Leaving the Shack to operate elsewhere can be fun – the main benefit being that it gives you a better chance of hearing something distant thanks to the low noise-floor, plus there’s usually space for decent aerials.
Despite the obvious requirements of a radio, aerial and a power-source – it’s amazing what else you find yourself needing so my kit-box has expanded over time and I’ll try to detail the important bits on this page.
This first picture shows a 2018 summer /P outing with an IC-7300, LDG AT-200 auto-ATU and a Bencher paddle. Note the “neckband” earphones – very useful when it’s windy or for when there are many callers.
After using an FT-857D with 7+12Ah batteries for a few years, I’ve “upgraded” to a Numax 32Ah leisure battery which has been a reliable performer. Summer 2018 saw the addition of an Icom IC-7300, mostly for /P use but has found a semi-permanent home in the Shack.
The Main /P Kit-List :
A Really Useful Box – 21L capacity, for transporting the bulk of my /P kit when I’m in the car – it also serves as a radio stand when I operate passenger-seat portable during the winter: The box sits on the driver’s seat allowing the radio to be at a more natural operating height. This box carries my coax/ladder-line, aerial wires, DC cables and a bag of consumables such as velcro cable-ties, coax adapters etc.
Icom IC-7300 HF/6m/4m Transceiver
Not a bad radio for /P as it’s light, has decent filtering, spectrum display/waterfall and a voice-keyer which make it an attractive solution for a /P “session”. I often pair it with an LDG AT-200proII auto-ATU.
FT-857D HF/VHF/UHF Transceiver
All bands, all modes etc – It offers “digivox” so I can use PSK/RTTY/JT on the laptop using a simple 3.5mm to 6pin mini-DIN lead. I also have an LDG YT-100 auto-ATU with the CAT-link cable for 1-touch tuning.
10m Telescopic Fishing Poles : Standard and “Travel”
It’s 115cm closed and a few cm short of 10m when extended – The dipole centre can sit on top of the 2nd section making the apex of my 40m Inverted-V around 9m up. It’s also possible to run a 40m 1/4wave vertical up the side with a little winding on the lower sections.
This particular pole came from SOTAbeams. I’ve also got a 10m “travel” pole plus a set of interlocking heavy-duty GRP poles which I use with my 6m/4m dipoles and 2m 5ele yagi. There are numerous “flag pole” variants available online and these may also work.
Base/Aerial Support: For keeping the poles up, I use lengths of “steel corner” aka: angle-iron which are thrashed into the ground using a suitable hammer. The steel corner comes in 1m lengths and can be purchased for around £6 from B&Q. Alternatively, and for passenger-seat-portable operating, I’ll use home-brew drive-on copper base.
Kit-Bag of Assorted Stuff
This bag originally contained a modem/networking kit and it makes a great way to transport my “consumables”. There are pockets for a dipole centre, insulators plus a zipped pouch for cable-ties and coax adapters. A further compartment houses my ground-pegs and yellow support cords.
DC Cables/Splitters with PowerPole Connectors
I was a little late getting into PowerPoles – but I’ve made a series of cables which make my /P life a little easier.
Anderson PowerPoles are a very useful connector as they prevent you from connecting the polarity incorrectly. The plastic shells are common, and you can simply buy the metal crimp/solder contacts in whatever amperage rating you need.
The shells come in a variety of colours so you make up a set of interlocking counterpoise wires (in green) as well as a set of red+black power cables.
There’s a set of PowerPole leads with both spade and crocodile-clips which connect the IC-7300 and FT-857 to my various batteries. I also have a USB adapter allowing me to charge my phone/tablet when “in the field”.
For operating comfort and convenience, I have a Yellowstone Executive Camping Chair and a Regatta Matano folding table . These were chosen as they weren’t too pricey and also the right size for me and my kit.
Keeping the sun off me, and perhaps acting as a shelter if I should ever get caught in the rain – The DD Solo Tarp (2.8×1.5m) comes highly recommended.
I use some cheap metal interlocking poles and the 4 supplied guy-lines plus pegs to secure it in this arrangement. The tarp can also be configured in a variety of other ways thanks to the numerous holes/loops.
Lately, I’ve been securing it length-ways to the open hatchback of my car and supporting the opposite ends with 2 metal poles: This makes a nice operating environment as I’m close to the car, in the shade and I don’t have to keep adjusting it to keep the sun off me (and the equipment).
Also used:
tabLog : Logging Application
Another one of my creations – a logging solution for the Android OS. See the tabLog page for more details and a free download!
Flight-Case
This was purchased from Maplin when they had a store nearby. It comfortably held the FT-857D, LDG YT-100 ATU (hidden under the radio body) plus the MH-31 Mic, DC cable and a 7Ah SLAB which gave around 2hrs of use when operating 100w on 40m SSB.
The radio could be used in-situ by raising its stand and attaching the front-panel. There’s plenty of clearance at the back of the radio to get plugs connected once the DC cable is removed. In summer of 2018, I removed most of the foam sections to use it for transporting the IC-7300.
Neckband Headset
This style of headset is great not only for ease of transport but they are comfortable for long-term use. Sure, they don’t attenuate as much sound as closed-ear headphones but they are comfy so perfect for extended /P’ing.
Aerials
This is the typical setup for a /P adventure:
- 40m Doublet (10m per leg) – fed with 300-ohm feeder and home-brew 1:1 Choke/Balun
- Linked Dipole for 40/30/20/17m
- 2m Slim-Jim
- 2m 5ele “Maspro” Yagi aka: Mr My Yagi
Here’s a great multiband /P aerial solution that’ll get you on 40m, 20m and 2m with a single pole. It’s an Inverted-Vee featuring dipole wires for 40m+20m plus a 2m Slim-Jim – below is an example of this arrangement:
Small diameter fishing poles can often be secured with a screw-in parasol base, but I prefer to use 1m lengths of “steel corner” aka: angle-iron which are hammered into the ground. They can be purchased for around £6/m from B&Q here. If don’t have a soft surface to push into, then I’ll use my drive-on copper base.