How To: Backpack QRP HF Portable

Here, I show you how to pack HF gear for wilderness hiking and camping. I detail equipment and simple setup. Rig is a Yaesu FT-817ND, Antenna is a home-brew dipole cut for 20m (40m extensions are not used, but shown), Battery is my trusty 9Ah Sealed Lead Acid (SLA), DC cord is an alligator clip lead. I spent about 5 hours on the hill, and made 9 unique QSOs to Canada and the US via QRP Portable in Vermont (FN32).

Also along for the trip, my Yaesu VX-8 HT, which I used with APRS Digi's and the SOVARC Shaftsbury, VT Repeater. You may look up my hike path on an APRS server, use call KA1YBS-7 and a date of 20090808

I hope you enjoy the video. Please leave a comment. If you have any ham radio questions, please PM me or comment here.

73
Tim
KA1YBS

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Yaesu
• VX-8
• FT-817
• FT-817ND
• Backpack
• HF
• Portable
• pack
• QRP
• how
• to
• ham
• radio
• amateur
• 5w
• portable
• remote
• wilderness
• battery
• powered
• mountaintopping
• hilltopping
• extreme
• dipole

[rs4425]

QRP meets sampling! Great job.

[KA1YBS]

@rs4425

Over, o-o-o-o-o-o-Over...

lol :)

[N101RG]

How long will that battery last transmitting? Do you use a solar recharging unit for extended stays?

[KA1YBS]

@N101RG

I use a fold-able solar panel now (1.2A) to charge the battery. I am going to use a 3-5AH SLAB or A123 this summer in lieu of that huge 9AH :)

The 9AH will last about 4 hours 100% CW duty cycle, as the rig uses about 2A on TX

Normally, you can get a weekend out of operation with it, assuming two days of 5 hours 80% RX and 20% TX

73

[DJ7EC]

Great movie, hpe you have many more succesfull wilderness adventures ! 73!

[KA1YBS]

@DJ7EC

I failed in the Great Smoky Mountains :(

I put my 817 on loan to KA1YBT to help het him on the air. He has limited time once the ice and snow of 2011 melts, however! :)

[WA5MUF]

Fantastic!

[TangoTracker223]

Terrific video. I watched it twice. Thanks!

73!

[SM7FBJ]

Nice Tim. I'd prefere the VHF/UHF and the backround music beeing QRT in this video. Just like you I like beeing out in the nature with my K2 and the paddle. My antenna is always just a wire connected to the homemade Z-match.

73 es GL de Barney/SM7FBJ

[angelcake12312]

Hi

[JohnSokko]

I just bought an 817ND and have made some surprising contacts in Europe from my QTH in north Georgia using an end fed long wire and tuner. Now that I'm familiar with the radio, I'm looking forward to taking the rig portable. Thank you for the cool video.

73, Dennis KJ4HSB

[SEWashingtonTactical]

I love that Yeasu Vx-8DR. Its my first ham radio.

[joukebmw]

nice vid and music in the background

[grneggsnhamon]

can you get Pandora? Man if this is our Freedom fighters we might as well hand our shoes over to China!

[rattinox]

How long did it REALLY take you to get that dipole strung correctly?! On a stack of Bibles........'cuz it never took me less than two hours in that situation.......

KC0BIN

[rattinox]

How long did it REALLY take you to get that dipole strung correctly?! On a stack of Bibles........'cuz it never took me less than two hours in that situation.......

[XRotors]

Great Vid. Is your VX8 wearing a Diamond SRH 940? How good is it across the three bands? 73 de IW9HOJ Italy.

[mryellow123]

"throw line" might narrow it down.