QRP Amateur Radio Club International

QRP ARCI logo

QRP ARCI is a club for low power enthusiasts worldwide.

We produce a professional quality magazine (QRP Quarterly), organize an annual conference at Dayton ('Four Days In May' or FDIM), and sponsor various QRP contests and awards.

Our aim is to promote QRP and a variety of related activites. Many of our members enjoy home construction, kit building, antenna experimentation, backpacking and portable operation. Minimalist radios built in small tins are very popular but we also enjoy the very latest high performance radios such as the Elecraft KX3, the new SDR rigs, and great kits like the QCX from QRP Labs, kits from 4 States QRP Group, and the uBitx rigs. 

QRP-ARCI is an affiliated Club of the American Radio Relay League

Let us know if we can promote your club, group, kit or product.

New QRPARCI Mail List

qrparci.io

A new Mail List has been started for QRPARCI on the groups.io platform.  This mail list is open to members and non-members alike for the discussion of QRPARCI topics.  QRP-ARCI Staff handles the moderation of the list and you can gain access by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and requesting to be added  to the mail list.  Be sure to add your callsign in the request. You can get your mail in digest form as well if you prefer it that way.   73 de ARCI Staff Moderators

 

QRP ARCI Contests

Welcome to the QRP ARCI contest pages.

We sponsor several contests each year with the emphasis on having fun !

Geared completely to the QRPer, these contests are an excellent way to test out your new gear, antennas, or your homebrew creations. Not only can you compete in the various contests but you can also work on the many QRP awards offered both by QRP ARCI as well as other organizations and you can also add to your DX QRP totals or complete your QRP DXCC, WAS, WAC etc.

There are categories to suit just about everyone’s contesting needs including SSB and CW. There is also the A1 antenna category for those stations using single element antennas such as Verticals, Dipoles, Inverted V’s, Loops, long wires, etc. and we also have the A2 antenna category for those using multi element beams or arrays. This way everyone can compete with similarly equipped stations using similar type antennas.

Most of our contests also offer Single Band entries, Low Band entries, High Band entries and of course All Band entries. There are even power multipliers for using different power levels from 5 Watts down to just a few milliWatts!

You do not have to be able to run pile ups, copy 30 wpm CW, or generate 100s of QSOs. In fact you don’t have to be a contester at all to enjoy the fun - just get on the air, make a few QSOs, and be sure to send in a log. Except for the Spring and Fall QSO Parties most of our contests are only a few hours in length so you don’t have to commit an entire weekend to being on the air. Just get on for an hour or two and make some QSOs.  Even a few QSOs could win you a certificate!

Instant Logging is now available:  https://qrpcontest.com 

The pace of the QRP ARCI Contests are very relaxed and laid back for the most part compared to other contests. It’s the perfect place to practice your contesting skills if you are new to contesting and the perfect platform if you just want to test your latest antenna project or see how far you can be heard running just a few milliwatts into a ground mounted vertical for example.  You can even operate portable, field day style, such as at the beach, in a park, etc. and receive bonus points in most of our contests for your effort.

Top Band Sprint

Top Band Sprint

2024 QRP-ARCI  Top Band Sprint

Date/Time:

December 5th 2024, 0000Z - 0300Z

(7PM to 10PM EDT Weds Night Dec 4 2024 EDT)

A very rewarding multi-mode contest on 160m

Put up a vertical or operate with a wire in the park.
With a little bit of planning YOU can work a 160m contest with QRP !

Contest Rules

Fall QSO Party

Fall QSO Party

2024 QRP-ARCI Fall QSO Party

Date/Time:

0000Z to 2359Z on 12 October (2nd Saturday UTC)

(8PM SAT to 7:59PM SUN EDT)

Mode:  HF CW only.

Exchange: 
Members send:  RST, State/Province/Country, ARCI member number
Non-Members send:  RST, State/Province/Country, Power Out

QSO Points:
Member = 5 points
Non-Member, Different Continent = 4 points
Non-Member, Same Continent = 2 points

Multiplier:
SPC (State/Province/Country) total for all bands.  The same station may be worked on multiple bands for QSO points and SPC credit.

Power Multiplier:
>5 Watts = x1
>1 - 5 Watts = x7
>250 mW - 1 Watt = x10
>55 mW - 250 mW = x15
55 mW or less = x20

Suggested Frequencies:
160m1810 kHz
80m3560 kHz
40m7030 kHz (please listen at 7040 kHz for rock bound participants)
20m14060 kHz
15m 21060 kHz
10m28060 kHz

Score:
Final Score = Points (total for all bands) x SPCs (total for all bands) x Power Multiplier.

BONUS POINTS: None available for this contest.

Categories:
Entry may be All-Band, Single Band, High Bands (10m-15m-20m) or Low Bands (40m-80m)

How to Participate:
Get on any of the HF bands except the WARC bands and hang out near the QRP frequencies.  Work as many stations calling CQ QRP. 

You can work a station for credit once on each band.

Log Submission:

Submit your entry online at https://www.qrpcontest.com

Deadline for posting logs will be Nov 1 

 

Holiday Spirits Homebrew Sprint

Holiday Spirits

2024 QRP-ARCI  HOLIDAY SPIRITS HOMEBREW SPRINT

December 8th 2024, 2000Z - 2300Z

 A popular short contest which encourages homebrewers to put their rigs on the air.

Bonus points for homebrew receivers, transmitters and transceivers. Extra bonus for those operating from a portable location.

Contest Rules

Hoot Owl Shootout Sprint (1 Hour)

Hoot Owl

2024 QRP-ARCI HOOT OWL SHOOTOUT SPRINT

DATE/TIME:  4th Monday in May (Sunday Night EDT)

A) DATE/TIME:

0000Z to 0100Z on 27 May 2024 (8PM to 9PM EDT SUNDAY NIGHT)

B) OBJECTIVE:

To test your ability to make contacts during the evening local time.

C) MODE:
HF CW Only.

D) EXCHANGE:
Members send:  RST, State/Province/Country, ARCI member number
Non-Members send:  RST, State/Province/Country, Power Out

E) QSO POINTS:
Member = 5 points
Non-Member, Different Continent = 4 points
Non-Member, Same Continent = 2 points

F) MULTIPLIER:
SPC (State/Province/Country) total for all bands.
The same station may be worked on multiple bands for QSO points and SPC credit.

G) POWER MULTIPLIER:
>5 Watts = x1
>1 - 5 Watts = x7
>250 mW - 1 Watt = x10
>55 mW - 250 mW = x15
55 mW or less = x20

H) SUGGESTED FREQUENCIES:
160m  1810 kHz
80m  3560 kHz
40m  7030 kHz (please listen at 7040 kHz for rock bound participants)
20m  14060 kHz
15m  21060 kHz
10m  28060 kHz

I) SCORE:
Final Score = Points (total for all bands) x SPCs (total for all bands) x Power Multiplier Bonus Points.

J) CATEGORIES:
Entry may be All-Band (AB), Single Band (e.g., SB-160, 80, 40, 20, 15 or 10)

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

Get on any of the HF bands except the WARC bands and hang out near the QRP frequencies.
Work as many stations calling CQ QRP or CQ TEST as possible, or call CQ QRP or CQ TEST yourself !

You can work a station for credit once on each band.

Log Submission:

Submit your entry online at http://www.qrpcontest.com

Deadline:  

Entries must be posted on or before 10 June 

 

 

New QRP ARCI publication

Best Of Idea Exchange

QRP ARCI announces the publication of a new book - "The Best of Idea Exchange"

This will quickly become a needed information source for your work bench. The content is drawn from 20 years of the Idea Exchange in past QRP Quarterly magazines.

There are 138 pages of useful information divided into seven sections -

  1. Components
  2. Circuit Design
  3. Test & Measurement
  4. Tools & Techniques
  5. Repairs & Modifications
  6. Antennas
  7. Miscellaneous Ideas

Order your copy online from the QRP ARCI Toystore

New Years Day Sprint

2020 QRP-ARCI(sm) NEW YEARS DAY SPRINT

Date/Time:

1500Z to 1800Z on 1 January 2020.

Mode: HF CW only.

Exchange:  Members send:  RST, State/Province/Country, ARCI member number

Non-Members send:  RST, State/Province/Country, Power Out

QSO Points:
Member = 5 points
Non-Member, Different Continent = 4 points
Non-Member, Same Continent = 2 points

Multiplier:
SPC (State/Province/Country) total for all bands. 
The same station may be worked on multiple bands for QSO points and SPC credit.

Power Multiplier:
>5 Watts = x1
>1 - 5 Watts = x7
>250 mW - 1 Watt = x10
>55 mW - 250 mW = x15
<55 mW = x20

Suggested Frequencies:
80m3560 kHz
40m7030 kHz
20m14060 kHz
15m 21060 kHz
10m28060 kHz

Bonus Points:
If you are operating PORTABLE using battery power AND a temporary antenna, add 5000 points to your final score.  (You can NOT be at your shack operating from battery power using your home station antenna to qualify for this bonus.)  This is to help level the playing field for contesters who work from the field against contest stations with 5 element yagis at 70 ft.

Score:  Final Score = Points (total for all bands) x SPCs (total for all bands) x Power Multiplier + Bonus Points

Categories:
Entry may be All-Band, Single Band, High Bands (10m-15m-20m) or Low Bands (40m-80m)

How to Participate:
Get on any of the HF bands except the WARC bands and hang out near the QRP frequencies.  Work as many stations calling CQ QRP or CQ TEST as possible, or call CQ QRP or CQ TEST yourself!  You can work a station for credit once on each band.

Log Submission:
Submit your entry online at http://www.qrpcontest.com
Log sheets are not required for entry, but may be requested by the Contest Manager if required.

Deadline:  Entries must be posted on or before 15 January 2020.

Results:
Will be published in QRP Quarterly and shown on the QRP-ARCI website.

 

QRP Quarterly

APR 2023

QRP Quarterly - JAN 2024
 
Table of Contents - And More! 
 

How Low Can You Go? N2APB & WB9FLW
A 3-Ele Vert Array for 20M VA3RKM,VE3EUR,VE3WMB
The EZGen3 ND6T
2nd Place FDIM Design Challenge KE6TI
A No-Trap Multi-Band Vert 60-10m W7DB
Antennas 101: A Collection of Ideas K9AY
Evolution in Radio Design: Building the Next... GØUPL
Four Days in May Announcement

And much much more!

 

Sample of QRP QuarterlyTry it free !
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January 2015
issue 

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