Knowledge (XXG)

QRP operation

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1177: 158: 312: 22: 210:(PEP), while some organisations opine that the power limit should be 5 Watts. QRPers are known to regularly use less than 5 Watts, sometimes operating with as little as 100 milliwatts or even less. Extremely low power — 1 Watt and below — is often referred to by hobbyists as "QRPP". 116:
Most amateur transceivers are capable of transmitting approximately 100 watts, but in some parts of the world, such as the U.S., amateurs can transmit up to 1,500 watts. QRP enthusiasts contend that this practice is rarely necessary, and doing so wastes power, increases the likelihood of
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The practice of operating with low power was popularized as early as 1924, with a variety of reports, editorials and articles published in U.S. amateur radio magazines and journals that encouraged amateurs to lower power output, both for purposes of experimentation, and for improving operating
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faced by amateurs using higher power levels, but with the inherent disadvantages associated with having a weaker signal on the receiving end, all other things being equal. QRP aficionados try to make up for this through more efficient
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refers to transmitting at reduced power while attempting to maximize one's effective range. QRP operation is a specialized pursuit within the hobby that was first popularized in the early 1920s. QRP operators limit their transmitted
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event, making a QSO (ham-to-ham contact) using "QRP battery power" is worth five times as many points as a contact made by conventional means. The QRP ARCI club sponsors 12 contests during the year specifically for QRP operators.
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involved in QRP operation. QRSS enthusiasts may record a transmission for later analysis, sometimes decoding "by ear" while playing it back at much faster speeds, or decoding "by eye" on the waterfall display of a spectrum
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Typical awards include the QRP ARCI club's "thousand-miles-per-watt" award, available to anyone presenting evidence of a qualifying contact. QRP ARCI also offers special awards for achieving the ARRL's
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In 1969 the American manufacturer Ten-Tec produced the Powermite-1, one of Ten-Tec's first assembled transceivers, and featured modular construction. All stages of the transceiver were on individual
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operator (currently K1JT), and has generously contributed his technical expertise to the development of successful transmission of weak signals over otherwise rarely usable propagation paths.
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QRP enthusiasts may use special modes that employ technology and software designed to enhance reception of the relatively weak transmitted signals resulting from low power levels.
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systems, enhanced operating skills, and a variety of special modes, in order to maximize their ability to make and maintain radio contact. Since the late 1960s, commercial
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Coherent CW uses transmitters that clock-out signals calibrated to a precise rate, allowing receivers to employ extremely narrowband filtering to increase readability.
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International DX Contest, as well as many major international contests have designated special QRP categories. For example, during the annual ARRL's
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Part 97 rule, which states that one must use "the minimum power necessary to carry out the desired communications". QRP can also be used for
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devoted to QRP enthusiasts. In the United States, the November Sweepstakes, June and September VHF QSO Parties, January VHF Sweepstakes, and the
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Amateur radio organizations dedicated to QRP include QRP Amateur Radio Club International (QRPARCI), American QRP Club, G-QRP Club based in the
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awards under QRP conditions. Other QRP clubs also offer similar versions of these awards, as well as general QRP operating achievement awards.
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Although not universally agreed upon, the ARRL makes a recommendation for QRP power limits. Most amateur organizations agree that for
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Many of the larger, more powerful commercial transceivers permit the operator to lower their output level to QRP levels. Commercial
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WSJT is a software system that utilizes several separate modes, each optimized for a different signal path; these include
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simulation of propagation against distance, comparing effective radiations of 1 watt (top) and 99 Watts (bottom).
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WSPR is a software suite and computer network used to monitor propagation paths for optimal communication conditions.
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specially designed to operate at or near QRP power levels have been commercially available since the late 1960s.
1191: 526: 286: 195: 384:, and The Adventure Radio Society emphasizing portable QRP operation. Major QRP gatherings are held yearly at 57:
and the difficulty of receiving the relatively weak transmitted signals. QRP enthusiasts may employ optimized
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HW-7 and HW-8 lines, which introduced many amateurs to QRP'ing and led to the popularity of the mode.
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A number of organizations dedicated to QRP operation exist, and aficionados participate in various
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Reliable two-way communication at such low power levels can be challenging due to changing
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Communicating using QRP can be difficult since the QRPer must face the same challenges of
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output power to 5 W or less regardless of mode (Some call 10 W on Phone QRP) .
636: 604: 381: 346: 334:: the transmitter was capable of about one or two watts of RF, and the receiver was a 1553: 1507: 1437: 1402: 1277: 1127: 546: 324: 134: 62: 38: 669: 1417: 361: 349: 278: 80:
designed to test their skill in making long-distance contacts at low power levels.
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to acknowledge his work in developing weak signal communication modes for radio.
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The maximum power output from most amateur transceivers is about 100 W.
149:, when frugal use of available battery power and generator fuel is crucial. 130: 816: 1392: 1305: 1221: 357: 339: 316: 903: 311: 1211: 385: 206:(single sideband) is sometimes agreed to be no more than 10 Watts 30: 1533: 1427: 1387: 1382: 1226: 606:
Wireless Telegraphy: A handbook for the use of operators and students
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mixer IC, i.e. the K1, K2, ATS series and the Softrock SDR.
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QRP low-power transmitter and receiver that fits inside an
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ARRL's Low Power Communication: The art and science of QRP
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it from scratch. Many popular designs are based on the
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Example of transceiver optimized for QRP CW operation:
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specially designed for QRP operation have evolved from
1521: 1470: 1360: 1339: 1293: 1286: 1245: 1184: 1134: 624: 1043:The Five-Watt QRP Movement in the US, 1968-1981 1112: 244:(Morse code) to compensate for the decreased 8: 858: 856: 765: 763: 761: 759: 697: 695: 839:. Cambridge University Press. p. 312. 727: 725: 256:: Critically-timed Morse code transmission 1290: 1119: 1105: 1097: 598: 596: 594: 88:The term "QRP" derives from the standard 298:: Weak Signal – Propagation Reporter 202:(or less). The maximum output power for 1014:"CW QRP transmitter for 80 meters" 932:Dennison, Mike; Fielding, John (2007). 663: 661: 659: 561: 533:in 1993 for discovery of a new type of 471: 222:systems and enhanced operating skills. 898: 896: 894: 892: 890: 776:. John Wiley & Sons. p. 218. 460:List of amateur radio QRP transceivers 345:Enthusiasts operate QRP radios on the 1258:International Telecommunication Union 799:History of QRP in the U.S., 1924-1960 627:The ARRL General Class License Manual 169:conditions by reducing interference. 7: 981:Chaffin, Kenny A. (February 1990). 801:. Vermillion, SD: Milliwatt Books. 770:H. Ward Silver (25 February 2011). 338:unit, similar to that found in the 92:used in radio communication, where 732:Dobbs, George (1 September 2012). 14: 1253:International Amateur Radio Union 537:which is useful for the study of 529:is an astrophysicist who won the 356:, usually carrying the radios in 1175: 1056:– via n5dux.com/ham/files. 670:"QRP: More than a state of mind" 603:Marchant, William Henry (1914). 708:. American Radio Relay League. 508:used in radio communications. " 488:, or increased power operation. 1268:ITU prefixes for amateur radio 1018:Radio and Electronics Cookbook 940:Radio Society of Great Britain 740:Radio Society of Great Britain 236:: Very slow speed Morse code 1: 668:Wells, Bradley (April 1984). 500:is an exaggerated version of 404:There are specific operating 1048:(Report). Miliwatt QRP Books 935:Radio Communication Handbook 1076:American Radio Relay League 912:American Radio Relay League 871:American Radio Relay League 702:Arland, Richard H. (2007). 678:American Radio Relay League 633:American Radio Relay League 578:American Radio Relay League 269:: Weak Signal – Joe Taylor 137:' amateurs, is contrary to 1576: 1068:"QRP – what, why, and how" 240:QRSS uses very slow speed 1173: 1030:– via Google Books. 952:– via Google Books. 883:– via Google Books. 849:– via Google Books. 786:– via Google Books. 752:– via Google Books. 718:– via Google Books. 649:– via Archive.org. 514:Shall I send more slowly? 1147:Emergency communications 836:The Electronics of Radio 613:– via Archive.org. 527:Joseph Hooton Taylor Jr. 143:emergency communications 1217:International operation 285:. WSJT was named after 16:Low-power amateur radio 1539:Amateur radio in India 1483:Amateur radio software 1287:Modes of communication 1197:Amateur radio operator 1012:Brown, George (2001). 797:Weiss, Adrian (1987). 531:Nobel Prize in Physics 455:Amateur radio homebrew 320: 165: 106:Should I reduce power? 34: 1478:Amateur radio station 1263:Frequency allocations 1237:Vintage amateur radio 1162:High-speed telegraphy 970:. Bergamo, IT: I2NDT. 773:Ham Radio For Dummies 609:. Whittaker. p.  439:Worked All Continents 314: 246:signal-to-noise ratio 160: 24: 1082:on 27 September 2007 968:digilander.libero.it 964:"Grabber compendium" 863:DeMaw, Doug (1991). 96:is used to request " 904:"Weak signal modes" 866:W1FB's QRP Notebook 400:Contests and awards 208:peak envelope power 539:General Relativity 321: 283:EME communications 166: 35: 1547: 1546: 1466: 1465: 1074:. Newington, CT: 1027:978-0-7506-5214-8 989:. Newington, CT: 949:978-1-905086-33-7 880:978-0-87259-365-7 846:978-1-107-39366-0 808:978-0-9614139-1-0 783:978-1-118-05419-2 749:978-1-905086-84-9 715:978-0-87259-104-2 676:. Newington, CT: 646:978-0-87259-676-4 635:. 1998. pp.  435:Worked All States 392:, Pacificon, and 390:Dayton Hamvention 336:direct-conversion 226:Weak signal modes 215:radio propagation 147:disaster recovery 55:radio propagation 1567: 1291: 1179: 1157:DX communication 1121: 1114: 1107: 1098: 1092: 1091: 1089: 1087: 1078:. Archived from 1064: 1058: 1057: 1055: 1053: 1047: 1038: 1032: 1031: 1009: 1003: 1002: 1000: 998: 978: 972: 971: 966:. QRSS Knights. 960: 954: 953: 929: 923: 922: 920: 918: 900: 885: 884: 860: 851: 850: 827: 821: 820: 794: 788: 787: 767: 754: 753: 729: 720: 719: 699: 690: 689: 687: 685: 665: 654: 653: 630: 621: 615: 614: 600: 589: 588: 586: 584: 566: 550: 523: 517: 495: 489: 478:The opposite of 476: 104:is used to ask " 1575: 1574: 1570: 1569: 1568: 1566: 1565: 1564: 1550: 1549: 1548: 1543: 1529:Shortwave radio 1517: 1462: 1443:Spread spectrum 1356: 1335: 1282: 1273:Maritime mobile 1241: 1180: 1171: 1130: 1125: 1095: 1085: 1083: 1066: 1065: 1061: 1051: 1049: 1045: 1041:Weiss, Adrian. 1040: 1039: 1035: 1028: 1011: 1010: 1006: 996: 994: 980: 979: 975: 962: 961: 957: 950: 931: 930: 926: 916: 914: 902: 901: 888: 881: 862: 861: 854: 847: 831:Rutledge, David 829: 828: 824: 809: 796: 795: 791: 784: 769: 768: 757: 750: 731: 730: 723: 716: 701: 700: 693: 683: 681: 667: 666: 657: 647: 623: 622: 618: 602: 601: 592: 582: 580: 568: 567: 563: 559: 554: 553: 543:radio astronomy 524: 520: 504:, the standard 496: 492: 477: 473: 468: 451: 443:DX Century Club 402: 394:Friedrichshafen 378: 309: 287:Dr. J.H. Taylor 228: 155: 114: 86: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1573: 1571: 1563: 1562: 1552: 1551: 1545: 1544: 1542: 1541: 1536: 1531: 1525: 1523: 1519: 1518: 1516: 1515: 1510: 1505: 1500: 1495: 1490: 1485: 1480: 1474: 1472: 1468: 1467: 1464: 1463: 1461: 1460: 1455: 1450: 1445: 1440: 1435: 1430: 1425: 1415: 1410: 1405: 1400: 1395: 1390: 1385: 1380: 1375: 1370: 1364: 1362: 1358: 1357: 1355: 1354: 1349: 1343: 1341: 1337: 1336: 1334: 1333: 1328: 1323: 1318: 1313: 1308: 1303: 1297: 1295: 1288: 1284: 1283: 1281: 1280: 1275: 1270: 1265: 1260: 1255: 1249: 1247: 1243: 1242: 1240: 1239: 1234: 1229: 1224: 1219: 1214: 1209: 1204: 1199: 1194: 1188: 1186: 1182: 1181: 1174: 1172: 1170: 1169: 1164: 1159: 1154: 1149: 1144: 1138: 1136: 1132: 1131: 1126: 1124: 1123: 1116: 1109: 1101: 1094: 1093: 1059: 1033: 1026: 1004: 973: 955: 948: 924: 886: 879: 852: 845: 822: 807: 789: 782: 755: 748: 721: 714: 691: 655: 645: 616: 590: 560: 558: 555: 552: 551: 518: 490: 470: 469: 467: 464: 463: 462: 457: 450: 447: 401: 398: 382:United Kingdom 377: 374: 354:portable modes 332:circuit boards 308: 305: 304: 303: 291: 290: 275:meteor scatter 262: 261: 251: 250: 227: 224: 154: 151: 113: 110: 85: 82: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1572: 1561: 1560:Amateur radio 1558: 1557: 1555: 1540: 1537: 1535: 1532: 1530: 1527: 1526: 1524: 1520: 1514: 1511: 1509: 1508:Two-way radio 1506: 1504: 1501: 1499: 1496: 1494: 1491: 1489: 1486: 1484: 1481: 1479: 1476: 1475: 1473: 1469: 1459: 1456: 1454: 1451: 1449: 1446: 1444: 1441: 1439: 1436: 1434: 1431: 1429: 1426: 1423: 1419: 1416: 1414: 1411: 1409: 1406: 1404: 1403:Hellschreiber 1401: 1399: 1396: 1394: 1391: 1389: 1386: 1384: 1381: 1379: 1376: 1374: 1371: 1369: 1366: 1365: 1363: 1359: 1353: 1350: 1348: 1345: 1344: 1342: 1338: 1332: 1329: 1327: 1324: 1322: 1319: 1317: 1314: 1312: 1309: 1307: 1304: 1302: 1299: 1298: 1296: 1292: 1289: 1285: 1279: 1276: 1274: 1271: 1269: 1266: 1264: 1261: 1259: 1256: 1254: 1251: 1250: 1248: 1244: 1238: 1235: 1233: 1230: 1228: 1225: 1223: 1220: 1218: 1215: 1213: 1210: 1208: 1205: 1203: 1200: 1198: 1195: 1193: 1190: 1189: 1187: 1183: 1178: 1168: 1165: 1163: 1160: 1158: 1155: 1153: 1150: 1148: 1145: 1143: 1140: 1139: 1137: 1133: 1129: 1128:Amateur radio 1122: 1117: 1115: 1110: 1108: 1103: 1102: 1099: 1081: 1077: 1073: 1069: 1063: 1060: 1044: 1037: 1034: 1029: 1023: 1019: 1015: 1008: 1005: 992: 988: 984: 977: 974: 969: 965: 959: 956: 951: 945: 941: 937: 936: 928: 925: 913: 909: 905: 899: 897: 895: 893: 891: 887: 882: 876: 872: 868: 867: 859: 857: 853: 848: 842: 838: 837: 832: 826: 823: 818: 814: 810: 804: 800: 793: 790: 785: 779: 775: 774: 766: 764: 762: 760: 756: 751: 745: 741: 737: 736: 728: 726: 722: 717: 711: 707: 706: 698: 696: 692: 679: 675: 671: 664: 662: 660: 656: 652: 648: 642: 638: 634: 629: 628: 620: 617: 612: 608: 607: 599: 597: 595: 591: 579: 575: 571: 565: 562: 556: 548: 547:amateur radio 544: 540: 536: 532: 528: 522: 519: 515: 511: 507: 503: 499: 494: 491: 487: 486: 481: 475: 472: 465: 461: 458: 456: 453: 452: 448: 446: 444: 440: 436: 430: 427: 423: 419: 415: 411: 407: 399: 397: 395: 391: 387: 383: 376:Organizations 375: 373: 371: 367: 363: 362:whip antennas 359: 355: 351: 348: 343: 341: 337: 333: 328: 326: 318: 313: 306: 301: 300: 299: 297: 296: 288: 284: 280: 276: 272: 271: 270: 268: 267: 259: 258: 257: 255: 247: 243: 239: 238: 237: 235: 231: 225: 223: 221: 216: 211: 209: 205: 201: 197: 194: 190: 187: 183: 179: 175: 170: 163: 159: 152: 150: 148: 144: 140: 136: 135:United States 132: 128: 124: 120: 111: 109: 107: 103: 99: 95: 91: 83: 81: 79: 74: 72: 68: 64: 60: 56: 51: 49: 44: 43:QRP operation 40: 39:amateur radio 32: 28: 23: 19: 1513:Transceivers 1492: 1471:Technologies 1418:Packet radio 1361:Data/Digital 1084:. Retrieved 1080:the original 1071: 1062: 1050:. Retrieved 1036: 1017: 1007: 995:. Retrieved 993:. p. 43 987:QST magazine 986: 976: 967: 958: 934: 927: 915:. Retrieved 907: 865: 835: 825: 798: 792: 772: 734: 704: 682:. Retrieved 680:. p. 52 674:QST Magazine 673: 650: 626: 619: 605: 581:. Retrieved 573: 564: 521: 513: 509: 501: 497: 493: 483: 479: 474: 431: 403: 379: 344: 329: 325:transceivers 322: 293: 292: 279:troposcatter 264: 263: 253: 252: 233: 232: 229: 212: 198:should be 5 196:output power 171: 167: 119:interference 115: 105: 101: 98:Reduce power 97: 93: 87: 75: 73:technology. 63:transceivers 52: 42: 36: 18: 1207:DX-pedition 1167:Homebrewing 1052:24 November 997:24 November 917:24 November 684:24 November 583:10 December 545:. He is an 418:conventions 254:Coherent CW 193:transmitter 123:televisions 71:solid state 67:vacuum tube 1340:Television 1246:Governance 1232:Radiosport 1152:Contesting 1135:Activities 1020:. Newnes. 983:"Why QRP?" 735:QRP Basics 570:"Why QRP?" 557:References 131:telephones 121:to nearby 112:Philosophy 1503:Satellite 1278:Licensing 426:Field Day 358:backpacks 307:Equipment 249:analyzer. 133:and, for 84:Etymology 1554:Category 1393:EchoLink 1222:QSL card 1072:ARRL.org 942:(RSGB). 908:ARRL.org 833:(1999). 817:2411449M 742:(RSGB). 574:arrl.org 512:" asks " 449:See also 410:contests 388:such as 386:hamfests 366:homebrew 340:Heathkit 317:Elecraft 153:Practice 117:causing 78:contests 27:homebrew 1522:Related 1453:WIRES-X 1212:Hamfest 1192:History 1185:Culture 1086:4 April 360:, with 220:antenna 145:during 59:antenna 31:Altoids 1534:Q code 1428:PACTOR 1388:DAPNET 1383:D-STAR 1306:DSB-SC 1227:Q code 1202:Awards 1024:  946:  877:  843:  815:  805:  780:  746:  712:  643:  535:pulsar 506:Q code 441:, and 416:, and 406:awards 281:, and 191:, the 184:, and 162:VOACAP 129:, and 127:radios 100:" and 90:Q code 1378:AMTOR 1294:Voice 1046:(PDF) 466:Notes 414:clubs 370:NE612 350:bands 200:watts 189:modes 1488:IRLP 1448:C4FM 1438:RTTY 1422:APRS 1413:MFSK 1352:SSTV 1142:ARDF 1088:2007 1054:2019 1022:ISBN 999:2019 991:ARRL 944:ISBN 919:2019 875:ISBN 841:ISBN 803:ISBN 778:ISBN 744:ISBN 710:ISBN 686:2019 641:ISBN 585:2019 525:Dr. 510:QRS? 498:QRSS 422:ARRL 295:WSPR 266:WSJT 234:QRSS 186:data 102:QRP? 33:tin. 1498:SDR 1493:QRP 1458:DMR 1433:PSK 1408:DMT 1398:FT8 1373:ALE 1347:ATV 1321:AME 1316:SSB 1311:ISB 611:220 541:by 502:QRS 485:QRO 482:is 480:QRP 352:in 204:SSB 139:FCC 108:". 94:QRP 69:to 37:In 1556:: 1368:CW 1331:PM 1326:FM 1301:AM 1070:. 1016:. 985:. 938:. 910:. 906:. 889:^ 873:. 869:. 855:^ 813:OL 811:. 758:^ 738:. 724:^ 694:^ 672:. 658:^ 639:. 631:. 593:^ 576:. 572:. 516:". 437:, 412:, 408:, 396:. 347:HF 319:K2 277:, 242:CW 182:FM 180:, 178:AM 176:, 174:CW 125:, 48:RF 41:, 25:A 1424:) 1420:( 1120:e 1113:t 1106:v 1090:. 1001:. 921:. 819:. 688:. 637:3 587:.

Index


homebrew
Altoids
amateur radio
RF
radio propagation
antenna
transceivers
vacuum tube
solid state
contests
Q code
interference
televisions
radios
telephones
United States
FCC
emergency communications
disaster recovery

VOACAP
CW
AM
FM
data
modes
transmitter
output power
watts

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