QRP: Low-Power Communications

Each year following the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I look forward to Winter Field Day (WFD), a wintertime emergency communications preparedness event that occurs the last full weekend in January. WFD provides an opportunity for hams to set up a remote operation away from their QTH and enjoy 24 hours of on-the-air fun with fellow hams. The idea is to practice setup/operation skills during less-than-ideal conditions. I began operating this event several years ago and have participated from a variety of locations including the comfort of my travel trailer, my pickup truck, and one time from a picnic table next to a roaring campfire at a nearby state park.

This year I wanted to push the envelope and do something different and a little daring. Like many readers, my office is still shuttered due to the pandemic, and I am working from home. Most workdays I am “handcuffed” to my desk and seldom leave the house. I was looking forward to WFD as this would provide a much-needed change in environment. Staying in line with my “keep it simple” minimalistic attitude (I am a QRP operator, after all), I decided to work WFD from a makeshift shelter constructed from common household items with the goal of spending 24 hours outdoors in a true winter climate (Photo A). For me, this would be the ultimate WFD experience and allow me to unwind and have a little fun on the air, QRP-style, of course.

Finding the Right Location

In mid-January I traveled about 45 minutes south of my QTH