Quick video of my backpacking gear im hoping to test out soon. Yaesu FT-817nd LDG Z817 Tuner Yo-Yo tenna Deluxe Dipole 7.2 AH sealed battery 2700 Mah AA batteries Looking to have some fun with this gear and do some mountain top qrp work maybe a few Summit on the Air, Activations “SOTA” and really earn my contacts =)
The Yaesu FT-450 is an exceptional transceiver for portable low-power work when using battery power. The radio was being powered by a 12 volt, 33 Ah battery. The antenna used was a 40 meter dipole hoisted up about 15 feet on a painter’s pole.
Neat. Do you have a solar charger for the battery?
Roger. I sure do. I have three panels giving me 45 watts to charge batteries in case of power outages. Thanks for viewing. 73
Great contacts on the HF, KF7ETX suggested this channel and I’m glad that he did. 73 to you.
Thanx Tacticalgearhead. KF7ETX is a great ambassador for what we all try to do on YT. Thanx again for watching. Best of 73 from Huntsville.
Very informative video. Thanks for sharing. And, love the NRA sweatshirt!!!
FT-450 is a nice rig. I’m a new HAM and use it as my primary HF radio. Thought your filter and shift setting where a little weird in this video? 73 de OZ3SR
What a treat to come home from night shift and find an AI4QT video in my subscription queue! Very cool . . . I could watch that all day. Great set of QSOs and thanks for sharing! I would love to see more of the portable solar charging system . . . I might have missed that so will have to check your prior videos. 73!
Forgot to mention . . . great editing!
Thanks Doc. Now with the sun at my QTH at such a low angle (the sun is hidden behind a hill), I’m unable to charge my batteries during the day– I could go down to curbside for full-sun, but I don’t want to risk dropping the panels along the way–BUT I would, if I really needed a charge. There are several of these batteries I have, so they would last several days, maybe a week before I would have to consider other power sources. I picked up the solar panels at the local H. Freight. Later, Wil
I’m just trying to keep up with ya!!!
You have editing down as an art form!!!
I am a fairly new ham and I just ordered the FT450AT from HRO. I hope it performs as well as yours. Will be putting up a windom 80-6 meter antenna. Maybe I can talk to you sometime. I am in GA. KJ4WKO
@FGsltw2009. It would be a pleasure to QSO with you. I am mainly on 40 meters (around 7200) when near the radio and at night will check into the AL Net, TN Net, and the GA Net on Sunday afternoons. Hope we can tag up!!! 73 from AI4QT
Happy New Year Will! Will-dumb question if I may..how did you mount that painters pole? I presume it is like a piece of angle iron with U-bolts?
73-Chuck
@QRPisFun. Happy New Year, Chuck. re painter pole– I just ground-mounted the painter pole with the green stake— i just shoved the grand stake into the ground a few inches, and the ends of the 40 meter dipole, tied to insulators and trees do the rest 🙂
Great video. I think this video has convinced me to save up for the 450D for my next HF radio, which I really need cuz my old 20$ HF rig finally gave up. Now to just save up the money.
Kudos for the NRA hoodie!
nice qrp setup… good qso’s…73
You’re gonna like this. Just make sure not to use the display backlight if not necessary cause the rig drains lot of current. My PFR3 will last for ever with my gel type batt, lot longer than my 817.
72 Andy. Welcome to outdoor ham fun.
Nice radio kit for backpacking. Again, very inspirational for this new ham . . . looking forward to more great videos! Keep up the great work.
73
de – David KF7ETX
How does that yo-yo gadget work for you? How high off the ground have you been placing it?
It does pretty good, when im backpacking maybe 5 or so feet off the ground, It extends out to 40 meters no problem.
its not “great” but it gets the job done of being super portable and lightweight.
Andrew,
That HF antenna your using, how has it held up? I bought two clothes lines at Walmart that look exactly the same, except for the little protrusion with the small hole in it, and I still have it but it pops open. I used #18 stranded wire (cut for 40 meters) with a Budwick to feed it. Considering buying what you have or possible roll my own. Thanks, nice video.
73, Kent, K6FQ
I used the baby dipole that rolls out and just tied ends off with some para cord rope I had for my regular antennas. when I got to use them in the woods, I just strung the wire over tree branches I could reach and wasnt going for extreme height or a big setup.. just kinda see what it could do =)
KC2UOO/ K2FR
Is that right?
73 from KD0HON
Sure is, got a callsign changed to a vanity a while back.
KC2UOO –> K2FR
i like the yoyo antenna idea ill make one, congrats on the new gear 73 M6PEC Barry
i like the yoyo antenna idea ill make one, congrats on the new gear 73 M6PEC Barry
i like the yoyo antenna idea ill make one, congrats on the new gear 73 M6PEC Barry
i like the yoyo antenna idea ill make one, congrats on the new gear 73 M6PEC Barry
i like the yoyo antenna idea ill make one, congrats on the new gear 73 M6PEC Barry
Such a good description hurt by the tremors you obviously have trying to keep the camera steady
Good Litle Rig I Used One In My Semi Truck Until I Got A Yaesu 897-D
Hi Andrew, great videos BTW. Hey, I was wondering what antenna are you using on your VX-8R handheld radio?
73 de Robert
W7FJ
its the Diamond SRH519 with a SMA connector.