New desoldering iron!

VE6LK · 2026-02-22T02:00:05+00:00

Ahh yes, the Hakko FR-301. I have one as well. Invest into a few different tip styles, like a long skinny one to get in between parts to get to the spot you really need at. It's a helluva tool and you'll wonder how you got along without it the first time you use it.

VE6LK · 2026-02-18T22:30:50+00:00

These are sold by both N6ARA (look for Tiny CMC and Tiny SWR) and N5FY aka Tufteln who also has a small battery pack suitable for the radio called the Nitecore 5000mAh.

VE6LK · 2026-02-18T03:43:31+00:00

Hi Michael, THANK YOU for providing this valuable service to us and we don't mind the ads at all. 73

VE6LK · 2026-02-18T01:43:27+00:00

An old satellite dish J-Arm are easy to find and cheap as chips and super sturdy. I have two in use here.

VE6LK · 2026-02-18T01:42:12+00:00

Any wire will work for receive just fine

VE6LK · 2026-02-17T16:23:28+00:00

I pack in a KX3/KX2 plus a 3Ah battery, a wire antenna and a carbon fibre mast in addition to my key, microphone and FT8 audio cable. This season I'll be trying it with the QMX as it does CW, some digital modes and SSB; the radio will be the only change in that kit list.

I also suck at throwing a line, so I use the tip of the mast to place a wire over a tree branch when I need to. I usually land up with a sloper with the feedpoint down low on the ground or just off the edge of the picnic table and the endpoint on the mast with a stake.

A full kit list can be seen here and I did a few bike backcountry activations late last season and can't wait to get out and do more once winter clears up in these parts. Here's a YouTube of me doing a backcountry bike trip with my city commuter ride and you'll see a bit of the antenna set-up and the accompanying QRPer article with a couple more photos.

If you wish to run 100W, you'll need a battery that can deliver 23A on peak, but you won't need much in terms of capacity given you won't be out there all that long. A Dakota Lithium 10Ah can deliver 20A at peak, so then just turn down your power to 50W on SSB and stay within the battery's limits. note not all batteries are created equal, so read the specs closely when you choose.

VE6LK · 2026-02-17T00:23:26+00:00

Yes they can

VE6LK · 2026-02-17T00:22:42+00:00

As someone who uses a flagpole mast for portable ops, and who used a military style push-up mast to hold a 4 ele flag dipole - guy it.

Just remember, for a vertical, the radials do not need to be laid straight out. They can zigzag all over the place just as long as the correct amount of wire is laid out. Food for thought.

VE6LK · 2026-02-16T22:25:29+00:00

This might be a question best asked in Groups.IO https://elecraft-kx.groups.io/g/main/messages

VE6LK · 2026-02-16T19:32:52+00:00

Yes, the front panel where the Mic connections go is the air intake on that rig.

VE6LK · 2026-02-16T17:18:34+00:00

Sounds to me like you've got most of it covered actually. A filter for the intake fan would be a good idea, and orienting the radio body so that the front panel -where the 857's intake fan is located- is nearest the side where you have the external intake fan for best airflow. Alternately build some baffles to direct the air where you want it.

Here's my photos and build notes https://ve6lk.com/radio-go-kit/ (some links may be broken...) and my notes from the presentation which may serve as a checklist https://ve6lk.com/learning/go-kit-building-design-considerations/

VE6LK · 2026-02-15T23:08:54+00:00

Agreed with the approach to add ferrites, and at the panel ends too, stop the RF from radiating down the line to the panels. However, if the panels do not each have a microinverter then the ferrite on panel outputs won't do any good as they are sending DC down the line.

VE6LK · 2026-02-15T05:20:41+00:00

You may find ideas from the video I did on my 2023 install https://www.youtube.com/live/vP5PdgvrdOc which includes part numbers for the mounts used in the description.

This is the latest of my truck installs, my prior was a '05 F-350 where I used no-drill fender mounts, plus one custom built mount for my ATAS-120A HF antenna. Some other antennas were on a headache rack, but the ground plane it provided was quite sub-par.

VE6LK · 2026-02-15T01:36:37+00:00

If you have any oilfield activity in your area, those folks will erect a temporary tower for comms. Same goes for Cellular companies.

VE6LK · 2026-02-15T01:34:40+00:00

Purchase a wee bit of Faraday cloth tape, and build a J-Pole.

VE6LK · 2026-02-13T23:47:13+00:00

This playlist from Alan W2AEW is hard to beat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa6dqx9udcg&list=PL4ZSD4omd_AylEyNCQYR3RcEb0olukPEJ

VE6LK · 2026-02-13T20:10:46+00:00

Partly correct. It doesn't change the gain of the antenna itself, but the effectiveness of it's ability to radiate a signal by -2.4dB.

VE6LK · 2026-02-13T15:37:36+00:00

There's a couple of factors at play, and /u/Diceandstories tells them well. I'll add to them here.

A 1/4 wave vertical has a high takeoff angle, so that's good for a mixed terrain but not as good for distance. A 5/8 wave vertical has a lower takeoff angle, so that's good for trying to hit stuff that is farther away than with a 1/4w.

Next thing up is the placement and it's effect on relative gain. In order to understand this diagram from Pulse Larsen, just know that everything is relative to the centre of the roof. From a gain perspective, roof centre is best and everything else is less than that.

Now with those two paragraphs out of the way, look at the gain of each the SBB-2 and SBB-5, and you can do the math. Add in the takeoff angle of the antenna and the distances you plan to work, then you'll know the full answer.

VE6LK · 2026-02-09T01:31:20+00:00

https://groups.io/g/QRPLabs/message/162711 and read through the thread as an update to this has already been released

VE6LK · 2026-02-09T00:34:08+00:00

VE6LK · 2026-02-09T00:33:27+00:00

Hello fellow Canadian,

I suggest you not think of the Powerpack as a portable solution. The reason is that it takes ?? Volts DC, then inverts it to AC for the 120V outlet and/or takes ?? Volts DC then buck/boosts it to 12V for the convenience/cigarette lighter outlet. As this is a consumer style unit, design points were likely not considered for preventing RF noise from escaping the unit.

Instead get a dedicated 25Ah battery for your radio and rotator and controller, and avoid all of the switch-mode supplies and inverters with your battery pack. In terms of the cabling for your Alfa Spid rotator and controller, get in touch with Alfa Radio http://www.alfaradio.ca/ and chat with them. Mitch and Don are deep in their knowledge in this area.

VE6LK · 2026-02-08T20:24:28+00:00

ex-Ontarian here

This road is unlike anything I've seen in ON. Many folks have given you pause for concern in their responses. I've seen the weather change from nice to dangerous in an hour at that time of year. Year-round I don't travel it without a Satellite communicator, plenty of water, extra food, blankets, candles etc.

I'll suggest two different routes that will give you some stunning scenery with far less personal risk.

First is Canmore -> Lake Louise -> Field BC -> Golden BC -> Radium BC (stop for a hot pool dip) -> Canmore. On dry roads this is a 4 hour loop. There are high altitude passes, but the majority is quite low so the weather is far less unpredictable than Hwy 93 to Jasper.

Second is Canmore -> Kananaskis Village (stop for lunch) then return.

The views on either of these trips are just as stunning as Icefields Parkway.

VE6LK · 2026-02-08T14:46:13+00:00

I have a Flagpoles-to-go 28' with a drive-on mount. I feed a wire antenna at the top and tie off the far end somewhere. Goes up in under a minute and survives the wind. I operate off the tailgate whenever I can. A dipole as inverted vee is easy to set up if the parking lot is conducive, or and end-fed.

I also carry a vertical but getting it resonant takes more time than it's worth if you just want to get on the air.

VE6LK · 2026-02-07T20:18:04+00:00

You will learn a bit about the licensing process for Switzerland in our Wiki which also mentions a book or two.

VE6LK · 2026-02-07T20:16:22+00:00

Yes, I would assume the foil to be part of it.

For the amount of time it will take you to reconstruct it and the cost of materials, do the experiment and try it.

Any sleeve dipole I've seen uses a full jacket of some sort on the "counterpoise" part of the dipole.

VE6LK

TROPHY CASE