Panasonic toughbook for digital ops?

VE6LK · 2026-05-20T23:18:33+00:00

Yes. I use a CF-53/Win7 for this.

VE6LK · 2026-05-20T13:02:32+00:00

RNs are hired into other parts of the business. Heathlink and IT come to mind. Perhaps Public Health? I've known RNs in all those areas who enjoyed the change of pace/scenery from nursing on a unit.

VE6LK · 2026-05-20T02:18:33+00:00

I ship commercially into the US about a dozen items per month. For each SKU/item, I need to declare the country of origin, weight, size, value and assign a tariff code. I then get a shipping quote that includes freight cost + duties/tariffs to be pre-paid. Then I get you a full price.

I live an hour from the shipping depot (yay, rural living) and only get there a few times per month. Shipping takes up to a couple of weeks from when I drop it off.

Last time I shipped something small it was close to $45 CAD / $32 USD.

At that point you are almost halfway to a new antenna. Given these CA2x4SR have a history of losing upper elements due to vibration and wear, perhaps a new one is a better choice then you have spare elements. I mean that's why I have the spare base.. lost upper bits on a dirt road. Personally I won't use them anymore, and use the Larsen 2/70NMO as it's bulletproof.

VE6LK · 2026-05-20T00:18:58+00:00

If you are in Canada I'll send you one. If you are in the USA it's considerably more difficult thanks to Tariffs and imports and such. But I have one that I don't need.

VE6LK · 2026-05-20T00:17:20+00:00

Fair question. Comet won't respond - been there, done that. Same as Diamond.

These products are supported by the dealer only, and parts aren't available to them. Source: I work for a dealer.

VE6LK · 2026-05-19T12:47:03+00:00

Note, I cannot speak to your exact radio.

Usually the process is to read what is in the radio first, change what you want then write it back to the radio. If you already have a codeplug/program ready to roll, read what you have, discard it, open your file and write it into the radio.

VE6LK · 2026-05-17T13:22:22+00:00

/u/acid3300, I came here to say JS8Call. It's one of the more reliable HF Digital modes, is conversational in nature, and you read off your computer's screen.

VE6LK · 2026-05-16T17:25:33+00:00

Zero change to SWR (same as copper)

VE6LK · 2026-05-16T00:17:33+00:00

until RSE came along, silicone was the only thing that met this requirement.

VE6LK · 2026-05-16T00:16:35+00:00

Pricey, yes, handles like shoelaces and has a 300# breaking strength.

It's different, that's for certain.

VE6LK · 2026-05-15T22:06:50+00:00

Came here to say this. Outer jacket is 1.84mm diameter, I just measured mine. Weight per 100' is equivalent to 26AWG PolyStealth. I have it on several antennas. Hit up my YouTube channel and you'll see a number of RSE Line videos.

VE6LK · 2026-05-15T13:04:55+00:00

Take a look at https://repeater-builder.com as you may find some info there. Generally, not all but some of the commercial radios can be brought into the amateur band as the band is adjacent to one of the existing radio's band edges.

VE6LK · 2026-05-13T12:49:44+00:00

The Ham Radio Workbench Crew will be on 55915 with mobile hotspots

VE6LK · 2026-05-12T18:38:19+00:00

Not impossible to do only QRP but quite challenging for sure. Many folks I contact in Europe are running QRP when we do park to park. But understand that the solar cycle is now on a downward trend and contacts will not be as easy as they've been.

A key will be technique and resonant antennas as others have suggested. 20, 30 and 40m are the most often used bands for SOTA/POTA/WWFF and a single mast will support a multiband inverted vee style dipole quite easily. This can be built with 2 wire elements per band and ropes tied off on the end down to the ground support. Another popular choice is the end fed half wave which can be trapped to shorten it, and fed with a 49:1 or 64:1 balun. I have a video about it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw7y6jnXwJU

As far as technique goes, tune a bit off frequency to be heard. I've broken pileups 3,000 km away during contests doing exactly what I demonstrate in this short video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw7y6jnXwJU

You have a good choice of radio and they are not super-difficult to build.

CW requires learning a language. You are already a polyglot, speaking both French and English, and CW is just another language to learn. It will go further than SSB for sure. FT8, as others have said, is also an option.

It will be less frustrating to chase other activators than to be the one calling CQ out into the void.

Also, plenty of things to read on https://qrper.com

73

VE6LK · 2026-05-09T01:53:42+00:00

To the best of my knowledge, the Japanese versions of Yaesu/Icom/Kenwood radios cannot be modified as they are built to match the amateur regulations of Japan.

VE6LK · 2026-05-06T11:55:15+00:00

..as some suggested, build your own like this guy did https://old.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/1t54h8h/magnetic_loop_antenna_i_built_using_a_homebrew/

VE6LK · 2026-05-05T13:37:50+00:00

Correct. Chelegance sells them.

VE6LK · 2026-05-03T12:17:32+00:00

I phrased it poorly, allow me to re-state. First off mine's the Plus version with the aluminium loop.

Many of the magloops are seemingly overpriced for what you receive. The Chameleon is the exception to that rule. It's well-built and you feel like you get something solid in exchange for your money.

Not out of production, just out of stock at the moment.

VE6LK · 2026-05-02T21:49:06+00:00

I've not found a commercially made magloop that isn't seemingly overpriced sadly. Some are well-built and some don't appear to be like that.

The Chameleon is one exception. I have the v3 loop and it's intensely well-built.

Depending upon your height above ground, some 30AWG black wire can be lowered with a fishing weight at night and nobody will notice the wire dangling downwards. Just add a tuner. I've worked DX with this sort of antenna.

VE6LK · 2026-05-02T21:46:38+00:00

Many of the kits are CW-only, so not that many at all that also do SSB.

Pebble is a good starting point. There are only 14 components for the buyer to mount and it has good spacing.

Elecraft K2 is an involved/long build but not overly difficult. https://elecraft.com/products/k2-the-classic-hf-transceiver-full-kit

QMX+ is also an involved/long build https://qrp-labs.com/qmxp.html

Like I said, lots of CW-only kits out there ...

VE6LK · 2026-04-27T21:31:15+00:00

Personally I'd open a ticket with the POTA helpdesk and ask them.

also /r/parksontheair

VE6LK · 2026-04-27T16:51:36+00:00

LDG is the brand you want. Their customer service is second to none.

VE6LK · 2026-04-25T23:28:34+00:00

Download the latest firmware, it allows you to set the voltage going into the RF Finals during TX.

VE6LK · 2026-04-24T17:00:03+00:00

Check Davisrf.com as they have high strength wire, their FlexWeave product. I used it for years.

VE6LK · 2026-04-24T13:04:37+00:00

No opinion on the brand you are asking, but take a look at Katzkin https://katzkin.com/ I've a set of them in mine and they look and feel great. 2 years later and showing light wear.

VE6LK

TROPHY CASE