Ramsey Electronics QRP20 - Manual (Page 4)

QRP-20 • 4
INTRODUCTION:
Most "QRP" transmitters are one-of-a-kind experimental circuits which take
some patience and fine-tuning to get clean keying and satisfactory
performance. Most QRP building projects presume either unlimited radio
junkboxes with all the right coils and capacitors, or that you have a lot of time
on your hands to track down needed parts. And that is part of what ham radio
can be all about. The purpose of the Ramsey Electronics series of QRP
transmitters is to give our amateur radio customers the option of picking up a
truly complete and reliable transmitter kit for whenever you need a compact CW
rig for a particular opportunity, perhaps a camping or business trip or a
weekend contest, or something economical to share with a favorite new Novice.
This transmitter is a serious and practical device for radio amateurs with
general interests, as well as for QRP enthusiasts.
NOTE TO NEWCOMERS: "QRP" is amateur radio shorthand referring to
operation at "reduced power". As a standard "QRP20-signal", the CW
expression "QRP?" really means all of this: "If you are receiving me so well,
and since the FCC requires that we use minimum power necessary to maintain
useful communication, do you think I should reduce transmitting power?" The
act of reducing power output can be the switching off of a linear power
amplifier, or switching from 25 to 5 watts on your new Radio Shack 10 meter
rig or turning back the carrier level control on most modern transceivers. For
equipment description and contest competition purposes, "QRP" refers to
transmitter powers under 5 watts.
In our manuals for the Ramsey Amateur Band receivers for the 80 and 40
meter bands, which tend to be of interest to many beginners because of
available Novice and Technician operating privileges, we try to be very basic
and patient, hoping that such an approach will be helpful to radio newcomers -
as well as to casual, licensed amateurs who just did not know that worthwhile
radio gear could be constructed at Ramsey's low prices, even in the 1990's.
Talking through a transmitter project presents a different challenge. Talking
through a multi-stage transmitter that delivers a grand total of one or two watts
to your antenna is an even greater challenge. In these times when a "barefoot
rig" is assumed to be an imported, digitally-synthesized transceiver putting out
over 100 watts at a cost of $1000-2000.00, we need a sensible and helpful way
of talking about this QRP transmitter you are about to construct.
It's easy to prove that Ramsey's popular and economical receivers work just
fine. Build one right, turn it on, and we become easily convinced. A transmitter
is a different story, especially a transmitter that runs low QRP power! Different
from a receiver, you want to see some measurable output power and you
especially want to make two-way contacts!