It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. To that end the Arizona ScQRPions have modeled themselves after one of the best known and most active QRP groups anywhere. The creation of Jim Cates (WA6GER) and Doug Hendricks (KI6DS).
The Northern California QRP Club
The Arizona ScQRPions had its genesis back in early December of 1994 when an escaped Texan by the name of Dave Little, AF5U, stirred the local QRP crew to organize in a similar fashion to the NorCal QRP Club. Dave was a long-time, known associate of Chuck Adams (K7QO), then also of Dallas. You can see now that something was bound to happen… In true Texan fashion, however, Dave started something he couldn’t finish, or perhaps he was forgiven, and he hightailed it back to Dallas leaving behind a very active QRP group. 🙂
The ScQRPions, like many other similar groups, have a variety of activites, including sponsorship of operating events such as FYBO (February) and participation in other QRP operating activites. Camping or other outdoor activities are sometimes organized around these operating events. Weather and fire conditions permitting, that is. Kits are the financial support for the group. You’ve seen them. The microphone preamp, noise generator, Stinger Singer Frequency Counter, and a Class E transmitter kit. The most popular kit to date is the solid brass iambic paddles designed by Jerry Haigwood, W5JH, followed by the Fort Tuthill 80M transceiver designed by Dan Tayloe, N7VE. The success of these kits has allowed the ScQRPions to sponsor top quality QRP programs at the Arizona State ARRL Convention and our annual technical conference and camp-out at Fort Tuthill near Flagstaff.
