HAM Operators Unite!

I wanted to start a thread to talk about ham radios, gear, field setups, antennas... any thing else to deal with ham.

So share what you have, what you use it for, and why. Maybe we could spark some more interest in the hobby.

I Personally run a modified Yaesu VX-8R with the GPS/Hand Mic and a Diamond SRH999 Quad band antenna.

Im looking to get either an FT-817ND or a FT-857D for an HF/UHF setup. However, I haven't figured out what antenna I want to use yet, But I will be either making or buying an ATU. As for power, the 817 has an internal battery however reports say that it will suck the battery in just over 2 hours in just receive mode. I plan on using my 27W GoalZero Solar Panel Pack and buying a Sherpa 50 Battery pack. The weight of this setup is not light but spread among a group is not so unwieldy that it could not be transported.

Share your setup, ask questions...

Well, here I am again!

One of my primary reasons to go backpacking is ham radio.
If you are new to HF, might I suggest one of the MFJ Cub kits. You'll learn a ton and have a lightweight radio that will run several hours on AA batteries instead of 2 hours on receive like the 817 does. It's all about learning and kit building will be very rewarding and won't break the bank. All my HF gear is homemade or kits.

Paul

Hello DieselTwitch,

I have both the Yaesu 817 and 857 and have been pretty happy with them. However, the 857 is heavy for backpacking, current consumption on receive is even higher than the 817, and you probably wouldn't want to utilize the 100 watt capability of the 857 unless you were willing to lug more batteries.

The 817 is a good unit, but still a compromise, and there are other options out there.
The good: All HF band, all mode, 5 watts out, very compact, at least fairly rugged, many owners/proponents which means lots of good information on optimizing usage is out on the web. The bad: High power consumption on receive, weighs 2.5 pounds, no internal ATU. There are umpteen tricks for reducing power consumption (Google FT817 power consumption) that several hams have documented.

That said, I agree with Dryer about building one. I don't have any experience with the MFJ Cub, but I've built a Small Wonder Labs monoband SW model (not available now but supposed to be available after re-design) and an Elecraft KX-1. The SWL was inexpensive and a relatively easy build. The KX-1 was pricier, but 3-band (4 available now) with a built-in ATU available. The KX-1 is not a good first build, and the SWL is an easier build. These are both CW only, but if you're backpacking with it, for the sake of rig weight, power consumption and getting your signal out, CW is a really good way to go. This is personal for me, but having a QSO on something that I built is a real kick.

If you don't have time to build, Youkits has the HB-2B 4-band available for $299, built and tested, and it's sub-pound, but I haven't had my hands on one. Also CW-only.

If you want voice capability, the new Elecraft KX-3 will do all HF-bands and all modes for 1 pound less than the 817, and lower power consumption. That's my current dream rig, but note that it's pricier than the 817.

RE antennas: I've got an Alexloop walkham (small hand-held loop) for granite summits with lousy ground and 40 meters through 10; expensive and not as efficient as a dipole, but sets up on a summit in 5 min or under. I also have several PAR end fed halfwave mono bands for when I have trees or a mast. If you have multiple supports (e.g., trees) available, a do-it-yourself wire dipole is efficient, light, cheap, easy, and educational.

For more info, I've found the FT817, HFPack, NASOTA Yahoo groups to be informative, as well as the SOTAWatch reflector.

Hope this helps,

Paul - N1ZF

Greetings N1ZF! I completely agree, communicating half way around the world on homemade gear and AA batts is a real kick.
With kits, you can lighten and modify all you want.
I too would someday like a KX-3 but $2000 (all bells/whistles) for a backpacker is a bit pricy....20 times the cost of what I use now. Elecraft is in a class by itself. I used a new K3 and K2 for our Field Day CW stations this year and nothing competes with their performance. A bit of a learning curve to drive one though...many menu options.

All my MFJ Cubs have Tick keyers on board. I can put them on beacon mode, sit back and enjoy lunch, while the radio calls away. As spartan as those radios are, I've worked the world with them and had a blast.
73! dit dit

Man I need to renew my licence"kg4byp" got it when I was twelve. With having my first child at twenty.It was a hobby of mine I just kind of let fade. Thanks for all the inspiration guys. Im going to have to get me a new arrl handbook and study up

On a side note while car camping of being the Fox in the woods.I usually used simple DIY jpole antennae made out of tv wire while in the backcountry attached to my radioshack HTC 202 on the 2 meter band with about 10 feet of coax