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Welcome to the home page of the KnightLites QRP Association
and the world of low power amateur radio communications!
QRP or minimum power operation is a fascinating and history rich segment of the ham radio community. 

Founded in late1995 (or thereabouts) by a small group of QRP enthusiasts in central North Carolina, KnightLites membership quickly started spanning the globe. We have quite a history to share, and invite you to join in as we embrace the roots as well as the future of the ever changing world of amateur radio. 

We are pleased by your visit with us.

Our History -- From the Beginning

The KnightLites QRP Association 
is an amateur radio special interest group founded by a group of energetic, inspired, and  like minded
Amateur (Ham) radio enthusiasts in North Carolina.
Our “special interests” generally relate to some form of low power radio communications, and span everything from designing and building our own radio transmitters and receivers; orchestrating and participating in field operations from such remote and exotic locations as the uninhabited islands of the outer banks of the Carolinas -- often serving as a much sought after IOTA (Island on the air), to the mountaintops of the French Alps; and simply just to break bread together in fellowship at our monthly QRPigOuts, sharing discoveries, adventures, dreams, and aspirations. To nobody’s surprise, we’ve discovered that we share many common interests, which are often combined in our collective pursuits.

Since our early beginning in late 1995, we continue to hold fast to the following principles:
Membership is open to all (Worldwide) by self declaration and acceptance.
There are no membership dues or fees.
There is no formal nor official leadership.
There are no obligatory duties or responsibilities.
There are no requirements for participation in any form.
What we do is 100% voluntary, and self funded.
Once a member always a member.

Our name was inspired by a comment returned to Sir Gary (N3GO) via a QSL card from Sir Tony (WA2EAA), residing in Valley Center, California. On October 27, 1995, Morse Code communications was established between them; with Sir Gary operating with less than 2 Watts of transmitter  power from his motorhome, while vacationing at a campground in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Having been obviously impressed with this feat, Sir Tony acknowledged this on the QSL card sent to Sir Gary to confirm success of the communications with the following comment:

“My nitelite is running 2x the power and can’t get past the bathroom!”

Being a profoundly elegant representation of the magnitude of this achievement, the nitelite's iconic representation of low power, and the fortuitous coincidence of the timing of our founding, the KnightLites name was born. The unusual spelling was inspired by the principles inherent in the generous and chivalrous personalities prevalent among our most active membership, by virtue of which we immediately established the tradition of addressing each other as Sir or Lady as would be appropriate. The capitalized “L” serves to partition “Knight” from the equally augmented “Lite” which would otherwise not have been easily spotted for its own metaphorical reference to low power. 

Browse around, join us, embrace the avocation of Amateur Radio

and, above all... enjoy your visit!

Follow the News link to see what we're planning, or doing now. 

Click the Events button to take a photo tour of 
some of our exotic field trips, operating events, and projects.

The Roundtable button will take you to information 
about our weekly ragchew net.

We would be delighted to have you check into the net and introduce yourself!


 
News    Events   Projects    Roundtable    Members    Links
   

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