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Posted: 4/15/2014 11:47:20 AM EDT
9 Dec 14 update.
I have learned so much over the last 18 months. When I first came here I had only operated SSB phone on my boatanchor TS-530. Since then I've learned almost all digital modes, some CW, how to make an antenna resonant, got involved with MARS and plan to upgrade to Extra and get my VEC certification to bring more into our hobby. If I get asked where to go as a ham in an online community to feel welcome to have questions answered I will certainly send them here, not only the best rifle community board, but the best ham forum as well. Thank you guys for your support and assistance during my deployment, it's been a learning experience. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Since my unit displaced and moved location, I have been having a near impossible task of finding a new "shack". Unlike my last location where I could operate from my room, that is an impossibility where I live now. I do have permission, under the pretext of my MARS obligations, to operate from atop the U.S. HQ and the Australian rec center, problem is, there is no electrical power and my laptop will currently run about 0 seconds on battery. Until I get a new battery for my laptop, I decided to try running some Psk31 tests with my ipad and the PSKer app. I prepared for some likely downtime while waiting on the ANA to take the opportunity to do some mobile ops. I wasn't able to operate for very long, maybe a half hour, but it did prove the concept for me and identified some configuration changes I need to make to make it work more efficiently, and I did get a couple QSO's. Getting set up atop an Afghan office at one of our work locations. 
Not much needed to be effective with the KX3 & ipad. It is quite a bit slower typing on the ipad and not having a rig control like HRD. 
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Posted: 4/15/2014 12:08:50 PM EDT
[#1]
very cool.
I don't see a counterpoise for the buddistick. What whip is that? Was that set for 10m? |
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Posted: 4/15/2014 12:38:29 PM EDT
[#2]
What sling you running on your M4, Chief?
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Posted: 4/15/2014 1:12:00 PM EDT
[#3]
Very nice setup, elcope!
That looks just like the original heatsink on your KX3. 
Stay safe, BD |
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Posted: 4/15/2014 1:13:47 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted: What sling you running on your M4, Chief? I was wondering where his PPE is
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Posted: 4/15/2014 1:19:02 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I was wondering where his PPE is
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
What sling you running on your M4, Chief? I was wondering where his PPE is
The spine crusher? Only wore mine when I was bicycling. 
He's in an Afghan compound, so it's probably in the truck. Chiefs are gonna chief. |
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Posted: 4/15/2014 1:44:08 PM EDT
[#6]
Cool.
I like that fence, looks like it was welded by a couple of goat herders with a car battery though. |
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Posted: 4/15/2014 1:47:54 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
very cool. I don't see a counterpoise for the buddistick. What whip is that? Was that set for 10m? No counterpoise, I just grounded it to the fence, worked well enough. Whip is the Lightweight Shock-cord Whip Antenna 5 section from buddipole, works real well. Was getting the best signals on 20M. |
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Posted: 4/15/2014 1:49:57 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
What sling you running on your M4, Chief? I'll have to check, I can't remember at the moment. ETA: It's a Giles Wilderness 3 point sling. |
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Posted: 4/15/2014 1:51:15 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Very nice setup, elcope! That looks just like the original heatsink on your KX3.
Stay safe, BD I'm waiting on some definitive test results before I add on. Hint, hint. 
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Posted: 4/15/2014 1:52:17 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The spine crusher? Only wore mine when I was bicycling.
He's in an Afghan compound, so it's probably in the truck. Chiefs are gonna chief. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
What sling you running on your M4, Chief? I was wondering where his PPE is
The spine crusher? Only wore mine when I was bicycling.
He's in an Afghan compound, so it's probably in the truck. Chiefs are gonna chief. It was in the truck and within compliance, of our units TTP's. Advising is fun.
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Posted: 4/15/2014 1:53:24 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Cool. I like that fence, looks like it was welded by a couple of goat herders with a car battery though. More popcorn than a movie theater.
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Posted: 4/15/2014 2:23:55 PM EDT
[#12]
Do you have a shorter coax cable? I'm not sure that coil of coax is helping anything.
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Posted: 4/15/2014 3:06:14 PM EDT
[#13]
You can run PSK directly from an iPad into the KX3? That is a great mobile digital setup!
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Posted: 4/15/2014 3:52:15 PM EDT
[#14]
 I didn't see Piccolo in the Pic?
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Posted: 4/15/2014 4:06:54 PM EDT
[#15]
Cool pictures!
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Posted: 4/15/2014 4:18:40 PM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
... problem is, there is no electrical power and my laptop will currently run about 0 seconds on battery. Until I get a new battery for my laptop ... can you provide the make and model number of your laptop, or better yet the P/N on the battery itself? i also need your address. thanks, ar-jedi |
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Posted: 4/15/2014 4:34:13 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
can you provide the make and model number of your laptop, or better yet the P/N on the battery itself? i also need your address. thanks, ar-jedi Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
... problem is, there is no electrical power and my laptop will currently run about 0 seconds on battery. Until I get a new battery for my laptop ... can you provide the make and model number of your laptop, or better yet the P/N on the battery itself? i also need your address. thanks, ar-jedi I see what you did there. 
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Posted: 4/15/2014 5:47:05 PM EDT
[#18]
Can you give me a rundown of all the equipment in use here? I would LOVE to duplicate your setup.
KX3,...obviously. |
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Posted: 4/15/2014 5:53:17 PM EDT
[#19]
Whatcha need is a hand or foot generator of some sort.
"Private, do you know how to ride a bicycle?"
Good show, Elcope. Guerrilla portable can be fun! |
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Posted: 4/15/2014 9:46:49 PM EDT
[#20]
Two thumbs up!
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Posted: 4/15/2014 9:53:06 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Whatcha need is a hand or foot generator of some sort. "Private, do you know how to ride a bicycle?"
Good show, Elcope. Guerrilla portable can be fun! How about a rubbing alcohol generator? Probably can't get the full 900W out of it, but should get 500W or so. This is exactly the situation PARover butchered a generator for: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1551220_backbencher_s_dilemma___Modifying_a_HF__89_gen_to_run_on_ethanol_PX_supplies__1_27_2014_final_update.html |
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Posted: 4/15/2014 10:17:45 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
can you provide the make and model number of your laptop, or better yet the P/N on the battery itself? i also need your address. thanks, ar-jedi Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
... problem is, there is no electrical power and my laptop will currently run about 0 seconds on battery. Until I get a new battery for my laptop ... can you provide the make and model number of your laptop, or better yet the P/N on the battery itself? i also need your address. thanks, ar-jedi Thank You, I just bought a battery, it's en-route to the house, just need to have the Wife send it once I find out how long I'm staying here. |
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Posted: 4/15/2014 10:21:39 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Can you give me a rundown of all the equipment in use here? I would LOVE to duplicate your setup. KX3,...obviously. KX3 with cable accessories, just need the cable from headphone output to mic input. Ipad with the "PSKer" app. Buddistick with longer shockcord whip vs shorter collapsable whip. Cool "tactical" pouch that holds the KX3 and accessories that I bought at the German PX. That's it.
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Posted: 4/15/2014 10:59:05 PM EDT
[#24]
Cool stuff man. I have spent a lot of time over where you are in a big metal tube with wings. Fooled around on the HF a bit. Didn't TX on the ham bands, but there is some interesting stuff out there to listen to. Really fun to hear all those rare DX countries (from the states) loud and clear. Have done a little hamming out over international waters though.....
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Posted: 4/15/2014 11:00:11 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
KX3 with cable accessories, just need the cable from headphone output to mic input. Ipad with the "PSKer" app. Buddistick with longer shockcord whip vs shorter collapsable whip. Cool "tactical" pouch that holds the KX3 and accessories that I bought at the German PX. That's it.
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Can you give me a rundown of all the equipment in use here? I would LOVE to duplicate your setup. KX3,...obviously. KX3 with cable accessories, just need the cable from headphone output to mic input. Ipad with the "PSKer" app. Buddistick with longer shockcord whip vs shorter collapsable whip. Cool "tactical" pouch that holds the KX3 and accessories that I bought at the German PX. That's it.
That's very nice, will it key the rig via VOX? Or do you key manually? I may need to get a KX3...if it's that easy to run portable digital then that could be my justification that I've been looking for!
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Posted: 4/16/2014 4:28:47 AM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That's very nice, will it key the rig via VOX? Or do you key manually? I may need to get a KX3...if it's that easy to run portable digital then that could be my justification that I've been looking for! Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Can you give me a rundown of all the equipment in use here? I would LOVE to duplicate your setup. KX3,...obviously. KX3 with cable accessories, just need the cable from headphone output to mic input. Ipad with the "PSKer" app. Buddistick with longer shockcord whip vs shorter collapsable whip. Cool "tactical" pouch that holds the KX3 and accessories that I bought at the German PX. That's it.
That's very nice, will it key the rig via VOX? Or do you key manually? I may need to get a KX3...if it's that easy to run portable digital then that could be my justification that I've been looking for! I'm sure it will key VOX when I get the right configuration settings, so I did have to key it manually. |
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Posted: 4/16/2014 12:11:34 PM EDT
[#27]
I was able to make up a Y cable that uses the mic input on the Ipad and the speaker output so you can avoid using the external speaker or mic on the ipad and everything is connectorized. It's a pretty simple cable I can photoshop up a schematic if you like. |
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Posted: 4/16/2014 1:24:23 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I was able to make up a Y cable that uses the mic input on the Ipad and the speaker output so you can avoid using the external speaker or mic on the ipad and everything is connectorized. It's a pretty simple cable I can photoshop up a schematic if you like. Yes I would, but I don't think my ipad has a mic jack, just an integral embedded mic. |
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Posted: 4/16/2014 3:20:08 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Yes I would, but I don't think my ipad has a mic jack, just an integral embedded mic. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I was able to make up a Y cable that uses the mic input on the Ipad and the speaker output so you can avoid using the external speaker or mic on the ipad and everything is connectorized. It's a pretty simple cable I can photoshop up a schematic if you like. Yes I would, but I don't think my ipad has a mic jack, just an integral embedded mic. That's the sneaky part. Your Ipad has a mic jack, but you need a 4-ring connector to access it *and* in order to fool the stupid ipad into using that mic instead of the outboard one you need a resistor in the mix in the cable. You can buy the splitter cables online that split the 4-ring out to two 3-ring females, one for mic and one for headphones, but I don't think any of them include the resistor and so unless you actually use a mic with them they don't work. The radios output does not look like a mic, which is why you have to add the resistor to fool it. Stupid Apple couldn't just use a regular press open jack connector...oh no. Some relevant information that got me moving in the right direction with this. You will still need your VOX and volume set up and adjusted properly. And watch out because the ipad will occasionally drop the overall volume to almost nil for some unknown reason when plugging/unplugging the cables. But in the end you are wind-proof and not bugging anyone with all that 'alien-talk'. |
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Posted: 4/16/2014 4:32:47 PM EDT
[#30]
Here's what a lot of people use for the iPad line level:
iPhone 1/8 inch line-level audio input and headphone output adapter - 3.5mm 4 conductor TRRS Male to 3.5mm Headphone and Microphone Jacks with built-in Line-Level Attenuator |
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Posted: 4/16/2014 4:40:44 PM EDT
[#31]
Oh cool...so they are available with an appropriate resistor in the feed. Still...$37 with shipping. I think I have about $2 invested in mine, minus the research and soldering time. |
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Posted: 4/16/2014 7:54:29 PM EDT
[#32]
Anything else you need out there?
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Posted: 4/16/2014 11:19:23 PM EDT
[#33]
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Posted: 4/17/2014 1:38:52 AM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That's the sneaky part. Your Ipad has a mic jack, but you need a 4-ring connector to access it *and* in order to fool the stupid ipad into using that mic instead of the outboard one you need a resistor in the mix in the cable. You can buy the splitter cables online that split the 4-ring out to two 3-ring females, one for mic and one for headphones, but I don't think any of them include the resistor and so unless you actually use a mic with them they don't work. The radios output does not look like a mic, which is why you have to add the resistor to fool it. Stupid Apple couldn't just use a regular press open jack connector...oh no. Some relevant information that got me moving in the right direction with this. You will still need your VOX and volume set up and adjusted properly. And watch out because the ipad will occasionally drop the overall volume to almost nil for some unknown reason when plugging/unplugging the cables. But in the end you are wind-proof and not bugging anyone with all that 'alien-talk'. Very interesting, I did not know that. |
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Posted: 4/17/2014 2:53:11 PM EDT
[#35]
Looks like this thread is getting attention in some circles.
http://sparks31.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/guerrilla-style-portable-in-afghanistan/ |
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Posted: 4/17/2014 3:11:36 PM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Looks like this thread is getting attention in some circles.
http://sparks31.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/guerrilla-style-portable-in-afghanistan/ Thanks for the link. I just picked up another manual to read. Glad to see you are some attention in the right places. |
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Posted: 4/17/2014 6:17:04 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Anything else you need out there? ^^^ This from me too! |
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Posted: 4/17/2014 6:21:12 PM EDT
[#38]
You outta PHX?
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Posted: 4/18/2014 2:17:30 AM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
^^^ This from me too! Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Anything else you need out there? ^^^ This from me too! Thank You both, I'm doing well and want for (almost) nothing.
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Posted: 4/18/2014 2:17:51 AM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You outta PHX? Been at KAIA for the last couple months. |
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Posted: 4/18/2014 12:25:10 PM EDT
[#41]
Are by any chance at the same base the USACE G6 is on?
You can PM me if you want. |
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Posted: 4/18/2014 2:51:33 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Are by any chance at the same base the USACE G6 is on? You can PM me if you want. I think they are at NKC, not here at KAIA. |
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Posted: 5/29/2014 9:20:18 AM EDT
[#43]
Got a chance to get out again and operate off some rooftops, but wasn't able to get any pics. Made QSO with one of my MARS buddies and listened to a lot of PSK31 but couldn't QSO with anyone, they just couldn't hear my 5W.
Pic of how compact a setup can be. KX3 in the Condor deployment bag, antenna bag with Buddistick and accessories plus the extended shockcord whip and the iPad with PSKer. That's all it takes. 
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Posted: 5/29/2014 11:29:40 AM EDT
[#44]
That is very cool , stay safe
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Posted: 5/29/2014 1:48:28 PM EDT
[#45]
A few more watts would sure help.
I'm getting spots over there running 25-30 watts on jt65. |
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Posted: 5/29/2014 1:56:58 PM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
A few more watts would sure help. I'm getting spots over there running 25-30 watts on jt65. I'll have my amp back in 10 days or so, so I should be able to solve some technical issues with the application of more power.
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Posted: 5/29/2014 2:14:30 PM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I'll have my amp back in 10 days or so, so I should be able to solve some technical issues with the application of more power.
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
A few more watts would sure help. I'm getting spots over there running 25-30 watts on jt65. I'll have my amp back in 10 days or so, so I should be able to solve some technical issues with the application of more power.
 Almost time for me to stay up late (or get up early?) to see if I make it over there again. 
Not getting my hopes up but I'll certainly give it a try. |
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Posted: 5/29/2014 2:25:36 PM EDT
[#48]
A couple more days and I will relocate my antenna and that should let me push out more watts.
(I have my ultimax duct taped to a lighting pole that just happens to be metal. I know dumb but I wanted to see if height would help. It did. The height helped, not the pole being metal) |
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Posted: 5/29/2014 7:42:19 PM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
A few more watts would sure help. I'm getting spots over there running 25-30 watts on jt65. Its funny that 20-30 watts is the sweet spot for commo aint it... |
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Posted: 5/29/2014 10:39:16 PM EDT
[#50]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Its funny that 20-30 watts is the sweet spot for commo aint it... Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
A few more watts would sure help. I'm getting spots over there running 25-30 watts on jt65. Its funny that 20-30 watts is the sweet spot for commo aint it... for some digital it is. Normal nights lately I need 25 watts on 20 to be seen in europe. Bagged a ZL the other night on 17 meters with 30 watts. 
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