I think the best HF band to start with QRP operation is 40 meters. Short-skip during the day and long-skip at night makes 40 meters a good choice. The band remains fairly active throughout the sunspot cycle and I believe the new QRPer can have a very high success rate. Chances are the the new QRPer would be using horizontal wire antennas or verticals, along with the majority of the ops on 40; keeping a lot of us on the same playing field. 72 Kevin N2TO
80......SSB Dave VE7PCC
Regarding the first band I used on QRP was in my case 30 metres! My aerial is quite efficient on 30 (by accident) + there should be more space between QSOs than say on 20 metres. My cw is still very rusty. Someone with a QRP kit may not have the filters of a 1000MP, so 30 could be good for that. The band is under used too! Those are my feelings. Colin. GW3WSU
Just read your packet request and thought I would give my shillings worth. I don't think an easy answer can be given because of the veriaty of unknowns. I think first priority should (for dx working) be given to the band the best ant of the station eg I like 20 as I have a 2 ele yagi and only dipoles for the rest and even milliwatts works well! For homebrew gear 80 has a lot of qrp sigs on it and with modest ant a lot can be worked. So thinking still as I type it must be for me 20 for dx and with my homebrew you can't beat 80. I hope my ramblings of some use. 73 Phil G4RVW
* 80 meters. This is the frequency for the QRP ssb net on a Friday night but I don't think that it's too good for qrp! Far too much QRN, crashing like you would not believe. Mind you, when you do get a bit of dx, it's good - and has been known to cover all VK. * 40 meters, my favourite band for qrp. Unlike Europe, 40 is relatively quiet and peaceful. Just the job at 7020 right up to 7040. Above this you start getting the ssb boys a bit cranky but I have been on a net at 7070 with no problems. * 10100 up. Nobody there, despite the Norcal's 38 special! Longest contact was with VK5RG, Rob, who lives a mile up the road! * 20 meters. Yeh, ok but noisy and serious....leave 'em to it on this band! * 15 meters. GREAT FANTASTICAL OH JOYOUS BAND......both on cw and ssb. Worked Eastern Russia (Vladivostok) on 2 watts USB from the TenTec Argonaut. CW a breeze when the wind is blowing from behind! * 27 megs. Nope we don't have this band either, but it's fun to get a rise from the chicken banders when you come up with a QRZ on cw!!! * 28 megs Good. A couple of cycles ago, I exclusively worked t his band on cw and side band, real low power and worked the States and into Europe. Even worked my brother Phil (GQRP member, too!) G0MFH on this band on 'phone. Of them all, I'd chose 40 at this end of the world, because I built my first and best rig for 40 (Wes Haywood's famous Mountaineer rig at 400 millwatts) and worked all VK areas with it (yep, even VK9 and VK0). Norm, VK5GI
I believe that the best band to start is 20 meters due to it's being open almost 20 hours a day and you can work long distance with QRP power. For other than General or above I would chose 15 and 10 meters days and 40 meters at nite but with the reality of the interference on 40 at nite in the novice freqsand the propagation chances on 15 and 10. For simplicity and ease of building, 40 ,30, 20 are best to have a usable rig when you are through. I would chose 40 for first time builders and 30 or 20 for those with a little technical and building experience. Now this information is for the USA and in Europe I believe it would be easier to work QRP to many countries on 40 and 80. 20 still has DX capability. Of course there is still the problem of HF broadcasting. Donald W4BWS
In response to your FAQ-2 request I would like to nominate 40Mtr's for the following reasons:- 1) Even with a very modest (small) antenna in restricted space it's easy to work inter-UK qrp stations in daytime and dx qrp into Europe at night. I base this on my own recent experience on H.F. and qrp. I have only been on H.F. for just over 18 months and qrp for just over a year and found 40M (though crowded) an easy band to work even with my 15 foot long loft dipole. 2) Because of the ease with which UK stations can be worked I feel this gives the novice a chance to work some relatively local stations and "find their feet" before they venture off to the world of DX. It worked for me! :-) 3) 40M is a (generally speaking) a low frequency band and as such makes the task of home brew much easier (and cheaper) for the beginner. 4) For those just breaking into the hobby who have perhaps had little or no previous experience of H.F. working the 40M band offers a pretty "sure fire" starting point with almost guaranteed results even when heavy constraints are placed on the size of antenna and cost/complexity of equipment. Just out of interest, I was an s.w.l. for about 30 yrs and had little respect for the 40M band until my dad opened my eyes. He asked me to assemble a "Howes" kit for that band, when the kit was finished I spent 6 weeks testing it :-) and was "sold" on 40m. Hope the above is of help. 73's Des M0AYF
Here in Southern England the best is 3.560 kHz. 7.030 is usually too QRM in the evenings and the G-QRP Club members are ready to help beginners on most mornings before 9am and in evenings, plus all the weekend. Victor G3JNB
I always start with the highest band, 10m. I don't call CQ and always listen for gud op's they are also good listeners... Herm DJ3WMBack to the first page
Thanks to all the above for their valuable notes
Frank G3YCC