QRP Lowfer Antenna

A 50-ohm 10W resistor forms the core of this portable QRP antenna, designed by K0EMT for convenient operation on 160m and 80m. The construction involves soldering the resistor to a BNC connector, with one lead to ground and the other to the center conductor, then insulating the assembly. This minimalist design aims to provide a highly portable solution for low-band QRP operations, acknowledging the inherent trade-offs between antenna size and efficiency.

Testing with an antenna analyzer revealed low SWR on both 160m and 80m, with a Yaesu FT-817 confirming good matching. While 40m and 30m showed higher SWR, the primary focus remains on the lower bands. The author successfully tested the antenna with 2.5W CW output, demonstrating its practical application for QRP field operations where ease of deployment is paramount, even if it means sacrificing some gain compared to full-sized antennas.