First Attempts into two-way QRP Operation.

I purchased an Icom IC-705 transceiver at the start of the pandemic with the intent of getting into QRP. I wanted something that was portable, easy to take out in the field, and could interface with a computer quite easily. The IC-705, with its USB, Bluetooth, and Wifi capabilities fit the bill. It was, I thought, a good way to spend more time outside.

As what typically happens when you are still a working stiff, the working world can take you away from your hobbies or projects. It took a few years to actually get my IC-705 going - and it was quite the bendy road to get there. How so? Let me explain....

During the pandemic, I saw a Youtube video regarding the software SDR-Control, and how it allowed me to use my iPad to interface with my 705. I thought it was neat, decided to get SDR-Control to work on my 705 and started to play around with it. This software, which also allowed me to program the memories on the IC-705 felt like this was the missing software for the 705 that Icom should have provided. The SDR-Control, paired with the 705 was a joy to use, and got me firing up the 705 more often to even just listen. I noticed that the software could do FT8! Upon realizing this, and I was able to decode FT8 quite easily, I was tantalizingly close in finally realizing two way operation on QRP. The bit that was missing was a decent portable antenna. It was Jason's (KM4ACK) Youtube channel that pointed me to the direction of end-fed antennas, their ease of deployment, and the wide band of operation.

My excuse to finally get an end-fed antenna came when I got interested in participating in the HamSCI Solar Eclipse Operation project for the solar eclipse that would be happening April 8th, 2024. I jumped into the project by ordering both a QRP Labs Ultimate3s Kit and an HFKits end-fed antenna in December of 2023. This project actually proved challenging. I basically let the smoke out on the first Ultimate 3S kit, I ordered a second kit (Feb 2024), built that, built the end-fed antenna, and started my testing with WSPR. The kit could not get out, and I was running out of time. I decided to switch to my backup plan - the IC-705, and do WSPR through it. To my shock, I couldn't successfully get noticed on WSPR on the 705 either. It made me really suspect the end-fed antenna I built, so I checked my connections and checked the SWR reading - all was ok.

It was at that point I decided to use my Icom 7200 (March 2024). Testing the 7200 with a tuner and the end-fed and using a laptop - I had no problem doing WSPR at 10 watts. So I dialed down the power to 5 watts. No problem. Then to 1 watt. No problem! So from that testing, I realized that the antenna was fine, so I need to look both at the 705 and the Ultimate 3S individually.

After I had completed the Solar Eclipse project - I decided to tackle the issue with my IC-705 as to why I could not get WSPR to work. So I decided to do a test setup again, and using my Icom 7200 nearby, I went to actually listen via audio for the WSPR transmission. There was no audio! At that point, I realized, there may be a setting on the IC-705 that indicates the input audio source the radio needs to use to do modulation. (the 7200 has such a setting). Sure enough, buried in the menus, was the setting. I had run the experiment again, this time indicating the USB as the source of audio. Sure enough, the 7200 picked up the WSPR transmission. I had turned off the 7200 and decided to let the 705 run for a bit at 5 watts. Sure enough, stations started to pick me up at 5 Watts! Like my previous tests - I started transmitting at 2 W, then 1 W - no problem. Ar 500mW most transmissions were not picked up. Further testing in the field during the day also showed this 500 mW practical limit for the setup.

Armed with this information, I then decided to do a new test - this time getting FT8 to run and do proper 2 way QRP. At Valens, I brought the setup out, got my iPad running SDR-Control, did the adjustments for audio input and set output power for 5W. Finally, a two way handshake was established. The day was quite chilly, but I let the setup operate a bit to confirm that I could do a few contacts - and I did!

iPad running SDR-Control and wirelessly connected to the IC-705

This breakthrough gave me the confidence to do longer FT8 stretches of operation. The summer of 2024 - I had three, one week stretches of camping, and I made the decision that I would operate FT8 at night from my campsite.

I was not disappointed. My first full night of operating FT8 was done at Valens and I was able to get stations in the US, and a couple in Europe. That week was rainy with thunder - so my operation was restricted, but those evenings where I was able to operate, I was able to make contacts. My best performance so far was during the stretch of camping at Laurel Creek in Waterloo. During those nights, I managed to reach Australia, New Zealand, and made contacts across multiple bands (10, 12, 15, 20, 40, 80 MHz). The best part was I was able to keep the 705 in the tent, and I operated my iPad seated in front of a fire, and letting SDR-Control do its thing over Wifi.

It's been a long road - mostly by not having time, then doing spurts of frenetic activity to get things done. I learned a lot, however, and its these kinds of focused and targeted amateur radio projects where I tend to learn the most. I look forward to more fair weather - not only to get back into FT8, but to branch out into other modes - possibly JS8Call, and also doing POTA from Valens or even Laurel Creek.