KR8L Blog

2026 June 28

Alaska, No. 50

Filed under: DX,HF,QRP — William @ 3:12 pm

During Field Day this weekend I worked Alaska with my QCX-Mini running one watt to my station vertical (Butternut HF9V). That was my 50th state with this radio. My history of working states with the QCX-Mini goes something like this:

On July 18, 2025, approximately one month after putting the radio on the air, I had worked 47 states with one watt or less (some as low as about 700 mW). On August 31, 2025, I worked Kentucky for the last of the lower 48. All the others had been worked with the HF9V, but in that instance I was out in the yard running two watts to a 21-foot wire with a 4:1 transformer and a 7.5-foot counterpoise. The end of the wire was draped over a maple branch about 16 feet up.

On February 22, 2026 I worked Hawaii with one watt to the HF9V.

And finally, on June 28, 2026, I worked Alaska with one watt to the HF9V. It took just over a year to get all 50 states, running one watt or less 98% of the time and never more than two watts. (And I’d guess that a 21-foot wire with 7.5-foot counterpoise is not as efficient a radiator as the HF9V. But then there was no feedline loss, so…?)

And by the way, in that time I have also worked 43 “DXCC entities” with one watt or less. (Alaska was number 43.)

Field Day QRPp

Filed under: HF,QRP — William @ 2:50 pm

Thunderstorms all day Saturday and very hot and humid on Sunday, so I did a repeat of last year and operated 1E with my QCX-Mini at 9 volts for 1 watt out to my station vertical (HF9V).  I spent about six hours total and made 80 contacts in 38 states and three provinces.  Most of my operating time on Sunday I spent just tuning around looking for new states to work, adding seven to the 31 that I worked on Saturday (plus one more province).

Highlight of the weekend was working Alaska for my 50th state with the QCX-Mini.  49 of them have been worked with one watt (or less) to my vertical, and Kentucky (my closest state) was with two watts to a 21-foot wire with a 4:1 transformer and a 7.5-foot counterpoise.  No Kentucky stations heard this weekend, darn it, I’ll get those guys with QRPp yet.

Also worked three POTA stations in CO, NE, and WY (and had already worked those states during FD).

2026 June 1

CQWW WPX CW ‘Test and a New Country (#189)

Filed under: DX,HF,QRP — William @ 8:05 am

I spent a few hours over the weekend in the contest with my 20 meter QCX-Mini, which I have configured to run one watt with a nine volt power supply.  Antenna was my Butternut HF9V.  My objective was to add to my total of countries worked with one watt or less, so I only called DX stations (plus one each USA, Canada, and Mexico).  I made 16 contacts in 16 countries and added six to my <1W countries list, bringing the total to 42.

Best DX was 9H6A on Malta, 5400 miles.  That was also a lifetime new country (any mode, any band, any power) bringing my lifetime total to 189.

I transcribed my paper log to Cabrillo format and had my entry uploaded by 0035Z.  

Perhaps the most difficult thing (other than just being heard) was working a station with a contact total in the low thousands and sending back a one or two digit number. This usually elicited the telegraphic equivalent of “WUT?”. 😁

2026 May 29

Desecheo Island Confirmed for QRPp

Filed under: DX,HF,QRP — William @ 2:35 pm

Just received my QSL card from KP5/NP3VI on Desecheo Island. I already have a confirmed contact from a previous DXpedition, but this one is special to me because for my 20 meter contact I was using my QCX-Mini running one watt. KP5/NP3VI reported that he was running 10 watts at the time.

2026 February 22

DX ‘Test: 1 Watt and a Vertical

Filed under: DX,HF,Operating,QRP — William @ 10:00 pm

I spent about six hours this weekend running one watt on 20 meters in the ARRL International DX CW Contest. I used my QCX-Mini with a nine volt power supply and the antenna was my Butternut HF9V vertical. I made 50 contacts in 30 countries (DX “entities”). Although I didn’t work any countries that were new for me, 26 of the 30 were new countries for operating at one watt or less. That brings my country total for one watt or less to 36.

Several contacts were over 4000 miles and a few were over 5000 miles. Two contacts were over 6000 miles: Cyprus (6200 miles) and Japan (6700 miles). I only heard two JAs all weekend and worked one of them.

Most of the stations that I worked were running a kilowatt, so they had a 30 dB advantage over me, but a few were running 100 watts. (The exchange for DX stations was signal report and power.) KP5/NP3VI on Desecheo Island was running 10 watts. As you might expect, many of my contacts were with dedicated contest stations with big antennas.

I did work Hawaii during the contest, making 49 states with the QCX-Mini. I heard a couple of Alaska stations but wasn’t able to work them.

This was a wonderful experience! I continue to be amazed at what can be accomplished with very low power CW. All credit and thanks go to the operators on the other end who succeeded in pulling out my tiny signal!

UPDATE: JA3YBK has already confirmed via LOTW, so 6694 miles is my new distance record. My 5281 mile QSO with RT5T while running 675 mW still holds my record of 7823 miles/watt.

2026 February 15

60 Meters

Filed under: HF,QRP — William @ 10:43 am

This morning I removed the 25 micro-henry coil from my random wire (used to tune 160 meters) and adjusted the tuner for 60 meters. I hooked up my FT-817 and adjusted the tuner for a good match. It’s mid-morning right now so no signals on the band, but I’m looking forward to trying out the new 5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz international low power segment in the coming days. If I have any success at five watts I plan on dropping down to 500 mW to see what I can accomplish (CW of course!).

POTA + SST

Filed under: Pedestrian Mobile,Portable,POTA,QRP — William @ 10:34 am

A typical POTA outing for me is to go to a park and chase Park-to-Park (P2P) contacts and not care if I get enough for an “official” activation (at least ten contacts). However, it’s nice to occasionally make ten or more contacts just to add to my slowly growing score. One way to improve my chances for success is to go out during a K1USN Slow Speed Test or ICWC Medium Speed Test. There are lots of stations on, no huge pileups (which helps when running QRP to a small antenna), and the exchange is simple. The SST is particularly nice because the exchange includes the state. Another option is the CWops Test if you’re comfortable with 25 wpm or more and bigger pileups (non-members are allowed to participate).

Last Friday I went to Fort Massac State Park with my KH1 + Whip and got in the SST. I made 15 contacts in the test and finished up with three P2P contacts for 18 contacts in 45 minutes. Once again I was close to the river, making it another 3fer because of the two national historic trails there in addition to the park.

2026 February 11

Impromptu Park Bench POTA

Filed under: Portable,POTA,QRP — William @ 10:14 pm

I went to town to run a few errands this afternoon. One of the places that I wanted to go to was closed — it’s a small one-man operation and sometimes just can’t be open. Well, I had my KH1 in The Roadster, so after taking care of my other stops I went to Fort Massac State Park and found a spot close to the river (for another 3-fer). It was a bit too cold for top-down driving (about 18° F cooler than yesterday) but sunny, so I sat down on a park bench and did a little operating. I made three contacts on 20 meters (AZ, VA, MS) and three on 15 meters (NE, MA CA).

2026 February 10

POTA Roadster

Filed under: Portable,POTA,QRP — William @ 4:23 pm

I wasn’t sure whether to call this post POTA Roadster or Roadster POTA…

After reading that Thomas, K4SWL had success operating his KH1 from inside his car (with the whip sticking out an open window), I just had to try it from The Roadster with the top down. It warmed to 68° F today so I went down to Fort Massac State Park and parked near the river so that I could take credit for a 3-fer (US-0993, US-3791, and US-4572). I operated for just under a half hour and made five contacts: two POTA and two SOTA on 20 meters and one SOTA on 30 meters. States worked were WY, SD, VA, CO, and NC. I’m definitely going to do this more often!

By the way, I used my 33 foot counterpoise wire and had no trouble tuning the 44 inch whip on 30 meters as well as all the higher bands.

2026 January 26

January 2026 Updates

Filed under: DX,HF,MF,Operating,Portable,POTA,QRP,Top Band — William @ 9:27 pm

Just a few operating notes from January 2026. It seems as if I didn’t get on the air all that much, but I did manage to fill four pages in my ARRL logbook.

I participated briefly in a couple of Medium Speed Tests. On the 13th I made several MST contacts on 80 meters, a band that I don’t visit that often. That always brings back fond memories since that’s the band I started on as a Novice many years ago. On the 26th I got out my QCX-Mini, hooked it up to 12 volts for two watts output, and made some 20 meter MST contacts.

I made a very few Straight Key Month contacts, including working K3Y/KH6 with my QCX-Mini on 20 meters while running two watts. I have now worked all states except Alaska with my QCX-Mini.

I did a couple of brief POTA outings using my KX2 and with the AX1 antenna mounted on a tripod. These were tests to practice winter operating from inside a vehicle. The tests went well and I ended up ordering a 15 foot piece of RG-316 coax to improve flexibility as to how I set up my operating position and where I place the antenna.

I made several contacts in the CQ 160 Meter CW Contest running 100 watts to a random wire. It’s always fun to get on Top Band!

Thanks to a winter storm and very cold temperatures I wasn’t able to get out for Winter Field Day, but I did make a few contacts as a Home station.

I worked several DX stations throughout the month on various bands. Both 10 meters and 12 meters continued to be productive.

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