Guerilla portable.

Posted: 4/14/2017 2:55:35 PM EDT

The idea is borrowed from Piccolo.
I'm at undisclosed location, South West of Chester, SC, operating guerilla portable with my radios and several antennas.
Will be calling CQ, on and off on 14.247 and will switch to 40 and 80m later tonight. Stop by and say hello.

Currently running 100 Watts into a Tarheel vertical.

W3P** in SC.

Posted: 4/14/2017 3:26:30 PM EDT

[#1]

I'm there, but hear nothing. Are you still there?

Posted: 4/14/2017 3:45:58 PM EDT

[#2]

I got bumped off the frequency. Now on 14.278.

Posted: 4/14/2017 7:29:17 PM EDT

[#3]

Did you bring a key?
I'm in the shack. will listen on 7114 for a while.
Have fun camping. Wish i was out there.

Posted: 4/14/2017 9:35:48 PM EDT

[#4]

Lost cell phone signal but it's back to one bar.
So far I made 2 dozen DX contacts on 40 meters. The band is in good shape. My new antenna and a balun work very well.
I'll be on 40 for a while and switch to 80m later when I crawl into the tent.
Yes I did bring a new key with me that I bought from SotaBeams. I'm trying to get used to it. So far I like it. It's a tiny paddle but it works.

Posted: 4/14/2017 9:51:11 PM EDT

[#5]

I listened for you earlier on SSB, but no joy. Not going out put up my 40m antenna tonight, though.

Maybe 20m tomorrow, if you are still around.

Posted: 4/14/2017 10:12:20 PM EDT

[#6]

Sure, no problem. Tomorrow we can try 20 meters again.

Posted: 4/15/2017 8:10:25 AM EDT

[#7]

I always enjoy learning what equip and antennas you are using, if you'd care to share. Have fun!

Posted: 4/15/2017 1:15:04 PM EDT

[#8]

Going to be doing the same here late today and the rest of the week. Packed the FT-897, FT-817, magloop, two nib DWM yo-yo's and a nib Myantenna EFHW 8010. No tuner. Did bring the Signalink & notebook. It was, last minute toss this in a box and lets go. I call it my emergency unpreparedness package

hope to catch y'all on the air.

Posted: 4/15/2017 3:04:39 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
I always enjoy learning what equip and antennas you are using, if you'd care to share. Have fun!

View Quote

I brought my FT857d and KX3.
Antennas: Mobil Tarheel 75A antenna for 20 -10m bands and a fan dipole for 40 and 75/80 meters.
I just built the dipole using a 1:1 balun kit from Sotabeams. It's about 25 feet above ground and works great. Tonight I will try placing a reflector on the ground for better NVIS pattern.

My friends went hiking but I'm sitting here alone
and playing with the radios.
Let's see if I ca post a picture.

.

Posted: 4/15/2017 3:19:58 PM EDT

[#10]

Can anyone see the picture?
I can't figure out how to post it with an android dumbphone.

Posted: 4/15/2017 3:31:04 PM EDT

[#11]

I can't see the picture in your post, but I can repost it for you so it shows up in mine.

Car battery portable. I like it.

Are you on 20m?

Posted: 4/15/2017 3:49:16 PM EDT

[#12]

Yep, I'm on 20 meters right now, using the Ft857 and the mobile antenna you see on the picture.

The battery is old but it works. I also brought a Honda eu1000 generator with me and a 100 ft, 12 gauge extension cord. I can barely hear the generator 100 ft away. It's very quiet, pure sinewave inverter type generator. It runs all day on a gallon of gas.

Posted: 4/15/2017 3:50:09 PM EDT

[#13]

Pick a frequency.

Posted: 4/15/2017 3:54:02 PM EDT

[#14]

How about 14.295?

Posted: 4/15/2017 3:55:12 PM EDT

[#15]

Be there in a minute....digging a microphone out of the closet.

Edit: Calling now, but nothing heard.

Edit again: Still no joy, but I have my usual S7 noise here.

Posted: 4/15/2017 4:18:37 PM EDT

[#16]

I tried calling a few times, but no joy.

Posted: 4/15/2017 4:19:54 PM EDT

[#17]

Kekoa, I heard you and replied but you disappeared.
Noise level is.......zero over here. It's about zero at home too. I do miss my Yagi and the amp. I'm not used to calling CQ and getting no replies.

S7 noise on 20 meters? Wow. Are you using RX preamplifier ?

Posted: 4/15/2017 4:23:47 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
I tried calling a few times, but no joy.

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Sorry about this. I'm running with only 100 Watts and a relatively small antenna.
I just worked a mobile station in ND and a QRP station in Colorado.
Last night we caught a lot of DX stations on 40 meters.

Posted: 4/15/2017 4:37:11 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
Kekoa, I heard you and replied but you disappeared.
Noise level is.......zero over here. It's about zero at home too. I do miss my Yagi and the amp. I'm not used to calling CQ and getting no replies.

S7 noise on 20 meters? Wow. Are you using RX preamplifier ?

View Quote

Didn't hear you at all.

S7 on 20m SSB is pretty common for me. Don't ever (very rarely) use the preamp. Just one of joys of having your antenna is in the attic, along side of every other wire in the house. Plus, it's noisy around here anyway.

Posted: 4/15/2017 7:12:53 PM EDT

[#20]

I just powered up my KX3 and it does have an S3 noise on 20m. The SDR receiver in the KX3 is noisy little booger
Back to the old trusty 857 with 100 Watts of RF goodness.

Anyone up for a 40 or 80 meter Arfcom QSO?

Posted: 4/15/2017 7:37:42 PM EDT

[#21]

What freq are you on? I'll give a shout. 7114?
Can try voice also, just have to plug in that thing with the curley cord :)

Posted: 4/15/2017 7:56:36 PM EDT

[#22]

There is someone on 7.114. I just got there and did not catch the call.
Or we can try SSB on 7.131. Maybe others will join.

Never mind. 131 is taken over by Spanish talkers.

I'll call CQ on 7.114 CW

Posted: 4/15/2017 8:05:39 PM EDT

[#23]

ok, 7.131
some of our south of the border friends on 7132 but i just threw out a call

Posted: 4/15/2017 8:08:22 PM EDT

[#24]

actually 7129 seems clear

Posted: 4/15/2017 8:10:45 PM EDT

[#25]

Listening 7.131 but theres a pretty strong spanish station on .132..
Also have weather to the southeast that I'm thinking the lightning crashes are coming from.

Posted: 4/15/2017 8:28:14 PM EDT

[#26]

7114

Posted: 4/15/2017 8:50:05 PM EDT

[#27]

CarsSkill, thanks for the nice CW QSO on 7.114. Sorry I had to speed up a little. I'm just having a hard time to TX slower than 20 WPM with my new paddle key, lol.

Was the **IBZ another Arfcom station? He called me after you.

Posted: 4/15/2017 8:54:12 PM EDT

[#28]

Nice QSO, tnx. I heard him but i didn't recognize the call.
I was running a bit slow, zoning - i activated a sota summit earlier today, so kinda half asleep, lol.
Good one though, lets do more of these. When arfcommers are out practicing portable, we should be shouting out for them.
73 cuagn

Posted: 4/15/2017 8:55:06 PM EDT

[#29]

ps what kind of key is the new one? i was running a J-38, but i do have a paddle

Posted: 4/15/2017 9:16:31 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
ps what kind of key is the new one? i was running a J-38, but i do have a paddle

View Quote

It's called- Mini Paddle, made by Palm Radio in Germany. I bought it from SotaBeams.com. It's probably ideal for backpacking because it's very light and the paddles slide into the square tube for safe transportation. I'd post a link but it's hard to do it from my dumbphone.

Posted: 4/15/2017 9:32:43 PM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:
ps what kind of key is the new one? i was running a J-38, but i do have a paddle

View Quote

It's called- Mini Paddle, made by Palm Radio in Germany. I bought it from SotaBeams.com. It's probably ideal for backpacking because it's very light and the paddles slide into the square tube for safe transportation. I'd post a link but it's hard to do it from my dumbphone.

Posted: 4/15/2017 9:45:50 PM EDT

[#32]

roger that. i have their Pico Paddle for the KX1. works great.
happy easter. catch u next time.

Posted: 4/17/2017 3:45:58 PM EDT

[#33]

Pic from my mountaintop operating position saturday.
Thats the Palm Pico attached to a piece of metal on the clipboard. Strong magnet.

Attached File

Posted: 4/17/2017 10:50:50 PM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:
Pic from my mountaintop operating position saturday.
Thats the Palm Pico attached to a piece of metal on the clipboard. Strong magnet.
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/429939/20170415-132317-resized-189479.JPG

View Quote

Last night at the camp, I could not sleep and both 40 and 80m bands had S9+30 static noise. I just opened a QST magazine and began transmitting what I read at about 30 WPM. several pages later the new paddle felt more comfortable. Obviously it's not a Begalli magnetic return key but it's a good choice for portable operation.

My new 80/40 fan dipole worked very well, considering the size and height above ground. I like the new 1:1 balun from Sotabeams. It was a kit for under $20. Getting it assembled was easy and took less than 30 minutes. I don't know why they used a BNC connector but I had a few adapters laying around.

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