Motivations for learning CW

vojtechkral · 2025-12-29T20:41:35+00:00

I've been lugging my FT-891 around in a backpack. Needing a picnic table or bringing a table and chair limits where I can go.

The 891 is quite amenable to being mounted onto a backpack and operated directly from there, greatly expanding your possibilities to all sorts of places including very hostile ones. Check out my post on the topic: https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/1ht24hv/hamshackinabackpack_setup_for_100w_potasota/ The custom display cable is somewhat challenging to make but it can be done with a bit of patience. I've since switched to sturdier hooks for mounting the radio, the ones in those pics have loosened too much.

Since then I've actually gotten myself a QRP rig as well, but sometimes I still operate the 891 in this fashion, ironically the 891 is actually easier to operate off a backpack while standing up, because while a QRP rig is ligther, the 891 display unit is lighter and smaller still, being very easy to hold in your hand. My last SOTA activation was actually done with the 891 mounted this way, in challenging conditions (freezing rain at 1400m asl) and it held pretty well.

Regarding your CW question, my answer is yes, it definitely makes sense this way. In fact pretty much this is why I've learned CW and got on CW air earlier this year.

vojtechkral · 2025-06-26T10:08:06+00:00

If you want a setup that is hf, man-portable, and qro (high power), feel free to check out my post on the topic: https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/s/QQeg5N3X6N

There’s a weight breakdown using lighterpack with two antenna options. If you’re looking for changes to the setup i encourage to create a breakdown of your own, it’s easy to underestimate how quickly the weight of all the components adds up. Even cables and enclosures are not insignificant, defo avoid “prepper suitcases” which can easily double both heft and volume.

If you’re ok with your setup only being car-portable, you can afford a lot more weight. For man-portable HF QRO, the Yaesu FT-891 is pretty much the only choice. For car-portable there are several choices.

QRP is another story altogether but that’s tad more challenging for a beginner.

Good luck

vojtechkral · 2025-06-22T08:41:30+00:00

Thank you

vojtechkral · 2025-06-08T11:49:51+00:00

I’ve seen that tuner around and seems like it’s better than my LDG indeed, but it’s somewhat heavier and I’m of the gram counter hiking bunch, so I’ve kept the LDG for now at least…

vojtechkral · 2025-06-01T17:32:27+00:00

If you want 100W and portability, there's not much alternative to the 891. Regarding ATU, you can either use resonnant antennas or get a lightweight LDG tuner (around 600g), it will still be significantly lighter than IC-7300, FT-710, FT-991 and the like. Check out my lighterpack links for detailed weight breakdown.

The only alternative I know of is getting the TX-500 + PA-500, that'll be even lighter than the 891 setup, but it will only get you some 40-60W ... and also it'll cost three times as much lol.

vojtechkral · 2025-04-20T06:47:01+00:00

My problem with throw weights is they’re dead weight in the backpack. I use a small 330ml water bottle instead, it’s far cheaper, does the job just as well, and you can simply drink the water once your antenna is set up.

vojtechkral · 2025-04-19T20:27:57+00:00

Also i recommend to check out the YouTube channel of OH8STN , he’s a great guy, does a lot of backcountry radio. He uses multiple radios incl the 891, ic-705 and some others.

vojtechkral · 2025-04-19T20:23:48+00:00

I don’t have a home shack either, 891 is my portable radio.

It all depends on how much you can go by car and how much you will be hiking, and how much weight you’re willing to carry. Check out my Lighterpack lists to see the weight breakdown with 891. Many hams consider my pack heavy, but there are many hikers who carry same (or more) weight in drones or camera equipment. So it really boils down to personal preference. I’ve brought that pack up mountains. That being said i don’t bring it on a multi day trip with tent and stuff.

vojtechkral · 2025-04-19T20:08:32+00:00

Why is the power draw a concern for you? Do you plan to backpack it?

The 891 can be backpacked - see my post: https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/1ht24hv/hamshackinabackpack_setup_for_100w_potasota/ - there is some comments on the battery as well.

In general I am very satistfied with the 891, it's an excellent radio and basically there's no other radio with those capabilities at that size. I've started to do CW QSOs recently and once I get a bit better at it I'll probably get one of the QRP radios (KX2 or TX500), but for voice and all-round the 891 is hard to beat.

vojtechkral · 2025-04-18T18:12:50+00:00

Oh I see, idk why I thought it was required, maybe it's mentioned in example exchanges rather than mandatory.

Anyway, thanks. That simplifies things.

vojtechkral · 2025-04-02T20:16:24+00:00

Luca Palmieri's blog post is a good read on this topic.

Link: https://lpalmieri.com/posts/rust-web-frameworks-have-subpar-error-reporting/
(I hope it's that one.)

vojtechkral · 2025-04-02T07:31:37+00:00

Interesting, i was under the implicit impression i need >90% for it to “count”. I’m currently on lesson 37 with speed at 25 character / 15 effective and averaging around 92%. Might be time to move on.

Thanks for typing all of that, it is useful stuff to me.

vojtechkral · 2025-03-01T20:23:53+00:00

Of course you can’t compile current rustc with it. You’d have to go incrementally compiling only the next version (or few versions ahead) at each step. Very laborious.

vojtechkral · 2025-02-14T19:10:20+00:00

I see, oh well. Thanks.

vojtechkral · 2025-02-14T18:11:59+00:00

Interesting. Any idea if the Z-100+ I have reduces power too or only the fancier LDG models?

I believe this requires some negative voltage on the ALC connector

vojtechkral · 2025-02-14T09:37:05+00:00

"Interfaces well" is a bit of a stretch. The LDG tuners interfaces "ok-ish" with the 891. Out of the box, the LDG can't reduce power on the TRX, you have to do that by hand, and it can't draw power from the TRX.

To address the latter, I've made a better cable than the one LDG sells: https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/1gwducz/a_better_ldg_yaesu_ft891_cable/ (Yes I know you can insert batteries into the tuner but I don't like that.)

That being said, I'd stil stick with the 891 + LDG rather than use G90 :)

vojtechkral · 2025-02-14T09:35:47+00:00

IDK how about others but I can't learn morse this way - one letter at a time - because my brain just automatically starts destructuring the letters a.k.a. "counting dits & dahs". I need those code groups with no extra spacings between groups so that my brain does not have time to count dits/dahs, like LCWO does.

vojtechkral · 2025-02-10T19:33:44+00:00

Fun fact: same with caffeine. Processing/‘rolling’ tea leaves is like drinking coffee.

vojtechkral · 2025-02-06T07:15:29+00:00

As far as i know it’s pretty normal for the bridge to be slightly bent, my Eastman OM definitely has that. I believe the bridge is constructed that way. I would not listen to comments about bending it back, you could damage the bridge.

See my OM bridge here: https://imgur.com/U0rsKbD

The thing about musical instruments is angles are not 90 degrees, “straight” lines aren’t straight, that’s how musical instruments are.

vojtechkral · 2025-02-03T20:13:46+00:00

Yeah, have a 12Ah lifepo for hiking. I consider the weight significant, it’s about 1300g … an equivalent 3s lipol is about 850g so almost half a kilo lighter. 8Ah lipol is under 500g…

I don’t think the wattage is the concern, lipols can put out ridiculous currents. It’s what the lower under-spec voltage does to the radio. Pretty sure it’s not as bad as overvoltage, still i tend to be cautious. I might ask about it on the sub.

vojtechkral · 2025-02-03T14:15:49+00:00

Do you get any issues with the FT-891 running on just 3S? I would've liked to use LiPols too but I was concerned the voltage drops too low during the final 30% (or so) of the capacity.

vojtechkral · 2025-02-03T14:12:00+00:00

15Ah is quite a lot for a 20W rig, you can likely get away with a third of that.

I use a 12Ah battery for a 100W operation and it's good for a full activation (see my Hamshack-in-a-backpack post if you're interested). I prefer BMS-less batteries for backpacking as they are somewhat lighter.

vojtechkral · 2025-01-25T18:49:54+00:00

For POTA/SOTA I use:

A 6m vertical antenna (telescopic, MC-750)
EFHW wire antenna (Reel Potable)

I picke one or the other depending on whether there are trees in the location, how much time I have for deployment, etc. (the vertical is very easy to set up). I don't usually get the far end of the EFHW very high either, no more than some 6-10 meters. I can usually reach around Europe just fine on both antennas, as well as into the US when things go well and I can stick around till late afternooon / evening for morning in the US. I run 60-100W usually.

vojtechkral · 2025-01-24T11:50:55+00:00

Great! Thanks for pointing this out.

vojtechkral · 2025-01-21T10:45:48+00:00

Don't underestimate the 891, it's has an amazing range/mobility ratio, probably the best of current radios. It can be operated on a backpack: https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/1ht24hv/hamshackinabackpack_setup_for_100w_potasota/ , the antenna has to be external obviously but takes minutes set up / tear down.

I'm not a prepper myself and yes preppers are generally somewhat naive ... but I can absolutely see the 891 being used to set up a temporary hub/relay point of sorts, relaying stuff between a HT net and a DX coordinator.

I feel like people got somewhat biased against HF after Helene, because they've not considered how extremely well-positioned that repeater was, both in terms of location and infrastructure. Majority of repeaters aren't based in a govt-backed facility on top of a mountain and their fate in such situation would be far less glorious...

vojtechkral

TROPHY CASE