Mark N2VPK recently said
<<I rarely use SSB. The bands are at times super jammed up. It seems that
the only useable SSB band is 15M.>>
Yes, SSB QRP is tough, but not impossible. The other night as I was working
on my 38S, I was listening to a local group on 75m ssb. Idecide to break in
because they were discussing unique call signs. They liked mine, but they
could barely copy me, and were not too interested in straining to hear me.
OK, so I tuned around. Wall to wall KWs (or more). Another round table qso of
very loud signals was just ending. One of the calls was a W7, so on a whim I
called him. No reply - called again, again, again. One of the other
participants in the qso, a VE3 said "Hey Bob, someone's calling you - give a
listen. So he did, and I called several more times, announcing I was running
5 watts - no response. The VE3 again said "Hey Bob, the guy is qrp!" My hat
is off to Bob - he said "probably looking for Wyoming for QRP WAS - keep
trying". So after several more tries, we made a valid qso, in fact the band
came up to the point where he said I was S7 on his meter and very solid copy!
I mentioned I had been working on the 38S when I heard them, and he wanted to
know all about it - I'm sending him info. This was a great example of how
important the guy on the other end is to successful QRP, and how gentlemanly
MOST hams are in this regard. Don't think you can't do it with QRP - I used
to think this kind of QSO on 75m ssb at night among the giant signals was
impossible - not so! Also, think about it - when these QRO roundtables end,
the result is usually a very nice clear wide open spot in the band! Patience,
patience, - pounce CQ CQ QRP etc.
Tom NoBS
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