2026 QRPTTF

QRPTTF, QRP Afield, Freeze Your B__ Off, the Zombie Shuffle, Flyin' Pigs, etc. were all activities started in the 1990s to promote on-the-air QRP activities. Back then, QRPers were the neglected orphan-child of ham radio. ARRL didn't have QRP endorsements for WAS or DXCC. They said "no way to prove your power." Neither do the kilowatt guys. Most contests had no QRP category or recognition. QRP rigs were mostly kits or homebrew. As Rodney Dangerfield would say, "I get no respect." But QRPers persevered. Today, the ARRL and most major contests includes QRP as a category and for awards. Rigs like the QRP+, SGC-2020, Elecraft K1 and Yaesu's FT-817 came about, showing QRP had become a serious marketing (and profitable) endeavor. And POTA, SOTA, the Straight Key Century Club (SKCC), North America QRP Club (NAQCC), etc. are all QRP friendly for plenty of on-the-air activities. QRPers should be proud. We've hit the big time. All because us QRPers and QRP-L prevalied and made QRP today an accepted and main part of the hobby.

QRPTTF HAS RUN ITS COURSE. Nearly every weekend POTA to state QSO Parties and main-line contests are now all welcoming to QRPers. No excuses for not making QSOs, even with other QRPers. This will be the last QRP TO THE FIELD. I thank everyone who has participated over the years and the fun we had operating from ghost towns and state lines to light houses.

Thank you all for the recent comments regarding QRPTTF. The most common suggestion is converting the event to a short 2 hour sprint. But, that is problematic across four time zones.

This will not effect the Zombie Shuffle held in October, still administered via QRP-L, nor

QRP AFIELD which is sponsored by the New England QRP Club.

72, Paul NA5N