Portable 100 watt HF Amateur Radio by Craig VK3VCM

My ideas & tips on how to successfully operate full power portable HF & have a great day operating an Amateur HF Radio Station outdoors. There are two types of 'portable'... If you're planning on running a few watts QRP then 'portable' means a backpack & off you go...however if you want to run a bit more power portable, you'll need to consider a few extra things which are surprisingly easy to overlook...I know this because on a few occasions I overlooked them! Hopefully this video helps or inspires someone, somewhere, to get out and operate portable! I'm keen to get your ideas and tips on how to make portable operation more fun & easier too...please comment & reply with your own videos. 73, Craig VK3VCM

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Buddipole
• VK3VCM
• portable
• Amateur
• Radio
• HF
• Ham
• Kenwood
• TS590s
• TS-590s
• TS590
• TS-590
• park
• Australia
• Melbourne
• Victoria

[twylo]

Absolutely great setup! I work HF exclusively portable and mobile, so I really appreciate how nice your configuration is. I also use a Buddipole, but usually as a vertical on 20m, 17m, or 15m.

What mast are you using, if you don't mind my asking? Is it one you bought from Buddipole, or is it another brand?

[craig3008]

@twylo Hi there, It's just the Buddipole mast that comes with the Buddipole Deluxe. It includes the really nice sturdy base and a mast that extends up just over 22 feet. You then just screw the Versa-tee to the top and away you go! Just make sure you buy an extra guying kit. The Buddipole deluxe comes with one lot of strings and pegs however on a windy day the mast can whip around too much so it's better to get an extra guy kit. THe mast is available separately from the Buddipole site. 73, Craig

[dv1az]

Thanks Craig for sharing this very informative video. I have the buddipole deluxe and works perfectly I also bought an analyzer. I'm just waiting for some time for the solar set up (my wife will kill me if i buy another equipment hihi) can you find a radio that I can take to heaven with me hihi?

73 this Gerald A65CB

[craig3008]

@dv1az hahaha Hi Gerald - don't upset the XYL whatever you do!!! An analyser will really make life easier for you. I've found a spot on my coils where it's resonant at 40m..and also has a resonant spot in the 20m band. I just use my tuner in the radio to clean up any little SWR issue on 20m. It works well and prevents me from having to take the mast down to adjust the antenna every time I want to change between 20m and 40m. Thanks for your comments - I hope to work you one day! 73, Craig

[dv1az]

@craig3008 Hi Craig thats great, how many turns for 20 to resonate with 40? How many antenna arms do you have? Do you use long whip instead of standard whip? SRI for so many questions hihi.

[craig3008]

@dv1az Hello! No problem with questions! I use the large antenna arms. Re how many turns - I am not with my antenna at the moment. I think if you check the video when I am showing how to tune it up - you can probably pause the video and count the turns. I set the antenna up to be resonant at 40m and it also has a small resonant spot at around 20m. I then use the tuner in the TS590 radio to handle the small mis-match. I can also set up antenna for 20m only which works well. More videos to come!

[133Gordini]

Great vid mate.

[aka572]

Well, this video answers all my questions. I should have waited before posting from the previous video. Thanks for all you've done here.

73 KD4ID

[makitaman60]

awesome set-up ! Can you give me some info on the solar panel, and where I might find one like it. BTW I will soon have a buddipole, I can see it works better than my teliscopic paint poles,but they do work pretty good. Thanks great video Good Day Mate! I always wanted to say that. We normally say see yall later in Alabama !

[cu3eq]

nice video 73 cu3eq

[SanderP67]

Terrific video! Also nice to see Melbourne as I have colleagues there. Thanks very much for sharing. 73, Sander KB1WCY

[ON4AEM]

Thanks for this informative video Craig.Enjoyed watching it.

Very good quality too.

Also plan on doing some portable operation in the near future.

It'll be on a smaller scale though Craig ;-) radio will be an FT857D and wire or 3 band vertical antenna.

73s GL from Wim ON4AEM