Five Watts and RTTY This Weekend [QRPARCI]


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Beyond 599: Give Useful CW Signal Reports

When making a Morse code contact, give a report that matches what you hear. The three RST numbers describe readability (1–5), signal strength (1–9), and tone quality (1–9).

For example, 539 means perfectly readable, weak, and a clean tone. A signal can be easy to copy without being strong!

During everyday contacts, an honest report helps QRP operators check antenna changes and spot signal problems. Listen carefully instead of sending an automatic 599.

See the RSGB guide to RST signal reports.

For more practical ham-radio guides and reviews, visit KE2YK.com.


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Watch the Band Edge—Your SSB Signal Needs Room

Your radio’s display tells only part of the story. On upper sideband (USB), your voice signal spreads above the displayed frequency. On lower sideband (LSB), it spreads below it.

ARRL Volunteer Monitors sent notices to hams using SSB on 7.299 MHz for operating too close to the band edge. That’s a useful reminder for all of us, including those running just five watts.

Before calling CQ, leave enough room for your whole signal to stay within the band limits allowed by your license. A dial reading inside the band is not enough.

Read ARRL’s Volunteer Monitor report (PDF).

For more practical ham-radio guides and reviews, visit KE2YK.com.


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Tiny 5-Watt QRP Tuner Adds a Chance to Try 160 Meters

Japan’s QSY team has made its small antenna tuner even smaller and added support for trying the 160-meter band. It handles up to five watts and uses one tuning knob—a handy idea for hams who like to pack light.

There’s a catch: tuning depends on your wire length and setup, especially on 80 and 160 meters. The report lists 160–10 meter coverage, but also quotes the builder giving a 15-meter upper limit. Check those limits before planning your antenna.

Read the full story at hamlife.jp (Japanese).

For more practical ham-radio guides and reviews, visit KE2YK.com.

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Watch the Band Edge—Your SSB Signal Needs Room

Your radio’s display does not show all the space your voice signal uses. Upper sideband (USB) spreads above the displayed frequency. Lower sideband (LSB) spreads below it.

ARRL Volunteer Monitors sent notices to hams using SSB on 7.299 MHz for operating too close to the band edge. It’s a useful reminder: leave enough room for your whole signal to stay inside the band limits allowed by your license—even when running just five watts.

Read ARRL’s Volunteer Monitor report (PDF).

For more practical ham-radio guides and reviews, visit KE2YK.com. 

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QSO One: A Modern All-in-One Client for Digital Ham Radio Networks

Modern & Clean: Bringing Digital Voice to the Next Generation of Amateur Radio.


If you have spent any time trying to get on AllStarLink or EchoLink from your laptop or mobile device, you know the struggle: outdated user interfaces, tedious port forwarding setups, or complex hardware chains just to bridge a signal.

Developed by Frank (KD8JKK), QSO One is a cross-platform client designed to bring digital voice communications into a single modern interface. Whether you are operating away from your shack, traveling, or looking for an easy way to access multiple digital radio networks without extra hardware, QSO One offers a sleek solution.

What Makes QSO One Different?

Instead of juggling different legacy applications for each network, QSO One unifies multiple digital voice protocols into a single, clean Material Design interface.

Key features include:

  • No Dedicated Hardware Required: You do not need a Raspberry Pi, a physical hotspot, or dedicated interface boards to get started. All you need is your amateur radio license and network credentials.

  • Multi-Network Support: Connects directly to AllStarLink, EchoLink, DMR (BrandMeister and TGIF), M17, and IAX Direct.

  • AllStarLink Node Capability: Supports both full Node Mode over Wi-Fi (registering directly on the network without port-forwarding hassles) and Web Transceiver Mode for cellular connections.

  • Cloud-Synced Profiles: Your favorited stations, custom IAX Direct nodes, and account credentials automatically sync across your devices.

  • Directory & Filtering: Browse and search a directory of over 39,000 nodes with location filtering by state and country.

Supported Platforms & Future Roadmap

QSO One is currently available on Windows and Android (with background operation so you don't miss incoming traffic), while iOS, macOS, and Linux versions are currently in development.

The developer's roadmap includes plans for physical transceiver bridging—allowing you to connect an old-school radio to the app as a gateway—as well as Morse code (CW) integration and additional digital modes.

Core License vs. Pro Features

The core cross-platform functionality of the app is completely free to test and use with standard ham radio credentials. For operators looking for advanced tools, an optional Pro subscription adds:

  • Scanner Mode & Net Finder: Scan active nodes and connect to scheduled nets with one click.

  • ADIF QSO Logging: Log contacts on the fly with built-in callsign lookups and ADIF exports.

  • Audio Recording & Keyed Indicators: Record sessions and monitor multi-node activity visually.

Getting Started

To check out the app, join the ongoing beta, or review documentation, visit the official site at qso1.net.

73! 

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