OBSERVATIONS    GM1SXX          20 October 2010

Fishing-Pole to Fishing-Pole.

While fishing for signals on the 20M band on October the 11th, I came across IZ0SAT sending his CQ call on BPSK31.  I went back to his call and we had a nice BPSK QSO.  I didn't think very much more about this QSO but was far more interested when his EQSL card arrived in my Inbox. The reason for my interest? He was using an even more puny setup than I was!  It was a Fishing-Pole to Fishing-Pole contact from the UK to Italy, on flea power.

Apologies for the poor graphics quality from this low-res image.

Alessandro was running an FT-817ND 5W PEP transceiver into a fishing-rod aerial like mine and putting a very nice signal into the UK.  Thank you Alessandro for helping me prove that simple aerials and QRP power levels are perfectly adequate for PSK31 working.  I like the QSL card too. It's probably one of the nicer ones in my collection.

On the subject of software for BPSK, I have to say that I only ever now use DIGIPAN because it can resolve stuff that other programs can't.  I've worked across the pond on a few occasions using Digipan to stations that are using relatively modest power levels.   I normally run between 10 and 40W to my fishing-Pole for DX working, but for local working, say into France and the near continent, even a watt can be enough power into my very modest aerial.  I've worked into the South of France (BPSK31) on 800mw.  QRPp and restricted locations need not be a hinderance or an issue for those who really do want to get a signal out.  A weak signal beats no signal hands-down, and a cheap plastic Fishing-Pole and a bit of scrap wire can be very useful things indeed. 

About Alessandro's station..

I have to say that 5W may not sound like much, but I can assure you that on both CW and PSK, it will go a long way, even under rather poor ionospheric conditions. 

 73 Al