Cliff's Notes on Amateur Radio

015 - Portable Go Bag Complete After POTA Equipment Failure

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This episode was inspired by a QSO with Ron Rowe, W2ELS. If you’d like to hear another episode of this podcast, there’s only one way to make it happen: hunt me down in the park, mention the show, and request a new one!

In this session, I share highlights from my recent Parks on the Air adventures and a few lessons learned along the way:

  • Taking First Place at Decker WMA: The thrill of running pileups again and topping the charts in QSOs.
  • Mic Challenges & Solutions:
    • My struggles with one-handed operation and transmit button.
    • Why I replaced my HM-219 mic.
    • Adding a Heil PTT foot switch and Pro Sound 6 IC headset.
    • Adapters for both the ICOM 7300 and FT-891.
    • Ground Radial Mishap: How stepping on a JPC-12 radial led to a quick field repair with a terminal ring and crimpers (and why I’m so glad I bought good wire strippers).
    • ATAS-120 Update: KG8Y Tom offered to help troubleshoot, which inspired me to register KQ4UUR.com.
    • Go Bag Upgrades:
      • ERYY LiFePO4 25AH battery (fits perfectly in the backpack front pocket).
      • 25ft MOOKEERF RG316 coax with PL-259 connectors.
      • 45A fused connector to Anderson PowerPole adapter for clean power management.

        • With all that in place, my Portable Go Bag is finally complete and tested! It now includes:

        • HF radio with mic and power cable
        • JPC-12 antenna
        • 3ft jumper coax and 1:1 choke
        • Feedline coax
        • RigExpert Stick 500 analyzer
        • Handheld HT for 2m & 70cm
        • Band allocation chart
        • iPad for logging (with notebook & pen as backup)
        • Starlink Mini (optional)
        • Tuner and jumper coax (optional)
        • Backup antennas
        • Future addition: Gabil GRA-ULT01 MK3 mini tripod

          •  

          ...more
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          Cliff's Notes on Amateur RadioBy Cliff Ravenscraft
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