QRP Operation

QRP Operation is, in amateur radio, the practice of transmitting at reduced power while attempting to maximize a station's effective range, a specialized pursuit within the amateur radio hobby first popularized in the early 1920s. QRP operators tend to limit their transmitted power to 5 watts or less, although some also consider single sideband operation of up to 10 watts to be QRP. Reliable two way communication at such low power levels can be challenging, given changing radio propagation and the difficulty of receiving weak transmitted signals, so QRP enthusiasts employ optimized antenna systems, refined operating skills and specialized modes to maximize their ability to make and maintain contact, and a number of organizations dedicated to QRP operation hold contests testing skill at making long distance contacts at low power.