Portable Operations Ideas Part 2 of 4

Last, we'll discuss solar panels as a power supply/charging device.  They are out of my price range...period.  Very limited power ones are available very cheaply, but the quality ones do cost a lot of money.  For someone with a more discretionary budget, they are a good item to have in your portable arsenal.  Used with QRP rigs, they keep your batteries charged and provide power for a long time.  However, getting one that will power rigs that draw more amps can get quite expensive.  So many companies make them, that I won't quote prices or models.

Tuners are a much-debated subject.  Some people take a tuner with them...period.  I don't use an external tuner as my base/fairly mobile/sort of portable FT-450AT has an internal tuner.  It's a 3:1 match, but I try to cut antennas to the lowest SWR and don't anticipate trying to match a 10:1 mismatch, as some manufacturers claim.  Having a 10:1 mismatch...really?  With mine, I simply push the tune button.  If it won't tune, it's either too far out of resonance, or I accidentally hit the "wrong" band button.  Now that I've discussed on-board tuners, which people either love or hate, trust or don't trust, we'll give consideration to external meters and tuners.  I like the idea of a quality external power/SWR meter, especially for rigs that have those pathetic displays.  So many small radios don't have these features, or they are simply bars to look at and have a ballpark figure.  Was that three bars or four?  Which bar means how much SWR?  I can't remember...  I want a number as a reference.

While lots of people don't use external tuners, a lot do.  Some people like to fiddle with knobs, while others like to push a button or have an auto-tuner.  I'm a push the button or full auto-tune kind of person...actually a push the button once and let the tuner do the work person.  For auto-tuners, LDG seems to be the major player.  They make dedicated tuners for some Yaesu and Icom models, including the QRP tuner for an 817.  The Z-100 Plus has a button you push when you want to tune, while other models monitor and memorize settings for different frequencies.  The Z-100 Plus retails for $149.  The Z-11 ProII is very popular and totally automatic.  It costs about $20 or so dollars more than the Z-100 Plus.  The difference between the two is that 1) the Z-100 Plus has one button that you push every time you want to tune, whereas after the first tune, the Z-11 ProII tunes once and is then continuous auto tune.  2) The Z-100 has one button, while the Z-11 has multiple buttons for specific settings.  I like the fact that you can plug a radio interface jumper into your radio from the tuner.  LDG also makes dedicated power/SWR meters that can plug directly into some radios, such as the Yaesu FT-857.  One less piece of coax to contend with in-line.  Again, the different models suit different radios and different users.  If your antenna is resonant, your radio works well and your coax doesn't have a short, do you need one?  The choice is up to you.

You've got a radio, an antenna, a power source, an optional tuner and your log (and 2 pens or pencils).  You're ready to go, right?  What about getting the antenna in the air?  Hopefully, you'll have trees nearby if you use a dipole.  If you use a Buddistick, it fits on a camera tripod or picnic table.  The Buddipole can be mounted on an expanding tripod/pole that Buddipole makes or other portable uses such as an adaptor that you can use with painters' pole..  For auto trips, many people use painters' poles.  I've even used hose clamps and fastened two together.  I have three painters' poles, and a satellite dish tripod for RVs.  It is super heavy duty.  Neither are pack-light, but suitable for a day outing to a park, or camping in a campground.  Note that I mentioned suitable...not great.  You've still got a long pole to store in your vehicle, and one which is too bulky or heavy to take on a trail.  I also have a tiki torch stake that I hammer into the ground.  My fiberglass painters' pole fits perfectly in it.  Some guy lines to make it stable and I'm good to go.  Granted, this application does not make for a very tall antenna.  If you're on a mountain, close to water, etc. your antenna performance is increased.  However, I've worked Europe from Kentucky, with a dipole 13 feet off of the ground in front of my house, in a crowded subdivision, with a transformer and power lines a few feet away.  Many factors come into play.

One item that hams are discovering is the telescoping "light-weight" fiberglass pole.  Several companies, both in the U.S. and Europe make them.  One such company is Jackite.  The poles were originally developed for flying their mylar bird kites and banners.  They make up to a 31 foot tall model, which weighs about four pounds.  The prices are reasonable--$54 for a 28 foot model, to $69 for the 31 foot model.  They are very flexible, like a fishing pole, but heavy duty and have a 2 inch wide base.  Disclaimer: They are meant to be used for small gauge wire antennas.  Do not try to use a regular antenna, or hang a ferrite core balun from one...  It will either bend over, or break.  I know one ham who has several and he loves them.  I'm going to get one for my ham radio arsenal.  For small gauge dipoles or EndFedz, they are ideally suited.  Color patterns available include black, camo, orange, etc.  A company rep told me that the 31 foot, regular model in black is the most popular version for hams.  They do make a stronger model--the platinum series.  It costs about $54 for a 28 foot tall version, and weighs about 7 pounds.  For most uses and especially if you take it hiking, the regular weighs a lot less.  Again, the company says the regular model is the most common.  I've read where when compared side by side, they are considered superior to the version made by MFJ.  I have the 31 foot, black model.  So far, I like it, but it is definitely for light antennas.  I've been hesitant to bend it too much.  I suppose it's meant to flex a lot, but I try to be gentle with it.

Since you can probably buy some guy line without too much consideration, I won't discuss it, except to say that nylon, UV resistant cord is best, and poly rope is not well thought of.  Fancy rope clips are out there as tensioners.  People, can you say camping taut line hitch?  I use two of them, and the second one keeps tension on the first one.  One thing to note: Black cord is stealthy, but in crowded places, use some sort of marker for the guys and the antenna lines.  I use pink flag tape, available at hardware stores for usually $1-2 dollars.  I also have some orange reflective hunter strips with alligator clips, but they don't show up as well as they are much smaller.  They do catch light at night.  Use both in a campground and you'll be more likely for people to see your lines.  You can also time how long it takes the kids to steal them...  The flag tape is wide, bright and waves in the wind, catching peoples' attention...just before they walk right into them...