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
Video Rating: 4 / 5

17 replies
  1. TimmyD
    TimmyD says:

    @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! 🙂

    Reply
  2. TimmyD
    TimmyD says:

    Thanks Barry! I had fun mashing up the “music” too 🙂 I am hoping to find
    some time to do a how to: HF mobile before too long as well. Thanks again,
    73

    Reply
  3. kc8ard
    kc8ard says:

    @KA1YBS I second the notion to get rid of the sla. I’m considering a
    LiFePo4 battery for my setup…more expensive initial outlay, but it’s
    lighter an will last longer.

    Reply
  4. TimmyD
    TimmyD says:

    No, unless you were on a strict budget AND wanted to go portable. There are
    other QRP rigs to consider (Elecraft, Icom and Homebrew). I recommend a
    100W mobile rig that can be turned down to 5W and under if you wanted the
    best of both worlds. The Icom 7000 is such a rig (There are others of
    course) that one I own and could use it for both. It is a bit pricey to
    throw in a backpack, however!

    Reply
  5. mryellow123
    mryellow123 says:

    You can get special waxed string on a spool for throwing up trees, features
    a braid which leaves no bits to catch on bark. Used by arborist to haul
    their climbing ropes up.

    Reply
  6. SM6YZC
    SM6YZC says:

    Hell of a great vid! Did you do the sampling and background music yourself?
    What program are you using? 73 Henrik

    Reply
  7. Kevin Langley
    Kevin Langley says:

    I’ve been thinking about doing this for a CB radio, I just need to figure
    out how to build a battery that will last a little more than 10 minutes and
    supply the radio with some decent current.

    Reply
  8. gewglesux
    gewglesux says:

    this was a fine video! welldone I think i will get interested in in hf
    portable out doors(after i upgrade) 73′

    Reply
  9. 7wt
    7wt says:

    Very nice! I am interested in QRP myself and plan to get a 817 as well. I
    will stick with 2M sideband until I upgrade out of Tech. Great job, looks
    like a heck of a lot of fun.

    Reply

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