This month, during our June 13th meeting, we will have one guest speaker, Geoffrey Dann (N3CFX) who will present QRP. We will also have our Field Day 2025 Planning Meeting, led by Dave AI6VX.
Geoffrey Dann (N3CFX) will present QRP.
In Ham Radio, QRP refers to low-power operation, typically transmitting with 5 watts or less for CW (Morse code) or 10 watts or less for SSB (voice). The term comes from the Q code “QRP,” meaning “reduce power,” but in practice, it’s about maximizing efficiency and skill to communicate over long distances with minimal power. QRP enthusiasts often use compact, portable radios, like the Elecraft KX2 or Yaesu FT-818, and focus on lightweight antennas for field operations, such as during events like QRP Field Day. It’s a challenging and rewarding niche in amateur radio, emphasizing operator skill and equipment optimization.
Geoffrey’s bio: My grandfather was an electronic engineer who worked on radio navigation systems in the World War one era, and my father started to be an electrical engineer before switching to law. So, it may be in my blood.
My father got me a book, Electronics for the Beginner, and we built several of the projects from the book, on real wood boards, starting with a crystal radio. I tinkered with electronic stuff as a kid, disassembling old dead stuff more than building, sadly. I got a degree in electrical engineering with courses in power, circuits, and fields & waves, so am sort of a generalist.
I got my novice license in 1981 while on a short vacation in the states from my Navy assignment at the Panama Canal. After moving to California later that year, I upgraded to advanced and later extra. I was a member of SMRA, Poinsettia amateur radio club, and K6MEP for several years, until getting married and occupied with raising three daughters.
At my previous house in south Oxnard, I had a 40-foot tower with a beam antenna, and dabbled in a few activities, including running a few phone patches to Antarctica.
Since retiring four years ago, I am returning to the hobby.
As a supervisor of a half dozen electronic technicians at Panama, I got to play with some radio stuff, including setting up a temporary repeater made from two VRC-46 jeep radios and antennas made of half-inch EMT and a block of 4×4 wood, on a hilltop in the middle of the isthmus. I remember one of the local hams there showing off his new IC-2AT handi-talkie.
Much of my Navy civil service job included supporting the LF/VLF submarine broadcast system, where I ran high-voltage tests at up to 250kV on various antenna parts. I got to travel to most of the transmitter sites, and climb many of the towers, up to 1000 ft.
Field Day Planning Meeting
Field Day is on June 28-29 with set-up starting at noon on Friday June 27th at Oxnard College at the corner of South Rose Avenue and East Bard Road West of parking lot B.
Below is our Field Day flyer:
Field Day Sign-up sheet as of May 8th:
7.1. QSO Points:
7.1.1. Phone contacts count one point each.
7.1.2. CW contacts count two points each.
7.1.3. Digital contacts count two points each.
7.2. Power multipliers: The power multiplier that applies is determined by the highest power output of any of the transmitters used during the Field Day operation. Power output for classes A, B and C cannot exceed 500 watts Peak Envelope Power (PEP) transmitter output. Power output for classes D, E and F cannot exceed 100 watts Peak Envelope Power (PEP) transmitter output.
7.2.1. If all contacts are made using a power of 5 watts or less and if a power source other than commercial mains or motor-driven generator is used (batteries, solar cells, water-driven generator), the power multiplier is five (5).
7.2.2. If all contacts are made using a power of 5 watts or less, but the power source is from a commercial main or from a motor-driven generator, the power multiplier is 2. If batteries are charged during the Field Day period using commercial mains or a motor-driven generator the power multiplier is two (2).
7.2.3. If any or all contacts are made using an output power up to 100 watts or less, the power multiplier is two (2).
7.2.4. If any or all contacts are made using an output power greater than 100 watts, the power multiplier is one (1).
7.2.5. The power multiplier for an entry is determined by the maximum output power used by any transmitter used to complete any contact during the event. (Example: a group has one QRP station running 3 watts and a second station running 500 watts, the power multiplier of one (1) applies to all contacts made by the entire operation).
Bonus Points
Here’s a table of our speakers and/or activities for this year (completed is grayed out):
73,
Robert Shank KM6RSS Vice President, VCARC
