K3TripleR Terrific Tripod For Ham Radio

Welcome to the Ultimate Guide on the K3TripleR Terrific Tripod — Where Ham Radio Meets Genius on Wheels!

Sure, it may look like just a tripod, but the K3TripleR Terrific Tripod is anything but ordinary. It’s a game-changing, creativity-unleashing, rolling ham radio platform designed to make your life easier, your hobby more flexible, and your shack more impressive than ever before.

Picture This: Your Shack, But Mobile

Imagine rolling your entire ham shack — radios, antennas, power supplies, tuners, computers, cables, and accessories — from your living room to your balcony, from your workshop to your backyard, or even right out into the park. Suddenly, you’re literally outstanding in your field (pun fully intended), operating portable with ease.

Got a small apartment? Problem solved. Need to hide your shack when guests arrive? Roll it into the closet. Want to operate satellites, FT8, or DMR on the patio or in the garage? The Terrific Tripod makes it happen.

Why You’ll Love It (Even If You Didn’t Know You Needed It)

• Rolling Ham Heaven: Add wheels, and suddenly you’re not stuck in one room. Move from the shack to the yard, or into the field, without carrying ten separate bags.

• Customizable Build: Clamp-on arms, carbon fiber extensions, heavy-duty shelves, magnetic hooks, hose clamps, bungee cords — you name it, you can add it.

• Rig Tested and Nerd Approved: I ran my ICOM 705, 7300, and 9700 all together on this beast, plus a computer, plus antennas, plus a power analyzer — and it didn’t miss a beat.

Lessons From the Field (Learn From My Mistakes!)

When I first built this, I made a LOT of mistakes so you don’t have to:

• Flimsy tripods are a trap — They collapsed on me four times (yes, four!) when loaded with over $6,000 of gear. Test carefully.

• Wheels are a game-changer — Don’t underestimate how much easier life becomes when your entire setup is on smooth-rolling tripod wheels.

• Brace for “creeping elegance” — I started small, but soon I was adding more radios, a rotator, computer tracking software, and antenna masts. You will expand once you see the possibilities.

The Cool Extras You Can Add

Want a quick-connect antenna setup? Use a Joby ball head. Want to swap in a satellite antenna? Just pop it on. Need to operate fully off-grid? Bioenno lithium batteries + power analyzer will keep you going. Have space concerns? Cover it with a tablecloth when company comes over (or wheel it into a closet!).

You can even add a mini VPN WiFi router to connect while mobile, or a compass for orienting your tripod during satellite passes. The flexibility is endless.

Nota Bene: The wheels on this tripod are excellent for smooth surfaces like wood and tile floors, concrete sidewalks – even roads, but not so much for navigating across uneven terrain. Some of you can probably figure out how to put wheels on a tripod that are more like the massive wheels on the beach wagons.

Now that would be something!

Let me know if any of you figure out a way to do that.

Come to think of that… Why not just mount the tripod inside one of those beach wagons so it’s secure and Bob’s Your Uncle! 

As a matter fact, one just like this: https://amzn.to/4jExoIm …

See photo. If you try this over rough terrain, I strongly suggest you put your radios in some kind of packaging or case! Also, I’m still thinking about that jump seat and motorizing the tripod so that I can just drive it around the house or out by the pool!

You might notice that this particular photo to the left provides a close-up of the received FT8 activity inside my house at night on 40m, using the Chameleon P Magnetic Loop 2.0 antenna mounted on top of the Terrific Tripod.

I found it amazing that I could roll the tripod around almost any room in my 2,600-square-foot house – including my two-car garage –and still get the same kind of reception and transmission ability.

I found myself able to make contact with just about anybody that I could hear.

The right side of the screen shows how many stations were decoded – 34 by my count, including DX.

The waterfall also provides a strong indication of how well the magnetic loop antenna works, even inside.

Think how cool that is to be able to wheel around your entire shack, including a power supply from Bioenno batteries, and an HF antenna mounted on a small mast attached to a camera tripod, allowing you to talk around the world.

When you can’t have an outdoor antenna, you still have options!

What About Safety? Here’s Your Reality Check

⚠️ Always reinforce tripod legs with hose clamps if the locks are worn.
⚠️ Bungee cords and magnetic hooks provide shelves with added strength.
⚠️ Never push the limits on carbon fiber mast extensions — too much torque or wind can snap them.
⚠️ Guy ropes are essential if you’re using tall verticals or big antennas.
⚠️ Most importantly: test your rig on carpet or grass before you risk a full loadout.

Important Disclaimer: Danger, Will Robinson!

Before you dive headfirst into building your Terrific Tripod, please read this carefully. As I said in the video: Danger, Will Robinson, Danger! Seriously, you are solely responsible for what happens when you start mounting expensive equipment on a tripod. Trust me — I went through many attempts with several tripods, lightweight shelving, extension arms, and so on. Much of what I first bought was way too lightweight for my equipment, and yes, there were tip-overs galore — dumping my expensive radios into a heap on the floor. Fortunately, I was smart enough to test on carpet, and thankfully, none of my equipment was harmed in the making of my Terrific Tripod.

Although the build list describes what worked for me, it may not be sufficient for your specific use. The biggest risk I faced was using undersized or lightweight tripods. Please only attempt your build using a very heavy-duty tripod that can handle the weight and torque of your equipment. Builders beware: I assume no, nada, zero responsibility whatsoever for your build or your attempt to duplicate my Terrific Tripod. Any failure to secure clamps, shelves, or tripod legs properly could lead to equipment damage or complete collapse. Test everything carefully, secure all components properly, and always consider the consequences before adding extra weight or height.

If you’re still ready to build, scroll down and check out the full list of components below!

Ready To Build Your Own? Full Terrific Tripod Build List (Clickable Links)

I spent hours researching the best parts so you don’t have to. The complete build list is here — just click, explore, and assemble. And when you buy through these Amazon links, you help support my channel so I can keep making cool, helpful ham radio projects to share with the world.

SLIK Pro 700 DX Tripod Legs – Black
AMBITFUL Tripod Carrying Case Bag
Tripod Wheels
Heavy Duty Large Metal Shelf / Tray
Medium Duty Metal Shelf / Tray
15″ Top Mast Extension With Camera Screw Top
Tripod Extender, 2-Section Extension Tube
Joby Ball X Quick Connect For Antennas
Notebook/Tablet/iPad Holder
Holding Arm with Padded Clamp for ICOM 705
Notebook Computer 12V Power Adapter
ICOM 705 Neewer Upgraded Z-Flex Tilt Head
Antenna Tuner for ICOM 705 & ICOM 7300
200A High Precision Power Analyzer Multi Meter
Anderson PowerPole 12-Position Distribution Block
Bioenno Power 12V 20Ah Lithium Battery
Portable Mini Travel VPN WiFi Router
7-Port USB 3.0 Hub
Bluetooth Noise-Cancelling Headset
Hose Clamps (50 Piece)
Mesh Bag for Parts and Cables
Clip-on Ferrite Ring Core Noise Suppressors
Heavy Duty Rubber Bands
Battery Connector Clip Holder
Heavy Duty Bungee Cords
Radio Antenna Quick Release Jaw Mount
Compass for Antenna Orientation
UHF Double Female Connectors (SO239 Barrel Adapter)
2000 PCS Zip Ties Assorted Sizes
PstRotator Satellite Software
Heavy Duty Magnetic Hooks
Elk Antenna VHF/UHF/Satellite
Duplexer for Elk Antenna
Chameleon Magnetic Loop Antenna
Chameleon MPAS 2 HF Antenna
HF Antenna Counterpoises
Wolf River Coil HF Antenna
ICOM 705
ICOM 7300 HF Transceiver
Icom IC-9700 VHF/UHF Transceiver
Anytone 878 UVii Plus DMR/Analog

Feel free to click and browse — you can explore each item easily!

The Geeky Details You Secretly Want

I used an old SLIK U-212 Deluxe tripod I snagged at Dayton Hamvention for $10 (beat-up but sturdy). But you can also get the modern SLIK Pro 700 DX online. Either way, the key is strength over looks — this is your rig’s backbone.

I mounted an ICOM 705 with a camera clamp, added two heavy-duty shelves for the 7300 and 9700, and positioned a notebook computer in tablet mode to handle Doppler tracking for satellites. The bungee cords helped hold everything steady, and mesh bags kept all the cables neatly corralled.

To power it all? My Bioenno battery system and a 200A power analyzer to keep track of usage. For antennas, I used a Chameleon magnetic loop inside the house and a Chameleon MPAS 2 vertical when outside. And yes, I made global contacts sitting on my couch with this setup!

Fun Ideas To Try

• Mount a rotator on top for automatic satellite tracking.

• Add a jump seat and steering wheel — hey, why not?

• Build one for POTA or SOTA activations to avoid ground stakes in protected parks.

• Use magnetic hooks and clamps to hold all your adapters, pens, and spare coax neatly.

Cautionary Tales

I learned the hard way that even tiny errors can wreck your day. Forgetting to secure a clamp? Boom, the radio hits the floor. Overextending a carbon fiber rod? Snap. Not adding guy lines in the wind? Say goodbye to your $500 antenna.

But with care, testing, and the right build, you’ll have a Terrific Tripod that lasts, performs, and makes you the envy of every ham friend you know.

Share Your Creation!

If you build your own Terrific Tripod, post photos, videos, or comments! Let’s build a whole community of rolling, creative ham shacks and share our tips and upgrades.

Thank you for spending your valuable time exploring the K3TripleR Terrific Tripod. Enjoy building, share the fun, and remember — sturdiness first, creativity second, but always roll with style.

73 / 72,

K3RRR

73 de Robert K3RRR
X: @K3TripleR / k3rrr
Website: K3RRR.com