QRP portable operation
This picture was made on a sunny autumn afternoon close to the place where i live. I really like to work QRP - for one reason you are in nature, away from noise (eletrical noise as well !) and traffic and yet still in touch with the world. You can relax, enjoy the nature and now and again make a QRP contact.
It does take some efforts to take all the equipment up that hill or mountain.. but you are well rewarded.
I am using an HFp vertical antenna from Ventenna, CA USA. It is a simple, low weight, very robust antenna which can be put together within a few minutes. It consists of different elements which must be put together - according to the desired band. With each band change, the elements must be changed and the radials must be adjusted. Fine tuning is made with a telescopic whip - each band can be tuned to a SWR 1 to 1.0 - and that means, once the band is fine tuned the whole frequency-range can be used with the same SWR (except the 10 meter band). The antenna can be used from 7 to 30 MHz and there is a 3.5 MHz kit available.
I have been able to work DX stations with this antenna and 5 watts.