meant to stick it out to the end and follow my directions. Ten
made the commitment. They worked hard despite the fact that summer camp was
supposed to exclude any book work. When the code frustrated them and they
were ready to give up, we'd go back to the rig for another demonstration, with
me spelling out the information coming in, and then, in a couple weeks, they

13
 Chapter 1: Summer Camp Radio Instructor

began to recognize letters and then words, and that cinched their determination.
Now that I look back on it, I asked a heck of a lot from those kids, and they
delivered! Five weeks later, seven jittery, scared kids took their places around the
table for the code test. I'd drilled them to death. Nervous faces exploded into
glee as I corrected each test and passed it. They did well. Then came the written
exam, and I've never seen so much fidgeting and throat- clearing in my life. But
seven passed and cheered when they realized that, yes indeed, they would be
receiving their licenses shortly after retu rning home. They would be able to talk
back!
I was amazed, quite frankly. Several nine year-olds were in the group, but they
learned and I just know that for them the memory of that summer consists mainly
of chilly mornings spent in study and code practice. Later, I received notes from
several of them, informing me of their calls, rigs, and contacts. Before I started
out, I had no inkling of this part of the experience - they thanked me for the fun
they were having.
But there was one kid whom I did not allow to work with the group. He was
only seven, and obnoxious as only spoiled rich kids can be. I didn't like him from
the start. When the group decided to follow the license acquisition route, they
gave up the shortwave receiver project because there would not be time to ac-
complish both objectives. But the little seven year-old persisted: he wanted to
build a radio, and he always got what he wanted, and that was the end of the
discussion as far as he was concerned. And he had clout. The camp director
commanded me, over my objections and explanations, to see to it that this kid
arrived at home at the end of the summer with a working shortwave receiver, and
there were to be no 'ifs, ands, or buts, about it.'
I approached the task in anger, and pushed the kid hard, making him learn
schematic symbols and the parts they signified. I trained him in making solder
joints. I cut and bent and drilled the chassis, and showed him how to assemble it.
His fingers barely had the dexterity to thread small nuts on screws. I was patient
though angry about the situation, but the funny thing is that he never seemed to
sense my anger: he only seemed to pick up on the patient instruction and the
receiver growing before his eyes. It was a long, hard pull, but we made it. Two
days before camp ended, the receiver was completed, and luck was on my side -
it worked! So I sent him off with a sigh of relief, with strict instructions forbid-
ding him to use it before he arrived home: the only electrical outlets in the camp
were in the showers, and the receiver used a voltage-doubler, rectifier circuit
straight from rhe a.c. mains without benefit of a transformer. Believe it or not,
the next morning a counselor had to pick the kid up off the shower room floor -
he had plugged the thing in while standing on the wet floor in his bare feet just
after jumping out of bed before everyone else! I shivered at what the results
could have been, but I wouldn't have been able ro stop him anyhow. The kid was
a pain, and I was g.lad that our ordeal was over. The story doesn't end here
though.
About a month later, I found a rudely scrawled letter wail'ing for me. The
handwriting was a 'first effort' quality, with lines running haphazardly across the
page, unequally sized letters, and rnispellings. But it was from the rich kid, and it
contained a simple message: "I am writing to tell you my radio works. I have a lot
of fun with it. I heard the Voice of America, BBC, and Radio Moscow. Thank
you." Somehow, I couldn't conceive of this spoiled kid thanking anyone for any-
thing, let alone for a simple radio which could be replaced by new Collin's gear
out of his father's pocket change. That he took the time and effort to thank me
for helping him build a little shortwave receiver costing about $9.00 hit me with
the significance of what I'd done: I showed him how to build his own, helped him
to buiJd it, and he listened on a receiver which he had built himself, and for that,

14
 Chapter 1: The Handicapped Ragchewer

he broke all the rich kid rules. I gave him something that his father's money
could not buy, and that was a beginning in radio made possible by building his
own gear. I began in the same manner, and that is why my beginning was so excit-
ing! The kid helped me understand that for the first time.
I mentioned earlier that one of the demonstration contacts for the group
taught me another important lesson about hamming. It's a longer story, and goes
back to my high school days in the late 1950's when I became a member of a
group of seven young operators who met faithfully at midnight every night during
the summer of 1959 up on 7199 kHz. We'd check in and chew the rag until the
wee hours, clipping along at 30-40 wpm. It was an interesting group because our
discussions were not limited to hamming subjects. We became personal friends
because we shared our ideas, our activities, our plans, and our problems. All of us
except one, that is. We could never get a straight answer from him as to his oc-
cupation and plans: he always countered questions with a witty comment that
deflected the discussion to another in the group. I couldn't understand why he
did that - until I met him after several years in the second demonstration contact
at the camp.
During that QSO, we made a sked for that evening, when I found out that he
was only about two hours drive away. I became excited about visiting Jilin, but he
hemmed and hawed, and finally my enthusiasm for the proposed visit forced him
to reveal the personal facts of his life that our group had never been told. He was
a disabled veteran from the Korean War, an invalid whose only contact was his
immediate family. The trauma of the wounding had destroyed his self-confidence,
and it was irreversible. There was a psychological disorder which accompanied
the physical disability. The comprehension of what he was trying to tell me as the
reason for refusing a visit slowly donned upon me during the rapid exchanges,
and when .it became fully clear, I sat there, stunned with the reality of his life. He
could not feel that he was a whole person to anyone who looked upon h.irn. But
he could feel normal, a regular guy, a part of the group only via amateur radio
with h.is on-the-air friends, because they were the only people who could see his
personality, his wit, his intelligence, without having to look at his body! On the
radio, he could be his witty and sociable self and be known and accepted for him-
self without confronting that look in people's eyes which unconsciously says 'I will
treat you nicely because you are so unfortunate.' On the air, he was an equal, a
complete person as far as we were concerned, and he accepted our friendship
because it didn't come attached with pity or sympathy. The implications of his
predicament affected me for days, and I still feel that whenever I think about
him. To him and others, amateur radio is the only means of communicating with
other people, of finding friends, of belonging to humanity, without a physical
disability cancelling the genuineness of the relationship. Amateur radio is their
link to society, the only link that works for them. I guess that I had always seen it
merely as a hobby, an activity that can do serious sei:Vice for the public welfare in
emergencies, but for the most part, a hobby for personal enjoyment. For some,
however, it is the most deadly serious activity in their lives, without which their
lives would be devoid of the human companionship that we all need. Now, every
signal on the air is potentially an individual who relies on !tis fellow amateurs for
a vital part of his life experience.
Now that I look back on it, that short vacation spent beside the lake, operat-
ing on my elbows and stomach inside the little puptent and doing a lot of re-
miniscing as I watched my fishing bobber ride the waves undisturbed by the fish,
brought me into contact with some of the most important experiences that had
influenced my understanding of radio, how it fit into my life and into the lives of
others, and how it fit into the world in general. It is strange how the meaning of
individual human lives becomes clear. We face the future with definite plans and

15
 Chapter 1: Globe Champ 300 and ORO Episode

plug along, but when we look back after several years, only then do we discover
where we'd been going and how we got there. That's what happened during the
camping vacation in regard to me and my radio experience. Since then, I finally
figured out why amateur radio means QRP to me.
It wasn't until about 1967 or there abouts that I became aware of the fact that
my experience of radio was ultimately defined by low power operation. During
the preceding years, I had been limited to QRP operation by circumstances. I had
been pursuing my education, and hence I was always broke and couldn't afford to
even think of new 'store-bought' gear. I always preferred building my own
anyway. I had never felt the need for high power since my hamming was always
exciting and fulfilling. At about the time when my financial situation improved
beyond mere subsistence, I ran across an ad for a Globe Champion 300 for a
ridiculous price that even I could afford, and I wondered, 'why not high power?'
So 1 tried it, and found that a disturbing change occurred in my experience of
radio. Once the newness of the toy wore off, I realized that radio had lost its
thrill for me. My attitude about operating had changed. Up to that time, I had
always listened inten~ly to the sounds which provided the clues about propagation
conditions and the like, and I had formed my operating habits accordingly. But
with 350 watts input at the other end of the key-lead, I no longer listened, nor did
I search out stations. I expected to get through regardless of conditions, and I
expected to rule my little chunk of the radio spectrum. The Champ had become a
weapon, rather than the tool for communicating that it was supposed to be.
Operating lost its emotional dimension - I no longer communicated with Nature,
no longer had concern for the human beings at the other end. I was merely inter-
ested in flexing my muscles, clearing the frequency, routinely impressing people
with my signal. The frustrating part of the whole high power episode was my
awareness of the fact that 350 watts was simply not enough power to play the
power game successfully. Others with less power were competing with me for DX
contacts and winning.
1 realize now that I had lost touch with the essential feature of Man's relation-
ship with Nature. True, we profit from a technology that provides sophisticated
methods of challenging Nature's limits, and we can enlist great amounts of r.f.
power in a brute force confrontation with her limits. Somewhere along the line,
our fascination with power of all kinds has deluded modem man into thinking
that our megawatt transmitters are a match for Nature's monumental forces, but
ultimately, we cannot win in such a confrontation. The forces which enable radio
communication have evolved and endured through the 15 billion years that scien-
tists believe separate us from the very beginning of the universe. Our technology
has existed no longer, in comparison, than the solitary flash of a strobe in the
darkness of a long winter's night. The greatest powers that we can summon up
can be swept away by Nature as easily as a straw blown away by a galewind. Man
can succeed only if he accepts Nature's limits and plays the communications
game according to her rules. Despite his most deliberate planning and invest-
ments of time and energy, a minor solar flare can totally negate his purposes. The
key to the communications game is to enlist Nature's own forces in the effort to
communicate. I realize that my listening habit in. operating was an attempt to do
just that - to listen to Nature's coded effects toward discovering what she would
allow at the moment. Low power operation was a cooperative effort in which I
accepted Nature's rules and was rewarded handsomely.
During the high power episode, I didn't understand why radio had changed
for me or the meaning of the change-I only knew that it had, and radio was no
longer what it used to be. Until, that is, I made a contact one day while the
Champ was accidentally still in the low power 'TUNE' position. The signal report
that I received displeased me, but when I discovered that I was only putting out

16
 Chapter 1: Globe Champ 300 and ORO Episode

about 7 watts, the o ld fascination came flooding back into my experience of

radio. I left it on TUNE, and went hunting for contacts, once again Listening to
the mysterious sounds indicating the shifting propagation conditions, and I was
once again excited when I made contact. I was once again grateful to be able to
communicate with a distant stranger, and ultimately, I accidentally rediscovered
my beginnings in that monstrous 120 pound hunk of metal as it pumped a few
watts out into my antenna and from thence into the vast reaches of space. It was
then that I realized t hat the low power framework defined what was essential
about radio operation for me.
Nothing could stop me from being once again immersed in radio. Every trip
past the old RME-69 detoured into a 'quick Listen'. But something about operat-
ing QRP with the massive Globe Champ just didn't feel right, so I whipped up a
6AQ5 v.f.o. with pi-network matching for 160, 80 and 40 meters and power supp-
ly on a pair 3 x 2 x 6 inch baking tins. That felt more like the real t hing! When
glancing through radio magazines, my attention focused on potential QRP rigs
and ideas. I ran across an old article detailing a cheap and easy way of getting on
sideband with a double sideband (d.s.b.) circuit. Before long, I had a pair of
2E26's on 75 meter sideband driven by the 6AQ5 v.f.o. and power supply. The rig
put out less than 1 watt p.e.p. But tied to my phenomenal 1900ft longwire up 90ft,
it was like shooting fish in a barrel! After ranning across t he County Hunters Net
on 3935 kHz, I gave hundreds of CHC'rs their QSL for Athens County (OH). No
one knew that I was running such flea power until I let it be known apologetically
one night when conditions were especially rough. While I was trying to complete
a contact, some QRO 'lid' broke in and criticised me for holding up things by
being stupid enough to use such low power. That was like a kick in the gut and
destroyed the excitement for a moment. But the gang came to my rescue. A 'list'
immediately developed and one by one they called and reported "You're a 5 by 6
here OM. The QRP is doing a good job passing Athens County arou nd. Keep up
the good work". They restored the joy of it! As so often happens in QRP, the
operator at the other end adds to the satisfaction.
Somewhere around 1967 I was poking around 20 meters and ran into Val
Buccichone, W9IIL, who was using a 20-watt transistor transmitter. J ust working
a transistor transmitte r was exciting, and I talked W9ITL into sending me the
dope on his rig (which eventually appeared in an issue of The Milliwatt). As a
result of the QSO with W9IIL, I ended up patching together parts of several
magazine circuits into a v.f.o. controlled transistor rig which put out around 500
milliwatts. It was a whole new kind of t hrill, the kind that the QRP'rs of the
1920's must have felt with their first vacuum tube rigs. It was pioneering a new
territory as far as I was concerned. Ironically, that 120 pound hunk of steel led
me into a genuinely new beginning in amateur radio!
And ultimately, my understanding of QRP took shape from tha t second begin-
ning. The QRP operator understa nds and accepts the reality of the communica-
tions situation, and bases his operation and approach upon the assumption that
he will succeed only if Nature permits. His method is not forceful confrontation,
but cooperation with Nature's limits and forces. He seeks, like Marconi, to un-
de rstand those forces, and to devise methods of manipulating those forces to his
advantage. Using power levels that make him highly vulnerable to Nature's some-
times whimsical behavior, he auempts to discover the lower limits of possibility,
to find out how low a power Nature herself will tolerate for successful com-
munications. In taking this approach, he must learn Nature's laws and behavio r,
he must learn to read the coded effects that signify the operation of her forces
upon which communication by radio depends. In operating at power levels where
a 2dB loss renders his effort at making contact unsuccessful, he seeks to discover
and define the lower threshhold of the power vs. distance dimension. Operation

17
 Chapter 1: A Second Beginning with QRP

with a kilowatt seives only to obscure the fine distinctions; QRP operation mag-
nifies them, provides the operator with a keener understanding of the
phenomena of propagation, provides the scientist with challenges to theoretical
predictions regarding path loss, and perhaps, challenges the current concepts of
propagation because the QRP operator has shown that what is theoretically im-
possible can be done, and done repeatedly! That is why QRP operation never
loses its suspense and thrill. The QRP operator is always stacking the deck in
Nature's favor by giving up his power advantage, attempting to communicate
with as little power as is possible. When he succeeds, it is the triumph of an in-
dividual human spirit in the vast cosmos dominated by Nature's monumental
forces. When he fails, he is confronted either with his own lack of skill and know-
ledge, or with a discovery of a lower limit in the power vs. distance dimension.
Ultimately, though, his approach brings him into an intimate connection with the
mysterious forces of Nature which make radio communica tion possible.
The QRP operator is a pioneer, an explorer into the unl-..'nown, and has given
the world of amateur radio the only new discoveries that have emerged in the last
decade. The chief discovery is that so Uttle power can go so far, and that should
lead all to question the need for the runaway high power mcntaUty that seems to
have emerged in the last decade or so. I suppose that I have been disappointed
that amateur radio has taken such a direction and the world of amateur radio has
changed so much since my early days.
Back then, most of the c.o mmercial transmjtters on the market ran 30-75 watts
input, Uke the Viking Ranger, the Lysco 600, the Eldico units, the Heath AT-1
and DX-20. If I recall correctly, only Vildng put out a high power transmitter.
Things seemed quite different on the bands then. I may be romanticizing my
memories, but those of you who were around during the 1950's can decide
whether I'm being accurate or not. But it seems to me that I rarely encountered
horrendously powerful signals, so my rew watls managed a greater number of
contacts than seems possible today. I do know for a fact that the bands were al-
most totally dominated by gentlemanly conduct, and obscenities and rude re-
marks were not only unheard of, but unthought of.
It seems to me that I had very many contacts in which our homebrew gear was
the major topic of conversation. I remember having many questions answered for
me on the air when my puzzling over the Handbook failed to yield an answer, and
I don't remember running into many fellows who couldn't provide the answer
right off, with a good explanation thrown in to boot. Seems Uke most of the fel-
lows I contacted knew what was behind the front panel, and what made it work,
and how to foe it if it broke. As I said, I just might be mak'ing the situation out to
be better than it actually was, and I stand ready to be corrected, if that's the case.
I remember reading about the Old Man back then, and he always kept hams
on the right track with his 'down to earth' comments. I never figured out who the
Old Man actually was - maybe they just made him up. A few years ago, after
being disturbed by behavior on the ham bands, I thought it might just be a good
idea to bring the Old Man back and see what he would have to say about the way
things are. So I wrote a story to show what I imagined his reaction would be to
today's amate ur radio world. I couldn't think up a witty title which would get the
whole point across, so I just called the story A Visit from the Old Man. It went Uke
this ...

18
 Chapter 1: A Visit From the Old Man

A Visit From the Old Man.

I had a srrange e).-perience a month or so ago and I've done a lot of thinking
about it. Some of the details have become fuzzy, but I think I remember the basic
drift pretly well. One thing is certain: it made me do some serious thinking, and
you know, a lot of what the Old Man said makes sense.
The XYL and kids had turned in after the July 4th fireworks and I was sitting
out on the porch steps with a pipeful and a cold beer, just absorbing the cool
evening air and thinking thin.gs over. I like to do that when the evening quiet
makes for clear thinking. I didn't pay much attention to the slow steps and tap-
ping cane until the Old Man turned into my front walk and approached me. It
was hard to make out his features in the moonlight, but he wore a white suit and
panama hal and had a white mustache - reminded me of a picture of Mark
Twain that I'd seen somewhere. He was the sort of fellow that inspires respect,
and when he broke the silence with "Even 'in young feller, sure a nice quiet night",
I responded in a similar, quiet tone.
"Just passing through town here, and figured that while l was here, I'd drop by to
chew the mg with you. You're the feller that writes that low power column in CO,
aren't you -- what do you call it, QRPp?" emphasizing the little 'p' as if it was
something novel and strange to him.
I said I was and shook the thin but firm hand that he offered. I forget his
name and call now, but he mentioned them.
"Came across your articles a while back. Reminded me a lot of the good old
days when l used to be a radio amateur. Things sure have changed since then and a
lot bothers me about the changes. Things you write about low power lead me to
believe that the old hamming spilit isn't dead like l figured. That's why I stopped by
-·just wanted to more or less see for myself if that's so."
I didn't quite catch his drift, and when I explained that the QRPp trend was a
new thing in amateur radio and that it was making hamming a great experience
for quite a few hams, he continued in the same soft voice.
"That's just it, young feller, there's nothing new about doing it with low power
and getting great satisfaction out of it. Nothing new at all. That challenge and ad-
ventul'I! and satisfaction that you write about is what made ham radio what it was
in the good old days."
He leaned back, pulled out a corncob, and while he filled it from an old
leather pouch, crickets filled the quiet night air with their chatter. I got a better
look at him in the flickering light of the match with which he lit up. There were a
few smooth wrinkles, but his face had a sad, far-away look about it. He puffed the
corncob to an orange glow, and then went on.
"You haven't been around long enough to remember what it was like back then.
Probably never even seen a spark-gap." (I nodded affirmatively). "Back then, l
mean when tubes first came in and CW transmitters and regens opened up whole
new worlds to the ham, technology and knowledge wen.' in an infant state. All we
had were 'lO's, 199's, and 201-A's for tubes. You n.'ally had to sock the voltage to
'em to get ten watts out. We didn't have quads and yagis either -- they wen.' just
ideas waiting to be bom. You fellers work DX on 15 meters and are proud of it;
heck, we didn't even know that radio waves propagated on wavelengths that short!
First it was 200 meter.r, then 150, then 80, and then on down. That's when.' we
worked our DX"
He looked up at the moon through the branches of that tree out in the front
yard and pulled a few times on the corncob. I didn't have the slightest idea of
what 201-A was, or that you could work anything on 200 meters, but I acted like I
was right with him.

19
 Chapter 1: A Visit From the Old Man

"The point is, young feller, with the technology and knowledge that existed then,
ham radio boiled down to one basic factor-- the man at the key. He was the impor-
tant factor in every new contact, in every new step into the unknown territory below
200 meter.;. He didn't know whether his signal would get out of the back yard on 80
meters, but he sat at the rig night after night, listening and calling long and hard
until someone came back to /rim. Before you knew, a whole bunch followed him
down there and joined the effort to discover what was possible. That's the spirit of
the thing that I'm tal/..-i11g about."
I sat there trying to imagine what it was Like to be a ham in those days. That
they were using low power and making contacts with it didn't really impress me
that much. I've been doing the same for years. I guess what really got me was the
business of daring to open up new parts of the frequency spectrum that perhaps
the experts said were useless. And I could really feel at home with what he was
saying about the man at the key.
"By gosh, whe11 I ope11 up a ham magazine these days - something I rarely do
because of whaJ I find there -- I ask myself: Is this what we all had in mind when
we reached out imo tire unknown? Where is all the courage we depe11ded on?
Where is the individual effort 11ow? Why, I look at tire pictures of these fancy so-
called 'shacks' and see nothing but shiny gadgets and transceivers. And dam't, tell
me straight, do they all got KW linears except you QRPp fellers ? T/re11 I find out that
the fellers have to send 'em back to the fa ctory when something goes wrong. There's
something wrong if that's tire case. We built our own, and we had to fvc it if some-
thing went wrong. And what about all these gadgets that keep pushing the ma11 at
the key farther out of the picture? Programmed keyers that automatically send out a
selected message, contesters that do eve1ythi11g dow11 to writing the log 011 a com-
puter prim-out sheet. Is that all that ham radio is these days?"
I mentioned that these things are all advancements in communications tech-
nology and essential to the progress of the hobby.
"Hogwash", he replied with a growing agitation in his voice. "What kind of
progress is it that moves the human being who is supposed to be communicating
right out of the picture? Where's the communication? Hell's bells, where does it all
lead to? Think of it. Before you k11ow it, there won't be any hams anymore, just a
bunch of technicians who tum on a fully automated statio11 a11d tum it loose to
make 1400 contacts per hour exchanging programmed infonnatio11 with other fully
automated stations and printing it all out on tlze log sheet! No sir, somehow all this
progress seems to be leading amateur radio farther away from what it used to be in
the early days. It just don't seem very 'amateur' a11ymore, judging from what I see in
the magazi11es."
I was beginning to get an idea of what he was driving at. But I went ahead and
noted that as technology and knowledge of radio communications advances, so
must the ham. The modem ham couldn't be expected to use the equipment of
the 1930's when the world has moved along.
"Now, don 't get me wrong. Didn't mean to imply OllY such thing. Far from it.
But it looks to me the world has moved along and left behind your typical amateur
if he can't even fvc his own gear. What good has been achieved by your progress in
knowledge and tech11ology if a feller has to send the 1ig back to the factory first time
anythi11g goes wrong with it? It sure seems to me that either the world ought to get
backward or the ham forward in such a case. ThaJ's what I'm talking about. Now,
you take some of those thi11gs you write about i11 your articles. Fr'i11sta11ce, that tire
QRPp man offsets his power disadvantage through skill (Jlld his knowledge ofpro-
pagation and such things. Now that's what I call the same spitit as we had in the
old days. Only differe11ce is that we had no choice in the matter of how much power
we were n111ning. ft was take it or leave it. But you look at the situation today. Any
wonder why a sit11atio11 exists where a man has to k11ow 011/y 11ext to nothing to get

20
 Chapter 1: A Visit From the Old Man

on the air and make contacts. A m an has only to plunk down a couple hundred
dollan at two bits per watt, hook up an antenna, which he also plunked down for,
and he's pumping more r.f into the ether than we ever dreamed of -- or cared about
for that mauer. Why, if you want my opinion, the FC.C. ought to require every ham
to demonstrate his ability to build the piece of gear that gets him on the air. You
look at the Novices today. Was a good idea when they starled that class back in the
1950's. If I recall rightly, most of them built their rigs from scratch, or at least from a
kit. But th at's all past. From the looks of it, seems like the new Novice is going to be
able to nm 250 watts, which will mean the end of any real need on his parl to team
something about skills and what makes a radio wave go from one place to
another. "
We talked long into the night before he tapped his corncob gently on the step
and stood up kind of slowly, as if it were a real effort. I suppose it was. He said
that he'd better be getting along as it was too late for an old man such as himself
to be out galavanting around. I remember quite clearly his parting words. He said
something that made me feel that somehow despite the years separaling us we
were looking at the world through Lhe same pair of glasses.
After shaking my hand, he spoke in a voice chat sounded like it was coming
across many years: "You QRPp fellers, you keep at it. You're onto th e real thing
and you won't lose sight of it as long as you rem ember the most important thing --
the m an t// the key. Let the rest of 'em depend on KW's -- you stick to your guns and
take yer licks but make the man at th e key count most."
With that, he turned down the walk and slowly disappeared into the da rkness.
Whenever things are quiet and I'm out on the steps thin.king abou t ham radio,
every now and then I fancy that I hear those slow steps with the tapping of the
cane. I haven't seen him since, and probably won't again. But as I remember
things that we talked about, I'll pass them along....

21
 Chapter 2
Prologue to Exploration:
The Unknowns
The idea for the story about the Old Man's visit came from rummaging
through old radio magzines like QST, Radio Broadcast, The Wireless Age, and
Radio. What surprised me was that QRP isn't a new approach to hamming at all.
In fact, it has been a conscious preference of a portion of the amateur population
from the very beginning. I was astounded to discover that in the early 1920's,
QRP was attracting adherents and generating publicity in the magazines, as well
as on the air. I was surprised also that even back then, there appeared to be a
split among amateurs as to which route to foUow - QRP or h.igh power, and the
viewpoints advanced by the low power advocates were the same as those voiced
today. Rather than merely pointing out the numerous spiritual ties which connect
modem low power operators with their early precursors, I believe that we can all
the more clearly perceive that connection by examining our beginnings in the
QRP activity of the early days. I suspect that there is much to be learned about
the spirit of amateur radio from this approach.
I. From Spark to C.W. •• T he Vacuum T ube
" .•. che determinmion
to possess a reliable and practical
C. W. transmitting set... "
The story began after the end to World War I resulted in a removal of the ban
on operating amateur transmitting :installations. Although amateurs were still in
the spark age, exposure to tube c.w. equipment in the military created the desire
among amateurs to move in the direction of the new technology. As one writer of
the period noted, "Young and Old America held fixedly to the determination to
possess a reliable and practical C.W. transmitting set." J.0. Smith's (2ZL) article
"Amateur C.W. transmission: Its Development and Use by Amateurs Described
by One Who Has Had a Part in It" (Tire Wireless Age, January, 1921), surveyed
the developments to that time, and offered practical circuits as well as operating
hints. His article provides insight into the prospects faced by radio amateurs on
the brink of the modern vacuum tube, shortwave era in radio communications.
In reviewing the development of vacuum tube c.w. in amateur circles, Smith
recounted some of the obstacles which faced the amateur of 1920, among which
the 'expert opinions' of sceptics is included: "Some obstacles had fi10t to be over-
come, however. It was, for example, not easy to secure the means of generating un-
damped waves (continuous waves), aside from the imporlant fact that continuous
waves of shorl wave lengths [i.e., below 250 meters in 1920} wem declared by 1nany
to be ilnpractical; it was believed that tire slightest clrange in tire characteristics of
the transmitter or the transmitting antenna would cause audibility changes that
would make successful reception impossible." The empirical basis for the attitude
noted in the final sentence is clarified in another article in the same issue of The
Wireless Age. In his "Efficient Design of Regenerative and Amplifier Circuits",
G.N. Garrison surveyed the design and operational parameters of the
'ultraudion' circuit and noted that, wlule th.is type of circuit is exceUent for
longwave work, it is very impractical for shortwave work "for the very simple
reason that its degree of regeneration is not easily controlled." This problem
would be partially eliminated by amateur ingenuity as the movement into the
shortwaves occurred a few years later.
FollO\ving the conclusion of the war, amateurs ignored the sceptics and began
development of amateur c.w., and Smith described those early pioneers in fitting
22
 Chapter 2: From Spark to C.W.: The Vacuum Tube

terms: "The brains, energy, and perYeverance which is pan of the equipment of a
successful amateur then were brought to bear on what might have proven a tough
proposition to any other class of human beings. And so tire worfd went on, with
more than one enthusiast losing more hours of sleep than could otherwise be con-
tributed by an averoge person who drerishes the desire to continue to five." Many of
us who entered the field of solid-state transmitting during the 1960's can certainly
identify with the experience that Smith descnbed, for pioneers usually are re-
quired to expend great amounts of ti.me and effort just to 'get it to work'. The
scramble by amateurs to produce working c.w. gear resulted in "numberless types
and specimens of C.W. outfits now in use by amateurs" remarked Smith. The
ingenuity expended in the effort was obvious in the diversity of circuits that were
conjured up, and Smith described the range: "It would be practically impossible
to find two that looked as though they were even distantly related. But the impor-
tant thing is, they work." Apparently Smith had personal knowledge of circuit
diversity because of a deluge of submissions of designs resulting from his earlier
query in the magazi ne: "EGJiy attempts to secure reliable infom1atio11 on C. W. sets,
brought 10 the writer. a crop totalling something like seventy-five differen t circuits,
every single one of which landed in the waste basket after many weary hours of
wasted trial and e!fo11." The amateur of 1920 had to be an experimenter, fiddling
endlessly with any circuit which offered the slightest promise of success or of
improvement over existing circuits. That was part of the problem - there were
very few existing circuits, as the technology was veritably in its i11foncy. Further,
there were no commercial transmitters on the amateur market; in fact, amateurs
had difficulty acquiring tubes a.nd parts, a difficulty which apparently persisted
until about 1925, when both RCA and Cunningham announced in QST that they
were initiating a policy of providing tubes directly to the amateur.
The difficulties of going the solid-state route in the 1960's were markedly
similar - lack of tight quality control and lack of parts availability rendered
homebrew duplication of circuits a 'chancey' proposition. Smith and his fellow
pioneers had much more of a problem, though, since commercial parts were
scarce and very costly. The amateur was forced to build many of the components,
and articles appeared as late as 1926 showing amateurs how to homebrew such
items as r.f. chokes, variable condensers (capacitors), fixed condensers, as well as
other components. With regard to the parts procurement problem, Smith's list is
revealing: "a source of plate potential, some kind of tube, a homemade coil or
two, and what other miscellaneous j unk could be begged, borrowed, or otherwise
secured." There weren't many tubes to choose from then, so the rather vague
reference to "some kind of tube" is actualJy indicative of the state of circuitry
appearing in the literature, where a specific tube type was rarely indicated, with
most articles simply listing 'V.T.' as if any would do the job! Small wonder that
the duplication of the circuits submitted to Smith resulted in failure!
The transmitters shown by Smith are simple circuits operating in three c.w.
modes: buzzer modulated, tonewheel modulated, and microphone modulated. In
a typical circuit shown in the article, a microphone, buzzer, or tonewheel is in-
serted directly in the negative high voltage lead to the filament. Further, one very
common method of providing high voltage is shown in which an a.c. motor
drives a d.c. generator, which then feeds the tube. Smith comments that these
methods of modulating the c.w. signal produce "only the slightest deflection of
the space millimeter", but that "actual experience has shown that this method of
modulation has great carrying power, and further, does not cause the slightest
voice distortion." The tubes used in the circuit were 5-watt types operated with
400 volts on the plate. The three tube version developed 1.5 amperes r.f. current
into an antenna exhibiting an 8 Ohms input resistance. While tJ1is represents an
r.f. output of about 18 watts, it should be borne in mind that at the ti.me, anten-

23
 Chapter 2: From Spark to C.W.: The Vacuum Tube

nas in use consisted of a 'skywire counterpoise' system tapped directly onco the
tuned circuit inductance. In all probability, much of the r.f. output consisted of
harmonic energy and parasitics. Later in the decade, the ARRL continuously
urged amateurs to employ wavemeters to tune their transmitters to insure that
the r.f. output was on the desired frequency. In the same issue that Smith's article
appeared, in fact, one manufacturer of wavemeters advertised his instrument as a
sure means of determining whether "the energy radiated by your set is con-
centrated in a single sharp wave of great intensity or spread over a broad band of
wave-lengths where it causes QRM and reduces your range."
In terms of the success of the above circu it, Smith indicated that one unit
running 50 watts input, located on Long Island, covered remarkable distances,
with contacts and reports of reception as far away as Michigan, Missour~ Florida,
and Ohio. The unit operated at about 275 meters (about 1 MHz)! Smith was
fascinated with one feature of his experiments with c.w. He related that "a test
co11ducted with a spark station i11 Columbus, OH, developed tire highly interesting
fact that the signals of the C. W unit were 1l!po11ed at Columbus as being steadier
and sav11ger than the signals from a well-tuned lkW (spar*) transmitter at the same
eastem station." As yet, spark was the dominant transmission mode used by
amateurs, and would not be outlawed until mid-1924.
At this early date and well into the decade, the ability to transmit, or to make
two-way contact, was not reliable enough to limit magazine reports to contacts
only. In early 1925, in fact, QST announced its intention of discontinuing its 'Calls
Heard' section, and provoked so widespread a protest that it was forced to re.-
institute the section three months later! {And it was retained until the late 1930's)
2ZL provided such a list in the same issue of The Wireless Age covering the Oc-
tober to November, 1920 period. He reported 65 stations heard, 16 worked on
c.w. during October, and 74 stations heard, 15 worked during November. In addi-
tion, several contacts were made with phone operation. The listed stations repre-
sent the 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 9 call districts. Note the low called vs worked ratio!
The big story of the January issue was the first transatlantic voice transmission
by Hugh Robinson, 2QR, whose station photo graced the cover of the issue. The
write-up heralded the feat in unmistakable terms: "The long-time dream of the
amateur has been realized. Trans-ocean radio from America to Europe is now a
fact." 2QR's transmissions, typical of ex-perimcnters of the time, consisted of the
description of his equipment, location, and other data, foUowed by a hit-record
Roamin in the Gloarnin, and were received by George W.G. Benzie of Aberdeen-
shire, Scotland. Mr. Benzie's letter reporting the reception was included in the
article. At the time, 2QR was running 100 watts input, which the reporter
described as 'low power', on 280 meters! The antenna consisted of six equal
length (unspecified) wires at a height of 60ft above ground. As we look back
across the years, we can agree with the reporter's sense of amazement at this feat,
but for very different reasons. That such a contact occurred in the middle of our
present broadcast band is indeed remarkable! 2QR's success was the impetus for
the America to Scotland transmission tests conducted by the ARRL in 1921,
which resulted in the reception of 32 U.S. amateur stations by Listeners in Scot-
land. The radio amateur of the day Jed the way in demonstrating what was pos-
sible in radio. The results of amateur experimentation and exploration of c.w. and
the shortwaves determined the direction of radio in the modern era.
It wasn't long before amateur radio turned from spark transmitter to vacuum
rube sets and began the movement downward in frequency from the then-
standard longwaves above 200 meters. The ARRL led the movement, and one
issue of QST in early 1921 emphasized the new direction, with the cover listing
feature articles about c.w. transmission, vacuum tube circuits, regenerative re.-

24
 Chapter 2: From Spark to C.W.: The Vacuum Tube

ceivers, radiotelephony, and loop antennas. Amateurs were to be credited during

the decade with many major advances in technology and knowledge.
At the beginning of the decade, though, amateur activity for the most part was
limited to low power levels as far as c.w. tube gear was concerned. The tubes that
were available at the time placed a real power limitation upon transmitting gear.
Receiving tubes such as the UV199, UV200, and UV201 were pressed into trans-
mitting service, although primarily intended for receiver detector and audio
amplifier applications. These tubes were first advertised in late 1920 by several
companies, including Cunningham-Audiotron, RCA, and General Electric. An
Atlantic Radio Co. ad of the period noted that the UV200 "has been especially
designed to meet the requirements of the amateur and experimental field, viz:
the production of a tube which would prove a sensitive detector and a superior
amplifier, and which could be operated off of a single standard 22.5-volt battery."
A low-vacuum, gas-content tube, the UV200 was heralded for its low B+ require-
ment, and advertised as a "free and persistent oscillator for regenerative
amplification and CW reception".
The 201 was a high-vacuum type, permitting use of higher B+ level to about
100 volts, with the filament powered directly from a 6-volt d.c. source. Anrnteurs
ignored manufacturer's ratings when transmitting was involved, and these tubes
were run with as much as 600 volts on the plate! Compared to modern tubes,
these early devices were fairly primitive. In the case of the 199, for example, the
transconductance was 425 micromhos with an amplification factor of 6.6, with the
200 and 201 showing similar specifications. In comparison, a modern 6C4 triode
exhibits a transconductance of 220 micromhos and an amplification factor of 17!
The feature that made these tubes especially important to amateur application
was their low ftlament-voltage requirement, since a satisfactory technique of sup-
plying filament power from an a.c. source had not yet been devised. The 199 re-
quired a filament source of about 63 ma. at a nominal 3.3 volts, which could be
supplied easily by a 4.5-volt cell through a series potentiometer for several weeks
operation. That these tubes could be operated from battery supplies added to
their impact upon amateur use: they brought tube operation within the reach of
every amateur. The General Electric UV202 transmitting tube appeared early in
the decade. It was rated at a minimum output capability of 5 watts, but required
7.5 volts at 2 amps for its tungsten filament! Oldtirners recall that they could
almost read a book by the light of its filament. Prices for the new tubes were high
- $6.00 to $8.00, which was a considerable amount of money in those days. By
1925, mass-production brought the UV202 price down to $4.00, and it was an
extremely popular tube among beginners and veterans alike.
Amateur ingenuity devised a means of cutting tube costs by pressing tubes
discarded from receivers into transmitting service. In receiver applications, sen-
sitivity and noise factor were a concern then as now, and the gas-content tube
suffered electrode deterioration quickly because heating led to chemical trans-
formations. In his story "QRP In the Good Old Days'', published in The Milliwatt
(June, 1973), Brice Anderson (W9PNE) related his early experience with this
approach to using discarded receiver tubes in transmitting gear: "One thing that
fascinated me in those early days was the procedure my Dad used to 'harden' 201A
tubes for tnmsmitter service. A ttip lo the local radio service shop could easily net a
basketful of used 201A tubes. These tubes were all quite weak in a receiver. How-
ever, about jive minutes service in the oscillator with Z5 volts on the filament and a
plate voltage of 600 volts would harden the tube. If it survived the test, the lube
could then be used in the transmitter with a plate voltage of from 300-600 volts at a
plate cutrent of about 25 ma. It was necessary to keep the filament voltage at about
7.5 volts. The durability of those 201A 's was amazing. I knew of one pair that gave
well over a year's service in the transmitter." Power input to such a transmitter was

25
 Chapter 2: Technical Problems and Vacuum Tubes

typically in a range extending to 20 watts, with r.f. output typically in the QRP
range. Interestingly enough, this 'hardening process endured until as late as 1930,
when in the February issue of QST, the study questions for the license examina-
tion read: "Q. 42. State the proper procedure to follow in reactivating a 201-A
tube. A . 42. A 201-A tube may be reactivated by operating the filament at 18
volts for one second, after which the filament should be 'aged' by operating the
filament for from 5 to 7 minutes." Presumably, tube quality had improved by this
time.
One major technical problem facing the early tube transmitter was a source or
B + for the plate, as Smith noted above. While magazine ads offered extremely-
high voltage, low current transformers for spark transmitters, none appeared
which were capable of providing the relatively low voltages and currents required
for a tube c.w. transmitter. Various schemes, including the d.c. generator driven
by an a.c. motor, were used to provide B + for tube gear. Most frequently, wet-
cell batteries or raw a.c. were the major source of B+ voltage. T he battery
powered rigs of the 1920's were by no means ancestors of today's subminiature
battery powered portable transmitter! The typical wet-cell producing 1.4-2.0 volts
was 'homebrewed' by preparing a large batch of electrolyte solution, and then
filling a selected number of canning jars with it. The individual cells were then
connected in series. Considering that the voltage desired ranged up to 600 volts,
it is not difficult to inrngine the space occupied by such a power source! Photos of
the period showed vast arrays of canning jars, and W9PNE recalls of his father's
transmitting power source: "It {the transmitter] had an unusually stable and pure
D.C. note, as the plate voltage was supplied by a bank of homemade storage cells
connected in sedes. We had 600 volts available, but usually used from 300-400
volts. A good portion of the basement was taken over by the expanse of battedes."
Photos from the period showing arrays of storage batteries verify the accuracy of
W9PNE's description.
As the decade progressed, crudely filtered a.c. supplies were devised whlch,
when used to power a c.w. rig, produced c.w. signals with T6-T7 notes, listed as
'filtered a.c.' in various places. One of the a.c. supplies that found wide accept-
ance in the early 1920's relied upon a standard Model-T Ford ignition coil, and
was described in a 1921 QST. When the key was closed, the 12 volts across the
spark-coil built up to a high voltage before the contacts opened and discharged
the inductance across the output terminals. This output, consisting of 'spikes',
was crudely filtered by a homebrew 'sending condenser' and placed directly upon
the plates of the tube without further filtering! Needless to say, signal purity from
such a transmitter was akin to the QR1v1 generated by a small a.c. appliance such
as a hairdryer. By 1925, the purity of amateur signals became an ARRL concern,
and QST became increasingly vociferous on the subject. An arnusi.ng 'Stray' ap-
peared in the August, 1925, issue on the subject: "Flivver coil LC. W is attractively
economical but not so good. Ford never taught his coils to be musicians." A circuit
powered by the 'f1iwer coil' system was very inefficient. C.F. Rockey (W9SCH)
speculated that such a circuit probably consumed about 20 watts with about 5
watts actually developed as r.f. output, of which a considerable portion could
consist of harmonic radiation. In his comments in the 1924 'Low Power Report',
L.W. Hatry made a similar point (see Chapter 3). In any event, it seems likely
that these 'fliwer coil' transmitters exhibited on- freque11cy outputs easily within
the 5-watt QRP range, even when total input was on the order of 30-40 watts.
Apparently operating such crude equipment was difficult and a definite
hindrance to successful two-way contacts. Recall the low called vs worked ratio in
the list given by Smith above. The typical method of connecting the transmission
line to a transmitter was via a direct tap upon the oscillator inductance which, of
course, controlled the transmitter frequency. Matching was accomplished by

26
 Chapter 2: Technical Problems and Vacuum Tubes

readjusting the tap-positions for maximum antenna current. Obviously, this 'con-
ductive coupling' method had its drawbacks in view of the fact that moving the
tap inevitably moved the frequency! Further, the changes in antenna impedance
occasioned by the swaying of an antenna in a light breeze had the same effect.
Reception was also a matter of some difficulty. In his introduction to amateur
c.w., Smith provided tuning hints with regard to receiving c.w. signals: "The usual
and easiest way of expl01ing for straight C. W signals is to b1ing the receiving tube
into oscillation, with about 50 percent coupling between primary and secondary
(coils), and then tune slowly over a wide range of wavelengths by means of the
secondary 1>ariom.eter [i.e., variable inductances]. Once a c.w. signal is located, the
antenna condenser (capacitor) is brought into resonance, and the plate variometer
adjusted to the dead point, which indicates resonance of all circuits. Variation of
the coupling will then give any beat note desired." At best, operating such a re-
ceiver was a rather complicated and tin1e consuming process. By the time a re-
ceiving station managed to tune in a CQ and then tune his transmitter in similar
manner to the CQer's frequency, the CQ'er could have already quit and gone to
bed, convinced that he hadn't been heard!
The foundation of the amateur movement into the modern era was crude and
primitive in 1920. The old coexisted with the untried new. Radio work at the
University of Illinois amateur installation was reported by Jas. B. Holston in the
January, 1921, issue of The Wireless Age. He remarked: "It is hoped that one of
the new seventy-five meter CW sets will be available for study and use, as well as
other new equipment, for the coming season." Hi.s reference to the 75 meter set
is puzzling, since amateurs were not allocated this band until mid-1924. But the
old still remained the tried and proven approach: "A complete shortwave trans-
mitting and receiving set will be in operation both on the new 250 meter wave
allowed amateurs and the longer waves allowed us with a special license." The
spark station remained in operation as well.

II. Exploring Unknown Territory: The Shortwaves

"It is impossible to say what will be found there
and no guess is too wild... "
Following the introduction of the vacuum tube to the general amateur
population and the popularization of the c.w. mode, amateur radio became the
vanguard of exploration into the unknown 'shortwave' spectrum during the first
half of the decade. From about 1923 onward, technological progress and dis-
coveries became dated in weeks and months rather than years, and the amateur
operator was the pioneer. For the most part, he was a very special type of
operator - a QRP operator! Eventually crowded out of the longwave spectrum
above 200 meters by encroaching commercial broadcasters, the amateur was
"exiled" to the shortwaves below 200 meters "that had once been thought use-
less" as a writer in 1925 remarked. It was a fortunate banishment, for it produced
the great break-throughs in the science of radio that were needed for its con-
tinued development.
Equipped with low power, single tube oscillator transmitters and single tube
regenerative detectors with perhaps one stage of audio amplification, the
amateur was forced to improvise to meet the demands of the unknmvn, to per-
severe in the face of predicted failure. The spirit of the amateur in this enterprise
can be expressed in no better terms than those used by K. B. Warner, the Editor
of QST, in the March, 1924 issue. AJter reviewing the progress made by amateurs
in demonstrating the usefulness of the shortwaves, he turned to future spectrum
allocations soon to be considered by the government, and reflected: "Those
waves do need developing, and we're the crowd to do it. Wouldn't it be fascinating
to have an amateur band from 40 to 50 meters or even from 4 to 5 meters, where

27
 Chapter 2: Unknown Territory: The Shortwaves

we'd have to develop totally new methods and brand new apparatus to make them
work? Real pioneering development, contributing something new to the mt! And 70
to 90 meters or 110 to 125 meters, some band where our present knowledge will
apply but still 'short' waves as we know them today!" The exciting prospect of
being forced by circumstances to develop new equipment and techniques ob-
viously undergirds the Editor's exhortation -- that is the essence of amateur radio
in his opinion. At the time he wrote, only a few special three-month experimen-
tal 'X' licenses had been issued to amateurs for operation below 150 meters
(current allocation of 150-200 meters).
John Reinartz (1XAM) was a holder of one such special license, and he was
the first American amateur to bridge the Atlantic in two-way communication.
The historic event took place on November 17, 1923, when 1XAM and then 1MO
worked fBAB on about 105 meters. While f8AB, holder of a special high power
French license, was running a kilowatt input from Nice, France, both American
amateurs were putting less than 100 watts into their antennas. A series of subse-
quent tests proved that the transatlantic work could be done reliably. The impact
of their success was noted in "Transatlantic Amateur Communication Ac-
complished" in the January, 1924, issue of QST in these terms: "For years we have
dreamed of this; for over a year we have seen it coming; for weeks we have been
sure that winter weather would see the thing accomplished. It has been done, fel-
lows; we are actually in back and f011h contact with Europe over our amateur sets.
For tire first time in history we have worked a European amateur, and for the first
time tire amateurs of distant foreign countries have sat by their respective firesides
and talked to each other with ease." Americans had been heard both across the
Pacific and the Atlantic, and ironically, in this first great transoceanic contact, the
DX station was the one running the real high power! This would be the last DX
accomplishment in which the tables were turned. Amateurs on both sides of the
Atlantic geared up to duplicate the 1XAM-f8AB work, but as yet, they were forced
to remain above 150 meters by regulations. Once the lower bands were opened to
amateur activity later in the year, the great migration downward into the
shortwaves that changed the world of radio would begin.
Knowledge of the shortwaves emerged rather slowly. Even a year and a half
later, Keith Henney, Director of the Radio Laboratory of Radio Broadcast,
would write: "Ad11entwing into the radio region below about 1500 kilocycles
(/...-ilohe11z) is like exploring unknown tenitory. It is impossible to say what will be
found there and no guess is too wild. From this frequency (200 meters), 1499
ldlocycles to be exact, down to goodness knows where, is a region so vast that all
existing stations could be placed in it without crowding. 'DX' exists there that is
undreamed of on the longer waves, and it is a tenitory into which anyone may ven-
ture with the certainty that Ire will discover interesting things" (Radio Broadcast,
hereafter simply RB, October, 1925). Indeed! By the time Henney wrote, in fact,
low power operators had been repeatedly astounding the radio world with
phenomenal very low power e>.-ploits that stretched the imagination.
The movement of amateurs into the shortwaves was indeed an expedition of
discovery. The entire spectrum below 200 meters was an uncharted region, a total
mystery to the radio world. Vi.rtually no theory existed in 1923 to explain the
propagation of radio signals below 200 meters, and what theory did exist was
basically wrong. In fact, it is difficult to imagine how ignorant they were of pro-
pagation at the time. Amateur work from late 1923 onward finally began to pro-
duce results in the form of propagation theory by early 1925. John L. Reinartz
(1XAM) provided both experimental observations, through his on-the-air work,
and the genius to mold his data into a theory which appeared in "Reflection of
Short Waves" (QST, April, 1925), his first paper on the subject. Previous to the
appearance of this paper, the Kennelly-Heaviside Layer theory had been general-

28
 Chapter 2: Shortwave Propagation Theory

ly accepted because it was unchallenged by any kinds of observations that were

possible on the Iongwaves. The Kennelly-Heaviside view attributed all propaga-
tion of radio signals to the existence of an intensely ionized stratum of rarified air
at the auroral level height of about lOOkm which reflected radio waves, as would
a mirror with regard to light waves. The major drawback to the theory was that
the ion density required for such reflections to occur at shortwave frequencies
greatly exceeded upper atmosphere density. Eccles and Larmor modified the
theory to replace the reflection mechanics with refraction, in which the radio
signals are bent back toward the earth rather than perfectly reflected, and
Nichols and Schelling then added the factor of the earth's geomagnetic field.
However, even though the original theory as modified by later scientists made
logical sense, it had one serious empirical flaw -- an almost total lack of data
regarding radio signal behavior in the shortwave spectrum where, as we now
know, propagation phenomena are most noticeable.
Reinartz and his fellow experimenters provided the needed empirical data and
revolutionized the world's understanding of propagation. First experimenting at
around 100 meters, and then on 20 meters during late 1924, Reinartz introduced
the real causitive factor in propagation as we know it today - solar radiation. In
his landmark article f10ted above, Reinartz isolated the parameters of the effects
of solar radiation and illustrated his theory with numerous drawings, many of
which would be relatively current today. He perceived the relationship between
the position of the sun and angle of incidence of arriving radiation occurring
daily and seasonally, and noted the effect of those factors upon frequency. H. A.
Joyer added to Reinartz's concept in the July, 1925, issue of QST in "How Are
Short Waves Reflected?" which was followed by a lengthy study by Dr. E. 0.
Hulbert and Dr. A. Hoyt Taylor (Reinartz's colleague in 1924 experiments) en-
titled "Wave Propagation at High Frequencies" (October, 1925, pp. 12-21).
In that study, Taylor and Hulbert brought modern propagation theory into
being, correctly assessing such matters as upper atmosphere ionization and de.
ionization incident upon solar radiation, ionospheric loss and absorption, multi-
ple skip propagation, and the effects of frequency upon absorption rates. The
authors admitted that many of their suggestions were speculative, lacking the
foundation of truly exhaustive data, but in fact, they were accurate on many
points and must be credited with introducing radically new concepts. They
worked from experimental data which was collected during a voyage of the U.S.S.
St. Mihiel from New York to Panama and focused on an analysis of the nature of
the 'skipped distance' which emerged in the data. A direct correlation between
skip distance and frequency varying from 150 miles at 7.5 MHz to 1400 miles at
25 MHz led to a theoretical esti~ate of the ion density required to cause the
variation: their figure of 5.57 x l<J electrons per cubic centimeter and a virtual
height of reflection at 185 miles agrees closely with modern data. Similarly, their
method of employing the refractive index of the ionospheric medium to correlate
wave frequency, critical angle of incidence, and skip distance as the MUF (maxi-
mum usable frequency) is decidedly modern. But without the data provided by
ionospheric sounders about electron density vs altitude, Taylor and Hulbert were
in the dark with respect to the actual ray paths traversed at different frequencies
during varying diurnal and seasonal conditions. Hence, they were forced to
speculate as to whether ray paths curved parabolicaUy, eliptically, sinusoidally,
logarithmically or at a sharp angle, and presented optional heights of refraction
for each case and the experimental data. Furthermore, their observations about
diurnal and seasonal variations in the MUF were skewed by their lack of know-
ledge about electron density vs height for these periods. Nonetheless, Taylor and
Hulbert's paper represents a major step in propagation theory and is well worth
reading even today. Significantly, the first mathematical analysis of propagation

29
 Chapter 2: Shortwave Propagation Theory

phenomena would not appear in the Proceedings of the Institute of Radio En-
gineers until almost a year later - pioneering radio amateurs discovered and
stated the theory first!
Alerted to the need for data, the ARRL initiated all sorts of 'tests'. Among
these were the "Fading Tests" which provided data for the above authors, the
"Daylight Transcons" [transcontinentals ], "Pan American Tests", "Trans
Canadian Relays", and the "Trans Pacific" and "Trans Atlantic" tests. The
amateur radio world enthusiastically participated in the effort to discover the
nature of rhe shortwaves and provided much of the empirical groundwork upon
which the modem understanding of propagation is based. It must have been an
exciting period for amateurs, with every other issue of QST heralding
phenomenal new discoveries and achievements, urging participating in new tests
suggested by recent findings. The radio amateur could see that he stood the
chance of discovering something that would revolutionize knowledge at the time.
Verification of new theories, of course, requires time. So it was with the new
theory suggested by amateur discoveries in the shortwave spectrum. It was a
world in flux, to say the least. Consider, for example, the level of understanding
and certainly (or lack of it!) exhibited by Keith Henney, who was familiar with all
of the latest scientific developments in radio through his compilation of a month-
ly annotated bibliography of important articles appearing in RB, QST, Radio,
Proceedings of the I.R.E. and other periodicals. In a word, he was abreast of the
latest developments. Yet in his article "What Do We Know About the
Shortwaves?" (R.B, November, 1925), he could summarize the subject in these
terms:
Aside from the frequency and the power used, the other factors limiting our
transmissions are the time of day, the type of antenna, and nature of the country
between transmitting and receiving station. At night, conditions are vastly d1f
ferent than during daylight ... the ejfect of inten•ening objects has not been com-
pletely investigated. Other conditions remaining theoretically tire same, increas-
ing the transmission frequency widens the radius over which signals from our
station may be heard ... At the same time, we seem to find that our signals are
not heard nearby, but that they take a peculiar jwnp and come down again at
some greater distance. This view is maintained by several experimenters, notably
John Reinarlz, and yet remains to be proved or disproved.
Note that Henney considered Reinartz's theory to be tentative, and more sig-
nificantly, Henney called others to join with hfrn in exploring the nature of
shortwave propagation on their own, assuming that they could contribute as well
as Reinartz. The article posed questions about the salient features of Reinartz's
theory in an editorial 'feature box' entitled "Some Important Radio Questions to
be Answered:"
-- What takes place along the high frequency bands?
-- How far may one expect to canyon reliable communication in daylight, and
at night, with a given amount ofpower and at a given frequenc,y?
-- Do signals actually 'jump over' nearby stations, to reappear at some much
greater distance?
-- What is the relation between time of day and distance of transmission?
-- What difference do the seasons make in short wave transmission?
Henney's interest in exploring the shortwaves was a personal one, and his pur-
pose in writing the article was to encourage amateurs to embark on their own
explorations of the shortwaves, reporting results to RB.
Henney recounted how he stumbled onto what appeared to be the most fas-
cinating aspect of shortwave experimentation. Operating the RB amateur station
2GY in the Fall of 1925, Henney's 'SO-watter' transmitter tube burned out unex-
pectedly and no replacement was on hand, so he substituted a '$-watter' and con-

30
 Chapter 2: Shortwave Propagation Theory

tinued operation on 40 meters at 40 watts input. To his amazement, "the same

range was obtained as with the larger tube." Like the typical amateur encounter-
ing QRP success for the first time, Henney became curious as to how far he could
lower power and still maintain reliable contact, and reported extensive scheduled
contacts with stations in North Carolina and Florida. Moreover, he referred to
the very recent two-way work between Canadian c9CK and Australian a58G (see
Chapter 4), in stressing the need for QRP experimentation to assess the nature of
propagation on the shortwaves. Two salient features about the knowledge of the
shortwaves in late 1925 emerge from Henney's discussion: (1) the uncertainty of
the knowledge of propagation at the time; and (2) the impression created by the
article that QRP work was a major frontier in the exploration of the shortwaves.
Indeed, over half of the article is devoted to a discussion of the low power work
done by 2GY under the heading in block capitals "WHAT RELATION EXISTS
BETWEEN POWER AND DISTANCE?" The call for reports from amateurs, fur-
ther, was made specifically in regard to low power work. Henney's identification
of the QRP operator as one of the foremost explorers was not uncommon - in
fact, Henney was a 'johnny come lately', for that identification had been forceful-
ly made almost two years earlier. Similarly, Henney's closing exhortation en-
couraging readers to submit low power reports to RB was just as late. But ob-
viously, we've moved far ahead of the real QRP story's beginnings as we've sum-
marized the state of knowledge (or ignorance) of propagation phenomena as it
existed in 1923 when the amateur radio world stood on the brink of the move-
ment into the shortwave spectrum.
The lack of knowledge about propagation was not the only obstacle to the
pioneering efforts of amateurs - the technology of the day was quite primitive,
and although no 'great advancements' were to be made in the next few years, the
design, construction, and operation of c.w. tube equipment required considerable
refinement if success in the shortwave exploration was to occur, as the Editorial
in the March, 1924, QST noted above clearly implied. Beginning in mid-1923,
QST carried an increasing number of primary articles on basic electronics as re-
lated to the amateur. The impressive feature of these appearances is that they
represent an entirely new perspective for the amateur operator, and include basic
information and design theory that we take for granted today. A brief summary
of the QST material will provide a valuable insight into the state of technology at
the time.
The vacuum tube itself was a primary focus and required explanations of a
very basic nature. The operation of tubes appears to have been only partially
understood by the majority of amateurs. QST carried four major articles about
tubes between August, 1923, and April, 1924, dealing with internal and external
operating characteristics, as well as discussions of matters such as selection and
construction of the 'grid leak' resistor. The proper operating conditions depend-
ent upon that single item were a matter of great concern! Simple matters such as
the measurement of a.c. and d.c. input required explanation. The amateur prac-
tice of the day seems to have left much to be desired in the way of technical
sophistication. One interesting letter to the editor in the October, 1923, issue
berated amateurs on that point. Morris Preston (2M8) wrote: "I can't under-
stand why so many fellows insist that they are using 5 watts when they don 't know
what 5 watts means," and continued by criticizing the 'watts per mile' records
claimed by the new wave of c.w. operators. He advised: "if a fellow asks you how
much power you are using, don't tell him a 'jive watter' /tube}. It means nothing",
citing as an example the 5-watter at 2MB which operated at an input of 18 watts
with an output of "5 watts of pure C.W". Statements about distance records, in
2MB's opinion, required actual measurement of either input or output power,
rather than statements of tube power-ratings.

31
 Chapter 2: Tubes and Transmitter Ratings

2MB's point was taken up with a vengeance by QST Technical Editor, Robert
S. Kruse (1AAQ) in the next issue with the strongly argued article "What Power
Have You? - Unscrambling the Power Rating of Your Set". Kruse was highly
critical of the apparent ignorance of many amateurs: "We are constantly receiving
letters fat ARRL headquarters] that say 'I am using 5 watts and putting 1.5 amps
into the antenna.' Buncomb -- the thing can't be done; that amount of cu/Tent
represents about 30 watts in the average antenna." Kruse pointed out that no rela-
tion exists between the tube rating and actual input power. Tube rating is simply
the manufacturer's minimum output rating for a given tube, established by
operating the tube with "low plate voltage and with everything out of adjust-
ment". The article was an attempt to clarify three parameters as they relate to
amateur practice: (1) manufacturer's tube rating; (2) normal input power operat-
ing conditions; and (3) safe plate dissipation. Several examples were used which
are informative of then-current practice. Kruse cited an instance of a particular
operator who used six '5-watters' in his transmitter: "The owner of this layout had
been telling us what wonderful work he was doing with a 'dinky little 30 watts.'
Wonder how he accounted for the wild dive all the lights in the place took every
time the 'dinky 30 watt' load came on? As a matter of fact the set drew 480 watts in
the plate circuit" producing an output of 390 watts! Kruse reiterated 2MB's point:
"Evidently our method of tube rating means exactly nothing." Based upon his
experience with various amateur installations, he remarked that "the average
amateur tube station is using from 5 to 12 times the power that one would think, if
one judged by the tube ratings." The logical conclusion, then, was that "the way to
rate a tube station is NOT by what the labels on the tube boxes say but by the actual
input to the plates of the tubes." The input power approach is demanded by cir-
cumstances, since "it is too hard to measure the output of the set."
In his discussion, though, Kruse placed the major emphasis upon transmitter
efficiency, or the ratio of input to output power, and one would suspect that he
would have welcomed widespread capability to measure output powers as a basis
of comparing station performance. Efficiency is shown to depend upon proper
adjustment of operating parameters, and in one example using a 'VT-2' tube
rated at '5 watts', Kruse explained that the efficiency of the tube at low input and
out. of adjustment can be raised from 25%-33%, and then by increasing the input
to 40 watts and readjusting, the efficiency could be raised to 75%. The desired
effect of Kruse's strongly argued piece was to correct a serious flaw in amateur
practice by stressing an efficiency oriented approach to tube station power rating.
His seose of frustration with current practice is very evident throughout his dis-
cussion. However, amateurs apparently responded very slowly in regard to ef-
ficiency. Finally, to encourage amateurs to give greater concern to efficiency,
Kruse initiated the 'Station Efficiency Contest' in the same issue of QST and
unwittingly began the QRP movement in the U.S., as we'll see later.
The April, 1924 issue followed up Kruse's discussion with a detailed article
about a method of measuring tube input and output in "Seeing What Your
Tubes Are Doing" by H. J. Nolte of the General Electric Research Laboratory.
The technique devised by Nolte involved a visual comparison of the glow of the
tube anode with filament glow in a Mazda lamp whose d.c. input was accurately
metered. The device used was termed a 'pyrometer' and functioned upon the
principle that plate glow results from the total power input not consumed in the
grid-leak resistance and antenna circuit. Hence, after measuring plate dissipation
in a non-oscillating state, that measurement can be subtracted from known plate
input to give plate output. Nolte's article went into exhaustive detail about the
theory and application of this approach. Like Kruse, he stressed the utmost im-
portance of the concept of efficiency.

32
 Chapter 2: Low Loss and Efficiency

Then, as now, the terms 'efficiency' and 'low Joss' were linked with excellence
in the design and construction of amateur equipment, so much so, in fact, that
annual indexes to QSTs of the period use 'low loss' as an indexing category along
with 'transmitters', 'antenna systems' and the Like. Apparently the concern for low
loss design and construction began with K. E. Hassel's (9ZN) "Short Wave Tuner
Design" (December, 1923) where he noted: "The present-day tendency in re-
ceiver design seems to be toward many stages of a mplification rather than tuner
efficiency." After noting that it is often difficult to detect any improvement in
receiver performance when judging from an auditory comparison of 'before and
after' states since a 3% change is the smallest difference detectable by ear, Hassel
pointed out that in a simple set, changes can be made which eliminate several
small sources of loss, resulting in an overall improvement on the order of 30%.
Amateurs must trust the "laboratory and not the ear when doing development
work". With respect to coil forms, for example, "Careful laboratory measure-
ments show that ordinary paper or cardboard tube (providing it is dry), is far
superior to the more expensive materials found in commercial receivers." He
continued his discussion in regard to every component of a receiver, evidencing
that attention to detail that came to characterize the successful low power
operator in subsequent articles. Kruse described three receivers in "Low Loss
Tuners" (February, 1924) built according to Hassel's principles, and went into
much greater detail than Hassel. The application of the same low loss principles
to transmitter design and construction was publicized in feature articles detailing
phenomenal QRP work by the Australians at the time. From then on, photos of
transmitters and receivers included captions which detailed the low Joss ap-
proaches to construction in the featured d esign. Significantly, descriptions of high
power transmitters du ring the period never made mention of the low Joss ap-
proach!
As noted earlier, a high voltage source for powering the tube transmitter was
a major problem facing the operator in the early 1920's. QST turned to solving
the problem with articles about power supplies. By this time, the unquestionable
superiority of the pure d.c. note over 'raw a.c.' and 'rectified a.c.' had been
demonstrated on the air. The ARRL became increasingly vociferous in its at-
tempt to rid the amateur bands of 'less than pure' d.c. notes. However, 'raw a.c.'
would not be outlawed until about 1931 and would remain a problem in 1935!
QST featured an exhaustive treatment of a.c. and r.f. filters in F. S. Dellenbaugh,
Jr. 's "Elect ric Filters" (May, June, 1923) followed up by de tails on his 'brute
force' power supply system. Articles followed detailing the design and construc-
tion of plate supply transformers ("Small Transformers for the Amateur", May,
June, 1924), as well as filter chokes, filter capacitors, and plate r.f. chokes. Re-
ctifiers of the time were primitive, represented by the 'S' type tube and homeb-
rew chemical rectifiers. A p reference for B-battery supplies emerged rapidly in
1924 when the exploits of QRP operators were attributed in part to the pure d.c.
tone and stability of their signals.
Signal stability was a serious problem in the movement to the shortwaves from
t he very start. The source of the stability problem was no mystery - changes in
operating conditions such as plate or filament voltage caused a frequ ency shift, as
well as vibrating inductances and tube elements; and the method of coupling
feedline to transmitter oscillator inductance thru a direct tap on the coil led to
'wobbly' signals. It was found that operation from a battery source helped a bit,
and loose inductive coupling replaced the direct tap, adding another degree of
improvement. Eliminating sources of mechanical vibration removed another
source. Finally, Nicholas Hagemann (2KP) described an electrical solution to the
problem in single stage oscillator-transmitters in the January, 1926, issue of RB.

33
 Chapter 2: Flat-tops, Cages and Counterpoises

During 1925, the use of crystal control appeared, but getting a crystal to oscillate
was a rather fussy procedure.

Ill. From Flat-tops and Counterpoises to Antennas

"...our antennas are all wrong!... "
The logistics operating against t he success of the 1923-1927 movement into
the shortwaves were formidable in regard to the state of technology at the time.
Given the difficulty of operating both transmitter and receiver with their tuning
procedures and serious frequency stability problems, two-way contact must have
been a difficult accomplishment. Anyone who has operated with a regenerative
receiver has experienced the situation to a certain degree. To make matters even
worse, there existed an almost complete ignorance about antenna theory as it
applies to the shortwave spectrum. Much experimentation would be necessary
before the actual principles of antenna operation began to emerge with modem
clarity in the late 1920's. In 1923, amateur antenna practice was based upon ex-
perience on the longwaves ab ove 200 meters, where circumstances dictated that
antennas be very short for their frequency of operation. An example of state of
the art understanding of antenna principles in 1923, followed by a brief summary
of developments to 1928, will enable the reader to place in an appropriate con-
text the accomplishments of the early QRP pioneers.
Prior to mid-1923, no knowledge of antenna theory and operation based upon
scientific experimentation was available to the amateur. At best, scattered ob-
servations about unexpected antenna performance appearing in notes in QST
constituted the amateur's knowledge of the subject. Fundamental concepts such
as the relationship between antenna length and frequency of operation were
unsettled questions. The basic antenna system was comprised of a 'sk]'wire'
worked against an ungrounded 'counterpoise' placed upon the ground or at a
height of several feet above the ground. A large loading coil in series with the
two sections of the antenna was needed to tune the system to resonance. Such an
arrangement resulted in a very low antenna input resistance, producing very high
antenna currents for a given power level. The accepted axiom applied in practice
was to adjust the system for maximum antenna current, which was assumed to
indicate maximum radiated power. From a modern viewpoint, the system had to
have been extremely inefficient, since the counterpoise coupled antenna power
directly to lossy earth. Measurements of antenna input resistance published at the
time show this to be the case, as we'll see below.
In the May, 1923, issue of QST, Ross Gunn, M .S. (8ZO), first proposed a
method for determining the optimum antenna length vs. frequency ratio for max-
imum radiation. His approach is Lhe modem one - first, paper predictions based
upon calculations were devised, and then tested through a series of field strength
measurements under controlled conditions. As is clear from the results which
Gunn obtained, his approach, although fundamentally sound, was hampered by
the lack of knowledge about antenna theory at the time. Those results were pub-
lished in the September, 1923 issue under the editorial header: "At last some real
infonna1ion on the light size for 1/re antenna". In "The Best Dimensions for
Amateur Antennas", Gunn stated the objective of his experime nts in these terms:
"to find at what wave length (frequency of operation) the maximum power is
received for a given amount of power in the sending antenna." The size of the
antenna, of course, remained constant, as well as the input power. His method
involved carefully calibrating a primitive field strength meter across the fr~
quency range to be tested, and the n making precise measurements of received
signal intensity as the transmitter frequency was varied across the 100-220 meter
range. His assumption was that the maximum field strength intensity would occur

34
 Chapter 2: Flat-tops, Cages and Counterpoises

when the antenna was operated on the frequency which was optimum for its
physical length.
The construction of antennas at that time consisted of two approaches, both
of which permitted the use of multiple-wire radiating and counterpoise elements.
In the 'flat-top' approach, several wires were spaced evenly along a six to ten foot
'spreader' and suspended horizontally from end supports; a separate feed wire
dropped from each flat-top wire to a common point where the feedline entered
the shack. In the 'cage' approach, a circular 'spreader' up to four feet in diameter
formed the element wires into a tubular configuration suspended horizontally or
vertically; the multiple wire feedlin e was constructed likewise as a 'cage'. The
counterpoise section in sin1ple installations consisted of a single wire, but
generally more elaborate systems were used, constructed in rectangular shapes up
to lOOft x 40ft. A single-wire lead-in connected the counterpoise to the transmit-
ter.
The antenna tested by Gunn was in a 'T' configuration, cage construction,
with a horizontal section of 37ft and a vertical section of 35ft, with the height of
the horizontal section at 35ft. The counterpoise consisted of six 70ft wires placed
upon the ground. The system was measured as resonant at 123 meters (2.4 MHz)
including the loading coil inserted between skywire and counterpoise. With the
above dimensions, the antenna is roughly equal to a modern base loaded 40
meter quarterwave vertical with capacity hat, operated on 160 meters! In the
article, Gunn provided two curves showing input resistance vs. frequency of
operation for the antenna. Measurements made with the counterpoise on the
ground show an antenna input resistance of about 58 Oh.ms at the resonant fre-
quency. However, a second curve charting measurements made with the counter-
poise at a height of 3ft shows a resonant frequency input resistance of on.ly 21
Ohms! The 37-0hrn difference in readings represents, of course, groundloss re-
sistance. Gunn failed to distinguish between these two components of the
measured resistance (i.e., actual antenna resistance and groundloss resistance)
simply because the distinction was not understood. Instead, he noted: "An inter-
esting point which has no direct bean·ng here is that the resistance vs wavelength
curve of the sending antenna was changed from Curve A to Curve B simply by
raising the counterpoise 3ft off the ground". Gunn's failure to perceive the im-
plications of his laboriously obtained data is to be expected. In fact, Technical
Editor Kruse missed the point also, commenting on Gun.n's findings solely in the
context of the shift of resonant frequency as the counterpoise placement is
changed. It was a classic case of 'seeing what you are loo.king for!' In a second
graph, Gunn showed the field strength measurements which led to his conclusion
that the optimum radiation efficiency occurs when the antenna length is 0.456
wavelength at the operating frequency.
Kruse added the short note "Antenna Dimensions" to provide construction
dimensions for amateur readers based upon Gunn's findings, covering both the
'T' and ' L' configurations for 100, 125, 150, and 200 meters. The 'L' type for 200
meters, for example, shows a horizontal 40ft section, a 60ft vertical section, and a
counterpoise of four l OOft wires, spaced on 9ft spreaders and suspended at a
height of 10ft. The vertical and horizontal sections exhibit Oat-top construction.
The total wire length of the system is approximately 62% of the length required
for a half-wave antenna at 200 meters. In practice, the antenna was tuned to re-
sonance by adjusting the antenna lead and counterpoise lead taps at appropriate
points on the transmitter output inductance. From a modern perspective, Kruse's
antenna represents a center-loaded shortened dipole 031 wavelength long, with
one side of the dipole at a height of lOft! Somehow these antennas managed to
conquer transpacific and transatlantic paths despite their probable low radiation
efficiency.

35
 Chapter 2: Antenna Experimentation - Orbel/ and Kruse

The understanding of antenna theory evolved bit by bit in QST, with amateur
experimentation providing the data. A typical report of such experimentation
appeared in the IARU section for November, 1923, where R. J. Orbell (z3AA)
summarized tests with colleague F . D. Bell (z2AA) which were intended to deter-
mine the optimum transmission frequency for Bell's 135 meter, half-wave anten-
na. Conducted over a 150-mile path, the tests involved talcing measurements of
received signal strength as the transmitter frequency moved downward from 265
to 130 meters in eight steps. Orbell reported: "To our surprise (not to mention
relief) it was found that the signal strength and modulation actually increased great-
ly as the wave became shorler ... the strength on 135 meters was quite three times
that on 265 meters." Careful measurements of input power and antenna current
at each frequency resulted in data which contradicted the accepted view regard-
ing antenna current: "The interesting pa11, however, is the fact that Mr. Bell's an-
tenna cu1re11t fell from 1.3 amperes on the longer wave (265 meters) to only 0.5
ampere on 130 meters and yet the strength of the signals increased. These results
show that the antenna current is not a reliable indication of the power when
wavelength changes are made." However, Orbell was unable to offer an explana-
tion as to why this was true.
Kruse picked up Orbell's lead and conducted his own tests at 1X4Q, publish-
ing the results in the February issue under the somewhat misleading title "What
the Work With FBAB Teaches the ARRL" since the piece barely mentions the
1X4M-f8AB transatlantic triumph. Never guilty of understatement, Kruse spelled
out the lesson: "We are for the first time doing consistent 3500-mile work because
we are (for the first time) using antennas that are large -- very large, for the waves
(frequencies) at which they are working. Working an antenna that way gives high
radiation efficiency." His term "very large" stresses the break with previous prac-
tice involving antennas which were very short for the frequency of operation, as
we've noted above. Since considerably lower currents were to be expected with
the large antenna, Kruse anticipated that 'the tribe of ampere-hounds' and
'ampere- chasers" would object that "the series condenser causes a big loss - we
only get half as much current with. a big antenna and a series condenser" [the
"series" capacitor was inserted in the antenna lead as a matching device]. Against
that objection, Kruse thundered: "Buncombe, Brother -- absolute and complete
Buncombe!!! How on earth can the series condenser be using up power when it does
not get hot?" The explanation for the decrease in current is simple: "We have
increased tire radiation resistance!" The tests reviewed in the article showed that
"we are now putting more power into the ether than before, even tho the antenna
current does drop." Determined once again to awaken amateurs to technical
truths, Kruse underscored the implications of his findings: "Now we have practi-
cal proof... that we did not know as much as we thot...and that our antennas are
all wrong!" His account of the tests provides a revealing description of the state
of shortwave activity at the end of 1923:
Naturally one would not expect that an ordinary amateur antenna would work
best on wavelengths that are still lower. This has been tried out roughly at
1X4Q. The antenna is the sort of 'compromise verlical' shown in FIGURE 1,
rather under-sized, and can be worked down to 160 meters without any series
condenser at all. The location is a good one and transmission is very fair at
even 200 meters. It has been very hard to test further down becallSe so few sta-
tions have tuners that will receive even as far down as 180 m eters -- a disgrace-
ful state of affairs. Our antenna seems to be far too small for the standard
amateur band (to 300 meters or so) -- it ought to be much longer, somewhat
~~~z~~~~~~~~~~~~~
weeks of steady work with European amateurs and in every case the successful
American stations have been using big antennas with series condensers."

36
 Chapter 2: Large Antenna Currents vs Radiailon Efficiency

The 'compromise vertical' consisted of a 40ft vertical cage topped by a 50ft semi-
vertical wire rising to 70ft, over a 40ft x 30ft counterpoise at !Oft. The suggested
antenna of FIGURE 2 used a lOOft semi-vertical wire atop the 40ft cage, and a
lOOft x 30ft counterpoise.
The results of the tests, conducted over a 1000-mile night path are convincing.
At 200 meters, with an input of 600 watts and an antenna current of 6.4 amperes,
the signal strength was 'good' with fading; but at 90 meters, with an input of 350
watts and an antenna current of0.6 ampere, the signal strength was 'very strong'.
While Kruse and other experimenters were unaware of the possible effects of
propagation vs frequency upon the difference in signal strengths, their rejection
of antenna current as an indicator of radiated power was sound. The antenna
tested by Kruse included a total wire length roughly equivalent to a half-wave at
75 meters; his suggestion of the larger antenna for 150-200 meter operation
would result in a wire-length nearly equivalent to a half-wave at 150 meters.
Ultimately, Kruse was right in his explanaLlon for the decreased antenna cur-
rent in the context of higher radiated power, but his presentation included no
actual theory. A. Hoyt Taylor followed with a detailed theoretical explanation in
"Antenna Resistances" in the October, 1924, issue, and even though he was cor-
rect in some respects, he stressed the speculative nature of his explanation. The
mystery of lower currents with larger antennas however, was solved. After ex-
plaining the current distribution on radiators up to a half-wavelength, Taylor
pointed out that "eve1ytlting depends upon where the antenna cwrent is m easured."
If the ammeter is inserted at a current node, "the actual walls radiated by the
antenna may be very high with only a small reading in the merer thus placed, and a
situation can even arise when this meter will show almost zero reading and yet the
antenna will be radiating very efficiently indeed." Lab tests performed by Taylor at
the U.S. Naval Lab were cited in which the ammeter was inserted at various
points along a halfwave radiator, producing readings from "a few hundredths" of
an ampere to "1 to 2 amperes." Further, he drew the novel distinction between
"effective radiation resistance" and total antenna input resistance, pointing out
that greatest radiation efficiency occurs with the maximum ratio of effective
radiation resistance to total antenna resistance. RJght he was, but several 'wrong
guesses' appeared in the same article. T aylor's insights undoubtedly will appear
elementary to the modern reader, but in late 1924, they were radically new!
And it took time for the true to sort from the false, and yet longer for amateur
practice to incorporate the true. Writing a year after Taylor, Keith Henney could
raise such questions as: "What is the proper wavelength, one half wavelength, or
more or fess? At which poifll along the antenna should the driver wire be attached?
What is the effect of using two or more verlical wires, each tuned to the transmitting
frequency? Should the wire be horizontal or ve11ical?" (RB, November, 1925). In
late 1926, G. Wm. Lang could observe that common amateur practice with re-.
spect to antennas consisted primarily of "putting them up purely by guesswork and
then resorting to series condensers and coils to get the antenna(s) into resonance
with the transmitter." In "The Length of rhe Hertz Antenna" (QST, October, 1926),
Lang's addition to the growing body of data included a fommla for calculating
t:he total wire length of the half-wave antenna, given as Feet c 1.46 x Wavelength
(meters). With this constant, a 40 meter (7.5 MHz) antenna calculates to 58.5ft,
slightly shorter than the modem dipole because the disrnbuted capacitance of the
counterpoise naturally lowered the resonant frequency. A few months earlier,
Benjamin S. Melton of General Electric Co. provided the first comprehensive
modem explanation of antenna theory and application, bringing together theory
and data and applying it to practice in his paper "Straightening Out the Anten-
na" (QST, August, 1926). He explained fundamental concepts such as the use of
the quarterwave radiator as the basic unit of antenna measurement, the current

37
 Chapter 2: Emergence of Modern Antenna Theory

and voltage distribution on the linear antenna for even and odd multiples of the
quarteiwave radiator, the feedline problems encountered with each type, and the
resistances to be expected. He provided a practical explanation of feed systems,
including the first appearance of the use of 600-0hm open-line inserted at the
midpoint of the halfwave dipole, and matched at the transmitter end of the line
by means of a 'transmatch'. Whitman's "Adjusting the Current Feed Hertz An-
tenna" appeared in December, 1927, followed by articles on "Matching the
Transmission Line to the Antenna" (Roberts, January, 1928), "Directional
Characteristics of Transmitting and Receiving Antennas" (Clapp & Chinn, Feb-
ruary, 1928), "Tests of a Method of Voltage Feeding the Antenna" (Fuchs, July,
1928), and "The Zepp" (Lamb, September, 1928). By this time, modem antenna
theory had pretty welJ emerged as far as the fundamentals are concerned. But
five years earlier when the amateurs began their exploration of the shortwaves,
the antenna was a mystery. That our QRP predecessors succeeded so
phenomenally is astonishing in view of the extremely limited understanding they
possessed in regard to antennas which, ultimately, are the key to QRP success!
We can now tum to the story of those early QRP pioneers, possessed with an
understanding of the obstacles which confronted them in their efforts to span
great distances with very low power, and we can appreciate their achievements
for what they were!

1921 Transmitter Circuit Shown by J.O. Smith (see page 23). The d.c.
power source consists of a generator driven by an a.c. motor. A key, mic-
rophone or buzzer across the grid circuit determined the mode of modula-
tion. The self-excited oscillator circuit used a series LC tank tapped at three
points for antenna, plate and grid connections. Taps were determined ex-
perimentally. Any change in antenna impedance caused a change in fre-
quency. The grid-leak resistor is to the left of the center tube.

38
 Chapter 3
QRP Pioneers On The Frontier
1923-24 Zurich R12 Sunspot Numbers: 6:8:24

" ... this type

of amateur sends 011t a little message baited with 10 waus, say,
and then listens wiJh beating hean for a response from the void... "
Dr. W.H. Eccles, F.R.S.
President, R.S.G.B.

The QRP spirit was abroad in amateur radio from the very beginning of the
vacuum tube era. In many countries, amateur radio was synonymous with QRP.
But in America, at least for a while, it was simply incorporated as the beginning
stage of the vast majority of newcomers' entry into the hobby. Of course, many
remained low power operators simply because they saw no need for higher
power. The common assumption then, however, was that the beginner would
'upgrade' as soon as he could, meaning, of course, that he would move into a
higher power bracket when he felt ready or when his financial situation per-
mitted. Then he would be able to experience the rewards of amateur radio to
their fullest extent. Entries in division reports in the 'Traffic Dept.' of QST during
the early 1920's reflect this attitude in remarks such as "60XC soon to improve
with a SO-watter ... 6CRS advanced to lOOw ... " Operating low power, in that
view, was merely an initial step, and the sooner ended, the better. Then, as now,
power set the boys apart from the men, at least in the opinion of th'ose who need
a great amount of power.
It took repons of phenomenal QRP accomplishments by foreign amateurs,
and devastating broadsides against the 'ether-busters' by QSTs Technical Editor
Robert S. Kruse (1XAM), to thrust QRP into the limelight as an important facet
of amateur radio. In Kruse's perspective, low power operation embodied the
ideals and attitudes essential to excellence in the radio amateur. And for several
years after Kruse modeled his New American Amateur upon the QRP operator,
QST continued to praise those ideals: knowledge in technicaJ matters, efficiency
in practice, and skill in operation. Conversely, QST continually derided the abuse
of power among American amateurs by coining a long list of derogatory epithets
for the high power type. Such names as 'watt- hog', 'ether-buster', 'tn'be of ampere
hounds', 'ampere-chaser', 'thW1der factory', 'watt bumer', and 'most miles per gal-
lon' flowed across the pages of QST, leaving little doubt as to the attitude of the
QST staff, and presumably the ARRL, to combat the developing dependence
upon 'brute power' by American amateurs in place of the ideals embodied in the
QRP operator and the New American Amateur. Indeed, the reputation of the
American amateur was at stake, and QST fought to bring him up to par with
amateurs in the rest of the world. QRP was publicized in the pages of QST
during the movement down into the shortwaves not merely as an interesting
sidelight of the real amateur radio hobby - it was publicized as a vital and neces-
sary lesson!
Judging from descriptions by Kruse and others, American amateurs appear to
have been divided into two groups. By far, the largest consisted of those who
operated at moderate and low power levels using UV201's, UV202's, and
UX210's at up to 60 watts input. However, the 'wealthy station owner' group, as
Kruse had delineated it, had become a prominent development on the scene, and
the attitude underlying the group's approach was disturbing to the ARRL and
the QST staff. It is little wonder that he and other staff writers attacked that at-
titude, for they saw two negative effects arising from it: the U.S. amateur band

39
 Chapter 3: The New American Amateur

was blanketed with incredibly powerful signals that were heard all over the world,
but their very strength precluded Americans from hearing weak DX signals and
establishing two-way contact, and furthennore, the resultant QRM level made
life difficult for the grassroots operator. Whether his assessment was accurate or
not, Kruse clearly identified the high power group with a lack of technical know-
how and operating skill. None of the high power operators had contributed any-
thing to the great acltievements of the day which were accomplished by operators
like Reinartz, who at most used a pair of SO-watt tubes at 150 watts input or so.
Kruse himself possessed a 600-watt capability. Presumably he was not simply
against high power, but against its abuse and the attitude which usually accom-
panied its abuse. A combination of reports, editorials, and articles published
between December, 1923, and August, 1924, provide valuable insights into the
situation to which Kruse reacted in proposing the New American Amateur. This
series included Kruse's "What Power Have You?", "Miles Per Watt ... A New
Efficiency Contest", and F. D. Bell's (z3AA) "World Record Broken", all of
which appeared together in the December, 1923, issue, an unmistakable indica-
tion that the QST staff was on the warpath; F. B. Cooke's "An Amazing World
Record", in the February, 1924, issue; Warner's 'Editorial' in the March, 1924,
issue; and finally, C.D. Maclurcan's (a2CM) report on his visit to America, in the
August, 1924, issue. From these items, we can piece together the situation which
gave rise to the QRP movement in the U.S.

I. The New American Amateur and ORP

"...his plate voltage was 6,000 and current 900 milliamps.
5.4 kilowatts plate input power!... "
When Kruse penned his New American Amateur article in early March, 1924
(probably), he was clearly alarmed by the great contrast between the sHpshod
high power attitude of many American amateurs and the remarkable achieve-
ments of foreign operators using QRP and basing their approach on the QRP
ideals of efficiency, knowledge, and skill. He had already attacked that American
attitude in the December issue when he instituted the station efficiency contest in
an effort to turn American amateu rs into the proper path. But the foreign
operators continued to achieve astounding successes, and Kruse apparently was
at the lintits of his patience. When that article, "That 'Station Efficiency Contest'
and the New American Amateur'', appeared in the May, 1924, issue, the above
concerns were very obvious in Kruse's opening:
American amateur radio, about six months ago, had settled down to thinking
that we knew it all now. A hard jolt was needed to cure us of this crazy idea.
Australia[n] a2CM administered the required jolt -- nothing that ever happened
to American Amateur radio has so roused it as those remm*able distance re-
cords that Maclurcan hung up. We had never done anything to compare with
that -- we very evidently did not know all about it.
He referred specifically to the QRP accomplishments of C.D. Maclurcan, which
had been featured in an article in the February, 1924, issue, which we will review
in detail below. For now, what is important is the assessment Kruse made of the
previous years of American amateur radio with respect to the harmful attitude
noted above. After posing the question: "if we had been beaten so badly there
must be a reason. What was the reason?'', he goes on to answer:
The answer is easy -- we had wasted years in t1ying to see how powe1ful we
could make our stations, and hadn't teamed much of any<.hing about radio
transmitters while doing it. Most of us had not given a thought to efficiency --
what did that matter as long as the meter went clear over to 6 amperes? Practi-
cally none of us paid the slightest attention to making the signals readable or
steady; no, the main idea was to make a noise.

40
 Chapter 3: The New American Amateur

Ironically, we are indebted to C.D. Maclurcan himself for the most detailed
picture of the U.S. amateur practice that Kruse attacked. During the winter of
1923-24, Maclurcan had sailed across the Pacific to the U.S. with one specific
purpose in mind: to discover why the signals of Australian and New Zealand
amateurs could not make the same trip via the ionosphere. The 'down under'
operators had been copying hundreds of American signals during the fall months,
and were perplexed at their .inability to establish two- way contact. The American
signals were a source of amazement to them, and in his note in the December,
1923, issue, F.D. Bell (z3AA) expressed his admiration thus: "Our hats are off to
you fellows, and it is our ambition to push our signals over to you some day, al-
though it will be a much harder job for us than you, owing to inferior reception
conditions in the U.S." As yet, Maclurcan had not discovered the truth behind
those signals from the U.S. The May, 1924, issue of the Australian magazine
Radio carried his report, which was reprinted by QST in August, 1924. The QST
writer introduced Maclurcan's report in unmistakable terms:
Well, fellows, the Australians have us sized up as a bunch of 'duds' when it
comes to sh01t-wave reception, despite the late rocket about low-loss tuners.
Three years ago we bragged about how Paul Godley went to England and
showed the British how to receive sho1t-wave signals. Now we can gti11 on the
other side of our face, for Messrs. Maclurcan and Davis, on their recent nip to
San Francisco aboard tire R.M.S. Tahiti, have shown us up badly by copying,
while the ship lay at anchor in San Francisco Bay, the signals of both Mr. Mac-
lwr;an 's 8-watt and his JOO-watt IJunsmifter at Sydney, Austmlia.
Maclurcan's report expressed his amazement at the practices of American
amateurs in several respects, but the greatest surprise was directed at their power
attitude:
We were astonished to team of the amount of power they (Amelicans) put into
their tubes. They do not rate their power as we do, by the actual plate input, but
according to what power the manufacturer of the tube rates it. For instance, we
visited the station of 6AWT in San Francisco. He employs a single 250-watt
valve [tube]. His power is there/ore described at 250 walls. But his plate voltage
was 6,000 and cummt 900 milliamps. 5.4 kilowatts plate input power! We were
told that 6KA's power was ten ki/owa/ls. If so, no wonder we hear him in
Australia!
At long last, the perplexing puzzle was solved, much to the embarassment of
American amateur radio. But for Maclurcan and his colleagues, the solution
resulted only in greater frustration than that which had sent him across the Pa-
cific, armed with receiving gear and schedules ro determine if the Aussie stations,
which "were known to be very efficient" and presumed to be putting "power in
the aerial" equivalent to the Yanks, were actually producing readable signals in
the U.S. Maclurcan and Davis not only copied the Aussie stations, most of which
were low power, all the way across the Pacific, but actuaUy copied the 8-watt
signal from a2CM. Although U.S. amateurs had been alerted to the test
schedule, none succeeded in hearing the same signals that the Aussie visitors did!
Maclurcan's description of band conditions and operating skills is revealing:
"Now, the amateur over there (U.S.) has a great deal with which to put up. The
QRM at amateur wavelengths is, at all times, indesctibable. At the same time, they
are not as used to receiving weak signals as we are ... They have all the power they
need to cover America ... " It is not surprising that ORM resulted when such
powers as Maclurcan discovered were being used. No doubt Kruse attacked the
same problem. But the real disappointment to Maclurcan was the primitive re-
ceiving abilities of American amateurs in contrast to the Aussies. Having only
recently received the right to transmit, the Aussies had concentrated upon receiv-
ing equipment and skills before permission was granted. "Hence we are able to

41
 Chapter 3: The New American Amateur

successfuUy handle tuned radio frequency amplification which the Yanks consider
of very little more use than the ordinary regenerative detector." Maclurcan's
prognostication for successful two-way communication with the U.S. was espe-
cially grim: "I am quite convinced that there is little hope of working with the
U.SA. as things are at present." He had despaired of success, in short. Since the
Aussies were limited to only moderate power levels of 100 watts in a few special
cases, and 10 watts for the most part, Maclurcan concluded "we must depend
upon increased efficiency for the louder signals" as well as increased flexibility ln
transmitter circuits. And indeed, Maclurcan's despair was reflected in the fact
that Aussies turned their ears elsewhere, establ.ishing two-way communications at
moderate and low power levels with England as well as South American stations
before the U.S. amateurs were up to the challenge of receiving weak signals.
Small wonder, then, that Kruse and his colleagues were up in arms! One won-
ders whether Kruse had heard of Maclurcan's viewpoint at the time he an-
nounced the New American Amateur; regardless of whether or not he did, he
was unequivocal about the changes that had to be executed in the U.S. in that
announcement:
We said at the head of this mticle that a lot of foolish things had passed out of
amateur radio (in the U.S.). Now, it is the turn of the 'ether buster', the 'watt
bumer', and the lad whose ideal in life is to wreck the antenna ammeter! In
place of this pest, we will have the New American Amateur, whose ideal is not
a big station, but a good station, who does not care how Jar Iris station reaches
but who will t1y to make it pe1fonn as pe1fectly as possible ... in the f11111re, the
question will be -- as the ad men say -- 'Not how much, but how good.'
Admittedly, this is strong stuff for the Technical Editor of QST to be voicing, but
in those early days, the ARRL fought not only for increased allocations, but
against ignorance and abuses of power even if it meant abusively calling the "big
guns" derogatory names and hurting their feelings! High power caused a problem
and it had to be eradicated! .Editorials and editorial comments constantly ap-
peared throughout the 1920's denouncing discreditable amateur practices, en-
couraging common sense, and inspiring amateurs to aspire to excellence. In the
early days we are describing, for example, K.B. Warner, Editor of QST, noted in
the March, 1924, 'Editorial' that with the passing of spark days, when range was
directly proportional to power, the old 'traffic network' was perhaps no longer
needed, for: "today, with C. W, all that is changed, and the '5-wauer' gets as many
cards (QSL~~) from the opposite coast as the big fellow with the two 250's (250-
watters). Power doesn't cut much ice any more. The 5-watter gets in all the tests
and often as not grabs the bacon from his big brothers and goes home with it."
Warner's implication was clear: high power is unnecessary when a competent
operator with low power can "steal the bacon!" And to be sure, staff writers con-
tinually emphasized the participation of moderate and low power operators in
the great DX achievements chronicled in QST during this period. The 5-watter
could be run up to 40 watts input, but it still meant a QRP rig in the company of
the 50- and 250-watters!

II. Kruse Launches the QRP Movement

" ...doesn't more credit belong to the man who hauls a signal fifty miles per watt
than to the one who has to use greater power ID haul them only 25 miles per watt?"
Did Kruse intend the New American Amateur to be specifically seen as a
QRP operator? This is a fascinating possibility. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the
New American Amateur embodied the spirit of the QRP operator and the ideals
of QRP operation. Then, too, the context of his appearance seems deliberately
calculated to make him seem a QRP type. The initial groundwork for his ap-
pearance was established in Kruse's announcement of the station efficiency con-

42
 Chapter 3: Kruse Launches the QRP Movement

test in ''Miles Per Warr" in the December, 1923, issue, and the actual announce-
ment of the New American Amateur came in combination with the first pub-
lished results of that contest in the May, 1924 article. As we'll see below, those
results inexplicably included two contacts by a 510-watt station resulting in 'miles
per watt' ratios of 4.5 and 6.3! Efficiency? Achievement? By any stretch of the
imagination? Hardly! Kruse was up to something. And that something had to be
deliberately embarassing the 'watt-burners' by placing their 'achievements' in
direct comparison with those of low power operators, with obvious implications.
Looking back at the initial announcement of the efficiency contest, Kruse's
strategy in listing those two contacts seems quite clear.
The 'Station Efficiency Contest' - the Jim officially sanctioned QIU' activity in
U.S. amateur history - was announced in the December, 1923, issue with a sub-
title that reveals the underlying conception: "Miles Per Wall: An Argument For
The Small Set and For Intelligence In Place of flmte Forr;;e; Also a New Ef]iciency
Contest". In other words, the use of low power was inextricably linked with intel-
ligence and diametrically opposite to high power. The article and the contest
were occasioned, it appears, by two factors: first, there was Kruse's own revulsion
toward the power abuse practices and the meaningless method used by U.S.
amateurs in rating their transmitter powers; and second, there was an apparent
ground swell of protest from the grassroots American amateur who, as notes in
many subsequent articles indicate, operated low power. The importance of the
second factor is made clear by the editorial heading precedi11g the text of Kruse's
article, where we learn that "for the past six months there has been QJ1 increasing
stream of tellers from owners of small stations protesting that it is unfair to compare
their work with that of the wealthy station owner who has anything from a quartet
of 50-watt tubes to a trio of 250-watt tubes." Quite obviously, if we are to judge
from the observations by Maclurcan in the previous section, tarnished prestige
and injured pride arising from unequal comparisons were not the only factors
motivating the 'stream of letters'. It was probably quite difficult for the moderate
and low power operator to hold his own on the amateur band, especiaUy in view
of the fact that everyone used regenerative detectors which have the annoying
operating characteristic or being pulled onto the frequency of an extremely strong
station within a certain distance of the operating frequency, or at best, suffering
severe cross-modulation instead. With 5- and 10-KW stations running loose on
the bands, both problems probably were common.
In his "argument ... for intelligence", Kruse called for 'fair play' in the
American tradition, proposing that amateurs adopt as a standard of comparison
the ratio of miles covered to watts input, or the 'miles per watt' standard. Future
records should be based only upon accurate measurements or actual input power,
and not upon the power rating of the tube used. After drawing a rather elaborate
analogy between automobiles [Ford 'f/iwer' Model-T vs Pierce Arrow] and radios
(low vs high power] with respect to fuel efficiency, Kruse argued:
It's the same way with the radio set; doesn't more credit belong to the man who
hauls signals fifty miles per watt than to the one who has to use greater power to
haul them only 25 miles per watt? What if man number two does have a stable
full of 'quarter- kilowatt' tubes aJ1d a young central station [i.e., like the RCA
100kW 'central station' of world-wide fame], what if his bnlfe power does let him
cover 4000 miles, isn't he still inferior to the other maJ1 who handled his power
correctly and went twice as far per watt?
Kruse picked his words carefully to make a deliberate point usually; in this in-
stance, note that he did not state the comparison between the two operators in
terms such as "isn't the achievement of man two inferior to that of man one." He
made it a comparison of the worth of each individual personally: "isn't he still
inferior to the other man!" That is what he meant! Today, this would be con-

43
 Chapter 3: Kruse's 'Station Efficiency Contest'

sidered in poor taste; but bear in mind that the 'muckrakers' wrote during the
same period as Kruse, and they didn't mince terms. (Of course, in our modern
sophistication, we realize that personal superiority is not implied in comparing a
QRP operator who has QSL'd 301 countries with one watt output to another who
has QSL'd 325 'With a KW.) All that Kruse asked for was fairness in the com-
parisons: "Give the man with the radio flivver [i.e., low power transmitter) a square
deal -- let him play the game on even tenns -- and your ether buster will have to be
improved a great deal to show up as well as the little 'pickle bottle set'." [This term
refers to homebrew transmitters which used coils wound on a hexagonal pickle
bottle form, and then removed for insertion into the transmitter.] The challenge
to American amateurs to improve efficiency is advanced in the announcement of
the station efficiency contest, the results of which were promised for a future
issue.
The 'Station Efficiency Contest' had no specific time period - supposedly,
entries were to be submitted whenever operators established contact at what they
considered a noteworthy distance per a given power. However, Kruse probably
had a strategic reason for the open-ended time period. He had stuck his neck on
the line, and could avoid embarassment if the contest did not produce results.
But it did! In many essential respects, Kruse's announcement parallels the re-
quests for experimentation published in the early issues of The Milliwatt back in
1970. QRP operation is not an end in itself, but a means toward the end of learn-
ing more about propagation phenonema, especially in regard to the power vs.
distance dimension. Kruse noted: "The real acid test of a set isn't 'I-low far have
you reached?' but 'How far do you work consistently?' and the best way of deter-
mining the consistent range of a set is daylight work. The Technical Editor would
like to publish some records along this line -- let us know what work you have done
in watts per mile. We will prefer daylight work because tlzaJ's a thing m ost of us
don't know much abour, but night records are interesting too." As we noted in
Chapter 2, the official amateur allocation at this time was 150-200 meters, but
apparently quite a bit of activity was occurring below 200 meters. Kruse and
others were well aware of the performance of amateur sets during night hours,
and daylight propagation was the unknown dimension. The reports were to fol-
low a specific format which included 12 items: station call, address, owner,
operator on duty, date(s), station(s) worked, exact time of beginning and ending
of contact, traffic texts in detail if passed, watts input to the plate of the tube,
instruments used to measure input (including complete name-plate details),
wavelength of contact, and tubes used. The detailed list is very similar to that
requested in The Milliwau 'Operating Reports,' and it is interesting to note that a
half-century after Kruse initiated the QRP movement, The Milliwatt resurrected
that movement in precisely the same terms as he used! And this occurred without
any knowledge of Kruse's efforts! The QRP spirit inspires the radio amateur to
search for the same answers to the mystery of radio in any era.
Regardless of time period, an operator who attempts to operate low power
will discover, through his own experience, exactly the same factors as being essen-
tial to success, and he wiU be curious about the same essential phenomena. The
QRP operator's power disadvantage forces him to isolate those factors in order
to achieve success. In any event, Kruse would probably be gratified to learn that
the ideals he attempted to ingrain in American amateur radio over a half-century
ago have experienced an unprecedented blossoming during the past decade, and
that the operators who follow those ideals are growing into a very significant
portion of amateur radio as the years move along.

Ill. QRP Exploits in 1924: U.S. Amateurs Outdone

" ...those remarkable distance records that Maclurcan /lung up..."

44
 Chapter 3: 1923 Aussie World Record on QRP - a2DS-z4AA

1924 was a year of fabulous achievements by radio amateurs in their quest to

bridge oceans and establish two-way communication with their foreign counter-
parts. Feature articles appeared regularly in QST detailing those accomplish-
ments, and low power operators received their share of the publicity. The
December, 1923, issue set the groundwork not only in regard to Kruse's "Miles
Per Watt" article, but also because of an announcement in the "International
Amateur Radio" (later the IARU) section which was headed by the claim
"World's Record Broken". In the report, F.D. Bell (z4AA) provided a detailed
report of the American stations that had been received by Aussie and Zealander
operators, and paid American amateurs that mistaken compliment that was
quoted earlier ("Our hats are off to you ... "). As yet, Maclurcan had not returned
from his American visit with the truth. Bell interrupted his summary report to
detail the world record, and the account is short enough to quote in toto:

World's Record Broken

On their ten watts input some of the Australians come in swprisingly QSA 011er
here (New Zealand), so loudly in fact that it occwred to me that it would be
possible to receive them on much lower power. Accordingly, I got into touch
with Mr. Jack Davis, a2DS, Sydney, whose ten-watt ether-buster provides us
with some of the loudest signals that we receive from Australia. After several
nights we have what we claim to be a real wodd's record for low power valve
[i.e., vacuum tube) transmission, namely --
1200 MILES ON LESS THAN ONE WATT C. W.!
A few extracts from tire tail end of my log ofthe night ofAug. 17th (1923), {R12
Smoothed Sunspot Nr: 5!J tell the story. Mr. Davis had just succeeded in getting
speech and key over to me with 1.4 watts input to his set, using twenty milliam-
peres at seventy volts on the plale of his single jive-watt (input rating) B.T.H.
fr(]Jlsmitting valve.
-- 4AA to 2DS: 'QRP 10 one watt and ask a question.'
-- 2DS to 4AA: 'WI go as low as I can. QRP nw. Sec.'
-- (Called up again and asked on key) 'What is ur power?'
-- 4AA to 2DS: 'My power forty five watts. Wat's urs?'
-- 2DS to 4AA: 'LESS THAN ONE WATT!'
At this stage Mr. Davis was using only sixty-five volts on the plate. The receiver
here employed two stages of tuned high-frequency amplification and a two-step
audio. The aerial was a seventy-foot twin cage.
This QRP test took place on 1250 kHz, where the antenna noted was very
short for the frequency, as we've discussed in the previous chapter. By today's
standards, 1200 miles per watt seems totally un-newsworthy. But even today, 1200
m.p.w. on 160 meters raises eyebrows, especially with less than one watt input to
a 70ft antenna! To put the contact in perspective, the a2DS-z4AA contact is
equivalent to an under-one watt station in Pittsburgh working South Dakota in
the middle of the a.m. broadcast band using nothing more than an 80 meter quar-
terwave vertical with at best three radials! Try it sometime! Further, voice com-
munication was established at the 1.4 watt input level! However, this contact was
not the first that had been reported in the IARU section. In the August, 1923,
issue, the report from Australia noted that Maclurcan, a2CM, had frequently
bridged the 1400-mile distance using 16 watts input. The 'down-under' operators
were limited to low power levels, and their work consequently led them to an
emphasis on QRP techniques and principles.
That was revealed clearly in the article about a2CM's phenomenal records
published in the February, 1924, issue, in "An Amazing World's Record:
Australian Station Sets New Standards for Amateurs," by F. Basile Cooke,
F.RA.S., Vice-President of the Australian Radio Relay League. This was the

45
 Chapter 3: MacC/urcan's (a2CM) 1923 QRP Records - 375,000 M.P.W.!

QRP bomb that provided the "jolt" mentioned by Kruse that was necessary to
shock American amateurs from their lethargic reliance upon high power. The
power restriction was cited as a major factor in the work by ~2CM and other
Aussies: "Tile experimenters in Australia, especially in the cities, are only allowed
10 watts of power, consequently great allention has been given to reaching long
distances with a minimum ofpowe1: Mr. C.D. Maclurcan (a2CM), of Sydney, is so
far the leader in this wo1x." The "new standards" cited in the editorial heading
refer not merely to a2CM's distance records, but to the ideals wh.ich Kruse had
been promoting. We learn ofMaclurcan's explanation for h.i.s work: "Mr. Maclur-
can stated that he considered his success entirely due to an absolute regard for
detail. He has an ideal site for his station and has very carefully designed his
aerial and all component parts, there are no loose wires or poor contacts, and
every part of his gear has been thoroughly measured and tested." His regard for
detail is evidenced in the fact that, following the record-breaking tests, Maclurcan
enlisted the services of an expert (presumably a lab technician) to verify the ac-
curacy of the instruments used to monitor power during the tests to within 1%.
Maclurcan wished to leave no doubt as to the veracity of his claims, and his ap-
proach exhibits the care of the scientiric investigator.
Maclurcan engaged in several tests prior to establishing the ultimate record.
At first, he worked the 500 mile path between Sydney and Melbourne, following
procedures that will be familiar to modem QRP operators:
Mr. Macfurcan staited up on Monday, September 24th [1923], at 5 P.M., while
there was still an h our of daylight, and called a3JU (Mr. Hult of Melboume at
500 miles). Arrangements had previously been made for conducting low power
tests, a code letter to be used for each reduction in power. The code letters were
laiown only to Mt: Macfurcan and it might be mentioned that Mr. Hull was not
aware of the power being used. Ajler establishing connection Mt: Macfurr:an
commenced reducing power and sent the following test on 240 meters.
The test included the following code-letter vs. power input levels: 7.8w: 'F',
4.32w: 'K', 2.2w: 'R' (not copied by 3JU), 0.48w: 'V', 0.24w: 'L', and 0.078w: 'X'.
At the lowest power level, a miles per watt record of 6410 had been ac-
complished. Maclurcan had no witnesses to this first test, so he arranged for
another test the following day, at wl1ich Mr. J.S. Barling was present to verify all
measurements and a3JU's reception of the code letter for each power level.
During this test, reception was accomplished down to 0.12 watt input, but a 2 kW
spark station two miles from a3JU QRM'd the final attempt at 0.044 watts. But
the real world record test occurred without pre-arrangement, as Cooke related:

1500 Mile Tests

On the following Wednesday Mr. Maclurcan called Mr. Frank Bell (z4AA) of
Waihemo, Shag Valley, New Zealand (1500 miles over land and water), who
replied and asked 2CM to conduct a low power test with him then and there.
After chatting for half an hour (with an input of about 8 wattsl!-Ed.) the test
commenced at 9:30 P.M. Conditions for receiving in New Zealand were good.
(By American standards they were more nearly miraculous!!-- Ed.)
The editorial comments were probably by Kruse. The drama unfolds as a2CM
lowered power through several levels:
The first test went out at 175 volts with a plate cummt of 4 mi/amps., making a
power input of 0. 7 watts. a4AA replied "QSA [i.e., 'I read you'] QRP give plate
cunrmt and voltage." The power was then reduced to 0.04 walls input to tile
plate. (40 volts and 1 mil-amp.) Again a4AA thot unnecessarily great power was
being used. The next test was at 20 volts, absorbing 0.5 mi/amp. This also did
not seem to satisfy a4AA who not only received the code letter but received and
repeated whole sentences.

46
 Chapter 3: MacC/urcan's (a2CM) 1923 QRP Records - 375,000 M.P.W.!

As it was past midnight in New Zealand and nearly that in Sydney, only one
fwther test was agreed to. Mr: Maclurcan this time determined to satisfy even
Mr. Bell, so he reduced Iris plate voltage to 15, thereby securing a plate cwrent
of .25 mi/amp. The input was only 0.004 watts.
This we can understand in our solid-state age - 15 volts at 0.25 milliampere
sounds like a weak transistor! Even this level did not establish the lower limits of
Bell's receiving capabilities, for he repeated a2CM's message back to him, and
then sent: "OK QSA sigs strong and steady throughout. Another world's record
gone west. Congratulations OM GM Bell." Presumably BeU and Maclurcan were
a bit excited, but the typical British Empire reserve shows through even in
Cooke's account. The next morning, Maclurcan had one 'Mr. Joseph' verify the
accuracy of the meters used to measure the input power. The Editor of QST
accepted the verification: "There is no doubt about this--it absolutely happened."
The phenomenal record of 375,000 miles per watt would be remarkable even today
if accomplished on present-day bands such as 10 meters using a good beam! But
it took place not on 10 meters, but on 240 meters - 1,250 kHz!
The QRP test, unbeknownst to Maclurcan, however, was not quite over. The
next day a telegram arrived from one 'Mr. Odjers' tersely notifying Maclurcan:
"Heard your lowest power last night, writing. Odjers. Cluvters Towers,
Queensland." Charters Towers was located 1400 miles north of Sydney! Odjers'
follow-up letter repeated the complete log of transmissions and messages from
a2CM to z4M ! The reception record via Odjers represents a mere 350,000 miles
per watt! A double record in one sitting. Understandably, Maclurcan became a
QRP hero in the eyes of the world as news spread about the achievement. He
remains in that position even now, as readers will undoubtedly agree.
C.D. Maclurcan (a2CM) In his station. QST, May, 1934, caption read: "this station
did much stunning DX ... a2CM was noted also for extraordinary transmission over
distances up to 1500 miles with a power of a few hundreths of a watt." The Twenty
Years of Amateur Radio' text Included it as one of only three 'on the air' triumphs:
"In Australia, 2C~ worked 1500 miles to New Zealand wi~~ o.oot.watt."

Maclurcan's antenna system provided the critical factor in his success. It was
relatively large according to American standards, consisting of the 'T' type with a
horizontal section of lOOft, of 4ft diameter cage construction, with an 80ft vertical
cage tapering from 12 inches to 4 inches. The counterpoise was 7ft above the
ground, of an unspecified number of wires, positioned as our present day radials
are and occupying a diameter of lOOft. The antenna resistance was 8.7 Ohms, a
fair indication that the radial system was probably functioning as a true
groundplane. Inspired by Maclurcan's successes, the local radio club conducted
some experiments to determine the lowest power at which the QRP transmitter
could be made to oscillate, arriving at a final figure of 320 microwatts. Further
QRP tests were planned in view of the fact that several locals at distances of up
to 12 miles copied the oscillator at the 320 microwatt input level. No report ap-

47
 Chapter 3: American QRP'rs Enter the Battle

pears of any further tests in QST. Perhaps they are chronicled in publications of
the Australian Radio Relay League of the time. Further research is needed in
that area.
IV. American QRP'rs Enter the Battle
" ... there is no end of interest in the business of working better distances with low power... '·'
But to return to our subject, it is not difficult to understand why Kruse could
term Maclurcan's accomplishments a "jolt" to American amateur radio. At that
time, patriotism was high - the U.S. entry into WWI had 'saved the world for
democracy' and the U.S. had an arrogant attitude about its position as 'No.l' in
everything. Clearly, it was 'No.l' in everything except the technical knowledge
and skill required for the accomplishment of such QRP feats as a2CM had done.
In the eyes of any decent American, that was an intolerable situation, and the
ARRL let its members know that to be the case. In effect, QRP not only pro-
vided a vehicle for the principles and ideals that contnbute to amateur excel-
lence, it provided a competitive focal point through which American talents could
be measured against those possessed by amateurs in the rest of the world.
From then on, QST reports of great DX achievements gave credit to
moderate and low power stations, singling them out among the high power sta-
tions for special mention. For example, i.n the same issue that the a2CM achieve-
ment appeared (February, 1924), in the lengthy summary "The Progress of
Transatlantic Amateur Communication", attention was drawn to the work of
American 2AWS: ''Alt the low-power records go to Porter of 2AWS, Freeport, NY,
who did the job with two '5-watters' with 0.8 amps antenna cummt: tie that!" 2AWS
is one of nine Americans credited with the transatlantic feat . Another individual
was singled out for special mention: "2AGB has the record at this writing for the
greatest number of EU worked, having communicated with f8AB, fBBF, g2SH,
g20D, and nPC11 (Netherlands). All of this was done with one 50-watter with a
hole in the plate, pulling 1 lonely ampere in the antenna at 118 meters." While both
2AWS and 2AGB could have been running up to about 100 watts input, the point
is that the staff writer treated them as low power operators, and the antenna
cu.rrents mentioned would definitely imply real low power in the eyes of the 'watt
burners'. An interesting sidelight is the staff writer's excitement that two-ways
had been established across the Atlantic by nine Americans, and he apostroph-
ized: "Oh! For the pen of a Wells, to picture the possibilities opened to amateur
radio on both sides of the Atlantic, now that we are QSO!" In any event, two of
the nine operators were presented as low power types.
In the IARU report, we find the typical emphasis upon QRP in DX quarters
when it is noted that Sweden had five licensed amateurs in operation "and at
least two of these are in touch with Britain on very low powers. SMZP has
worked g2KF and SMZZ has changed signals with g2XG, the former using lOw,
the latter 20w." For the remainder of the decade, the IARU report would con-
tinue to present a picture of foreign amateur activity exhibiting a fairly even
balance between real low power operators and higher power types. We will turn
later to those reports because the information included in them was of high inter-
est to the American DX'er, and what he met in those reports i.ncluded many
QRP achievements and, overall, fabulous DX work at low and moderate power
levels. It was a picture that backed up Kruse's criticism of the abuse of high
power in America.
With respect to the accomplishments of American QRP operators, the first
publication of results from the station efficiency contest appeared in the May,
1924, issue, along with the introduction of the New American Amateur. The list
of 22 contacts by 17 stations placed the American operator in a rather inferior
stance following the exploits of Maclurcan, and Kruse reminded his readers of
those exploits. The list is a curious conglomeration. To add insult to the injury

48
 Chapter 3: May, 1924 Station Efficiency Contest Results

inflicted by a2CM to American pride, the highest miles per watt record on the list
was attained not by an American, but by Canadian c3NI, of Ft. William, ONT,
who worked u4XC of Atlanta, GA, with an input of 0.36 watt over a distance of
750 miles, for a record of 2080 miles per watt.

Station Efficiency Contest Results. (QST, May, 1924)

Call QTH QSO'd OTH Date Miles Watts M.P.W.
9CNY Kan. 9EL Kan. 1/12 20 .062 319
9BOP Ind. 4EB Ga 1/3 500 28 17.8
9BOP Ind. 9CLW Kan. 2/29 500 28 17.8
BCF Mich. 3JJ D.C. 12/3 400 34.5 11.6
40 Y P.R. 3800 N.J. 12/9 1500 ? ?
3Nf Ont. 4XC Ga. ? 750 0.36 2080
c1BQ N.S. g20D Englnd ? 3000 20 150
c1BQ N.S. c3BQ Ont. ? 1000 0.8 1250
c3BQ Ont. c1BQ N.S. ? 1000 1.4 711
c9BL N.S. c2BN Que. 29 700 1.25 560
9AHH la. 9DES Kan. 127 80 0.6 133
5ZK La. BDWK Mo. 12/30 400 67.5 5.9
5AHD Okla. ? ? ? 400 50 8
BHJ N.Y. 1BVB R.I. 11/9 450 0.6 750
9AHH Minn. 9DQU Ill. 7/8 400 0.51 782
6AWS Cal. 7MN Alaska ? 1000 16 62.5
6AWS Cal. 6CEU Hawaii ? 2200 16 130
6AWS Cal. 8BDZ W.Va. ? 1300 16 81.2
7AIB Wash. WNP* ? ? ? 35 74
3SM Pa. # ? ? 6500 165 39.4
5HT Tex. 7MN Alaska 12/28 2270 510 4.5
5HT Tex. 6CEU Hawaii 12/26 3200 510 6.3
*Greenland; # Pacffic Ocean
Kruse's publication of this collection of contacts is puzzling when one con-
siders that the point of the efficiency contest is a 'good station' rather than a 'big
one'. From an editorial viewpoint, the list is seriously flawed if it is supposed to
actually make that point. For example, of the 12 American stations listed, two
operated in excess of 100 watts, and one of those is shown with an input of a
half-kilowatt! 5HT's records at 510 watts input represent 4.5 and 6.3 miles per watt,
hardly a model of efficiency! Of the remaining Americans, four operated between
28-68 watts (9BOP, BCF, 5ZK, and 7AIB), while 6AWS showed 16 watts, leaving
three operating at the below-one watt level: 9CMY, 9AHH, and BHJ. The three
had records showing a spread from 133-782 miles per watt. The moderate power
group showed records considerably under 100 m.p.w. while the 510 watt station,
as noted, recorded 4.5 and 6.3 m.p.w. One is tempted to speculate that Kruse
deliberately included the moderate and high power contacts to drive home the
point he made in the December, 1923, announcement of the contest: "give the
man with the flivver a square deal ... and your ether-buster will have to be improved
a great deal to show up as well!" Indeed, the list is as subtle as a sledgehammer
blow! Interestingly, Kruse made absolutely no comment on the results shown in
the list, other t han to point out that 13 other entries were omitted because of lack
of data or use of an illegal wavelength! It seems unlikely that Kruse would pass
up the opportunity to comment - unless the point was absolutely clear from the
list itself!
Another intersting aspect of the list is the Canadian listing, showing four
genuine under-two watt contacts with a m.p.w. spread of 560-2080. Kruse made
no comment upon the work of these individuals who top rhe records of all but

49
 Chapter 3: W.H. Eccles' QRP'r as Pioneer

two of the Americans. Another point being made subtly? Finally, the inclusion of
the 40Y- 4RJ Puerto Rico to New Jersey contact adds another layer of mystery.
No data was included in the entry, the very reason cited by Kruse for excluding 13
other entries. His 'rules' for including contacts obviously were not consistently
applied. The contact is tantalising as a QRP achievement, since the plate voltage
is shown as 60 volts and the distance as 1500 miles. At this voltage level, the
UV201-A could be expected to develop an input of less than one watt; if this
were the case, the contact would clearly establish the record for the list. If the list
were re-arranged in order from highest to lowest, it would begin with the Puerto
Rican station, proceed through the Canadians, and then cover the Americans.
In addition to announcing the New American Amateur, the article contained
'operating hints' from the entrants, as summarised by Kruse. He noted: "At least
half the men submitting logs say that their success with low power [ 5 10 watts?] is
due mainly to a good tone and a steady wave [i.e., stable frequency] secured by
running the tubes conservatively." With respect to operating technique, he noted:
"Four of the men also point out that in low power work, it is particularly neces-
sary to call in an orderly fashion. No one will listen to a weak signal that makes
164 calls (i.e., general 'CO' ca/ls) before signing." The QRP operator aimed at
making contact, unlike the 'plague' of the age, namely the 'CQ hound' whose
only objective was to be heard by listeners and who was ridiculed in the 'Calls
Heard' and 'Correspondence' sections in QST. Kruse invited further participation
and closed by noting that "and certainly there is no end of interest in the business
of working better distances with low power." Amen, brother! Even though QRP
would fade from the public view in 1926 or so, the grassroots operators would
continue to follow that approach throughout the years.

V. The Emergence of the QRP Operator

"...the excellent work sluiwn above should be a reproach
to those hams that need inputs of a 1000 wattS... "
Kruse's efforts at instilling the principles associated with successful low power
operation were supplemented by others. Ironically, Kruse was outdone in ad-
vancing the QRP operator as a pioneer in the vanguard of amateur exploration
and discovery by a Britisher, Dr. W .H. Eccles, F.R.S., a well-known scientist who
happened to be the president of a predominantly QRP organization (The Radio
Society of Great Britain), for amateurs in England were limited, like their 'down
under' counterparts, to powers of 10 watts input and less. Special licenses were
required for higher powers, and apparently these were difficult to obtain. English
amateurs, as a result, focused upon efficiency. In mid-1924, Dr. Eccles addressed
the R.S.G.B. annual convention on the subject of "The Importance of the Radio
Amateur", and th.is speech was published in the U.S. in the November, 1924,
issue of Radio Broadcast.
Between the May publication of the results of the efficiency contest and the
appearance of Dr. Eccles' address, QRP had received no feature space. But
through the deft and subtle strokes of Dr. Eccles' pen, the QRP operator, British
style, emerged in all his nobility; Eccles, although a scientist by trade, had an
overpowering sense of the human dimension of the low power experience. The
individual whom he chose to support his argument in favor of the continued ex-
istence of amateur radio in England embodied the finest qualities of the human
spirit. And the dimension of the radio experience that he chose to emphasize was
that human dimension represented by the lone QRP operator challenging the
limits of Nature. Would that we could sit attentively and Listen as Dr. Eccles
spoke his description:
This type of amateur sits in his laboratory and sends out a little message baited
with 10 watts, say, and then listens with beating /ze(lf1 for a response from the

50
 Chapter 3: W.H. Eccles' QRP'r as Pioneer

void. Usually his cry is i11 vain. He draws a bla11k. But sometimes lie hears,
mixed up with his hea11 throbs, a reply from another 'brass pounder' calling him
by his sign letters. What a thlilf! A11d when the response is faint and seems to
come from very far away, with what excitement does he stroggle to maintain
touch? I can imagine the anxiety and enthusiasm with which he deciphers the
Morse, say, of an Amelica11 amateur, is overpoweri11g; and I can imagine the
despair with which he battles against the demons offading and interference...
It is edifying that, back at the very beginning of the QRP movement, Eccles could
so accurately and precisely capture the essence of the QRP experience, describ-
ing it almost as Shakespeare would. No one could have done so in such terms -
unless he himself were a QRP operator. Dr. Eccles must have been that type of
amateur! Without distinguishing between the low power and high power
operators, he went on to clarify the contribution to science and commerce made
by amateur DX work:
As another example of the utility of this DX work, consider the rece11t results
achieved by a small band of private workers who, during th e last molllh or so,
have been trying to fi11d lanes under the Heaviside layer, across the Atlantic.
You all know the success which has been attained with short waves throughout
an unexpected number of ho11,y in the twenty-/our. I do not doubt that if these
amateurs had left the problem alone we should to-day be ignorant of its pos-
sibility. It might have been many years before these facts would have been re-
vealed in the ordinary course of things. The feat is not an easy one.
DX work, furthermore, contributes valuable skill and experience to operators
who potentially are a resource for military communications operations: "It
teaches a wonderful sf...-ill in manipulation, and it screws up the efficiency of the
apparatus and the man to the highest pitch. The DX man, striving to get across
enonnous distances with mi111J1e power, becomes far more expert than the profes-
sional operator." This comment comes in the context of the QRP operator. For
Eccles, the human drama of the lone individual challenging Nature's limits,
armed only with 'minute power' and infinite patience and skill, is the essence of
the amateur experience that has contributed so profoundedly to the advancement
of science. And that individual was the QRP operator! Small wonder that, with
an individual such as Dr. Eccles at the helm, the RSGB would spawn The QRP
Transmitters Society of Britain a few short years later.
While Dr. Eccles' address was not published until November, 1924, and in a
magazine other than QST, it seems probable that his sentiments were fairly well-
known among readers of Radio Broadcast which catered to the broadcasting
industry and the broadcast listening hobby group. It was from this group that
many new amateurs emerged, and undoubtedly Dr. Eccles' portrait influenced
their concept of the radio amateur. Two months earlier, though, QSTpublished a
beginner's article in which the construction of "A Five Watt Sending Set for $25"
was described. The article is something of a classic in that it not only provides
circuitry, but also basic explanations to the beginner of the principles underlying
every aspect of getting started in amateur radio. The article conditioned the new-
comer to the viability of the QRP approach in the editorial heading: "Even in.
these days of 250-watt tubes and big motor generator sets there are a large number
of amateurs whose limitfinancially speaking, is a lone '5-watter'. Here is a set using
one 5-watt tube that is not expensive to build, yet it includes the latest kinks in
amateur C. W. practice. This set will make a fine companion to your '/ow-loss'
tuner." This type of heading would continue to introduce construction articles in
QST directed at newcomers ever after. ·
The attitude and approach described by H.F. Mason is representative of then
current grassroots practice among U.S. amateurs. The key to this approach is
homebrewing to cut expenses. In justifying this approach, Mason alluded to a

51
 Chapter 3: Mason's '5-Watt Sending Set'

very familiar situation in which a son requests financial assistance from a father,
who responds: "How much is this thing going to cost?" It provides the youth with
options for closing the deal with dad: "Well, that all depends. You can buy all
the fixin's and do-gadjits and make a set that costs a couple of hundred dollars
and still have only a 5-watt set, or you can buy a few things, make the rest of the
parts yoursell, hook 'em up in a good circuit, and talk to amateurs several
hundred miles away for $25. The latter sounds the best." Mason wasn't joking
about homebrewing 'the rest of the parts'. QST carried articles about the con-
struction of everything except meters and tubes, and even in regard to tubes,
published one lengthy note describing how the separated filament elements of a
tube could be re-welded electrically by the patient (and lucky) amateur.
The '5-watt' classification given in Mason's article was modified in accordance
with Kruse's earlier comments (noted above): "But wait a minute; the title to this
story is wrong. This set we are going to build will have about 30 or 35 watts in its
plate circuit and will put JO or 20 of them into the radiating system. So even though
it does use only a '5-watter' we wouldn't want to come right out in the open like that
and call it a 5 watt set.. Let's call it a set using one '5-watt' tube, that's better." The
pedagogical approach here is quite effective, alerting the newcomer to the com-
mon malpractice, explaining its underlying error, and then suggesting the proper
perspective. Later articles follow a similar approach and offer many similar
points in a sustained effort to re-educate the old timers as well as put newcomers
on the proper path to better practices.
With the December, 1924, issue, low power achievements once again received
prominent attention in QST. A feature article, "Antipodes Linked by Amateur
Radio; New Zealand and British Amateurs Work 12,000 Miles - All Records
Smashed -- New Zealand Stations Showing the World", returned attention once
again to the fantastic DX work of the low power Aussies and Zedders. The
Editor, K B. Warner, reiterated the implications of their successes: "Get ready
for a shock, gang. The laurels in this little old game of amateur radio no longer
belong to America. We're barely in it. A whole st1ing of new records have been hung
up during the months of September and October ( 1924) {R12 Smoothed Sunspot Nr:
19-21) by the busy amateurs of New Zealand and it will probably be a long time
before we can even up the score." The major achievement was the QSO between
Frank D. Bell, z4M and g2SZ in London on October 19, 1924, and then on
October 25, between Ralph Slade, z4AG, and Gerald Marcuse, g2NM, establish-
ing a new DX record of 11,900 nilles. American amateurs were finally working
the Zedders regularly at distances, Warner noted, "that would cause us to swell
with pride were they not so greatly exceeded by the New Zealand to England
communication." Further, New Zealand signals "are now almost commonplace
throughout the U.S. and Canada."
The second half of the report detailed work between New Zealand operators
and R.Y. Orbell, z3AA, sailing across the PaciJic via Cape Hom on the S.S. Port
Curtis with an amateur station on board running 50 watts input. The z3AA work
was summarized: "Latest reports up to this writing show that New Zealand
amateurs have kept in touch with him (z3AA) every night since he left home, han-
dling messages and testing." The contacts selected for special mention were QRP:
"3AA reporls z2AC, 4M, 4AG, and 4AK nice at 5600 miles; he worked Jack
Davis (a2DS) of Sydney, whose input is 15 watts at 4750 miles, and z3AL, 12 watts
input, at 4600 miles ... " \Varner drew the obvious comparison: "We don't know
anything about such monotonous DX with such powers in this country." The work
occurred between 75-100 meters. Finally, observations by Chas. E. Biele, u2AOS,
an American who visited prominent New Zealand amateurs were included: "He
says the fellows are the finest amateurs in the world, and they have shown him the
time of his life. Their radio conditions are marvelous, unheard of distances being

52
 Chapter 3: December, 1924 'More Low Power Work'

achieved in that part of the world with practically no power." Again, low power
achievements shared the spotlight with those accomplished with high power.
By the time the second list of results in the on-going efficiency contest were
published in December, 1924, amateurs had been granted allocations extending
down to 5 meters in four bands, but the contacts on the list represent work done
on the old 150-200 meter band. While the list included only eight entries, all are
genuine QRP contacts, except one at the 80 watt level. L.W. Hatry (10X) had
recently j oined the staff and took over Kruse's work v»ith the efficiency contest,
and "More Low Power Work" appeared over his initials. He began by noting that
"these are all summer incidents [R12 Smoothed Sunspot Nr: 16-18] and, for that
reason, should be all the more interesting. Practically all the work was done at
night," drawing attention to the fact th at such accomplishments were possible
during the worst season of the year. Noteworthy is the fact that tube types have
been included as part of the data.

' More Low Power Work' - Records. (QST, December, 1924)

Call QTH QSO'd Date Miles Volts Watts M.P.W.
9RQ Ill. c3GG May? 700 50 ? ?
9BFI Minn. 9BNF 5/ 8 170 100 0.2 850
7AIB Wash. cSBF 5/14 100 70 ? ?
3AJH N.J. 1BQE June 208 41 0.08 2600
g5BV Engl. 9CVR June ? ? 0.25 124*
BPG Mich. BBFB July 20 5 ? 12731
9CDV Minn. 7GR Sept. 1300 200 1 .5 940
BOOE Mich. 6BUR July 2000 ? 8.0 250
*Corrected M.P.W. figure of 16,400.
As in the previous list in the May, 1924 issue, the DX operators came out on
top. The g5BV-9CVR contact is truly remarkable - not merely a transatlantic, but
a transatlantic plus half of a transcontinental! And with an input of but 250 mil-
liwatts for a quite respectable record of 12,731 miles per watt on 150 meters.
Hatry singled gSBV out for special praise: "The record of g5BV deserves special
mention 011 two counts: he was usi11g a temporary a11te1111a only JBft high at 011e e11d
and 35/t at the other, and his ante1111a cum!nt was 0. 65 ampere." This current level
at an input of 250 milliwatts may be puzzling to readers, since we've seen that
level of antenna current associated with up to 30 watts input or so. Bear in mind
that antenna currents are high when the feedpoint is at a current loop of a short
antenna exhibiting a low input resistance, and a seemingly exorbitant antenna
current can result. In any event, gSBV's installation was probably of very low
efficiency, and his actual radiated power probably considerably under 100 mil-
liwa tts, which makes the feat even more remarkable.
Hatry included a comment about the BDOE 80 watt contact that places the
'nivver' spark-coil plate supply into clearer perspective: "he used a spark coil
supply and tire i11put to the spark-coil itself was 80 watts. Because of inductive trans-
fer and tire h eating at the contacts of his vibrator, his actual input to the tube would
be, m ost likely, much lower,· however; we don't know that wattage definitely." The
miles per watt figure given for the BOOE contact seems an error, as well as the
power shown in the list. Hatry added an interesting note regarding 'bogus' QRP
records: "The record of BBPG deserves special me11tion also. It shows what this low
power business can degenerate into. Someone is goi11g to get a 199 oscillating on a
one volt B baltery and work his friend two blocks away, and th en we will have a
miles per watt record that would take a certified accountant five minutes to merely
think of" Hatry apparently had missed the details of a2CM's experiments result-
ing in reception of a test oscillator at 320 microwaus over a distance of 12 miles
(a 37,500 m.p.w. record) and his comment is very appropriate in such a context.

53
 Chapter 3: December, 1924 'More Low Power Work'

The 'Station Efficiency Contest' and subsequent 'Low Power Reports' were in-
tended to determine power vs distance possibilities for normal operation.
Hatry encouraged readers to continue to submit reports: "Not enough really
low power work is being reported upon, and not enough of that reported fallows tlze
Jann-outline given in OST of last November (actually, It appeared In the December
issue). We are still interested in these low-power accomplishments." Note that an
interesting shift had occurred in the thrust of the original 'efficiency contest' con-
cept. It now became "low power work" as opposed to efficiency at whatever
power level. The work of the DX operators probably caused the shift. Also, one
wonders whether Kruse's May, 1924, list had an adverse impact, for a comparison
of the two lists shows a fundamental difference. Where only three genuine very
low power contacts by Americans are included in that list, here seven such con-
tacts comprise the bulk of the list. Did Kruse inadvertently discourage entries
from anyone running more than a watt or two, or did the publicity of foreign
achievements have the same effect? In any event, the June, 1925, report showed a
substantial increase in activity, as we'll see in the next chapter.
Finally, Hatry reiterated Kruse's earlier criticism of American reliance on high
power and based his comment directly upon results of the efficiency contest to
that da te: "The excellent work shown abol'e should be a reproach to those hams
that need inputs of a 1000 waits and all kinds of exciting antenna currents. In most
of the cases above, the antenna current could not be measured on the instruments
in the possession of the station owners." The publicity that QRP achievements had
received during 1924 indeed supported the contention that high power was un-
necessary for long distance work on the bands above 150 meters. 1924 was a re-
markable year in that it thrust the QRP operator into the spotlight as the con-
quering hero of the shortwaves who showed the radio world the ultimate possib-
lities of radio communication! QRP publicity in 1925 added to that image.

54
 Chapter 4
1925: QRP Takes the Spot.light
Zurich R12 Sunspot Numbers: 25-61

I. Exploring 40 and 20 Meters

"...the Colonel has thoroughly convinced himself that for excellent DX a
201-A furnishes ample power provided it is built into a really low-loss transmiuer... "

On July 24, 1924, the government extended the amateur allocations to include
75-80, 37.5-42.2, 18.8-21.4, and 4.69-5.35 meters. While the 80 meter band ex-
hibited some substantial differences with respect to propagation in contrast to
the 150-200 meter band, the real differences occurred below 80 meters. The
movement to 80 meters appears to have been on the magnitude of a gold-rush.
Writing in early October, Kruse noted "every transmitter in America seems to
have found the 80 meter band - altho there may be 5 or 6 exceptions." However,
it was a different story on the 40 and 20 meter bands. Some advenrurous
operators have moved to 40, and Kruse noted that "the pioneers are doing splen-
did daylight work on that band." With regard to 20 and 5 meters: "dead silence!"
Each movement downward required refinement of equipment and discovery of
the peculiarities of the new band; in a word, to find out what it was 'good for'.
Low power became a means of discovering that.
The January, 1925, issue began the year with the announcement of The
Cooper Cup and two companion cups offered by the ARRL for the purpose of
encouraging development of the new bands at 40, 20, and 5 meters. J.T. Cooper
of Atlanta, GA, conceived the contest idea for the 40 meter band, and the
ARRL, seeing the possible advantages, offered the cups for the other two bands.
The three simultaneous contests ran between February 1 and May 26, 1925; re-
sults appear to have never been published in QST. In providing background
about the contest, Kruse summarized recent 40 meter tests: "by daylight, it [40
meters] seems to out-range (many times over) any wavelength in the 75-80 or
150-200 meter band. Between one pair of stations the recent tests have shown
that it was possible to work two-way for 220 miles daylight at 40 meters with an
input of less than 15 watts. The same stations have no daylight communication on
any other wave, even with powers as high as 150 watts." Everyone was still in the
dark as to what was really happening on the new band. With respect to the other
two bands, Kruse noted: "Practically nothing is known about the 4-5 and 20-22
meter bands." Unknown to Kruse, R einartz was conducting his famous 20 meter
explorations at the time Kruse was writing the contest announcement in mid-
November, 1924.
One flaw with the Cooper Cup contest is that it was not really clear what a
participant was supposed to do to win! The only clear component of the contest
concept is the power limitation. TI1e rules specify: "1 -- the sending tube shall ha11e
a manufacturer's roting of 5 watts output or less. Only one tube at a time may be
used." As has been noted, the UV202 or C302 were typical 5-watters and could
be run at up to 40 watts input. The explanation for the power limit is: "The pur-
pose in offen'ng the cup is to encourage careful, detailed work of an on'ginal nature.
The idea is not to put a premium on the use of much power." Kruse went over-
board in regard to the 'detail' required in entries, which had to be notarized as to
the tube type and power level used. He exhorted readers: "Above all things -
keep complete records. When you have an adjustment that works make a complete
record of the setting of every clip and condenser ... if the plate is running red-hot
put that down. If the antenna is brushing or the condenser insulation smoking

55
 Chapter 4: Low Power on the Shorter Wavelengths

put that down, too" (did the latter really happen?). To stress the original nature
of the work, Kn1se advised readers to not pay too much attention to information
published about the new bands, and added: "The way to get somewhere in this
shortwave business is not to trail after someone else but to make a trail of your
own." While the power Limitation allowed operation at levels in excess of the
usual QRP limits, the point is that high power was excluded from participat·ion in
the activity.
A good indicator of the extent to which low power work had caught the atten-
tion of amateurs is the frequency of references in QSTs 'Traffic Dept.' divisional
reports. While mosr of the material there is as boring and pointless as that found
in current QSTs, it is clear that SCM's found low power achievements 'good
copy'. For example, the January issue, representing activity up to about Novem-
ber, 1924, included the following notes: "6AMM heard in N.J 011 80m on 10 watts;
6ADB using 5 watts ... BAME -5w ... 6BM, 6ZAZ/6EX, 6BUF on 80 w. 10 watts but
no DX yet ... 6CLU, 6DG using lOw. 011 80." Only a few 250- watters appear at this
time, and many amateurs use the 50-watt tubes in their transmitters. The Vir-
ginia, Alabama, and Georgia report included: "3CKL (VA) worked 6AXD for 2
hours on 5 and JO waus in the late moming hours on 75m ...4SB uses both 5 and
10 watts and the 5-watter on sh011 waves works circles around the 50-watters 0 11
high waves. 4SB and 4FS work the 6th distn'ct regularly, each with a 5-watter - a
two-way transcon [transcontinental} route! ... 5ADA (AL) is stnming his sflljf with a
repaired 5-watter [yes, they repaired tubes in those days!]). 5NL is an old timer re-
turning to the fold and has already crossed the pond with 10 watts." From New
England: "1BDH is to change to 50w soon. He has received two cards {from SWL's]
from Belgium on the 10 watts he is using ... 1EF with one 5-watter on 76 meters, has
worked the 2,3,8,9 distn'cts ... " Again, it must be borne in mind that the power
rating practice was inconsistent, and some of the references found in these re--
ports could indicate inputs of up to 40 watts, and still be perceived by contem-
porary readers as low power. In several reports, Kruse's observation that a mass-
rnigration to 80 meters had occurred during the fall of 1924 is substantiated by
SCM reports, where, for example, one noted: "This is an aU-80 meter district, as
everyone has moved down to that wave."
Results from the ARRL-conducted "20 Meter Daylight Tests" began to ap-
pear in the February, 1925, issue and began to reveal the peculiarities of that
band. The lead article in that issue summarized the work of pioneer John L.
Reinartz (1XAM) who was to formulate his data into the 'new' propagation
theory, as we've seen in Chapter 2. In the February, 1925, report, the centerpiece
contact on 21 meters was a QRP contact between 1XAM and 9EK lasting from
1525-1630 EST. The signals "suddenly faded" at that time. During the contact,
1XAM dropped power to 16 watts input, while 9EK went down to 8.5 watts, and
they maintained contact at that level for a considerable portion of the contact.
111e 1XAM-9EK QSO was achievement enough, but the "icing on the cake" was
that the entire QSO was copied solidly by 6AJF on the West Coast! In those early
days, reports of reception by amateurs or shortwave listerns [SWL 's] were as im-
portant as two-ways, and 6AJF responsibly telegraphed Reinartz of the reception,
following up with the usual detailed letter later. The two-point transcontinental
reception of his signals, of course, provided Reinartz with an extremely valuable
insight for his propagation theory.
Along with this obvious QRP triumph, another staff writer drew attention to
QRP DX successes in "Super DX", where he remarked: "To us the most fas-
cinating angle to this intemational DX game is that it isn't a rich man's spo11 and it
doesn't take an e.xpe11. It's wide open to eve1ybody. The lowest-powered transmitters
in the cou11t1y are heard as far as the big watt-eaters ..." Again, the QST support of
low power work is quite clear. The IARU report for this issue praised Belgian

56
 Chapter 4: June 1925 'Low Power Report'

b4Yl for being the first station from that country to cross the pond by working
c1AR of Halifax, N.S. b4Yl's power was given as 9 watts input. In Chile, chFAL
was reported as having worked z4AG (New Zealand) and a "snag of S.
Americans" on 72 merers using the 5-watt UV202 tube. A note appeared in the
Brazil section about the Hamilton Rice Expedition on the Amazon and the fact
that base station WJS at Boa Vista, after having appeared without warning, had
been working U.S. stations and passing expedition traffic regularly. As yet, U.S.
amateurs had no idea of the fact that WJS was operating a SO-watter, and the
field station was running under 20 watts input with 201-A's. A later note indi-
cated that " WJS, the station of the Rice Expedition, and its various field stations,
UR, UB, LW, are being heard all over the U.S. and Europe. It is also being
worked by a great many." The call-letters given for the single field station ap-
parently were simply incorrect copy, since only the call LR appears to have been
used. It would be almost a year later that U.S. amateurs would learn of the power
levels used by these stations, as we will see later.
While no QRP feature items appeared between February and May, 1925, one
interesting 'Stray' showed up in the May issue: "It ain't always the power hog that
hops the gap. SOV works a2YI (Austmlia) using a single 5-watter. A11d 1MP worked
z1AC (New Zealand) using a couple of 202's f 5- waiters], while 2CPO worked
a3AL using the sam e power."

II. ORP Record s and the Jewell QRP Contest

"... witho11t the blare of tn1mpets or the va11nting of banners
the low power work has carried on ... "
''The Low Power Report" of June, 1925, is a significant milestone. Hatry and
Kruse had been emphasizing the relevance of QRP techniques to low-loss design
and construction and operation in the new shortwave spectrum. While the May
and December, 1924,'Low Power Reports' left something to be desired as far as
final proof that these techniques worked, the June 'Low Power Report' left little
doubt about the subject. The list of 'records' published in that report consists of
15 genuine QRP, or better yet QRPp (very low power) contacts, all of wh.ich
(except one) occurred with wider two walls input. The list showed the results that
could be obtained through efficient practices even without moderately low
power, and these accomplishments would be noteworthy even today.
Harry's opening and concluding comments are in a low key, without the ear-
lier criticisms of the QRO 'ether-busters'. The data itself is the criticism. Ap-
parently Hatry attempted to place these results in the context of recent articles
appearing in QST which featured the great DX accomplishments of the day and
made much of them, as we've seen. He began: "Without the blare of t111mpets or
the vaunting of banne!S the low power work has carried on. The list below shows a
number of interesting accomplishments." Indeed, as we've noted, the low power
work had been relegated to sectional reports and received no front-page publicity
since December, 1924. Hatry's concluding remark is quite curious in terms of the
scene of the previous half-year: "How about it fellows? We lead the world in
amateur high-power tronsmission, can't we also lead them in low- power?" Hatry
can only be speaking 'tongue in check', for earlier articles were emphatic about
one point - American amateurs indeed led the world, but only in regard to the
ridiculous amounts of power they generated! All the great DX achievements
were performed by foreigners; recall K.B. Warner's blast in the D ecember, 1924
issue: "Get ready for a shock, gang. The laurels in tliis little old game of amateur
radio no longer belong to America. We're barely in it ... Wake up fellows. Maybe we
started amateur DX, but we're not in it with these chaps ... " Nothing had happened
to modify the scene that Warner descnbed and Hatry knew it: the entire QST
staff knew it and was apparently quite demoralized by the situation. America was

57
 Chapter 4: June 1925 'Low Power Report'

barely in the game as far as 'records' were concerned. It seems that Hatry's re-
marks in combination with the low power list suggest that the QRP operators
were now leading the effort to reclaim some of American amateur radio's tar-
nished prestige. And indeed, QST would provide ample coverage for their efforts
in the subsequent year.

Low Power Report, (QST, June, 1925)

Call QTH QSO'd Date Miles Volts Watts M.P.W.
h9AD* Geneva 1PL 1/1 3800 200 ? ?
g5SI Englnd 1PL 2/15 3800 250 1.95 1700
5AQW Okla. 5AJH 3/24 300 20 0.05 6000
BKW# N.Y. 1YB 3/16 355 60 0.6 570
BKW# N.Y. 9BPW 3/2 600 50 0.4 1500
BKW# N.Y. 5ZAU 3/3 1137 80 1.2 960
BKW# N.Y. BBAU 3/9 320 34 0.2 1500
c1AI N.B. g2NM 2/28 3100 300 12 258
7HB Ore. 7FT 2/7 260 60 0.3 870
7HB Ore. 7FT 2/7 260 12 ? ?
BDOC Ohio 6CGO 1/25 1687 160 0.48 3375
9CGL Ind. 9DMS ? 1.25 7 ? ?
1VC Mass. 1AZD 1/13 6 1.5 0.003 2000
BATZ Ohio BBRD 12/14 260 120 ? ?
9CDV Minn. 4SB 9/23 1525 80 0.72 2120
*Switzerland; # - 40 meters, others 80 meters.
The June, 1925, list was selective and excluded an unspecified number of
entries on grounds of lack of data, illegibility of writing, or because the transmit-
ter used was conductively coupled [illegal by then]. One clue to the ratio of listed
vs excluded entries may be found in Hatry's comments about Edwin Miller, BKW.
The list includes four BKW contacts, but Hatry noted that "Between Marr:h 1 and
March 14th ( 1925), he wod<ed 29 dijferent stations <II distances between 300 and
1100 miles. All this was done with a 201-A tube and using plate voltage between 34
and 90 and with no input greater than I. 7 watt." Certainly, BKWs excluded con-
tacts established better 'records' than several of those on the list. Would that
Hatry had included all! Even more impressive are three contacts not shown on
the list for BKW: "Mr. Miller did not stop with low power transmi1ti11g amenna, he
tried it with a small loop. In two days he worked 2WC, 1YB, 111and1CMX with an
input never greater than three-qua11ers of a watt." The distances involved are about
300 miles minimum. The miles per watt record for the 1YB contact was given as
570. The report included a schematic of BKWs transmitter and loop antenna,
which measured 5.Sft on a side and was wound with 3 turns of 1/2 inch copper
ribbon, inductively coupled to the osciUator coil through a 2-turn link and series
capacitor in one side of the feed line. Interestingly enough, the loop winding
figures out to a 66ft wirelength, a half-wave on 40 meters where the contacts
occurred. One is forced to wonder at the sober tone with which Hatry relates an
exciting accomplishment; he just didn't understand its magnitude! With respect
to BKWs 'big' antenna, a 30ft counterpoise at 30ft height inside the attic was
worked against a 50ft wire at a height of 25ft outdoors, a linear antenna about
10% longer than a dipole, and fed approximately at the same point that was used
in the Windom antenna several years later.
Except for BKWs portion of the list, the remainder of the contacts occurred in
the 75-80 meter band. The phenomenal aspect of the list is its three transatlantics
between h9AD-1PL, g5Sl-1PL, and c1Al-g2NM. That these operators, even
though running slightly more than 10 watts input, were able to span the Atlantic
using antennas similar to BKWs is amazing! c1Al's 40 watts makes him the 'high

58
 Chapter 4: June 1925 'Low Power Report'

power' entry on the list. Bul these and the other contacts suggest that American
amateurs were improving iJ1 at least one respect -- receiving capabilities, since the
list undoubtedly included many weak-signal contacts! Obviously, when Hatry
complailled in the December, 1924, 'Low Power Report' that not enough work
was being reported upon, he had very little iJlsight into the actual odds against
which he and his colleagues were working! Today we know those odds, and we
can only admire the accomplishments of our forerunners done with primitive
equipment. We can learn somethillg here: as Kruse pointed out in announcing
the Cooper Cup, authoritative observations about what can or cannot be done
should be ignored, and the QRP operator should try that 'million to one' shot
every time! Many have, and some have succeeded!
The major portion of the June, 1925 'Low Power Report' was devoted to
technical matters. With respect to operating tecluliques, Hatry advised:
Another thing useful in doing low-power wo1* is picking out the proper time and
wavelength for it. At one time the writer experimented with receiving tubes with
B battery plate supply and found that best results could generally be obtained in
daylight for short distance wo1* and between 3 A.M and daylight for distance
wor* at night. The sole idea is to hit on a period when the air is least occupied
and there is best chance for a weak signal to make itself heard. Pick out a wave
{frequency/ that is freest from QR.M, no matter which of the wavebands you
wor* in. This is about 150 meters in the 150-200 meter band, and no panicular
wave in the 75-80 band. In this latter band it is a question of finding a time
when there are fewest hams on the air.
We are quite familiar with Harry's suggestions, although the wavelengths are for
the most part unapplicable today. Note that Hatry was sharing his personal ex-
perience, and not quotillg from authoritative sources - there were none. Ef-
ficiency, further, was a major concern, and Hatry advised the use of triple cotton
covered bell wire for winding inductances, as well as noting that small receiving
mica capacitors serve well in the low-voltage QRP transmitter circuit. A method
of resonatillg a QRP transmitter without aid or a meter was described in which
headphones are inserted in the B + lead and the tuning capacitor and illductive
coupling adjusted for a "click" indicating resonance. Finally, the need for power
measurements was stressed. With regard to future entries: "Reporls covering
plate voltage greater than 45 that have no information 011 the input in milliamperes
to the plate are useless unless extremely long distances are covered." Inputs at 45
volts, the cutoff level, are typically on the order of 750 milliwatts. Hatry was talk-
ing about real low power, even in comparison to our present 5-watt output QRP
srandard. and the magnitude of ach.ievement that he was setting as a goal is
mind-boggling: the g5Sl-1PL contact was listed at 1.96 watts input (although my
computation shows 2.25 watts) - that they even made contact on 75 meters is
phenomenal!
By the tune the June, 1925, 'Low Power Report' appeared, the commercial
broadcasting sector had been alerted to the feasibility of shortwave communica-
tions. Radio Broadcast, the industry trade journal, carried an article in the June,
J.925, issue summarizing the achievements of amateurs in developillg the
shortwaves. John L. Reinartz, 1XAM, and F.R. Schnell, ARRL Traffic Manager,
were featured for their work, and praised as well as the ARRL: "Members of the
organization have communicated great distances using shon wavelengths and very
low power." Schnell had been commissioned a Lieutenant ill the U.S. Navy to
supervise shortwave tests during the summer of 1925 aboard the U.S.S. Seattle.
While the 'low power' referred to ill that article is on the order of 200 watts,
readers of RB would be illtroduced in later articles to genuine QRP work as ill-
dicative of radio amateur activity that had been mentioned in previous articles
such as "New Paths For the Short Waves".

59
 Chapter 4: The Jewell 1926 Low Power Contest

With the October, 1925 issue, QRP's brief heyday arrived in full glory in the
announcement of the "Jewell 1926 Low Power Contest", both in the activities
section, and in a full-page advertisement taken by the Jewell Electrical Instru-
ment Company of Chicago, Ill. The company was one of the leading manufac..
turers of electrical instruments, and advertised regularly in QST. The company's
motivation in establishing the contest is not exactly clear. It can be noted that the
contest was great advertising, as can be seen in the full-page ad: "And to measure
the input Jewell instruments continue to be found the mose[t] reliable, accurate
and dependable instruments for the amateur." But the rules and concepts under-
lying t11e contest suggest a motive more altruistic than mere publkity for the
company's products. Whatever the case, this was no 'paper awards' contest!
Jewell backed up its attempt to emphasize efficiency with a quite expensive, pre-
stige grand prize consisting of a "splendid 21-jewel warch with a solid white gold
case and a Lord Elgin movement", a top-of-the.-line timepiece! In addition to the
grand prize, antenna ammeters were to be awarded to sectional winners in the
U.S. and Canada, and Jewell supplemented its full- page announcement with a
direct mailing to all licensed amateurs in the U.S. and Canada!
Regardless of the Jewell Company's motivation, the contest certainly
benefited American amateur radio i.n that it emphasized the principle of ef-
ficiency as supported by Kruse and Hatry, as well as other QST authors and staff.
Efficiency, in their terms, meant attention to details of construction in combina-
tion with accurate measurements of input power. In the QST staff-written an-
nouncement which appeared in the same issue as the ad, emphasis was upon
efficiency: "In addition to having a good chance at a splendid trophy [the
engraved watch), you have a lot of incentive to make the low power set as efficient
as can be and you all have a chance to have a whale of a lot of fun." The
measurements requirements were quite stringent. Each entry had to be notar-
ized, providing all details of each contact submitted "together with power input
readings. These readings must be witnessed by another person who must sign an
affidavit and both the owner and the obsetver swear to the correctness of the
affidavit before a notary public." These stringent requirements seem clearly to be
modeled upon the procedure followed by a2CM in his world record contact. To
back up the veracity of claimed records, the Jewell Company resetved the right to
have instruments used by entrants checked for accuracy in Jewell laboratories.
Obviously, the company wanted any possible record to be unquestionable as well
as to emphasize measurements accuracy and to insure that the watch was not
fraudulently obtained by an undesetving individual.
A concept of "total input power" was applied in the rules: "The watts input is
to be considered as the total power to all of the tubes used in the transmitter (master
oscillator, oscillators, or power amplifiers); filament and plate inputs must be
measured by means of filament voltage and current and plate voltage and cwrent
meters." This concept in part arises from the fact that the two-stage transmitter
circuit (oscillator and amplifier) had recently appeared in an article in mid-1925
as a means of solving the frequency-stability problem; hence, the total input
power would take into account any r.f. feedthrough to the antenna from an oscil-
lator stage. The scoring for the contest was designed to offset the 'freak' contact,
calling for a minimum distance of 300 miles per contact, backed up by an 'averag-
ing' approach: "In order that no freakish work ... be considered, the average of three
records transmissions [sicJ of separate messages to different points will be taken as
the record distance." The rules for the contest reflect a high degree of concern for
technical detail, and the impact of this concern in combination with the valuable
prize must have increased the American amateur's awareness of the subject of
efficiency.

60
 Chapter 4: October, 1925, IARU Report of QRP DX Work

Finally, the announcement stressed the popularity of QRP operation and its
appeal to the 'less than wealthy': "Low power records are being made and shat-
tered almost evc1y night. Now is the chance gang! ... No matter whether you have a
UV-199 or a UV- 204-A you have just as much of a chance as the next fellow." One
wonders how extensive the making and breaking of records actually was at the
time. In any event, a comment in a later article by Rufus B. Turner suggests that
everyone was in the running for the grand prize ['the Elgin biscuit1 during the
winter months of 1925- 26. Incidentally, the 'Jewell Low Power Contest' was also
announced in the Radio, October, 1925, issue in a short note.
As if to add further emphasis to the feasibility of working great distances with
QRP, the IARU report was jammed with references to QRP successes by DX
operators. W.G. Dixon, British Section Secretary, reported: "Several New
Zealand and Australian stations have been worked on low power and a series of
tests show that it is possible to maintain good commwiications under favorable
conditions with a power input of less than 30 watts. In one instance, on July 22
( 1925) g2U worked z3AL when the latter was using only 2-1/2 watts input, which
represents 5000 miles per waif." The note does not specify whether the contact
took place on 40 or 20 meters, although later comments suggest that it was on 40
meters, since a detailed account is given of work on that band. Also mentioned is
that fact that g2NM's low-power "fone is now getting out well" Further, "g5SI
has been doing some wonde1jit! low power w01* and has succeeded in loweting his
previous record with u1PL (U.S.). On July 25 (1925) they hooked up again and
were in communication with an input of only 0.64 watt. The scune day g5SI re-
peated this feat by working u1CMX on the same input." This work took place on 45
meters. u1PL must have been quite the operator, as he continually appeared as
the U.S. end of QRP DX contacts. In this case, the distance was about 3300
miles, for a record of 5150 miles per watt. While the report from Robert An-
dureau, f8CA, Secretary of the French section, is not as impressive as the above,
it included moderately-low power work (65 watts input) between f88Vand fBQQ,
and New Zealand and Australian stations. At the 30 watt input level, f8BV
worked bz1AB (Brazil), while a two-way between fBRDI and bz2ST was noted
also: "With an input of only 20 watts fBRDI worked bz2ST on a wavelength of 37
meters. At the time bz2ST's input was 26 watts." And finally, Andureau closed
the report: "With an input of only 30 watts, fBALG has had two way communica-
tion with z2AE and z2AC regularly." The foreign operators, in short, were span-
ning the oceans with low powers, clear proof that high powers were not utterly
necessary for DX work.
Keith Henney began his initiation of longwave Radio B1vadcast listeners into
the mysteries of shortwaves and amateur radio in the same month as the above
material appeared in QST (October, 1925). In his "High Radio Adventure - On
Short Waves", Henney noted that a "goodly number of advanced broadcast lis-
tc11e1s are becoming more and more interested in what is being done on the other
communications bands than the broadcasting and this a11icle presents some of the
romance of that new te11-ito1y for radio exploration." The article appears to have
been an attempt to recruit amateur operators from the ranks of the BCL's by
painting a glowing picture of the amateur experience. It does that very effectively:
Adventuring into the radio region below about 1500 kilocycles (200 mete1s) is
like exploring unknown te11it01y. It is impossible to say what will be found there
and no guess is too wild ... DX exists there that is undreamed of on the longer
waves ... there are few civilized nations whose radio citizens are not in personal
touch with other foreign countries ... Below 1499KC. (200 mete1s) is a paradise
in which nationality, language, and distance are of no impo11ance, nor is a
limited pocketbook an excuse for staying away from the most interesting region

61
 Chapter 4: Keith Henney Begins QRP Series in RB.

of radio. There is the record of the Massachusetts boy who spoke to a fellow
amateur in Australia with a lone 5-volt receiving tube which cost him $3.00.
Unfortunately, Henney omitted the identily of the boy, and there appears to be
no report of this contact in QST - the contact would certainly have ranked
among the top QRP exploits of the day! Like Kruse and Hatry, Henney was
fascinated by the astounding distance which could be traversed with low power
on the shortwaves. Beginning in the November, 1925, issue of RB, he devoted
space to low power activities in a series of feature articles, which we'll review
below. One wonders how many BCL's Henney seduced into amateur radio, for
his style is florid and exciting. And more importantly, the picture that he painted
was one of the QRP operator and his particular approach to the hobby. The
series of articles that he published were excellent publicity for QRP.
We've already alluded to the first of those articles appearing in the November,
1925, issue of RB, "What Do We Know About Short Waves" in Chapter 2. In
that article, Henney raised the basic question, both in the text and as a block-
capitals section heading: "WHAT RELATION EXISTS BETWEEN POWER AND
DISTANCE?", and devoted about half the article to the low power accomplish-
ments of the RB experimental station 2GY. The commencement of QRP ex-
perimentation at 2GY occurred through the same type of 'accident' that led many
into the QRP ranks in recent times. He related:
When the 50 'watter' suddenly bumed out, a 5-watt power tube was instaffed in
its place and with about 40 watts input to the plate, the same range was ob-
tained as with the larger tube. At night several communications were canied o ut
with very low power. Notable among this work was that done with 4JR in Gas-
tonia, NC, and 4KW in Jacksonviffe, FL. With the latter station communication
was eswblished when about 25 watts we1e used. Then the plate voltage was
steadily reduced until finally only 100 volts were used with a plate cwrent of 12
milliamperes. This represents a power input of 1.2 watts -- and still 4KW
answered all of the questions that were sent to him from 2GY. In other words,
successful and reliable communication had been canied out with a power-
mileage ratio of more titan 800 miles per watt ... A still better record is the w01*
with 7UZ, Seattle, WA, two days in succession with a power of 5. 4 watts. Station
2GY has communicated with a nwnber of amateurs who were using receiving
tubes for transmitters.
These latter stations, of course, would be reaJ QRP types. The initial record of
800 m.p.w. was a good start! Henney also briefly mentioned the phenomenal
exploits of Col. Foster, c9CK, which we'll review in detail below. He apparently
sought out the story about Foster's exploits for a later issue of RB.
Henney's emphasis upon the reliability of low power communication corres-
ponded to the Jewell Company's concern - it was a general concern about
amateur exploration of the shortwaves. Henney expressed the belief that the 800
miles per watt record could be bettered if the contact was limited merely to the
exchange of signal reports, since the 2GY-4KW tests involved the exchange of
complete messages. The article ended with an invitation to readers to join the RB
staff in exploring the power vs. distance relationship: "The Staff would like to hear
from amateurs who have records of successful low-powered transmissions especially
when the time of day, distances covered, and power used are known. If communica-
tion is attained on ve1y low power, it is suggested that a long message, copied per-
haps from a magazine, be transmitted and checked back to see whether the com-
munication was sufficiently dependable for the canyiing of traffic." Henney's invita-
tion to amateurs to join the QRP effort came almost two years after Kruse's ini-
tial call for such activity in the 'Station Efficiency Contest'. Henney kept abreast
of QST and probably knew of the QRP efforts being emphasized there. Perhaps
he felt that the effort needed a 'shot in the arm' because nothing significant had

62
 Chapter 4: Synott's 'Low Power Station 2BBX

appeared since the June issue. Whatever the explanation. Henney was genuinely
interested in low power work.

Ill. QSTs 'Special QRP Issue'

" ...Foster took a long chance and called him and experienced
the usual thrill when a3Y.X answered him ... "
The December, 1925, issue of QST was the high-point of publicity for QRP. In
fact, it could be considered the first (and last!) 'Special QRP Issue' in the jour-
nal's long history, for three separate QRP feature articles appeared in it! Kruse
apparently obtained the kind of material that he had been hoping for during the
previous two years, and probably couldn't resist the temptation to add his jab at
the QRO boys at the end of Burton Synnott's (2BBX) description of his QRP
work in "Low Power Station 2BBX". After Synnott's listing of contacts made
between July 1, 1925, and August 9, 1925, Kruse added a parenthetical ending to
the article: "(How does that look to you fellows who are using 50- and 250-watt
tubes with an input of 250-2500 watts? -- Tech. Ed.)." 2BBX's article is a master-
piece of the concern for detail that Kn1se had been pushing in the guise of the
New American Amateur for two years, and 2BBX's successes with his emphasis
upon efficiency proved the value of Kruse's ideal. And QST's Teclmical Editor
was not above mocking those who continued to rely upon brute power in place of
efficiency. Bravo Kruse!
2BBX's QRP Transmitter. The 'pancake ' coils are visible in this poor photo. The
inset (right) provides a clearer view from another transmitter.

In the article, Synnott provided details about his antenna and receiver, and
complete construction data on the low-Joss transmitter. Low-loss and efficiency
were the basis of his approach. The single fine point noted about the receiver is
Synnott's method of obtaining bandspread: "A dial with a long handle attached
controls the tuning of the secondary circuit. With the leverage afforded by the
long handle it is possible to tune extremely finely and that is what is needed to
help find a weak 'DX' signal." The handle thus described parallels the front
panel and was used to rotate the tuning knob, or in other words, was used to tune
the frequency of the receiver. This is still a good trick to use with portable gear in
which no space is available for a vernier dial. 2BBX's antenna was nothing spec-
tacular, consisting of an inverted 'L' with a 30ft horizontal, 45ft vertical, radiator,
and a suitable counterpoise indoors. Low-loss techniques included spacing the
vertical portion of the radiator lOft from the house and using Pyrex insulators
throughout, and Synnott commented that this approach "is one of the real
reasons for my successful work on low power."
The most detailed treatment was reserved for the transmitter, a Hartley oscil-
lator utilizing a UV210 '10-watter'. By this time, the superiority of a pure d.c.

63
 Chapter 4: Synott's 'Low Power Station 2BBX'

note had been widely accepted, and Synnott used a full-wave 'S-tube' rectifier
and 'brute force' filter consisting of a homebrew 12-he nry choke and 2mF and
34mF filter capacitors. No wonder! H e noted: " I have no trouble getting a pure
D.C. tone". Both plate current and filament voltage were metered. The induc-
tances were low-loss types, wound in the nat 'pancake' style from 1/2 inch copper
strip. The choice of the spiraled nat inductance was aimed at permitting direct
soldering of the grid-leak resistor between the center of the flat coiJ and tube grid
terminal: "This way of shortening the grid circuit lead ... is an important factor in
the set's efficiency." Similarly, bypass-capacitor lead lengths were kept to a mini-
mum by soldering them directly under the lube socket, while the plate blocking
capacitor req uired only a 4- inch lead to reach the outermost end of the pancake
inductance. Synnott sounds almost like he is speaking about solid-state circuitry!
In tuning the transmitter, a hotwire ammeter was inserted in the antenna lead,
but once the circuit was peaked, the meter was "placed in my curiosity chest, i.e.,
'junk box'. Why use the energy grudgingly bestowed by a hard working tube, to
heat a piece of resistance wire, when it may be beuer employed to heat the mag-
net windings on a New Zealander's phones?" Indeed! Finally, a wavemeter was
kept right at t he transmitter to insure that the tuning process resulted in maxi-
mum r.f. energy output on t he desired frequency, with all 'prominent harmonics'
eliminated. Signal purity was another principle of efficiency that Kruse emphas-
ized, a nd Synnott employed it fully.
Synnoll's painstaking attention to detail resulted in fairly impressive results
for the 10-25 watt input range used, especially considering the fact that the work
was done on the 40 meter band. H e su mmarized: "This transmitter has worked all
of tire U.S., Porto Rico, Mexico, Canada, Cuba, England, Netlrerlands, France,
Italy, Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia. Signals from tlris set were logged in
llrazil, Belgium, Gennany, Poland, Azores, and by slrips in tire Anic, Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans, not to me111io11 all tire 'near' !rams who sent me cards from all over
tire world." Synnott was not exaggerating -- his QSL collection stood at over 2000
received at the time of writing the article! Th.is guy really got out! Singling out
some special contacts, he noted one interesting transco n: "I consider my best
daylight 'DX' work as being 6CHS (CA), wlro was worked for 21111i1111tes in broad
daylight on 40 meter.;, July Stir, 1925, witlr only 22 watts input." Real DX included
a2BC and z4AR, who "were worked for over twenty minutes on different nights,
with the same power (22 watts)". Further, three 6th district listeners sent QSL's
for dayligh t reception of his signals. What is most impressive is the list of contacts
in a final section with the heading: "And The Proof!", Kruse's sentiment, no
doubt. The list included stations worked between July 1, 1925, and August 9,
1925, and excluded the l 's, 2's, and 3's that were worked. For daylight results,
four 4's, two S's, one 6, and two Canadians were o n t he list. Night resu lts arc
more extensive, showing te n 4's, eight S's, twenty-three 6's, and one 7th district
station. Three Puerto Ricans and five Canadians appear along with other DX
such as Cuban 2BY, Mexican 1K, English gSBV (another QRP operator!), French
f8BF (QRP!), New Zealander z4AR and A ustralian a2BC. Little wonder that
Kruse felt safe in mocking the 'ether-burners'. 2BBX worked!
Along with Synnott's description of his station, another article detailing the
construction of a low power transmitter appeared in the December, 192S issue. In
"An Inexpensive Low Power T ransmitter From Receiving Parts", Rufus 8. Tur-
ner provided complete construction data as well as photos and operational hints.
In introducing the unit, he noted that thousands of American amateurs operate
such QRP gear with great success. The un it was built around a S-wall tube and is
similar to Mason's unit in the September, 1924 issue. The number of low power
circuits described during 1925 was sufficient to require a separate section in the
annual index "Transmitters - Low Power", which included 10 entries, and con-

64
 Chapter 4: Col. Fosters's Phenomenal DX Work - QST

tinued to be indexed through the later 1930's. Turner's unit, further, was offered
as a complete kit by a New York firm in an announcement in the May, 1926,
issue.
The third Q RP featu re of the December, 1924 issue, "Speaking of Low Power
Work", described the phenomenal QRP work done by Colonel Clair Foster,
6HM, who worked about ten Australians while operating a 201-A from a portable
location on Vancouver Island, B.C. Foster's story was related by John M.
Clayton (100), Assistant Technical Edito r, who assumed a rather lack-a-daisical
'ho-hum' stance in narrating incredibly exciting achievements. A late r accou nt of
Foster's work appeared in RB and the excellence of that account totally over-
shadows the piece by Clayton, as we will see. In comparing the two versions of
Foster's story, ir is easy to understand the Editor's lament of several months ear-
lier regarding recent publicity received in the newspapers about an amateu r suc-
cess in a disaster-communications situation which QST had reported in detail
about a year earlier. QST writers (Kruse excepted) rarely managed to turn a col-
lection of facts into exciting human drama! For example, Clayton tells of the first
QSO between Foster, operating as Canadian c9CK, and Australja in these terms:
"The first signal heard was a3YX in Sydney, Australia. Colonel Foster took a long
chance and called him and experienced the usual thrill wizen a3YX answered him.
Five walls -- Canada to Australia -- 'pretty good work' thought Colonel Foster." In
reality, that rather humdrum 'usual thrill' was more like a burst of ecstasy, for
Foster immediately telegraphed news of the contact to New York upon its com-
pletion! Likewise, Foster did not merely "take a long cha nce" in calling this one
Australian -- in fact, he'd been doggedly calling Australians for two months
before he finally connected! It was an obsession with him to succeed! Out, these
differences in narrative approach will be quite obvious when we review Horine's
version in RB.
The transmiller used by Foster was designed by Foster for a 5- wall tube ac-
cording to Clayto n, but a 201 -A was substituted instead and run with 275 volts of
B battery on the plate. T he two stories connict on this point, since RB indicated
that 435 volts were available. A picture was included of the transmitter, and
Clayton noted that all meters were professio nally calibrated before Foster left for
Vancouver Island. Two antennas were used. The transmitting antenna measured
3/4 wavele ngth on 40 meters, where the QRP work was done, and the receivi.ng
antenna was a qua rter-wave horizontal.
In regard to the work, Clayton related that on August 13, 1925, c9CK called
a2TM on the 5-watt tube, and "after gelling him 9CK switched to the 201-A and,
with an input of 14.3 waits, successfully carried on with him for about a half an
hour. All this time the 201-A was cold -- not cool, but cold." During the following
two weeks, c9CK worked six additional Aust ralian stations with the low power
transmitter never exceeding 14 watts input, with antenna current ranging from
235-275 ma. An initial hour and twenty-five minutes contact with a58G resulted
in a two week series of nigh tly tests suggested by Henry A. Kauper (a58G), an
Australian DX'er famous in his own right who merited inclusion of his station in
the featured statio ns section of the July, 1926 issue. a58G's own QRP transmitter
would be shown in that article and ment ion made of his QRP DX exploits. The
two maintained the two-week schedu.le on 40 meters, demonstrating the re-
liability of QRP long distance communications. Clayton related one interesting
incident during the tests: "As a crowning feat, one night whe11 Foster was working
a5BG he used the 201-A in th e transmit/er both as a transmitting and receiving
tube. When he finished worki11g a5BG he took the 201-A out of the transmit/er and
slapped it into the receiver to copy a5BG's reply! Even He11ry Ford would approve
of such economy. Two-way communication between Canada and Australia on one
$3.00 tube." In addition to the Australian and New Zealand stations worked,

65
 Chapter 4: E.E. Horine's Story of Foster - 'A Man and His Hobby'

Foster worked many U.S. 6's and u2AHM in New York, as well as " KFUH, NRRL,
NSJJ, and other ships in Australian water."
A humorous slant to Clayton's narrative occurred in regard to the various
theories advanced by members of the Vancouver Island logging camp crew to
explain Foster's phenomenal success: "Colonel Foster himself suggests the simplest
solution -- a casual glance at the globe will show that the sgs travel dow11hill all the
way ... the best theo1y though is the 011e offered by Bill Sholl, said to be the best
cook chat ever invaded a Canadian logging camp. The Sholl Theory is that there is
a hole in the Heavyside layer right over 9CK and another hole over Australia. The
signals from 9CK go through the first hole and slide along above the layer, only to
fall out in the vicinity of'l.s' and '.As' {Australia and New Zealand/." Humorous, but
obviously placing 9CK's accomplishments in a rather non-serious context. Finally,
Clayton closed the narrative with the observation: "We would not be swprised if
6HM (Foster) junks the 204-A {his ORO home station transmitter using a 200-watter]
tube transmit/er since the Colonel has thoroughly convinced himself that for excel-
lent DX a 201-A fumishes ample power provided it is built into a really low-loss
tra11smi11er." In modem times, Foster would simply sell the ORO rig, as so many
converts to the QRP approach have done. And so, the amateur radio world
caught its first glimpse of Col. Foster's astounding accomplishment through
Clayton's dispassionate perspective. That Foster was capable of spanning the
Pacific every night for two weeks, using less than 14 watts input on 40 meters, and
engaging in lengthy contacts with a58G, was indeed a remarkable feat!
Rounding out the December, 1925 "QRP issue", the lARU report noted that
50 Australians had worked the U.S. as of October, 1925, with most of them using
5-watt tubes, and that z7JB of Tasmania had worked England with 30 watts in-
put. Overall, the December, 1925, issue represents the high-point of publicity for
QRP work in QST; QRP would recede from the front pages until April, 1926,
and then eventually take refuge in the fine-print lARU and divisional reports.

IV. E.E. Horine's Story of Col. Foster: 'A Man and His Hobby'
"...he continued to 'holler his head ofl' at the antipodes night after nig/Jt... "
The cha llenge and thrill of QRP operation emerged in au its brilliance in the
feature article about Col. Foster in the March, 1926, issue of Radio Broadcast
simply entitled "A Man and His Hobby," E.E. Horine's account is a classic in its
own right, carrying the sub-title: "The Story of One Man's Experience With Short
Wave Code Transmitters on Low Power -· How Australia Was Reached From
Btitish Columbia With Batteries and a Receiving Tube as a Transmitter." The
author, E.E. Horine (Radio Division, National Carbon Company), revealed a
remarkable insight into the essence of the QRP experience and an enthusiastic
admiration for Foster, the hero of the story. From Horine's account, we get a
glimpse of the world of amateu r radio at the time:
Around about 7500kc (40 meters), the air is literally full of signals of all kinds,
day and night, summer and winter. It's all code dow11 there. No grand opera
star.; singing in heavenly voices; no prominent speakers wagging the silver
tongue; no jazz. Only a succession of queer sounding dots and dashes, in all
manner of tones and pitches, from low gutteral growls to high-pitched, clear,
chi1ping notes. Some of them sound as if they might have 01iginated next door,
while others create the impression of having come across thousands of miles of
ocean and land; and the chances are they have, for it is an everyday occurrence
for amateurs of different nations to converse with ead1 other. The field of
amateur radio is the DX Jan's paradise, and therei11 lies a part of the fascination
of the game. Listening in on the ham bands stirs the imagination and arouses
the cun'osity.

66
 Chapter 4: E.E. Horine's Story of Foster - 'A Man and His Hobby'

Upon first reading Horine's account, I was amazed that he could speak of QRP
operation in words similar to those I had written in Chapter 1. Perhaps this is the
only way to describe the QRP experience. With regard to Colonel Foster's ex-
perience as a ham, Horine presented him as something of a newcomer, having
learned of radio only two years earlier. But his curiosity and perseverance in
pursuing radio have "brought him a host of new friends, many of them on the other
side of the wodd, with whom he is on terms of closest intimacy, yet who he has
never seen, and probably will never see." The hobby itself, which was quickly trans-
formed specifically into QRP operation, "has afforded him the most pleasant
hours of his life, and tumed him into a youth again, bubbling over with en-
thusiasm." This undoubtedly is the most inspired expression of the rewards of
QRP ever written!
Foster's philosophy and explanation of his radio experience undoubtedly in-
spired Horine's enthusiasm for amateur radio. But he clearly agreed with Foster's
view that "readiing out to great distances with high power isn't so remarkable," and
that it is the ''fellow who does it with low power that deserves the credit for real
achievement despite the sad fact that this idea of 'miles per gallon' is getting a great
deal of attention among amateurs." Foster explained hi.s attraction to the QRP
approach, and many of us are quite familiar with the process that he described:
After working a number of distant stations that were using very low power, my
hat came off to the chaps who could put out such clear and steady signals with
5-wa/lers -- and even 201-A receiving 111bes. Every one I bumped into I boned
for his dope {knowledge], and I have collected through their courtesy quite a
bunch of it. I see no especial credit coming to the fellow who busts out with big
tubes. Of course it is satisfying to have a wallop so that when you answer a CQ
(generol call) you are the fellow the other chap almost surely hears; but the big
field for the practical use of rodio can't be opened up with the use of big, expen-
sive equipment. Only a small portion of those who will become interested in
trallSmission can afford the heavy outlay.
Behind Foster's comments lay a vision of amateur radio spread among the
peoples of the earth spreading goodwill far and wide. It seems that part of his
enthusiasm for QRP came from the hope that such a thing was possible and QRP
was the only way to achieve it.
With respect to the choice of the low power rig for use during the summer
stay on Vancouver Island, the remote location furnished no source of a.c. power,
making battery-powered operation necessary, and that led to QRP equipment.
Circumstances were married happily to Foster's interest in low power operation,
and he conceived the ambition of spanning the Pacific with low power. As Horine
put it, "it is a wild, rugged country, remote from civilization, and naturally no
electric power available for any purpose. There is only one way to get power in
that country, and that is to carry it along in the form of batteries." However,
there were other reasons underlying battery-powered operation. In facing the
summer in the wilds, Foster prepared months in advance, and studied the factors
that could contribute to success. His observations led to one conclusion:
Along this lin e, most of us on 15,000 kc. (20 meters) have been using 250-wal/
tubes. But 9DFH has the steadiest signals I hear, and he is using a lonely 5-
watter (about the size of a11 ordinary receiving wbe) with less than 20 watts
input. A11d recently, I worked 4BL, in Lakeland, FL, who was con·ring i11 here
fin e through heavy static disturbance, using a 201-A receiving 111be for 1rr111smit-
1ing! ft wa.m 't a freak transmission, for 4BL has worked some of Canada, all
United States districts, and Pono Rico on 7500 kc. (40 meters) with this tube. At
presefll, the big drawback to the use of 15,000 kc. (20 meter.;) is that it is so
responsive to the slightest variation in cummt that the signals keep swinging into
and out of tune. I think batteries for plate and filament ought to help a lot.

67
 Chapter 4: Battery Power and 'Pure D.C.' Tone on 20 Meters

Apparently Foster had been corresponding with Horine several months prior
to the trip, and while the article makes no mention of the reason for their con-
tact, presumably Horine supplied the batteries to be used by Foster; th.is was not
unusual, since several battery manufacturers worked closely with amateur ex-
perimenters during this period to demonstrate the reliability of their products
during extended portable use. Furthermore, the connection between a pure d.c.
steady note and low power success had been noted by this time, and Foster con-
sidered it essential that he put out such a signal if he was to succeed in his quest
for Australian contacts. Horine explained, for example, that "for weak signals
put out by such apparatus to get anywhere, it is essential for the note emitted to
have a high penetrating sound, otherwise it can't be read at considerable dis-
tances." Batteries provided such a tone, as well as a signal "steady and free from
swinging". In praising HA. Kauper (a5BG) for his part in the historic ac-
complishment, Foster emphasized the characteristics of the battery-powered
signal:
Am simply losz in admiration of that chap. Just think of the courage displayed
in asking for a rep01t that of necessity must be more or less complicated, and
knowing that it must come back to him in a thin, high, bird-like note that must
take a mighty fine pair of ears to hear al that distance. Only one thing in his
favor - C9CK's note is absolutely steady. It has been reporled so all over the
map.
Battery power was the reason. After his return, Foster was so convinced of the
importance of the steady note occasioned by battery power that he remarked:
"I'm going to keep on using dry cell B batteries for this work even if I have to
give up a hundred dollars apiece for them." What Horine describes as the "merry
twinkle in his eye" that accompanies Foster's story-telling shows thru in Foster's
witty exaggerations!
Col. Clair Foster's (c9CK) Transmitter. The unit Is built on a woodbase with
stand-off insulators mounting the components. The large coils (top) wound with
copper strip cause the 'rectified a.c.' note and were replaced by copper tubing
coils. The 201-A is seen to the right of the variable capacitor at left.

Despite planning carefully, Foster was, after all, preparing for a portable
operation, and Murphy's Law inevitably applies in such cases. Luckily, Murphy
struck far enough in advance to permit rectification (of sorts!) of the problem.
Having chosen battery power and operation on 40 meters to insure that his note
would be steady and pure d.c., Foster was confronted with a puzzle - he con-
tinually received reports that his "note was rough and ragged, as if produced by
rectified a.c." The humour was apparent when Foster looked back on the prob-

68
 Chapter 4: After Two Months of Calling - Contact with aJYX!

lcm and noted that he "was kidded over the air about hjs a.c. batteries." The
problem was finally traced to oscillator-coil vibration caused by the thumping of
the relay during keying periods. The original coils, wound with 1/2-inch wide
copper strip, were replaced with new coils wound from 1/4-inch copper tubing,
and the vibration problem ceased. The note was pure d.c. at last, and the trans-
mitter was ready to go! Foster carried along 11 B-batteries (each about the size
of the modern auto battery) whlch provided a maximum of 485 volts for the plate
of the 201-A.
Col. Foster's 'Low-loss' Receiver. Note the widely spaced components and sym-
metrical wiring characterising the '/ow-loss' approach.

Once Foster arrived at the site on Vancouver Island, antennas were put up for
both receiving and transmitting, as noted eartier. Once in operation, c9CK tried
his possibilities with So. Californian stations, and received encouraging reports
from them, and then dug in to pursue hls major objective. But success was Jong in
coming. In one letter to Horine, Foster reported: "Saturday night I hollered my
head off at th e Antipodes until 2 A.M. I imagined batteries would show some drain
after all that use. But at the end of that time the eleven in use still tested exactly
as when I began, 485 volts." Horine was impressed with Foster's perseverance:
"I-Ie continued to 'holler his head off at the Antipodes night after night without
result, until the ordinary individual would have given up and dumped the ap-
paratus, batten"es and all, in the lake" beside the cabin. But he "kept at it for two
months, u111il finally, on August 11, 1925 [R12 S.S. Nr: 52], he scored with a3YX.
The contact was a triumph for Foster, occasion for immediately telegraphlng
Horine: "Using only one 201-A receiving tube with input just ten walls from
Eveready Batteties worked satisfact01ily this moming five forly to six fo11y-five
Pacific Standard Time Australian a3YX 011 thirty nine meters. Reporl on other work
follows soon. " Indeed the contact is cause for astorushment - over an hou r of
solid contact with Australia on 40 meters with just ten watts input! Two days
later, Foster repeated the performance with a2TM, and then a3YX a few days
later. a2TM's QSL card reads: "!think that that's the lowest power record across
the Pacific. Your signals were fading a lot, but did not drop off much when you
changed tubes. I hope to test again with you soon. Will try reducing power myself
next time." But the big contact came on August 27, 1925, when Foster hooked up
with a5BG in what Horine called "one of the outstanding performances of
amateur radio." Foster immediately sent the following telegram:
Today again the receiving tube stop this time forty-jive minutes pe1fect com-
munication with 5BG near Adelaide, South Australia stop these signals had to

69
 Chapter 4: And Then: c9CK - a5BG, 9000 Mile QRP DX!

travel thousand miles or more over land after passing the other three stations
worked already with this tube stop input thi11een watts wavelength thilty eight
and seven tenths stop more than quaiter of distance full daylight.
The distance is over 9000 miles and figures out to only about 700 miles per watt,
but the fact that the distance is so great is what made the contact so significant.
Horine reacted by noting that "it is hard to realize that this vast distance was
bridged with a little transmitter that any one with a /iule knowledge of the subject
can build at a total outlay of not to exceed $50.00. That's the wo11de1ful pwt of it.
This low power, long distance transmitting is not a rich man's game -- it is within
the practical reach of all. " Horine's portrayal of QRP as being within the common
man's economic means echoed similar views voiced by Kruse and Hatry then and
others ever since. Back then, it seems that QRP was seen as democratic in some
special way.
The initial contact between c9CK and HA. Kauper, a5BG, was indeed a tri-
umph for QRP, but beyond that, it inspired both men to establish a schedule in
order to determine the reliability of their work. Horine explained their approach
in the following terms:
The mere fact of establishing contact with an Australian station from Van-
couver Island, using a 201-A receiving tube, is a notable achievement, but not a
record. Other amateurs have swpassed this peifom1ai1ce, and while natw·ally
elated at his success, Colonel Foster was conscious that there was danger of his
lapsing into the role of joyous ham experiencing a major thrill instead of main-
taining the attitude of a cold-blooded observer; for after all this might prove to
be freak transmission.
The daily schedule was carried on for two weeks, except for September 2, when
Kauper's transmitter was out of commission. (Interestingly, Horine's comments
in the foregoing passage capture the two sides of the QRP experience descnoed
in Chapter 1, namely, the "joyous ham" personally and emotionally experiencing
radio, while at the same time, the scientist present with his "cold blooded ob-
server" attitude investigating the phenomena underlying the radio experience.)
After two weeks of lengthy contacts, during which, to Horine's unending fascina-
tion, the two distant operators became very close friends who shared all sorts of
details about their lives, the schedule was ended, "not because communication
became impossible, but because they had demonstrated conclusively that reliable
two-way communication could be established and maintained with extremely low
power." Foster had onJy the highest praise for Kauper and his persistence in
maintaining the schedule. He commented in such a way as to clearly reveal the
reason why they did it: "Kauper is a wo11deiful chap. It is obvious that he is keenly
alive to the fact that in keeping this daily schedule under actual working conditions
Australian amateur station a5BG and Canadian amateur station c9CK are helping
to make radio history." Indeed they did and will never be forgotten!
In a sense, every time the QRP operator attempts to bridge the oceans with
very low power, he is continuing the efforts of Foster and Kauper to make radio
history. But their achievement should be put into perspective Jest we imagine that
we blaze the same type of trail. Both operators were using two-stage receivers
cons.isting of a detector and audio amplifier. They were attempting to do some-
thing which had never been done before. They had no understanding of the fact
that the R12 Smoothed Sunspot Number stood at 52 as Cycle 16 climbed toward its
1928 peak of 78, or what that meant in terms of propagation on 40 meters. As
yet, no one realized that there was a relationship between antenna height and
angle of radiation, so important in long distance work. In short, they went at it
blind. And we modern amateurs, with our KW's and 4 element beams at lOOft
complain that Cycle 20 peaked at a miserable 111! It's not that "things ain't like

70
 Chapter 4: Col. Foster's Vison of Peace Among Nations

they used to be," it's more like "amateur operators ain't what they used to be."
Hopefully, this is not quite true of modern day QRP'rs!
But Foster left us with more than a 'first' in QRP and amateur radio history.
He understood the potential role of QRP in the future of human history, and as a
thoughtful man, he saw the larger overall picture and the implications of his work
in that context. There can be little wonder as to why Horine was so impressed by
Foster when we read c9CK's assessment of the meaning of his accomplishment:
I feel that in these experiences of mine there is really a big story. You {Horine]
/...?low me well enough to know that I don't mean big because I did it. It is big
because the infant art of radio did it, and is continuing to do it. It is big because
of the far-reaching possibilities it discloses for the human good. Not theorizing
as to the probability of long distance communication with extremely low power,
but proving the practicability of it by doing it day after day ... And just look at
the future possibilities, ce11ainties of this inexpensive low power stuff as a pro-
motor of peace among the peoples of the earlh. Why, with all the wann
friendships that are being bom eve1y day among the radio amateurs of one
country with those of another, it will soon be all a politician's life is wonh to
say, "Let's start something". Just fancy some big stuffed shi11s telling me to go
out and fight young Kauper!
Foster, incidentally, was a reserve officer in the U.S. Army. Would that he had
been right! But he was dead wrong. And ironically, when the stuffed shirts do
"start something", the radio experience that amateurs have acquired by establish-
ing those friendships make them valuable assets in the politicians' war. It seems
entirely fitting that Foster, who embodied the ideals of the QRP operator, would
also speak out strongly for the ideals of peace among nations. I could easily
believe that he was the Old Man himself - if I did not know that the Old Man
had already been invented before Col. Foster arrived on the scene!
Col. Clair Foster (c9CK). Foster tests the bank of B batteries. The transmitter is
seen at front of the table, the receiver behind it.

71
 Chapter 5
1926-27: Newcomers and DX'rs
Zurich R12 Sunspot Numbers: 63-72

".. .!want to tell you fellows, that the sound of my own call letters
zipping thru my phones was the sweetest music I had f!Ver heard in my life.
I shall never forget it during the rest of my days... "

The December, 1925, "QRP" issue of QST rounded out its tale of QRP suc-
cesses in the IARU report which noted that 50 Australians had worked the U.S.
as of October, 1925. Most of them were using rigs with 5-watt tubes. Kruse's
broadside attacks on slipshod American amateur practices apparently had hit
home and the Americans had quickly developed the ability to copy weak signals
from 'down under'. But the records still eluded the Americans. z7JB of Tas-
mania had worked England with 30 watts input. Overall, the December, 1925,
issue marks the high point of publicity for QRP work in QST.
QRP publicity was taken over in fine fashion by Keith Henney in Radio
Broadcast, but before reviewing the QRP features pubHshed there in early 1926,
a glance at the material published in QST during the same period will be il-
luminating. The January, 1926, issue included a report from Holland (IARU
section) that is of interest: "The month of October (1925) has been very quiet as
far as DX work is concemed. Most of our stations were occupied with QRP tests,
reducing power from the average 100 walls input to about 5 watts for European
QSO's ( 1000-2000 miles) and getting better ASL in most cases." This is apparently
the fust use of "OAP" to designate low power operation at the 5-watt level!
January, 1926! Further, we find that "o6N is reaching om FB now having made
several QSO's with the U.S.A. on low power." In the February, 1926, report, we
learn that only ten amateurs in England have government permission to operate
up to 250 watts input - all others were limited to the maximum of 10 watts input!
Norway reported a contact between s1ALA and u1YB of Dartmouth, Connec-
ticut, with s1ALA running 15 watts input. In the March, 1926, issue, Rufus P.
Turner added an amplifier stage to the low power transmitter circuit featured in
the December, 1925, issue, in the article "A Power Amplifier for the Low Power
Transmitter". In beginning, Turner noted that "a great number of transmitting
amateurs in this country have constmcted low-powered C. W. transmitters, employ-
ing a single UVJ99 or UV201-A receiving tube as the oscillator, for L/Se this winter in
tire competition for tire Elgin 'biscuit' {the Elgin wristwatch} offered by the Jewell
Electn'c lnstmment Co. as a prize for record low power work." Apparently the
Jewell Company's direct-mail contest announcement had considerable impact
upon the American amateur's awareness of low power operation. The amplifier
stage featured in the article provided higher power input (40 watts) than the
single stage oscillator circuit as well as much better frequency stability. In the
'Letters' section of the same issue, uBAJX described his transmitter briefly in the
note "Low Power Dope". A 'Stray' .in the January, 1926, issue noted that his
201-A signal had been heard in So. America, and he'd been "swamped with cards
and letters asking how the set was hooked up." Apparently the grassroots
amateur was as hungry for practical hints from successful QRP operators then as
they are now! But while QRP took a back seat in QST, it enjoyed a move to the
front pages of RB through the efforts of Keith Henney.

72
 Chapter 5: Hagemann's Transmitter and Frequency Stability

I. QRP Features and Experiments in Radio Broadcast

"...Let's imagine for a few minutes that you are sitting out in
the radio shack at 2GY with the operators, about to try the new transmitter ... "
In the January, 1926, issue of RB, Nicholas Hagemann (2KP) described "A
Universal Short Wave Transmitter" which represented a new step in the advanc-
ing technology of frequency stability in tl1e low power, single stage transmitter.
Hagemann's description of shortwave amateur signals provides a valuable insight
into tlle apparently universal problem:
Any one who has listened to signals on the very high frequencies, on the so-
called amateur 40 meter-band, for example, will know that strange things occur
there. In the first place, signals do not stay put, but they wobble around, chang-
ing in frequency and strength. It is one of the discouraging things about high
frequency transmission -- but on the other hand, it is one of the joys, for one
never knows what is going to happen next ... among the medley of notes that fill
the 7-megacycle (7000 k.c.) band, 11otes of all so11s, some course and raw,
practically all of them varying, a clea11 steady note is like a beam from a ligh-
thouse 011 a thick 11ight. It gives the receiving operator confidence, for he knows
that the signal will not leave him in the middle of a message.
Hagemann's 'Univer sal Short Wave Transmitter'. Note the use of copper
strips as connecting leads. The 201-A is at center. Experimental model shown
here.

Hagemann then traced the frequency instability problem to tightly coupled trans-
mitter outputs, swinging antennas, and varying filament and plate voltages. The
new circuit provided an extremely stable frequ ency over widely varying operating
conditions. Claimed stability is remarkable. In one version of the circuit con-
structed for 2998-3740 kHz, "a chmige of 150-400 volts 011 the plate of the tube
produced no greater change in frequen cy 1hm1 800 cycles." Remarkable! The circuit
was an adaption of a Signal Corps frequency-measuring instrument. The key to
stability was using a very small tuning circuit inductance paralleled by a very large
capacitance across the grid-filament circuit. Changes in tuned-circuit total
capacitance caused by a swinging antenna and its changing impedance were
thereby 'swamped' by the large parallel circuit capacitance and caused little or no
effect upon frequency. ln addition, r.f. chokes were used to isolate both the grid-
filament and the plate circuits, e!inlinating the instability effects of changing
supply voltages. The unit as described in construction notes would function with
any tube up to a UX210, including the popular 199, 201-A, and 202 types. Low
loss techniques were stressed, with "short, direct, and heavy leads for the radio

73
 Chapter 5: Hamilton Rice Expedition and QRP 'LR'

frequency paths". The complete parts list, including a pair of General Radio
vernier dials (cost = $5.00!!) adds up to $50.00 brand-new, and shows a 500pF
variable as the main tuning capacitor. Two-band coverage was possible (80-40
meters) with the components listed. Jn place of the usual r.f. antenna-current
ammeter, Hagemann showed a flashUght bulb shunted by an appropriate len,,,crth
of wire, an output indicator that QRP operators still use today.
In reviewing the performance of the unit, Hagemann noted 100 mile contacts
at less than one-half watt input, and all U.S. districts had been worked at the
usual 19 watts input to the UX210 tube. For very low power work, a 201-A was
operated with 180 volts on the plate. Mobile experiments (stationary vehicle)
were also described. The heading for the article announces the unit as a "Fiv~
Watt Transmitter of Extraordinary Range and Steadiness Which Can Be Used
With Receiving B Batteries as a Source of Plate Supply." Hagemann's circuit
found ready acceptance at 2GY, the RB experimental station, and QRP work
done with it was descnoed in detail in the April, 1926, issue of RB.
Final Version of 2KP's Transmitter.

RB continued its coverage of shortwave low power work with a detailed a<r
count of the Hamilton Rice Expedition in the feature article of the February,
1926, issue, John W. Swanson's "Radio: The JungJeman's Newspaper: How the
Rice Expedition in the Jungle Maintained Communication with the Outside
World - A Triumph of Short Waves and Low Power When Long Waves and
High Power Failed." The setting of the story, its touting of QRP dependability,
and the dozen pictures, are reminiscent of a similar article appearing over a half-
century later in CQ -- the famous "Jungle QRP", Paul Wyse's (OASV) story of
operating QRP from a remote jungle station in Peru. The pictures of the "flying
boat", the canoes, natives, thatched huts - all are the same in both stories. But
the difference in technology is obvious!
The Rice Expedition had as its objective the mapping of the Amazonian int~
rior. The original plan for communications was to proceed from Para, situated at
the mouth of the Amazon, 850 miles into the interior to Manaos, where the high
power lon&>wave station (200 kl-Iz) would provide contact with the outside world.
The group would then proceed 400 miles further into the interior to Boa Vista,
where the support camp would be established, and the base station WJS was set
up to maintain contact with the 200 kHz station at Manaos. The advance map-
ping party, which had to struggle against the wild river, portaging around rapids
and often making only one-half mile progress per day, carried with it a 25-watt
portable transmitter, originally designed for 100 meter operation.

74
 Chapter 5: Hamilton Rice Expedition and QRP 'LR'

Swanson's account of the difficulties faced by the mapping parly reminds one
of the 'headhunters' movies of the 1950's, but the real anxiety was directed at
maintaining communications, and the initial failure to establish contact with
Manaos cast a gloom over the hoped-for link with the outside world. To add to
the problem, the high-power tubes for the longwave base station at Boa Vista
quickly burned out, leaving the group only with the low power portable transmit-
ter and a pair of 50-watters at WJS, and no contact with Manaos, the intended
link to the outside world. Swanson reported their solution to this critical prob-
lem:
Now McCaleb's short-wave experiments [McCaleb was one of the operators]
bore ftuit. During the months since the expedition's sailing, the great amateur
migration to the 40-80 meter band had taken place (Fall, 1924). So, unable to
work Manaos which was, as radio distance measured, but a step away, WJS
began shooting Rice Expedition traffic almost daily to American amateurs.
But first, it was necesary that both the WJS and advance party station LR trans-
mitters be revamped for 40 and 80 meters. An Armstrong receiver was hastily
constructed by the mapping party "in the wilds out of camp odds-and-ends in-
cluding two empty sugar tins" provided by the cook. Despite its haywire construc-
tion, the crude receiver "picked up amateur signals from every radio district of
the United States, and from several foreign countries." The low power portable
unit served as the vital link with base station WJS, and hence operation of the
unit was reserved primarily for passing traffic to WJS from the mapping party.
Conservation of the battery supply was a prime concern. However, LR was re-
ported as worked by many American amateurs, as we've noted earlier, and
McCaleb noted about his own role as operator: "On occasion, when the
operator's curiosity to team how the low power equipment would reach out got the
best of him, he passed a message direct to station 400, M.M. Bums, of Atlanta,
GA." Judging from reports of the reception of LR noted earlier, it appears that
the low power station was being heard widely in the U.S. with good signal
strength.
The view of the radio world from the Amazonian jungle convinced Swanson
that low power was all that was necessary for successful shortwave work. He re-
ports that "there was scarcely a night wizen signals from American amateur stations
were not heard on the crnde shonwave receiver' of LR. Furthermore, "the amount
of power used in transmission appeared not to be a factor of such importance.
Many of the amateurs heard in the forest were using sets with as little as ten watts of
power." The QRN problem in the jungle apparently was tremendous, and re-
quired stretching the 30ft receiving antenna one foot above the ground! And yet
the U.S. low power signals were getting through! The static would diminish for a
"short period just following sunrise when the world could be heard. Sometimes
this fruitful interval lasted two hours, often not longer than fifteen minutes." In
sununarizing his involvement with the Rice Expedition until February 23, 1925,
Swanson concluded: "On the whole, while transmission on the high frequency pro-
ved to a ce1tain extent freaky, communication was established over such long dis-
tances with so little power that the conclusion seems inescapable that short waves
will come to be used extensively in long range work." Indeed, the Rice Expedition
was one of the expeditions then taking place that opened the eyes of the world to
the value of short wave communications - for the many amateurs who learned of
the identity of WJS and LR, there remained, no doubt, a great curiosity as to
whether tJ1eir particular signals had been heard by Swanson and McCaleb.
The March, 1926, issue of RB coverage of QRP exploits featured "A Man and
His Hobby" which we've reviewed in Chapter 4. It was an important part of the
picture developed in this series of RB articles about QRP.

75
 Chapter 5: The 2GY QRP Portable Station

Radio Broadcast continued its QRP series with a report by the staff in the
April, 1926, issue entitled: "How a Portable B Battery Transmitter Works-
Details of Actual Operation of a Forty- and Eighty Meter Transmitter Using B
Batteries for Plate Supply - How the Record of 26000 Miles per Watt Was At-
tained." The transmitter was assembled for the purpose of maintaining com-
munications between RB headquarters in Garden City, NJ, and Pathoque, Long
Island, during the "International Reception Tests" in January, 1926. These tests
were conducted annually to determine the extent to which commercial broadcasts
were being heard on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Station 2GY provided the link
between the RB headquarters and the Long Island listening post, where recep-
tion was excellent but no a.c. power was available. The circuit is that described by
Nicholas Hagemann in the January, 1926, issue.
2GY's Portable Station. The 201-A QRP transmitter with 3 meters is at the top,
the receiver in the middle, and the 8-battery compartment at the bottom provided
450 volts for the entire station.

The staff report primarily covered U1e period during which ilie portable sta-
tion was tested between December 11, 1925, and January 5, 1926 [R12 S.S. Nr: 61].
Always inclined toward the dramatic, the author introduced the scenario with a
Literary flair:
Let's imagine for a few minutes that you are sitting out in the radio shack at
2GY with the operators, about to t1y the new transmitter. It is the night of
December 11th and Operator Mann is at the key with Bob Blanchard standing
by to throw switches and be generally helpful. The air is filled with 40 meter
stations, and among them is 9DDE, John Wilcox, Chicago, whom we call
wit/tout result. Then at 8:15 we send out a 'CQ' which is answered by 9ECC,
Floyd E. Wilkins, at Minneapolis. At that time the tro11smitter tube, a UX-210,
was drawing 22 ma at 400 volts. For an hour 2GY conversed with 9ECC, reduc-
ing the power with the following results: DC Input: 8.Bw, Signal Strength: R4;
4.8w: R4; 0. 78w: R3; 0.34w: R2. Nor bad for a sta11! 1000 miles 011 0.342 watts
-- less power than is taken by the average receiving set.
The approach followed during the first contact was usually applied during later
contacts, first establishing contact with 'high power' (8 watts input) and then
QRP'ing to the Rl-3 signal level. (The 'R' [readability) system is roughly equiv-
alent to our current 'S-units' system, except that reports appear to have been
more accurate in those days.) But often 2GY initially established contact with low
power on the order of 1.5 watts. The second noted contact was with BBZK in
Cleveland, OH, with the power reduction producing the foll ov.'ing results: 20w:
R6; 12w: R6; 4.8w: R4; 1.4w: R3.

76
 Chapter 5: 2GY-9CCQ Two-way QRP Tests: 26,000 M.P.W.

2GY's Portable Transmitter. Rear view of the low-loss transmitter used to set QRP
records at RB.

A December 16th contact (8:18 P.M.) with 9DCG at Rockford, ILL, produced
signals that "were audible all over the room" with a 2GY input of 1.8 watts. A
December 17th contact with 9CCQ at Braymer, MO, led to a series of nightly
tests between December 21st and January 5th. During the fust contact, the power
reduction went all the way down to 40 milliwatts input to a "Sea Gull 201-A"
tube:
Voltage Current Power Signal
290v 19ma 5.5w R3
200v 13ma 2.6w R3
120v 7ma 0.84w R2
75v 4ma 0.3w R2
40v 1ma 0.04w R1
At the 300 milliwatt level, a message was sent to 9CCQ which he copied perfectly ·
across the 1080 miles separating him from 2GY. The record established during the
contact was 26,500 miles-per-watt, one of th e best 'hung up' by American amateur.5
to that time. Included in the article was a list of 16 contacts made with between
0.04 to 17 watts over distances ranging from 700-1080 miles for records ranging
from 50.5 to 26,500 miles per watt. The antenna used by the portable station was
a single wire "poorly insulated, neither vertical nor horizontal and only about 35ft
long." The single wire counterpoise ran in a direction opposite to the antenna
and likewise was no t insulated. Antenna currents were never over 300 ma. Ac-
tually, 2GY was using an antenna approximating a half-wave dipole, although it
was connected directly to the t ransmitter without feedline.
The assessment of the practicality of QRP work echoes earlier comments that
we've seen. After descnbing the antenna system as 'amusing', apparently in con-
trast to the 85ft-high vertical at headquarters, the author provided his conclusions
regarding shortwave QRP work in these terms: "All of which shows that on 40
meter.;, there seems no reason wlzy any one cannot be in communication with any
one else without a lot of expensive apparotus. Witness the fact that with 9CCQ, a
power input of 0.04 watt was successji1l in maintaining communication over a dis-
tance that represents a record of 26,500 miles per watt." His observations regarding
propagation are enlightening: "on 40 meters, reception is erratic, fading is bad, but
phenomenal distances can be attained with low power.5. On 80 meters, tronsmitting
distances are not so great, but steady signals, good traffic handling, and the pos-
sibility of phone transmissions make it a very interesting band in which to work."
Finally, it appears that the portable t ransmitter received considerable use by the
RB staff with interesting results: "This simple transmitter has been in operotion at
2GY with complete success, reports indicating that the pure d.c. note penetrates

77
 Chapter 5: QRP'r Vere Davis's (9CCQ) Story

much better than our 'high powered' outfit, for distances up to 1000 miles." The
high power outfit undoubtedly was powered from the a.c. mains with the usual
poorly-filtered 'raw a.c.' note.
2GY's Portable 80 Meter Receiver. 201-A's funtioned as detector and audio
amplifier. Hammarlund variable capacitors served for frequency and regeneration
controls. The coils were plug-ins for quick band changes.

Station of Vere Davis, 9CCQ. The middle unit is the transmitter with three 201-A
tubes in parallel; the receiver is to the right. Batteries are stacked behind big BC
receiver. A stack of QST's is on the bottom shelf.

As luck would have it, the record QRP contact was a two-way QRP QSO!
9CCQ was using thiee 201-A tubes with 250 volts on the plates, with an input of
slightly over 6 watts during the record contact and subsequent nightly tests. Hen-
ney's effort to recruit new amateurs from the ranks of BCL's perhaps underlies
the inclusion in the article of 9CCQ's story. We learn that Vere Davis (9CCQ):
became interested in broadcast radio about three years ago and it's just a case
of drifting from bad to wo1:s-e, I guess. Have had an amateur's license now
about four or five months and have been active about two and one-half

78
 Chapter 5: Larry Windom (BGZ) 'Brings Home the Bacon'

(mofllhs). I became i11terested in amateur radio just about the same as most
anybody of my age a11d interests does. I've always read radio magazines whe11 I
got the chance and of course couldn 't help seeing shorl wave circuits and the
marvelous things they were supposed to do. I made my first successful short
wave receiver last spring, a little less than a year ago, with th e i111ention of listen-
ing to the short wave broadcasts and was very disappointed when KDKA came
in strong but with bad fading and distortion.
So another fan, now 9CJD, and I began practicing the code, and to our swprise
passed the amateur's examination. My first communication was with 9WQ at
Elmhurst, ILL (40 meters), at about 4 o'clock p.m. November 1st. Next was
9BV at Council Bluffs, IA, and the third was BCJM, Elyria, Ohio, but I found
trouble raising stations. I could get a large current in the alllenna but it wasn't
effective. In a month or so I got time to improve the system and although I don't
get the current I did, reporls are better now. Have been reported at 5AQI,
Meridian, MS, R6 at about noon. Plate voltage 220, mils., 33.
In what is perhaps the first "Operating News Report" such as were published in
The Milliwatt and now in CQ's 'QRP Column', we find the typical material in-
cluding 9CCQ's first few contacts, problems with 'getting out', and finally, his
solution to those problems and the improvement in successful QRP work.

II. Finally ·· Windom (8GZ) Brings a Record Home

"... Windom decided that it was too easy to work the gang with so much power,
so a UV-199 was placed in the transmitter... "
With the publication of the above article in the April issue of RB, the
magazine turned its attention away from low power amateur radio, and in fact
from amateur radio itself, perhaps in deference to QST. But during the same
month, QST returned to QRP achievements in "Some Low Power Records", in
which the astounding DX work by Larry Windom (8GZ-8ZG) was described. In
rhe lead-article in the issue, Assistant Technica.l Editor John M. Clayton (100)
addressed a beginner audience in assuring them that a single-tube transmitter
such as the one described in "Breaking Into Amateur Transmission" would be
adequate. He noted that "many amateurs have communicated over vast distances
in the thousands of miles when using a single UV-199 receiving tube." The impUca-
tion of this comment, as well as many others scattered through the pages of QST
during this period, is that the QRP grassroots movement was not limited to a few
isolated fanatics, but indeed, was a general approach to hamming. Further,
Clayton pointed out the need for a hjgh degree of skill when operating with low
power: "Such work requires that the operator be w1 exceptionally good one." But he
continued on with the amusing statement: "the location of the transmitter and
aerial [must be} almost ideal, or the conditions under which transmission was af-
fected so emitic that the set is not at all consistent." What is amusing about the
statement is that none of the low power work reported in QST reflected such
location and antenna condjtions, and furthennore, as c9CK's work demonstrated
and as Clayton repo rted it in the December, 1925, issue, reliability of low power
DX was the main point of Foster's efforts.
In fact, it was Clayton's account of c9CK's achievements that inspired 8GZ to
attempt the QRP feats which are described in this issue, as we learn from
Clayton's opening comments: "Windom of BGZ-BZG read the story of Colonel
Foster's low power work, told in the January number of QST [actually the Decem-
ber, 1925, issue], and decided to go out and break a few of c9CK's records. He did
-- and although we haven't the slightest desire to start a scrap and we do not want
to spend the rest of our days trying to figure up 'miles per wall', we believe that he
has set a few records that are hard to beat." Indeed Windom did! But Clayton
exhibited little appreciation for what 8GZ actually accomplished. One gets the

79
 Chapter 5: Larry Windom (BGZ) 'Brings Home the Bacon'

impression that both Foster and Windom were viewed by Clayton as a pair of
oddballs bent on impressing people rather than as serious amateurs dedicated to
a scientific investigation of the possibilities of low power communications on the
shortwave bands. In fairness to Clayton, however, it should be noted that he at-
tempted 10 place 8GZ's work into perspective: "It is comparatively simple to set
up a small laboratory oscillator and accomplish a miles per watt record from one
room to the next that is hard to beat. Do it over four or five thousand miles, and
it is a horse of a different color." In his typical dispassionate fashion, Clayton
related the h.igh points of 8GZ's accomplishment, rising to an entirely atypical
level of excitement at the end:
BGZ-ZG started out on low power with a UV-201-A tube operating in the circuit
shown in FIGURE 1. With 75 volts OJI the plate of the 201-A and 4 milliam-
peres plate current he had no trouble working bz1AB (Brazil), a5BG (Kauper in
Austalia), o4Z (S. Africa), KFUH, oA6N, a2CG, z2XZ, and all the U.S. Dis-
tricts. Next, a WD-12 was substituted for the 201-A and with an input of .15 watt
(half of what was nom1ally used with the 201-A) the set continued to work in
fine style, 9AVJ, 9ADO, BAL Y, 2CTQ, 9DTK, BPL, and othe~ closer being com-
municated with easily. Windom decided that it was too easy to work the gang
with so much power, so a UV-199 was placed in the transmitter. With the UV-
199 the DX work contiJ1ued. With 75 volts on the plate, mid a plate curreJ1t of 5
milliamperes a number of 'U' (U.S.) stations were worked and commuJ1icatio11
was canied OJI with a5BG, oA6N, and a2CG! Ohio to Australia and South
Africa OJI a UV-199!!
Remarkable indeed! We're dealing with QRP work of a most extraordinary mag-
nitude, for DX work with 300-375 milliwatts input on 40 meters is of the utmost
difficulty, even with modern antennas. At the time, the R12 Smoothed Sunspot
Number stood at 61.
Windom's ORP Transmitter. B Batteries, LN-199 and all components were
mounted on a single board- 17,820 M.P.W.I

f'IC. :Z-T RK T RA!'OSMITTER. UV-It' IS PUCE

BGZ's transmitter was the typical Hanley oscillator built according to low-loss
procedures, but with one puzzling feature: conductive coupling to the antenna.
This configuration was out of date by the time BGZ did his work, and the ARRL
expected the issuance of new regulations to outlaw it, even though the new re-
gulations overlooked the problem until a little later. With regard to tube types,
Windom found the UV-199 to be "the best low power tube, giving a much better
signal with less input." Again, the superiority of the d.c. note produced by B bat-
tery power was stressed: "Every station who has worked 'low power' BGZ thinks
the set crystal controlled." Undoubtedly, BGZ's antenna contnbuted markedly to
his phenomenal success with QRP. Clayton described it as a "Hertzian affair"
supported by a pair of drainpipe masts 70ft high, one of which was insulated from

80
 Chapter 5: Windom Wins Jewell Contest: 17,820 M.P.W.

ground and used as a receiving antenna. The term "Hertzian" could refer to an
end-fed half-wave, but terminology was not yet consistent at the time. C.F. Rock-
ey, in "Those Who Have Gone Before" (The Milliwatt, June, 1970), suggested
that BGZ used the antenna later named for him, the 'Windom', a half-wave
horizontal antenna with a single feedline inserted about 14% off-center and
tapped directly o nto the oscillator coil. Whatever it was, it certainly worked!
Unfortunately, Clayton did not include a list of BGZ's DX contacts. The only
further information about Windom's work would appear in the announcement of
the winning entry in the Jewell Contest in the July issue.
The May, 1926, issue reminded QST readers about the Jewell Contest in this
'Stray': "Hey. The low power fiends should 1101 overlook the excelle11t Jewell Contest
prize, a watd1 with lots of jewels. Some lad with a UV-199 is going to step in and
become the proud possessor of a beautiful watch. Why doncha try, yourself, OM? If
you have do11e a11y low power work at all, by all meaJ1s get i11 touch with Jewell
Instrument Co., 1650 Walnut St. Chicago. Did you get your copy of the contest rules
they mailed to every U.S. and Canadian amateur? If you didn't, write Jewell a11d
raise heck with them for leaving you off, but most of all here is something for noth-
ing. Grab it!" Not surprisingly, the official contest results in the July, 1926, issue
indicated that BGZ-BZG won the trophy- watch!

The announcement provided details about the three winning contacts by BGZ,
which according to contest rules were averaged to produce the record miles per
watt figure, and further, refers the reader to the April story about BGZ just re-
viewed above. With respect to the qualifying contacts, John H. Miller, Electrical
Engineer of the Jewell Co., noted: "The work was done with a 199 type of tube
with four volts 011 the filament and from 70- 75 volts on the plate. The total jilame11t
and plate watts ra11 from 0.49 to 0.57 (watts)." Note that total input to both plate
and filament were used in the scoring and calculations. Bear this in mind in
perusing Miller's summary of the winning contacts:
From 8:10 to 8:50 A.M. E.S. T. on December 30th, 1925, Mr. Windom was in
communication with Australian 5BG, Mr. H.A. Kauper, 20 Gmney Road, Dul-
wich, Adelaide, South Austmlia. The distance figures 10,100 miles and the total
input was .567 watts, giving a record of 17,820 miles per watt. Mr. Kauper ac-
knowledged the transmission with a very detailed letter giving facts which con-
fim1 the transmission beyond a doubt.
At J2:30 A.M. E.S. T, January 3rd, 1926, communication was established with
0-A6N, Major J.G. Swart, M.C., Cambridge House, Milnerlon, Capetown,
South Africa. The message was ackllowledged by letter conjimiation. Distance
checks up 8,250 miles from Columbus, OH. The total input was .54 watts, giving
a record of 15,280 miles per watt.

81
 Chapter 5: Windom Wins Jewell Contest 17,820 M.P.W.

On Febrnary 28th, 1926, from 2:12 to 2:53 A.M. E.S.T., Mr. Windom worked
Z-2XA, Mr. Geo. H. Shrimpton, 38 Rongotai Tee., Welli11gton1 New Zealand.
The dista11ce figures 8,500 1·11iles, and the wattage was 011ly .493 due to a lower
plate voltage, giving a record of 17,250 miles per watt. The transmission was
acknowledged by Mr. Shrimpton.
Phenomenal results, even when using total input. If we apply the modern input
concept of only plate input, the above figures would be higher. Based upon the
April story, which lists the a5BG, oA6N, and z2XA contacts as occurring with a
201-A tube at 300 milliwatts input to the plate, the records calculate respectively to
33,666, 27,500, a11d 28,333 miles per watt. While none of these approach a2CM's
phenomenal 375,000 miles per watt on 240 meters, they represented the best
American achievements to date. However, if one compares the official results
with Clayton's April story, a discrepancy appears: the official report specifies a
199 as the tube used, while Clayton began with a 201-A, switched to the WD-12
and 199, and included the record contacts as having been accomplished with the
201-A. It would be fantastic to discover BGl's logs in some attic!
In addition to providing details about the winning contacts, Miller summar-
ized Windom's other work, done with a 201-A at up to 2 watts input, with which
stations as far away as Kansas City were worked. He observed with regard to this
distance limit: "beyond which the ground wave evidently fades out and the re-
flected wave comes into play at the greater distances." As yet, the mechanics of
propagation were not understood clearly. With respect to the un-sung heroes of
BGl's story - the receiving operators - Miller commented: "It is rather interest-
ing to note that the receiving sets used by the stations hearing BGZ were in no
way unusual, most of them being an ordinary detector and one step audio. The
transmission efficiency must not be credited to abnormal receiving equipment."
Finally, the direct mail announcements apparently produced the desired results,
for "there were quite a number of entries in the Jewell Contest, although most of
them used 201-A tubes, and did not come anywhere near Mr. Windom's figures
for distance." The historian's pained response to this tidbit of information would
be something like: "how many entiies, what happened to them ? Egads, a goldmine
of data about QRP in the early days and it's been washed into oblivio11 by the
tidewater of history!" What a story the Jewell Contest entries could tell! Inciden-
tally, readers possessing any information of QRP activity in the period, such as
actual logs and the like, are invited to submit them for further historical use. Or
to dream a moment, how about the 'billion to one' shot, the rediscovery of the
Jewell Contest entries!

Ill. Of, By and For the Beginner

" ... Glory be! My 'ammeter' lie! The variable leak eliminated the 'tweet'.
When the leak was properly adjusted,
my note began 10 'root~ as it should, instead o['rweeting'... "
And so, with the official announcement of the winner of the Jewell Contest,
QRP passed out of the Limelight in America for several years. However, in the
previous month, one of those rare masterpieces appeared which captured the
essence of the neophyte QRP'rs experience. J.T. McCormack, 9BHR, struggled
with the mysteries of radio in a manner Kruse undoubtedly approved of and we
are forever indebted for his contn'bution. It might be helpful to provide a few
explanatory comments on the terminology that 9BHR used. First off, the trans-
mitter that he described initially is a two-stage affair, with an oscillator and an
amplifier. The second version is simply an oscillator type transmitter. The prob-
lem with frequency stability ('swingi11g') occurred because the antenna was induc-
tively coupled directly to the frequency determining inductance. In modem
terms, the antenna was coupled directly to the v.f.o. inductance, and any slight
change in impedance exhibited by the antenna "pulled" the frequency of the
82
 Chapter 5: 'Of, By and For the Beginner' - 9BHR

transmitter. The power level of the unit was determined by the 201-A tubes: at a
plate voltage of 96 volts they could be expected to operate at an input of about 2
watts. With 192 volts, the input probably would have risen to about 5 watts. The
'grid-leak' which 9BHR unfortunately replaced with a C battery stabilized the
grid-fllament circuit by means of a very high resistance shunted by a large
capacitor. The 'Bradleyohm' he resorted to was a commercial variable 'grid-leak'.
The 'tweeting' that he referred to as a tone problem is equivalent to our modern
'chirp'. The major method of tuning a transmitter in those days was by means of a
thermocouple a.c. ammeter inserted in the antenna feedline; adjustment was
aimed at maximum antenna current. The unit which 9BHR initially built shows
his rather ambitious, naive attitude. It was actually a receiver and transmitter
built on the same 8 x 24 inch board with 6- inch front panel.

Of, By and For the Beginner

J. T. McConnick, 9BHR
Reprimcd from OST with tire permission oftire Editor
This article is meant for beginners and is written by a beginner. Old
Timers who need a good laugh are welcome. Come on in! The writer (the
beginner of the first part) has had poor luck in securing advice from old
timers. They have tried hard enough, goodness knows! The difficulty lies in
their not getting the beginner's point of view. Beginner's problems simply are
not problems to the old timer -- and there you are! I recently began to 'get
out' with my first little 'peep peep' station. I believe that an account of my
experience in 'getting on the air' will prove rather helpful to the fellow who is
just a jump or two behind me.
My fust crystal set worked 'right off the bat' but my first transmitter has,
er-taken some of the conceit out of me. Before receiving my license, I k.-new
everything - yes, everything! I had bui.lt a neat little outfit, transmitter and
receiver combined, somewhat as it appears in the photographs, but not quite!
Changes have been made.
Trouble Begins
The original transmitting hookup was a master-oscillator power amplifier
['m.o.p.a.1 affair, using a 96-volt storage B battery for power supply. 201-A
tubes were used. I fondly hoped to neutralize this thing on forty meters! I
suppose it could have been done by using enough shielding, time, and possib-
ly, separate batteries for each tube. I did not have sufficient patience, how-
ever. Neutralization not being entirely necessary, it remained unneutralized.
My license finally arrived and I set out to 'knock 'em dead' with low
power. I had no meters and so was using the usual nashlight bulb to indicate
resonance in the antenna circuit. I had no difficulty in tuning the plate circuit
of the power amplifier to resonance with the master oscillator. A flashlight
bulb shunted across the antenna pick-up coil did the trick. When I tried to
tune the antenna to resonance, however, I ran into difficulties. I did not have
enough antenna circuit to light the bulb. I had forgotten the radiation resis-
tance!
I finally conceived the idea of placing the bulb in the tuned plate circuit of
the power amplifier. The bulb, by the way, should be inserted in the lead
going from the variable condenser to the plate of the tube. If it is placed in
the other condenser lead, the current is too great and it will burn out. When
the antenna circuit was then tuned more or less to resonance the bulb went
out. Simple! The bulb was then short-circuited by means of a switch provided
for that purpose. Fine! I now knew, at least, that I was radiating some energy.
Next, I wanted to know what my station sounded like on the air. I tuned
my receiver to forty meters. There was nothing but a 'swish' (hiss] to indicate
that my transmitter was oscillating. I had expected this, however. The trans-
83
 Chapter 5: 'Of, By and For the Beginne'r - 9BHR

mitter osciUations being comparatively strong, the receiver was drawn into
unison with the transmitter. I next tuned the receiver to twenty meters. Ye
gads! The wave was afllicted with St. Vitus dance! I loosened the antenna
coupling. Much better! I loosened it still more.
I next made a discovery. I listened on eighty meters and found that the
wave seemed much steadier than when I listened on twenty. A little thought
solved this mystery. For every change in frequency made by the transmitter its
second harmonic goes through a change of frequency twice as great. When I
listened on twenty meters I was listening to the second harmonic of my trans-
mitter [operating on 40 meters] and things sounded twice as bad as they really
were. When listening on eighty meters I was listening to the main wave of
the transmitter with the second harmonic of my receiver.
All this sounds as if I had been holding the key down for hours. Not so. I
believe that a fellow ought to have some sort of idea as to what he is trying to
find out before he starts to test. If I do not hear what I want to hear within a
minute or two, it is time to 'shut 'er ofr and think it over again.
I next tried working the key. Another problem! My note had a temble
'tweet'. By 'tweet' I mean that the wave 'skidded' very time I pressed the key,
so that I heard only the dots and the beginning of the dashes or else heard
only the tail end of the dashes -- depending upon how I tuned the receiver. I
knew, in a general manner, the cause of this, but try as I might, I could not
eliminate that 'tweet'. It seemed that the tube impedance began to change
the instant the plate current started to now and continued to change for a
considerable fraction of a second. While the tube impedance was changing,
the frequency was also changing. I did not try to 'work' anybody. No one
could have read such a note - though lots of folks never seem to think of
that.
A Simpler Set
I suppose I should have 'stuck to my bush,' but I did not. I decided to
work with something simpler and so discarded the whole master oscillator
scheme. I chose the series-feed balanced Colpitts circuit popularized by Hof-
fman of the Burgess Laboratories and used in the set which was built for the
Wilkins north-pole expedition. This hookup was simple and would use all
three of the variable condensers which were already mounted in my outfit. I
did not use a grid leak, however. I had been using a C-bartery in the old
hookup and continued to use it in the new one.
Grief and more grief! The same old 'tweet' persisted. Moreover, I now
had no means of tuni ng my antenna to resonance. I decided to light up that
antenna 'ammeter' or go broke. I went to the nearest radio store and spent
thirty doUars for another 96-volt storage B battery and two doUars for a
'Bradleyohm' to serve as a grid leak.
Glory be! My 'ammeter' lit! The variable leak [the 'Brad/eyohm1
eliminated the 'tweet'. When the leak was properly adjusted, my note began
to 'toot', as it should, instead of 'tweeting'. If you do not understand what I
am trying to say about 'tweeting' and 'tooting', listen to the crystal control
stations - they 'toot'.
I was now nearer than ever before to having a real station, but was still far
from the goal. The wave was swinging much worse than had been the case
when using the master-oscillator power amplifier arrangement. I loosened the
coupling until it looked actually foolish. The swinging was improved by this,
but not nearly enough. My next act was to give the neighboring BCL's a
treat. I went out and guyed my aerial and counterpoise at short intervals with
cotton string. (If you laugh, it shows that you don't know anything about
'forty meters', so there!) I tested again. Eureka! The wave was not entirely

84
 Chapter 5: 'Of, By and For the Beginner' - 9BHR

steady, but was good enough to try. Now to work someone! Anyone! I was
really not very confident of the result. An interval of two months or so had
elapsed by t h.is time since receiving my license. Little things -- such as con-
tinuous failure -- have a way of undermining a fellow's faith.
I spent the remainder of the afternoon and evening trying to 'ra.ise' some-
body. I called CQ (properly); I answered other fellows' CQ's but without
response. It was finally time to go to work (I work at night) and failure was
still mine. (No sleep that day, of course.) All night long, while at work, I pon-
dered over the problem. I remember what the old-timers have told us so
often - that the amount of antenna current is no indication of how well we
are getting out. I had noticed, while adjusting the set, that oscillation did not
seem to be very strong at the high frequency end of the forty meter band. I
had supposed this to be due to the peculiarities of the choke coil - or some
such thing. I now viewed the matter in a different light. "Perhaps", I thought,
"oscillation is just as strong at this end of the band as at the other, but the
antenna current is less because of increased radiation resistance!"
The following day I tuned the set as near to the short wave end of the
forty meter band as I dared. It was necessary to couple the antenna coil close-
ly in order to find resonance, afterward loosening the coupling until the wave
was sufficiently steady.
Success at Last!
9CFN was on the air. I called him with as much outward confidence as if I
was in the habit of working the antipodes daily, but 1 had an inward convic-
tion that my signals were having a struggle to cross the county line. I threw
the switch to the receiving side -- expecting nothing. ,
I want to tell you, feUows, that the sound of my own call letters zipping
through my phones was the sweetest music I had ever heard in my life! I shall
never forget it during the rest of my days. The music .in Heaven will doubtless
prove to be a distinct disappointment to me, provided, of course, that I -
Habit kept my pencll going, but my thoughts danced about in chaotic
ecstasy. (I am getting poetic, but dang it! I have to express myself, don't I?)
9CFN had finished and was waiting for my answer. I grasped the key. Some-
thing was wrong! It had turned into a 'bug' key! I sent a string of dots at
about sixty per. Perhaps I was nervous. I tried using both hands. This only
made it twice as bad. Horrors! I could not answer him! I wept and overturned
my chair in excitement. My wife came mnning -- convinced that lightning had
struck the shack at last! She found me leaning weakly against the wall, gasp-
ing for breath. I grinned an idiotic grin. "Gosh! Mom", I sputtered, "I
worked a fellow!"
Sure, go ahead and laugh, but see what happens whe n you wo1k your first
station.
I was working too near to the edge of the forty meter band to be absolute-
ly sure that I really was inside of it. Therefore, I went out and added a few
feet of wire to my antenna for the purpose of increasing the radiation resis-
tance in the middle of the band. I intend to stick right there - .in the middle
of the band until I know my 'stuff better.
After working a few stations, I made another discovery. I found, while
testing for 'swinging', that a goodly portion of the unsteadiness was caused by
my wife walking under the electric light fixtures. Experiment showed that the
signal disappeared completely when the fixture was actually touched with the
hand. Thi.s was true of any fixture in the house - and I live d in an apartment
house! I solved the difficulty by establishing a local 'ground' for the Lighting
circuit by grounding it through a condenser taken from a Ford Coil. This is as

85
 Chapter 5: Exiled to Foreign Parts: IARU Reports

good as an actual ground so far as radio frequencies are concerned and it will
not blow your fuses if a plug happens to get turned around.
I worked more stations. By the time I had worked an '8', nearly a
thousand miles distant, I was growing more and more proud of my outfit and
more and more ashamed of my operating ability. Learning the code and the
Q signals does not make an operator. My station has been 'off the air' for
some time. At the present, I am just listening to the other fellows while I try
to learn something about good operating-practice. Try to learn something
about operati.ng while you learn the code, fellows, it wiU save you time and
embarassment."

In the effort to save other newcomers wasted time and effort, 9BHR took pen
in hand, and rightly deserves to be heard and remembered by all of hamdom in
aeternum. May the Fates have favored him with many satisfying QSO's upon his
return to the airwaves! Say 'Amen', QRP'rs!

IV. Exiled to Foreign Parts --

Buried in the Fine Print of the IARU Reports
"... digging some infomzation out of the tables in the JA.R U. Department of back QST's
to learn what W(rvelengtfls are used most by each foreign location ... "
Even though QRP ceased to enjoy front-stage publicity in QST, its banish-
ment to the fine-print IARU reports in the back of QST had perhaps even
greater impact upon the elite DX operators of America. Like today's DX'ers who
subscribe (at a high price) to various DX newsletters to keep abreast of what the
foreign operators are doing and when and where they can be found on the bands,
the American DX'ers of the 1920's undoubtedly poured over the IA.RU reports
in search of the data which would place them on the right frequency at the right
time to score another 'new one' for the DX list. They certainly could find such
data, but a quite considerable portion of that data {about 40-50% in many of the
DX reports) dealt with the phenomenal DX work by foreign QRP operators, and
a sizeable portion of the non-QRP work was at the 'medium power' level of 30-70
watts, with only a few foreign operators using high power such as typified
American DX operations.
The overall impression that the American operator would have gotten from
the IARU reports is summarized in z2X4's comment: "Apparently high power is
quite unnecessaty for DX woi*." In the remainder of this chapter, the IARU re-
ports are excerpted to provide the modern reader with a 'window on the past'.
And again, it must be borne in mind that, for the most part, t hese reports detail
work done on the 80 and 40 meter bands, with scattered 20 meter achievements
appearing toward the end of 1927. There is no need to provide a narrative
framework for these excerpts since the early reader encountered them just as
they are presented here: scattered bits and pieces of information. Imagine, then,
that you have just begun working DX on 40 meters with a UV-210 at 70 watts
input, and have been dreaming of a pair of UV-203's at 200 watts or a single
UV-204 at 450 watts input for a further pursuit of DX work. You've just received
the May, 1926, issue of QST and flipped immediately to the IA.RU report on
page 54 - that's where the dope is to be found ...

British Section
"Conditions for DX work, as far as the British hams are concerned, have been
very erratic during the past month. American signals come through for a few days
at a time, a nd then completely fade out for a few days. The remarkable part is
that when American conditions are bad, communications with South America
and Porto Rico are always very good. Nothing extraordinary in the way of new
DX records have been created by British stations. Several two-way communica-

86
 Chapter 5: Exiled to Foreign Parts: IARU Reports

tions with America with power of ten watts, and under, have been held. These
include g6YR, g5YK, g5SI, g5HS, g2DQ, g6BT, and g2XI/. Also Irish stations
gi6BT and gi1/B. g2U has had a daily schedule with pi1HR (Phillipines). This
contact has been very reliable in spite of the fact that communication with
Americans in a westerly direction has been so erratic ... The best DX work by
g2U was made on February 7th when during a space of six hours the following
two-way contacts were made: pi1HR, fi8QQ (Saigon), z2BX (New Zealand),
Egypt, EGEC (Q1H??), a3EF (Australia), oA6N (New Zealand), c2BG
(Canada), and utCAL (U.S.)."

New Zealand
"By radio through z5ZAl-9ZT and z2XA-z3AF-z1AO we have the following
account of New Zealand activities: "Apparently high power is quite unnecessary
for DX work. NFK recently reported z2XA as R7 when he was using only 85 watts
input in a new tube. z2XA's normal input is around 250 watts into a Western
Electric 50-watt rube. z2XA recently received sigs of uBGZ (Windom) when the
latter was using a UV-199 with an input of less than six tenths of a watt ... Winter
is now approaching and the DX already seems to be improving. Quite a lot of
new low power ham stations are coming on the air and all are very anxious to be
QSO the U.S. z3AD has worked England with an input of only 2.5 watts...z28X
has been working gi (Ireland), and pi (Philipines) stations with a 5-watt tube.
Then he blew it!"

ANK
"A new spot on the globe has been reached by amateur radio. On March 11th,
Decker, of u1RD (U.S.) was QSO ANK who gave his QRA as the Savoy Geog-
raphic Expedition in the Sahara Desert, 1000 miles south of Tunis. His wave was
44 meters, QSB RAC. and u1RD reported him R3 to R6 with a lot of fading.
Apparently a portable set with a hand driven generator was used at ANK. A few
minutes later ANK was QSO u2GK at Schenectady and later BBPL, 2PP, and was
copied by 1BBK, 2AER, BDSY and BZAE (all U.S.). We hope that we receive fur-
ther particulars concerning this expedition."
The June, 1926, issue followed up on the May report on the progress of the
Wilkins Expedition and its exploration of the Arctic regions. As usual, a forward
party relied upon a battery-operated portable rig to maintain communications
with the base camp, in this case located at Fairbanks. The advance party ground
through a seven- week overland trip, met with grueling weather and related dif-
ficulties, and had to butcher several of the sled-dogs for food, but QRP measured
up to the situation: "During the party's seven- weeks mush, Waskey was in com-
munication almost every night with Mason, back in Fairbanks, using the little
ballery-operated set whid1 Mason had built, on a portable aetial. This set has two
201-A tubes, supplied by Burgess batte1ies. It is certainly wondeiful the way those
baueries lasted, particularly in the temperature of 35 below. The mmvel is not that
Waskey occasionally failed to get thru but that his set did so well over a length of
time much greater than planned on."
Back i.n the IARU section, we get a glance at the outstanding DX work of a
Hawaiian high school student: "Another ve1y excellent piece of DX work has been
pulled off, hu6CLJ, Masayuki Mismnoto, at Honolulu recently worked oA3B in
Johannesburg, S..Af, using a 50-wall tube at an input of 39.5 watts on 38 meters.
DX is 14,000 miles. This boy 6CLJ deseives a lot of watching. lfe is going to make
DX hounds look to their laurels. With only 2.5 watts input to a 202 he has been
QSO ch3/J (Chile), aboul 6000 miles away and with either a 202 or 201-A he has
been QSO several times with rDB2 (Argentina)." Further, Irish "6YW has worked
the USA on 2 watts input, a record for Irish DX," and from the Phillipines we team
 Chapter 5: Exiled to Foreign Parts: IARU Reports

that "Elser of pi3AA has just worked g5HA when the latter was using an input of
only 5.4 watts."
A photo of a58G, HA. Kauper, who engaged in the historic tests with c9CK,
appeared in the featured stations section of the July, 1926, issue. The unit
employed a 201-A, and we read: "This is a11 i11temationalfy known statio11, and is
the product of HA. Kauper, a58G. A pair of transmitters are in use. The latest, and
most interesting, is a low power affair using a 201-A with inputs ranging from 5.2-
7.5 watts. On 34 meters this little set has been QSO the U.S. 14 times within the
space of a few nights! He uses a 58ft antenna, 46ft high, with a 65ft countetpoise at
lOft." The IARU reports in the July and August issues provide a few tidbits:
"Several low power stations are working in the Jersey Channel islands and have
done good DX work with about 10 wafts. These include g2ZC, g5CW, g60X, and
g6PU, all of whom have been QSO the U.S. g5SZ has done some low power tests
with oA4Z (S. Aftica) ... A number of French amateurs have changed their
wavelengths ft-om 43 to 33 meters with marked improvement in DX On 33 meters,
fBCP has been QSO a number of times with u's (U.S.), bz's (Braxil), a's
(Australia) with only 14 wafts input. f8YN8 has been QSO u2AER (U.S.) when
using an input of 2 waits." From Chile: "We have 12 stations on the air i.n the
43-37 meter band. All are using either 5-watters, or receiving tubes operated
from the d.c. city lighting mains." /58 (Italy) was reported as having worked a
number of British stations while using an input of 3 watts.
The October, 1926, issue provided the type of special information that would
whet the appetite of any DX'er in regard to rare Java: "3-4 hams are operati11g in
Java. The illegal PK7 has increased his power to 10 wafts a11d has been QSO the
U.S. every night afterwards. He uses two Phillips 201-A tubes for transmission. PK1
is now on the air in the 40 meter band with a 5-10 watt input." No doubt hordes of
American DX hounds scanned 40 meters daily after reading that! Another ex-
pedition, the Putnam Arctic Expedition, was noted as having relied upon QRP.
Ed Manley, operator of the expedition station VOQ, even passed traffic to the
states via u9CP (U.S.), and reported that "contact next to pe1fect even when VOQ
using the low-powered emergency outfit."
A complete rundown on Irish operations appeared in the IARU section,
where the distinction was drawn between Northern Ireland ('gi' prefix) and the
Irish Free State ('gw' prefix). The report continued: "gw5NJ continues to QSO
Australia, New Zealand, and South Afiica, and lately has worked Argentina. Phone
sigs have been put across to Australia, Canada, and Brazil. gi6MU is at present on
a voyage from Ireland to Canada and back, and contact was maintained easily all
the way across the Atlantic each night with 5NJ and 6YW. 6YW uses an input of 6
walls and is one of the best low power G's. He holds a record by raising and working
Porto Rico on 2 watts, and on this power he has been QSO U.S. and Canada re-
gularly. This is hard to beat. Jn Sowhem fl-eland (Irish free State), no station at
present uses more than 10 watts input but excellent work has been done. 118 and
188 have both worked the U.S. more than once and 198 has worked all Europe
on 3 to 5 watts. Other excellent low power work has also been done, there is not
space enough to give details."
The November and December, 1926, issues provided a good survey of several
areas. With respect to operation in Japan, we learn that the newly formed JARL
had about 30 members, mostly high school students, who operated illegally, since
amateur radio was not yet permitted there. "The majority use either 201-A 's or
202'.~. Despite the low power, the 'J's' are QSO China, the Phillipines, and the U.S.
almost eve1y night." South Africa reported: "o-A3E on low power in Natal, has
been doing excellent wo1* with the 'u'(U.S.) stations. He has been QSO the 6th and
7th districts with daylight all the way across ... S. Aftica is a vast cowlfly like tire
U.S. and the large towns are separated by distances of hundreds of miles. A great

88
 Chapter 5: Downward to 20 Meters - 1927

deal of work is being done by some of the hams on low power, using receiving tubes
with inputs of 2-8 watts. Pretty regular communication is being establishd over dis-
tances of from 800-1000 miles." From Madiera: "P-3CO has been working with an
input of 15-20 watts and has been QSO the following U.S. districts: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8,
and has been heard by 5th and 9th district stations, one of the latter being in
Colorado and Mexico, and has worked Brazil."
The University of Michigan Greenland Expedition, signing dg1XL, was re-
ported as having worked VOQ at 1000 miles. The expedition used a pair of CX-
301-A's [similar to the UV-201-A) in a Hartley circuit, B batteries supplying 200
volts for the plates. Operation on 38-41 meters from a puptent relied upon a 40ft
wire and a fan counterpoise with three 20ft wires.
Australian z2YI reported that "Chinese JCRS, a 5- watter in Shanghai, is heard
often." From Chile: "ch4AQ at Chance, using one 201-A tube with 220 volts of
d.c. on its plate has been working many U.S. stations and established the first two-
way work between Chile and Po1to Rico when he QSO'd pr4SA (Puerto Rico).
ch4AQ has a£50 worked z2AC, z1AX (N. Zealand), and has been heard in
England." From Denmark: "There are now about 35 licensed transmitting stations
in Denmark, including one in the Faroe Islands (d7JO). Most of these stations use
from 5 to JO watts of power. d7MT has been QSO the U.S. with only 5 watts and
has also worked Brazil." From Japan: "j3AA for 5 months has been using a single
5-watter and has worked z's (N. Zealand), Urnguay, 6th-7th U.S., Australia, S.
Africa, Hawaii, and the Straits Settlement." From France: "The station of fBGM
has managed to QSO New Zealand when using very low power. BGM's sigs were
reported RS by six New Zealand operators. He is using the symmetrical system type
circuit known in France as the Mesny circuit, with 4 receiving tubes having a total
input of about 4 watts. lamas of fi/B in Saigon, who is now on the air with a power
of a few watts only, has neve11heless been heard by fBKF. This is certainly a fine
low power record. "

V. 1927: And Then 20 Meters

R12 S.S. Numbers: 72-69
"...and find solid contacr possible with very low power... "
1927 saw an increasing movement down to 20 meters, so much so that QST
carried the "20 Meter Report" every month which provided details of amateur
discoveries about that band. Foreign operators apparently were there first, and
the announcement of the first international DX contest in March, 1927, 'An
Intemational Relay Party' drew attention to their presence: "Any wavelengths at
all that are used by amateurs may be used in the contest. It may be helpful if the
palticipants spend some time in advance of the tests in listening-in to note where
eve1yone is located on the dial or even in digging some i11fon11ation out of the tables
in the IARU Department of back QST's to /eam what wavelengths are used most by
each foreign. locality. 20-meters will undoubtedly play an interesting parl in this
contest, as many countries are working on that wave already and find solid cofltact
possible with very low power. The man with the one or two five-wafters has just as
good a chance of rolling up a big score as the chap with the high-power outfit."
Again, foreign DX accomplishments were linked with QRP. A note from sc3AG
(Chile) in the August, 1927, "20-Meter Work" report verified the wisdom of the
contest announcement: "Undoubtedly, the 20-meter band is better by far than
the 40-meter band for U.S. contact. Only twenty of my 232 points in the Interna-
tional Relay Contest were obtained on 40-meters."
The IARU report for January, 1927, called attention to the usefulness of 20
meters for DX work: "It is hoped that much effort will be put into 20-meter opera-
tion soon ... A nice /ow-power stunt was recently pulled off when Grindle of Ham-
mond, Indiana, put over a string of signals to G. W Mitchell of London. Grindle
was using a single 201-A tube operating on 21.3 meters, with an input of 0. 78 watt."
89
 Chapter 5: The R.S.G.B. 'QRP QSO Tests for 20 Meters'

The foreign operators continued to run moderate power for their DX work with
excellent success. Maurice Island was noted as having recently appeared: "On
November 4th (1926) Strout of u2NZ (U.S.) speared a new station in a new
'country' when he worked w-3XB, A.W. King, 33 Virginia Ave., St. Paul, Maurice
Island. g2BSL intercepted both sides of the QSO and subsequently u1RF,
uBALY and u4NH were in communication with w- 3XB. u2NZ reported his signals
as R4, a.c. note and his wavelength around 33 meters. w-3XB was using an input
of 60 watts at the time of his 2NZ QSO. Maurice Island is near Madagascar."
The S. Africans were quite active DX'ers, as we find frequent WlU reports
from them, as in the February, 1927, issue: "Conditions have improved a good
deal and many QSO's have been made between nu's (U.S.) and Io's (N. Zealand).
The 6th and 7th (U.S.) districts get a lot of attention in the afternoons here, the
signals apparently coming from the East -- the longest way around. foA5Z and
foA3C are to be commended highly for having established communication with the
nu's (U.S.) as they use very small power. foASZ uses an input between 20 and 30
watts and has a pure d.c. note which is due to storage ballery plate supply. South
American stations are now booming in again and many QSO's are being made.
Some of the best sb (Brazil) stations are 181, 2AB, 1AO and 1AW. These four can
be heard nearly every night and in addition a great number of the low-power
Brazilian stations are being heard and worl<ed here now."
The February, 1927, issue carried a significant announcement: "QRP-QSO
Tests for 20-Meters. The T. & R. Section of the Radio Society of Great Britain
announces fwther tests to be held daily during the month of Febn1ary. Efforts to
establish two-way communication with as many stations as possible will be con-
centrated on Saturdays and Sundays paniculmiy, when most station-owne~ can
spend all their time operating the set. The eg's (England) will operate 011 23 mete~
(13,000KC's) using a maximum power not exceeding 25 walls which preliminary
tests indicate is ample ... The T. & R. Sectio11 is endeavoting to make the test an
international one." Apparently the low-power emphasis was widespread enough
in England to warrant the formation of a QRP club by 1927. The March, 1927,
issue informs us: "The Q.R.P. Transmitters Society with headqumters at 178 Ever-
ing Road, Clapton, London, E.5, England are desirous of ammging a schedule for
worl<ing across the pond on about three or four watts and would be glad to hear
from any 'nu's' (U.S.) who are interested." Unfortunately, no follow-up report
appeared with results. Nonetheless, The G-QRP Club can find great pride in
being the latest generation of the first QRP Club ever founded!
The April, 1927, WlU report from New Zealand suggests that 80 meters had
experienced something of a demise with respect to DX activity: "It is hoped that
some of the U.S. stations will return to 80 meters and be QSO 'oz' (N. Zealand)
again. It's a long time since one did! Several of the boys are taking portable sets
with them on their travels and hope to be QSO the world on 199s and 201- As.
Among these are 1AA, 1AE, 1FO, 2GA, and 4AO. They would appreciate re-
ports." Seems that QRP operators never change, always hoping for the impro-
bable! South Africa once again reported QRP DX work: "It is the middle of the
summer here and very hot. Conditions are still very good for DX work and good
perfonnances are being put up by some of our low-powered men. foA3T has worl<ed
Australia with ten watts; foA3T has worked Malaya with five walls and many like
petfonnances are taking place."
Likewise, Irish amateurs were doing excellent work with QRP: "The Nonhem
Ireland stations continue to do splendid worl< and it is sati~factory lo record that the
recent low-power tests, under the auspices of the RSGB, were wo11 by eg6YW. The
previous low- power work of 6YW is well known and it is, therr:fore, not swprising
that he was the best station in the British Isles during the tests. On five walls, con-
tact was had with the whole of Europe, also many U.S.A . and Canadian stations.

90
 Chapter 5: The R.S.G.B. 'QRP QSO Tests for 20 Meters'

eg6MU, another well known station, secured third place in the tests, being QSO
many U.SA. and Canadian stations as well as being heard in India and many other
distan t places with an output of five watts. Two other stations, eg5MO and
eg5WD, also worked the U.S. on 5 watts or less, so that, when it is remembered that
there were only about a dozen stations in Northern Ireland taking part in the tests,
these results are ve1y satisfactory." Indeed they were! It appeared that, judging
from this unofficial 'results' report, QRP activity was impressive in the ORP-QSO
Tests for 20 Meters sponsored by the RSGB. In addition, the work of some
moderate power Irish stations was noted: "eg6MU, on between 50 and 75 watts
input, is doing splendid work, having recently worked lndo-China, Australia, New
Zealand, India (on 1'NO and a half watts input on one occasion), Mosul and other
places. It is expected the station will be on crystal control by the time these notes
are in print. Excellent DX has been done by eg6SQ on about one half watt input
and other active low-power stations are 288, 6HI, SGH and 600. SNJ, on an
input of 75 watts, has had most consistent DX results during the last few months.
Countries worked include China and Borneo (for the first time from Ireland),
also Australia, Tasmania, S. Africa (all parts), New Zealand and sundry South
American stations including Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil ... ln the Free State,
things seem quiet, and few stations report doing DX. eo1/B is, however, making
up for the silence of the other.r, as he has been QSO a large number of U.S. stations
lately on 7 watts input. On this power he is usually able to get 'across the pond' any
evening, being R5 to 6 in the U.SA. His DX is most consistent and good. eo14C
has put up a record by working the Straits Settlement on 10 waits, this also being the
first two-way contact between Ireland and that country. He is also doing excellent
DX work with U.SA."
Periodically, QRP operators would submit reports to the "20- Meter Reports"
section of QST detailing their successes on that band. In the June, 1927, issue, for
example, 788 "reported traffic plentiful and he has been QSO all districts with 6
watts input in less than three weeks." nu5ACL reported a plethora of ZL stations
and had worked a few: "He has been QSO oz2AC and efBCT (France) and
worked a ship signing deTC on 20.5 meters 1400 miles from the U.S. with one
201-A and 110 v.d.c. from the ships supply. This station was unlicensed but will
have license soon." nu4PX noted: "20 is sure FB but you have not yet sung its
praises loud enough from the standpoint of the fellow with low power or poor loca-
tion -- or both. I have a 7 1/2 watter and a back yard full of high power lines -- no
chance for an outside antenna. My antenna and c.p. (counterpoise) are each made
of 15 feet of stranded electrical light wire. Tire horizontal parls are about 11 feet
each with ant. and c.p. separated about 7 1/2 feet and in same room with transmit-
ter. Jn three weeks on '20' I have worked all U.S. an.d Canadian districts with re-
ported of R6 to RB from France and Australia and what's be/fer, pe1fec1 contacts
tluuout long QSOs." The Editor noted of nu4PX's report: "This Jetter speaks for
itself."
The July issue carried a brief note on the state of affairs in Japan: "The
Japanese amateur has not been having a particularly good time although he cer-
tainly has been active, in a way." Authoritjes attempted to track down Japanese
amateurs in the act of carrying on illegal transmissions, but word got around, and
no one operated. But the editor of a BCL magazine tricked one of the unsuspect-
ing operators into providing a list of all active operators, which he then turned
over to the police. Before the shut- down of activities, "There were more than 40
enthusiastic amateur.r and alt/rough they were using very low power most of them
were making remarkable records. The average station consisted of one or two 201-A
tubes while a few were using 202s. A very few 'high power' stations employing 50
walter.r were in operation. Despite this low power most of the stations were in con-
tact with New Zealand, Australia, South America, China, Philippines, and Africa."

91
 Chapter 5: eg6YW/eg2BX's Letter 'QRP'

Clandestine operations continued, and readers were given the not- infrequent
advice that all QSL cards should be sent "under cover" to avoid tipping off the
authorities.
In the Correspondence section of the same issue (July, 1927), T.P. Allen of
eg6Y'N/eg2BX, North Belfast, Northern Ireland, submitted an impassioned plea
to the high power American operators:

QRP
"Editor, OST: Although I hesitate as a QRP man, to put my views fotward in
your columns, I do want to support the pleas of eg6YQ and eg5MQ in your April
number and to add a few extra remarks on my account. These remarks do not solely
apply to 'nu' (U.S.) stations and I hope other stations will consider them. Many 'nu'
stations and others give a 'CQ Europe' call and after listening for about thirty
seconds give another CQ call. It is obvious that they only wish to work high-power
stations and do not carefully sift the foreign band. I find that to go carefully th1U the
40-meter 'nu' band, takes at least six minutes and I think tire offending stations
might search a little more carefully.
Please remember, the majority of our stations are limited to ten watts input and
only a very few are on 32 meters. I know of several DX stations that only listen for
British stations on 32 meters and thus, after a CQ call, leave many of us calling
them uselessly on 45 meters ... There is no doubt that our QRP signals often get th1U
to 'nu' stations with fair strength. 1/iis was obvious in the recent QRP tests when no
QRO stations in Britain were tmnsmilling and I was able to work four 'nu' stations
and one 'nc' (Canada) in an all-night silting with five watts input, receiving average
reporl of R-4. On ordinary nights, one gets the impression that DX stations will not
reply to a rather weak signal but call and call again ti/ they get a QSA reply.
At the same time, I wish to thank those stations who have carefully sifted the
45-meter band and given many of us QRP stations the pleasure of a QSO; I wish
there were more ofyou! More power to your excellent joumal •• it's great/"
Allen's ironic "more power" leaves little doubt as to his real ,iudgment of the
American high power operators -- he, Kruse and Maclurcan could have had an
excellent ragchew on the subject! The American reliance upon brute force again
was directly linked to deplorably poor operating skills.
The September issue, provided mostly general information in the IARU sec-
tion, with a few tidbits involving QRP: "In Austria, there are now over one-
hundred active amateurs (all non-licensed; please send all cards under cover!)
mostly working QRP although several are using powers up to 400 watts and are
working regular schedules with Australia, U.S.A. etcetera." The Italian A.RI.
reported that "i1AU has been doing some very find work with an input of only 3
watts. i1NO has w01*ed New Zealand and all conti11ents on pho11e with 15 watts
input."
A letter from D.L. Edmundson (5ARA) appeared in the Correspondence sec-
tion of the October, 1927, issue and reminds one of those beginner's days that
many of us have experienced in our own QRP pursuits. In fact, it could be titled
"The SARA Story" and put at the beginning of a book about QRP! The scene is
Louann, Arkansas:

An Accidental Convert
"I am a member of that ever increasing order of converled BLCs, most of whom
have been led over by QST. I have gone through the usual stages of 'one tube and
up' sets and, located as I am where the only i11terest in radio of any kind is listening,
I have trod a rocky path. To get infonnation on my pet subject, I was forr:~d to buy
every radio publication that newstands offered and purchased a copy ofQST one
time mistaking it for a BCL magazine. After discovering my etTOr I decided that it
should be read rother than let the two-bits be a total loss and the further I got be-
92
 Chapter 5: 'The SARA Story' - 'An Accidental Convert'

tween the covers, the more interested I became. My previous idea of amateur radio
transmitters was that they were something that rich men's sons and single men with
sizable incomes could play with. Imagine my surprise and subsequelll gratification
when I discovered that a small workable outfit could be put up for the cost of a fair
broadcast set and that, with the junk on hand and very few purchases, I had one at
my command.
I soon discovered the joker, however, in the ten words per minute. Work on the
receiver was under way, though, and after its completion followed many hours of
listening and copying the various ham and commercial stations and tire old key and
buzzer had its workout. I seined the whole countryside for someone in whom
enough interest could be fired to hold key and buzzer sessions with me, all without
avail. W71en I reached tir e stage where some of tire commercial stations could be
copied solid, Uncle Sam was approached in th e matter of a license which was pro-
mptly granted.
In the meantime, the balance of the BC set had gone into a tuned plate, tuned
grid transmitter using a couple of 201-A 's. Then came the matter of power supply.
Tire only available current supply was 110 volts, d.c., generated locally with a lt11ge
gas engine as the motive power which ran unsteadily and generated a brand of
power out of the question. Tire one silver lining came in the fact that tire current
came free of charge and was ideal for charging storage batteries and 180 volts of
storage plate power it was.
Don't imagine that I went on the air immediately and gathered in a lot of DX I
listened and answered CQs and sent them in great flocks without result. The
weather was almost unbearably hot and the neiglrborliood electric fans on this d.c.
supply put out a brand of QRM that could not be beat ... After the receiver had been
rebuilt twice and the transmitter had been reborn three times, the thrill of a lifetime
came when a '6' answered a CQ and came back with 'R5 de fb om.' This, on twenty
meters with a plate cwrent of twenty-two m ils and an a111en11a cwrent of .025 amps
as near as it could be read on a .5 amp m eter. Since that time, all U.S. districts have
been worked on twenty meters with R5s from California to Massachusetts. At 110011,
Mass. gave me R3. My antenna cwrent will not light a 1.5-volt lamp and the cover
had to be removed from a Spatic C and the glass grasped right over the live end to
get GJ1 indication from the stator plates of the plate coil tuning condenser.
Sitting down here working without help, l leam lots of things and hear lots of
things. Some tirings I hear are good and make for the advancement of amateur
radio and some things are not so good. The feflows working on the twenty-meter
band are one fine bunch of boys and I would like to have some means of thanking
those of them who have been so patient with a new ham just stm1i11g out and whose
sending must be atrocious. l will welcome any suggestions from those boys; i11 fact, I
invite them .... "
D.L. Edmondson's (SARA) closing paragrap h should provide encouragement
to beginners who are stuck out in the middle of nowhere with no radio amateurs
in sight to help them along. It has been that way for many of us throughout the
radio era. Perseverance brings that desired reward - contact with others like
ourselves via radio.
Colonel Foster (nu6HM) of c9CK-a5BG fame reappeared front-stage center
in the IA.RU report of the October, 1927 issue with a summary of some QRP
experiments:
"W71ile nu6ZAT was visiting nu6HM, they dug out the little TG & P transmitter
using a single 201-A tube and on 20.2 meters worked eg5HS (E11gland). This set is
the sGJne one that Col. Foster had used i11 CQ11ada during tire previous summer.
Contact was established for over twenty minutes when eg5HS had to quit on ac-
count of asked. This was on lune 6th and 011 the 10th, both acBHB (China) and
fo1SR (N. Zealan d) were worked with th e owjit. This completed a very interesting

93
 Chapter 5: More QRP Tests by Col. Foster (c9CK-11u6l1M)

record for the set which has now worked stations in all continents with an i11p11t
under 10 watts. We imagine this to be a recorrl that very, very few will ever duplicate
unless radio conditions improve co11siderably.
There is one station that has very nearly matched this in the shape of oa2SH
operated by Alfred Shon i11 La111bto11, N.S. W. (Australia). The following is quoted
from a letter of his to nu6HM:
'Whenever I hear your call on the air, I always remember reading about your
fir$! QSO with Australia using a 201-A tube as a transmitting wbe. I marvelled
at the time that such a small wbe should be capable of sending a signal such a
tremendous distance and I still marvel when I receive a reply from distant sta-
tions telling me that my sig11als are 'R6 FB' and are the best heard from
Australia that morning. It is trnly remarkable that such a small tube should
cause a bigger commotion in the ether in distant cou11tries than some of its big-
ger brothel'$ with, at a conservative estimate, forty times the input power!
'Since last writing you, I have been QSO ei1NO (Italy) with an inpw of about
ten watts into the 201-A and was reponed R3. A few days earlier, I was reponed
R3 by 3SR in Rhodesia with about the same input. During the same week, with
an i11put of around six watts, Canadian 5AJ reponed me as 'R6 vy FB.' Having
previously worked· Japan and Fre11cli l11do-China in Asia, I need only to work
South Ameiica to have been QSO all continents with tire 20!-A. South America
is a very difficult continent for us to work as we hear their stations 011ly oc-
casionally. However, you may be sure I am on th e look-out for an oppo111111ity
to work 011e of these stations and once more re-win my WAC cettificate'."
The IARU editor went on to comment: "It is interesting to know that alt/iouglt
oa2SH fil'$t won his WAC membel'$hip using a 'fifty-watter', he was 11ot satisfied
until lie had duplicated this using a 'fiver'. Now he has come mighty close to doing
the job over again with a 201-A. This is cenainly a fine example of what makes
amateur radio what it is today. Our congratulations to both these stations who don't
stop trying as soon as they obtain their cenificates but put i11 front of themselves
seemingly i11sunno11ntable obstacles and then, jump over them. That's the real
amateur spirit!" Amen, brother! So many have followed the same path as nu6HM
and oa2SH - working DXCC with the KW, then discovering the real challenge
of doing it all over again with QRP power levels. As long as this keeps happen-
ing, there is hope for amateur radio!
The November and December, 1927, issues round out our survE.-'Y with a few
QRP items. From China: "Dr. Malcolm, Healtlt Officer at Chefoo, N. Cltina, has
had a shorl-wave receiver for some months which had been built for him by our star
performer, Edouard Foucret of Shanghai. He had 110 tra11smi1ter a11d to amuse
himself and get some key practise, he insened a key in the 45-volt plate supply lead
to the detector tube (201-A) and had some fun i11 working at anchor in Chefoo
harbor. On the evening of June 18th ( 1927), he sent out a CQ and immediately got
a reply from xep1MA which he believed to be some boat entering Chefoo. lmagi11e
his excitement whe11 it tumed out to be the Ponuguese crniser, 'Adamastor' the11 at
anchor at Macau about 1200 miles distant."
And finally, we get a glimpse of activities in Czechoslovakia in the December
issue: "There have been no changes made in tire legal aspect of amateur rt1dio and
the amateurs are working under cover on 45, 32, and 20 mete!'$. OK1 who fom1erly
used high power and made comacts with stations all over the world, is now using a
low- powered transmitter with an input of ten walls. He has a porlable station also
and uses a mast tit at may be f oided up when not in use. M2 did some very nice
work during the summer with a ponable set ltaving at1 input of from two to ten
watts. 1AB is located in the center of tire city of Prague and uses an indoor aerial.
With OJI input of about 20 watts, he has worked Nijni, Novorod, U.S.S.R., a dis-
tance of over 2200 kilomefel'$. 1KX and 1RV who use 220 volts a.c. have had some

94
 Chapter 5: 1927 IARU Reports - Foreign QRP'rs

fine results on the 20-meter wave with from one to seven watts input. 2UN and 2YD
who also work on this band have been using powers up to sixty waus. The best DX
of 3SK has been abow 2500 kins., a very nice piece of work when it is considered
that his power is only about one-tenth of a watt ... " And with this phenomenal piece
of QRP DX work we come to the end of our suivey of QRP activity in the 1920's.
It is fair to say that the major impression conveyed in the IARU reports was that
DX operators were primarily QRP operators who spanned great distances using
minute amounts of power. In fact, the reports in 1927 rarely mentioned exploits
performed by the QRO foreign operators - space not given to QRP exploits was
generally devoted to news of a practical nature with regard to activities in DX
countries.
The emphasis upon QRP by Kruse and the QST staff began in response to the
fabulous QRP exploits of foreign operators, and after Kruse's fulminations
echoed into the past, the foreign operators continued to post their records, to ply
their skillful difficult trade, to demonstrate to the world that QRP could do it.
Sadly, it was a lesson that was Jost on American amateurs who moved to higher
and higher power levels despite the fact that high power was unnecessary. Per-
haps the movement in that direction occurred simply as a consequence of the
stereotypical American attitude that 'bigger is better'. It is the attitude that
created the gas-guzzling monsters of the highways, that has raped our good earth
to the point where our suivival is threatened. All along the way, there have been
high-principled individuals who have spoken out against the American lust for
power and magnitude in all forms, and amateur radio has been gifted with such
individuals. And they spoke out loudly during the 1930's, Jed by individuals such
as Schnell, Handy, Battey and others.

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 Chapter 6
1930-1941
Grassroots vs. High Power QRM

" ...lt is really about time that the 'forgotten man'

with his little two watter is given a break.
Lord knows, he has ... poured forth enough effort to merit it!... "

The 1930's saw a marked advance in amateur radio on all fronts. By the mid-
dle of the decade, vacuum tube technology was already in its modern state, giving
the amateur greater dependability, tighter quality control tolerances, higher ef-
ficiency, and higher power capability at more economical prices with tubes such
as the 6L6. Knowledge of propagation theory had moved down to 20 meters,
although the 10 meter band was still an unknown quantity in the early part of the
decade (15 meters would not be allocated for another 20 years) and became a
focus of a pioneering effort along with 56 MHz. Antenna theory was in a state
permitting creative application of principles to gain antennas including wire ar-
rays such as the BJK, and collinear and broadside wire arrays, as well as crude
rotary yagis. And coax was a culprit far in the future as open-line feeders ruled
the space between earth and sk.-ywire.
The advances in vacuum tube technology was both a boon and a detriment in
regard to the ideals embodies in Kruse's New American Amateur. New tubes
permitted ever greater efficiency, but they also invited a greater abuse of high
power. The staff at QST seems to have undermined itself in regard to these
ideals. On the one hand, QST encouraged low power work and the ideals as-
sociated with it, and lauded QRP achievements until about 1938. QST even
sponsored a low power contest once (August, 1937). On the other, the 'model'
amateur station photos featured, along with lengthy descriptions, in the 'Amateur
Radio Stations' section of the QST of the decade, unfortunately implied that a
'good' station is a 'big' station with multi-shelf transmitters capable of running
hundreds of watts and more. In very rare instances (two or three during the
decade), an average unimpressive station in the 40 to 50 watt range slipped into
the section, and a genuine QRP station was featured but once. The impression
created by these photos was probably the same as in recent times, and gave no
inkling of what the grassroots station was like. As we'll see below in reviewing the
statistics included with the 'Results' of the annual 'Sweepstakes Contest', the
majority of grassroots operators (or should we say 'the majority of contesters')
used simple, relatively low power transmitters, and some even used real QRP
inputs. This fact was emphasized in the 'Results' reports.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the progress of amateur radio in the
1930's is that the low power grassroots was not a 'silent majority', but rather
vociferous in its complaints about the abuse of high power, and in its repeated
reminders of the ideals associated with the New American Amateur in the 'Cor-
respondence' section of QST. 'Letters to the Editor' across the decade reiterated
the basic contentions that low power requires skill, knowledge and efficiency on
the pan of the operator while diminishing the QRM problem. Resentment at the
QRM caused by high power stations apparently was widespread and found ex-
pression in the re-use of Kruse's derogatory epithets such as 'watt-burner' and
'ether buster' from time to time.

96
 Chapter 6: The High Power ORM Problem

From our perspective, it is difficult to grasp the mindset of amateurs of the

1930's. Many had lived through the early pioneering efforts of the 1920's and
learned their ideas about hamming from Kruse and Hatry. Many newcomers had
scrounged through early QST's with similar results. The great achievements of
the early QRP'rs were not so far in the past as not to be a part of the current
amateur scene; for example, the twentieth anniversary issue of QST (May, 1934)
in very briefly summarising the high points, included the a2CM as well as the
New Zealand - Agentina DX records along with only three other specific 'on the
air' achievements in amateur radio. The low power operator of the 1930's prob-
ably felt a direct and immediate connection to all that Kruse embodied i.n the
New American Amateur and the right to fight for those ideals. So, when W1 EXC
introduced the "Flea Power Association" in 'Correspondence' in the February,
1937, issue of QST, he brought forth such a enthusiastic response that Editor
Kenneth B. Warner (WlEH), after filling over a page of the May issue with ex-
cerpts, had to cut it short with the note "Represelllative of a large amount of mail
expressing opinions on this subject are the above letters. Other excerpts next month".
At no other time during the decade did Warner receive such a deluge of mail on
a subject that he had to take a similar step. This fact leaves little doubt about the
demographics of American amateur radio (45,000 licensees in 1934) in the 1930's:
the vast majority were low power operators using single Type '10 tubes at 30
watts input and under. Many still were using UV-199's and 201-A!
The first, and most eloquent, of the series of 'Letters to the Editor' espousing
lower power appeared at the beginning of the decade and was written by an early
'giant' of amateur radio, Frederick H. Schnell (W9UZ). At the time, Schnell was
Traffic Manager and Technical Director of the ARRL. In the early days, he was
one of the major pioneers of the shortwaves. He had been selected by the Navy
to conduct shortwave experiments aboard the U.S.S. Seattle during the summer of
1925 and ultimately demonstrated the superiority of the shortwaves for naval
communications to the Navy. He undoubtedly knew Kruse and Hatry and shared
their ideals, and had been severely disappointed at the direction taken by
amateur radio in the intervening years. The early vision had mjscarried, so much
so that he took pen in hand and unburdened his heart in what remains to this day
a masterpiece of amateur radio literature that must be read unedited as he wrote
it. The Old Man is the fictional audience for Schnell's appeal to the early vision.

A High Power Holiday?

:Mr. Editor, I would very much like to sit down with the Old Man, the
Grand Old Man of amateur radio, and unburden myself of some thoughts,
make 'heart to heart' confession as it were. I cannot afford to galavant all
over the country, tagging around after him, because Heaven and you alone
know where he is and neither of you will tell. About the time I thought I was
close on his heels in one district, he probably would be over in another. So
about the best I can do is to write out my yarn and you can pass it along to
him to see what he thinks of the idea, a three year 'High Power Holiday.'
Well, here goes, and I hope the Old Man is comfortably seated, the pipe pro-
perly filled with plenty of tobacco and hitting on aJJ eight, the cat peacefully
sleeping and the static nil.
Ever since I first heard the magic word 'wireless' there was enough mys-
tery in it to fascinate me. I investigated it year after year and have been inves-
tigating it ever since only to find that we call it 'radio' instead of wireless. The
investigation has been a mighty expensive experience but it also has been
quite a productive source of real enjoyment throughout these years, with a
thrill here and another there. Of course, it all goes back to those days when

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 Chapter 6: Schne/l's Idea: 'A High Power Holiday'

radio was 'in its infancy' and a spark transmitter was a nuisance, and we knew
it but wouldn't admit it. Why, if any amateur would dare to use a spark trans-
mitter today, he would bring upon himself the wrath of the whole country.
Such a transmitter would blanket two of our amateur bands and wash out all
the commercial and government stations in between and on both sides for
quite a few kilocycles. You know, those old spark transmitters never used
less than 250 watts according to the transformer rating, but no honest Old
Timer will deny that a good many of them were pulling 15 to 20 amperes
from the 110 volt house line. And the funny part of it was that only a few of
them were able to do any real DX like we do with our c.w. tube transmitters.
Five hundred miles was good DX, 800 miles was very good, and when some-
one clicked off 1000 or 1200 miles, that was something to write ARRL head-
quarters about.
And that is what brings me to my feet and that's what makes me think we
are burning a lot of power -- in fact, wasting it unnecessarily. Not only that,
but we actually boast and brag about the amount of power we use, when we
ought to be ashamed of ourselves for even mentioning it. Oh, yes, I'm right in
the same boat. I've had what might be considered high power gear ever since
two-kilowatt transformers have been rated at one-kilowatt, and I've been
operating a c.w. transmitter that uses two 250 watt tubes. I'm not throwing
bricks at anybody - I'm thinking of my own misguided efforts too.
We talk up the fact that we United States amateurs have the cream of it
all. We are allowed to use one kilowatt of power input (if we can afford it)
when amateurs in some other countries are allowed only 10 watts. We are
permitted to use any part or all of the amateur frequency assignments while
amateurs in other countries get but small slices of one amateur band. Yes,
and there are some who even kick about this, and they even get up petitions
about it. Why, we used to shudder at the thought of what would happen to
us if we had been restricted like the Canadian amateurs were back in those
old days! They could use one kilowatt of power on SO meters. A very
generous allocation it would be today, but in those old days it was enough to
crush the spirit of any but the most persistent amateur.
I value the advice of The Old Man above all others. To me, his word is the
final word in amateur radio, with all due respect to ARRL officers and direc-
tors. And that's why I'd like to see how he feels about these things. Suppose
we could find out how the whole amateur fraternity feels about this three-
year 'High Power Holiday' and suppose the great majority was in favor of it.
Then, suppose we could send a couple of ARRL officers down to
Washington to ask the Federal Radio Commission to listen to our story.
Suppose these officers told the Federal Radio Commission that we amateurs
want to declare a 'High Power Holiday' and that we request the necessary
authority which would permit us to use nothing larger than a Type '10 tube in
the output stage of our transmitters. There would be no power limit, of
course. If some amateur was skillful enough to sock 100 watts out, hats off to
him. Suppose we asked the Federal Radio Commission to make such a re-
gulation - what would happen? There would be set up such a yell as you
never heard before - such a yell that we wouldn't need transmitters; the yell
would be heard 'round the world and petitions would grow on antennas. Yes,
but if we all agreed to abide by it, what more could we do?
What would we do with all our high power apparatus? Well, what did the
Navy do with the battleships when the Ten-Year Naval Holiday was dec-
lared? Scrapped them! We wouldn't have to scrap our apparatus - we could
lay it away and if the low-power idea didn't work out for the greatest good of
the greatest number, then we could start right up where we left off, and un-

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 Chapter 6: Schnell's Idea: 'A High Power Holiday'

doubtedly with a lot of new ideas for greater efficiency. Any amateur who can
afford to buy 250 watt tubes and burn the power for them can afford to lay
them away for a time and try the low-power idea. It must be given a fair
chance and no half-hearted effort is going to be worth the candle. One year
would be too short a time for such a radical experiment. I think that by the
time two years had gone by we could commence to appreciate what could be
done with such a transmitter and by the time the three years had gone by we
wouldn't care a hoot about the high-power transmitter.
The 'High Power Holiday' may be a radical one, but thoroughly
reasonable and a practical one. We know that a 250 watt transmitter located
in New York is capable of putting a signal into Australia. And, we know that
a transmitter using but a single Type '10 tube is capable of doing the same
thing. We know that amateurs in some countries use not more than 10 watts
of power and yet they put good signals over to us. A 10 watt transmitter of
high efficiency is much better than a 1000 watt transmitter of low efficiency,
all things considered. Who is there to say that we cannot make our low power
transmitters more efficient than anything we have today? Who will say that
we cannot discover some entirely new transmitting and receiving antennas
and who will say that we cannot develop more sensitive, more selective and
better receivers? Who will say that we cannot do satisfactory long-distance
communication with the power that can be put into a Type '10 tube? And
who will say that such a scheme wouldn't give each and every amateur a bet-
ter chance to display his knowledge and ingenuity and make him strive for
highest efficiency? Well, who would? I believe we have enough frequency
bands in which to accomplish these things and to that belief I shall stick until
I have concrete evidence to prove otherwise.
Not so long ago I saw a motorboat race in which five motorboats par-
ticipated. Each boat was exactly like the others, the same size, shape, and
weight. The motors were alike, the rudders were alike and each one used the
same quantity and the same quality of gas and oil. No changes were per-
mitted, other than adjustment of gas and oil mixture. The race was to see
which boat would travel the greatest distance in the least time. The chap who
won it actually walked away from the others. Why? Because he knew how to
adjust his gas and oil mixture for the greatest power and the highest speed
over the greatest distance. Why not try the same idea in amateur radio?
I suppose I am laying myself open to the rankest kind of criticism, but the
rankest kind of criticism is of more value than no criticism at all. The
amateurs who are using well designed and carefully operated transmitters will
agree with me, in all probability. The ones who are using haywire and
makeshift high-power transmitters and who are forever kicking about rotten
results will yell the loudest. I've seen one or two of these petitions that have
been going the rounds lately and the instigator of them will have another job
of petitioning-but let him petish to his heart's content. Surely no sane and
independent thinking amateur will swallow such rot and forsake the sound
principles under which he has been operating these many years.
Remember, this is only a suggestion - it doesn't mean that we have to do
it. It doesn't even have to be decided today or tomorrow--or ever, for that
matter. Let's think it over for a couple of months. Let's talk about it at our
conventions and let's find out if we think we ought to try it. QST is the place
to express ideas - I know of no better place for such expression, and QST
doesn't have to be crammed full of technical dope each month either. If you
have any ideas, express yourself and don't wait for George to do so. George
may be waiting for someone else. Do you have a card? Would you be so ex-

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 Chapter 6: Schnell's Idea: 'A High Power Holiday'

travagant and go so far as to risk one? Well, do as you see fit--after all, you
are the doctor and as you go, so goes amateur radio.
F.H. Schnell (W9UZ)

Schnell's use of The Grand Old Man whose "word is the final word i.n
amateur radio" was a masterful stroke of literary ingenuity. It provided an under-
lying foundation of idealism for Schnell's proposal, but not in a dogmatic fashion.
Since The Old Man's where abouts cannot be pinpointed physically, he functions
as a spiritual source of the values for amateur radio from which guidance is
sought. Unlike preachers had done with God and other writers with this mythical
father of amateur radio, Schnell carefully avoided putting words in the mouth of
The Old Man, limiting his appeal to The Old Man's final authority merely to "I'd
like to see how he feel's about these things ... what he thinks of the idea." Of
course, there would no doubt in the minds of QSTs readers about that: The Old
Man had always spoken out against what was bad in amateur radio, and pushed
radio amateurs to strive for improvement. His exhortations were the 'scriptures'
of hamdom. And in Schnell's "A High Power Holiday'', The Old Man was asked
to decide between two easily recognizable types of rad.io amateur: the obnoxious
'watt-hog' 'ether-buster' lambasted by Kruse only 7 years before, and the New
American Amateur that Kruse held up as the ideal for American radio amateurs.
Schnell's strategy was to maintain a positive tone in the piece, so he only per-
mitted a few direct glances at the 'watt-hog' while using the 'definition by exclu-
sion' technique to imply the rest of the 'watt-hog's' characteristics. That was easy:
he was the opposite of everything embodied in the New American Amateur. He
personified 'high power' and the obnoxious effects it produced. The nostaJgic
description of spark days in the second paragraph is an inversion of the typical
'good old days' motif: here, the 'good old days' are ruled over by the "nuisance"
of the spark transmitter which, if used in 1931, "would blanket two of our
amateur bands and wash out aJl the commercial and government stations in be-
tween and both sides." This is the technique of exaggeration used in the literary
form known as the 'yam' which was used so masterfully by Mark Twain and
William Faulkner, and other regional humourist writers. The exaggeration must
be reduced to a dimension which fits some real known phenomenon: in "A High
Power Holiday", Schnell leads us directly to it: "we are buming a lot of power ...
wasting it unnecessarily ... we actually boast and brag a.bout [it], when we ought to
be ashamed for even mentioning it... " And finally, Schnell identifies himself as
guilty of such "misguided efforts", a rhetorical technique for deflecting potential
animosity and maintaining rapport with the reader. Note that the effects of
misused high power are not alluded to in the remainder of the piece: they need
not be, since they've al.ready been defined here. What's more, QRM on the
amateur bands was universally attributed ever since Maclurcan to the abuse of
high power: Schnell did not have to say what every amateur read in QST! The
'watt-hog' appears in but two other forms in the piece. He's the amateur who
uses "a 1000 watt transmitter of low efficiency''. And, again, in the exaggeration
technique of the 'yam': that "such a yell as you never heard before ... such a yell
we wouldn't need transmitters; the yell would be heard 'round the world ... "
comes from the 'watt- hogs'. When Schnell introduced his argument with "the
best I can do is write out my yam" he knew what he was doing: a 'yarn' is a
spoken, not written, account to an inlplicit audience, and he was alerting readers
to the fact that the techniques of this literary form were being invoked. Without
mentioning one negative fact about 'watt-hogs', he succeeds in rendering them
the obnoxious, selfish nuisances of the ham bands. Muckraking, mud-slinging,
"Buncombe, brothe1~ pure and absolute Buncombe!" Kruse could never have been
this subtle!

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 Chapter 6: 'Raw A.G. Band-Hogs' and High Power ORM

But Kruse's New American Amateur nonetheless provided the ideals offered
as the goals of the "High Power Holiday" proposal, which is presented as a
hypothetical situation producing several effects: "Suppose we could find out ...
Suppose ... Suppose ..." The first three hypothetical steps include a majority of
radio amateurs, the ARRL and the U.S.government decidi ng to support the idea;
that produces the first effect of "such a yell...". The 'watt-hogs' obviously are
un-democratic types. The remainder of the effects consist of the ideals of the
New American Amateur which upgrade amateur radio. The criteria for deciding
whether to make the ' holiday' permanent is an 18th Century principle implicit in
the U.S. Constitution and initially expressed by Jeremy Bentham in about 1810:
"if the low-power idea didn't work out for the greatest good of the greatest num-
ber..." What democratic American could reject such as proposition? Schnell then
backed up his case with reference to the known fact that DX QRP'rs using "not
more than 10 watts ... put good signals over to us." From there on, the New
American Amateur takes over. Given a ''fair chance", the proposal would "give
each and every amateur a better d1ance to display his knowledge and ingenuity and
make him strive for highest efficiency", lead to discoveries of "some emirely new
transmitting and receiving antennas" and "new ideas for greater efficiency" and so
on. Schnell used the analogy of the 'motor boat race' in the same manner as
Kruse's 'Ford flivver vs Pierce Arrow' analogy. And SchneU completed his pro-
posal by identifying those who definitely would support it: "amateur.; who are
using well designed and carefully operated transmitter.;"; in other words, those who
already implemented the ideals of the New American Amateur! SchncU's "A
High Power Holiday'' undoubtedly remains one of the masterpieces of amateur
radio literature, not merely because of the view it professes, but because it is
superb literature. It is small wonder that it remained in Lhe minds of American
amateurs throughout the decade.

The 'Correspondence Dept.' of QST became the forum for opinions about the
causes and possible solutions for the high power QRM problem. In a letter in the
March, 1932, issue, Miles W. Weeks (Wl WV) traced the problem to the failure
of many high power stations to convert to an adequately filtered power supply
('raw a.c.' which had been outlawed in the previous year) combined with ignorant
operators, and described their impact: ''you r.a.c. band-hogs, look out! We have
groaned in anguish every time we have heared one of your 'jive station broad', DX-
defier, hack-saw notes and we won't be sony to see you wiped out ... it's time you
went the way of the spark set -- to the junk heap." WlWV awaited the day when
the F.C.C. inspectors would eradicate them. He echoed Knise's and SchneU's
assessment: "If we are ever going to solve our interference proble ms we are
going in the wrong direction. Progress points towards better notes and lower
power. If we were all restricted to say 100 watts input it would put a premium on
building efficient transmitters instead of the tendency as we have it to-day where
an inefficient transmitter can be made to get our merely by increasing power and
blasting its way through.'' The successes of foreign operators were again enlisted
as evidence: "Witness the situation in England. There they have just those re-
strictions - low power and crystal [control]. They work the world without dif-
ficulty with inputs under ten watts. If a group of 1500 English hams agree that it
is for their best interests to do this, such an argument applies even mo re strongly
here where there are over 20,000 of us." Wl WV's Jetter generated debate in later
issues.
W7MF suggested a general movement to lower power and was seconded by
A. Stanzione (W8CDT) in the July, 1932, issue, who pointed to the use of un-
necessarily high power for local work in a letter titled "QRP": "Let's au get back
of this QRP business and rid our bands of a lot of unnecessary QRM. Why

101
 Chapter 6: Grassroots Reaction to High Power QRM

should I, or any one else, be bothered with the signals from a station who is lo-
cated a hundred or so miles from when he is only working a ham friend in the
same town?" W8CDT cited an instance of a QSO between two Ph.iladelpllia sta-
tions with strong signals (heard in Williamsport, PA): "why should I be QRM'd
by such a QSO? ... when it's a waste of power and causes unnecessary QRM and
is not needed for satisfactory communication then it's time to QRP." EarUer in
the June issue, several other letters addressed the problem. Rufus P. Turner
(WJA Y- W9FZN) praised the Federal Radio Commission [later the F.C.C.] for
instituting a new license exam for a special unrestricted 'phone Ucense and expre-
ssed the hope that stricter exams would soon be applied to au classes of rad:io
amateurs: "I look hopefully forward to the day when the amateur applicant will
be made to sit down to a rigid technical test, or even to a practical examination,
and when a pe1111it to build an amateur station will be created and awarded onJy
after the applicant shows that he wishes to erect a transmitter that conforms in
particular to modem demands." The station would then be examined upon com-
pletion before being allowed to go on the air. G.W. Hudson (W3AEW-ABD)
disagreed with WlWV's suggestion that power be Umited, and offered an idea
similar to Turner's: " ...to eliminate some of the QRM ... have anyone using over
75 watts here to pass a special examination in person before the Radio Inspector.
This examination should cover the use and maintenance of high power ap-
paratus." After noting that English operators could qualify for special licenses
permitting 150-watt operation, Hudson summarised: "It is not a question of high
power, it is how the transmitter is built and the operator behind it." Hudson's as-
sociation of the culprits causing the high power QRM with in competent
operators was a common one. Kruse would have agreed.
And Tom Rubik (W9ICP) rounded out the comments by suggesting
scheduled times for alternating QRP and QRO operation. He probably spoke for
the grassroots low power operator mentioned so frequently during the decade:
"Being a beginner and using a 7-1/2 watter, I find that 7-1/2 watts cannot compete
with 200 watts ... Why 1101 also divide the time f or low and high po wer stations?
This would give the low power stations, who are often beginners, an even break for
DX QSO's. More than one of the newcomers is beginning to feel disgusted because
of the QRM and too much competition with high power: This scheme would also be
a boon to the high power stations because they would not have to deal with 'pesf..y
beginners'." Sentiments like Rubik's were probably what F.E. Handy and E.L.
Battey referred to in their defenses of the low power operator 'whose name is
legion' during the mid-1930's. The 'disgust' felt by beginners apparently endured
and the staff included a 'Stray' in the January, 1940, issue on the problem: "For
the reassurance of the low power beginners who receive advice to the effect that
present day operation requires high power gear, W4FRU of Memphis, Tenn.,
sends this note:' ... I worked WSEWK of Tom Bean, Texas, who was using as hi.s
xmtr a '19 tube in a Hartley oscillator with 3 watts input. His report in Memphis
was RST 589. W5EWK's antenna is a 66-foot grounded (Marconi), and his re-
ceiver is a 2-tube outfit using '30's'." It is reasonable to assume that most begin-
ner's entered amateur radio in the 1930's at this power level, judging from the
fact that transmitter construction articles specifically aimed at beginners were
always in the 10-20 watt input range.
A significant development in receiver technology in 1932 gave a new twist to
the anti-QRO and pro-QRP sentiments among amateurs. QSTTechnical Editor
Jim Lamb (WlAL) introduced amateurs to "The Single Signal Superhet"
employing a highly selective crystal filter in the i.f. section. This receiver's ability
to reject unwanted signals was perceived as the ultimate improvement in receiver
selectivity: it was the best weapon that technology could provide against the
QRM generated by the 'watt hogs'. And yet, it failed! The situation is similar to

102
 Chapter 6: 'Receivers vs High Power'

that of the late 1960's and 1970's, when Wes Hayward (W7ZOI), Doug DeMaw
(WlFB), and Ulrich L. Rohde (DJ2LR), among others, struggled with the prob-
lem of high dynamic range in competition grade receivers in the presence of in-
credibly powerful QRO signals on the ham bands. Of course, the superhets of the
1930's, in comparison, were primitive, insensitive, barely selective receivers, yet
the results were the same. No receiver can handle excessive input powers. Ergo,
eliminate the QRO signals from the bands.
This argument first appeared in a 'Letter' in the July, 1933, issue of QST. In
closing rus letter, titled "Receivers vs. High Power", E.R. Jensen (W9FVR) ap-
pealed to Schnell's proposal: "What ever happened to the idea of 'High Power
Holiday'? Let's have it -- by making high-power unnecessary." Jensen attempted to
prove that point by reviewing his experience with the 'Single Signal Superhet': "It
is after becoming thoroughly acquainted with this receiver that I feel justified in
saying that the ORM situation in the present 'phone bands is due very much to
the mistaken belief that a high powered transmitter is the only requirement for
'getting out' through the QRM." This belief overlooks the logical extension of its
premise: "another strong carrier on the already crowded bands is only making
matters worse, and ... results will be obtained only as long as the average power
used by amateurs remains less than our own power. When most of the boys (who
have the dough [i.e., money]) are using the maximum power allowed to hams,
what are they going to do next to pierce the QRM? When that time comes, surely
they will realise their foUy." But that time was never to come, at least not yet! As
noted below, W9DZG, for one, still could rely on increasing his power as a solu-
tion to the QRM problem!
In Jensen's view, the selectivity and sensilivity of the superhet rendered high
power superflous, permitting solid copy of previously undetectable signals: "I fmd
that with this receiver, about all that is necessary for reception is the presence of
a carrier, be it ever so low in power. I have received 5-and 10-watt 'phones [a.m.
'phone signals] on both coasts on the 160-meter band QSAS [I.e., perfect copy]
early in the evening, when the high powered babies give them a chance to get
through." In one instance, Jensen noted, "three DX stations were coming in
QSA5 [ band is not specified) , side by side, with no QRM to each other, when a
250-watt carrier came on top of them and put them clear out of the picture ... no
more was heard until the high-powered boy flipped his switches off again."
Without the QRO stations on the band, "I have been able to hear all districts on
160 meters before 9 p.m. On my old job, I could only hear 9's and S's consistently,
with occasinal reception of higher powered B's and an infrequent 2 or 3 [refers to
call districts]. Where I used to get nothing but a pile of heterodynes, I can now
pick out readable stations." Jensen then substantiated the claim that high power
was unnecessary with the advantage of the new superhets by citing his own re-
sults: "The transmitter power at W9FVR is about 25 watts. Since putting the
super into use, the number of contacts has been increased some fifty percent...
With a good receiver, a 10- to 20-watt carrier is ample to reach any place in the
good old U.S.A., so all power over that amount is good for nothing but QRM."
Jensen made his major point thus: "Receiver sensitivity and selectivity can be in-
creased to an unk11ow11 limit without adding to the present QRM Tra11smitter power
ca11 be increased to a very definite limit, with the so1rowful result now evident on
the ham bands", and advised: "To you fellows with the jack, if you must spend it
spend it on receivers; give the 10- and 20-watt 'phone a chance, and note the
improvement in the QRM situation."
Jensen's letter struck 'a responsive chord' in I.W. Copeland (W8GGD, ex-
8.JM) who added his support in the November, 1933, issue to Jensen's position.
W8GGD noted that his experiments with various types of receivers across the
years have led to: "the conviction has steadily grown that the solution of better-

103
 Chapter 6: Eliminate High Power ORM: Reduce Power

ing DX was in reducing rather than increasing transmitter power." After seven
years off the air, "some old parts were soldered up into a little c.w. and 'phone
transmitter with one poor little 210 tube with 25 watts input instead of the pair of
100-watt bottles which had been used before. Due to the vast improvement in
receivers and tubes, this little tube steps out just as well as the big boys did." His
conclusion was the same as Jensen's : "So what is the use of causing a lot of grief
for the other fellows for a hundred miles or more around, whose perfectly good
little signals can be received over what a short time ago was considered un-
believeable distances, when given half a chance and not blanketed by some high-
powered bird who may be only working a station in the next town?" Together the
two letters create the impression that the grassroots was operating at similar
power levels and suffering the same plight at the mercy of the 'watt hogs'.
Without pointing a finger, 'Communications Dept.' Editor F .E. Handy
(WlBDI) and his assistant E.L. Battey (WlUE) gave hints about good construc-
tion and operating practices aimed at reducing the QRO QRM. In the Novem-
ber, 1933, issue, for example, they noted the approach taken by W8JSU who
"instead of building the P.P. TNT [a medium power transmitter] and running a risk
of jamming the bands and adding to the QRM, decided to assemble a small two
tube crystal control job, low-powered, and to work constantly with a monitor,
spending most of his time getting a good, clear crystal signal which would not jam
the bands." They supported W8JSU's contention that "it is the good piercing
signal that cuts through the QRM like a knife through cheese and gets the most
responses," and urged readers: "Why not try, fellows, to improve your signals, in-
stead of increase your power." Handy and Battey continued to public.ize the suc-
cesses of low power work throughout the much of the decade by inviting the sub-
mission of 'records', as we'll note below. Ironically, the fine-print divisional re-
port from Oregon includes that familiar item: "W7AIP has bigger and better
rig": Handy didn't succeed in getting through to his own SCM's!
In the November, 1935, issue, the QST staff supplemented the sentiments
which had been expressed in previous years about the 'watt-hogs' and the prob-
lem of QRM by offering a solution in a feature article by George Grammer en-
titled simply "QRP", the first article title of its kind. However, it was not about
QRP as such. It merely explained a variety of methods that could be used to re-
duce QRM, i.e., reduce power output. High power and QRM were synonymous
in this article. Grammer opened with a reference to the general concern with the
problem: "When a couple of hams get together one sure-fire subject is QRM.''
The acquisition of a single signal superhet is not the solution, since "there are
still lots of us who haven't the means to get such a receiver." That limited the
solution to "looking around for methods of reducing QRM at the transmitting
end." Grammer went on to draw an analogy between the high power QRM prob-
lem and the earlier struggle aimed at eliminating QRM caused by less-than pure
d.c. signals, and delineated the difficulty in motivating operators: "One deterrent
to reducing power is that it's something that doesn't so ostensibly benefit the
fellow who practices it - it mostly helps the other fellow ... It tooks years and
years to get across the idea that a d.c. note took up less space ... largely because it
meant taking a little more time and trouble in adjustment, and the world at large
instead of the individual concerned was the primary beneficiary." The high power
operator, in other words, was selfish and lazy in placing his individual interests
above "the world at large" or "the greatest good for the greatest number" in
Schnell's terms. Gramrner's conclusion extended the 'local work' to a wider con-
text: "How far should one go in reducing power for local work? The answer to
that one is the same as to 'How far is up?' The safest bet is to foUow the rule
that's still in the [F.C.C.) regulations - use the least amount of power that will
cover the distance satisfactorily." The emphasis on 'local work' found in many of

104
 Chapter 6: Grammar's 'QRP' Article

the comments about QRO QRM arises from the fact that a majority of operators
used regenerative detectors as receivers. A strong r.f. signal at the input over-
loaded such a receiver and 'desensitized' it, pulling the receiver oscillator onto
the strong signal's frequency and rendering reception of other signals impossible.
In other words, it resulted in cross-modulation of the worst kind. (See A. David
Middleton's description of the problem and a solution below in "Perfect Summer
Plus QRPp", Chapter 8). The effect of Grammer's comment was to remind
readers of the obvious, well known fact that high power also caused QRM
beyond local areas. And his final line was a direct slap at the inconsiderate 'watt-
hogs': "Why not use five [meters] or ten [meters] for locals and give yourself, as
well as everyone else, a break?" The fact remained that, even if the 'watt-hogs'
cut power for local contacts, their use of high power for long distance work still
caused a QRO QM1 problem "for the other fellows for a hundred miles or more
around" as Copeland put it. Foreign operators such as XE2FC would have ex-
tended that to 'thousands of miles around'.
Another interesting twist on the 'lower your power' theme surfaced in a letter
in the November, 1935, issue from Saul Kron [no call given] of Passaic, NJ. The
'R-S-T system had been in use for about a year, and Kron thought that a further
refinement would benefit the QRM situation: "I have often wondered if the
power input of stations couldn't be used to advantage [in exchanging reports).
Coupled with the R-S-T report, it would give operators an immediate knowledge
of the efficiency of each other's station and also indicate general transmitting and
receiving conditions using the miles per watt basis." The resulting signal report
would affix the input power to the R-S-T and read thus: "Ur RST 469X P32 (X' =
pure d.c. tone]", where 'P' denotes 'power' followed by wattage. Kron's suggestion
was a thinly disguised effort to embarrass the QRO boys into QRP'ing. The use
of the system "may even lead to a trend of reducing power input rather than
increasing power" since "a great number of amateurs like to boast of pushing a
signal as far as possible with as little power as possible." Kron's psychological
strategy emerged clearly in the explanation of how the system would reduce
QRM: "Considering the splendid work done by the foreign amateurs with small
power, the high power boys mjght be shaken into realizing that high input and
low efficiency isn't anything to brag about. Thus, wi th the stating of each other's
power input in the exchange of reports, the high power users might be ashamed
to state that they are using 400 or 500 watts when the ham at the other end is
using only 30 or 40 watts." Of course, Kron ignored variables such as propagation
conditions and antenna gain, but then his objective was not entirely altruisric!
The "Receivers vs. High Power" issue surfaced again in the February, 1937,
issue of QST, this time in the "Article Contest" section which featured Lwo ar-
ticles each month by rank and file ARRL members, selected by the QST staff
(presumably F.E. Handy and E.L. Battey, since it was part of the 'Communica-
tions Dept' column) for their relevance and value. G .H . Jolmstone (W9CRU)
was one winning author, and he too invoked Schncll's "A High Power Holiday"
in making points similar to those expressed by Jensen and Copeland. Under the
title "You Must Hear Them First", Johnstone began: "It is a known fact that a
receiver is not one of high or low power in the sense that we rate transmitters. It
is equally well known that the sickly 201-A putting out its under-nourished watt
and a half at Gopher City, can be heard i.n Asia, IF the Asiatic has a sensitive and
selective enough receiver. The above statement deserves thought by all hams.
Why? We are constantly endeavoring to make our contacts more reliable, our
trunk line skeds (the ARRL traffic nets J as near fool proof as possible. To go back a
bit - Schnell proposed a 'high power holiday' which didn't seem to take hold very
well. I think that the idea had merit. Am I suggesting another? Nay, brother, stuff
that Sk")' wire as full of healthy nourishing watts as you wish. We will still hear that

105
 Chapter 6: American High Power ORM Seen From Abroad

little one and a half watter in Gopher City." Johnstone's main point is simple:
"You can't work 'em if you can't hear 'em'', and he advised "Instead of building a
high-powered final, invest in a reaUy good receiver ... Getting the receiver will do
two things for you - eliminate the 'QRM' from existing high power rigs, and give
you greater opportunity for DX QSO's. It is surprising what a properly handled
rig with 25 watts output will do, IF you can hear the ones that answer you. And
don't forget, there are as many low powered foreigners as there are Hi-powered
domestic rigs." However reasonable Johnstone's theory about eliminating hjgh
power QRM seemed, it simply did not work that way in practice.
While the enlistment of the superhet receiver as a weapon against high power
QRM had theoretical merit, it was met with skepticism by many. An exchange of
letters in three issues of QST in 1937 provide insight as to why that was the
general response. In the June issue, Charles W. Finnigan (W2BJQ) criticised
foreign 'phone stations for operating "outside the American 'phone band to avoid
interference" on 20 meters. W9BJQ's solution was typically patriotic: get the
Cairo allocations conference to force foreign 'phone stations, especially Mexicans
and S. Americans, to operate within the American 'phone segment, thereby
eliminating QRM from the c.w. segment. In responding to W9BJQ in the August
issue, R. Villasenor (XE2FC) began by making two points: (1) "he forgets to
mention (purposely, perhaps) that the VE's, VK's, PK's, J's, some of the K's and
most all of the European hams also operate 'phone outside th e 20-meter Amelica11
'phone band"; and (2) "W2BJQ probably ignores the fact that we Mexicans and
South Americans also live in a free country like his. In accordance with the interna-
tional treaty regulations ... we operote ... within the frequencies that have been as-
signed to us by our own Governments." In explaining why foreign 'phones choose
not to operate within the American 'phone segment, XE2FC reveals the foreign
experience of the American high power QRM problem:
"... who wants to go in there with the big "Amelicw1 kilowauer.s"? Even Mr.
Fi11nigan himself would feel sony for us with the low power that we use. What
chance in the world would we have of ever making a QSO? Most of the
American 'phones that I listen to are very efficient and sound wonderful. They
are very powerful and I admire them, so you can imagine what would happe11 to
my low power sigs inside of their band. They would be an easy bite for the 'big
sharks' Hi! I guess the rest of the 'Foreign Fones' feel that way too. The
American 'phone band is overcrowded as it is, and just suppose that all the the
'phone stations in the world were thrown in there too. What would happen
then? What chance would anyone have of ever worldng a DX station?"
Villasenor then concluded with a plea to "practice the right definition of the
word 'tolerance'." E.G. Bowden (WSCHU) supported XE2FC's position in the
October issue:
"I would like to add a jew words from this side of the fe11ce. In the fir.st place I
appreciate, as well as a good many other fellows I know, the fact that the
'Foreign Fones' are out of the American 'pho11e band. While I enjoy QSO's with
as many W stations as I can work, there comes the time when a little 'phone DX
is a pleasure, and I ask you how could we ever hear these low powered DX
stations if they were mixed in among the kilowatt American stations? I have had
a number of FB QSO's with XE2FC, as well as VK's, PK's and VE's, who were
out of the American 'phone band using as low as 14 watts! I don't think these
QSO's would have been very successful had they been in the 14, 150 - 14,250
section of the band. I am glad their govemme11ts allow them to operate where
they do and hope they stay there."
Hopefully Bowden's letter did something toward repairing the image of the
American radio amateur presented in Finnigan's letter. While the high power
QRM problem was frequently discussed in the context of 'local' QRM, it ob-

106
 Chapter 6: After All Was Said and Done ... W9DZG

viously was anything but a restricted problem. It appears that the rest of the
amateur radio world agreed with Wl WV's conclusion: "It is really a matter of
self-preservation" in the presence of the 'big sharks'.
The attacks on the abuse of high power and unnecessary QRM persisted until
the war brought an end to amateur operation. One of the final shots was fired by
H arry K. Long (W7CQK) in the July, 1940, issue who reminded amateurs of the
"forgotten or neglected section 324 of the F.C.C." regulations: "It is still in effect
{and still in 1987) ... In effect it says that all stations must use only sufficient power
to insure satisfactory communication over the given distance and under the exist-
ing conditions. Now we can't possibly stick to this rule with engineering precision,
but we can do something about the abominable practice of using 500 watts or
more for those cross-town round tables on 160 meters ... if we are going to spend
the evening talking to the next door neighbor or the frie nd two miles away let's
use a low power rig - say a two stage plate modulated rig running 3 to 10 watts
input. My 6F6 final with 5 watts input gives me very nice reports on 160 'phone at
distances of 50 to 100 miles ... and docs not interfere with stations across the state
during the busy hou rs..." In the previous issue, Earl R. Linder (W9DZG) gave
the other side of the story from a guy who tried it and found it to be a lot of
'bunk': "The numerous articles and letters appearing from time to time in QST
regarding the joys derived from using low powered transmitters fmally got me. I
built a tiny mite of a code squirter for 7 Mc. and I built well. So what happened?
I raised 'em from Maine to California and back again, with practically no power
at all. Great stuff, only with few exceptions the amount of intelligence conveyed
in these low powered contacts was confined to getting the calls OK and a hazy
remark or two about QRM. Then the inevitable, 'Sorry OM lost u in the QRM c
u agn 73'. Where before I enjoyed solid and intelligent chats with the 40 meter
crowd, I now had spotty and vague contacts. Unfortunately, I am not one of the
leisure chappies; having to work for a living, my operating time is necessarily
limited. During the time I do have for getting on the air I want good solid con-
tacts, enjoying ragchewing above everything else in ham radio. This simply cannot
be done with mouse powered toys..." The 'leisure chappies' who presumably did
not work for a living could continue struggling along with low power, but no
more of that for W9DZG: "Anyhow the 500-waller is back in operation, and if the
blinking lights can be made to behave I will have 'er up to a full kw. sh011/y." That
would solve the QRM problem ... for W9DZG!

107
 Chapter 7
QRP Gains Ground: 1930's

By the 1930's, great exploits by QRP operators were no longer front-page

news as in the 1920's. For one thing, the expeditions to the far corners of the
earth carried high power shortwave transmitters. And it was common knowledge
that QRP regularly accomplished power vs distance feats that were considered
phenomenal in the early days. Hence, QST of the 1930's continued to encourage
and publicize QRP achievements, but in a low-key manner, except in a few in-
stances where QRP attained 'feature' space. Short items about QRP records
appeared in 'Strays', 'Correspondence', and the 'Communications Dept.' and
'How's DX?' conducted by F.E. Handy (WlBDI) and E.L. Battey (Wl UE) until
about 1938.
I. Without Fanfares: The Low Power Work Goes On
"... Try your hand at low-power work this fall,
ifyou have never tried it before -- and let's hear your results... "
Handy and Battey responded readily to member comments and took every
occasion to record QRP doings. Their attitude finds occasional expression in the
'How's DX?' report which was part of the 'Communications Dept.' column.
Handy noted, for example, in the February, 1937 installment: "Consider for a
moment the pleasures of low power. G5CM, for example, worked ZSll{, VK2GU,
U9ML, VE4PH, W6KBD, W6HB, W61JU (three times), and W9's galore, on 28 Mc.
with 7.5 watts input to an E.C. 59, and has successfully worked W3PC with only 2
watts input! -And Miss Barbaro Dunn, G6YL, is WAC and WBE on ten with only
from 6 to JO watts input Miss Dunn chooses a frequency higher in the band than
most, so don't be afraid to go looldng for her. .. " {G6YL was one of the QRP pioneers
in the U.K. Her original logs and QSL 's have been preserved. What DX with QRPI Many
of her QSL's, such as several from India, give us a picture of foreign operators as
genuine 5-watt and under ORP types. This material will be forthcoming when G4BUE
does the history of QRP in the U.K.j In another issue: "Anytime we can give one of
the QRP gang a plug we like to do it. G8SD for example, goes merrily along with J
watt input ( 100 volts at 10 mils), but he works across the pond pretty well, according
to WlESN Of course, 48 watts isn't low power, but W8LED's story is interesting
because after 3-1/2 years of going after Ocea11a, his first contact there is with
VK6SA, just about the toughest VK district. This 48 watts have accounted for 45
countries...." In the April, 1938, issue: "Next to working a new country, one of our
greatest pleasures is being able to tell about some good low power work. W9AHR is
the same sort, and he tells us about a fellow in Kansas you ought to know. W9DSR,
using 1-1/4 watts input on J60 'phone, worked 32 states, including Califomia,
Vem1ont, and Florida. Just to rub it in a bit, the work was done during the evening
and not the less crowded early moming hours. The final is a 'J9, modu/atd by a '49.
QRO to 9 watts, and moving to 28 Mc., he has worked K6MVV, VK2GU and such.
Jeeves, what was our power bill last month? It was? Hmmmm ... Better drop the
input to 900 watts." And in May, 1938: "W9WSY has a 4 wavelength Vee beam for
Europe but that isn't all. He has a low power record that is something: a QSO with
G6YR on JO meters using 22.5 volts at 2 mils to the final 807, which figures out to
be 0.45 watts! Lee was RST 579 with 50 watts, 559 with 0.5 watts, and 439 with
0.045 waits. The only way to beat that one is to work somebody with the filaments
turned off!"
Byron Goodman (WlJPE) took over 'How's DX?' in 1937 and continued the
coverage of QRP in the July, 1937, issue: "W9RBI thought he would try a little of

108
 Chapter 7: QRP OXploits in 'How's DX?'

this QRP stuff the other day dming a 14-Mc. 'phone QSO with lDNI. The fi11al is a
T55, but by taki11g off the regular power supply and ending up with the 6-volt tap of
a dead B battery, he was nmning 0.02 watts input and was still RS43. It figures 0111
something like 50,000 miles per watt, on 20 'phone... This QRP stuff isn't th e bunk.
We worked the fellow W5CPT fa well known ORP DX'r whose station photo was
featured in 'How's DX?'-see below/ the other night and had a swell chat. His 8 watts
was bou11ci11g through in fine sryle, a good S7. Latest DX there is J3FP (Japan),
J3FZ, PK.lXB, PK4KO and KAlER. WAC 12 times, and 47 countries ... and to
clinch the case, W3GHB w01* ed J2CC with a crystal osci/lat01; doubling in the
plate circuit ... " In the September, 1937, issue: "W6IES has wo1*ed ZLlDA with
only 0. 9 watts input to his final, but usually rnns 600 watts. The low power stuff was
90 volts at 10 mils to a 35T ... Speaki11g of low power, W6CIS says that PKlRL uses
only 2 watts input to a 58 oscillator, and a Vee-beam. We would never have guessed
it, tire way he comes through 011 the east coast... " and in October, 1938: "In the low
power contingent, W3EYF repo11s an average report of S7 i11 the DJDC [comest/,
using only 35 watts to his 807 excite1; while W5FIT made his WAC with 25 watts to
a 6L6 Tiitet and a Q antenna... " Goodman initiated the DX Century Club in the
September, 1937, issue, and the listing for July, 1938, provides a context for
measuring QRP DX successes noted in 'How's DX?' of the period. Five
operators stood at between 120-130 countries, with 28 in the 100-119 range.
W5CPT's 47 countries was not alJ that poor a showing! The interest shown in
QRP work in these DX columns would continue to provide publicity for real
QRP for many years to come.
"The QRP Station of Emmett Simmons, W5CPT of Clarendon, Texas. The trans-
mitter is a 78 Tri-text oscillator driving a '12A final, with 8 watts input from B bat-
teries. With it Mr. Simmons has 'WOrked WAC four times, and has 'WOrked five con-
tinents with o. 1 of a watt at 45 volts! There is nothing unusual about the installation
except that a 2 wavelength Vee' beam is used. W5CPB, who sends this informa-
tion, says, 'And /'II tell you it gives one an odd feeling to hear Europeans giving an
8-watt station better reports than you get with your 500 watts. One is forced to ad-
mire a fellow that makes 8 watts do the 'WOrl< of 800'."

w:;m
·ll'4CIN
"ll lEAN.

Handy invited the submission of results of QRP work in the May, 1933, issue
in the 'Communications Dept.' under the heading 'Low Power Records' as this
material was often dcscnoed. In that note, Handy reponed that "W2BJZ suggests
thaJ it would be a very good idea to compare t/11: records of all hams using below
200 volts for plate supply, to see just what 'flea power' can do in each of our dif-
ferent bands," and went on: "W'lio has tire miles per watt record for DX (two-way
QSOs) 011 1715 kc? 3500 kc? 7000 and 14,000 kc?" He invited QRP'rs to "send us

109
 Chapter 7: The 'Miles per Watt' Low Power Reports

your DX-record, if you have operated a set which can be classified as 'low power'.
Give us the data on plate cwrent, plate voltage, and enclose the QSL you received
conjim1ing the work." It appears that Handy meant 'record' literally, but he also
was interested in reports: "Try your hand at low power work this fall, if you have
never tried it before -- and let's hear your results." He included some reports he
had on hand:
Here are some items of interest regarding 'low power communication': WJEZ,
Pownal, VT, in contact on 35. mc. at 2:10 p.m. with WJAPQ, Hampstead, NH,
cut power to 15 volts at 2 mills was QSA4 R3 at WlAPQ. -G5UM was in com-
munication wih G2ZN, about six miles away on the 1.75-mc. band. G2ZN
reduced power, and when using 10 volts at 0.5 MA was QSA3 R2 at G5UM.
This is about 1200 miles per wait! G2ZN was also heard R3 by G5RS when
using 0.35 watt, about 1000 m.p.w. -One evening at 8 p.m. W3CMQ contacted
VE3JS on the 3.5-mc. band. W3CMQ was using an 'OlA {201-A} with 180
volts; VE3JS was using a 199 with 150 volts! -During the 1932 DX tests
W2DEE was heard in Gennany 0 11 the 3.5-mc. band. Looking back in his log
he finds that at the time he was heard he was using a Type '26 with 450 volts 011
the plate, 50 mils current, 2.5 volts 011 the filament. A 7-mc. antenna was used
al the rime with 15-foot zepp feeders. Who said it didn't pay to keep a log?
Apparently Handy was not disturbed by G2ZN's 'bogus' QRP record, but it was
QRP information nonetheless. Elsewhere in the same issue, another QRP
'record' appears in 'Strays': "Speaking of miles per watt records, W91DW in
Yank/on, SD, worked WBBOW in Wheeling, W. Va., with 45 volts and 6 mils 011 a
Type '10 on the 80-meter band, which figures out to more than 3000 miles per wait.
The actual distance is about 900 miles -· quite a respectable achievement." Ironical-
ly, on the opposite page appear two photos of featured station WSAFM: four
rows of racks each 4 shelves high covering most of a wall!
The 'miles per watt' theme may have been suggested to Handy and Battey by
the announcement in the February, 1932, issue of the "British Columbia 'Miles
Per Watt' Contest" which was sponsored by the British Columbia Amateur Radio
Association for April 1 to May 1, 1932. Handy noted: "If, between those dates,
you hear any 'VE5' calling 'CQ MPW', you will know he is in the contest and is
looking for DX contacts." Several 'records' appeared prior to the above 'Low
Power Records' announcement. The April, 1932, issue reported W9GJG's miles
per watt record of 675, and that elicited a report from VK3HL in the August is-
sue: "VK3HL comes forward with the following dope: On January 19th VK3HM
was QSO ZL3DI and ZL4BS with an input of 0.54 watt! A Type 'OJA was used
with 90 volts at 6 mills. The dist011ce of each contact was 1560 miles or 2888 miles
per watt. Both contacts took place on the 3.5 me. band. ZL3DI reported VK3HM's
signals QSA5 R5 Olld ZL4BS QSA4 R5." Shades of the 1920's VK-ZL QRP work!
Later issues included 'Miles Per Watt Records' occasionally, as in the November,
1935 issue: "W5CPT reports a miles per watt record, which may be an all-time high.
On April 14th he worked W9GGB, Danville, Ky., about 912.2 miles, reducing power
to 4 volts at 2 ma., or 0.008 watts. This figures abouJ 114,000 miles per watt!
W9GGB reported the signals RST 229, frequency 14 me. Earlier records made by
W5CPT included a 10,365 m.p. w. QSO with W9GGB, a 30,000 m.p. w. contact with
W9FAV, both on 14 me., and an 8000 m.p.w. QSO with W5AMK 011 7 me. This
latter is W5CPT's best 7-mc. record. -A low-power test at VK3PG with W6CUH on
the receiving end resulted in an 80,000 miles per watt record. VK3PG was R7 at 4
waJts, R3 at 0.54 watts, and RI at 0. 09 watts (45 volts, 2 ma.). This was on 14 me."
At times rare QRP items would creep into the fine-print of the 'Station Ac-
tivities' section, as in the May, 1934, issue, where we learn: "W3CRB has worked
all 'W' and 'VE' disrricts with 10 watts input. -W9BWU worked 135 miles with
135 volts on 'phone. -W9HWD tried flea power 'phone on 3.5 me. -W9NGS uses

11 0
 Chapter 7: 'Consistent DX Contest' - 1932

flea power. -W9KNH has low power 14 me. 'phone. -W9MND worked a K5 and
Mexican with 5 watts on 14 me." The complexion of the reports did not change
much during the decade: the bulk of references are to high power. The reports in
'Station Activities' in the December, 1939, issue is about the same as in 1934,
with these items scattered about: "W8RQM has a 10-watt rig in his car for
'phone and c.w. -W9EQH got quite a thrill by working K6QMC [KH6l on 7 Mc.
and receiving a 589X; he sure tromps around with his 25 watts. -W5HBB in-
creased power from 3 to 20 wans on 7 Mc. -W9BIU worked 30 states - aU dis-
tricts - on 7 Mc. with a 6L6 in a month and a half. -W9BVL works 7 Mc. with
'QSL-40' (6L6 rig]. -W9CDL has been working out FB on 7 Mc. with only 10
watts input." Interestingly enough, the proportion of QRP to QRO references
actually increased in post-war years.

II. QRP's Few Brief Moments on Stage

"... 171e name of the low power man is legion, and we believe it is time
111e dedicated an activity to tllis whole group of operators, with a fair limit
that docs 11ot i11vite competitio11 ji'om high-power stations... "
The low-key publicity given to QRP was complimented by feature items
throughout the 1930's, ranging from the two contests sponsored by QST,
coverage of Field Day and 'Sweepstakes', articles on QRP rigs, and other fea-
tures. In this manner, the QST staff kept the ideals of the New American
Amateur, which were embodied in QRP operation, before the eyes of radio
amateurs. The definition of 'low power' remained rather flexible, depending on
the context, but by 1935 or so found some stability at around 20-25 watts input.
Genuine QRP at the 5-watt level was commonly referred to as 'flea power'.
The first of these contests was not actually designed or announced as a QRP
contest, but the basic underlying idea was the familiar miles per watt standard in
slightly modified form . The 'Consistent DX Contest' of June 5-18, 1932, set the
objective of seeing which stations could rack up the best "total mileage" for their
20 best contacts, and used the usual three power categories, with the 'low power'
one limited to 50 watts or less input. Operating was limited during the 14 day
period to the 160, 80 and 40 meter bands. Major interest resulted in the 'low
power' category which drew 52 entries, while the 'medium' drew 23 and the 'high
power' category drew only six. The list (QST, February, 1933) included three
genuine QRP entries: W9DBO with 7670 miles at 2.16 watts and WlCSV with
2762 mjles at 1.5 watts on 80 meters, and W5PR with 2011 miles at 7.5 watts
input on 40 meters. Other low power entries included: on 80 meters, W8EEQ
(1770mi: 12w), W?LD (9495mi: 15w), W9HUO (690lmi: 15w), WlEFM (4147mi:
15w), and W9HNM (3775mi: 18w); and on 40 meters, W7CEB (17,125mi: 5w),
W8GME (8915mi: 16w), W9HNM (12,265mi: 18w), and W4AQV (22,540mi:
20w). High score on 80 meters was W6AW (31,225mi: 50w), and on 40 W4AKH
(18,0470mi: 45w). Battey remarked on these results: "W9DBO with only 21.6 watts
input has a 'total mileage' of 7670, well above some of the stations with considerab-
ly higher power. WJCSV, with 1.5 watts, totalled 2762 miles!" One clue as to the
devious purpose of the contest appeared in Battey's 'conclusion': "Note that the
scores of the 'low power' group on 7 me. compare favorably with the 'medium
power' stations; and th e 'medium power' stations did as well as the 'high power'
entrants." Or, A = B = C, Ergo who needs high power (or even mediu m power),
since it makes little difference. 1n case some missed the equation, he added:
"The list of scores speaks for itself ... If nothing else, this contest shows that 'power
isn't everything'!" It is difficult, nay impossible, to believe that Handy and Battey
were surprised at such results. The contest showed what it was intended ro show
from the start!

111
 Chapter 7: QRP Accomplishments in 'Sweepstakes Contests'

The annual 'Sweepstakes Contest' gave prominent publicity to QRP operators

throughout the decade. E.L. Battey (WlUE) usualy wrote up the results of this
major contest and often approched Kruse in the emphasis placed upon low
power successes. His reports provide some illuminating statistics as welJ. The
'Sweepstakes' included three power categories: low, medium and high power, and
while the low power category officially was defined as 'under 100 watts' and car-
ried a power multiplier of xl.S (until 1938 and xl.25), Battey refrained from com-
menting on any station running above about 40 watts input, and reserved his
hardest hitting notes for the 'really low power' stations equivalent to modern
QRP power levels. Most of the reports (up to 1939) included a separate section
of analysis usually titled 'Low Medium Power Achievements' where Battey
sounded the praises of QRP'rs and the QRP philosophy as well. In this section of
the 1933 contest results (QST, May, 1934), for example, Battey began: "The
Sweepstakes is one contest where 'low power' is 1101 a handicap to getting full enjoy-
ment from participation, nor does it prevellt one from rn1111ing up a good score, even
a winning score. Operating ability and judgment have proven of much greater benefit
than power in practically every instance." Following the QRP results for the 1935
event (QST, May, 1936), Battey commented on successful operating techniques in
a manner to Harry in the 'Low Power Reports' of the 1920's: "The possibilities of
low power are too often under-estimated. The reason that the above champions of
low power get results is that they have confidence in their signals. The old adage
'You've gotta make calls ifyou wallla get results' is particulalfy /me 011 low power-·
but don't be afraid to make the calls ... you may be surprised at the DX you can
raise. The practice of calling anything you can hear is a good one to foilow."
The summary of low power results was preceded in 1934 and 1937 by a table
of statistics on the types of final amplifier tubes used by entrants, the purpose of
which seems to have been to emphasize the predominance of low power entrants.
In the 1933 contest, 28% used a single Type '10 rated in the SO-watt range (al-
though one 'wan-hog' noted in 'Station Activities' was able to pump 22S walls
into a pair!), and 10% used a pair of 'lO's, or 38% overall. The Type '10 was
viewed as the upper limit of 'low power' at the time (recall Schnell's reference to
it), and Battey drove the point home: ''Note that only about 12% used tubes
larger than the type '10 in this contest, and witness the scores! In the 1936 con-
test, lS.2% used single 'lO's and 16.6% used a pair, for a 32% total. By rhis tin1e,
the new 6L6, the workhorse of the 1950's, had appeared and accounted for 2.2%
of the entrants. From a historical perspective, the most interesting revelation of
Battey's summary is that 0.6% were still using the pioneering 201-A and a few
'199's showed up as well!
Battey launched into the 1934 low power results in a manner reminiscent of
Kruse: "Should there be any 'Doubting Thomases' the low power really can do it,
we request that they 1i1hale the following dope on actual accomplishmems." The
1936 comments stressed echoed the complaints about the movement to high
power: "The records of a few operators who used what can really be tenned 'low
power are refreshing in this game where the common urge is to rnn the power up,
up, up. ... "The QST staff of the 1930's was just as chagrined about the abuse of
high power as in the 1920's, spoke out about it, and eventua!Jy sponsored contests
co attempt to stem it. Whar is most interesting to us are the QRP achievements
noted by Battey. (It v,.ill help to put the QRP scores into context: high score for
the 1933 event was 62K, followed by 61K then SOK, six in the 40K range, and 19
in the 25K-40K range. Anything over 20K was considered worthy of special com-
mendation.) He summarised: "WBAQE operating on 3.5 me.made 5616 points. 27
sections, with '33s in a crystal oscillator (200v. B batteries 011 plaJes, 35 m.a.)!
-9553 points (41 sections) is WBFDA 's record using a 71 TNT f circuit type in caps]
with 200 volts 'B' batts! -WlDW, with a single '71 TNT, made 4433 (31 secs.).

112
 Chapter 7: QRP Accomplishments in 'Sweepstakes Contests'

-Among others in the 'ultra-low' power class were W5BD ('12A TNT 180 v.),
W5CPT ('12As P.P. & 201-As P.P. W 4 watts input), -WlCGV ('12A xtal. osc., '12A
amp., 5-6 walls), -W8JGN ('201-As TPTG 2 watts), -W4BMH ('201-A 3 watts),
-W8HOS ('201-As 180 v.) -W9PJT (4 wans), -W7BRU ('47s, P.P. TNT - 150 v.)".
To this list of real QRP'rs, Battey added: "Did some one say, 'Where are the win-
ning scores you claim for low power?' OK, listen. -W8BGY, Michigan leader
(31,197), used only 35 watts i11put ro final stage. -WBGUF, Western Penna. leader
(30,520), used '45s P.P. TNT, -W4PL, Te11nessee leader (22,002), used a '10 final
stage. -VE5HQ, B.C. leader (21,518), used a pair of '10s in final. W9DMY, Neb-
raska leader (17,264) used a 'JO in final. -W9GWK, Wis. leader (26,376), used a
'10 self-excited, -W9DMA, So. Minn. leader (18,090), used two '10s. -W9EMY, N.
Dak. leader (7878), used '46s P.P. final ... -W3AKU, Eastern Penna. second-high
(12,810), used only 40 watrs input. -35% of WlCOI's contacts were made with 7
watts input on 3.5 me., 15% with 25 watts on 3.5 me., and 50% with with 35 watts
on 14, 7 and 3.5 m e. His score was 9360." Two other real QRP'rs received special
mention in the 'Phone Participation' section: "W9ACU's 10,010 poi11ts were made
usi11g phone exclusively i11 the 3.9 and 14 me. ba11ds wid1in 011 input to the ji11al
stage of 10 walls. A real record for low power! The fi11al stage at W9ACU employed a
'12A drawing 50 m.a. with 200 volts on the plate."
The 1936 results included details on several real QRP'rs in the 'Low Power
Accomplishments' section: "-WlJAH usi11g a 6L6 e.c. osillator nu111ing at 3 watts
input w01f.:ed 48 stations in 19 sections! -With a lfa11ley oscillator on 3.5 Mc. and a
TNT for 7 and 14 Mc., with input of from 9 to 12 watts, WBFDA, veteran of the low
power ranks, made 16,821 points -- 134 stations, 42 sections; tube used was a '71A,
and W8FDA says the same B batteries were used in the '35 SS!! -W1EXZ believes i11
low power - he ra11 only J. 75 watts to a 12A 7 tube but he worked 14 stations in 7
sections in a few hours of operating, and that is something under present day QRM
conditions [see 'Flea Power Association', Chapter 9]. -W9VES with 20 watts input
scored 24,048 -- 168 QSO's, 48 sections. -W8LCO hit 4970 points with 16 watts; 52
stations, 31 secrions in 17 hours. -12 walls into a '45 TNT on 14 and 3.5 Mc.
brought 5301 poi111s to W5FJR (60 stations, 31 sections). -VE4CQ had his fun with
2 warts to a '201-A TNT, working 25 stations in 12 sections. -10 watts broughr
VE3QB 57 QSO's in 31 sctions, 5058 points."
The 1937 'SS' results opened with the note: "Different operators have dif-
ferent ideas of just what constitutes 'low power'. To some, 150 watts seems low,
others feel that 75 is about as low as they would care to go, a few think anything
above 20 watts is high power. Jn the 'SS' we find a number of operators using
what we consider low power, We thi nk their accomplishments in the contest
prove something or other." Battey's idea of low power included but three at 25
watts, as emerged in the listing: "-VE4CQ ran only 4 watts to a a '201-A TNT,
working 60 stations in 35 sections! -And W9VOD, with but 5 to 6 watts input,
worked 115 stations in 45 sections!! -Not to be outdone WBOQU worked 41 sta-
tions, 26 sections, with a single type '19 at 1 watt input. Now we're really talking low
power! -One of our most consistent low power men is W8JA, operating ponable in
the District of Columbia; he has done some excellent work in O.R.S. Parties and
other activities, and in the 'SS' fumed in 15,152 points (130 stations, 39 sections)
using 6 watts. -You'll have a hard time proving to W9VKF that he needs more than
25 watts because he continues to lead the Southem Minnesota Section with that
power -- he made 54,450 this time, worning 303 stations in 60 sections. He has a
nice DX record, too. -W4COV, also using 25 waits, led the Eastem Florida Section
with 28,538 ... 175 stations, 49 sections. -Looking down the list a bit we find
W9DBO, 14 watts, with 40 stations, 24 sections. -WBFDA, old-time low-power en-
thusiast, sticks to his '7lA with 10 ro 12 watts and worked 177 stations in 55 sec-
tions during the comest. -Twelve watts brought W9KMN contacts with 91 stations in

113
 Chapter 7: New Low Power Contest- 1937

48 sections. -W8BON's 22 watts worked 82 stations, 32 sections. -W8BXC and

W8PIH both used 8 watts input, BXC making 30 contacts in 16 sections, PIH
making 70 QSO's in 26 sections." And finally, the complexion of the reports
changed in 1939 when the separate low power accomplishments section was
dropped. But some QRP results showed up in the summary: "One of the best low
power records of the contest was made by W9FUI-I, Colorado 'phone winner, who
worked 112 stations in 56 sections using not over 33 watts input ... -W9JID, located
in a 22ft house trailer at Champlin, Minn., used a single 6L6 oscillator with 10 watts
input. He worked 181 stations in 46 sections and totalled 20,585 points."
Overall, F.E. Handy (WlBDI) and E.L. Battey (WlUE) emerged as ardent
supporters of low power operation during the decade. They were responsible for
the attention given QRP in the 'Communications Dept' and 'How's DX?' as well
as the 'Sweepstakes Contest' and Field Day reports. The comments about QRP
encountered in those sections of QST all have the same ring as seen in the above
review: both exhibited an enthusiasm for QRP and practical insights which mark
them as QRP'rs, at least in spirit! They probably were the moving force behind
the two QRP contests cooked up by the QST staff in 1932 ('Consistence DX
Contest') and 1937 which thrust QRP into the limelight again.
The staffs efforts to encourage low power operation peaked in the announce-
ment in the August, 1937, issue of a new low power contest. This new contest
received significant treatment not accorded any other. An entire page set in a
bold box was headed in 24pt. type: "A.R.R.L Announces August Low Power
Contest." The announcement itself, written by F.E. Handy (WlBDI), went to
great length to define the ph.ilosophy and purpose of the contest, and i.n so doing,
bluntly excluded high power stations. It began: "The purpose behind this activity,
as is the case with our June Field Day, is to encourage building and testing of
economical self- powered equipment suitable for work in possible future emergen-
cies. Equally important is the conversion of existing stations for continued reliable
operation as soon as power fails." The contest was aimed at having an immediate
impact upon the power demographics of amateur radio: "The more widespread
availability of portables, economical in first cost and operation, but higlzly practical
equipment in this power class, throughout the entire fraternity is tlze immediate ob-
jective." Taken thus, these objectives seem to be presented without ulterior mo-
tives, but sandwiched between them in the announcement was the revealing
Kruse- like point: "The name of the low power man is legion, and we believe it is
time we dedicated an activity to this whole group of operators, with a fair limit tlzat
does not invite competition from high-powered stations." The contest, in other
words, was primarily a QRP contest for the grassroots masquerading behind the
guise of emergency preparedness, which, although a stated objective, was com-
promised significantly in the rules. After having been bluntly 'uninvited', th.e high
power boys were then "most cordially invited, whatever your present power supply"
providing they ran no more than 25 watts input! The first statement above in-
formed the 'watt-hogs' as to how this was possible - build a low power rig! The
low power men ''whose name was legion" already had such a transmitter, and
needed only to convert to emergency power.
The 'fudging' on the emergency preparedness angle added another twist to
the motivation for the contest. Beginning with advice about where to begin,
Handy noted: "The contest set up [i.e., preparation] especially focuses attention 011
plans for quick conversion of exciter units and receiver power supplies so that exist-
ing superlative amateur station equipment can be quickly made selfpowered in any
time of need, ready for any call to sen1e the community welfare." Again, the only
'exciter units' that could be thus converted were existing QRP transmitters and
perhaps the first stages of a QRO transmitter. But in those days, a high power
transmitter was really a big transmitter! Portability wasn't really essential to the

114
 Chapter 7: New Low Power Contest - 1937

concept of the contest: "Emergency power is sometimes required aJ a home loca-

tion, so home locations are permissive this time (i.e., this first contest]. Field instal-
lations are of course equally welcome." The primary mode of operation, in other
words, was at the home station, but truly portable set-ups could enter also. Fur-
thermore, emergency power could be eliminated at a small cost: "Power from
commerical mains can be used, but of course will 1101 justify application of the mul-
tiplier [ x1.5 if either receiver or transmitter was self-powered, x2 ff both wereJ designed
to credit the exim effo11 of expense entailed in setting up self-powered stations."
Entries were limited to the use of one receiver and one translTlltter with one or
several operators. What remained after the succession of steps 'fudging' the rules
in regard to emergency preparedness was a contest for the typical grassroots
operator: one receiver and translTlltter, emergency power for either or both if
affordable (or not on hand already), otherwise operation from the a.c. mains at
home. In other words, a typical grassroots QRP station. The strategy applied by
Handy is familiar to anyone who has read the rules for our modem QRP Field
Day sponsored by Milliwatt Books and the QRP ARCI and that strategy has the
same purpose: make it easy for the QRO operator to give QRP a try out - using
the 'big rig' if need be.
Handy closed the announcement with the same kind of enthusiasm which
characterises every announcement that ever invited QRO types to give QRP a
try. The 'serious' emergency preparedness objectives were part of it: "Get emer-
gency power now, ifyou haven't any. This is tire opp01tu11ity to give a. real operating
test to tire low power rig and see if it and tire power supply stand up." But that
wasn't all. There was a definite lesson to be learned (again!) from the results:
"The whole amateur fraternity is invited to patticipate with individual stations (25
watts or less) and any power source desired, while finding out just what can be done
with this power. A pleasant swprise is in store for some!" Of course, the low power
grassroots would encounter little in the way of surprises about what such a power
level could do -- they already knew! Similarly, Handy's final exhortation was not
addressed to the grassroots: "Try the August low Power Contest at home or afield.
It's a brand-new kind of fun."
The 'Low Power Contest Results' which appeared in the December, 1937,
issue opened with a summary of participation: "Tire August Low- Power Comest
(for stations using 25 watts or less) turned out to be a miniature Field Day. Some 60
per cent of the 137 operators participa1i11g did so from portable stations 'in the field.'
54 opemtors manned 46 stations aJ home locations, 83 opemtors manned 26 field
stations." Handy's use of the numbers may appear an attempt to make participa-
tion sound greater than it was. Actually, 72 entrants was an excellent showing in
terms of the number of stations. The 1936 Field Day produced entries from 131
stations, although multiple transmitter clubs boosted the actual number of "port-
able stations" to about 550 "worked or logged" and 642 operators. Depending on
how the numbers are compared, the 'Low Power Contest' produced station
entries equivalent to 55% of the annual Field Day. The Field Day demographics
prove illuminating in regard to the QST stafrs strategy for the 'Low Power Con-
test', but more of that later. The predictable 'lesson' followed the summary of
participation:
Comments from participants bring out the fact that low power gets results. Tire
fellows to whom low power was a new experience, matveled at the results ob·
tained even though tire meters were not banging over to the pins. The low power
men justly demand, "Chalk up one for our side!"
Handy, in effect, welcomed 'needle pinner' QRO types who 'marveled' into the
QRP fold. The success of the 'Low Power Contest' was couched explicitly in
terms of the QRP vs QRO battle that continued through the decade. It was a
question of 'sides' and 'winners vs losers', and for a change, the low power men

115
 Chapter 7: 'Low Power Contest' Results: 'Chalk Up One For uur ;:,10e

won one. Handy included a shorter than usual pastiche of 'comments' from par-
ticipants because "the stories told by those taking part closely parallel the June
Field Day experience" given in the November issue. He devoted most of the
space to real QRP'rs: "W9TDR {8 QSO's] used but 2.28 watts, apparently the
lowest powered station in the contest. Input at W8TA/3 {15 QSO's] varied between
3.5 and 4.8 watts. Only 3 watts input at W8K0/3 {26 QSO's]. 4 watts input at
Wl!AH {21 QSO's]." The lead comment included by Handy affirmed the point of
the contest: "Sure swprised at the good signals most of the low power Jigs had.
Compared ve1y favorably with 100 and 300 watt rigs. -- W5DYI-I." The contest was
intended to demonstrate just that! (A = 8 = C, Ergo ... )
The 'Scores' listing included no indication of the actual powers used by
entrants and it is impossible to distinguish between the real QRP'rs and those
running above 10 watts input. But why quibble over a difference of 15 watts in-
put? Those who ran 25 watts input were close enough to current QRP levels! The
list was divided into 'Home Stations' showing 46 entries, 25 of which were
powered from a.c. mains, and 'Field Stations' showing 26 entries. For about 30%
of the entrants, the 'Low Power Contest' had nothing to do with emergency
power. The rules made that possible, despite their emphasis upon that objective.
The number of QSO's ranged from a high of 107 down through a minimum of 6,
with the following spreads: >90 QSO's: 3 stations; 70-89: 4; 50-69: 7; 30-49: 23,
and the remaining stations below 30 QSO's. The spread is not unlike that found
in the low power section of the modern QRP Field Day.
But that is not the case in regard to the annual Field Day results of the 1930's,
which make clearer than ever the ulterior motives underlying the 'Low Power
Contest'. When Handy described the latter as a "miniature June Field Day", he
meant that literally. The Field Day results in the November, 1937, issue show 95
entries operating exclusively in the 'low power' class of 20 watts and under, 11
entries using both 'low' and 'medium' f20 to 60 watts] power, 12 enrries using
'medium' power, and a mere 8 entries using a combination of '!Ugh' power [over
60 watts] and 'low' or 'medium' powers. Handy's 'numbers game' makes it impos-
sible to determine the actual number of transmitters involved in each group, and
the list of scores does not include this information, so we are left with nothing
more than the entries totals. Evenso, it is clear that Field Day was a 'big Low
Power Contest' with the overwhelming majority of entries in the low power
category. It is hardly necessary to point out the phenomenal contrast with the
modern Field Day 'results'! These facts add more clarity to Handy's motive be-
hind the pointed, blunt exclusion of 'watt-hogs' from the 'Low Power Contest':
the exclusion involved about a quarter of the entrants in Field Day. Why bother?
Similarly, the write-ups for Field Day sounded the same themes as found in the
announcement and write-ups for the 'Low Power Contest':
"Interest in ponable work and the emetgency preparedness that it encourages is
increasing by leaps and bounds ... Once bitten by the 'pol1able' bug and once
experienci11g the surprising work that can be done with low power rigs 'in the
field' there is nothi11g to do but come back for more ·· and how the gang comes
back each time a Field Day is a11no1111ced! ... Tests of such 11ew low power sta-
tions give a thri{{ of pride in satisfacto1y accomplishme11t that is something
above and beyond the usual records so easily possible with plenty of power... "
In effect, Handy appears to have been deliberately penaljzing the 'watt hogs' to
make a point about rugh power, and in the process win a few converts to the low
power ranks. It was a bold move, but it seems to have backfired, as we'll see in
Chapter 9.
The Field Day reports reflected the prepondcrence of 'low power' entries. For
1937, The Egyptian Radio Club, W9AIU, topped the field with twelve operators,
five 'low power' transmitters, and 204 QSO's from a 200ft bluff overlooking the

116
 Chapter 7: QRP First: First 10 Meter WAC

Mississippi. W6MVK/ W60FD came in second with 165 QSO's from a 6L6 c.w.
rig "with not over 20 watts input" and a 'phone rig at 30 watts. Five transmitters
with a maximum input of 18 watts accounted for W3QV's third place showing of
156 QSO's. Four 20-watt transmitters at W2DUA accounted for 154 QSO's and
fourth place. Many of the excerpted comments from entrants noted low power:
"We used a 53, 802 rig tunning 8 watts input on 'phone and 15 watts on c. w. Power
was from an a.c. generator /WI from the car fan belt. And what a gas bill! We were
located on Saddle Peak Road up in the Malibu Mtns. - W6KSX, W6NSC,
W60KL." And so on. Field Day was a 'big Low Power Contest' and the excerpted
comments read like modem QRP Field D ay reports.
The conquest of 10 meter WAC gave special prominence to QRP, since it was
first accomplished by a QRP'r, W3FAR. The up-front story "28-Mc WAC Ac-
complished" in the December, 1935, issue began: "October, 1935, will go down
in amateur history as a month of unprecedented activity and unusually good DX
conditions on ten meters. ALI the familiar DX calls were there -- and often with
louder signals than they ever put across on 14 me." The number of operators with
10 meter rigs had grown during the early 1930's, and the upswing in Cycle 17
increased the R12 Smoothed Sunspot Number from a miserable 6 at the beginning
of 1934 to 51 by October, 1935, still a fairly poor level for 10 meter DX. At the
time, only two U.S. stations had succeeded with the 10 meter WAC. John J.
Michaels (W3FAR), the first, was described as "a real old timer, having got on
the air back in 1912 under the call 9MC in Chicago." The antenna used by
W3FAR in the QRP WAC feat was an 80- meter Zepp up 30ft with 33ft feeders.
His work "was done with a pair of 'lO's in push-pull, using an input of only 22
watts. Five of the six continents were worked on 'phone and well as c.w., using a
pair of '46's as Class-B modulators." Handy noted about the accomplishment:
"The ten-meter band thus lives up to its reputation of giving real DX with low
power." To the modem QRP'r who is familiar with QRP WAC's done in an af-
ternoon these days, it is difficult to imagine that WAC was viewed as a challenge
throughout the decade even for QRO operators. When a QRP'r turned the trick,
it was something of a news item. Thus, WSEZA received double mention in the
July, 1936, issue; first, in 'How's DX?' - "W5EZA, with 8 watts to a single '12A.,
has WAC'd twice; among the good ones he ltas wodced are found ZT6X, FBBC,
SllSG, J2LW, l3Fl, VK6SA and K7NA"; and in 'I.A.RU. News' conducted by
Byron H. Goodman - "!11 these days of super-powered ether-busters, we like to
meet fellows like D.C. Blake, W5EZA. In sending in his cards for WAC, he men-
tions the fact that his transmitter is an e.c. '36 oscillator driving a '12A final, input 8
watts! What price high power?"
W3FAR once again gained publicity for QRP by winning the 1936 'A.R.R.L.
28-Mc. Contest', a unique type of contest in which scoring was weighted as fol-
lows: (1) 50% from QSO points; (2) 25% from the research and development
work reported to the ARRL; and (3), 25% from the weekly conditions reported
to the ARRL. The contest ran the entire year, with W3FAR averaging 38.6
QSO's per month and submitting the maximum of 25 reports in each category.
This was a real 'exploration and discovery' contest involving real work! F.E.
Handy mentioned tha t "W3FAR's 45-page log is a valuable treatise on 28-Mc.
communication", and gave an interesting summary: "Scoring points dropped
from 1820 in January [R12 SS Nr: 59) to but 30 in June [R12 SS Nr: 77], rising to
more than 1100 per month for September, October and November [R12 SS Nr:
90-96), with the record of 2619 points for December, 1936 [R12 SS Nr: 101] ." He
continued with a summary of W3FAR's antenna tests. In opening "W3FAR Wins
28-Mc. Contest", Handey was up to his usual form with a plug for QRP: "The
power input at his station was kept under 50 watts during the emire 12 m onths, and
during March 1936 was kept at 5 watts with results comparable to those at any other

117
 Chapter 7: Featured QRP Stations: WBACY & W3EIM

time, showing the predominati11g influence of transmissio11 conditions (rather than

power levels) in detennining successfu l communication at 28 Mc." (A = B = C
again!)
Given the QST staffs commitment to proving that 'low power can get results',
it is not surprising that just about the only genuine QRP station featured in the
'Amateur Radio Stations' section during the decade appeared at this time. A
photo and description of W8ACY, the station of Bruce Kelley of Rochester, NY,
in the July, 1936, issue revealed the remarkable achievement of this early QRP'r:
Frequent changes in location since 1929 ha11e caused the transmitter to be de-
veloped into a semi-porlable affair. Bmce Kelley, the owner, has only one object
in amateur radio - low power 14-mc. DX. Considering the fact that the station
is set up in a new location 011 the average of e11e1y six mo11ths, quite remarkable
work has been accomplished. The origi11al transmitter consisted of a single 45
in a series-fed Hanley with approximately three watfs output. All continents
except Asia were contacted with this layout. In 1935 a more modem transmiller
was constructed using a 59 Td-tet oscillato1; 46 doubler, and a single 210 jincil
with an output in t}1e vicinity of JO watts. A si11gle wire about JOOft long, withotll
feeded, is directly coupled to the tank through a Collins network. Two power
supplies are used, each with an 83 tube. Occasionally grid-bias modulation is
used for 'phone work. The receiver has always been the DX'ers standby type,
consisting of a 24 detector a11d a 2A5 audio. With this tmnsmitter WAC has
been made innumerable times and the operator is looking for the 70th co1mt1y.
Besides lo w power DX, considerable interest is shown in photo collecti11g.
Photos have been swapped with stations on all co111i11e11ts. A similar tra11smi11er
under the call W2ICE is also used at another station. This station is also WAC.
Featured QRP Station WSACY.

~l :.:.. ;_-:;..... ·- .. ~
.... . ~-:::...... •" t1
~

Directly opposite the photo of W8ACY is a photo of the typical featured station:
an operating table with receiver and mike at lefr, right wall obscured by two com-
plete transm.iners, each housed in a 3ft x 6ft cabinet, each with a pair of 212-D's
'normally operated at about 500 or 600 watts input'. The contrast is phenomenal.
And another historian's fantasy: discovering W8ACY's logs and photo collection!
Bear in mind that WAC was still difficult, and 70 countries was better than
average.
The 80-watt QRO station of A. David Middleton, W9WFV, W4CA/5 and
W7ZC was featured in the March, 1937, issue, and was the unit left in Rifle,
Colorado, during the "Perfect Summer Plus QRPp" (see Chapter 8). The write-
up provided biographical details about 'Mid':
In the two and a half years the ng shown in the photographs has been in exist-
ence, some 4000 QSO's have been made [on 80, 40 and 20 meters]. The station

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 Chapter 7: Featured OAP Stations: WBACY & W3EIM

is both WAS and WAC. Dwing nine months spent in various New Mexico loca-
tions, W4CA/5 provided a much-needed contact in this state for hundreds of
WAS-seeking hams. Much of tire recent operatio11 has been earned on at Neder-
land, Colorado, at a11 elevation of 8400[1, b111 a pennanent location and the W9
call are now at Rifle Colorado. "Mid" !ras been in the game since the ewfy
'20's, having staned out in Indianapolis in tire spark days with the w.k. Ford
coil. First call was 9BJL, held until 1925 when the QRA was changed to Ohio,
when BCGI, BAKA, and BUG came i1110 existence; then in Florida with W4CA
and finally in the west with W9WFv. Chief Radio Mw1 in the USNCR and
holding appointments as OBS [Official Bulletin Station] and ORS [Official Relay
Station], "Mid" is also a w1iter of fictio11 011 radio subjects, some of his stories
having appeared i11 OST.
A second ORP station photo appeared in 'Ham Shacks' in the April, 1940,
issue. By this time, it appears that the QST staff had suppressed its fervor regard-
ing ORP accomplishments, and the description of W3EIM was in entirely dispa-
ssionate terms:
John Cann, WJEIM, is a 11ewcomer to tire ronks of ham radio. Nevettheless,
since receiving his license less than a year ago, he has done quite well for him-
self with his low power rig. He has worked 43 states with confinnations from 41
as well as CM, K4 and K6. The station is located in a convenient comer of the
su11 parlor. The transmitter is th e "QSL 40", described in OST with a single
6L6G. ft is link-coupled to the antenna tuner near the wi11dow at the right. The
antenna is a 66-foot end-fed Zepp. 1/1e receiver is the SW-3 with Bmsh 'phones.
Only two operating frequencies are used at the present time -- 3717 and 7185,
the f onner bei11g used most of the time. Joh11 is pla1111i11g to build a new ali-
band rig soon with a 200-watt final.
Featured ORP Station W3EIM.

Gone were the reminders of what low power could do, even though W3EIM's
record invited such a comment. And then the ftnal line ... 'bigger and better!

Ill. Flea Power Transmitters and the T hrills of QRP

"...power alone docs TIO/ mean operating sarisfaction;
there is a much greater thrill in haviTlg some fellow ham
call you a liar when you tell him your iT1p11t is only a watt or nvo... "
Throughout the 1930's, articles describing low power transmitters provided
prominent publicity to ORP exploits. Interest in such equipment was sufficient to
merit a separate 'Transmiuers - Low Power and Portable' section in the annual
index in QST. These articles stressed the portability of ORP equipment, their
alleviation of ORO ORM, as well as the thrill of ORP operation.

119
 Chapter 7: 'Flea Power' Rigs - W9LKV & W9EHC (WSJJ)

Low power transmitter circuits were included in the 'For the Experimenter'
[replaced by 'Hints and Kinks for the Experimenter' in 1936) section of QST as
possible solutions to the QRO QRM problem. Two circuits suggested by
Leonard Tulauskas (W9LKV) appeared in "A 'Fly-Power' 'Phone Transmitter
Using a 6A7" in the December, 1935, issue, and made the point. The crystal oscil-
lator circuits used a 6A7 receiving tube operated in either fundamental or har-
monic mode with screen-grid modulation directly from a carbon microphone.
Grammer reported the results: "These circuits have been used very successfully for
short distance work on the 160-meter band, using an input of less than three walls
to the tube. They should be of interest to the amateur who wants an inexpensive low
power rig for local work or portable use." In a later issue, W9LKV offered several
more hints about the 6A7 transmitter "in response to numerous letters and r~
quests for more info". Apparently the 6A7 unit was popular with QST readers.
The W9EHC/WSJJ 12A7 Flea Power Transmitter Circuit

1ofl
Wire
~~
c,
,4/temacivt: Oufpvt
Coupling

FLG. I-SIMPLE AND COMPLETE ON&TUBE

llOV. TRANSMITTER FOR LOCAL OR PORTABLE WORK
In a similar item, long-time QRP veteran Carl C. DrumeUer, then- W9EHC,
who contributed several articles to The Milliwall a quarter century later as W5JJ,
descnbed a circuit using the dual section rectifier-pentode 12A7 in "A Simple
and Inexpensive QRP Transmitter" in the July, 1936, issue. Drumeller began on
the QRO QRM theme: "We all realize that a large part of the QRM on the
amateur bands is caused by the use of high-power for local and other short distance
communication." The economics of QRP figured prominently in Drumeller's
comments: "The average amatew; however, is not financially able to put more than
a few dollars into an auxiliary tra11smi1ter; he always needs every dollar he can spare
for improvements on his main rig. There is one way, however, in which a very inex-
pensive low power set suitable for short distance communication can be built in a
few minutes' time. It requires no additional power supply; only the key, crystal and
antenna from the main transmitter." The half-wave rectifier section of the 12A7
hooked directly into the 115-volt a.c. mains provided filtered d.c. voltage to the
pentode crystal oscillator transmitter section of the 12A7. The 'results' comment
evoked the satisfaction of operating genuine QRP: "!have built two such trans-
mitters, using the circuits in Fig. I, and have had very pleasing results with them.
Using the simpler antenna system [a 10ft wire tapped directly onto the plate induc-
tance}, I contacted a station 407 miles away and received an RST349X report." The
frequency was not specified, but the distance is excellent for a lOft wire at any
frequency! Drumeller's precise definition of the mileage involved renects the
true QRP'rs concern with precision in defining achievements - not merely 400
miles, but 407 miles! A big difference! His comment about the method of initiat-
ing contact seems directed at the operators who had a QRO transmitter: "This
was done merely by answering his CQ, not by the usual method of contacting a
station on high power and then shifting the crystal to the flea powered transmitter."
Of course, low power operators did not have a QRO rig in the first place;
W9EHC was thus pointing out that contact actually could be initiated with a flea

120
 Chapter 7: Wt EXZ's QRP Work with the W9EHCj#5JJ Rig

power transmitter and was inviting ORO types who were trying out QRP to go
the whole way.
Drumeller's description of his nea power transmitter had a more far reaching
impact on American amateur radio than he could ever have imagined. On July 8,
1936, a few days after the July QST had arrived in the mail, Robert Curtis,
WlEXZ/NlEXZ, put his version of the 12A7 rig on the air from Springfield,
MA. WlEXZ has graciously provided some documentation of this early part of
his QRP work from materials which fortunately survived until 1987! The 'parts
list' included:
1- 12A7 tube $1.32
1- 25,000 resistance .10
1- 24 mfd. condenser 2.40
1- 350 resistance .60
2- ant. clips .10
3- stand-off insulators .25
$4.77
Curtis comments: "Not bad. A complete transmiller for less than 5 bucks!" He
recalls about his QRP work: "!11 general, tire little one-tube ng ran about two watts.
On the sheet where I fisted my QSOs, I noted down the power for each QSO. Evi-
dently I measured tire input power each time." At the time, Curtis was in the Naval
Reserve and used his Nl.EXZ call for regular contacts, and kept a "running log
011 a typewriter" for recording every character received during a QSO. A portion
of his Jog [from July 6, 1936, to August 7, 1936) has survived and provides an
intimate view of the QRP'rs on the air experience in 1936.
Firing up on 3600 kHz on July 8 at 1833 local time, WlEXZ called CQ once,
called WlDLX, then CQ twice before switching to the QRO transmitter [pair of
'45's] and working WlJRW at 1901. July 11 saw similar results: two CQ's and an
unsuccessful call to WlGAE from 0634-0646. A QRP and then a QRO CQ were
unsuccessful at 1600-1607, as well as three unsuccessful QRO calls at 2105-2124.
On July 12, three unsuccessful QRO CQ's and two calls to WlBOE from 0518-
0545. Back on the air with the 12A7 at 1144 first with a CQ and then a call to
WlJHY, and finally, the first successful QRP QSO at 1150 with WlAFG (run-
ning 30 watts) who gave WlEXZ an RST 339 report in "lousy conditions". The
WlAFG QSL listed the report as 339x-449x and remarked: "Y,ix qsl es fb on ur
flea pwr, Bob". It is obvious from the log that the QRP 'bug' bit: the QRO rig
stood idle except for one QSO. WlEXZ fired up at 1823 on July 13, with three
CQ's and calls to WlJNN and WlIYB, and then at 1920 worked WlJGB in
Providence, RI, who gave him an RST 579x and responded to WlEXZ's trans-
mission: "r r solid om fl>. llu: for fb dope abt ur rig hi fb vy gud sig in hr om weak
but ry gud steady note fb. gess u will hav mani more qso s wid that little n'g hi".
Firing up at 1819 on July 15, WlEXZ called CQ and then at 1827 worked
WlCME in Manchester, NH, who gave an RSf 489x report, and commented:
"sure fb vy on low pwr ob ['old boyJ. /mi abt ur 12A7 rig es wondered wat it wud
do. ur sure doin fb wid it. are u planning to use it ponabfe''. After the WlCMB
QSO, at 1859 WlEXZ called W2TDD, WlJPF, WlJDS, and got a QRZ from
WlJDS on the second call, but no luck, and then a final call to WlHJR at 1929.
On July 16, WlEXZ called W2JDY, WlAJD (twice), CQ , VE2HI and W2JUX,
and after 19 minutes of !'allure, finally worked W2ITX in Stony Brook, L.L, with
a 369x report. The QSO was devoted to passing one message to WlEXZ for
delivery to West Hartford, CT. July 17 saw three unsuccessful QRP calls to
WlHKY, WlBOE and W2IIA at 1928. July 19 was limited to one QRO QSO
and a message. July 20 was a bad day, with nine unsuccessful calls. Not much
better on July 22, with five calls and a QRZ from WlHRN. But things improved
on July 25, beginning with a call to WlJXU at 1550, followed by a contact with

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 Chapter 7: W1 EXZ's QRP Work with the W9EHC/W5JJ Rig

W2GIC at Northport, L.I. at 1611 and a 579x report. W2GIC commented: "ok on
ur flea pwr ob and a vy nice sig ob". The W2GlC QSO was followed by two calls
(1637- 1642), and at 1720 WlEXZ worked WlISM in N. Abington, MA, with a
569x report but with QRM: "most. 11 are abt r3 r3 hr now. sum qnn but not bd".
July 26 began with three unsuccessful calls at 0552-0558, then at 1108 calls to
WlIOR (two), WlIHW, WlEOB, WJUE [.E.L. Battey], WlBVR, one CQ, and
then a contact with WIIEX at 1142 who gave the report: "ur sig is very weak rst
rst 449 hr in providence 1i." August 2 produced no results with five calls at 0840-
0856, and t hree calls at 1240-1254 finally ra ised WlIDB who lost WlEXZ on his
first transmfasio n. August 6 was a good day: the first call at 1855 resulted in con-
tact with WlHWZ in Brookline, MA, who reported RST 579 and complained:
"glad to contact u om. is been cm my head off hr gess hv to increas power hr." And
finally, six calls on August 7 produced no results. WlEXZ kept a separate llit of
his QRP contacts:
W1 EXZ QRP QSO's: July 8 -September 7, 1936
N1AFG 339x Goodyear, Conn. 1.95w 7/ 22/36 41 mi
WtJGB 579x E. Providemce, A.I. 2.025w 7/ 23/36 65mi
Wt CME 489x Manchester, N.H. 2.025w 7/ 25/36 79mi
W21TX 369x Stony Brook, L.l. 2.025w 7/ 26/36 90mi
W2GIC 579x North Port, L.I. 2.025w 7/35/36 87mi
w1 ISM 569x Abington, Mass. 2.025w 7/35/36 78mi
Wt IEX 449x Providence, R.I. 2.025w 7/36/ 36 64mi
Nt HWZ 579 Brookline, Mass. 1.78w 8/7 /36 71 mi
NtQW 459x Newburyport, Mass. 1.68w 9/7/ 36 104mi
Judging from WlEXZ's log, contacts were fairly difficult to make during summer
80 meter conditions. Bear in mind that WlEXZ had but a single crystal on 3600
kHz. Curtis remarks that there weren't many 'flea power' stations around his area
in 1936. Perhaps that is why word had reached WlCME about WlEXZ's rig. His
success with the W5JJ 12A7 transmitte r led to the idea of forming the 'Flea
Power Association.' Like W5JJ, WlEXZ would also be among contributors to
The Milliwatt many years later.
In the June, 1934, issue, portability was stressed as Philip Rosenblatt
(W2AKF) and Henry T. Miller (W2AIS) described "The Ultra-Midget: A 10-
watt Transmitter of Miniature Dime nsions": "Another midget? Yes! And truly a
Lilliputian in compan'son to most. When rm iron shield-can measun'ng 5 by 5 by 6
inches can house a push-pull H011/ey oscillator [using a pair of Type '45s] plus a
225-volt, well-filtered power supply, pretty nearly the ultimate in smallness for a
practical transmitter has been <Jcl1ieved. Catry it around in a small week-end bag,
complete. Plug into a 115-volt a.c. supply [a.c. mains], attach the antenna, insert
the key and tubes and settle down to the best time you ever had with low power."
The entire transmitter drew 32 watts, of which 11.25 watts were consumed in the
plate circuit. The drama of operating QRP began when this 'ether buster (as
W2AKF fondly referred to it) was hooked up: "Rather skeptically the tiny mite
was put on the air at W2AJS. A CQ by W2D)tI' was answered. He gave us a pure
d.c., QSA5, RB. Another CQ from W2EPZ was attended to, and he came light
back, gil'ing a d.c. reporl, QSA5, R7/8. Contact with W2EPZ held for a half hour,
during which no changes were made on the tmnsmiller. This lengthy contact was to
detem1ine the stabiliO• of the oscillator. W2EPZ gave us the encouraging repo1t of a
steady signal, no creeping." With the tubes mounted externally on the chassis box,
the circuit, an oscillator coupled directly to the antenna, proved thermally stable.
With this rest completed, t he authors continued: "Becoming a bit more bold,
W9GPZ was called. Right back he came, giving the mi//imite a pure d.c. QSA3,
R4/6, and very steady note. The final comact of the evening was W5HG. Enough
to cheny the plates of the 45's with conceit, he gave them pure d.c., QSA4, R7! The

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 Chapter 7: W3ECP's Portable Station - 1 Watt Input

above contacts were made on the 40-meter band, between 9 and 11 p.m. Oscillation
was steady and strong over the entire band. 011 the 20-meter band, 011ly the f re-
quency and stability were checked. FB all aro1111d." The pride experienced by the
successful QRP homebrewer is obvious.
The frequent comments by Handy and Battey about the need for emergency
preparedness apparently inspired E.S. Van Ducsen (W3ECP) to implement their
goals in "A Complete Battery Operated Portable Station" in QST for July, 1935.
W3ECP's unit differed from those featured in previous articles about 'portables'
in that it was a complete station in one box: a "salvaged case from a defunct port-
able phonograph" in this instance. A second version appeared in "A Complete
Dry-Battery Portable Station with Crystal Controlled Transmitter" in the June,
1937, issue and looked forward to the modern QRP portable: everything includ-
ing batteries, key, 'phones, antenna, 'midget monitor', ground rod, spare tube,
complete set of plug-in coils for 160, 80, 40 and 20 meters, and tools, carried in a
single case. One minor difference: W3ECP's unit weighed 'only about 32
pounds'!
W3ECP's Complete 1-Watt Portable Station.

The simple circuit employed a dual section '19 tube as a regenerative detector ·
and audio amplifier, and another as crystal oscillator and amplifier stages. Des-
pite the overall size, the actual electronics were quite small. The original version
used a modified Hartley oscillator at 1 watt input, but "despite this low power
input, the set was used successfully on vadous occasions for consistent co11111n111ica-
tio11 over moderate distances. For a period of several months dwing the winter of
1936-1936, when th e w1iter was fortunate e11ough to be a patient al Walter Reed
Hospital, Washington, D.C., and closely confined to his bed, the lit1le set se1ved
exceedingly well in providing both a welcome diversion from tire 111011otony of
hospital routine and a means of contact with friends and relatives. Tire most suc-
cessful operation with the first model was accomplished dun·ng tire summer of 1936,
when the equipment was taken along on a vacation trip to Otsego Lake, in central
New York State, and consistently maintained schedules with stations in central New
Jersey during the period ofpeak summer QRN."
The major difficulty with that unit, frequency instabiJity, led to the i.witch to
crystal control and a resulting input of 2 watts. W3ECP's 'results' reveal the
'odds' facing QRP'rs: "Of course, tire little 1ig cannot compete with the QRM usual-
ly present on the amateur bands during the evening traffic hours, but for emergency
or auxiliary purposes it has a really respectable 'sock' and the signal is read very
easily through nonnal inte1ference, due largely to the perfectly clean note resulting
from the use of battety power. Consistent communication on tire 80-meter band

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 Chapter 7: W3ECP's Portable Station - 1 Watt Input

has been accomplished during the past wi11ter [R12 S.S. Nr: 58-62} with stations i11
all W districts east of the Mississippi, a11d with all states i11 those districts except
Wisconsi11, Mississippi, Alabama a11d Florida, both from the home statio11 locatio11
i11 Baltimore, a11d from various field operoti11g positions. 011 40 meters, comact has
been established with stations i11 mid-west W9 and in W5 districts. Tire home sta-
tion a111enna is a 45-foot wire, loaded to operate as a Marco11i radiato1; while the
field a11ten11a usually is a 66-foot piece of bell-wire drawn up on any co11ve11ie11t tree
limb or pole. An altemate anle11na which has been used successfully is a Heitz ar-
rangement with two 33-foot sections, center-fed, but the best results to date have
been with the Marconi type of antenna." Apparently W3ECP was a rea l QRP'r
who liked field operation!
Views of W3ECP's 1-Watt Transmitter & Receiver.

The description of the rig naturally turned to the QRO QRM issue, and
W3ECP provided evidence from real QRP tests to make the usual point: "For
local operatio11 and the reduction of 11eighborl1ood QRM, the results obtai11ed are
most satisfactory. On al least one occasio11 duri11g preliminary tests with this set, the
power input was reduced to less than one-quarter of a watt to the amplifier section
of the '19, yet maintaining solid readability of signals on the 80- meter band at a
dista11ce of about 250 miles. This pa11icular QSO took place during the eatiy eve-
ning, when the band was fairly well covered with the usual QRM." Experiences
during operation led W3ECP to note: "From the i11terest expressed by operators
who have heard and worked this little 'pea1111t w/iistler' on th e air, it is believed that
there is a real jield for the app/ic(lfion of similar equipment." And finally, after the
cool account of successes, the QRP'r in W3ECP emerged in his concluding com-
ments: "After all, power alone does not mean operating satisfactio11; there is a
much greater thn"ll in having some fellow ham call you a liar when you tell him
your input is 011ly a watt or two, tha11 there is in the disappointment you feel when a
1
VK or ZL reports your 'Califomia Ki/0111a11 only RST 479!"
Size was diminished with each of the series of 'midget' transmitter articles that
followed. In the June, 1936, issue, Frank Edmonds (W2DIY) employed the new
61..6G in a crystal oscillator exciter unit. Fred Sutter (W8QBW-W8QDK) began
his description of "The 'QSL 40': A Compact and Inexpensive 3.5- and 7-Mc.
Transmitter" (February, 1938) by fiJ1ding W2DIY's "way of thinking highly in-
spirational. In fact, it is even more than inspiration al; it faitiy stampedes one into
action. At any rate, it stampeded me, and there resulted h ere at WBQDW ng after rig
using 6L6 and 6L6G tubes, 1ii-tet, mongrel and straight circuits with all kinds of
values and coils. " A well-written piece about a QRP rig has had the same effect
on countless operators over the years. Ironically, the W2DIY article was not
about QRP but about the ability of the new 61..6 as a crystal oscillator to drive a
final amplifier to 200 watts input! Nonetheless, W2DIY began Sutler's long love
affair with the 61..6 which produced a classic series of construction articles. In this
case, the typical experimentation with circuits and the like eventually led to the

124
 Chapter 7: Sutter's 'QSL 40'

ultimate QRP rig: "And Came the Dawn! A tiny transmitter using the 6L6G tube,
straight circuit, on a wee chassis 3-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches, which would light a 40-watt
G.E. Mazda dummy load to more than full brilliancy." Then the final challenge -
a suitable title for the creation: "Now if you measure your QSL card and find
that it is 3-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches you will see why this one was christened the 'QSL
40'."
W8QBW initially worked up the transmitter to employ along the line sug-
gested by W2DIY: as an exciter driving a 200-watt amplifier. But, "when I found
out how this little fellow went to town both here at WBQBW and at WSQDK the big
tube idea faded down to about S- 1/2 and the 2000-volt tra11sfom1er went on the
shelf and is still there. R.LP." A QRP convert in the days when they had to build
their KW's, but the same end result - QRO to the shelves, QRP to the operating
table! The results which led to W8QBW's enthusiasm: "On 40 meters the rig has
worked all W dist!icts from this QTH, which is in Grosse Pointe, Mich., along the
shore of Lake St. Clair. A report of S7 is unusual, SB and S9 being rather the mle.
The poorest reporl so far is S4 from W7GAF in Stanfield, Oregon, about 1775 miles,
and the next poorest is S5 jiwn W6.KBZ, Rena, Nevada, about 1950 miles. When
WBQDK went on the air for the first time in July, 1937, the first 29 CQ's resulted in
24 QSO's, on 40 meters, all during daylight hours. Surely no reasonably minded
ham can demand more from a $1.35 bottle [tube]." W8QBW closed with com-
ments about operating techniques including selecting a clear frequency for calling
CQ and answering the other fellow's CQ. While the 'QSL 40' was described as a
40 watt rig, the cost of a power supply to achieve that power level was probably
an incentive to newcomers to use the rig at lower power levels. The output power
claimed by W8QBW also must be derated considerably. Sutter would eventually
convert to real QRP in a later rig ('The Portable Five' described below), but the
size of that unit would be bettered in the final installment of 'flea power' rigs
before the War.
W9ZGO's 'A Pocketful of Watts' Transmitter. The components overflowed
the original masonite chassis so that the plate coil and tuning capacitor mount
outside the unit.

The January, 1941, issue of QSR featured two mini-rigs which employed the
newly introduced dual section 117L7GT consisting of a beam-power amplifier
and half-wave rectifier combination which would continue to be popular among
QRP'rs until the 1960's. The article included the boxed header: "If high powered
operation has begun to pall and you're looking for some new Jim, or if you're simply
interested in gadgety lit.tie transmitters, you can get plenty of ideas ftvm the two
simple transmitters described here". Keith Hayes' (W9ZGD) "A Pocketfull of
Watts" rig captures the prize for pre-transistor miniaturization at 5 watts input.
W9ZGD begged off citing results and instead used the 'S' unit [i.e., signal

125
 Chapter 7: 'A Pee-Wee Transmitter' and 'A Pocketful/ of Watts'

strength, 1-9 scale] argument: "Although 4 or 5 watts doesn't sound like much input
it is surprising what one of these little transmitters will do, parliculady to on e who
has never tried anything like it before. Possibly, according to tradition, I should list
the stations worked but, since the antenna, receil'er and operating ability affect the
statistics as much as transmitting power, I'll just mention the fact that 5 watts give a
signal about one 'S' point lower than 20 watts and 2 'S' poinls lower than 80 watts.
Anyway, it's more fun to fish with barbless hooks!"
In contrast, R.T. Lawrence (W8LCO) was more entJ1usiastic in describing his
"Pee-Wee Transmitter" which came into existence thus: "This is the old sto1y told
once again. I had been rebuilding the big rig and, getting tired of being off the air, I
threw together a little rig to play with. Result: there hasn't been much work done on
the big rig!" In remarking on his results, Lawrence gave the hint: "Operation with
a low powered rig like lhis holds a lot of thrills. The main point to remember is that
QRP requires 'riding the skip'; that is, working stations at the distance that is op-
timum for any particular time." The results themselves were impressive: "Using a
66-foot end-fed wire for the antenna, I have managed to mn up a score of 29 states
on 40 and 80 meters in slightly over a month 's operation (R12 S.S. Nr: 60-67].
Working in the Sweepstakes Contest, where no one will deny the competition is
tough most of the time, 41 stations were wo1*ed in 17 sections. Prior to the SS
Contest, the best DX was Colorado, but a 7-Mc. contact during the Contest with
W6IDZ broke that record and handed me a thrill that it will take a long time to
forget. No doubt 'charity begins in contests,' and the average signal reporl of S6 may
be only an indication of good humor and tolerance on the pmt of the stations
worked, but the contacts are there in the log and that's what really counts."
WBLCO's 'Pee-Wee Transmitter'. This version of the 117L7GT circuit
employed a multi-tap pi-network antenna coupling circuit with a five-position switch
mounted on the rear panel.

These two rigs were followed by Fred Sutter's (W8QBW-QDK) final offering
in the April, 1941, issue, the "The QSL-25", another 6L6 transmitter, but built
onto a baking pan with power supply included. The article was prefaced with the
sad note about Sutter's death on February 23: "We find it difficult to associate the
idea of death with Fred Sutter. The youthfulness of his outlook was in no way
dimmed by his seventy-odd years; 110 better testimony of this is to. be found than in
his QST desc1iptions of the post-card sized trtmsmillers it was his delight to devise.
We knew him, through co1respondence, for several years without su~pecting that he
was not so young in years as in spirit. His writings were motivated by a desire to be
helpful to the younger generation, patticulatiy those whose resources were limited.
There is no better expression of the trne amateur spitit." The Editor offered this

126
 Chapter 7: $utters Final Rig: The 'QSL-25'

final article as W8QBW's 'epitaph': "If a11ythi11g so exuberantly cheerful can se1ve
as an epitaph, let it so sta11d. Vale W8QBW." In the article, Sutter noted that
"there must be literally hu11dreds of these various 'QSL' rigs in use" and tire only
problems resulted from changes in the 01igi11a/ designs. Evenso, "Make all the
changes you want to, of course -· have a good time! But don't throw any po;rbott/es
at the umpire [i.e., the designer]. "Aside from the discussion of the circuit; Sutter
stressed the major point leading to success with QRP: "I suggest to the builder of
this or any other rig, that he start at the antenna. Most any amateur will tell you that
a Jew watts in a top-1101ch antenna are better tha11 ten times that power in a haywire
sky hook." It seems particularly appropriate that Sutter ended his career of in-
spiring newcomers on this note.

127
 Chapter 8
1930's: The QRPr's Story

In Their Own Words: The QRP Story

"...there may be anorher kind of surprise when the story is read... "

Throughout the decade, the story of the challenge and thrill of QRP opera-
tion was told by QRP'rs themselves. Their accounts appeared in various contexts,
and several are worth reproducing at length. Modern QRP'rs will find them-
selves in familiar company in reading the accounts included here, beginning with
Fred Sutter's conversion and his enthusiastic sharing of that experience.

I. Sutter's Conversion - 'The Portable Five'

Sutter's 'The Portable Five'. Chassis box was formed from a single piece of
aluminum stock. Plug-in coils permit band switching. White posts at left are anten-
na output, and crystal is to right of knob.

Sutter repented of his courtship of high power QRP in his discussion of "The
'Portable Five': A Midget Transmitter with 5 Watts Output" in the December,
1939 issue and emerged as a genuine QRP'r: "This st01y may swprise or even
disappoint those who have followed the adventures of our little hetv, the 6L6G tube
whom we left in the September issue pulling 0111 sixty watts [i.e., in the 'Runt Sixty'
and 'QSL Sixty' versions of the 'QSL 40'.J. It is, perhaps, anti-clima-.: to de.mibe now a
midget transmitter with five watts output, but there may be another kind of surpdse
when the st01y is read." In the intervening time since the 'QSL 40', W2GCV, then
W9IGF, and finally Sutter himself ex-pandcd on that rig. Higher power with the
616 was the common objective. 'The Portable Five' was the next in the series:
"And 11ow along comes ole 8QBW paimi11g the lily (to coin a phrase). All that I can
offer is that this adaptation is very small, very light and very will enclosed agai11st
m echanical derangement, so that it is really a p01table transmit1e1:" Sutter's
humour turned to the use of that term to describe the previous rigs: "That word
'p011able 1 has been much overwo1*ed, definitely. If you do your 'po1ting' in a tluck
or an automobile, the11 a lawn-mower or a St. Bemard are p01table, I suppose." On

128
 Chapter 8: Sutter Goes Real QRP: 'Portab/e-5' Rig

the other hand, the 'Portable Five' was different: "the whole works, t1w1smitter
and power supply, 011 a chassis 011/y 3 by 3-1/2 by 2-3/4 inches, and the weight is
011e pound and ten ounces. The output is a li11/e beller than jive waits. The cost,
exclusive of crystal, is $6.43. It can be w cked into a comer of the mitcase without
taking up room or adding weight to amount ro a11ytl!ing." The circuit used a
25Z6GT in a rectifier circuit connected to the a.c. mains, and a 25L6GT crystal
oscillator, the type of circuit used by Drumeller earlier and by many designers for
years thereafter.
' Portable Five' Circuit

Fig I - Tbo "Portable Five" Circuit Dia gr am.

0
Ct - 100.,.,.fd. midget variable (llnmmurl1l0d MC.
JOO-S).
c,, Cs - 0.01-,.fd. paper, 600-volt.
C.-C. - Ouul-8-,.fd. cleclrOlytic (Corncll-Dubilier KR-
288).
w- 10-,.fd. electrolytic, 300-volt (Mallory t ype BB).
L1, L2 - See ten.
R - 200 ohms, 10-watt (Ohmite Browo Devil).
RFC - Receivcr·lYP~ choke.
B - Pilot bulb, No. 40 t:rn bead.
Jn filamen t circui t, conn ecl • imilarly-lettcrcd poin!JI.
Chassis is not connected electrically to any part of the
circuit.
NOTI!. - The key is not al ground potential in this
circuit. and ulthou~h the voltage bctw01:n key leads and
ground is not dangerous, care should be t aken to avoid
touching metal pnrls of the key.

llOV.

Most of Sutter's article was about the 'surprise story' which amounted to little
more than a testimonial by the QRP convert: "I ca11 already hear a snott from
Dan to Denver, 'Who wants to bother with jive wans, a11yhow?' Well, that is what I
thought myself, but you ca11 never tell till you try, so the li11le job was put on the air
and some sutprises were immediately u11corked!" Sutter went on to 'uncork' his
QRP results [R12 Smoothed Sunspot Number at 38]:
"At W8QDK, on 40 meters, the first 36 tries resulted in 21 QSO's, or
60%. A couple of these were ended by QRM, but th.is is nothing unusual, so
we won't worry. These contac..'ts ranged from Massachusetts, New York, New
Jersey, Pennyslvania, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin and Indiana. They
averaged about RST 579x. This was in July, by no means a favorable period.
Nine of them were local, i.e., within the state of Michigan. At W8QBW
operation was confined to the SO-meter band and the first 33 tries resulted in
21 QSO's or 64%. These ranged from Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, S. Carolina,
Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. It may as well go into the record
that the antennas here are pretty good: 80-meter halfwave Zepps about 40
feet up and well in the clear. It is still true that a dime in the antenna is worth
a doUar in the transmitter, and although I won't vouch for the exact accuracy
of this formula, there is the idea, anyway. Fortunately a good antenna in-
volves little more outlay than a makeshift wire. Careful planning and
'armstrong' tactics which cost nothing making the difference. Just what this
rig will do when the frost is on the pumpkin remains to be seen [i.e., when
conditions improve J
It will, with suitable crystals, work on 80, 40 and 20 meters. But I would
not bother with 20 meters, for those chaps won't pay much attention to W's.

129
 Chapter 8: Sutter Goes Real QRP: 'Portable-5' Rig

If you have a 20-rneter crystal you can give it a whirl, of course, but I would
not advise investing in one just for the purpose of using it in the 'Portable
Five'. Abner, take notice!
(Note: -That bit of advice was written before war restrictions had
clamped down on nearly all DX. At present t he DX addicts are forced to fall
back on W QSO's or keep still -- and you know a ham just can't keep st ill So
at present you can indulge in plenty of activity on 20. As an indication of what
may be done, at present, here is the log of W8QBW for September 28, 1939
[R12 SS Nr: 51] on 20 meters (14,300 kc.) using the 'Portable Five':
1153 W1 LYL Boston, MA 569x
1310 W4MR Greensboro, NC 599x
1535 W4FLP Franklin, TN 589x
1804 W2FHM Long Island, NY 589x
2007 W9QWA Hastings, NB 589x
2050 WSDNW Lafayette, LA 589x
On that date there were five failures so the measure of success was 54%.
On September 25 and September 26th, the best contacts were W7HFG,
Sheridan, Wyo., 569x: W9CJZ, Balaton, Minn., 589x: WJKQZ, Boston, Mass.,
579x: and W5BVM, Dallas, Tex., 589x. All of those RST's are correct and I
hope the printer gets them as I have written them. This looks to me like nice
work for a transmitter with only five watts output. One fellow said, 'This
QSO has opened my eyes to the possibilities of low power.' And it opened
mine also!)"
Sutter concluded his write-up with advice about efficiency and signal purity:
"You should have some means of judging antenna current, and a n in-
dicator costing only a few cents has been described in previous issues. A small
rig tuned on the nose may put out more power than a larger one if the latter
is inefficiently tuned. In general, tuning consists of adjusting plate and anten-
na condensers to secure maximum antenna current and minimum plate cur-
rent. However, to obtain the best sounding signal from this or any other
transmitter, a monitor is desirable. Frequently the receiver can be used for
monitoring, but failing this a monitor such as shown in the Handbook can be
cheaply assembled."
In spite of its small size and power this transmitter will do surprising work.
You can have a lot of fun with amateu r radio without working Africa or
Australia!"

II. Brief QRP Operating Reports

In addition to QRP stories in featured articles, QRP'rs occasionally wrote to

the 'Correspondence' section to report results. Accidental QRP converts are
among these, and their experie nces usually were tied into the hjgh vs low power
and QRM controversy. One such Jetter is found early on in the August, 1932,
issue, from George Morrow, WBBKP, under the heading 'Low Power DX':
"Most of the fellows feel that we must use high power in order to work
DX consistently. I was of that opinion mysclr until lately. A couple of months
ago some one broke into my home and stole everything on my transmitter o f
any value, including the 204-A, a pair of 852's, a pair of 866's, four meters, a
couple of crystals, 'phones and a score of African and Asian QSL cards, so l
am reduced to using one '210 tube in the rinal stage with an input of 21 to 40
watts. This power works almost as good for DX as my old sets using up to 250
watts input. I was able to WAC in two nights in J an uary on 1 me., with an R3
from ZU6W for the worst report and an R6 from ZL2BA fo r the best. Using
21 watts I have worked ZL's every night for a month, some contacts as early

130
 Chapter 8: 118,000 Miles Per Watt- W6EAK

as 12:30 a.m. E.S.T. -- all this on 7 me.... I think if the fellows would only get
decent notes and didn't try to get the last ounce of power out of their rigs,
they would be able to do all I'm doing with low power."
In the same issue, a rather vociferous Earl V. Fouch (W6CZO-W6DWB)
added his two-bits in about the only such letter found in the decade: "Now that
that's out of my system, I can blow up on another very imponant subject, viz., Hi
power vs. Lo power. Nell's bells! Can't you fellows find something more impor-
tant to argue about? Who cares what power the other guy uses? Did any of you
fellows ever play football? If so, did you break down and cry because your op-
ponent was bigger than you were? Naw! You used your wits and overcame his
brute strength!" Pity the poor YL's! John T. Chambers' (W6NLZ) 'What Good's
a Kilowatt' (August, 1937) stressed the economics of QRP: "Recently I had a
QSO with W7FHW, who said my signals were 'S9 chirpy'. So I took off the 250-
watt final and used only the 40-watt buffer. He noticed no difference in strength:
still 'S9 and chirpy'. I took it off and used the 25-watt 6L6G doubler. The signal
was still a chirpy S9, only slightly weaker." Having laid the facts on the table,
W6NLZ then lamented: "Now why should we run a 'California kilowatt' when
half the soup brings the same S reports. A power limit of 100 watts would have
saved me lost of SS. The only thing I've got against the 100-watt limit is that it
would take away one of our rights." In the July, 1936, issue, Louis E. Bundy
(W8WQ) slipped his QRP results into his comments on the 'To Call or Not to
Call (CQ DX]' controversy: "I would like to express my opinion on 'CQ DX'. My
xmtr is decidedly low power, using a '46 final with 16 watts input. All my DX
which includes 40 countries has been worked by answering CQ's. In fact, only one
DX contact has resulted from me calling 'CQ DX'."
The 'miles per watc' idea encouraged by Handy in the mid-1930's continued to
intrigue amateurs for the remainder of the decade. The final 'record' reported in
'Correspondence Dept.' was a good one 'hung up' by Court Matthews (W6EAK)
in the May, 1940, issue:

118,000 M.P.W.
"After reading several reports in QST during the past year concerning
field day tests and the fine results the boys were getting with their low power
portables, I was bit by the bug myself. About three weeks ago I built a little
portable transmitter. It uses a 6F6 tube in a conventional crystal circuit and
normally feeds a 135-foot end-fed antenna. The little gadget is only 6 inches
on a side and will almost fit into a coat pocket, but since its inception the big
500-watt rig has hardly been touched ...
An input of 5 watts from a bank of 'B' batteries brings S9 reports from
anywhere in California during the day on 7 Mc. [R12 S.S. Nr: 72]. At night,
with the same input, contacts have been made with East coast W's, Hawaii,
Alaska and Japan. Reports at these distances average S4 to SS. It was a fine
QSO with W6IJB in San Francisco that awakened me to the possibilities of
extremely low power. He reported the 5-watt signal RST559 and suggested
reducing power. I started down the battery taps and finally wound up on the
last tap of the last battery, with W6IJB still reporting RST559. The input at
this time was 22 volts at 2.S ma. -- about one--twentieth of a watt. I had no
way of further reducing power and decided then to be ready for real QRP
work in the future. A search in the junk box brought to light a 4.5-volt 'C'
battery and two 1.5-volt dry cells. The total output of this combination was 7
volts, and the transmitter would still oscillate drawing one milliampere of
plate current -- an input of 0.007 watt. On March 6th, at about 1:00 a.m.
P.S.T., I successfully worked W9VZZ in Denver, Colorado, with thfa input.
Starting with an input of S watts and an RST589 report, the power was

131
 Chapter 8: 'Two Watts Max' - W7FHZ

gradually reduced. At one-twentieth of a watt W9VZZ reported me still easi-

ly readable at S3 to S4, so the 7-volt supply was hooked up and a call made.
W9VZZ came right back and reported the signal down to Sl, but he was still
able to identify the test characters sent. HoUywood, California to Denver,
Colorado - 830 miles - on seven thousandths of a watt! This works out to
better than 118,000 miles per watt, and unless somebody else has hung up a
better score we are offering it as a record for QRP over this distance. Would
somebody make me an offer on a nice 500-watt transmitter'?"
A regular QRP'r, D . von Ruysdael Drenner, W7FHZ, submitted "Two Watts
Max" (February, 1938) to share his QRP experiences. His letter reads like the
many operating reports submitted to The Milliwatt during the 1970's! After the
modest introduction, "I know, I haven't worked any ZS's or VK's, but I want to
tell you a few of the things behind the two watts here at W7FHZ", he wrote:

Two Watts Max

"I operate spasmodically, whenever the 'A' battery will hold up. The darn
thing won't take more than half a charge, and even that requires two days of
motherly artemion to the gasoline motor which runs the old make-unknown
generator which gets as hot as an old '10 with 1500v on the plate I used to
own. This gas motor really belongs to the washing machine, but I use it every
day except Monday, so it's reaUy a part of my power supply. The rig is a 6L6,
Tri-tet, working 3570 kc. and 7140 kc. with the same coils: I just short out the
cathode coil and re-tune. The antenna is an end-fed Hertz, 133ft long and
supported by a 60fl cedar pole, purloined from the hill back of the house.
The station is located on a ranch in the Calapooya Mountains, 40 miles SE of
Eugene, Oregon. The receiver is a 30 and a 19 two-stage. On 80 the input is
1.8 watts and on 40 2.0 watts. The dam rig puts out more on its harmonic!
Well, as I started to say, I've not worked any ZS's or VK's, but I did work
a W3 (W3VGE) with an S6 sig in Washington. This was on 7140. Any night -
if I stay up long enough - I can hear VP6, VK, K6, ZL, J's etc; and any night,
if I stay up late enough, I can work both coasts. All of which shows that 2
watts can do just about what a W6 k-w. will, and without half the QRM. I
forgot to mention that the 'A' battery runs a worn-out auto vibrator (cost $5)
with a hot 150v. at 20 ma. to the 6L-O, about half of which I use, holding the
rest in reserve when I get a good loud VK that seems like he won't answer -
which he doesn't."
Essential ingredients of the realistic QRP'r emerge clearly in W7FHZ's account:
a good sense of humour and a dogged persistence in calling even though you
know they won't answer!

Sutter's discussion of the 'Portable Five' was the earliest complete treatment
of QRP in the format which has become standard. It had been preceded by
another feature story fIVe years earlier (QST, June, 1934) which detailed the ex-
ploits of a pair of QRP'rs in a 'dream' location. That piece was written by Philip
L. Ennis, K7BWZ:

Ill. Flea Power in the Artie

The Story of a Low-Powered Emergency Transmiuer Built from Junk
Philip L. Ennis, K7BWZ .
Reprinted from QST by permission of the Editor

"Last year the author beccered the depression by taking a job in Alaska,
but was unable to take a transmitter for the trip because of the expense of

132
 Chapter 8: 'Flea Power in the Artie' - K7BWZ

what was thought to be adequate equipment. However, a good a.c.-d.c.

shortwave receiver, employing a Type '36 detector and two '37's for audio,
was taken along. All 'r.r [amplifier stages] was discarded for circuit simplicity.
Five minutes after the receiver was put on the air the writer regretted he had
not brought along a transmitter. Under the Northern Lights the whole world
pounded in. W's from all districts were heard; ZL's, VK's, K6's [Hawaii], J's
[Japan] and countless others. It was an ideal spot -- a veritable ham's para-
dise, for reception at least. There was no local interference, no blanketing by
neighbors, no 'rock-crushers' filling the air with 'gravel'.
One evening while sitting in the radio shack and grousing because there
was no transmitter available, in walked a fellow op, Charles Blair, full of op-
timism. We talked it over. Why not try out a custom built junk pile? It was
finally decided to throw together a simple Hartley transmitter built entirely
from 'what have you' - or less. We did.
The most important need was, of course, for power. We were able to
round up just 210 volts. It was thought that this would be sufficient for local
or Alaskan communication - provided we could hear any locals. A tough,
chesty 201-A which lighted up like the Aurora Borealis was pushed through
four holes in a cigar box - the box in lieu of a socket. A condenser of 43
plates, built for 600- meter work, was 'borrowed' from a longwave receiver.
Real ingenuity had to be used to obtain copper tubing for the inductance. A
machinist who thought we really wanted to do a bit of 'bootleggi.ng' on the
side finally surrendered a few feet on our promise to give him some of the
first 'distillation'. Thus equipped we wound our inductance - believe it or not
- around the pegleg of a dock watchman. The peg was just the right
diameter. The watchman held the tubing while we wound.

The Cigar Box

Rig. The portable re-
ceiver at the right
dwarfs the 'built from
junk' rig used by
K7BWZ in the Artie.
The 201-A projects
horizontally from the
right of the 'GARCIA..'
cigar box with the coils
stuck into the rear.

An Eskimo who owned a decrepit broadcast set loaned us a 250-mmF [I.e.,

pFJ condenser, and for a grid leak we used a discarded audio transformer. A
commercial operator at a shore station contributed a 5,000v 0.00lmF block-
ing condenser to restrain our terrific plate voltage. An r.f. choke was wound
by putting 120 turns of wire of unknown size on a clothespin borrowed from a
squaw's laundry bag. Another Eskimo had acquired a vintage '76 telegraph
key from some place, using it for a door clapper. We acquired this for a pack
of cigarettes. Not having the slightest insulation of any kind we had none
about which to worry. Since no one volunteered to supply an antenna con-
denser we left that out also. An antenna which ranged i.n length, as nearly as
we could guess, from 150 to 200ft was connected to one end of the antenna
coil. A 33ft feeder was tied to the other end. The job was done.
It was with set jaws and a pulse hammering at between 2 mmF and 110
degrees Centigrade that we connected the 210 volts of 'high voltage' power
supply and pressed down on the door clapper. Nothing happened [I.e., no

133
 Chapter 8: 'Flea Power in the Artie' - K7BWZ

short circuits]. Finally the curtains were pulled down, and a mechanic was
requested to whistle elsewhere. We took a last look at the Artie rtight. The
stars were all in place. The Aurora was winking. The wind was ice-cold. All
was set. Blair connected a flashJight bulb in series with the anteru1a. Glory be
to M arcorti! It lighted! We estimated our power at approximately 2 watts, and
they were thin, anaemic and underfed watts at that. But the first contact was
VESJA. He gave us R6 [on Rt-9 scale]. Then, in turn, W6BFZ with an R7,
W7BHV, RS, and VE4GM, RS. This was the start -- and what a night it was!
During the month that followed our cigar-box transmitter - which took
just twenty minutes to assemble, tu ne and get on the air - gave us the fo llow-
ing contacts: K7CCL, K71W, WSATF, W6HOH, W7DBR, K7CPX, W7FS,
W6FFP, W6AYQ, W9JKW, VESHU, K6BOE, W7ALV, W7Ql, W6FQY,
W6FKC, W6ENV, W6UX, W6AXF, VESFE, W7CXL, W6HTQ, W6BVL,
W6CLV, W6HOC, W6ZP, VKJHG, VESEO, VK2IC, JlPO, ZL2LB, ZL3GU,
W6BA Y, W6DE, W6BFZ, W6FMP, W6HUL, W6CDV, W6FRH, W6EPH,
K7ABQ, W6IXY, W9GUN, K7HP, W6AAP. A report of at least R6 was
received from every district mentioned except Hawaii [K6BOE], which gave
us RS. Many gave us better than R6 in subsequent QSO's. Our maximum DX
was, of course, New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
The Final Version of the K7BWZ Transmitter and Circuit.

THE HAl11'L£Y CIRCUI T USEIJ I N T llE

Tl!ANS.\f ITTEI<

The performance of the haywire set was so amazing, everything taken into
consideration, that it was duplicated in essential details, upon the writer's
return to California. It is now in the form shovm in the accompanying
photograph, with proper coils, insulation, and grid leak. A Type '10 with cop
plate contact has been substituted for the 201-A, perrrtitting the use of higher
plate voltage. The r.f. meter replaces the flashlight bulb. The sec has more
than justified itself. Like its Alaskan brother, the new transmitter uses no
variable antenna capacity. The tank condenser is turned to a suitable spot in
the 40-meter band and locked. This leaves no parts to get out of adjustment.
With plug-in coil and tube removed the entire transmitter is 2 inches high, 8
inches long and 4 inches wide. When used as a portable it slips into the bat-
tery compartment of the receiver. In case of extremely low power the meter is
coMected across the antenna coil to give a high reading.
It's a double-barreled nickel-plated cinch this little transmitter isn't going
to ruin the night for the brother ham down the block, and when all is said and
done it gets out just as far an anybody could want a transmitter lo go. There
is much more consideration and just as much thrill in a 'flea power' transmit-
ter working efficiently as in a near commercial job which drives everybody
elso off the air.

134
 Chapter 8: Pecos River QRPp - W7ZC

Sometimes stories don't get told until Jong after they happened. Such is the
case v.rith A. David Middleton's (W7ZC) "Pecos River QRP" originally published
in Westem Amateur Radio, and then in The Milliwatt with gracious permission of
the author.

IV. Pecos River QRP -- Circa 1934

A. David 'Mid' Midde/ton, W7ZC (W4CA/5, W9WFV)

"The summer of '34 found us steaming in humid St. Petersburg, FL, where
I was recuperating. We were boiling not only from the heat and humidity, but
also from the perfidy of an insurance company with which we had been fight-
ing for a disability claim payment. Frankly, we were broke! Lured by photog-
raphs and correspondence from W9FYK (now W60WP) and a former
goldminer, we were planning to migrate to the heights of Colorado via the
wilderness area of New Mexico, into the high Rockies. My doctor had also
ordered me out of the ennervating South.
Realizing that the White Phantom Hupp-8 would be heavily loaded, there
would be no room for the 1934 type ham station equipment used at W4CA.
Money for parts was non-existent. What to do about gear? I recalled the early
30's and the fine performance of the two-tube receivers. So I built a small,
highly efficient receiver from scratch. I had not used Type '30 tubes for years
due to their bum-out rate in the propinquity of a KW rig, but they suited my
purpose and I had three of the tubes with me. Use of the old and reliable
regenerative circuit, with 'throttle condenser' for oscillation adjustment, a
pair of '30 tubes (2 volls d.c. at 60ma), tube base coils for the BC band
through 10 meters, headphone operation, with bandsct and bandspread
controls gave me a small and low d.c. input receiver. The dial was a National
BM. I needed two #6 dry cells and two small 22.5-volt batteries to power the
receiver. I had no money for them. After much effort, I located a store run by
a ham (I forget his call, but bless his memory) who Jet me have the batteries
using several Jewell meters as collateral. Things were tough in 1934 and
there were no Mastercharge Cards!
The receiver worked well after the usual minor adjustments to the coils. I
packed it with my Baldwin 'fones and some wire for an antenna, and the
priceless batteries, for the trip west. The day THE check came from the in-
surance company for a year's back payment, plus assurance of a $40 monthly
check to follow, we headed west. After a leisurely trip across the southern
part of the U.S. we arrived at Albuquerque where we were greeted by the
locals, one of whom was W5AAX (who as 6CTO had been my first '6' QSO
back in 1924). I demonstrated the receiver for Elmer and the other locals
whom I visited. I had tested the unit several times on the trip West and was
delighted with the performance of those '30s, even though they were some-
what microphonic. Even the BC band worked well. Remember, in 1934 there
were no transistor radios and even car radios were scarce -- the Hupp-8 had
none. .
The miner in St. Pete had regaled us with stories of the southern end of
the Rockies, the 'Sangre de Christos', which were situated on the Pecos River
northeast of Santa Fe. So we set out for the area, stopped at the Forest
Services offices, toured Santa Fe, and then took off for the high wilderness
area along the Pecos. The road to Pecos was good, then turned to dirt and
gravel and rose upward sharply toward Cowles. We turned off onto the trail
leading westward along Holy G host Creek, a landmark for fishermen for
many years. The road was rough and dry. We rented the last cabin at the end
of the Holy Ghost and settled in for a stay. We soon ran into trouble!

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Although the weather was beautiful 'blue-sky', sunny Indian Summer, it

was mid-October and at over 8000ft the nights were freezing! We had been in
Florida long enough for our blood to thin. Working together, Charlet and I
could not drag in enough wood to keep warm in that summer-use cabin,
which had an open fireplace and a wood cookstove as its sole heating equip-
ment. There was no purchasable wood in the vicinity either. On our second
morning, we were shocked to find a milkman, laundry, and grocery man of-
fering us door-side delivery! We thought we were in a wilderness!
I set up the two-tuber and strung out the hunk of wire to the nearest tree.
In spite of the deep canyon we were in, reception was fantastic. I had never
heard any place so quiet! The nearest power lines were over 50 miles away,
and a pair of '30s do not generate much i.n ternal noise. Listener's Heaven!
W4CA/5 At Pecos River. The Type 112 Hartley oscillator and coils are on the
top shelf. The receiver is on the table.

After a few days of perfect weather, the typical high mountain early fall
rains began. We needed to go to town, so we started for Santa Fe, via Pecos.
This was my first venture in off-pavement driving on this wilderness trip, and
I had not reckoned on the wet adobe mud that is so common in the west. The
Holy Ghost Creek-Pecos River road is mostly shelf-type and in 1934 was a
hazardous drive on slippery mud. Had I realized it, we would have chained up
-- if we had had chains! Charlet did not drive, so it was up to me, and I was
not up to it! That we could get down was a miracle due to road conditions,
but nothing could get me to drive back up that road! Not even to retrieve our
goods and gear!
We then rented a cabin at the Pecos River Fishing Camp, a then famous
hostelry, and Charier went back up to the Holy Ghost cabin with a hired
driver and his truck to bring our things back whiJe I stayed safe and sound, if
shak)', in camp. Indeed, it would be 24 years later that I finally did drive back
up the Pecos road to the 1934 Holy Ghost Creek site, and that was on a dry
July 4th.

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To describe our Pecos cabin as small is an understatement. it must have

been built for midgets. We had a double bed, a wood cookstove (for heat
also), a small table that let down from the wall, and two chairs. With the two
of us inside, it was crowded. I built shelves over the end of the bed after I
measured 18 inches of 'sitting room' between the bed and the wall. We were
as snug as two bugs in a rug, but we had no power of any kind. We used a
lamp for light and wood for heat and cooking. The nearest power plant in
Pecos was over a mile away at a garage where there was a one-lunger used to
run 100-volt a.c. gear for the garage.
After putting up the old faithful off-center Windom by casting fish lines
over two huge cottonwood trees, we discovered that we had perfectly quiet
reception. What a location! It was the most quiet spot that I had ever been in
to date, and only the Flat Top area described in "The Perfect Summer"
would ever surpass that Pecos River QTH for radio reception.
But alas, I had no transmitter of any kind. I had a few crystals that I had
tucked into our suitcase and that was all. A plea by mail to W8AKA brought
a box of assorted junk including a Type '89 tube. I haywired a Tritet (remem-
ber George Grammer's famous crystal multiplier circuit?). I purchased an
ESCO generator from Bob Henry at Butler, MO, that put out around 300
volts with 6 volt input. The battery from the Hupp-8 provided primary power
for the generator. Finally I had a transmitter on the air that was truly QRPp,
although that term did not come along for about 30 years! My output on 20
and 40 meters was very low and contacts were few indeed. That '89 Tritet was
feeble, even by W9PNE standards!
I soon discarded the Tritet and the '89 for the standard QRP rig of the
day - a Type 112 in a Hartley oscillator with copper coils. It put out quite a
bit more power as indicated by the lamp-and-loop r.f. indicator that was
popular in those days. I began to raise stations all over the country. Much
testing and calling revealed a disastrous situation. By the beard of the old
man, that ESCO generator was a glutton for d.c. amps as it knocked down
the heavy duty Hupp-8 battery in a hurry. I could only operate a short time,
then let the battery recuperate and then try it again, but even those tactics did
not work for long. There was no way to charge my battery at our camp. This I
discovered too late. No one had any equipment requiring storage cells. There
were no light plants in camp and the only batteries were in use in cars and
trucks. Solution? To get my battery to the garage for charging, and then re-
turn it to camp. I made a deal with the grease-monkey to charge the battery
for a buck. In those days, the usual fee was fifty cents! A buck was a huge
item in our budget too. And then, my only means of transporting the battery
was by wheelbarrow.
My first roundtrip over the rough dirt road revealed that the garage man
apparently cheated me, as he had not fully charged the battery! A test with a
hydrometer showed up his guilt. I later found out that his charger did not
have sufficient capacity to do anything but put out a small trickle charge! But
I was a long way from 'civilization' and nothing else could be done. Why did I
not put the battery back in the Hupp and keep it charged? The high cost of
gas and the rapid depletion of our wallet! We walked everywhere for our
health.
The 1934 Sweepstakes were upcoming. Knowing that New Mexico was a
rare state, and knowing that New Mexico was where I was, drove me up the
wall. I wheelbarrowed the battery to the garage and pleaded with the man to
give me a real charge. He did. But he raised the price to two bucks! However,
he did give the battery a real jolt and I was ready for the SS, so I stayed off
the air until the SS started so as to save the battery. By husbanding my calls, I

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racked up a couple dozen sections in the SS, mainly on 20 meters before the
battery would no longer start the ESCO. I could still receive as the two-tuber
was performing well on its dry batteries. (An interesting side-note: when I
sold the little receiver a year Later, the #6 cells and two 22.5-voll batteries
were stiU putting out OK.) At any rate, I had to sit there in my 18 inch sitting
room and listen to the rest of the SS in that extremely quiet spot with tears in
my eyes. Our budget just would not stand those two dollar charges! There
were few New Mexican stations on CW in the early '30's and W4CA/5 was
welcomed by the gang, if even for my brief session with QRPp. Had I realized
the value of B batteries vs. dollar cost, I would have done better to do as I
was to in 1936 and buy heavy duty B batteries, using the auto battery for fila-
ments only. So much for engineering and planning. Hindsight is wonderful!
Shortly after the SS we tore down the antenna, and moved to Santa Fe.
Soon I had my regular station equipment from St. Pete and was on the air on
20, 40, and 80 with W4CA/5 and a good antenna. The 110 volts a.c. seemed
very good, even with the usual line noise and racket. Santa Fe was put on the
map by W4CA/5 as there had never been an active CW station there, and,
having little else to do, I was at the key a lot of the time.
I will never forget those few weeks on the Pecos River where the loudest
noise was the river gurgling away about 50ft from our cabin, and where there
was NO line noise, no TV horizontal rasp, no racket, and the only signals on
the ham bands were HAMS. What could I have done with an HW-7, a
PM3A, or an Argonaut! But, alas, I was there 35 years too soon!"

Middleton went on to an even better QRP experience in 1936 and told about
it The Milliwatt in "Perfect Summer Plus QRPp". The story gives the modern
QRP'r a close-up view of some of the difficulties bestting operators of the rigs of
the 1930's.

V. Perfect Summer Plus ORPp

A. David 'Mid' Middleton, W7ZC (W4CA/5, W9WFV)

"Late summer of 1936 found my wife Charlet and me in the Colorado

town of Rine, hot and dry. A friend knew a friend who had a cabin on the
Flat Tops, near the Old Ute Trail, in white pine country lying north of Glen-
wood Springs. 'No', she could not pay us anything to caretake for the sum-
mer, but we were free to use the log cabin as long as we wanted, just to 'have
someone' there! The 'someone' was us. Quickly, we made arrangements and
the friend took us up to the cabin about the first week in June. The snow
drifts (at 8500ft) were still piled up in the shadows. We hiked the last two
miles from the Flat Tops to the cabin, which lay on a wide shelf down a few
hundred feet. The location was absolutely startling. We could see down into
the South Fork of the Whire River, some thousands of feet below. From the
site, at night there were only a handful of lights, and visibility was unlimited.
Truly, this was a location! The cabin? The builders had not spared size and
comfort. It was huge, equipped with an attic, a bed (good), an iron range
(wood type), screens for the windows, and a crystal clear spring and stream
about 25 feet from the door. There was even a shelf-like table which served
for a rig operating table.
One problem - the site, located at Cliff Lakes (there were five lakes,
some of which had been used as a private trout raising farm, and teeming in
trout) was 45 miles from Rifle, over a temble road for about 40 miles, and
then an even more hair-raising cliff-hanger of a road for the last two miles!
Not for the weak at heart, to be sure! There was no power line within 45

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miles! And the nearest occupied home was seven miles away! "Would this be
suitable for you?" we were asked hesitatingly by the owner. You can imagine
our answer - a rousing yes!
In our brief stay at Rifle, I had given the ham license exam to a man who
had been waiting a couple of years for someone to come to Rifle who could
administer it. There never had been a ham resident in Rifle. This man let me
set up W9WFV in his garage where there was room for an antenna, which
room was lacking at the small rented apartment where we had taken up re-
sidence. Soon the new W9YPY (Colorado was part of the W9 area in those
days) was on the air with my home station rig and going great guns! Since he
was the closest ham to Cliff Lakes, W9YPY was to be our outside contact
from the cabin. There were very few hams in all of northern Colorado at that
time! And we would require some kind of reliable contact with the 'outside' if
our summer was to be practical. After all, seven miles of bad road to the
nearest people and 45 miles from a town of any size - wow!
Location of 'Perfect Summer'. WlZC did not exaggerate in describing the
setting of the stotyl Note the conveniently located trees.

What to do about the rig? I had no generator (they were very costly and
uncommon in 1936) and there seemed to be insufficient wind for a wind-
driven generator and battery setup (remember the Windcharger?) plus it was
costly due to the wind machine, the batteries, and a genemotor etc. Recalling
the previous QRPp work in Pecos, New Mexico, in 1934, I decided to put my
trust into the car battery out of my Hupp Straight-8 Roadster, and a set of
four heavy dury Burgess B batteries, which my pocketbook could afford. A
Hartley oscillator was built up especially for the remote station on a bread
board, with copper inductances for 20 and 40 meters. 80 meters was out due
to the continuous mountain static. A Type 112A was selected. A meter was
pulled out of the fixed station transmitter. Only c.w. operation was planned (I
had not yet succombed to phone operation, and would not until s.s.b. came
along), and I knew that a watt or two of c.w. would do the trick. The trans-
mitter was constructed to be rugged, reliable, and stable. I had some spare
'112A's along just in case. The power supply? A calculated 180 volts of pure
d.c. This would give me about 3.5 watts input.
I already had a receiver for this job, one that I had put together during the
winter. It was a '78 regenerative detector, with screen controlled voltage for
regeneration control, and a '76 audio amplifier for use with headphones. This
receiver ran off Lwo 22.5- volt B-batteries, small size. The circuit was the

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'never-fail' variety. Quiet, simple (with hi-C coils in the detector), well ad-
justed, and with a 'starved audio amplifier' circuit as a noise limiter: it was
superb for portable operation. A National Velvet vernier (6:1 ratio) dial
tuned the frequency once the bandser was locked down. Band spread was
good and selectivity excellent!

W9WFV Hartley Oscil·

lator. Note the coil wound
from 1/4-inch copper
tubing, and copper strip
leads. The top of the Type
112-A is seen just above
the large knob. Sarne /ow-
/oss construction ap-
proach as used in the
1920's, with components
mounted on stand-off in·
sulators.

I ordered batteries from a Denver supply house and those big Burgesses
cost plenty, and the shipping cost was out of sight! But they were solid, reli-
able, and pure d.c. That was important for QRPp operation. When the bat-
teries finally arrived, we loaded up the Hupp with our gear for both house,
radio and stomach. Not being neophytes at this type of isolated Living, we
knew how and with what to supply ourselves. We planned a trip to Rifle every
week or ten days to resupply.
The table was just right. The receiver and key sat there at the right height.
Above that I put a small shelf, allached solidly to the huge log side of the
cabin, and put the transmitter the re. A knife switch was used for the antenna
change over, and to cut off the 180 volts when not using the station. A
genuine 40 meter off-centerfed Windom was raised by climbing as high as I
could in a pine tree and attaching the other end to the cabin. The feed ~ystem
was simple. No SWR bridge, no FS meter, NO nothing to complicate things!
One problem was how to set the frequency on the transmitter. Remember
that in those days one used a single frequency per band usually, and seldom
moved around the band. But how to set that frequency where I wanted it was
the hitch. I neglected to do it at the base station of W9YPY on my regnera-
tive receiver, alas! But I remembered a story in QST where a young lad
(having no elaborate gear) had covered his receiver with a metal pan, thus
making a monitor out of it. I tried this, but it didn't work. Fortunately, I had
brought along four #6 dry cells, and I took the receiver and the 'Blue BeJJs'
and carried them about a quarter mile from the cabin. With C harlet (the
XYL) at the window with one hand on the transmitter dial, I signaled her
when she had tuned the transmitter to the part of the band where I wanted it.
She noted the dial marking. Then the same procedure was followed for the 20
meter band. I was all set! The remoteness of the receiver from the transmit-
ter and operated without an antenna, eliminated the desensitization of the
regenerative detector caused by transmitter r.f. back in the cabin, and the
setup gave me the monitoring capability I wanted. I had no calibrated fre-
quency meter, having sold it in Florida in poor times!

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Then schedule time came around and W9YPY almost knocked the cans
off my head with the 50 watts crystal controlled rig in Rifle. His code was
poor but sufficient. We had made arrangements that if we missed two
schedules, W9YPY would come charging up the mountain to see what had
happened to us! There was no way, short of walking seven miles, to get help
under any circumstances. The rig worked fine. Schedules were set with
W9ESA in Denver and with other stations, so that we would have frequent
and reliable contact with the outside, even if W9YPY could not make it. We
ordered things by mail from Monkey Wards in Denver via W9ESA, and they
would be waiting for us in Rifle on our next resupplying trip. One of the or-
ders was for chains! A severe mountain flash flood had left us stranded for
days and we wanted chains so that, when we eventually did get back to Rifle,
we would be able to return to the cabin under similar circumstances. Ah,
radio is a great thing!

W9WFV Station. The

112-A Hartley oscillator is lo-
cated at top right on the top
shelf. The new receiver is on
the table at center. Calendar
Is set to August.

Receiving conditions were ideal. Never in my 53 years of hamming have I

ever heard anything like it, before or since! There was, of course, no line
noise. There was little static on 40 and none on 20 (except during local
storms). The receiver was so quiet that it was difficult to tell if it was operat-
ing except for the faint 'hiss' when it went into regeneration (the true
measure of a good regenerative design). Signals blasted my ears on 40 and 20.
I spent many happy hours with that QRPp rig!
After we got the car down the cabin by hauling the battery back up on the
skids, I kept the battery charged either during trips or by running the engine.
Only once did the charge get low. And gas was a lot cheaper in 1936 than
today (1973). But when the battery did get low, it was a serious problem. It
was hard to crank that old Hupp by hand. When I mentioned to another sta-
tion that my battery was giving out, he advised 'push the car to start it'. To
which I replied that to push the Hupp would have meant a drop of several

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 Chapter 8: 'Perfect Summer Plus QRPp' - W7ZC

thousand feet, as it was sitting right on the edge of a deep canyon. All that
was holding the car was a buffer log, so no push! After leaving the battery sit
overnight and waiting until the motor warmed in the sun, I did crank it. After
that, I never let the battery run down that far.
I worked a total of 36 states on 40 and 20 during that summer. I don't
know how many contacts I made. There were many skeds kept on both 40
and 20, and lots of ragchewing. Early on, an event occurred that still leaves
me limp when I think about it. About the second day on the air, I somehow
dropped a piece of #14 wire so that it fell across two of the Burgess batteries
(45 volts). They had open Fahnstock clips, remember, and they were open!
The first thing I noticed was the smell of hot wire. Then I saw a curl of smoke
from under the table. I quickly knocked off the wire and sat back to survey
the damage. I had a Sterling B-meter (watch case type). The two shorted
batteries measured about 20 volts each, instead of the normal 45 volts. The
other two batteries were undamaged. Believing that I was just out of luck, I
disconnected the two shorted batteries and went to lower QRPp with 90 volts
on the plate of the transmitter tube. Several days later I chanced to measure
the two shorted batteries, and lo and behold, they were back up to around 40
volts. I reconnected them into the circuit and went QRO! Incidentally, those
batteries were in continuous use there and later. 10 volts less than those
which had been untouched by the accident! I reported this to Burgess later
on and they were non-plussed, but delighted. A good testimonial for those
old type Burgess batteries, the ham's delight!
The summer passed all too quickly. What with squirrel, grouse, rabbit,
some deermeat we found on the doorstep, all the fresh strawberries we
wanted, and trout unlimited, we certainly did not suffer! The rig worked well,
and afforded both of us comfort and a measure of security. It also made us
more friends to add to our long list of over the air pals. In those days, QRPp
was very uncommon, and I was usually called a 'fibber' when I reported my
power. I often wonder what the perfect summer could have been with a Ten-
Tec PM3a or Argonaut...Well, that '112A and the '78 and '76 did their work
in yeoman style and I was satisfied. Never will I forget that Perfect QRPp
Summer of 1936!"

A. David Middleton,
W9HFV/W7ZC, in front of
the cabin mentioned in
'Pecos River QRPp' - it's
'QRP' size is obvious. Note
the snow on the ground.

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 Chapter 9
The Uprising of '37

"...It is our aim, if the cooperation of enough stations can be enlisted,

to have a portion ofthe 80-meter band set aside for flea-power work... "

The continual publicity given to low power accomplishments up to 1937

created a sense of group identity for low power operators. Unfortunately, the
constructive dimension of that identity, i.e., the ideaJs of knowledge, skill and
efficiency embodied in the New American Amateur, was somewhat muddled by
the fact that the low power operator was so frequ ently enlisted as the antithesis
of the detested 'California Kilowatter' group. This antithesis, as we have seen,
existed from the very inception of the vacuum tube age: the low power operator
was presented as one who had to achieve efficiency and operating skill to survive,
whiJe the kilowatter was frequently imaged as a wealthy, unknowledgeable dolt
too lazy and dumb to do anything but 'blast' his way through with brute force
frequently consisting of a "rotten signal", to use the favorite phrase of the day.
Of course, neither stereotype was accu rate. But everyone agreed that the ig-
norant kilowatter did magnitudes more damage than the shoddy QRP'r.
While the high power QRM controversy raged on, pitting the 'California
Kilowatts' against the rest of hamdom, constructive efforts were going at the
ARRL to give focus to certain areas of amateur radio activity through the crea-
tion of an array of operating events and awards "to benefit all amateurs along
each line of naturaJ interest". It was during the first half of the 1930's that the
'contest' concept emerged and was applied to events such as the 'ARRL Annual
International Relay' which turned into the 'International DX Competition' and
then the 'International DX Contest'. Part of this effort included the creation of
sub-groups within the ARRL (the main 'club') and the results included the '20
Year Club', the 'ARRL Emergency Corps', the 'A-1 Operator Club', the 'Rag
Chewer's Club', the 'Worked All States Club', the 'Worked All Continents Club',
and, in September, 1937, the 'DX Century Club'. In each instance, some recogni-
tion in the form of an award was given for qualirying amateurs. In several 'clubs'
such as the WAS., WA.C. and D .X.C.C., the operator gained membership of an
honorary form after he'd particpated in the Jong-term activity and provided QSL
proof of contact with stations in all 48 states, all 6 continents, or 75 or more
countries.
As we've seen in the 'Sweepstakes' and 'Field Day' results as well as the 1937
'Low Power Contest', QRP'rs certainly received their share of the recognition
and an official event. Furthermore, the caUs for 'Miles Per Watt' and 'Low
Power' records definitely aimed at providing recognition, and suggests that the
ARRL saw something in such work that was worth recognising. The puzzling
question is: given that viewpoint, why did the ARRL somehow fail to see the
logical implications of their publicity for QRP, and then go on to create an offi-
cial niche for QRP'rs in the clubs and awards structure? Perhaps it was simply a
matter of missing the forest by looking at a tree; and how could tl1e ARRL recog-
nise an operator who wasn't a particular sub-group, but "whose name was legion"
in Handy's terms. Perhaps many of the members of the W.A.S. or W.A.C. club
were low power types, and a sub-division (such as 'W.A.S. QIU") didn't make
sense. Or it may have been a different kind of matter, with F.E. Handy and E.L.
Battey (and probably Editor K.B. Warner), the staff members responsible for the
QRP publicity, pushing for recognition of the low power operator, but meeting

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 Chapter 9: W1EXZ. - The Flea Power Association'

resistance from the staff and Board of Directors? (Such was the case, regretably,
during the late 1960's and 1970's when the QRP operator had a staunch ally and
supporter within the ARRL organization in the form of Doug DeMaw, WlCER-
WlFB, but to no avail as far as official recognition was concerned.) At any rate,
the ARRL did not elevate low power operation to the status of a 'club' nor did it
give it recognjtion in the form of an award. It is not surprising, therefore, that
members of this largest group of operators would eventually seek some sort of
official recognition for their particular 'line of natural interest' along with the
Rag Chewer's and the others.
And when Robert A. Curtis (W1EXZ) stepped forward to seek a radical
form of recognition for flea power operators in a cooly reasoned, diplomatic
letter, he unleashed a unprecedented response from his low power colleagues
that spread across a half-year's worth of QST's. The appearance of this series of
letters, it should be noted, was the result of an editorial choice made by K.B.
Warner. WlEXZ wrote in 'Correspondence', QST, February, 1937:

Flea-Power As sociation

This letter is to introduce you to the "Flea Power Association", a new or-
ganization of radio amateurs to stimulate flea power activity on the amateur
bands as a definite help in solving the QRM problem. We think that the use of
flea power on the more crowded amateur bands by a good percentage of
amateurs will do much toward helping to eliminate the excessive QRM on those
bands, which at times is intolerable. We are soliciting your cooperation in this
mauer.
There is on the air today a large number of amateur stations operating with
flea power, 25 watts or less; but these stations are greatly handicapped by the
nwnber of high-powered stations, which cause most of the QRM. Nor can it be
denied that many of these low powered stations are owned by operators who are
unable to afford higher power, and also by those who operate low powered sta-
tions for the enjoyment and satisfaction they get from DX on low power. We
would like to see these fellows get a break, not to be crowded off tire bands al-
together. I believe the A.R.R.L. is well aware of the accomplishments of flea -
powered transmitters. For the past six months here at WJEXZ I have had in
operation a tn:msmitter with an input power of only 1.64 watts, and with it I
have worked VEJ, VE3, Wl, W2, and W3 011 3600 kc.
It is our aim, if the cooperation of e11ough stations ca11 be enlisted, to have a
porlion of the 80-meter band set aside for flea-power work. The band from 3600
to 3700 kc. has been suggested as a possible range. If this aim could be realized
it would certainly give th e low-powered fellows a break, and also leave a good
portio11 of the band to th e high powered signals. I think you will agree with me
that this will be to the advantage of all. It is not impossible to copy a signal
through QRM of approximately equal signal strength, but try and do it through
QRM caused by a /...1/owatt or even half-kilowatt station.
Furthennore, in the construction of flea power the ham must utilize his in-
genuity to the fullest. His transmitter should be made to operate at the peak of
efficiency, for, with flea power, it takes a we/I-made outfit to go places. Is it any
great accomplishment to work DX on a high powered rig? Even with losses and
poor operating efficiency a high powered rig can send out a good signal for
hundreds of miles, but consider the thrill you get when you w:c se11di11g a sig11al
out a few hundred miles with each watt input.
The F.P.A. is not anti-high power, but we would like th e cooperation of th e
amateur fratemity in bettering the conditions on the amateur bands so that the

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 Chapter 9: W1 EXZ - The Flea Power Association'

fellows with flea power can get more enjoyment from their efforts in amateur
radio as a hobby.
Robert A Curtis, W1 EXZ

WlEXZ's letter brought together the important motifs that had developed in the
context of the New American Amateur, the publicity of what low power could do,
and the high power QRM controversy.
WlEXZ's radical suggestion reduced the matter into simplest terms: the
low power man could not compete with the 'watt hogs', so banish the 'ether bus-
ters' from territory in which the average radio amateur would have a fair chance
of enjoying his hobby. In pragmatic terms, the proposal simply accepted the es-
tablished reality: the appeals over the years by Kruse, Harry, Schnell, Battey,
Handy and others for 'fair play' and consideration from the 'ether busters' had
fallen on deaf ears. The 'watt hogs' had been given their chance and refused to
budge; hence, force them off portions of the amateur bands. Curtis limited his
proposal to the 80 meter band. This modest beginning, however, extended to
"bettering conditions on the amateur bands", which was possible only if the other
bands eventually were included. The 80 meter low power operator wasn't the
only one who suffered from high power QRM - so did the operators on 160, 40,
and 20 meters, a fact which was obvious from the years of controversy. The really
radical aspect of WlEXZ's proposal is found in the size of the suggested portion
of 80 meters to be set aside: 100 kHz! Not '10 kHz' or even '25 kHz', but 100
kHz! (Why not go for the whole c.w. portion?) Respondents to WlEXZ's letter
predictably ignored his restriction of the proposal to 80 meters and read "flea-
power section on our bands". However, 1hey all acquiesced in the limitation of
those sections to the c.w. segments. This may be due to the fact that beginners
and grassroots amateurs could not afford to build and operate 'phone transmit-
ters which were usually high power, and hence generally were c.w. operators.
The responses to WlEXZ's proposal were numerous, as the Editor's note in
the May, 1937, issue remarked. It was the only instance of such an Editorial note
prior to WWII (and perhaps afterwards}. But there is something extraordinary
about the appearance of the first two responses in the very next issue of QST: as
anyone associated with magazine production lead-time and deadlines knows, the
'next' issue is usually at the printers by the time the previous issue is read by sub-
scnbers. Perhaps it was different in the 1930's and there is no significance in the
appearance of letters from R. Bach of New York City and W9FWL in the
March, 1937, issue. The latter presents no problem: it makes no reference to
WlEXZ's proposal, and, in fact, its opening reference to "this raging con-
troversy'' and "Yes, it's the same old thing'' places it in the context of previous
exchanges about high power QRM which were scattered through issues stretch-
ing back to 1932. Furthermore, W9FWL's proposal is foreign to the concept of-
fered by Curtis. These facts suggest that Editor K.B. Warner had W9FWL's letter
on hand to insert into 'Correspondence' whenever he saw fit. Titled "Hi- vs.
Low- Scheme'', it read:
" ...Yes, it's the same old thing - High Power vs. Low power. I have no
permanent solution to this raging controversy but possibly an idea which
might bring temporary relief and be workable if conformed with wholehear-
tedly [W9FWL proposed one day per week exclusively for under-200 watts and one
for over-200 watts). I realize that this would be a restriction in particular on
the operating of all low powered men (I'm one of 'em), because we would
have to remain quiet during the high power twenty-four hour period. The
high powered boys could lower their input and operate all the time but out of
courtesy's sake I don't believe they would. Even if they did come on with
reduced input it would s1ill be a blessing to have those kilowatt rigs cut down

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 Chapter 9: Response to 'The Flea Power Association' Proposal

one day in the week. T o me il seems a possible solution for obtaining a better
chance at hearing and working those far away DX stations which now are
always covered up by heavy •w• ORM. If the idea was tried we might draw
some valuable conclusions."
Hugh Foster, W9FWL
However, the letter from R. Bach responded directly to Curtis' proposal as well
as another article in the February, 1937 issue. It was titled "More With Less
Power"and read:
"In February's QST, Mr. Curtis, WlEXZ, presented a very workable plan
to reduce ORM on the ham bands. His plan is one which should be given
much thought as it gives us a chance to reduce interference and increase en-
joyment on our bands. Mr. Curtis said everything that could possibly be said
in favor of low power. To gain a larger and broader understanding of the
points made in his article, we should aU read Mr. G.H. Johnstone's article,
which won the C.D. Contest for February (1937] [see Chapter 6). Now, put the
two articles together. The first, low power, plus the second, a selective, sensi-
tive receiver, equals Jess ORM and more enjoyment for all. Let's consider
these sensible suggestions so thal we all may end up by saying more power to
less power!"
R. Baclt [no ca// given], NYC}
Aside from the mystery of how 'R. Bach' received the February issue in time to
write a letter which was included in the March issue, Bach described the Editor's
strategy for the February issue: " ... put the two articles together ... equals Jess
ORM and moire enjoyment for all ..." It seems possible that Bach's was an in-
vited response to materials proof before they were sent to the printer. And the
sequence of letters that followed seems to have been part of an editorial cam-
paign to gain support for the 'Flea Power Association' idea. The first of that
batch of letters surfaced in the May, 1937, issue.
That letter was from Norman B. Underwood (W8DYM-KA7NU), a high
power operator "but only in self-defense" whose perspective was conditioned by
operation from a DX location. Underwood extended Curtis' proposal to all
bands, to be backed up by an F.C.C. regulation as well as official ARRL recogni-
tion. He also added the motif of emergency preparedness to those cited by
Curtis:
"I heartily support WlEXZ's suggestion that a portion of the 80 meter
band be set aside for flea-power work, although I would like to see a similar
section designated in each band. The special sections need not be large, but I
suggest that the power limit be fifteen watts. Not only would this give the low
power fellows a chance to get out, but I'm sure the high power chaps who
have already worked everything would have a new stimulus to see what they
could do with low power. I predict WAC's proudly qualified by their owners
as to the small power used. And it would give those of us who want to build
and test low-power emergency transmitters a chance to see what they will do.
From personal experience a good distance away from North American ORM
I know low-power rigs can get across if only the signals have a chance of
being heard. The biggest thrill I have yet had in ham radio was when VOSAH
in Mauritius told me he had only ten watts input. But it would have to be a
F.C.C. regulation, with an effective check-up by the F.C.C. monitoring sta-
tions. I've gone in for high power, bur only in self defense. I'd much rather
spend my time seeing what I could do with low power. I think there are many
others who feel the same way."
Non11m1 B. Underwood, W8DYM-KA7NU
W3EEW placed W8DYM's reference to WAC awards in more pointed form:

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 Chapter 9: Response to 'The Flea Power Association' Proposal

" ...Think it's about time the A.R.R.L. gave special recognition to him who
docs it with flea power. A good percentage of WAC's are made with more
than 100 watts. Why not have a WAC for less than 25 watts, as WlEXZ says,
that is low power?"
Alan P. Buffington, W3EEW
W2IVr called for recognition in the form of a contest and perhaps motivated the
accouncement of the 'Low Power Contest' in the August, 1937 issue:
"Dear Eddie ['Editor']: Lotsa fellers hve been sending letters to this
column suggesting that power be limited. We gotta do sumpin abt this QRM
on the bands. Abt six in the evening when ya finish dinner and as ya feel the
world is a vy fb place ya decide to go on the air and hve a ragchew wid W3B-
so ya crank up the olc rig es get on. Ya hear a feller wid a vy fb R9 sig CQing
so ya give him a call. He comes bk es sc-z, 'FB R9 hr.' So ya go ahead es tell
him abt the rig, etc. He cums bk es sez 'ND QRM.' Then he sez, 'Using 20-
toob super wid xtal hr!' Then QRM snows him under. Why not give low
power a trial? How about a contest? Have the contest last two weekends as
the Sweepstakes did and limit the power to 25 watts. Why not make a Rag-
chewers contest of it. Have each QSO last at least a half hour in order to get
two points for the contact. Also it may be a gud idea to count a ragchew with
a DX stn for a change. Practically all DX contacts are the 73 CUL [i.e., see
you later] type. Let's hear from some of you fellows abt it!"
Wm. J. LaHiff, W2lVI
VE4BN spoke eloquently of the plight of the low power operator:
"I have just read with interest the article ... on flea-power operation, and I
heartily endorse the suggestions. It is really about time that the 'forgotten
man' with his little two watter is given a break. Lord knows, he has done
enough work and poured fort h enough effort to merit it! Better still, I say,
that the flea-powered lads be given a whole band to sport around in, while we
are about it, and limit the whole band to twenty-five watts. 111ere are
hundreds and hundreds of VE hams that have no high power and would wel-
come the suggestion with open arms. Let's keep the ball rolling!"
Howard Walker, VE4BN
The remaining letters added various suggestions and views about the proposal
as follows:
"Today, in most hobbies the 'sporting spirit' holds 1:.way. Smaller bore
rifles, lighter rods and line are the trend in hunting and fishing. Lowering
power is the equivalent in amateur radio. Every month in QST we read of
the accomplishment of low- and flea-powered stations. It seems that a few
watts of r.f. will cover a ny earthly distance. On 80 meters I found that I could
easily contact Wl-2-3-4-8-9 and VEl-2-3 with 5-1/2 watts input to an e.c.
oscillator. Yep, I got thrills out of those QSO's! How about it fellows? Why
not a more general lowering of power? It doesn't mean rebuilding. All you
need to do is couple your antenna to the oscillator or buffer stage of your big
rig and fire, but don't be shy about using that full quarter kw. when you feel it
necessary... "
Phil Reich, W2HUG
"With great pleasure I read about 'The Flea Power Association' in QST.
In his article he says those fellows with high powered rigs are occasioning lots
of QRM and therefore the little fellow is handicapped. I think his idea is
wonderful to some extent, but if the hams with low powered rigs choose the
proper time to operate our stations, I think it would work much better. I have
noticed that operation of my station between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.
is much better. There is not so much congestion and I always get my man. I

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 Chapter 9: Response to The Flea Power Association' Proposal

hope all those boys using flea power rigs will choose the right time and when
congestion on the air is at a minimum."
Francisco Bou, W3ESX
The collection of letters in the May issue was concluded with the remark:
[Editor's Note.-Representalive of a large amount of mail expressing opinions on this
subject are the above leuers. Other eKCerprs next month.]
The follow-up was delayed until the July, 1937, issue, and included several letters
under the heading"More on Flea Power":
" .. .I suggest that the A.R.R.L. petition the F.C.C. for permission for
amateur stations using 50 watts input or less to employ smooth RA.C. notes.
I believe that such a practice would lessen the interference within our bands
because of the property of the ear to separate sounds of different pitch even
though they be on the same radio frequency. Also most interference from low
powered stations comes, not from broad waves, but from key clicks caused by
breaking the high voltage, and with RA.C. permissable these stations could
use primary keying without 'tails'."
Geo. Dery, W6HG
"A swell idea, this flea-power section in our bands, but I don't believe it is
quite practical - espcially from a legal standpoint. However, if a week could
be run off as 'Flea Power Week' and limit power to 25 watts one week, later
cut it to 20 watts, then in a few more months to 15 - when we're down to 5
watts we'll be doing something. One of us usi.ng under 25 watts (or whatever
the figure is) could call 'CQ FP' and expect no calls from stations using over
the power limit for that week. Without any special effort I have accomplished
the following miles per possible watt output:
Band 'Phone C.W.
10 400 mi. 1250 mi.
20 250 mi.
80 50 mi.
160 10 mi. 25 mi.
Hundreds have done much better than this - thousands haven't tried to!
I've worked several stations whose signal report was about the same as mine,
and started bringing in the fact that I was using low power, only to be dug
with something like this: ' ... FB OM but ur still using three times mi 2 watts
... !' With low power we'll learn how to call and break in, how to get efficiency,
why we should use the same antenna to send and receive, and how to reduce
QRM and BCI trouble ... "
George A . Bonadio, WBOMM
"All of us little fellows would have a kw. rig is we could afford it. But if
everyone had a k.-w. conditions would be a lot worse for everyone than they
are now. I wonder if these fellows with high power, who say they went to high
power just because of the QRM, ever happened to think that the QRM they
are overcoming is about a dozen 'little fellows' who enjoy a good QSO just as
well as anyone, but just have to pull the switch and go to bed when a k.w. rig
lands on or near theirs {I.e., frequency) ... "
Cados Vail Jr., W9MUR
The letter from VE5PZ was titled: "Royal Canadian Mounted Police"and read:
"Concerning the range of the low power station, I have had very good
success with as low power as 5 watts into a '45 TNT, even in the evening
hours, working as far as Minnesota on 80 meters. Also I really believe a per-
son docs get a lot more thrill out of working these distances on low power.
Again, considering the efficiency and stability of a rig working away below its
rating, there would be a lot better quality signals on the air."
W.E. Marshal, VE5PZ, 'E' Division'

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 Chapter 9: Response to 'The Flea Power Association' Proposal

"The boys who are after flea-power allocations on any of the bands are, I
believe, barking up the wrong tree. It's a nice thing to wish for, but the idea is
too radical and would entail too much policing of the bands to be workable.
There always will be some fellows doing a bit of chiseling, and at a distance of
1000 or 500 miles you'd have to do some tall figuring to know whether a sta-
tion was using more than 25 watts or had a very efficient rig and antenna.
The best way out of the kilowatt QRM problem is, I believe, W3EEW's
plan of a WAC certificate for low power. And that, too, would let somebody
in for a lot of checking up. Couldn't we just make a game out of this low
power idea and from time to time print lists of DX worked with small rigs? If
I had a kw. I'd be surprised every time I called a DX station and didn't raise
him. But all I have is a 61..6 crystal oscillator and it gives me tremendous
pleasure to work a KA or similar DX.
Forty-meter crystals are cheap, and by choosing several good spots in dou-
bling to 14 Mc. you can shase DX around in fine style and select a clear chan-
nel at will. To me that plan is a lot more fun than setting a kw. at the edge of
the band and blasting away like a space gun; or setting a flea power rig on
one frequency and then complaining about the QRM spoiling your DX ...
But, whatever we do, let's not rag the high power boys about being unfair.
They're certainly entitled to a kw. if they can finance it. Rather than trying to
chase them off of some parts of the bands, let's give 'em the old run-around
by showing 'em that we can work choice DX right under their noses ..."
C.F Tremby, W9VOV
The suggestions and views advanced in the 'Flea Power Association' corres-
pondence covered a wide range indeed, but is clear that a majority supported
WlEXZ's suggestion that low power operators be given a chance to enjoy the
hobby without competition from high power stations. Of course, the radical no-
tion of a low power sub-band(s) was impractical and perhaps invited legal
problems. The American insistance upon 'rights' likewise was a hindrance, as
W9VOV's comment "certainly entitled to a k-w." indicates (and other comments
by earlier writers in the QRO QRM controversy). The ARRL could not, by any
stretch of the imagination, choose to support either Schnell's or Curtis's pro-
posals and thereby alienate a significant portion of its membership. Although a
'club' for low power operators could have been created, that would have required
Board action; Handy chose the only other route open to him - the 'Low Power
Contest' which bluntly implemented Curtis's concept of excluding the high power
stations.
The 'Low Power Contest' announcement in the August, 1937, issue made no
apologies for that blunt exclusion, but Handy delicately skirted the potential con-
flict with .high power operators in a carefully composed explanation of the the
contest's origin in 'Operating News' in the same issue. He began first by noting
that ''.A Low Power Contest is an inviting innovation in its own right", and then
provided a number of other justifications including "the tried and t1ue objectives
of Field Day". He described the Contest as "a special activity to appeal to FD.
opera1ors who want another' but noted that it would not detract from Field Day,
which would "continue to see enlarged participation" after the "bigger and better
than ever' turnout in June, 1937. Further, the Contest would "bn'ng new oppor-
tunity for any station of not more than 25 watts input to the final." The second
paragraph addressed the possible objections to the Contest: "It is impossible to
devise any activity to suit all people, all groups, all objectives, and in spite of study
and compromise we scarcely expect eve1yone to be satisfied equally." All those who
could do so were invited to enter and provide "constntctive criticism and
suggestions". This feedback was a necessary part of the process, for it provided
the ARRL with direction:

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 Chapter 9: Response to 7he Flea Power Association' Proposal

When suggestions balance out, equal numbers for and against, we feel that
activities are properly aimed. If a preponderence of thought is in a certain direc-
tion the plans are modified to follow this spontaneous indication, as experience
in an ever changing world shows desirable. It is our aim to promote consttuctive
activities within every amateur group where sufficient interest is shown. This
August test is a chance to try out self-powered equipment; and for the operator
with m odest power to compete with a station of single receiver and transmitter
units in his own power class. Some members are low power enthusiasts; some
are not.
Having thus made his case, Handy threw the blanket of emergency preparedness
over the underlying low vs trigh power conflict: "All should consider ..." This
'defense of the Low Power Contest' argument clearly implies the presense of an
adversary. It was an exercise in rhetorical rebuttal techniques, which are used
only when a counter-attack has been launched or is anticipated.
Handy wrote similar brief editorials about other new ARRL activities and
clubs, but nothing like this appears in them. The editorial about the formation of
the 'DX Century Club', for example, is a positive reiteration of the ARRL's
policy of concern "with the practical operating of all {sic.] amateur groups". Handy
emphasized the challenge in descnbing 'DX Century Club' as "a fonn of special
cenijication or recognition for outstanding DX men in our amateur ranks. Wiren
you have confirmed contacts with some 75 or more countries to your credit you
'rate' [i.e., are special]" and membership in the 'club' would be a "top -notch
honor". He said nothing about "suggestions balance out" or "equal numbe~ for
and against" or "preponderence of thought"ormodifying "plans" here.
The whole 'Flea Power Association' and 'Low Power Contest' episode leaves
unanswered some important questions about power politics at the ARRL which
Jed Handy to write his extraordinary editorial following Warner's publication of
the largest groups of letters on any single subject in the history of QST to that
time (and perhaps since). But the end results are clear enough: there was no
second 'Low Power Contest' despite the fact that an unquestionable level of
"sufficient interest" was shown, obvious in the statistics discussed in Chapter 7.
The number of letters on the 'Flea Power Association' points to the same conclu-
sion and Jed to Handy's characterization of 'the low power man whose name is
legion'. Furthermore, the occasional references to 'miles per watt' records i.n
'Communications Dept.' and 'Operating News' ceased after 1937 - thereafter the
subject would be broached only by 'letter to the Editor' or feature article writers.
And the tone or the Sweepstakes and Field Day reports changed after the 1938
installments.
It seems reasonable to conclude that the 'powers that be' squelched this
grassroots uprising. That is probably how it was perceived by the ARRL power
structure. Bear in mind that 1937 witnessed one of the most brutal episodes in
American history short of the Civil War and racial violence, namely, the forma-
tion of the labor unions which were quelled by squads of 'goons' and industry-
controlled police forces. The low power uprising simply got out of hand and put
the ARRL against the wall. Only one Jetter appeared in the June, 1937, issue
about the 'Flea Power Association' and is worth considering in the context of the
political evironment, since it may have been the proverbial 'straw'. C.R.
Wentland (W90TL) opened '"Power, Etc" with "Surely am glad to see tire gang
wake up to low power'', presented observations about QRO QRM on 160 meters,
then suggested putting "aside the lower half of tire 160 meter b.and, or of all bands
for that matte!; for power less than 50 or JOO watts, and measure it by accurate in-
stmments in tir e final stage." Then the resentment so frequ ently attributed to the
beleaguered low power operator burst forth:

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 Chapter 9: Response to 'The Flea Power Association' Proposal

I am beginning to wonder if this high power affair is a 'racket' sponsored by

pm1 manufacturers or if those of us with low power have to get off the air, and
let the big boys run the place. Some of us may as well sell out because we can 't
afford the big job needed to cut through the QRM. Looks as though fishing,
gossiping by telephone, card parties or 'benders' will be cheaper and more enjoy-
able than blah-blah-blah!
The sentiments of the dispossessed and the poor of The Great Depression show
through as clearly here as in a novel by Jack Conroy or John Steinbeck. And
Wentland threw a direct challenge at the ARRL to live up to its role as an or-
ganization which was supposed to be democratic and represent all amateurs:
Here's more power to the little fellow -- may the ether through A.R.R.L. be
delegated to his use. May we have a vote on the situation and make this a land
of equal opporlunity regardless of monopolies by "com fed kw.s." Give our
"razor-back watts" a place. Yout:S" for the underdog whose bark is quenched by
the blast of the beast.
C.R. Wentland, W90TL
This was revolutionary rhetoric in the context of the period and Warner knew it!
Editor K.B. Warner deserves recognition for having had the courage to publish
Wentland's letter, thereby inviting the wrath of the ARRL power structure. But
he'd worked shoulder to shoulder with Kruse and Hatry and fought for the same
group of ideals in the early days. His publication of Wentland's letter went too
far across the line: the ARRL ce.rtainly would hear of no such thing as a ''vote" in
Wentland's term$! Actually, Robert Curtis had no such thing in mind when he
submitted his "Flea Power Association' proposal. What he envisioned was exactly
what he wrote: "to introduce you to the 'Flea Power Association', a new or-
ganization of radio amateurs", a 'club' independent of the ARRL's organization-
al structure which was represented as already being in existence. But at the time,
it was only an idea, as Curtis notes. He did not pursue the formation of 'The Flea
Power Association' because time was Jacking following marriage and relocation.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the 'Uprising of '37' is that, according to
his best recollection, Curtis received not a single piece of mail about the pro-
' posal! The significant fact is that the grassroots membership of the ARRL re-
sponded to Wl EXZ's proposal on the universal assumption that it was the AR-
RL's job to implement it! The ARRL rejected that call to action, suppressed the
overt pursuit of the low vs. high power issue by Warner, Handy and Battey, and
left the "underdogs" at the mercy of "the blast of the beast".

151
 Chapter 10
1945-1960:
Before the The Transistor

I. A Few QRP Triumphs, Mostly Routine QRP

"...it's worth a second look when the trick is tumed
by a 'W' with 20 to 25 watts output... "

Even Lhough Schnell's suggestion and others like it during the prewar years
failed to stem the tide toward ever higher powers, it is certain that many
amateurs had neither the inclination nor finances for a 'move up' to high power.
Some sense of the power levels being used then can be gotten by scanning
through the 'Station Activities' sections of QST. The March, 1940, issue produced
the following clippings related to QRP:
WOMCN has four states on 7 Mc. with 1/3 wa.tt. -WODSR is active on 28
Mc. with only 3 watts. -WOLYN received Class A ticket will use 6L6 in final
with 21 watts on 7 Mc. -WOZQP operates 011 1883 kc. with 1.5 watt. -WOGAG
has a homemade receiver and 6L6 CJystal unit. -WOOYS has 20 watts to a
6L6G on 3.5 and 7 Mc. -WOBIU got a new bug for Christmas, woi*ed YS2LR
and a flock of CM's and K4's with a 6L6 on 7 Mc. -WONCL is 011 28 Mc. with a
6L6 oscillator. -WOUNO raised s/...ywire a11d worked FB on low power.
WODUC is on 7 Mc. with 6L6 oscillator. -WOANW and GZW have new low
power on 1. 7 Mc. pho11e. -WOFFP is going places 011 3.5 Mc. with -- yep, just 2.5
watts. -WOHFS increased power to 10 watts. -W9HMD uses a 6L6 with 25 watts
input. -W9BXY and CUT have low power rigs on 1.8 Mc. phone. -W9UYZ
using 15 watts does right well 160, 80 and 40 meters. -W9NYH wOJ*ed 38 states
in 20 hours using 7.5 watts. -W9WXL is nmning low power 3.5 a11d 14 Mc.
-W8TXJ is 011 1.8 Mc. phone with 5 watts. -W51NA has 14 states using only 9
watts input.
In that issue, powers of 50 watts or more account for only about 50% of the re-
ferences to power levels. It should be born in mind that these reports are by no
means a valid scientific sample, but were biased by any number of factors, such as
the attitude of the SCM editor regarding power vs results, the types of amateurs
who submitted reports or the types of news items thought worthy of note. By the
early 1950's, almost all references to power level were omitted. Then as now, this
logjam of fine print at the rear of QST contains a considerable amount of drivel.
N onetheless, it does create the impression that low power operation was fairly
typical of the grassroots radio amateur.
Amateur radio in the U .S. began the postwar period where it had left off in
1941. The five years of wartime effort had produced advances in technology and
military surplus brought a high power capability within the economic means of a
greater number of amateurs than ever before. It was a chance for a new begin-
ning, but the QRP'r found hin1sell operating in the midst of an increasing num-
ber of higher power signals. Three random issues of QST from the 1946-49 peri-
od produced the following collection of low power items:
W7JHL puts 8 watts into an 807 and gets R9 reporls from PA. -VE6CE blasts
3.9 Mc. with all of his 11 watts to get S9 reports. -VE7ADV hooked a couple of
ZLs on 28 Mc. with flea power. -WJPCZ is operating in Stamdford with 6L6 all
ban ds. -WlDWO took five watts to Maine and did better than at home with the
regular rig. -WOFPZ made a nice DX contact with his 15-watt mobile 1ig:

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 Chapter 10: QRP on the Kon-Tiki

JBACS, ex-WOFAN of Denver. -WODAD is having fun with his QRP rig on 7
Mc. c. w. -VEJGN is working 28 Mc. 'phone with 4 watts input. -W7PEY worked
D4AXS who was using 6 watts. -W6NLQ is on 3.85 Mc. with 16 watts and a
new half-wave doublet for same. -W4MEU works on 14 Mc. c.w. with about 12
watts. -W2BAY gets out with his 5-watter on 3.5 Mc. -W3Jv[YN does nice work
with 20 watts. -W9AAH runs JO watts to a 522 and gets S9 from England.
W9FNC 7 Mc c.w. with 18 watts to a BC458. -W5RX has QSO'ed KZ5, VE7,
KL7, PY7, and ZL2MM with 7 watts on 7 Mc. -W20US is working plenty of DX
with only 20 watts. -WJIUQ works plenty of DX on 28 Mc. phone with 25 watts.
-WlRDB worked many stations on 3.5 Mc. with 0.6 watt. -W7JOD is active on
28 Mc. with 2 walls.
Although QRP continued to maintain some visibility in this manner, the
'Station Activities' section of QST creates the impression that it receded deeper
into the fine print amidst a growing density of references to QRO stations. In
these three postwar issues, for example, powers above 50 watts accounted for
about 75% of the total number of entries, with a dramatic shift occurring from
the 50-200 watt into the 200-1000 watt range. It is interesting to note that the
proportion of kilowatts in these issues remained about the same: rougl1ly lwice
that of the 1940 issue. However, the 300-600 watt range mushroomed! The
moderately high power stations seem to have upgraded to even higher power.
Nonetheless, evidence of continued interest in QRP as a mode of operation is
found in reports of QRP activities such as: "The Adak Amateur Club is spo11s01ing
a C. W. DX Contest for stateside contacts. Maximum power permitted is 10 walls,
with any kind of sJ..yhook. The winner will receive a special club award of m erit"
(QST, December, 1947); and the announcement of the Westchester Amateur
Radio Association's peculiar brand of a QRP contest for October 17, 1948:
"Dwing the 3 h ow~ of operating, between 1 and 4 p.m. EST, rain or shine, each
contestant must cany his complete station alone lOOft from a starting point selected
by the judges, set up equipment and antenna, refrain from using a11y existi11g local
supports, and then comact as many other stations as possible whid1 are not par-
ticipating in the contest. The contest will be held on all amateur bands. A prize will
be awarded to the contestant having the highest score in each amateur band". Full
portable operation wasn't all that easy in pre-transistor days!
Feature items about QRP were quite rare in the 1945-1960 period, perhaps
because military gear was available to fulfill the need for portable equipment.
The world famous Kon-Tiki Expedition, however, was an exception. The Decem-
ber, 1947, issue of QST reported the successful completion of the expedition in
which Thor Heyerdalll crossed the Pacific in 1947 on a 45ft primitive balsa raft in
order to demonstrate the possibilily that the Pacific Islands had been settled by
the Inca from Peru. Heyerdahl turned to the ARRL for assistance in implement-
ing the radio communications plan worked out by Captain Bjorn A. Rorholt,
LAlGA, Military Attache at the Norwegian Embassy. The primary respon-
sibilities of the ARRL included the design and production of the radio equip-
ment and the organization of a nel\vork of U.S. amateur stations to function as
the Kon-Tiki's communications link with the world. The design of suitable equip-
ment was no easy task: "the conditions under which the radio equipment aboard
the raft was to operate presented many unusual problems" such as the lack of a
watertight location for operation and storage of the radios. Lightweight and com-
pactness were two major considerations, given the size of the raft. The expedition
carried three transmitters and a National NC-173. WlCTW arid WlEHT adapted
the 7-14 MHz transmitter from an article in QST for July, 1941, which employed
2E30 tubes in all stages and ran about 10 watts input. The 28- and 50 MHz units
likewise were adapted from an article in QST for June, 1946. A pi-network anten-
na tuner completed the transmitting setup. After various trials, the ARRL task-

153
 Chapter 10: Kon-Tiki LI2B - LA7Y: 10,000 Mile DX

force selected an end-fed antenna supported by the raft's 40ft mast. [R 12 Sunspot
Number: 14~ 152 during the voyage.]
The Kon-Tiki's first 22 days out of Peru resulted in contact only with OBE,
the Peruvian Naval School, due to the "dead spot off the coast of Peru" from
wh.ich long distance communication via shonwave was apparently impossible, as
the New York Times had warned. Kon-Tiki's 10-watr signal Ll2B on 14142 kHz
fi11a1Jy connected with Harold Kempel, W6EVM, on May 20, 1947, after wh.ich
the link functioned successfully except for four days of down time. Apparently
the 14 MHz circuit managed to fracture a series of crystals, and eventualJy the 28
MHz transmitter was retuned down to 13990 kHz for the remainder of the trip.
Involved in the net were W6EVM, W1AW, WlDX, WlLYL, W3GAU, W3YA,
W4KXV, KZ5A W, KZ5AZ, KZ5ND and LA3GA. ln addition to the net person-
nel, LI2B also worked WlCWX, WlDQH, W5FNA, W6AOA, W6CIS, W6ICP,
W7GXA, WSPCS, W8UJ, W9TB, W9UKO, VE3ACL, VE30ZA, KH6DD,
OA4AE and ZIADD on 14 MHz, and on 28 MHz, W4KXV, W6GAL, KZ5A W,
KZ5AZ and KZ5ND. In one instance, urgent traffic passed from the raft to the
Embassy and back tC? the raft via the 14 MHz link in 35 minutes round-trip!
Another highlight of the voyage took place on August 5. The crew radioed
this information about the event: "It was a great day for us. While in contact with
W6EVM, lie told us that LA7Y, whom he had just contacted, had heard Ll2B. After
completing the schedule with W6E VM, L/2B called IA7Y and contact was estab-
lished with RST 559 reports both ways. This happened at 0630 GCTwhen Kon-Tiki
had tire position South 15 degrees 50 minutes and West 141degrees25 minutes. The
distance would be about 10,000 English miles. " The contact with LA 7Y was re--
peated several times during the voyage. Finally, after 101 days on the open seas,
the rafl cracked up on a reef, and the QRP rig again saved the day by raising
ZKlAB on Raratonga a half-hour later. Before rescue parties had to be sent out,
LI2B contacted WOMNU who passed along word of the landing. The crew
operated five more days on the island after being rescued by the locals.
The Kon-Tiki adventure was reminiscent of the explorations of the 1920's in
whjch QRP rigs played such a prominent role and were often given headlines.
And in fact, lhe world read about the success of these QRP rigs and saw photos
of them being operated on the Kon- Tiki, and was left with the impression that
"hams" in general used such gear. One wonders why QST's Kon-Tiki feature
story made no rererence to the fact that this phenomenal communications success
was a QRP triumph. Gone were the days of Kruse, Hatry, Handy and Battey!
In another rare instance, QRP DX'ing assu med the limelight in a feature story
in the October, 1949, issue of CQ, "Two Zones Per Watt: W6BAX's Low-Power
WA.Z. Award", which extolled the achievement of W6BAX in working and con-
firming all 40 zones. The WA.Z. award in itself was considered noteworthy since
"even in these days ofcountn·es galore, it is big news when someone can show proof
of working all 40 zones". In the context of the typical U.S. qualifiers, W6BAX's
WA.Z. #127 bore an additional mark of distinction: "it's worth a second look
when the trick is tumed by a 'W' with 20 to 25 watts output from a doubler-final."
The report continued with a brief accou nt of W6BAX's path into QRP. In pre--
war days, W6BAX was "well known among DX hounds the world over', using
high power to a 250TH. In gearing up for post-war operation, he began with a
new exciter i.ntended to drive one of the new Eimac (where he was employed)
high power tetrodes then in the final stages of development. The exciter
employed a v.f.o., 6V6 doublers and an 807 functioning as a doubler-final. Begin-
ning operation in May, 1947 [R12 S.S. Nr.: 152), at a new QTH, W6BAX made
WAC during the first week using nothing more than an "available broadcast re-
ceiver a111enna tied to a tree". Vee beams soon were added. Then W6BAX
"decided that the high power could wait", given the excellent results he was having

154
 Chapter 10: W6BAX's QRP W.A.Z.

with QRP. Finally, a 3-element rotary at 30ft was added when the going got
tough. Operating principally on 20 meters, W6BAX completed the WA.Z. in less
than two years from starting date [R12 S.S. Nr.: 152-135) , racking up 157 countries
in the process! The receiver was a simple homebrew superhet "lacking even an
r.f. stage''. The concluding remarks bring home the secret to success with QRP:
''As usual, it's the man. Plenty of patience plus real DX know-how and sm arl,
smooth operating have paid off for W6BAX. Wiren a new rare one appears you can
bet your bottom dollar that if Ire isn't fishing, bowling, or playing for the Eimac
softball team, W6BAX will be there at exactly tire right instant and on exactly the
frequency called for by the circumstances." Beyond the Kon-Tiki Expedition and
W6BAX's QRP WAZ, little else in the way of feature stories about QRP exploits
appeared in the 1945-1960 period.

II. OAP Transmitters and Testimonials

" ... This is a Novice rig. It is not a beautiful rig
with shiny panel and knobs and fancy panel decals... "
Aside from those stories, the h.istory of QRP in the 1945-1960 period is much
the same as in the 1930's: it is the story told about QRP results in articles describ-
ing low power transmitters. Periodically, construction articles appeared which
were aimed at the beginner and featu red relatively simple low power transmit-
ters. Generally, the focus was not specifically on QRP as a mode of operation,
since many grassroots amateurs operated homebrew rigs at levels nearly in the
QRP range. This is revealed by the power ratings of the tubes used as the final
amplifiers in construction articles throughout the period. Manufacturers listed
the following r.f. power output ratings for tubes commonly used in homebrew
rigs: 6AQ5: 3w; 6AG7: 7.5w; 6V6GT: llw; 2E24: llw; 2E26: 17w; 6L6: 28w; and
807: 35w. These power output ratings assumed a 70% plate efficiency, an idealis-
tic fi,,aure in terms of normal practice. While the 6L6 could produce the maximum
28 watts r.f. output, such a feat required a high-efficiency Class-C amplifier cir-
cuit which included feedback neutralization of the amplifier stage. This type of
circuit appeared with extreme rarity in construction articles describing transmit-
ters using these tubes, being reserved chiefly for QRO amplifier stages. Safety
was one factor: che feedback neutralizing capacitor usually carried the plate cir-
cuit high voltage and could deliver a lethal jolt if touched during adjustment.
Beyond th.at, output power was simply not a major concern: if the rig could pro-
duce a reasonably bright glow in a dummy load 10- or 20-watt incandescent bulb,
or in a #47 flashlight bulb tapped along a length of the feedline, then it was put-
ting r.f. into the antenna and that was all that mattered. Furthermore, not much
had changed since Kruse lambasted the use of tube input ratings in describing a
rig as a '5-watter' without measuring the actual input. At least amateurs had
taken to metering the final amplifier current in determining their input power,
although they as often as not relied on the power transformer rating in assuming
the plate voltage co used in the Ex I = W formula!
In reality, efficiencies on the order of 30% were very good in the typical un-
neutralizd amplifier operating straight through and being driven by a previous
doubler or oscillator stage. Multiband circuits, however, frequ ently operated the
final as a frequency doubler, in which case efficiency dropped into and below the
'teens. In a single tube crystal oscillator transmitter directly feeding an antenna,
an efficiency of less than 10% could be expected. The output measurements for
the Heathkit AT-1 which are noted below reveal the realities of the world of
'35-watters' using the ubiquitous 6L6 during this period.
During the late 1940's, newcomers to amateur radio had few alternatives to
homebrewing their first rig which was usually similar co the 'WN3COB Special'
descnbed in Chapter 1. This first step into homebrewing was followed by,

155
 Chapter 10: Homebrewing for Beginners, Then New Novices

naturally, a two-tube circuit such as Assistant Technical Editor Donald H . Mile's

(WlTS} "A Two-Stage Transmitter for the Beginner" (QST, April, 1950) which
was capable or 35 watts input on 80 and 40 meters as "compared with the few
watts obtainable from a crystal oscillator alone". The circuit consisted or a 6AG7
untuned Pierce crystal oscillator coupled capacitively to the grid of the 6L6, 6V6
or 6F6 amplifier stage. Two-band operation was obtained by the use or plug-i.n
coils. A noteworthy feature of this rig is the built-in antenna coupler capable of
either parallel or series tuning. Mix's 'beginner' articles are classics in regard to
explaining the minutest details of circuitry and construction, an added attraction
which led thousands to duplicate his rigs.
The next step for the beginner with growing homebrew experience involved
either multiband capability or v.f.o. control. QST Technical Assistant Richard M.
Smith's (WlFfX) "An Inexpensive VFO Transmitter: A Simple 20-Watt Unit for
3.5- and 7-Mc. Output" (QST, July, 1949) is a typical example. Back then, the
construction or a v.f.o. (variable frequency osciUator) for use with a high power
transmitter presented some difficulties which could be solved only through effort
and expense. Smith presented the combination of v.f.o. control, low power and
low band operation as a natural: "Low power sidesteps the disheartening business
of having a VFO that sounds fine all by itself, but which tums imo something hor-
rible when used to drive a high-power final." Signal quality was a major design
objective, so the v.f.o. was operated at 1.75 MHz. For 80 meter operation, a 6V6
driver operated as a buffer stage driving a pair or 6V6GTs as frequency doublers,
while on 40, both the 6V6 driver and pair or 6V6GTs as doublers. With respect to
the decreased output to be expected from this configuration, Smith explained:
"Admilledly the output of the push-push doubler as an output stage is not quite up
to tire level that could be obtained from push-pull or parallel operation. But remem-
ber what is desired is quality, and if the output has to suffer slightly to get it, it's a
small sacrifice. The difference between and 20-wau signal and a 30-wa// signal is
undetectable at the other fellow's receiver, anyway." Smith's strategy looked for-
ward to that adopted by the QRP'rs or the 1970's who were struggling to climb
onto the plateau of stable v.f.o. control with their solid state transmitters. The
QST staff or this period continued to emphasize high quality circuitry and con-
struction pracrices as opposed to reliance on power alone.
Novice Kits: Philmore NT-200 (left) & Heath AT-1.

~
.·
.
.J - -
- - -~
The ranks or QRP'rs received a tremendous influx from the creation of the
Novice Class license, effective July 1, 1951, pcmlitting crystal contolled c.w.
operation limited to 75 watts input on 3700-3750 kHz, and phone and c.w. on
26.95-27.23 MHz (old 11-meter amateur band} and 145-147 MHz. The initial
Novice privileges were lim.ited both in terms or power, frequency and duration,
since it was a non-renewable ticket which expired after one year. Simple Novice
kits appeared almost immediately to fill the demand created by the new Novice
license. The Philmore Nf-200 Novice transmitter and power supply kit is an ex-
ample. The unit was reviewed in Herb Brier's (W9EGQ) popular "Novice Shack"

156
 Chapter 10: Novices and 'More Power with the AT-1'

column in CQ for August, 1952. A 6V6 in a Pierce crystal oscillator drove a 6L6
final amplifier on the 3.5- and 27 MHz Novice bands at a rated 25 watts input;
W9EGQ noted that the urut could be used on intermediate bands simply by
winding the proper inductances. The unit used a pi-network in the amplifier out-
put with better harmonic suppression than was possible with a tank circuit. He
turned the kit over to prospective Novice 16-year old Martin Yuriga for construc-
tion which required "three leisurely evenings". Then Brier put the rig on 3.68
MHz and made three QSO's in a row, commenting: "These results speak for th em -
selves. For an i11put of 25 watts, a ra11dom le11gth a11te11na about 25ft high, a11d
conditions certainly no better than average, three calls and three contacts is 11ot a
bad average!"
In addition to the simple kits, several all band crystal controlled transmitter
kits such as the Heathkit 'AT-1', 'Globe Scout' and Viking 'Adventurer' ap-
peared. Here, the basic strategy of manufacturers was to provide the new Novice
with a rig that would be usable when the upgrade to General Class occurred. The
power inputs ranged from 30 watts (AT-1with6L6 final) to 50 watts (Adventurer
with 807 final) to 65 watts (Globe Scout with 807 final). The AT-1 was decidedly
the most popular commercial Novice kit at 30 watts input, and the Novice
columns were filled with its accomplishments. The low efficiency of the unit
resulted in r.f. outputs ranging from about 7-9 watts. Hence, the use of input
power as a standard somewhat obfuscated the fact that the AT-1 was a genuine
QRP rig, although its output was a hair above the current 5-watt definition of
QRP. As a result, its widespread success did little to promote the image of QRP
operation, although it was commonly viewed as a 'low power' rig.
The mentality in the Novice world leaned toward using the maximum perrnis-
sable 75 watts, even though construction articles featuring simple low power rigs
claimed that such a high power was not necessary for successful results. An ex-
tremely popular article by Lew McCoy (WlICP), "More Power with the AT-1"
(QST, October, 1955), at once revealed the true power output from the AT-1
while featuring modifications to increase the efficiency of the urut and produce
considerably higher output. With the unmodified 6L6 final amplifier, r.f. outputs
on 80-10 meters were measured by WlICP as 9, 9, 9, 5 and 7 watts. The conver-
sion of the {)L6 final amplifier to straight-through Class-C neutraljzed operation
raised outputs to 18, 15, 15, 10 and 7 watts (80-10 meters). Substitution of the TV
beam-power tetrode 6BQ6 for the 6L6 final raised the input to 35 watts and out-
puts to 25, 25, 23, 22, and 8 watts. The integral power supply would not power a
6146 at higher levels. However, a later modification consisted of replacing the
original supply with an 'economy' full-wave bridge rectifier which provided
enough power to up the AT-1 to 60 watts input or more with the original a.c.
power transformer.
Even though these commercial kits were quite popular, many Novices built
rigs from scratch, following published circuits such as that shown in Chapter 1.
These single-stage crystal oscillators were definitely in the QRP range. "The
Novice One-Tuber" by Donald H. Mix (WlTS) in the May, 1951, issue of QST is
another example of these circuits for the beginner. Mix noted that Novices could
use up to 75 watts input, but "good results ca11 be obtai11ed with much less tlta11
this legal limit. The little transmitter shown in the photographs is easily capable of
worlcing several hundred miles with a makeshift a11te1111a." In addition to simplicity
and ease of construction, Mix cited the absence of TVI as a major advantage of
using low power, and to back up this point, he noted that the rig was operated
"with part of its antenna inside a TV receiver without causing interference". The
construction approach is reminiscent of the early days, with the brackets and
tie-points supporting the components mounted on a slab of plywood (a 'bread
board'). The circuit used a single 6AG7 as a Pierce-Colpitts crystal oscillator on

157
 Chapter 10: 'Novice One-Tuber' (W1TS) & 'Mighty4-Watter' (W6QXH)

80 meters. The novel plate circuit consisted of a pi-network designed to feed a

random wire antenna. This first offering by QST (carried over into the ARRL
HANDBOOK as late as 1955) for the new Novice certainly gave the impression
that high power was unnecessary. Mix allayed doubts about the low power rig's
ability to work out by noting "Naturally, a full-size antenna, well elevated out-
doors, will bling better results, but many sh01t distance contacts should be possible
with an indoor antenna as shorl as five feet''. This appears to be an intentional
exaggeration to make the point. In addition, other construction articles featuring
simple low power units continued throughout the period to inform new Novices
that high power was unnecessary. As with Mix's unit, economy, ease of assembly
and effectiveness were the primary selling points.
WlTS's 'The Novice One-Tuber'.

1'~i}!. 2- CircuiL cliuKrm11 of tl1f: ~l'.lvice one -tu her-.

W6QXIf's 'The Mighty Four Watter'.

CQ for July, 1956, provides another example of the attitude which accom-
panied the description of these rigs. Editor Wayne Greene (W2NSD) prefaced
Howard Weisberg's (W6QXH) "The Mighty Four Watter" with a header in his
inimitable style: "we hear sneers from the High Power comer -- but can they dupli-

158
 Chapter 10: K4ANifs 'Ten Watts Mobile for Twenty Bucks'

cate that peculiar thrill that goes with a Vest-Pocket rig Contact?" The QRP'rs re-
warding sense of achievement comes through clearly in W6QXH's pitch: "This is
a Novice rig. It is not a beautiful rig, with shiny panel and knobs and fancy panel
decals. Bui it does ha11e features which make it ideal for the beginner, and for the
old-timer with the ann·chair rig who wants to get back on the novice bands, where a
contact in the next state is something to be proud of, and not just a boring inter-
lude." The novel approach to chassis construction employed "hardware cloth"
{1/4-inch wire screen material bent into a chassis box). The circuit uses a single
50L6 crystal oscillator with pi-network output and a 35Z5 rectifier in a power
supply circuit hooked directly to the a.c. mains without a transformer - exactly
the same type of circuit seen in the 1930's. A 200-0hm 10-w~n resistor drops the
115 v.a.c. to 85 v.a.c. to power the filaments. W6QXH's testimonial struck the
usual QRP note: "Best of all, it really works! To see what would happen I put in 011
forty with a dipole a11tenna. I worked three Novices in three states, a11d the first
station I called came back. With the feeders of the dipole tied together I worked out
on 80 meters with an RST 579 reporl. Any novice who builds a rig like this can. be
sure of hu11dreds of contacts in many states if he tries!" Without a doubt, teenage
newcomers with little or no economic resources believed these claims implicitly
and commenced scrounging around for components.
K4ANU's 'Ten Watts Mobile for Twenty Bucks'.

Throughout the period, the compactness required of mobUe and portable

equipment generated construction articles which featured low power transmit-
ters. These were accompanied by testimonials of successes with the low power
units, but usually made no reference to QRP as a way of life. In the numerous
articles describing such low power mobile transmitters, the ability of low power
to work out was a focal point. In a typical article, Gilbert C. Voyles' (W9THD)
"A Flea-Powered, VFO Rig for 10 Meter Mobile Operation" (CQ, June, 1950),
W9THD commented: "This little rig is capable of giving very good results" (includ-
ing multiple DX contacts with KP4, KZ5, VE and B.W.I.) "from m1emge high-
ways, and no hills or elevated sites have yet been tried". The unit measured 6 in-
ches square with a circuit consisting of a 6AK5 v.f.o., a 6C4 doubler and 6AQ5
Class-C final, and featured a novel arrangement for 'spotting' the v.f.o. In
another article, Paul L WhitJock's (K4ANU) "Ten Watts Mobile for Twenty
Bucks" (QST, February, 1957), K4ANU began by noting: "In these days when the
average mobile power on the low frequency bands is 50 waits or m ore, it may seem
foolish to suggest anything at little as 10 watts. But don 't under estimate the
capabilities of this little ng. I have worked hams in Montgomery with Q5 repons,
and that is 100 miles away." He stressed the economic advantage of low power

159
 Chapter 10: W6YBT's 'The Mountaineer -A Hiker's Portable'

mobile since it eliminated the need for expensive power supply setups. The cir-
cuit featured a 6C4 crystal oscillator driving a 6AQ5 amplifier on the 75 meter
'phone band. A second 6AQ5 served as a modulator.
Similarly, portable rigs required compactness, a difficult assignment in the
days of vacuum tubes, although subminiature and 'acorn' types permitted a
modicum of miniaturization. The attractions of backpacking California's Sierra
away from developed areas produced Robert W. Vreeland's (W6YBT) "The
'Mountaineer' -- A Hiker's Portable" (QST, Sept. 1950) whlch included a 2-watt
transmitter and a crystal controlled superhet receiver. W6YBT noted that "al-
though most hikers will atgue that even tire smallest radio unit is too much to add
to the pack, few hams who contemplate a vacation trek are willing to leave all gear
at home." The use of new midget components cut the size down to 3 x 8 x 9 in-
ches and the weight to 9 pounds in 'The Mounraineer' - what a massive urut
compared to a later 'Mountaineer' by Wes Hayward (W7ZOI)! The circuit used
subminiature receiving tubes in a simple tw<>-stage transmitter (1U4 crystal con-
trolled local oscillator, 3A4 final) capable of two watts input, and a three-stage
receiver (1R5 converter, 1U4 detector and audio). The urut was powered by a
1.5- volt A-cell and 157 volts ofB-batteries. W6&BTs reasoning for the choice of
80 meters: ''Although 40 meters has a beuer range in daylight, 80 meters seems to
be tir e best all around band for work in ruggesd country." Contacts of up to 250
miles at night and 25 miles during daylight were managed with a quarterwave
wire operated against a counterpoise. The transmitter tank circuit is designed to
feed various lengths of random wire antennas via several switched taps on the
inductance. The suggested method of erecting the antenna is familiar: tossing a
rock tied to 27-lb. fishing line over a tree branch and then pulling the wire into
position. Among the hardships to prepare for: "mountain meadows produce and
enormous supply of mosquitoes'', and "chilly nights"; precautions: spare tubes,
fuses, extra dial lights, and some source of light for logging while operating from
the sleeping bag! Foreshadowing of QRP Field Days of the 1970's-80's.
W6YB1's 'The Mountaineer - A Hiker' s Portable'.

With so many hams using low power rigs, it is not surprising tJrnt only the rigs
using remarkably low power merited special mention as QRP in the amateur
radio literature, and these were usually presented as novelty items. One of the
few such rigs fearured in QST (prior to the advent of the tn1nsistor) as a specifi-
cally QRP urut extolled the achievement of very low power operation. The intr<>-
ductory paragraph of "A Bantam 1-Wauer" (QST, January, 1948) recognised the
QRP operator as a distinct entity in amateur radio in a commendatory tone:

160
 Chapter 10: W4B!Ws 'A Bantam 1-Watter'

"Emest B. Lindsey's (W4BIW) 6-oz., 12 cubic inch, 1-watt c.w. rig should earn for
him the wann approbation of the 'more miles per milliwatt' gang, that hardy breed
who still successfully traffic the kilocycles, ofttimes to the utter disillusionment of
selfrespecting kilowatters." References like "the more miles per milliwatt gang"
are found throughout the period, evidencing a common awareness of QRP.
Typically, the spirit and achievements of the milliwatting QRP'r were still used
here to mock the 'watt hogs' who were presented as egotistical louts and a
general nuisance in amateur radio. A surplus Type BCR-746-A tuning unit was
used as the chassis with components mounted in space provided by removal of
original components - typical QRP'r ingenuity: put any smaU (or better yet, tiny)
piece of electronics into a QRP'rs hand and the wheels begin turning in the
search for a way of turning it into a QRP transmitter! The transmitter used a
single 1S4 subminiature tube as a simple crystal oscillator with 1.5 volts on the
filament and 30 to 90 volts of B-battery for the plate supply. Output was taken
through a coupling link on the plate inductance. Results? "From Atlanta,
W4BIW has blanketed Georgia and worked into Alabama with the rig. Here in
Connecticut [at the ARRL headquarters, where the unit was being tested] using 80
meters and 0.8-watt input, 22 stations in 10 states were QSOed in 12 hours --
without high-powered preliminades!" This sounds like a misplaced entry from the
1930's!
W4BIWs 'Bantam 1-Watter'.

. ·J~..>;>--A~;.:,s:r-

Another genuine QRP novelty rig was described in "Shack in a Wallet" in CQ

(April, 1951) featuring a unit by WlKWU. The Editor introduced it: "We've seen
rigs built into everything from boxes to books, but here is a topper in novel consf/Uc-
tion. It's a 1-watt crystal controlled transmitter with regenerative receiver, both built
into a BILLFOLD!" The motivation for the design of the rig: "WlWKU built it
and says it not only works DX but solves the problem of what to do with the wallet
he got for Christmas." The waUet transceiver is a genuine QRP unit representing
that tin1eless desire among QRP'rs to build their rigs into extraordinary
enclosures, a desire which led to the G-QRPC's "spy transmitter" contest in 1983,
an activity which produced rigs in fully functional flashlights and, in G4BUE's
ingenious contraption, a 2-watt transmitter in a cigarette package. The receiver of
WlKWU's unit used a 2E32 regenerative detector followed by a 2E36 and 1$4
audio amplifier; the transmitter used 1S4's in the transmitter oscillator and
amplifier; both were powered by a 1.5-volt A- and 90-volt B-batteries (not in the
wallet, of course). The components were mounted on a piece of masonite board,

161
 Chapter 10: W1KWU's 'Shack in a Wallet'

which was then inserted into the wallet, followed by the insertion of the sub-
miniature tubes; the batteries, key, 'phones and antenna were then connected,
the rig tuned up, and operation commenced with 1-watt input on 40 meters. The
results are impressive: "WlWKU reporls that he operated this Jig for a week at
Boscawen, NH last Aug, 1950. The antenna was 133ft long wire with th e far end
atop a light pole about 30ft above ground. Running 1 watt input on 7105 kHz after
midnight, he wo1*ed a thousand miles into the W4 and WO zones." The Editor
made the typical observation about QRP operation: "Maybe this again proves that
good operating, the right band conditions and patience are just as essential to
working-out as is high power. "
WlKWU's 'Shack in a Wallet' 1-Watt Transceiver.

Finally, no survey of the low power transmitters of the 1945-1960 period

would be complete without mention of one of the most famou.s, the "SSB Ar-
gonaut", the inspiration for TenTec's classic QRP transceiver which now emits
flea-power signals from locations around the globe. In "The Adventures of the
SSB Argonaut" in CQ (May, 1960), Ted Henry (W6UOU) described the 35-watt
PEP s.s.b. transmitter (including 110/220 v.a.c. power supply) which weighed in
at 11.5 lbs. and measured 6 x 9 x 5 inches. The unit was specially designed for a
globe-circling DXpedition to locations where no s.s.b. operation had previously
occurred. This gave W6UOU and Bob Adams (W6AVA), the designer of the rig,
the inspiration for the name: "Inasmuch as we planned for it to wander the world
seeking the 'Golden Fleece' of DX communications, we called it the 'Argonaut' after
the mythological gold seekers of ancient Greece. Apparently the name was well
chosen since it has figuratively strnck gold in every country it has visited. And al-
ready it has wandered so far it has dwatfed the puny voyages of the original Ar-
gonauts." After the last solder joint cooled on July 23, 1957 [R12 S.S. Nr. : 191],
W6UOU and W6A VA put the rig on the air for its first test for a "long and high-
ly rewt1rding evening". Indeed! "Some three dozen QSO's later at 0200 we closed
down knowing that 'Argonaut' was t1 success. We had contocted amateurs in 7
cow1tlies including such DX countries as ZL3DX, VK3AEE, KAOSC and DU7SV.
Reports were all Q5 ranging from S-5 to S-8."
The subsequent wanderings of the Argonaut were highly visible testimonials
to QRP operation as the rig became a legend among DX'rs. In its maiden outing
on Canton Island commencing September 2, 1957, KH6KS/KB6 gave 200 sta-
tions their first KB6 s.s.b. QSO on 20 meters during his off-work hours. From
there, the Argonaut moved to KS6, VR2, VSl, VS5, VS6, VK9 and many other
DX spots. In many cases, it was operated not by W6UOU and W6AVA, but by
local DX'rs to whom the unit was shipped. Their reactions to the performance of

"162
 Chapter 10: QRP in KW Territory

the original Argonaut foreshadowed the reception given its later offspring, the
TenTec Argonaut: "Every operator who has used the rig has marvelled that this
little insignificant bit of nothing can talk so far with such a big voice!"
The significance of the Argonaut and other QRP rigs like it is that they, more
t han anything, showed the world what could be done with QRP. As i.n the late
1920's, during 1945-1960 QRP ironically received its greatest public exposure in
the midst of KW territory - the world of DX'ing!

Ill. ORP'rs in KW Country

"...It certainly did a good job for its size.
We usually think of the W's as having the [111/ gallon or at least a mighty job ... "
Being a genuine QRP'r requires a self-awareness that one is runni ng QRP
because of an acceptance of the challenge, limitations and rewards of low power.
The individual who is successfully running a 6L6 oscillator and reaping the re-
wards, but who sees it only as a stepping stone to 'real' hamming with QRO,
doesn't really have the QRP spirit. The understanding and the commitlment are
lacking. The QRP spirit flourishes out of the basic realization that with skill, Jow
power is enough to do it. Commitment to the challenge and the rewards is the
next step - to go for the thrill of doing it with flea power. But rhe final step is the
lowering of the cornerstone on the grave of the illusion that hamming wiJJ impro-
ve with an increase in power. Once that illusion is solidly cemented into a tomb,
then the QRP spirit can blossom. This does not mean that the true QRP'r must
bury his QRO rig along with that illusion. He just recognizes it for what it is! The
effort by QRP'rs to teach radio amateurs about this philosophy identifies the
QRP movement. Although the literature of the period offers numerous examples
of statements about the success of low power operation as we've seen above,
what was lacking was a full ennunciation of the QRP philosophy. The concept of
QRP as a chosen mode of operation with an underlying philosophy separating it
from the rest of amateur radio surfaced in two articles in CQ in the mid-1950's
about, of all things, DX'ing!
The QRP spirit burst forth in full bloom in Howard C. Buerger's (W3QBU)
description of "The Lil' Rig" in CQ for August, 1956. W3QBU covered t he sub-
ject from many angles in promoting Q RP operation as a viable mode for DX'ing.
Portability, then as now, was cited as an advantage of QRP: "Going traveling?
Even if you go by plane, you don't have to be without your hobby. Pull out the coif
and tubes and tuck th e 4 x 4 x 2 inch rig in any comer of your suitcase. Slip the coil
and tubes inside of your slippers and you're 011 your way!" The notion that operat-
ing advantages were being sacrificed by going low power was rebutted by
W3BQU's testimonial: "Wait! Don't tum that page. Let me tell you about the DX
this Iii' rig has worked, consistently too. I've QSO'd ZL2SX seven times during this
past year. Received lots of S7 reports in most of the 53 countries tlrat I've worked in
the past two years /R12 S.S. Nr.: 1954, 6-12; 1955, 14-81}. Yes, WAS and WAC too.
This all was achieved while operating portable on a job assignment down in Texas."
To add to the evidence, Buerger cited comments from DX'rs he'd worked with
the rig: "Here are some interesting comments by a few we/1-lmown hams tlrat you've
worked yourself 'It cenainly did a good job for its size. We usually t/iink of the W's
as having the full gallon or a$.-least a mighty job when compared witlr our limit of
100 watts' says VK2ZR. And from ZSIG, 'That small ng ofyours ce11ainly does the
trick.' 'U are doing a FB job wid ti low powr, Howard, congrats' said CXIFB. From
GJ3IVJ, 'Ur small TX doing vy well'." The strange notion of running QRP during
the DX contests rounded out the testimonials: "And KR.6LJ WlJS worked dun'ng
the DX contest. He SlJid, 'No doubt the lowest power I QSO in contest'." The Lil'
Rig was not simply a novelty item brewed up for a lark. W3BQU had been

163
 Chapter 10: 'The Lil' Rig' and DX'ing - W3QBU

operating it for 15 years, during which time he'd only blown two tubes, which
probably just wore out!
The circuit itself is quite simple and makes the most of the 117L7GT dual
section beam-power tetrode and re.ctifier tube. A pair of these were configured as
a push-pull crystal (14 MHz fundamental crystal) oscillator which cancels out
even harmonics, minimizing TVI. The rectifier sections of the tubes were used in
a voltage doubling circuit connected directly to the a.c. mains without an isolation
transformer. In contrast to earlier circuits of this kind, this particular circuit iso-
lated the a.c. mains from the d.c. circuit, thereby eliminating the possibility of
a.c. voltage shock, and the extra precaution against d.c. voltage shock was added
by isolating the B- voltage from the chassis ground. W3BQU estimated 18 watts
r.f. output from the transmitter by the most common method then in use: '"When
all tuned up and feeding the antenna, the tubes draw 120 ma. at 200v. With this 24
watts input the lit' rig lit a 15w bulb to more than full brilliance in a dummy anten-
na circuit". Note that this would amount to an efficiency of 75%! Actually, it
probably was considerably less. What W3BQU and the rest overlooked was the
dynamic r.f. resistance of incandescent bulbs in estimating r.f. outputs by this
.method. Nonetheless, 18 watts oulput, real or illusory, was QRP enough in the
context of the DX results cited by W3BQU to create the impression that DX
could be worked consistently with QRP. This is especially true since the 53
countries were worked with a folded dipole antenna.
W3QBO's 'Lil Rig' with pair of 117L7Grs.

In the true QRP spmt, W3BQU built his successful operating techniques
around an apparent limitation of the transmitter: "Rockbound! Yes, but not a
disadvamage -- actually a blessing in disguise. With a handful of surplus crystals
and being able to QSY almost every 5 or JO kc in the desired porlions of the band,
you will benefit by this when working DX By not being able to zero beat the DX
station I have lots of times walked away with the prize while the gallons fight it
out." Transforming limitations into advantages is a constant part of the challenge
in QRP operation. The payoff of persistence and strategy in QRP operation:
"And what a thrill to do it with flea power!"
W3BQU emerged as something of a QRP crusader in the concluding para-
graph of the article. He had apparently been discussing the possibility of
popularizing and organizing QRP activity with other hams, particularly W2ANR,
another QRP'r. The latter wrote to W3BQU that "I sure do get a kick playing

"164
 Chapter 10: Unger's (WBYIN) 'You Don't Need a Kilowatt'

with low power rigs and trying new things", two factors in every QRP'rs ex-
perience. W2ANR's thoughts on a strategy for popularizing QRP echo the theme
sounded by Handy and Battey: "OK on th at low power movement, Howard. First
we must get a few interested in it by showing what can be done with low wattage. 11
Unfortunately, nothing seems to have come of the W3BQU and W2ANR plan-
ning. Like their predecessors who publicized QRP operation, W3BQU and
W2ANR assumed that QRO operators would automatically respond to the chal-
lenge and thrill of QRP: "Low power CAN become a fad because it makes the
individual feel important by frequently duplicating what the ham with the 500 watts
or KW can do!" They failed to see the reality -- 'clearing the frequency' with a
KW also creates a sense of importance, or, W9DZG's QRM-free 'intelligent
chats' are something that 'mouse powered toys' can't duplicate.
The QRP philosophy came th.rough even more distinctly in an article a few
months later in CQ for October, 1956. In a classic entitled "You Don't Need A
Kilowatt", Mickey Unger (W8YIN) took over Kruse's role in lambasting the KW
'watt hogs' of the 1950's while offering several pages of 'how to do it with low
power' advice about operating strategies and techniques. While W8YIN didn't
defme low power precisely, he clearly had in mind anything in the under-fifty watt
class. His ideal is the QRP DXer all the same and the article was slanted to the
newcomer to QRP DX'ing, including real newcomers and converted QRO
DX'rs. In the humourous introduction, in fact, W8YIN presented the QRP DX'r
(ltlmself in this case) as a HERO in the mock-epic tradition: "Having just waged
the Battle of VRJB, the desire to speak is rampant in my breast, and it must be done
before pinning this Purple HeGft next to the others encountered in the Battles of
YAlAM, AC5PN, FS7RT, LU3ZY, etc. 11 To balance out this description, Unger
portrayed his successful KW competitors in a sarcastic vein as they celebrated:
"We glow and shimmer with the tluill of THE NEW ONE and immediately begin
playing the Souza March:
Hwrah for my beam and my kilowatt,
I just wo1*ed another new count1y!
Of course, W8YIN had just worked it with his QRP rig! He ridiculed the KW as
cumbersome and inflexible, requiring careful retuning when moving from one
end of the band to the other, a necessity which gave the QRP'r his needed edge:
"many a time, a flexible peanut whistle will swoop down on the prey before the KW
boys have tuned up. Have you ever been listening on twenty to the gang trying to
work AC5PN on the high end? When FBBZZ fires up on the low end, it's just like
Daytona Stock Car Track as the caniers come roaring and hurtling down the track.
And what do the KW's find when they get tuned up on the low end? Firey red tubes
and W2QHH (see DX notes below) working FBBZZ! Low power has its advantt1ges
Gfld this is one of them."
Aside from the potshots at the KW gang, W8YIN provided a comprehensive
collection of hints about QRP DX'ing, all of which are curren.tly espoused by
QRP DX'rs and have been discussed in detail in The Joy of QRP and other QRP
publications. Patience, the key virtue of the QRP'r, must be complimented by
realistic expectations: "About half of what you call is a good average, even for a
KW. Some fellas settle for 5 or 6 DX QSO's per log sheet [at the time, all calls had to
be logged], and they are realists, not pessimists. So make up your mind that you
won't wo'* em all and don 't fight it." Furthermore, thoughtful preparation in-
creases the chances of success with QRP: "Regarding power, most expe11s on the
subject will tell you that fifty watts will do the job of 500, if conditions are right. And
you can do a great deal to make conditions light." Leaning toward the exotic in
regard to the key component of any QRP station, he advised rotary beams on 20,
15 and 10 meters, but in any case, "make sure that whatever you put together is, in

165
 Chapter 10 Rod Newkirk's (W9BRD) 'How's DX?'

fact, an efficient system." V.f.o. control, break-in, and the ability to quickly shift
antennas for band changes were a "must".
The overall strategy suggested by W8YIN was to 'Use a DX plan' for picking
operating times, bands and directions to work. A novel aspect of W8YIN's DX
plan was intended to preserve psychological stability and consisted of doing
'routine DX'ing' on even days of the month and ignoring the tough stuff, even
"when your buddy down the street calls you 011 the landline to tell you about the
VUS that's coming th1vugh on twenty". No, the even days are for enjoyment. The
odd days, however, are the time 'to be a maniac': "Gnash your teeth, grind your
knuckles, kick your children in the slats, and go after the elusive stuff Tune 20 c.w.
fir.;t; then the rest of the open bands, until you rnn across a new one. Then, bling all
your DX artillery into range until you land him." Tuning across the band with the
r.f. gain backed off is a "rapid- fire method of determining when a rare catch is on
the band" - just "listen for the biggest mess" and if a new country is at the bottom
of the pile-up, "you need not tune further. This is your hangout for the next few
hours." Persistence will payoff.
W8YIN stressed that the foundation of planning for QRP DX'ing includes
studying about propagation. Knowing where and when to hunt depends upon
being a good prognosticator: "it's essential that you have an understanding of pro-
pagation. and a working knowledge of what to expect on each DX band at any given
hou r". W8Y1N's on the air 'tricks of the trade' included a familiar list of QRP
operatiJ1g strategies: piggybacking DX QSO's; eavesdropping the well-known
DX'rs for information about who, where and when; scanning the band carefully
for new prefixes; listening; sliding 2 or 3 kHz off the center of a pile-up, or wait-
ing until it "has abetted to a small roar' before calling; either "work a DXpedition
in its first h our or wait until the last day"; make DX calls short and keep trying;
follow instructions from the DX station for responses; observe the DX station's
habits and adjust to them; use break-in. Mickey Unger's discussion, despite its
more namboyant aspects, presented a body of solidly reasoned advice to the
would-be QRP DX'r. That W8YIN's advice was so salient should come as no
surprise, since his low power savy was built up in the process of racking up 263
countries, 143 on sideband! "You Don't Need a Kilowwatt" remains worthwhile
reading for the QRP DX'r even today.
QRP also received publicily in another unusual place. Rod Newkirk
(W9BRD), longtime 'How's DX?' columnist at QST regularly included 'QRP
tidbits' in his packed monthly surveys of DX activities beginning in December,
1947. He appears to have been the only staff member who conti nued the tradi-
tion of the 1920's and 1930's in regard to supporting QRP. The world of DX'ing
was then as dominated by high power as it is now, and comments like "W9EU's
250-watter continues to hold its ground against the gallons" by Newkirk frequently
pitted the rest of the world against the KW's. Imagine the impact on readers
who went on to stumble across a QRP DXploit after the sympathy shown the
250-watter! In the midst of his annals of the battles fought and lost against the
KW's, Newkirk periodically reminded the DX gang about the successes of QRP
DX'rs (and continued to do so up until a few years ago). In the March, 1958 is-
sue, an occasion was furnished for such a comment by the upcoming ARRL DX
Contest and the fact that "Our 28-Mc band's present ecstatic status is bringing
Qfil> back to DX fashion in the ranks of the sleepless." The phenomenal DX con-
ditions produced by sunspot Cycle 19, just then passing its peak [R12 S.S. Nr:
201!], were responsible for the resurgence of QRP DX'ing and Newkirk noted
the effect on his job as columnist: "The monthly mailsack affords ample evidence
that never before has so much DX been worked by so many DXers with so little
I-times-E [i.e., power formula: W = Ix E]". From his vantage point, he apparently

166
 Chapter 10 Rod Newkirk's (W9BRD) 'How's DX?'

believed that the achievements of QRP DX'rs were reaching new heights in re-
gard to what QRP could do.
A glimpse into the then-current understanding of the loosely-used 'QRP' is
provided by his comments on this "controversially relative term", since 100 watts
"can be subliminal QRP" in the mind of the KW'r and a 10-watt input "out-
rageous QRO so far as the contemporary transistor-rig fan is concerned" [this latter
perception reflects the extremely low powers obtainable with transistors at the
time as noted in Chapter 11]. Newkirk's survey of the opinions expressed in cor-
respondence Jed to the conclusion that "something under twenty watts input is
generally considered to be notew01thy QRP for W/K/JIEs in pursuit of DX" Bear-
ing in mind that the input power used at the time should be derated considerably
in order to convert to output power, Newkirk's location of the QRP power level
at 20 watts input approaches the current 5-watt QRP level and allows us to ap-
preciate the QRP DX'ing achievements which he frequently listed in 'How's
DX?'.
W9BRD walked a tightrope between his obvious longterm admiration of
QRP DX'rs and the·need to remain neutral as a QST columnist when he con-
fronted the philosophical issue: "No--we don't hold, as do some, that the use of
such low power is necessarily a virtue ... fit/ may be more sporting, but no more
righteous". The recognition of QRP as distinct segment of amateur radio comes
through in Newkirk's reference to the rewards of QRP DX'ing: "few will deny
that QUP can be a gratifying and highly specialized approach to DX f...-icks'', adding
in his inimitable, witty style that QRP DX'ing is "a gay gamble against stacked
odds". The upshot of his discussion was an invitation to QRP'rs to continue sub-
mitting results to 'How's DX?' since "even high-power men occasionally confess to
keen interest in their demng-do". No doubt W9BRD himself was such a one! His
level of "keen interest" showed through when he closed with a note of en-
couragement to enter the 24th ARRL DX Contest directed at "W/K low-power
code entrants who are inclined to be driven underground by the opening Test
weekend's brutal barrage". Many high power readers must have thought W9BRD
had finally succombed to the stacks of mail and lost it! He could not have
foreseen the day when separate sections of the ARRL and CQ DX contests
would be devoted to QRP entrants and incredible QRP records set in one con-
test and bettered in the next.
Beyond his occasional editorializing, W9BRD's efforts at giving QRP 'equal
time' in 'How's DX?' must be commended as an important historical contribu-
tion, since the column provides the most detailed record of QRP successes during
the 1945-1960 period, and, when combined with the material found in CQ's DX
column, constitutes the bulk of the material published about the subject. He con-
tinued to give encouragement and recognition to QRP DX'rs through the 1960's
and 1970's, and is sadly missed. We now turn to the annals of QRP DX'ing as-
sembled from those sources in order to grasp the achievement of QRP operators
in the homeland of the KW.

IV. How's {QRP} DX?

"... Phooey! If you wan~ I'll send a copy of my log for October 16th which shows
QSOs with not only 9 Gs, but also IJBN, HEJCE, F8AT, PAOAAT, GM2ADT,
ON4HB and OHIW. Alf this with 15 watts and from San Diego yet. Better WSCXS
should use his five-element beam for a rotary clothesline... "
An entry for January, 1947 (QS1), provides a nice transition from the early
DXploits of the 1920's and 1930's to those of the 1945-1960 period. Rod Newkirk
(W9BRD) reported: "We had to look twice at the dateline on his letter, but
W2BSR told us about LZlXX, EL3A OXlBC and VQ2 he worked, among other

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 Chapter 10: 'How's [QRP] DX?' - 1947

recent DX, and then went on the describe the rig. Artie uses a 203A in High-C
Hanley circuit, a detector and one audio Type 30, and a pair Murdock 'phones
bought in 1920!" QRP DX'rs undoubtedly will be interested in perusing the fol-
lowing clippings from the DX columns in QST and CQ for 1947-58.

QRP DXploits for 1947

(R12SunspotNr. Range: 132-152)
The boys are having a good time on 60 c.w., this being the season for foreign
DX on that band. -W2QHH got ON4AU, G8TKL, G6R.B, and G6ZO with only
20 watts. -WlDDO sticking with 80 meters grabbed OKlVW who was using 5
watts at the time. -The 25 watts at W2EQS worked 9 countries on 80 meter and
36 on 40. His all-time total with low-power stands at 71. -The DX is good on
7-Mc. for those willing to dig a little. -W3GNW snagged OKlFF with only 30
watts to a crystal oscillator. -WlMDF with 25 watts lists 28 foreigners worked on
7-Mc. -W4IAC using ten watts on 40 had a fine contact with ZL2KM.
-The 40 watts at W2QHH is still getting out nicely on 20: VK6SA, OH2PK,
VRSPL, ZD2Y and VK4BI plus several Europeans. - W6MHF's 10 watts and
8-clement (!) beam grabbed NY4AE, NY4CM, ON4GU, G2DM, VP9T,
LU7DN, ON4VU, J3AAE, V06U, ZKlAV, FA8BG, PAOCE, V02R, CE3DZ,
G3LR, G5SR and G6QB. -VK2C[, after years of trying, finally worked WAS
using 24 watts and a tilted Yee beam, the apex being 40ft high and the ends being
tied to fenceposts. -On 20, W3LCV didn't need more than a 6L6 at 10 watts to
work G2PN, GSXW, EI9N, CN8EG, and V04J. -Still running 10 watts to an
8-element beam, W6MHF toddled off with CN8EG, J9SIR, VP4TAA, ZElJI,
J8AAI, ZD4AB, VRSPL, KP6AB, CN8BK, and KX6USN. (What is the
'countries per watt' record anyway!).

WAC with less than

one watt. Behold the
station of R.J. Whyte,
VK2AHM. The HY60 .UCX
final runs cool with 160
volts at 5.5. ma. on the
plate. On 'phone, a
1J6G is used as a
Class-B modulator.

-VK2AHM's one watt WAC included W6VDJ, VSlBG, ZS2AL, GSRF,

ZL4AO, and CElAH (We said ONE watt!). -XABX, Athens Greece: At pre-
sent, he uses a 6.5 watt German tank outfit, and when he pushes the QRO but-
ton, it jumps up to 10 watts. -W6NIH doesn't think too highly of WSCXS and his
bid to fame on working 9 Gs and "other locals" on 125 watts. We quote:
"Phooey! If you want, l'U send a copy of my log for October 16th wh.ich shows
QSOs with not only 9 Gs, but also IlBN, HElCE, F8AT, PAOAAT, GM2ADT,
ON4HB and OHlW. All this with 15 watts and from San Diego yet. Better
WSCXS should use his five- element beam for a rotary clothesline". Now fellows,
please.
-G2AXG recently worked W6FMO, who was using only two watts. G2AXG,
however, was really QRO using 3 whole watts. The QSO was on the 26-mc band.
-ZD4AB (Gold Coast) had been giving lots a people a new country with his 25 ·

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 Chapter 10: 'How's [QRP] DX?' - 1948

watts into an 807. -ZB2B using 807 at 20w apologizes to W6fW7 DX'rs for not
answering their calls because of EU QRM. -l9ABX (IA) said he was working
ZS6BW who told him his power was 4 watts. l9ABX told him this was entirely too
high and should cut it down. So, he did. He wound up using a Vibropak putting 100
volts on the plate of the final tube and drawing 9 ma. This was on 10 meters, and
he was 58 at l9ABX More power to him [eh?]. -On 10, W9A WO's 19w to an 807
snagged KZ5NA, HPlA, PY6A V, FASTIC, PZlRM, V06H, TI2EA, and
HClFG. -VQ4MNS is returning to England where he will resume G2CKM. In
Kenya he made some 400-odd contacts with his 5 watts on 28128. He expects to
go to ZEl in about a year.

DXploits for 1948

(R12 Sunspot Nr. Range: 149-135)
-W2QHH has been running about 12 watts input on 80 c.w. and has over 2
counties per watt on the band. Some of them: ZLlCI, V02AH, NY4CM,
KP4KD, GW8CT, GI3FL, FBBG, FBEX, PAOLB, HB9EO and a carload English-
men. -35 watts on 80 meters at W20AR beeped through to G5LI, G6ZO and a
few more. -A report from G8JT via WlQMI comments upon working working
W7KVU while the latter was just running 3.8 watts on 80 c.w. -W3JAK nad 25
watts into an ARC-5 on 80 c.w. for PAOEP, ON4QF, G6ZO, HB9FF, FA8BG,
FABIA H and KS4AH. -G3AGQ normally uses 50 watts but has fun with a 7C5
at 6 watts when conditions are right on 80 c.w. -W2QHH is still gunning for 3.5-
Mc stuff with his 17 watts. He has over 30 countries and 5 continents so far. -The
6L6 at W7JGU blasted its way on 80 c.w. to KS4AF and XElDX. -WlMEG's 30
watts accounted for GBJR and PAONG on 80 meters.
-10 watts to a 6L6 on 40 also gave W9MFY a solid ZL3FP QSO. -A 6L6 crys-
tal controlled oscillator popped the buttons off W3GNW's chest by raising G8PT
on 40 c.w. -W8YGR's 23 watts got responses on 40 from CM2JF, CM2FR,
KZSNG, G3AAB, F8EO, G4RJ and G5HH. -Claiming that his 7-Mc. antenna
practically scrapes the ground, W2TRB nevertheless put his 35 watts to work on
VK2SS, GI6TK/A, F9EZ, GM3BCD and GM3AWF. -KH6PT blew up his power
supply and was so disgusted he hooked a 90-volt B battery to a JS4 crystal oscillator
to see if he could scare up another KJ-16 !coal to tell his troubles to -- but W6ZMU
was there to answer his 1.62 watt CQ on 40 meters. -W6ZMU had only 35 watts, so
it looks as if the days of QRP aren't over yet. -The 6L6 at W50NL surrounded
KL7Hl, CM2GV and VK3QH on 40 c.w.
-WlEYP seems to be astounding a lot of the DX stations when he tells them
he is only running 20 watts into an 807. He operates 10- and 20-meter c.w., and
has 62 postwar countries. His antenna is a vertical folded dipole starting 4ft off
the ground and running up the side of the house. His 20-meter antenna is a 33.5ft
off center fed semi-vertical. In exactly one year's time, he has contacted 398 for-
eign stations. -Have you worked EP3H. If you have, don't worry about him, he is
very much okay. The station is operated by Phil Williams, ex-G3LK and VSlBZ.
He is running only about 14 watts into an 807, and it's 20 c.w. only. The antenna
is a modified 8JK. -FEBAB has sent in his list for the Marathon. He was original-
ly F3AT, and in Jan., 1947, he left home with a portable rig which used a 6L6 in
the final running 20 watts input. It wasn't until June, 1947, however, that he got
on as FQ3AT. He got a big thrill out of his first CQ, because he found many
stations calling him (many is certainly an understatement!). Of course, he was the
first FQ station on the air after the war. In November he left FQ3 for Douala in
French Cameroons. He was on the air there January 1, 1948, signing FQ3AT/FE.
-W2QHH's 40 watts is still is at it on 20 meters. We mean a 1-day WAC and
contacts with XAFQ and KA6FA to give Howie 102 postwar. Sensational QRP
DX is nothing new for this guy--you wj/f remember him as prewar WBJIW with a

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17-watt DXCC. Furthermore, he doesn't lean on a VFO. Not bad for an amateur!
-An interesting epistle from VS9ET states that so far he can only pull W6's
through out there. But Eddie also complains about the pileups. His Vee keeps
raising stuff in odd directions, furthermore, while being arrrowed toward G. 10 or
15 watts to an 807 gives him the push. -W4LWP's 25 watts didn't shy away from
CMlAU, KM6AA, CR6AI, CTlPP, VPSAK, HH3L, PK6SA, CE3BA, Tl2BF,
VP2AA, ZSlEJ, ZS6LW, OA4BR, and a truckload of VKs including 90U, 9RF
and WOTKK/VK9. P.S.: The 807 was doubling from 7-Mc.! -Going to higher
power on 20 meters from one to 20 watts gave VK2AHM pleasant sessions with
SV1RX, VR2AU, UJ8AD, UD6AC, UAOSG, MX2A, FA9JB, PK6XA, CR7VL,
ZKlAE and MI6AB.
-W7EYS has heard KAlCB on 10 phone, and he was running 200mw. Th.is
enormous power is on a couple of acorn tubes in the fmal. W7EYS is wondering
if KAlCB has to step the audio up or down from h.is mike to the modulators.
-LU8BF specializes on 10 meter 'phone DX. He is one of the QRP boys rurming
about 60 watts into an 807. With th.is he has worked about 15 states. -A halfwave
and 20 watts on 10 meters were sufficient to enable WlNKW to be palsywalsy
with GI2AFW, GW8NP, GM3AKK, D4AVN, HB9HE, OZ3M, OZ4PB, PA-
OAD, XADW and ZSlTon voice.
Feature photo: "Here's the layout at VR2AQ on Fiji operated by J.W. Hol-
den. The transmitter, a 20-watt job is above the SuperPro and there's a borad-
band converter above the speaker. VR2AQ is one of the more active Fiji stations
on 28- Mc" (QST, September, 1948).

QRP DXplolts for 1949

(R12 Sunspot Range: 137-118)
-4X4CJ, ex-ZC6AA, is a QRP man and loves every minute of it. He runs 6-watts
input to a 6V6, while the receiver is a two-tuber. The antenna is a 33ft Windom.
Since Aplil of this year (1949), he has worked 49 countries, and is all f or rounding
up the QRP men to get together and exchange data. He is also suggesting that the
boys throw away their power amplifiers, beams and super-duper recei11ers and go
QRP. Don't see anything wrong with that suggestion for those, that is, who ag-
ree...
-W2QHH's 17-watt 6L6G now (February) has 41 3.5-Mc. countries by way of
VP9U, EI9J, FA8BG, W7KJ>A/VP2 on Antigua, LA2UA, HH2BL, KV4AA and
V02VL. -W2QHH recently had his WAS endorsed for four bands and his 6L6
now (May) has accounted 50 3.5-Mc. countries. -W9PNE claims to a 77-6J5
battery blooper receiver for 80 and has little trouble completing his 3.5-Mc. WAC
with same plus 200 watts (tsk-tsk, Brice) to an 8005. -W2PEO is getting a bang out
of 80-meter DX with QRP having worked ZC8PM and FA8BG as well as
numerous europeans. He is running about 50 watts input. -W20WX has 35 watts
on 40 c.w. and raised LA7Y, OKlSX, PZlWX, VP2TR, VP6SJ, VP9CC and
CTlFP. -25 watts on 40 c.w. at W7MGO knocked off ZL/VK gang with ease,
interspersed with folks like VR2AM, HClJB, UAOFB and JA2AZ. -KL7RZ
estimates four watts output on 7-Mc. from a VFO and works VKs, ZLs, UAOFB,
JA3AA, and KJ>6AE. A Windom antenna must be the secret. -JA2BQ found
UAOFP, LU51A, HC7KD and KA7RZ using 7-Mc. and the latter was barreling
th.rough with 4 watts to a 6AQ5.
-On twenty, WlKMI worked VQ4RF, the latter perking with a mere 2 watts
input. -W2QHH reeled in ZC8PM, VP8AK, VP8AP, VP8AM, VS6AE, VS6BA,
ZS3D, ZS3B, W7KMV/Iwo Jima, UC2CB and C7AT which helped make up two
more 24-hour WAC's for Howie's 35 watts. -30 watts to a 6L6 on 20 c.w. didn't
keep W50YD away from KV4AA, HCIJW, YNlLB, V02RF, and ZS6GI. The
gang around Seattle is relieved (Febmmy) since W7BE left the vicinity in favor of

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KH6. Bill is having great fun as WTBE/Klf6, having bowled over 40 countries
through use of a ten-wau VFO and a dipole in just over two weeks of operation. -A
card from W7BE/KH6 (March) agrees with KH6PM that Hawaiian conditions are
inspin'ng. Bill's 10-wau VFO unit has over 55 countries already pinned down on 20
m eten. -VQ8CB uses 35 watts to an 807 modulated by 6V6's, an SW-3 receiver
and an 80 meter halfwave sk-ywire. Power is obtained through a rotary converter
running off 12-volt batteries. -VQ8CA in the Soloman group has been recently
put of the air by way of a 10-watt 6L6 operating mostly around 14050. -Hooking
his 7-watt VFO to a half-wave vertical on 20 enabled W4IYf to raise VPI.AA,
KV4AA, HH3L, PZlFM, VP4TI, YSl ZG, Tl2DL and upteen VK/ZL's.
"The QRO specialists can see /iu/e sense in hunting big game with a bow and
arrow, and the QRP emhusiasts consider it poor sport to go deep-sea fishing with a
depth-charge. We're neutml, of coune. But KA6VP is geuing a large charge out of
running JO waus to a longwire on 20 c.w. for a total of well over 80 countries.
These include such niceties as ZD9AA, ZS9D, ZSJB, UL7BS, AC4RF and EL3A.
Bill expects to unpack his beam shortly and should have little trouble accummulat-
ing a really QRP DXCC at his present rate. -K2BG got only as far as a 6L6 buffer
stage while constructing a new rock-crusher because he had so much fun raising
some 30 countries with 15 watts. So QRO is QRX. -TA3AA's postman's holiday
to lraklion as SV6AA is now history. Jules' little personal Field Day was good for
55 DX contacts and all W call areas save W7 were worked. For his next sterling
performance, thjs accommodating gentleman plans to feature a session on Kiosk
Island in the Dodecanese group. That will be as SV5AA no doubt. W8DHC and
WlHX were SV6AA's first and last QSOs and he used ten watts plus a 2-tube
blooper receiver.
[QS1]: "Space restrictions cause the necessity of boiling down VQ2DH's un-
ique account of his jaunt to NyasaJand as ZD6DH, but here's the gist: 10 to 15
watts input was run to a 6L6-6L6 exhaler on 14085 during a good part of his
7-day stay Chileka Airfield near Blantyre. A folded dipole and a modified BC3-
348 aided in collecting 212 contacts with 27 countries on all continents. Condi-
tions were quite poor generally, but on any future excursion of the kind, Bunny
intends to give the 28-Mc. constituents a break." [CQ]: "From August 12th to the
19th, ZD6DH at Chileka Airfield in the southern part of Nyasaland. Bunny's
main regret is that he couldn't have stayed longer to give a ZD6 contact to a lot
more of the gang. He used to tltink signing a VQ2 call obtained pretty good re-
sults when tossed out with a CQ. But he says you only need co whisper a CQ and
sign ZD6 and the whole band collapses on you. The rig he used was a simple
affair with a 6L6 xtal osc. and a 6L6 PA (so-called). At first he was running ten
watts input, and then something blew up in the power supply, thereby by raising
the high voltage. He was then QRO with 15 watts! The antenna was a folded
dipole of 300-ohm tape; one end being 40ft high, while the other was 30ft. In all,
Bunny spent 19 hours and 33 minutes on the air contacting 212 stations in 27
countries. Bunny regrets not being able to take care of the 10 meter gang, but if
he goes to ZD6 again, he guarantees he will be on 10 and 20 c.w. and phone."
-Horace, WlAB, claims the blow of the month to be when VR2BH came back
to him on 'phone and said, "Glad to QSO OM. Heard you in there with the rest
of the low-power boys. I know how it is OM. I only have 25 watts here myself."
-CE7AP on Tierra de! Fuego, Chile is very QRP as the transmitter consists of a
6L6GA with 3.5 watts input. His source is a 12v storage battery. He operates on
7006 and 14010. -W2RRT runs 6 watts input to a Signal Shifter, and this in tum
coupled to a folded dipole. With this QRP on 20 meters, he has worked SM7FB,
GM4HZ, HB9BX, G3CFW, COlMS, and F9PC. -4X4CJ (ex-ZC6AA) writes of
his successful use of only 6 watts input to a 6V6. In a few short months, he's

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worked some 50 countries while receiving with a one tube (6C8G) blooper. The
sJ...-ywi.re is a 33ft single wire fed job.
-VK9NR having finished his Norfolk Isl. assignment is hoping to sample con-
ditions in Fiji during his next sojourn. Noel's activity was hampered by lack of a.c.
power which resulted in his being on the air for just an hour or so per day. 87
countries and a host of W's were contacted with the 6V6-807 transmitter running
20 watts, battery-powered, while the receiving was handled by an HRO with vib-
rator supply. The favorite skywire was a bi-square, badly hemmed-in. As you
know, VK9NR is with the Civil Aviation Department. He has been using an 807
in the final with about 10 watts input and an HRO. His antenna set-up is a bi-
square beam.
-A note from CE7AP was very welcome and Bill says that with the arrival of
his XYL and the junior YL, the available DX hours have slackened off. How-
ever, in the two months of operation he has worked 23 zones and 33 countries
and expects by the next issue to have pushed his way into the Honor Roll. He
located some more storage batteries and now operates with power between 3.5
and 13 watts on 14012. The rig consists of a 6V6GT xtal oscillator and an 807
amplifier. The antennas are two longwires, one of them being half- five waves in
length, while the other consumes 14 half-waves of wire.
CQ (August, 1949) noted the failure to include the score of Rick Meunier,
ON4QF among the outstanding c.w. performances in the DX Contest Results.
He had the sixth highest score in the world. The transmitter used at ON4QF
during the contest ran 27-35 watts input on all bands and fed into a 330ft
longwire as radiator. -15th ARRL DX Contest Phone Results: 2nd highest for-
eign score was entered by Vernon Scott HClKP. His logs give the power output
of the transmitter at HClKP as a mere 25 watts.
Feature photo caption "Excellent results with low power is the forte of Dr.
Constantine Feruglio, 11VS, of Udine, Italy. His 35- watt 28-Mc. 'phone has ac-
counted for some 100 countries worked and 80 confirmed employing dipole an-
tennae while the inhaling is done an S-20R" (QST, February, 1949).

ORP DXploits for 1950

(R12 Sunspot Range: 115-172)
The QRP deparlment this month is headed by WlMWK who raised F9YK,
XEJK w1d two Gs while mnning 0.9 waif to a 50B5 final on 7100 kc. The w1tenna
(?), sure, an end-fed fullwave. -JA2FM was frolicking with 5.25 watts input when
he decided to try a little QRP work. After working LU5AQ (near the antipodes from
Tof..yo) with the 5· watter, Cal shnmk things to arow1d the 1 wait figure and raised
VK3FH for a 569. Successive decrrwses 0.18 and 0.04()8 watt produced reporls of
559 and 549 respectively over the jive-thousand mile path to Melboume. The
skywire was a standard old-fashioned doublet 15ft high. Some fim! -In an article
entitled "Working DX", Byron Goodman (WlDX) noted: "the 28-Mc.band is
the low power man's friend because excellent signals can be put through with
little power when the band is open."
-W2QHH now has 62 3.5-Mc. countries, his 35-watter recently adding SPlCM,
CTlBV, TA3GVU, OH2NB, FA81H, VP5BD, EKlAO, VK5KO, CT3AB and
SM4AEE. 7-Mc. conditions haven't been too groovy down-under but VK5XK
tells W3DLI that he is still passing out Kangaroo Island QSOs on 7033 with his
6L6. -W4PRL's 35-watter on 40 c.w. cornered many beside KP4AC and HH2JC.
FY8AA has certainly been raising a Jot of rumpus with 14 watts on 20-meters.
-The famous 40-watter of W2QHH scared up SPl.TF, 4X4DF, Y02BF, JA2DD,
YS2LF, PK4DA and VP5BE of the Caymans on 20 c.w. -W7WEN runs five
watts less than W2QHH's 35 but collected 0A8A, VR2BU, CR71Z, TF3ZM,
FE8AB, VPSAK and VP5AS on 20 c.w. -W6GPB recently added VPlAA,

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YUlCAG, HA5BF, PK3JT and the unstable 8-watter of AC4RN on 20 c.w. -

KZ5ES's 61..6 ar 20 watts on 20 c.w. tied onto a 200ft wire captured YV5AE,
YV5DM, PJlUF, PJ5FN, ZBlAR, KX6BA, EK1AR, FM7WF and FA9IO. -
TAlAT is back on with about 20 watts and WiIJUE was the only U.S sration
contacted among 45 countries worked. -KP4KB reached 187 countries with
ET9X, KC6WC, KR6CA, FP8AC and MS4FM. Ev still awaits a QSL for his
9-watt KP4KB WAC on 20 c.w. -ZKlAB puts in a fat 3-watt signal on 20 c.w.
from Raratonga as recorded by W4BGO. -VR2AP arranged to operate 14340-kc
c.w. and phone with a 20-walt ou1fit while !raveling on business through N. Bor-
neo, Solomons, New Hebrides and Timor territory. -ZD3G received his Gambia
callsign Jan 1 after a short stint as VS9AG/ZD3 and is having a ball on several
bands. W8KX acknowledges his potent radiations on 1 O c.w. where Lee feeds
eleven ambi1ious watts to a 450-ft wire.
-SV7AA: "Highlights of my trip to the Greek island of Khios, some 50 miles
west of lzmur, Turkey. My luck was to get a hotel room on the third floor and on
the waterfront, with an eye for the best antenna location. Getting stuck on Crete
by having my xmtr buill for 220 a.c. input and finding the voltage 110 there, and
having a lot of changes to make to the rig and running very low power on that
account, this time I took a 220/110 xmfr. A 25 watt unit was all that I could lo-
cate. Here also on Khios, the Line voltage is 110. The rig, a 6L6 xtal oscillator
and 61..6 amplifier, ran about 25 watts input. I used a direct coupled 33ft length of
#22 enameled wire thrown out the window during the night, only to find about
half of it coiled up on the adjacent building's roof the following noon. Regard-
less of the poor antenna, my fi rst CQ was answered by W7ETK, who sure
surprised and pleased me. That morning wou nd up 28 QSOs in all but WO dis-
tricts. The second morning on, I worked 38 different stations besides Ws. I
QSOed VE7ZM, CM2SW, and G5UX, who was my last contact on Tuesday,
October 4. I am sure that there is no way of stopping 99% of the DX boys from
being hogs. They just start a chain reaction calling a DX station, and the QRM
just keeps increasing. My solution is never to work more than one station on the
same frequency, bur to look around after every QSO " (CQ, January).
-TA3AA's latest jaunt, that to the Greek isle of Khios, which is some 50 miles
west of Turkish territory, has some interesting highlights. Jules thought he had let
a nice 20-meter vertical down from the hotel window only to find the next morn-
ing that the wire was coiled directly below on an adjoining roof. Despite this, a
6L6-6L6 25-watt rig raised W7ETK on the first CQ. Beside his 63 W QSOs,
VE7ZM , CM2SW and G5UX were able to crash the U.S. barrage, the last being
SV7AA's QSO (QST, February). -TA3AA Jules also worked HClHZ, VE2BV,
KV4AA, ZL2FA. Jules said that while he was operating AR8AR he got a scare
one morning when he almost lost his 1.ittle 61..6 rig. It seems that he had his anten-
na hanging over the balcony of his hotel room and someone below gave it a yank.
Letter entitled "Kilowatts Anonymous":
"Editor. I suggest the fonnation of an organization to be known as 'Kilowatts
Anonymous'. It will be devoted to tire salvation of hams who are 'drunk with
power' and to others more inexperienced who believe thar a full gallon is the
ultimate in amateur radio. As a fom1er KW man, I know there must thousands
like myself who have 11ied high power and discovered its many disadvantages.
We would like to share th e f rnits of our expetience with would-be kilowatters
and so reveal the false glamour of 'going the limit'." [Noted that tests with 54
stations showed that only one could detect a difference between 225 and 110
watts] (QST, June).
"An interesting letter from W2BXS gives us a slightly different slant on the
good old subject of DX. For example, Jack, although reading the column for
some years, claims he has been a DX man by proxy only. One reason for th.is was

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that he was running 40 watts on 40 meters and as he put it, after reading about
the juicy DX that other fellows worked, he felt "like a small boy standing outside
the baseball park watching the players but unable to take an active part in his
favorite sport". Things are a little different now since he has purchased a trans-
mitter that will get him on 20 meters. He is still using the same old voltage-fed
singlewire and thus far has startled some of the european countries when he tells
them that he is only running 35 or 40 watts. It appears that some of these overseas
stations well? of the opinion that QRP stations were non- existent over here" (CQ,
December).

OAP OXplolts for 1951

(R12 Sunspot Nr.: 72-47)
The QRP Item-of-the-Month will have to allude to WlHE and Iris tmsty 5-
waller. This fellow has 85 cou111ries and WAC with said soup. Either a doublet or a
3-element rotary is used. What's more, we understand that he uses this power all the
time. To get the real kick from QRP work, you know, one doesn't have 'the big rig'
standing by; infact, one doesn 't have a big lig at all. 'Twould be not unlike canying
along a slung shot-gun while /um ting with bow and am;w.
-W2QHH got across the pond with less than 25 watts on 160 meters and the
prize was GW3ZV. -W2QHH landed 9S4AX and is skedding ZB2I on 3567 kc.
-17th ARRL DX Test: W7CWN was quite thrilled to work HPlBR from here on
3.5-Mc. with low power. -The DL4FS log finds VP4TB who laid claim to nmning
1.8 watts on 40 c.w.s7! -On 40 c.w., tire 30-watter at WJSVL raised OHJNY and
VP7NQ. -TA3GVU made it WAC for WJOQJ's 45 watts, coming through on 7020.
-At Fond du Lac, WIS, W9BQM has found it great sport to stick his 30 watts
on Oceana for a total of 22 ZL and 3 VK QSOs. During a down-under 'ZLjVK
QRP Contest', ZLlHM, ZL30A and ZlAGA were raised as they ran less than 5
watts input. ZLAGA also worked G6ZO on that power on 80 c.w. Back· on Al on
75 meters, W9BQM received a communication from ZLAGA reading, "this is the
first time a W has been contacted by ZLs during the annual ZL QRP 5-Watt Input
Contest and not only can you claim a first, but the distinction of being the only one
that has done so".
-Kuwait VTlAC sticks to 14-Mc. 'phone and c.w. with a signal emanating
from a single 807 at 35 watts. -ETs 1, 2 and 6 AC were all operated at various
spots during Sept. through Dec. of '50. A 6V6 crystal oscillator driving a 6L6 at
10 watts fed single-wire antennae and an SX-72 did the sniffing. A total of 105
contacts was accumulated. -After geuing hitched, IlPL changed QTH and brought
along Iris VFO and receiver. Chas has 45 cowitries accounted for by this modest
source using a random length of wire loaded through a pi-section coupler. XYL
pennitting, !JPL hopes to make it a really QRP DXCC. -Things aren't really that
bad. In fact they may be on the mend. KX6AA was the lOOth country worked by
W2TBL's 45 watts and vertical whip for instance; others: 3V8AN, TF3SF,
LXlAS, CR7BB, VQ2JN, VQ4IMS, VQ4KRL, MF2ABE in Trieste, CR5AC,
ZS3Q and ZE3JJ on 20 c.w. -KP4KD and KP4HU increased power on 20 to 35
watts on cheiI joint enterprise KP4KB and reached 88 countries with folks such as
ZC4AA, ET9X, PK6VK and FQ8AC.
-W2EQS hooked the 4-watter of VP9AI on 20 c.w. -The 6-watter of F08AH
was snapped up by W9HUZ. -W80PG's list featured ZC4ZX raised with a 6L6
final on 20 c.w. -W2QHH's QRP on 20 has worked all the FP8s that have been
active and Howie's newest include YUlAG, SPlJF, PXlAR, ZDlSS, JA2DS,
HBlBQ, GC3HFE, 3A2AD with HB9NA in charge, and OE13FN. -XEl-
raised VSlBX on 20 c.w. with the latter using a 9-watt 2E30. -To prove that the
low-power bug isn't extinct in Kilofomia, W6HQN loaded up his 15-wa/ter to work
VS6, VK9, JA2 and DL6 on 20 c.w. -40-watt work at W2QHH has now accounted

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for WPR-200 and DXCC 200-country endorsements as well as 19 of the 22 Swiss

cantons for the Helvetia-22 certificate. -ZC4XP is now very close to a DXCC on
both 'phone and c. w. and is about to do something unusual for these days. Sid is
going to rebuild down from 150 watts to a pennanent 20 watts. Could Ire have been
chatting with W2QHH or V03X? -W9CFT heard from FG7XA and Andre's 10-
watter has really been stirring up the QSLs. -Andre Latile of tire contemporary
FG7XA had W4LW 011 hand as a guest operator and Chuck really went to town.
In twelve hours he rolled up some 250 QSOs using 14-Mc. c.w. for tire most part.
The 10-watt 6L6 crystal oscillator raised some 20 countries and also collected QSOs
on 40 and 80. -ARRL DX Contest Results, HB9CI comments: My best compli-
ments to alJ U.S. amateurs for their FB receivers and antennas that pulled
through my 20 watts input.
-In 1951, s.s.b. was stilJ a developing 'special interest' area of ham radio and
QST devoted a separate column to it. It was a new world of quacking signals that
were unintelligible to the ordinary 'phone operator who was accustomed to a.m.
-- unless he knew how to switch on his receiver b.f.o. and tune in the ducks. Use
of the new mode was spreading, and WAS on s.s.b. was a hoped-for possibility
suggested by the fact that W2SHN had worked 100 different s.s.b. stations in 29
states by the end of 1950. While most new s.s.b. stations were running up to a
kilowatt, some experimenters with·the new voice transmission technique operated
at QRP levels without a linear amplifier, and periodic mention of their results
appeared in the 'On the Air with Single Sideband' column. One such entry sur-
veys the results obtained by W2ALl who "seems to be doing right well in breaking
in the DX on tire tuning technique. Among the DX worked on 20m were YN4CB,
HH5SS, ZD6HJ and HI8WF." Two QRP QSO's in particular were noteworthy:
"ZL2HP was worked while W2ALJ was running JO watts peak output and, to top
that one, CNBEJ gave a report of 'R5 with slight QRJv!' when the peak output was 7
volts across 52 ohms, or 1 watt!." The columnist's comment: "That should stand
as mighty good low-power 'phone DX, until some real (???/] DX comes along!"
-A check through the log at W2JN showed that the peak input power at the time
he was logged in England was all of one watt. That was on 75 meter s.s.b.!

QRP DXploits for 1955-56-58

(R12SunspotNr.: 14-164)
An increase in submitted material after 1952 or so forced a change in the
survey of DXploits in both QST and CQ: QSO's by individual stations were no
longer listed, and were replaced by a grouped listing by band. As a result, the
results attained by QRP stations fell by the way for the most part. Nonetheless, a
few items slipped in. In the meantime, amateurs had been allocated the 15 meter
band.
-W5QKJ surprised himself with YV5BJ on 30 watts on 80 c.w. -LU6DEM's
40-meter DX operation surmounts the obstacle of 220-volt d.c. mains supply. Joe
runs 10 watts with his homebrew rig. -K2PGP got PY7AFK on 10 watts on 40
c.w. -W2CUQ/3's 4.9 watts on 40 c.w. made the grade with many Europeans,
KH6AYG, ITlTAI, VP5BM and ZP6CR. -VP8BC works ZSs and Ws without
much difficulty with his Falklands 7-Mc. 3-watter.
-VS9AS does quite welJ on 20 c.w. with 15 watts to a 6L6. -Ex-ZK2AA wants
all old ham friends to know that he is back on the air with the call ZK1BS. At
present he is using QRP. -Asmara's ET2RP, who signs W9MDV back home,
stirs things up on 20 with twenty watts and a 700ft long-wire. -Egyptian licensing
in four classes with 10, 25, 50 and 100 waus. Ten-watt licenses are for c.w. only.
SUlIC labors toward WAS and DXCC with a 75/58 DX record at last tally- not
bad for an 807 at ten watts. -twenty-eight watts got HA70L, KA300, OX3AY,
TF6WAK, VP2VB/p, VQ4RF and Y03GY for W9UKG on 20 c.w. -W9SQP got

175
 Chapter 10: 'How's [QRP] DX?' -1955, -56, -58

KGUB, KV4 and Europe with but six watts input. -VR6AC struggles to get out
with QRP on 14320 while awaiting higher power.

HB1 CZ/ur. "These quarters in

cozy Sphinx Observatory at the
11,723ft level of Junfraujoch In
Switzerland's steep Valais canton
regularly shelters HB1CZ/vs for
Helvetla-22 Contest work. Early
last November Hans again fired
up his 7-watt portable station as
HB1CZ/ur In rare Uri canton to
provide 311 OSOs for W/KjVEs
on 14, 21and28Mc. HBs thrive in
their heights like a species of
electronic edelweiss." (QST, Feb-
ruary, 1958)

-35 watts is still the bait at VE7AIH on 15 phone, good for FB8BZ, Kuwait
MP4, ODS, CR5, SP5CC, SVlAD, VPs 2DL, SDC(furks, VQs 4FO, 5GC,,
VS2DB, ZBlEB, ZP5CF, ZS9, ZSs 3G and 3C. Gus intends to move up to 28
Mc. where a 1-element curtain array is readying for action. -An indoor ground-
plane and 20 watts make Europeans come back to K2ITZ. -A fictional QRP'r
takes part in post-Contest roundtable in "How's DX?": "Skeds Stamplicker, a guy
who eamed his DXCC the hard way with 12.3 watts input and a scratchy receiver
volume control". Newkirk's sense of humor ... (at least not in poor taste - like the
case of the stupid QRP'r who walks up a hill to hear words of simplistic 'wisdom'
from a certain resident DX columnist these days.)

"VStFJ's homespun 25-watter

claims a ORO-type DX record:
210/175. Antennas include a
ground plane for 14 Mc.and an
86ft wire center fed with open line
for 40, 15 and 10 meters. You may
recall Frank's equally potent ORP
DX work under previous VS9GT
and MP4BAB colors." (QST, Dec.
1958)

-10 c.w. was paid more attentio n in a few week ends than it has received in all
of three years. G3IDG logged LZlKPR, OQ5RU, UB5s KAA, KBR, KDR,
UJ8KAA, YP8AI, Y03Vl, ZC4RX and ZSs. HZlHZ and WlLYH gave Allan's
10-watter two new continents on the band. -W3HYX surprised himself with
HP3FL on 22 watts. -CRlOAA, Portuguese Timor: "My transmitter is running
about ten or fifteen watts input using a VFO followed by a YT-501-C British
tetrode. The antenna is a half-wave off-center fed through a pi-section network ...
If you could help me with some hints about QRP equipment I would remain very
thankful."
-VQ8AS of Rodriguez Is. is interested in 7-Mc work and has had me
(W2HMJ) listen for him on 7025 kc. His 15 watts occasionally show up around
14012 or 14051 kc for an hou r or so. -JA4LL/MM's 40-meter c.w. 15-watter

176
 Chapter 10: 'How's [QRP] DX?' -1955, -56, -58

worked a dozen countries and 100 Yanks in 31 states during a recent voyage from
SF to NY via the Canal.
CR9AN. '7he 21-watt station of Adrian Rosario, CR9AN, in Macau. Transmitter
is a 6L6 with 14-Mc xtal and the receiver Is an a/I-wave b.c. job with b.f.o. added
and ganged midget condensers added for bandspread. The antenna is a single
section 8JK firing 25' east of north" (QST, FebruaJY, 1947). "CR9AN. The small rig
is a 6L6 crystal osc/l/ator, running 20 watts, over 500 QSO's in 39 states. He says he
is a co11fim1ed QRP Ham, and prefers his 20 watts to the 250" (CQ, May, 1947).

Postscript VR2BC (ex-VPJGG) submitted "Data on Equipment Used by Un-

ited States Amateur Stations Which Communicated With VPJGG By 14- and 21-
Mc. Radiotelephone From Janumy, 1954, To July, 1955" to 'How's DX?' and New-
kirk published it in July, 1956 with the note: "Occasionally out of the 'How's' mail-
bag flutters c01responde11ce stamped as time-capsule matelial for the enlightenment
of some future radio age." He tenned the statistics "representative" and cautioned
against uncircumspect interpretation. The data indicated the percentage of U.S.
DX'rs vs power range on two bands:
Transmitter Power Input
Watts 14-Mc 21-Mc
0-25 0.0 1.3
26-50 4.6 13.0
51-100 9.6 24.7
101-250 36.7 49.9
251-500 27.7 6.0
501-750 7.2 1.9
751-1000 14.2 3.2
Nr. Reports 1398 1462

Since it's introduction to amateur radio in 1923 or so, the vacuum tube had
transformed through many shapes and sizes. While it was experiencing its most
phenomenal successes ever during Sunspot Cycle 19, its fateful doom was being
sealed by the nefarious little transistor. At the time, no one could have foreseen
that innocuous appearing items such as "Transistor Transmitter DX" were, in
effect, the preamble of the last will and testament of the vacuum tube. With that
death came a rebirth of the pioneering spirit of QRP, and the world of amateur
radio re-witnessed the cycle of the 1920's: an evolving technology coupled with
low power conquests of new territories.

177
 Chapter 11
Milliwatts and Miles

"... It doesn't appear that there will be much use made of Transistors
in amateur work, unless it is in portable and/or compact audio amplifiers... "

In 1948, Bell Labs invented the transistor, the device which was to have such a
profound impact upon amateur radio in general and the QRP movement in par-
ticular. QSTs Assistant Technical Editor Byron Goodman (WlDX) could not
have sensed this when he penned the first introduction of the transistor to radio
amateu rs in "The 'Transistor' - an Amplifying Crystal" in the October, 1948,
issue. Even though the early devices were primitive, the Bell Labs invention was
capable of a gain of about 20dB up through 5 MHz, with an upper limit of 10
MHz. Audio outputs of 25 milliwatts had been obtained in a push-pull circuit.
Seven years passed before an enterprising amateur made known the results of his
efforts to apply the transistor to amateur radio communication.
In his note 'Transistor Transmitter DX" in QSTs Technical Topics' for
October, 1955, Robert L. Ritz (W7UUZ) pioneered this virgin territory with a
description of his circuit and the contacts that had been made. The single stage
crystal oscillator. used a Motorola XN-2 PNP device on 3.5 MHz wllich was
designed to operate at i.f. frequencies of 455 kHz , but W7UUZ noted that
"experiments have shown that it operates very satisfactorily at frequencies in the 80
meter band". Maximum ratings for the device were listed as: Vee: lOv, Jee: 2ma,
and collector dissipation: 20 milliwatts. He reported that collector currents of up
to 4ma. in c.w. service were tolerated by the XN-2. The description of tuning
procedures emphasized caution in regard to self-oscillation and the rmal runaway
as indicated by a rise in collector current above 2ma. W7UUZ's listing of his
results were offered ''for whatever value it may have". The initial QSO's we re
made on August 22, 23 and 24, 1955, with l.8 milliwatts input: W7D IS at 2 miles
with a 339 report, a 369 from WN7AA Vat 45 miles, and a 449 from W1INF at
85 miles. The WN7AA V was an unarranged QSO. Later "on August 25, contact
was made with W7WPR, using the trtmsistor nmning 2.5 milliwatts input" over a
distance of 200 miles with a 459 report. 80,000 miles per watt is not bad for star-
ters!
W7UUZ' s Transmitter Circuit- 80,000 M.P.WI
2Nll3 (C"--761 )

\~ 1--..__ ___._ __ -I

1iv 0 - 15

W7UUZ seems to deserve credit for the first recorded skip contact using a
transistor transmitter - others may have preceded him though [readers are invited

178
 Chapter 11: W2JN's Transistor QRP DX - Keith Henney???

to submit records to the author]. In any event, the ultralow power actually ob-
tainable with transistors established the challenge of using the new technology.
W7UUZ's note motivated at least one QST reader to follow suit. In the
December, 1955, issue of QST, Charles Atwater (W2JN) wrote in ''Transistor DX
and Two-Way QSOs": "I threw together the few parls that make up the transistor
circuit shown by "WJUUZ and gave it a 11y on 80 on Monday moming, October 10,
1955." The information given about his first QSO is the kind that sends the his-
torian into an adrenelin surge: "my first transistor contact was with W1QGU, Keith
Hanny at Snowville, NH, a distance of 266 miles." If this actually was the Keith
Henney of the Radio Broadcast of the 1920's described in earlier chapters, then
this QSO would constitute one of th ose "believe it or not" ironies or history - to
have the second recorded transistor skip QSO take place with one of the early
QRP pioneers of the use of the vacuum tube would be an incredible coincidence!
W2.JN managed to sock a high power of 30 milliwatts to his Raytheon 2N113
(CK-761) for this QSO. In another coincidence, a second famous operator was
listening in: "Interestingly enough, this transistor crystal controlled signal was
copied fatther notth by WlBB at Hanington, ME, 430 miles distant". Again, echoes
of the early days when listeners would telegraph reception of a QRP test! A week
later, W2.JN participated in wha t must be the first solid-state two-w(ly QRP QSO:
"On Oct. 16th I had contact with W2PEO while n.mning the high power of 30 mil-
liwatts input to my transistor, and he was putting 20 milliwatts to his which, by the
way, is a unit similar to mine. He rep011ed my signals 559; however, I was hearing
him about half the time due to QRM and being rockbound. By repeating, I was able
to get everything. W2PEO has had a QSO with W8MIS in Grafton, WVA, some 350
miles away." And so, the story began again - QRP pioneers measuring ac-
complishments with a new technology in hundreds and then thousands of miles,
exhibiting heroic patience and perseverence through hours and hours of futile
calling!
The reaction at ARRL Headquarters to these pioneering efforts was swift.
QSTTech.nical Assistant E. Laird CampbelJ (WlCUT) had a transitor rig up and
running in time for a report on his results in the January, 1956, issue. Operating
from Hartford, CT, WlClIT had worked four states with an input of 55 mil-
liwatts (9v at 6 ma) with no prearranged contacts. The 'Stray' noted a direct con-
nection to the QRP pioneering of the early days in commenting about a par-
ticular QSO: "The best DX so far is W9ZA in Des Plaines, ILL, a distance of
abow 800 miles -- Coincidences. Back in the 1920s famous W9ZA worked a little
low power DX himself VK and ZL with a 199 (tube) and a 45-volt battery." Un-
canny -- maybe it was the same Keith Henney! Somehow, the coincidence noted
by WlCUT seems to smack just a bit too much of 'poetic justice': such ties to the
past in t he rebirth of a movement only happen in novels!
The cover of QST for March, 1956, featured the miniature transistor transmit-
ter designed by W1ClIT, and the "Our Cover" blurb opened comically with
"Look, Maw, no watts!", an allusion to the fact that the WlClIT rig ran about 50
milliwatts. It went on and emphasized the pioneering aspect of transistor QRP:
"To those of you who are looking for new fields to conquer, the transistor offers Q!1
interesting challenge", and closed with a sort of challenge to readers: "say, who's
going to be the first to make WAC with an all-transistor transmiuer?" WlCUT laid
the cards on the table in opening his description: "if you are one of those for
whom satisfaction in amateur radio is measured by the number of JOO per cent
QSOs per call or a high score in a contest, this atticle is not for you." The
economics of transistors was also cited as a hindrance: "it is very likely [the rig/
achieves a new high in dollars per watt." It will appeal "only to the experimeftter -
the man who .likes to try new devices and new circuits just for the kick to be got out
of exploring new fields"; and as yet, "the ranks of transistor transmitters are sti/J

179
 Chapter 11: 'Look Maw, No Watts!!!' - W1CUT's S-S Transmitter

sparse enough so that anyone who joins up can !rave the feeling of being a pioneer."
Perhaps without deliberate intention, WlCUT voiced a fundamental part of the
QRP philosophy in these opening remarks.
The transmitter used a pair of CK761 transistors as crystal oscillator and
amplifier. The construction of the unit is essentially identical to that found in
transistor transmitters until circuit boards took over the task in the 1970's: a
handcrafted chassis box from aluminum sheeting bent to order with components
mounted on brackets and ti~points. Air-wound inductances filled the bill in the
days before toroids. After surveying the fundamentals of transistors, WlCUT
went on to comment on the "nonunifonnity among transistors of the same type
number" as a distinct disadvantage to the homebrewer with limited finances: "in
oscillators or high- frequency amplifiers it is unforlunately trne that one transistor
will work better or give more amplification than another of tire same type." Hence,
there was no guarantee that a duplicate rig would work like the original. His
optimism that "no doubt this situation will change as manufacturing techniques
improve" took much longer to be realised than he expected, as QRP homeb-
rewers of the 1970's can attest! As in the 1920's, efficiency was a key concern:
"when operating at ultra/ow power every bit of r.f counts, so every effort should be
made to get the proper coupling to the antenna."
In his comments about operating with flea-power rigs, Campbell rejected
reliance upon prearranged contacts, noting that "except for answering a calling
station, tire only sporling way to make a low-power contact seems to be by calling a
general CQ -- pre-calling with high-power just doesn't give the thrill that the low-
power enthusiast is lool...-ing for', another instance of his O."J)ression of the QRP
spirit. His struggle to devise a successful operating strategy comes through clear-
ly: "calls such as 'CQ QRP' were tried unsuccessfully, probably because operators
thought that tire call was for another low-power station." He suggested that a
"gimmick call such as 'CQ TR' be adopted by all stations using low power (less
than one watt)". QRO operators could get in the fun that way, since they would
recognise the caller as a real QRP'r probably using a transistor rig; QRP'rs would
benefit since "the low-power man appreciates receiving a11 answering call from
anyone hearing his 'CQ TR'." Wl CUT is to be credited for attempting to provide
a realistic view of what to expect based upon his experience that "using low-power
transmitters has shown that it is more difficult than it really should be to raise other
stations." In the true spirit of QRP'ing, he attempted to analyze and understand
his experience: "Many a potential contact on hearing your weak signal assumes
that conditions are affecting it; consequently, he passes up the idea of giving you a
call because he figures his signal will be equally as weak at your staJion". Hence
the suggestion of a "gimmjck call". His testimon.ial about the rewards of flea-
power experiments: "trying new devices and new circuits combined with a sense of
accomplishment in establishing contact with stations at a distance on fractional-
watt power'. By the time the article went to press, WlCUT had pushed his total
to 7 states with up to 50 milliwatts input to an 85ft antenna centerfed with tuned
line and antenna coupler. QS'I's swift response to the possibilities of the new
technology first suggested by individual 'QRP nuts', and its challenge to others to
follow suit is reminiscent of its role in encouraging the movement to vacuum tube
c.w. and the shonwaves in the early 1920's.
Major Gilbert's (K6LMW) "Ten-Meter Transistorized Phone Transmitter''
was the next QRP unit to be featured in QST (December, 1958) and was intro-
duced by the heading "New Terrestial DX Records on Solar Power", a new post-
Sputnik distinction. The homebrew transmitter and modulator units were com-
bined with a Regency receiver and converter to form a complete solar powered
station. The array of solar cells from Hoffman Electronic Corp. must have cost a
mint! Luckily Gilbert was a Hoffman engineer. Even though K6LMW extolled

180
 Chapter 11: Don Stoner's (W6TNS) QRP Coverage in CQ

the portability of the rig, it was rather large by current standards, with modulator
and transmitter assembled in separate LMB 2.5 x 3 inch boxes totalling 14 inches
in length. RCA 2N384 devices were used in a Butler crystal oscillator on 14 MHz
followed by a buffer-doubler which drove a pair of 2N384s amplifiers in push-
pull. Considerable progress had been made in transistor technology even in the
two short years since the WlCUT rig had appeared. The 2N384s could handle up
to lOma. in the collector circuit. 28 MHz r.f. power output varied between 30 and
75 milliwatts, depending upon collector voltage (12-28 volts). Gilbert noted that
the transmitter could be operated on the lower bands with an expected increase
in r.f. output. His results: "Two 2000 mile contacts, to Illinois, were made with the
transmitter on September 13, 1958, on the JO-meter phone band, with signal reports
of 57 and 59. On Sunday, September 21, stations in Texas, Missouri, and Minnesota
were contacted with reports of 59, 55, and 59, respectively. These contacts were not
pre-OJranged and others have been made since." K6KMW showed that ultralow
power transistor contacts were not merely "freaks" as the operators of the 1920's
put it. And so, m the decade following the announcement of the transistor in
QST, amateurs had once again moved ever downward in wavelength until 10
meters had been conquered, again by the pioneering QRP'r!
Articles about transistor transmitters and their results had began appearing in
other places such as Radio Electronics and Popular Electronics as well as in QST.
By 1958, transistor QRP'ing had found its first regular forum in Donald L.
Stoner's (W6TNS) 'Semiconductors' column in CQ. For a brief three years until
Stoner left off covering the transistor transmitter scene, QRP had a regular spot
in the limelight, the first since the pioneering days of the 1920's. Stoner himself
was apparently quite a transistor QRP enthusiast, judging from his tone. Major
advances in transistor technology were reported in a humdrum fashion. But when
he got onto the subject of making contacts, the adrenalin flowed and his imagina-
tion flared. His first writing (CQ, February, 1958) on the subject is worth quoting
in full for this reason:
Every so often I get strnck right betwixt the eyes with a 'real ball of fire idea'.
Everybody likes a contest and with the current interest in the mighty milliwatt
transistor transmitters, why not have a 'battle of watts' to see who do the best
with the least. After batting around several pads of scratch paper I believe that I
have devised a fonnu/a that will be fair and equitable to everyone from 160
meters on up. I looked through all the publications that I had available OJ1d
found several accomplishments with transistor transmitters. The figures were
substituted in the f onnula and the results were rather close. It works like this.
The power in milliwatts is divided into the frequency in megacycles and the
resultant is multiplied by the distance. CW, phone, sideband, all's fair, even 60
element beOJns. The idea is to radiate as much as possible with the lowest power
input.
His illustration of the formula reveals some of the transistor DX work that he
knew about: "let us examine an actual case history. E.M. Washburn, W2RG built a
transistor rig using a pair of 2N104's. According to his article in 1HAM TIPS (July,
1957), he succeeded in working ZS6TR in Tansvaal South Africa. This was a dis-
tance of 8000 miles while rnnning 216 milliwatts on 7002 kHz. Substituting
W2RG's accomplishment in the fonnula results in 256 points." Two others were
mentioned: "Richard Griffin, W7MPQ, is the leader with 5500 points. As you may
remember from his article in Radio Electronics (May, 1957), Dick managed to
work Canton Is!OJ1d (KB6BC) on 29 me. This was a distance of 4500 mf!es while
rnnning only 24 milliwatts! Also listed this month is Monty Hart, VE3TA, who has
fired up 011 80 and 40 meters. He managed to snag K2UYW for a distance of 400
miles while rnnning 36 milliwatts on 3570 kc." Stoner's idea was to list the top five
leaders in subsequent issues. The plan never worked out, probably because of the

181
 Chapter 11: First[?] Transistor W.A.C., Oct. 4, 1958- W6TNS

complexity involved in the formula, which obscured the basic data sought by
QRP'rs such as distance, power, number of states and the like. Rather than view-
ing QRP accomplishments in the context of the traditional 'miles per watt' stand-
ard, Stoner's scoring formula translated them into an obscure context. Unfor-
tunately, Stoner failed to provide the necessary data for most of the QSO's re-
corded in his coverage of transistor work. Similarly, his emphasis upon a 'battle
of watts' created a competitive context which probably worked against increased
participation by many readers, given the records that had already been noted.
Stoner presented two transistor circuits along with the contest idea. VE3TA's
transmitter used 2N247s in crystal oscillator and amplifier stages. While VE3TA
used it on 80 and 40 meters, W6THS noted that by using suirable crystals and
coils it should work on 10 meters. He further explained that "since tire semicon-
ductors are operating Class C, and since they are used for CW work, I believe that
as much as 150 mw. could be run safely with units sud1 as tire 2N247." Good ther-
mal connection to the chassis would permit 'fudging' the dissipation rating of 50
mw by this phenomenal factor of 3X (so he said!). The second circuit was
Stoner's own design for a 10 meter 'handi-talkie' consisting of a Philco SB-100
doubling as a super regenerative detector and crystal oscillator modulated by a
2N44. Although he hadn't attempted any real skip work with a decent antenna,
"Tire best DX to date is about 900ft using a 20 inch whip." At the time, the 'handi-
talkie' application of transistor transmitters was a primary interest of experimen-
ters who measured their results in distances of feet and a few miles.
Stoner returned to transistor QRP DX in the December, 1958, issue with an
account of his recent successes with the 'Semiconductor Space Spanner' which
he'd designed. After noting that "it wouldn't be too improper to do a little hom
tooting" on his own, he provided the details: "On Sept. 20, at 1410 GMT, I con-
tacted 'Empty' Wessels, ZS6KD, on 20 c. w. The contact was over the long path and
as close as can be figured, the distance is approximately 16,606 miles to Johannes-
burg." Power input at the time was 90 milliwatts to a Gonset 3-element tribander.
The feat was duplicated the following weekend when ZS6KD made a tape re-
cording of W61NS's RST 548 signals. This led Stoner to attempt WAC with the
rig. He wrote: "On Sept. 22, I snagged KL7BDK, in Kodiak, for the Nonh
Ametican contact. Signals were 559. Tire next evening, CEJAGJ, near Santiago gave
me an RST 449. Asia was 'duck soup' from here, and a call to RA2YA, near Tokyo,
produced tire best RST of all, 589 on Sept. 24. Later that evening, at 0800 GMT, my
good ftie11d Mick, ZL3PJ, listened for the gennanium giant, and gave me an RST of
549 from Oceana. Then, I tackled Europe. Many tests with Dave, G2MA, produced
negative results, until the 4th of October. Dave's repon was 529." The impressive-
ness of Stoner's achievement is undercut by the fact that all stations were first
contacted on s.s.b. before he QSY'd to 90 milliwatt c. w. Otherwise, no WAC would
have resulted, since "they spent quite a bit of time dredging around in 1/te QRM for
me". Stoner recognised this when he later remarked that "these QRP expetiments
were of 110 practical value, other than to show that it could be done." Evenso, the
very fact that his 90 milliwatt rig had been heard on all continents counts for
something. He closed the QRP section of the column with an announcement of
K6LMW's record contacts on 10-meter solar power as noted above.
Stoner's column for the May, 1959, issue of CQ mentioned several items of
interest to the transistor QRP gang. He showed two circuits upfront that were
being used in the Vanguard and Explorer I satellites. Both developed 10 mil-
liwatts output on 108 MHz; the former unit used a Western Electric WE-53233
crystal oscillator, while the latter used a pair of Western Electric WE-53194's.
The circuits were offered as an inducement to the 2-meter gang for possible
adaptation to that band. The progress in semiconductor development is revealed
in the bandwidth product (fT) of these devices and the Texas instruments 2N1141

182
 Chapter 11: Richard Griffin's {WlMPQ) 'QRP CORNER'

with 12dB gain at 100 MHz at a rated dissipation of the monumental power of
750 milliwatts with a theoretically infinite heat sink.
However, the exciting QRP development announced in the column was the
initiation of 'QRP CORNER' to be conducted by Richard S. Griffin, W7MPQ! !
Stoner explained: "With so much interest in kilowatt transmitters these days, it is
refreshing to sit back and watch the QRP rigs come on the air. However, it would
seem to be a good idea to have a rallying point where QRP fans can coodinate their
efforts. To this end, the 'QRP CORNER' will be a regular feature of this column."
In effect, this was the first regular coverage of QRP in U.S. amateur radio in
history except for the 'Low Power Contests' featured by QST in 1924-25, which
were not meant as a 'column' type coverage. The selection of W7MPQ as con-
tributing columnist was based upon his achievements as a QRP'r: "By way of
introduction I should tell you that Dick was the boy who got the QRP ball rolling by
worl..-ing Canton Island (KB6) from his home in Tucson, AZ. His efforts gave m e
the bug to build The Mighty Milliwatt and Semiconductor Space Spanner. So, ifyou
are running less than one watt to a transistor rig, drop him a line and tell him of
your successes." Stoner closed the announcement with a suggestion that QRP
calling frequencies be established to facilitate coordination of QRP experiments.
The emphasis was entirely upon transistor transmitters and excluded tube-type
QRP'rs; furthermore, no one was running any power even remotely approaching
one watt with a transistor!
W7MPQ began his first 'QRP CORNER' with a brief note about the mystery
of transistor communication: "It appears that it isn't always power that makes tire
QSO. It may seem strange, but that tiny drop of radiation sent on its way by tire
transistors somehow can be very readable many thousands of miles away". That
basic fascination with this unplausible phenomena is well known now to
thousands of QRP'rs around the world! W7MPQ went on to deal with a problem
that has all but disappeared for modem QRP'rs: "One major problem for many
hams operating transistorized transmitters is tlie lack of others willing to listen. I
have found it sometimes take a fair knowledge and ability to tune a receiver if the
low-power signal is to be read". Griffin ought to be around to hear what happens
on the QRP Calling Frequencies these days during a QRP NET session or one of
the QRP contests! He suggested a monitoring frequency of 29.2 MHz as a place
for transistor QRP'rs to "get results with their low power rigs" and invited other
suggestions. The basic purpose of 'QRP CORNER' emerges in W7MPQ's clos-
ing invitation: "The QRP section is for you who are on the air with semiconductors.
Tell us what's new so that it can be passed on. With your help others will make
better QSO's with their transistors and low power." W7MPQ's efforts looked for-
ward to the second 'QRP CORNER' founded by Mike Czujahewski, WA8MCQ,
in the QRP/8 newsletter in 1968 which eventually metamorphosed into Tire
Milliwatt: National Journal of QRPp, QRP's first international forum for the ex-
change of ideas and information. The major difference between the two versions
of 'QRP CORNER' was that WA8MCQ's concept included all QRP'rs, transistor
and tube alike.
The first fruits of W7MPQ's efforts appeared in the July, 1959, issue of CQ.
He had received responses from two QRP'rs. Bob Brown (W3RZL) commented:
"Very glad to see that there will be a QRP CORNER" He reported that he was
about to go on the air with a rig patterned after one by W61NS and that it was
likely that he would have had some good QSO's with his milliwatts by the time
the column appeared in print. He expected to operate on 28080 kHz at first, and
then 21070 kHz at a later date. Neal Brown (W7SLO) reported having had good
success with a small transceiver on 10 meters which used RCA transistors in the
transmitter and some by Philco in the receiver. But as yet, his QSO's with a short
whip were limited to tests contacts with similar equipment several blocks away.

183
 Chapter 11: Richard Griffin's (W7MPQ) 'QRP CORNER'

This modest beginning of 'QRP CORNER' grew into more substantial regular
reports on QRP successes in later issues.
'QRP CORNER' in the August, 1959, issue was packed with QRP informa-
tion. Mel Buechal (W9RPH) reported about his operations on 6 meters in the
Chicago area. With his rig developing 80 milliwatts input to a pair of 2N384's
modulated by 2N408's and a 2N652 and loading a mobile whip, he was received
at a distance of one mile by another mobile. With the little rig hooked to his
5-cleme nt beam, he managed his best DX of 35 miles with a 55 report on 6
meters. T he transistor receiver section was a crystal controlled, fixed frequency
single conversion superhet. For 6 meters, that was a decent 'record'. T he promise
of W3RZL's earlier report blossomed into a report of success with the W6TNS
circuit: "He has worked a number of locals on 10 metel"$, and on 20 metel"$ his best
contact was to W9QGR with an RST 539. Bob has had the SSS rig on 15 metel"$
and his report from K4PHY in Tenn. was 449." W7MPQ paused at this point to
allow W3RZL to tell about the 'big one' in his own words: "Now hold your hat --
on 21036 I worked LU8FBH with a report of 599, hi, and I am eagerly awaiting his
QSL. At present I am maintaining skeds daily at about 1700 EST with LU8FBH so
he will probably direct some South American traffic this way as he is passing the
word along down there." Presumably this 'traffic' consisted of information about
QRP operations by S. American stations directed at the U.S. W3RZL operated
on 14061, 21036, 21076 and 28080 kHz, and showed up on 15 meters after 1500
EST. Then W3WJD in Upper Darby, PA, was reported as running 275 miltiwatts
to a 2N599 on . 3.5- and 7 MHz, but had not yet sent in results. And finally,
W6TNS "would like to brag about his newly acquired CW- WAC certificate for
working all continents while nmning 80 mil/iwa11s to the SSS tronsmiller." In addi-
tion to the reports, this 'QRP CORNER' featured a circuit by Jerry Palmer
(W6CQJ) using a pair of Philco T-1324's in a push-pull crystal oscillator on 40
and 20 meters. The unit ran 60 milliwatts input and the circuit note is interesting:
"The constructor should p lay arowrd witlr RI and R2 until each transistor draws
about 8 ma. W6CQJ says that the transistOI"$ are 11ot too uniform and he wound up
with a lOK-Ohm and 4.7K-Ohm" in the R1-R2 base-bias circuit. W6CQJ noted:
"my best DX without pre-arrangement is 650 miles with a 569" and commented
that he had best results when he signed 'QRP W6CQJ'. The W6CQJ circuit ap-
pears to be worth duplicating eve n today, a lthough most of the circuits provided
in 'QRP CORNER' are outdated.
Stoner followed up the W9RPH report by featuring his 6 meter transceiver
circuit in the Septmeber, 1959 issue. The usual need for experimentation with the
transistors appeared here as in other descriptions of transitor rigs: "you may have
to select transistOI"$ for the osdllator position to be able to drive the final to at least
5 ma. wlren tire final is tuned off reso11a11ce. By tire same token, you may have to
select final transistor.r to find one that will drow the most current witlr a given
amount of drive." This method of 'pruning' a circuit by substituting transistors
rather than varying component values is still widely used by QRP'rs. W7MPQ's
'QRP CORNER' opened with James V. Smith's (K9MHU) suggestion of 7145
kHz for the 40 meter calling frequency since it is "open more often than other
spots in the 40 meter band". Jack Shaugnes~y (K2TTC) of Hollis, NY, reported
being o n the air with about 36 milliwatts on 10 meter phone for the past year. In
that time, he had worked some 60 locals and "has three confimiations from out of
town. Tire best reporl on Jack's 36 mw. was an S-8 from Boynton Beach, FL. Q5 all
the way through the QRM on 28.72 MHz." It appears that the QRP bug bit as
strongly in 1959 as in modern times: "Jack notes that he has 120 watls on tap bw
has not had it tumed on for a yearl" Q RP's advantage in the TVl department was
noted in as much as KZITC's TVI-free rig had a problem with finding someone
else on during prime time TV hours! Jim Bodnar (W8UQZ) of Cleveland, OH,

184
 Chapter 11: 'QRP CORNER' Reports

reported being in the construction phase with a rig for 20, 15 and 10 meter c.w.
and phone which would be completely portable.
W6CQI's Push-Pull Transistor Transmitter Circuit.

01,02-TRANSISTOR T· l 32< {~~IL/

CO';:l
) ~---, l "OtAM!: TER
Dy l.5"'LONG ,
'b~~ TO
11

ABOUT RESONATE
XTAf 100 AT OP. FREQ
7 ofi4 '' c
FUN().
CUT

- R2
- - ----.-11+-t---<IO( TO AOIT.

RI
L
~­

+--

02

KEY
• a.6-

The November, 1959, issue featured two transistor rig circuits. Jeny Meyers'
(W6LZY) 40 meter phone transmitter used a 2N371 crystal oscillator modulated
by a pair of Class--B 2N190s and was mounted in a 3-inch square box. B+ could
be varied from 9-13.5 volts. The unit could be used on c.w. by disabling the
modulator section. The results obtained with the rig on phone include stations in
the 3, 5, and 7 call areas! The second circuit was a 40 meter c.w./phone transmit-
ter by A.G. Smith (VK3AN) scrounged from the Australian Amaleur Radio
magazine. A 2N371 crystal oscillator drove a 2N370 straight through amplifier
stage with the feedline tapped down directly on the collector tank coil. The
simple modulator consisted of a carbon microphone and transformer hooked
directly into the B+ line. VK3AN's results: "The liftle rig has been copied on c.w.
at RST 549 by VK5JE and by VK7MX and MZ 011 Apple Island. The contacts were
established with a 10-waft rig. Cliff, VK1AJA also copied the rig with w1 RST 449
on c.w. and later on phone." In 'QRP CORNER', Wm. J. Engle, Jr. (W3KKO) of
Philadelphia reported "wnazing results on 10 mete~ with a transistor handie-ta/kie
with 40 milliwatts input". The best DX was Toledo, OH with the rig hooked to a
3-element beam. For local work, the rig used a 30.inch helically wound whip. This
was followed up by a short report in the January, 1960, issue about the work of
Major Gilbert (K6LMW), "QRP DX'er extraordinary!" who "lists 14 states
worked using 75 milliwatts on JO meter phone. Stations worked are W9UCZ (IL),
W6MV (CA), WOTBL (MO), KOCUO in (MO), K5DLY in (AR), K5HCM (TX),
W5.!W (LA), WOLFL (KS), W40GG (TN), WBRNU (WI), W5JCS (OK), KL7ARC
(AK), K4CLG (AL), and W5TXK (MS)." The report was accompanied by a re-
production of K6LMW's QSL card featuring the photo of his solar power station
from QST (December, 1958) feature article.
CQ for February, 1960, featured Capt. John J. Sury's (K8NIC/5) "Little Nie
Transistorized 6 Meter Transmitter'' for the Technician Class licensees whose
frequency allocations included 6 meters and higher bands. The transmitter con-
sisted of a 2N499 crystal oscillator driving a 2N384 amplifier which was modu-
lated by a pair of 2N190's. In his discussion of the circuit, K8NIC/5 listed prices
for some of the transistors that could be used: the 2N499 listed at S5.00 while the
Philco 2N588 could be substituted at Jess than $3.00. Total cost of the rig was
listed as "approximately $24.00" (a Heathkit DX-40 75-watt all-band c.w./phone
transmitter kit sold for $64.95 at the time). 40 milliwatts of transistor r.f. didn't
come cheaply back then! In opening the piece, Sury made the usual disclaimer:
"Many of our Techn icians and General Class license holders feel that a lot of

185
 Chapter 11: 'QRP CORNER' Reports

power is needed to make contacts above 50 Mc. within a 50 miles radius, especially
when the band is not open. This is not necessarily so." He noted some results with
two antennas. With a 1/2 wave indoor halo antenna ("in a wire meshed screen
reinforced stucco apartment"!), contacts out to 15 miles with S-3 reports were
made on phone. A 5-element beam produced an S- 2 report at a distance of 30
miles across hilly terrain and the city of Dayton. In addition, "several 6 miles con-
tacts were made using 15 milliwatts input with S-4 a11d S-5 sig11al reports usi11g a
matched gamma indoor a11tenna." Overall, a total of 46 contacts had been made.
The distances noted here are not bad for the 6 meter band.
The 'QRP CORNER' of the June, 1960, opened with a complaint by
W7MPQ: "Most readers have forgotten about this section of the Semiconductor
Column, or else no one is worldng with QRP." It is difiicult to determine which
was the true cause of the slowdown in reports, but again, the 'QRP = transistor'
formula probably was at fault. Nonetheless, a report from Jerry Fortier (W7IDI)
on success with his version of the "Little Nie" 6 meter transmitter was quoted in
fulJ and reads: "J built her up and went on the air Feb. 23, 1960 nmning 12 volts at
8 ma on the final (2N384). 1 racked up a total of 9 contacts the first night, located
about 7 miles from Seattle and 20 miles from Tacoma. My first contact was
K7BAG, who gave me a Q4-S5 report. However, he is on the other side of a hill. I
made several contacts in Seattle and then swung the beam (8 elements at 53ft)
south -- K7ASY in Tacoma gave me a Q5-S9 report. K7GSE (2 miles away) gave a
5-9 plus 40dB report! K7ENS, Tacoma repons 5-9 plus lOdB. The big thrill fol-
lowed. It seems K.7GSE was in QSO with Waft, W7PVZ, in Tumwater, WA (about
45 miles away). I gave a break-break when Frank, K7GSE, was talking and to my
sutprise Walt heard me!. Signal reports were Q5-S5 with very good audio quality."
W7MPQ ended with the standard point drawn from QRP accomplishments:
"Let's see more 'Little Nic's' on the six meter band, gentlemen. Jeny has shown
what can be done with QRP equipment."
The July issue reported on the work by George Calhoun (KH6VF) who was
"having a ball with his mighty 100 milliwaJt QRP 40 meter rig. On April 5, George
was in contact with WBQOH/5 in New Orleans and W6RW in Los Angeles. Both
stations stood by for the QRP job and W6RW reported RST 349, although the WB
couldn't hear him." W7MPQ pointed out that "the contact is even more amazing
when you consider that George was operating in kilowatt alley on 7007 kc". Then
on April 15, "KH6VF worked W6ASH in San Francisco without firing up the big
rig. His report was 439 and W6ASH made a tape recording of the transmissions."
KH6VFs rig used an RCA 2N373 oscillator driving a 2N373 r.f. amplifier, tran-
sistors chosen because of their low cost and high performance. A 12.5-volt mer-
cury battery supplied the 8ma. to the rig. Finally, W7MPQ noted that "KH6VF
can contact Hilo (about 200 miles away) by QRP'ing the QRP rig and running 6
volts at 3ma. and receives 569 repons!" That "see how low you can go" urge has
produced some phenomenal QRP results from the very beginning! But, alas, this
was the last appearance of QRP CORNER and QRP'rs lost their forum.
Don Stoner continued his coverage of the QRP scene with a few notes and
circuits in later issues. In October, 1960, issue, he described experiments with the
Texas Instruments high power 2N1046 and presented the circuit of a linear
amplifier for 80 and 40 meters. Driving the amplifier wi th about 30 milliwatts
from a grid dip oscillator, he manged to obtain an r.f. output of 2.15 watts at 4
MHz and slightly less at 7.5 MHz. He believed that the device could be used on
20 meters with reduced output. The November, 1960, issue contained a note
about ZLlAAX: "Les Eamsliaw, ZLJAAX, an 'ole time at the QRP game has
done it again. You may remember that Les had a two way QSO from New Zealand
to Kentucky on 20 meter sideband with a transistorized rig. The final, an RCA
2N247, ran 20 milliwatts and was coupled directly to the beam." The occasion for

186
 Chapter 11: Then, Alas, No More 'QRP CORNER'

mentioning this feat was that ZLlAA.X had QSO'd ZLlAOF at a distance of 160
miles using a crystal controlled tunnel diode oscillator at less than 1 milliwatt
input with "the power(?) output in the microwatt region!"
The QRP transistor transmitter came of age by the July, 1961 issue in which
Stoner featured his one-watt c.w. transmitter design. In opening the column, he
referred to his earlier exploit of working a five continent WAC with an 80 mil-
liwatt transistor rig and noted: "These contacts provided more enjoyment than
working any rore DX with a full gallon", but these "QRP experiments were of no
proctica/ value, other than to show it could be done, since the contacts were made
in liason with higher powered initial contacts." But advances in technology had
changed the situation rapidly to the point where it was "no longer necessary to
contact a station and Jr ave llim listen for your transistor rig, or call CO-TR for hours
0 11 end." The three-stage transistor transmitter described in article was capable of
one-watt r.f. output on 20, 15 and 10 meters and capable of raising its own con-
tacts.
Unfortunately for the QRP cause, the lack of response complained about by
W7MPQ in the June, 1960, issue persisted and resulted in 'QRP CORNER'
being dropped as·a regular feature from Stoner's 'Semiconductors' column. The
feature went rhrough eight appearances from May, 1959 to July, 1960, and pub-
licised the efforts of the 'lunatic fringe' which accepted the challenge of applying
the new technology and making contacts with extremely low powers. In assessing
the failure of 'QRP CORNER', several possible reasons emerge. First, it may
have been due to the fact that only a handful of amateurs were actually using
transistor transmitters at the time. The challenge presented by the ultralow
powers obtainable with then current devices was an extreme one, as modern
QRP'rs can attest. Consistent success with relatively high powers on the order of
300- 500 milliwatts is difficult and requires considerable patience even today. Few
modern QRP'rs are willing to endure the frustration that is inevitable when
powers are dropped into the range below SO milliwatts - that is super-QRP in
any period! It is likely that many fellows gave transistor QRP a quick try until
they made a few contacts, and then realised that monumental odds were against
them. Stoner's reference to "calling 'CQ-TR' for hours on end" gives a good
picture of what they faced. Most of the modern QRP'rs whose transistor ex-
perience reaches back into the 1960's started out with devices capable of putting
out a half-watt or more, and they will recall how difficult it seemed to make con-
tacts at that power level! Economics was probably a decisive factor with respect
to the number of transistor experimenters. Ultralow power transistors were avail-
able in the $2-5.00 range. Compare this with the cost of an exact frequency crystal
at 79 cents or an 807 at $1.20! However, to get up into hundreds of milliwatts, the
cost increased sharply. For example, when W4IMP converted his famous "IMP
SSB Exciter" to solid state in 1961, he expressed amazement that new 'high
power' transistors such as that used in the final amplifier had dropped dramati-
cally in price, making the solid state route even more attractive. He was referring
to the 2N706 and 500 milliwatts for $13.00! Second, the slant of 'QRP CORNER'
probably contributed to its demise. Its focus was exclusively on ultralow power
transistor transmitters. Hence, while it did present some information about QRP
contacts, the underlying emphasis was upon the record breaking type of contact.
And third, while QRP CORNER presented interesting circuits, it offered very
little in regard to advising prospective transistor QRP'rs about the methods of
operating an ultralow power station. It probably would have survived and
flourished had it been aimed at the broad range of QRP operators.

187
 Chapter 11: And We've Seen Just the Beginning!

Evenso, Stoner's efforts to promote transistor" experimentation produced

some valuable records of the early transistor achievements. These QSO's are
here converted into the 'miles per wall' standard for comparison with the 're-
cords' found in previous chapters: (1]
Station Miles Watts M.P.W.
W2RG 8000 0.216 37,037
W7MPQ 4500 0.024 187,500
VE3TA 400 0.036 11,100
W6COJ 650 0.060 10,830
W3KKO 529 0.040 13,225
KH6VF 2200 0.100 22,000
KH6FV 200 0.018 11,100
K2TTC ?980 0.036 ?27,200
ZL1AAX 160 0.001 160,000
In terms of the 'miles per watt' standard, these early transistor pioneers can clear-
ly take their positions of honor beside the early vacuum tube pioneers!

Epilogue

Whatever the causes of the demise of 'QRP CORNER', the QRP world
would have to wait another six years before W70E founded the Pacific Amateur
Radio Guild and began publishing its excellent newsletter PARG for QRP'rs, and
eight years before WA8MCQ would resurrect the concept of a 'QRP CORNER'
in the QRP/8 newsletter, and a decade until the coming of The Milliwatt. Until
then, QRP'rs had to pursue their lonely experimentation without a regular place
for the exchange of ideas and information. In sticking to the challenge of QRP
across these years, they had to be satisfied with sporadic QRP construction ar-
ticles such as those by Wes Hayward (W7ZOI) and QST Technical Editor Doug
DeMaw (WlCER/WlFB), rare feature articles such as J. W. Dreher's (W2TKG)
"The Challenge of Milliwatt Power" (QST, October, 1965), a rare tidbit in the
100-watt QRP ARCI's newsletter, and learning from their own successes and
failures. Once The Milliwatt got underway in 1970, QRP'rs would have a home
and QRP would begin a fabulous 17 years of unmitigated growth which would
produce a world-wide network of QRP clubs such the G-QRP Club in England
(1974, Rev. George D obbs, G3RJV), The Michigan QRP Club (1978, Ralph
Burch, W8LCU) and clubs in about a dozen other countries which were coor-
dinated by The World QRP Federation (1978, Thom Davis, K8IF). Once the
100-wau QRP ARCI was transformed into a genuine 5-watt QRP organization in
1980 under the leadership of President Thom Davis, QRP began to prosper in
the U.S. as never before. And we've seen just the beginning!

188
 Appendix A
Flat-tops and Counterpoises

Radio technology developed rapidly in the first five years of the vacuum tube
and left many mistaken ideas and practices on the scrap-heap of history, in-
scrutible to modem minds simply because they were discarded. Hence, some
readers may be interested in a more detailed discussion of the problems faced by
the early pioneers as suiveyed in Chapter 2. Their antennas are the logical start-
ing point.
Fig. 1. The Flat-top 'L' Antenna with Large Area Counterpoise.

l
A

The antennas discussed in Chapter 2 (pages 34-37) may be difficult to visual-

ize from the descriptions provided there. Figure 1 shows the details of the com-
mon 'L' configuration. The 'T' configuration differs only in that the vertical cage
portion is connected at the center of the flat-top horizontal portion. It seems
that, in general, the horizontal portion of the 'T type employed cage construc-
tion, with the leg on each side of the vertical portion constructed in the same
manner as the vertical section. As noted in the text, both types are roughly
analogous to the modem concept of the top-loaded very short vertical antenna.
The effective height (or length) of such a radiator is determined by the actual
vertical portion (A) plus the top-loading horizontal section (B) for the 'L' type
that is still used on 160 meters as the 'Inverted L'. Given either flat-top or cage
construction for the 'T type and the resultant distnbuted capacitance, the effec-
tive height of the 'T' type was only slightly less than the 'L' type, requiring a
slightly larger length. With only a single thin wire instead of the 4 wires spaced at
9ft or 4 wires in a six-inch cage forming the horizontal portion, the effective
height of the 'T would beA + B/2, or the length of the 'L' formed by half of the
horizontal portion of the 'T'. In these terms, Gunn's antenna (see pages 34-35) at
72ft (A = 35ft, B =37ft) was about 0.17 wavelength plus an unspecified lead-in
length, but because of the cage construction, which achieved a lower effective
capacitance than the flat-top approach, the actual effective radiation resistance
was lower than would be expected for an antenna 60 degrees i.n length. Thus, the
resistance to be expected for such a length would be about 13 Ohms, but Gunn's
Curve B (see Fig. 2) shows a resistance of about 10 Ohms, quite close to theoreti-

189
cal expectations. The dimensions suggested by Kruse for 165 meters, on the other
hand, work out quite closely to those calculated by formula (125ft vs 129ft) for a
quarterwave vertical, but recall that these are suggested dimensions, not data for
actual functioning antennas. Moreover, references to the measured resonant
frequency of antennas described in early articles must be approached with cau-
tion because of the crude method employed at the time for measuring antenna
system resonance (described by Kruse in 'A Simpler Way to Find the Fundamen-
tal', QST, January, 1925).
Fig. 2. Ross Gunn's Antenna Resistance Curves.
In fact, Kruse debunked the need to
determine the exact resonant fre- A
quency, or the fundamental 56
wavelength in their terms, and the use ••
of a formula was described as 'not .,
very satisfactory'. This was a common e
...
sense, empirically correct conclusion 6 "
in the days of the Hartley oscillator. ,.
The antenna system was, by analogy 16
with modern circuits, connected
directly to the frequency determining
portion of a v.f.o. circuit! Obviously, 100 200 30<>
the process of analogy breaks down Meter s
here since any modem amateur would immediately recognise the stupidity of
attempting to make such a circuit perform satisfactorily! But that is just what the
early pioneers did in chaulking up their remarkable achievements.
The transmitting system which they somehow juggled into successful opera-
tion was comprised of (1) a very short antenna operated as a top-loaded, un-
grounded vertical with (2) a counterpoise between the antenna and ground, and
both (3) were connected to the multi-purpose inductance shared by the plate and
grid circuits as well. The complexity of the problem can be appreciated by re-
ference to versions of the Hartley oscillator transmitting system. The version
shown by J.O. Smith in 1921 (see page 38) represents the initial stage of the
Hartley system evolution, with the antenna tapped directly onto the inductance
and a variable capacitor completing the circuit to ground. The grounding
capacitor in Smith's circuit was soon replaced by a counterpoise which performed
the same function. John Reinartz's (1XAM) 1924 version, seen in Figure 3A,
represents a perfected example of the second phase of development of the
Hartley system. The grid-plate negative feedback loop is established by tight
coupling between sections 1 and 2 of the inductance, with the filament tap estab-
lishing circuit ground, and the antenna and counterpoise are coupled through
series capacitors to the same inductance. The tap points would be determined
experimentally. An example of the final stage of Hartley evolution can be seen in
the K7BWZ transmitter circuit (see page 134). That circuit is essentially the same
as that presented in Nicholas Hagemann's 'A Universal Short Wave Transmitter'
(see pages 73-74).
Adjustment of this complex system was a tedious process. Before the new
insights by Gunn, Kruse, Reinartz and Mason began appearing in QST, tuning
was a 'simple' matter: adjust the plate, filament and grid taps to give healthy os-
cillation on the desired signal frequency , and then find the antenna and C.P. tap
points which produced the maximum antenna current. Plate input power would
usually reach a maximum at that combination of settings because of the high load
impedance that resulted. Generally, no effort was made to land on a precise fre-
quency, but operation commenced on whatever frequency coincided with the best
adjustment.

190
 Fig. 3. Reinartz's Circuit (A) at Top, Mason's (B) at Bottom

A
I
I

© I
I
--- -t--- - ""-~~--'-----­
'

FIG
01.st.:int"f'"f I ,uv 2 tyual

B ; 111,.,.,. c p
I ,-.... , _ 11 /ii Ct1p
~ I.SS tli'I/ 1-0 r /1~
1
I
I
I

Toward the end of 1923, H.F. Mason began the process of teaching amateurs
the theory behind correct adjustment of the Hartley system and revealed the
cause of the inefficiency of a system adjusted in the usual manner. In 'The Nodal
Point Explained' (QST, September, 1923), Mason explained the critical impor-
tance of the filament tap, which represented circuit 'ground', in the overall sys-
tem. In an 'out of adjustment' circuit, the filament tap inevitably was not at cir-
cuit 'ground' but at some r.f. voltage level which, in turn, drove some of the r.f.
current into the a.c. mains via the filament transformer. An efficient adjustment
was obtained only when the nodal point of the voltage distnbution curve along
the antenna, countperoise, lead-ins and the inductance was exactly at the filament
tap as seen in Figure 38. Moving the filament tap was not a alternative. That
would shift the frequency and necessitate resetting grid and plate taps in order to
return to the operating frequency and to establish optimum conditions for oscilla-
tion. The end result would be the same offset of nodal point and filament tap at a
given frequency. Instead, the electrical length of the antenna and C.P. had to be
adjusted, either by 'cut and try', or by inserting a series capacitor in either or both
leads, or both.
That approach was possible (and necessary) because the antenna, counter-
poise capacitance, lead-ins and inductance as in Figure 38 (or antenna, capacitor,
inductance, capacitor, counterpoise and lead-ins in Fig 3A, or antenna, lead-in,
inductance and capacitor in Smith's circuit on page 38) formed a series tuned
circuit. In antenna terms, the system is a very short vertical radiator that is base-
loaded by a combination of inductance and capacitance. Such an antenna must
be an electical quartcrwave in length for the voltage node to appear at its base;

191
for shorter antennas, the base-loading components substitute for the missmg
length of wire. The nodal point at the filament tap, in other words, is the electri-
cal base of a grounded quarterwave vertical which, however, is not actually con-
nected directly to real ground. Rather, the connection to ground is through the
series circuit formed by the lower half of the inductance and the counterpoise
capacitance to real ground! For the nodal point to appear at the filament tap, this
lower series circuit must be adjusted to produce a halfwave voltage distribution
with nodes at real ground and the filament tap electrical ground! This sounds
complicated, but there's more. The impedance of the driving source (the oscil-
lator) will be changing with every adjustment of antenna and counterpoise!
Mason pointed out that lengthening the antenna raised the nodal point on the
inductance; in effect, that decreased the capacitive reactance presented at the
feedpoint (filament tap or electrical base). The same effect could be obtained by
forming a circuit consisting of two capacitors in series (antenna and coupling
capacitor). Kruse's emphasis upon 'big antennas with series condense~· applied
both methods of electricaily lengthening the antenna. When the antenna series
capacitor in Figure 3A was correctly adjusted, the nodal point appeared at the
filament tap, providing that the other half of the series circuit consisting of the
counterpoise and capacitor was also correctly adjusted. The same rationale could
be followed in adjusting the C.P. portion. A decrease in the size of the C.P. or
raising its height above ground decreased the series capacitance and raised the
nodal point on the inductance, and the converse lowered the nodal point.
John Reinartz pushed the approach to its practical Limit in fine-turung the
antenna and counterpoise used with the circuit in Figure 3A to produce an ideal-
ly symmetrical system. The tap points for antenna, C.P., plate and grid were equi-
distant from the filament tap for a given frequency and power input, and when
changing frequency across the 1.66-2.4 MHz range, identical settings of the
ganged coupling capacitors kept the nodal point at the filament tap and equal
current readings on the antenna and C.P. r.f. ammeters! Reinartz's system was
similar in shape to that seen in Figure 4. However, six-wire cage construction
was used in the the system: the horizontal portion consisted of an 18-inch
diameter cage 42ft in length, the vertical portion of a 9-inch cage 33ft in length,
and the counterpoise of a an 18-inch cage 65ft in length at heights of 12ft at the
antenna base and Sft at the end. During development by the 'cut and try' method,
the counterpoise was trimmed six inches at a tin1c and the height was varied until
the nodal point remained at the filament tap for settings of the series capacitors
and taps across the above frequency range and at various power levels. Broad-
band operation was one defmite advantage of the flat-top and cage approach!
In any event, the necessity of aiming for the ideal represented by Rcinartz's
achievement was soon eliminated by further development of the Hartley circuit.
In 1926, Hagemann found that the frequency instability caused by changes in
antenna impedance could be minimized by greatly reducing the size of the induc-
tance and shunting it with a large capacitor, thus forming a parallel tank circuit
tuned to resonance largely independent of the antenna system. In K7BWZ's cir-
cuit (pnge 134), the fixed capacitive coupling of the tube to inductance remains,
but antenna and counterpoise are loosely coupled to the tank circuit by means of
an adjustable 'link' coil instead of series capacitors. But by then, antennas had
also changed. 'Fundamental wavelength' meant a half-wave resonant antenna
over ground instead of a very short top-loaded vertical over a counterpoise. Fur-
thermore, non-resonant balanced feedlines had replaced the separate lead-ins
from counterpoise and antenna. K7BWZ's circuit is the last that showed a coun-
terpoise as part of the system.
However, before those developments in antennas and the Hartley oscillator
occurred, the use of series capacitors was the only method around for adjusting

192
the Hartley system for maximum efficiency. The method had an inherent prob-
lem though. For example, Gunn had noted that, while the use of series capacitors
was a perfect solution in theory, che quality of the mica 'condensers' available at
the time was poor, so that any increase in efficiency through their use was offset
by dialectric loss. This is easily understood in view of the fact that quite large
voltages would be developed across the series capacitor in these short antennas.
Kruse noted that air- variable capacitors would be ideal in this application, but as
yet, 'we have not seen any ads of a .0005 microfarads variable air-capacitor able to
stand 5000 volts or better', the voltage drop to be expected when the very short
antenna was operated at high power. He enigmatically added that 'We know of
one, tho' without explanation; of course, he was referring to the capacitor that he
was using in his antennas tests!
Kruse reported the results of those tests in the February, 1924, issue (see
Chapter 2, pages 35-37) and provided data that sheds light on the shift in com-
plex operating conditions that accompanied the transition from very short anten-
nas to loaded antennas approaching a quarter wavelength positioned over a
counterpoise. Kruse's antenna is seen in Figure 4 along wich che data which was
averaged from a large number of tests. The signal strengths were given as 'good,
some QSB' at 1.6 MHz, 'good, no QSB' at 1.8 MHz, 'stronger, no QSB' at 2.3
MHz, and 'very strong' at 2.7 and 3.3 MHz. The peaking of signal strength indi-
cates that maximum efficiency was obtained at 2.7-3.3 MHz. Analysis of the data
seen in Figure 4 helps us to understand why 'big antennas with seties condensers'
were an improvement over short antennas and high antenna currents.
Fig. 4. Kruse's Antenna System.

Mhz pf Amps Input

1.6 0 5.2a 600w f
1.8 0 4.8a 600w 70
2.3 250 2.8 500w
2.7 120 1.5 400w
3.3 50 0.6 350w
j
40 x 30 C.P.

Considered separately, the antenna, with an overall length of 96ft, calculates

to a quarterwave at about 2.4 MHz, and lead-in length (not given) would drop
that a bit lower. Note that a series capacitance of 250pF (small capacitive reac-
tance) at 2.3 MHz was required and the increase in signal strength began at that
point. This would seem to indicate that the antenna had turned inductive (or
longer than a quarterwave for the frequency) at that point. U so, the resonant
frequency of the antenna should have been a bit lower, perhaps 2.1 Mhz or so.
Maximum signal strength, moreover, should have occurred somewhere in that
vicinity, but actually occurred higher in frequency, beginning at 2.7 MHz, suggest-
ing that the nodal point vs filament tap condition optimized between 2.7-3.3
MHz. The factor that is not apparent here is the effect of the mutual couping
between the horizontal portion of the antenna and the counterpoise that shunted
a parallel capacitance across the oscillator inductance, and the shift in tube load
impedance, also shunting the inductance. The overall effect was a rise in the re-
sonant frequency of the system and a broadbanding effect across the above fre-
quency range. This would seem to contradict the logical expectation that adding a

193
counterpoise would lower the resonant frequency. However, the size and height
of the counterpoise were the deciding factors in regard to its effects upon system
resonance. The nature of this relationship was clarified in another 1924 article
about counterpoises.
In 'A Counterpoise Investigation' (QST, December, 1924), Gaston B. Ashe
(6XBN) showed antenna resistance curves vs counterpoise shapes and sizes that
shed light upon Kruse's data Five shapes are shown in Figure 5: A-E are lOOft in
length; A-D are lOOft wide, E is 3ft wide at the bottom, and A and B are 40ft
wide at the top with two additional wires (not shown) spaced evenly inside the
two, but terminated at the internal cross-wire in A. Ashe was only interested in
the effect of counterpoise size and shape so he did not give specifics about the
antenna. The measurements were made both with and without series capacitors
to resonate the system, with no difference in the shape of the resulting antenna
resistance curves. It is unclear from his note just what happened to the curves
when the series capacitors were inserted, but he seems to indicate that a higher
resistance occurred at a slightly lower frequency. Nonetheless, two aspects of
Ashe's curves are relevant, namely, the shift in resonant frequency and antenna
resistance with variations in the area and shape of the counterpoise.
Fig. 5. The Counterpoises Tested by Ashe.

A B c D E

The input resistance and resonant frequencies were: about 16 Oh.ms from
1.875-1.97 MHz for the large rectangular shapes A and B; 18-20 Ohms between
1.85-1.97 MHz for the fan shapes at C and D; and 24 Ohms at 1.71-1.87 MHz for
the 3ft wide two-wire shape at E. As a whole, the large group A-B-C-D exhibits
insignificant internal differences, but when compared with the small counterpoise
E, the surprising effect of a decrease in counterpoise area is obvious. The mutual
coupling between antenna and counterpoise is similar to that between the two
halves of an antenna, each coupled directly to the reflecting ground plane (real
ground) beneath according to their length/diameter ratio, electrical length and
height. The small C.P., in effect, is a resonant part of the system. It is interesting
to note in this context that Mason remarked of his experiments: 'it has been ac-
tually found that with a cage coumerpoise t!te nodal point will be very near the cen-
ter of the system, measured from the end of the antenna along the wires to the end
of the cou11te1poise'. This implies a half-wave voltage distribution on the system as
seen in Figure 3B, with a final quarterwave shift in magnitude and phase across
the counterpoise capacitance to ground. In a properly adjusted system with
nodal point at the filament tap, the resonant frequency of the system would be
close to that calcuJated by the quarterwave formula for the skywire portion A-B
in Figure 1. However, the large area counterpoise represents an entirely different
case. Its large distributed capacitance resulting from the small length/diameter
ratio renders it a non-resonant part of the system. It was interposed between
antenna and ground with the result that the antenna coupled into it instead of

194
ground, thereby reducing the effective height of the portion of the antenna at B
of Figure 1, raising its resonant frequency, and decreasing its input resistance.
Kruse's counterpoise exibited these effects of the large area type counterpoise.
The broadbanding effect which we recognise as a result of thickening the an-
tenna and lowering its 'Q' is apparent in the fact that maximum signal strength
persisted from 2.7-3.3 Mhz. This phenomena is apparent in other published data
where the same pattern appears: as Kruse noted of tests with BAQO: 'the signals
built up until at 176 meters they were t1Uly tremendous' . In this context, Ashe noted
a phenomenon which he did not understand: 'something peculiar happens to the
resistance right at the fundamental. It flaUens off very suddenly and seems to drop a
bit'. At the time, the role of the reactive component of antenna input resistance
was not known, nor was it distinguished in measurements such as Ashe's and
Gunn's. They were actualy measuring a complex impedance consisting both of
actual radiation resistance and reactance. The latter, as we now know, decreases
as the signal approaches the resonant frequency of the antenna system, and, in
fact, we define resonant frequency as the point at which the reactance disappears,
leaving a pure resistance. Ashe's crude measurement instrument and technique
responded to the fact that the reactance changes slowly in the vicinity of the re-
sonant frequency in thick antennas
Finally, the decreases in antenna current and input power shown along with
Kruse's antenna can be explained by reference to the nature of antenna current.
that was being measured. Kruse was correct in debunking high antenna current,
but his explanation that the radiation resistance had been raised was only partial-
ly correct (see page 36). Indeed, as the very short vertical was loaded so as to
approach a quarterwave, the radiation resistance did increase, but not nearly
enough to account for the dramatic changes seen in Figure 4. Rather, the high
currents are exactly what are to be expected on a severely mismatched antenna
due to the standing waves that are developed. An r.f. ammeter inserted directly
into the antenna lead, as seen in Figure 3A, reads the algebraic sum of incident
and reflected current waves, and hence this reading is always greater than the
actual current in the incident wave. Furthermore, the load impedance seen by the
driving source with such an antenna consists of both resistive and reactive com-
ponents. As the antenna is loaded to resonance, the reactive component disap-
pears, leaving only the resistive component, which is always less than the complex
impedance presented by a mismatched antenna. The end result is a lower anten-
na standing wave current, a lower plate input, and the stronger radiated signal
from an antenna which radiates most of the power fed to it.

195
 Taylor and Hulbert's Skip Distance Curve (see Chapter 2, page 29). The data
points were provided by daily tests du ring the spring of 1925 voyage from New
York to Panama. The curve enabled Taylor and Hulbert to calculate the ex-
pected electron density required for total refraction of a wave of given frequency,
and to hypothesize the critical angle of incidence beyond which rays leave the
ionosphere. More importantly, they correlated wave frequency, electron density
and critical angle of incidence in a radical new concept; 'It also turns out that the
critical angle is a function of the frequency and that the higher the frequency, the
flaller the angle'. They took into account earth curvature in predicting a maximum
skip distance of 1400 miles with a minimum usable wave angle of about 5 deg-
rees, and correctly hypothesized the role of the earth's magnetic field in the rota-
tional dynamics of ionization around field lines. Likewise, they correctly
hypothesized that the ionosphere was a 'complicated upper ionized layer ... full of
convolutions and variations' and that fading was largely due to polarization mis-
match between incoming signal and antenna. H owever, the lack of real data led
to a few mistaken notions about the height of the 'Heaviside Layer' which they
thought was low in summer and high in winter, seasonal variation in absorption
rates with rising frequency, and ionization intensity, which they thought was
higher in summer than in winter. And, despite their limited knowledge of the
ionosphere, they correctly predicted the upper limit for skip propagation: 'we are
. not likely to see very satisfacto1y communication over great distances on waves
shoner than 10 meters we will say -- that is, of higher frequencies than 30,000 KC'.

1AOO

1000

"'
Cl

·~

200

30 1& 10
MH z

Membership dues for The QRP A111ate11r Radio Club l11tematio11al are
currently $11 U.S. ($13 Foreign) for the firs! year. This includes a lifetime
QRP number for use in contests, and fo ur issues of the QRP Quanerfy, the
excellent publication of the QRP ARC! in QST format. Check or M.0. to:
William K. Harding, K4AHK, 10923 Carters Oak Way, Burke, VA 22015.
Membership dues for The Michigan QRP Club, open to QRP'rs
worfd,vide, are currently $7 initially per year which includes membership
number and subscription to the excellent newsletter The Five Watter. To:
Membership Chairperson, 5346 W. Francis Road, Clio, Ml 48420.

196
 The Original Circuit of the 'WN3COB Novice Special'. O.c. high voltage to pin
4 ( +) and pin 1, with 6.3v filament voltage to pins 2-7. L2-L3 are designed to
feed a balanced load such as a dipole made from 300-0hm twinlead. Spac-
ing is adjusted for best antenna current as indicated by #49 or #47 bulbs
inserted in the feedline. C4 is adjusted for a compromise between highest
output and best note. The diameter of L1-L2 is non-critical so long as the
inductance resonates on 80 and 40 meters with whatever size of capacitor is
used at C4. The construction approach followed in the original article is seen
in the accompanying photo.

6F6oo 6 V6
l

J.'i~ . l ·- \\' irin1t tl ingraru or tl11.: i 111·\1wu,..h \' tran::i ·

milter.
c:, - .i10.,.,.r.1. cnicu.
c._ Ca · 0.0J-,.fd. 600 -volt 1>u1>cr.
C 1 ··- l•IO·µµf<l . varinhl.: S ~l -1 \CJ ur llud
( II 11111111nrl11111l
:'l!C:-18i6).
1< 1 O.l· mcgolun 1 °\\ a tl c·;u11pth~i 1 iu11,
J.1 · ,j turns :Xo. l8 d.r.&..". . I .Y.f i1wh i11 .. ic l•· eliurnt."'tt·r,
0

e·lose -wouud.
1., ··· :1.5 .Vic.; 19 1.11r11,. 7 ~ 1 1-.; U 1111·11,.
LJ ·- 1:~ tu rn~ and() 1ur11¥- . Hc-quin·il t:X pcrimcut - sec
trx t. St"C tox l (or/ .'/ und l.3 h imling i n~ t rm:linn~.
II Fe: - ~ ~-mh. r.f. ··h nk~ ( r\nt iona l 11-JOOr ).

197
 Cover Photo of the S.S.B. Argonaut (see page 162). The most famous QRP
rig of the vacuum tube age, it and the tube were eventually consigned to
oblivion by the transistor, but its heritage was resurrected by TenTec Inc. with
the introduction in 1972 of an even more famous so/id-state Argonaut.

tt I t . . '

.'" ....

198
 The First Solld-State QRP Transmitter Featured In QST (March, 1956).
Designed by E. Laird Campbell, Wl CUT, the transmitter was the forerunner of
a multitude of such rigs now pumping mini-signals into the ether (see page
179).

osc
Cl<.761

199
 The Joy of QRP: Strategy for Success (1985) by WORSP has become a
classic on the subject of QRP and operating the high frequency bands. Excerpts
from reviews of the book:

George Dobbs, G3RJV, founder on the G-QRP Club, writing in Shortwave

Magazine: 'We have waited for this book for along time! Adrian Weiss is peri1aps
the best-known figure among QRP operators in the USA. He is the QRP Editor of
CQ and was for many years the publisher of The Milliwatt, the first amateur radio
magasine devoted to low-power operation ... The book attempts to give an overall
treatment of the sujbect of low-power working on the h.f band ... There is an excel-
lent section on techniques for operating with low power, and strategy and planning
for hf band operating ... .I am most impressed both with the scope and content of the
book. Anyone thinking of trying low-power operation on the h.f bands, or even
currently using QRP, should benefit from reading it ... The sections on objectives,
planning operating techniques, band selection and propagation would help any
radio amate111; whateverp ower is being used....

Doug DeMaw, W1FB, writing in QST: 'I found the book easy to read, and the
text is interesti11g Jhroughout ... The operating section discusses times of day versus
band conditions, band selection for best results, antennas for QRP and genera/
operating objectives. This is the area of flea-power operation in which which many
newcomers fail after havi11g grow11 used to high-power operation with elaborate
antennas ... I would have no hesitation in recommending WORSP's book to any
amateur interested in QRP operating. In fact, it will provide great reading for nearfy
any active ham, even if QRP is not presently a ham-shack objective.

Bill Welsh, W6DDB, Novice Editor for CQ: '151 pages coveting QRP from
basics to fine points in eight interesting chapters. It is interspersed with a total of
about 50 photographs, tables, and drawings. Novices will have no difficulty under-
standing the explanations.

In Radcom, journal of the Radio Society of Great Britain: 'The book contains
eight chapters. The first ... outlines some of the ftuStrations of QRP operating and
tells how to put these feelings offrustration into perspective in order to enjoy QRP
work to the full.. . Chapter five deals with 'Homebrewing the First Rig' ... and takes
the newcomer through the planning stages of home construction. It shows how to
select the most appropriate circuits and components for a prospective project ...
details of test equipment are given ... Full constructional details, including printed
circuit layouts, are given for a five watt transmitter covering any two bands between
3.5 and 14MHz. This is followed by two v.fo. designs ... intended to dlive the pre-
viously decribed transmitter ... finally a regulated power supply is described which
can provide between 1.5 and 15 volts at 3 amps ... The Joy of QRP is essential read-
ing for anyone who is interested in improving their operating skills on the hf bands.
The author has used a thorough and in-depth approach to all the the topics covered
in this book, but in doing so he has maintained and easy-going and entertaining
style. It would be difficult for anyone to read this book and not gain something
useful from it. '

The Joy of ORP is available from Milliwatt Books, $10.95 U.S., $12.95 For-
eign.
 About the Author
First licensed as WN3COB in 1955, then K8EEG in 1957 and finally
WORSP in 1977, Adrian Weiss has long been an avid QRP'r. In addition to
homebrewing and operating, his interest in QRP led to the founding of The
Milliwatt: Nat ional Journ al of QRP , published 1970-1975, and he has
served as QRP Editor for CO Magazine since 1974. Solid-state design ,
propagation and DX'ing, and QSO'ing other QRP'rs are his chief interests
in amateur radio. In " real life", he holds a Ph.D. in English Renaissance
Literature and derives his greatest professional satisfaction from teaching
Shakespeare's dramas.

The Joy of QRP: Strategy for Success by the author is still available
from Milliwatt Books (see inside flyleaf for details).

The History of ORP in England by Christopher Page {G4BUE) is

underway with a projected publication date in early 1989. The large
amount of historical information gathered to date will translate into impor-
tant and interesting reading. WORSP and G4BUE remind readers that
information about QRP, regardless of country, up to 1960 should be sub-
mitted to the authors for future use.
The QRP'rs Guide to Transmission Lines/Antennas, Prop agation
and DX'i ng, a detailed comprehensive examination of the subject of
ionospheric propagation and its application to QRP work, with special
emphasis upon DX'ing, is scheduled for 1989 publication. Data and in-
sights gained by QRP'rs should be submitted to WORSP for possible
use.
Still available while they last: 10 back issues ofThe Milliwatt: Nation-
al Journal of ORPp at $10 per packet - a goldmine of ORP material for
the 1970-1975 period. Also, HW-8 owners will be interested in reprints of
WORSP's series of classic articles about this popular transceiver, includ-
ing the test report and two articles detailing modifications such as Re-
ceiver Incremental Tuning and the addition of a wattmeter - $7, proceeds
to support the Milliiva11 DXCC Trophy Program.

ISBN 0-9614139·1·3
$9.95 U.S. ($10.95 First Class)
$12.95 Foreign