A Custom Regional Comms Antenna, Wet Weather Training & Coffee

[@TuckerC92]

Marine SSgt here. For a ponch tip, don't use it as a gortex. I will use mine as a ruck cover and use the issued gortex tops/bottoms for my body. It allows you to drop your pack or reach your radio without getting tied up in your poncho. You'll probably get a little more wet, but on a patrol you have other considerations.

[@johnk23705]

I also really love using Battle Belts. In addition to the utility of having gear you need to be readily available, it takes weight out of your pack and distributes it evenly on your waist. I 100% agree with using a resonate antenna unless you need a specialized antenna. You are getting as close as possible to radiating all of the wattage your radio produces. You are not losing power with the lossy, wide band transformers which can take up to 50% of your power before the signal even gets to the wire. Linked dipoles are very easy to use and deploy. Unless you are operating ALE, a dipole will be the most efficient. It takes very little time to change bands on a linked dipole. You can operate on any band you wish just by having the correct length links. You also have the benefit of having them tuned very close to a 1 to 1 SWR match. Some of the wide banded antennas designed with the transformers have SWR up to 3 to 1, especially on the lower bands. They are also are getting inefficient at 40 meters and lower, especially 80 and 160 meters. You are leaving very little on the table with a resonate dipole. They are simple and cost less than many other designs. Making your own is very easy also if money is a factor. I haver found the old tried and true designs are the best. The build and design of the linked dipole you are showing looks to be excellent. One suggestion, maybe carry something like a SOTA pole to get more height on your antenna. They are small and lightweight. Easily put in or strapped to your pack. Your desert soil is the worst and gaining height can make the difference when signal strength is low. That desert soil is soaking up a lot of power with a low antenna height.

[@KF4LXS]

When I was in Corp we always had a poncho and poncho liner with us. However, I rarely ever wore it while on the move. Between the rain, sweat, and condensation I found it better to get rained on, and dry off after I reached my destination. Most important thing was to keep my gear dry inside my pack. This has been my experience with Thru-hiking as well. As long as your moving you’ll stay warm. I usually used the poncho as a tarp or wore it like it was intended but only while I was stationary (firewatch, ect.)

[@TheTechPrepper]

Great tips. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@dreadedzen9]

Top line hitch FTW! I love that knot.

[@K6SUD]

Looking forward to seeing how that antenna works. Ill def pick one up when he starts selling them. Thx! 73

[@TheTechPrepper]

I'm excited, too. The weather forecast was for 30% chance of rain, but it ended up being 100%. At least I was able to have coffee with you guys and talk about why I'm considering this modified version of Tim's Linked 20m/40m dipole. The next video should be out within two weeks. Happy 2023!

[@dosnglenn]

Not a Marine, but we were issued ponchos during specific deployments. Best poncho tip, get a Woobie to go with it.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Great tip! I've had a woobie for years. They make for great improvised sleeping bags with the poncho. I keep a woobie and poncho in both vehicles at all times. Thanks for the support.

[@hook2364]

Tim builds some great antennas. They're light and bomb proof. I run the 20/40Meter 100 Watt Linked Dipole and I am interested in hearing how this one works for you.

[@TheTechPrepper]

His attention to detail is exceptional. They feel overbuilt and look bombproof. I can't wait to try 60m/75m/80m. The rain was not cooperating with the testing and vacation schedule. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for sharing your experience and for the support!

[@michaelditurno4372]

I have been reading more on the topic of 60m as well and it seems to be a great spot for high-probability regional comms nearly any time. Great stuff as always!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks! You game for testing this week (at your convenience)?

[@vironpayne3405]

60m is the workhorse amateur frequency for reliable daytime NVIS. It has two drawbacks. First, it is not resonont with other amateur bands, so you need a dedicated or RF compromised antenna. The second issue is that 60m is a military frequency for public interface and amateur operators are only allowed to use 60m on a secondary basis. Even though 60m is a daytime workhorse for reliable amateur radio NVIS, I have chosen to focus on 80m. 80m is most reliable for NVIS during solar maxima and minima. The rub being is that it is mostly a nighttime band, unless you are running power. Operators complain about the noise on 80m, but its been my experience that turning down your RF gain generally is you best first step to effectively communicating without overburdening noise. If your communicating at QRP levels to high power stations you probably shouldn't be chasing stations below an S8-S9 anyway. In the video below you'll noticed I essentially have very little noise, everthing below S9 is squelched, and I have good comms with several stations. The problem with 60m being non-resonant with other amateur bands is why I favor using 80m-10m EFHW antennas. With a little bit of choking on the coax I can work all bands 80m-10m, including WARC bands, except for 60m and 160m without a tuner. 60m can be worked inefficiently without a tuner. 160m is out of the question. Interestingly, there cobblers building transformers with multiple taps on rotary switches. You can have 4:1, 5:1, 9:1, 49:1, 56:1, and 64:1 all on one transformer. If you use 3 turns on the primary with turns 2 & 3 tapped and 16 turns on the secondary with every other turn tapped your can efficiently match just about anything that can be used as an antenna. Or, you can spend hundreds of dollars for a transmatch that feeds the antenns directly that has solid state components that are destined to fail at somepoint in time. Enjoy. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pITLdYyij6x-osU

[@johnk23705]

@@vironpayne3405 There are also a very few frequencies that you can use on 60 meters. It can be a great band, but if more than a few people want to use it in the same time frame, it's going to cause you problems. Good post Viron !

[@spr00sem00se]

I have had a great couple of weeks with the 817nd I got for Christmas. I have a dipole consisting of 2x1m whips up on a 5m long fishing pole. Horizontal. I've picked up all sorts. I found I like the weather stations to check receiving conditions on the day. I've even got some sstv received. For your emcomms distro, I really think making it on android is a good plan. I've actually paid for apps this week, for digital modes, I've literally never paid for an app in my life. But the ease of using the phone! I think that should be taken into account as much as possible.

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

The NVIS linked dipole is very effective and your having it pretuned for your deployment heights is essential. I recently deployed mine and had successfully Winlink contact and regional HF contacts. 40m and 75m contacts from 8 miles to 600 miles at 7 watts are no issue. 👍

[@TheTechPrepper]

I am not surprised by your success. I've had good luck with monoband dipoles tuned for my use case over the last two years. Going to a linked dipole seemed like the right choice to still have a good resonant antenna that could over multiple bands. Have a good weekend!

[@Sean-AI7EQ]

I look forward to the antenna review and how it performs for NVIS. Thanks for sharing and hope you stayed dry!

[@TheTechPrepper]

It's coming soon. I'm thinking the last week of January. This could be the one antenna to rule them all for emcomm. Keep your fingers crossed.

[@Bluescout612]

Another great video. I like the idea of the linked dipole I think I will make one. If you want to test your stuff in wet weather come on up to Washington in November thru April. Great EDC choice.

[@aandpman]

T.P.: fwiw, I run a home brew fan dipole 10' high at the center point on 80-40-20-17-15-12-10m bands. The ends of the elements average ~ 6' off the ground. I tuned it at that height, & used pvc pipe wrapped with coax to address cmc. Not the optimum height for those bands, but pumping 100w in from my 891 or 991a, I still have very few issues doing dx to VK & ZL land, most of S. America & into Europe (mostly 40-12m) & occasionally S. Africa. 80m works most of the US with no issues. I think you'll be surprised how well that linked dipole is going to work. 73's K5MWA

[@troylance1]

Gotta show some support I’m sure the KZbin gods rewarded you with no ads because of the pew pew talk. Thanks for the content

[@The_John_Galt]

Crossfire DG3 is such an incredible underrated backpack. Full or empty it’s comfortable for hours.

[@lancekilkenny721]

Yup. Crossfire is solid and really adjustable. Love my DG16.

[@TheTechPrepper]

I'll have to check it out. Thanks for putting it on my radar.

[@brettclarke589]

Following as this is what I love to test also a link for the holster and belt setups. Thanks

[@billryland6199]

I'm looking forward to your next video testing the dipole system. I use an EFHW over a tree branch or 20' fishing pole for portable. The NanoVNA is great for testing & setting up antennas.

[@TheTechPrepper]

It's coming in April. The design is finished and we're gear up to produce 25 units for the initial batch. For the launch video, we sent a second unit to a friend about 200 miles from my location. We're going to attempt a targeted contact on multiple bands with an NVIS deployments. This will be more involved than EFHW to deploy.

[@KI4ASK]

Outstanding. All WX ham radio rules

[@TheTechPrepper]

Any wet weather tips, Joe? I know you deal with a bit of rain in your neck of the woods. Training in the rain was fun. I should have deployed the antenna and played radio. Next time....

[@jasonconrad9212]

Looking forward to more in depth review of this antenna deployment. Great video as always

[@RadioExpeditionProject]

I just purchased another N9SAB antenna. He makes great products. This new antenna is the random wire end fed variable length 80-6.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Enjoy it. Yes, makes quality, over-built products.

[@ianslaby5703]

DON'T CARRY THE ESBIT STOVE IN YOUR CUP!! The fuel tabs are slightly toxic! I'm sure that you've noticed that they have a tendency to crumble and they leave a small amount of residue on the stove. I'm not saying don't use esbit stoves and tabs, I still do, but I keep them seperate from my canteen cup unless I am cooking something. Maybe you could get by by washing out the cup before using it but you're in the desert where obtaining water from the environment is more difficult than in other areas. I would just seperate the stove and the fuel from the cup.

[@MrStanwyck]

Great video Gaston. I’ll be picking up his 20-40m linked dipole for sure to use this Spring for QRP SOTAs and POTAs here in NY.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Enjoy! We are finishing up the design on my version: "TTP EmComm Linked Dipole". It should be out soon.

[@MrStanwyck]

@@TheTechPrepper Cool deal…. I’ll wait until you have yours available for sale. I’m still looking around to obtain a portable QRP rig. Have a good weekend!!!! 73, KC2KNA…

[@RESlusher]

Yeah, I can't wait to see this antenna. I've been wanting to build my own linked dipole for 6m - 40m...as soon as I get done with my 100Ah LiFEPO4 power station! Take care, Gaston! Happy belated new year to you and yours!

[@TheTechPrepper]

I ran some measurements the following day and we need to tweak a couple of bands. Overall we're taking it in by 8". I'm sending it back to Tim, so the follow up video will likely by three videos out. I was impressed by the ease of deployment and build quality. If this does what I need it to do for NVIS, you'll be seeing a lot more of this antenna. Have a good night Richard.

[@RESlusher]

@@TheTechPrepper I looked at his evilBay store and saw how he used the little hooks and pieces of paracord for strain relief and thought, "That's genius!" I was thinking about using tent rope tensioners.

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@RESlusher It's seems obvious once you see this style construction. Genius is right!

[@danielrgusa]

Really enjoyed this video. Keep up the great work Sir.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@user-ft1eb2wc1o]

Love this channel!!!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@davidg5308]

Very nice - I have the Chameleon OCFD which is very similar to Tim's. Would be interested in that linked one with 75 as well - just need the real estate to spread it out...working on that. And, leave a note next time - lol...

[@Mike-yq7ce]

I will be keeping an eye out for the follow up video. I'm curious on how it works out as I run a FT818 as well for portable.

[@TheTechPrepper]

I did some testing the following day. However, we need to trim it by 8" overall. Tim is going to make the modifications, so this video will likely becoming out at the end of the month. The deployment was quick and quality exceptional. Stay tuned.

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

Tim is good people.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Yes, he is.

[@Drew_Pearson]

Speaking of ponchos...are you using a poncho liner as well? (aka "wubby") One of the most versatile and useful "blankets" you can have and they are relatively cheap. Nothing will keep you from looking like Quasimoto but it does add even more versatility to the poncho you're already using.

[@MTimWeaver]

Very cool!

[@AD6DMDennis]

Tim's OCFD antenna was one of the first that I got back in 2018. I'm glad he's up and running with plenty more antenna types. If your NVIS solution tests out well and he sells them, I will definitely get one, then we can try contacts between Northern CA and AZ. Love the outtake 😂

[@TheTechPrepper]

Dennis! How is it that everyone one knows about Tim's antennas except me? As you usual, I arrived late to the party. I'm really hoping that this can be a good way to have regional, multiband comms in this small footprint. We are in the process of making some adjustments based on a quick deployment I did after this video. It would be great to have a good path to you. Cheers, my friend. I'm free early and late February if you want to line up a podcast. Everyone, Dennis has a great podcast called "Hamdom Thoughts". Go check him out.

[@bthemedia]

Great video! Go at it! Loved the ending too! 😆 ❤

[@TheTechPrepper]

Glad you liked it! People always seem to like it when she makes an appearance.

[@DK5ONV]

Happy New Year Gaston 💯🔔🙏🍀🙋‍♂

[@NickFrom1228]

If you are looking for rugged backpacks, check out Mystery Ranch. They supply a lot of military, wildland firefighters, first responders, hunters etc. They do a pretty good job of having modern features though maybe not bleeding edge. Highly recommend them.

[@TheTechPrepper]

I have a few friends that swear by them. I need a larger pack for longer trips so I'll check them out. This one is only 37L, so I'm considering a 55-65L pack. Any recommendations? Thanks!

[@NickFrom1228]

@@TheTechPrepper There are a few recommendations, depending on your situation and preferences. Mystery ranch has a few design features that you may like. The first style is the torpedo pockets. These are a couple of vertical tubes that are fast access compartments that work quite well. Some love them, some hate them. I think they work great but as with all things, you need to learn to use whatever you get correctly. For example, I loaned my glacier to a friend and he didn't adjust it. He was miserable. When we met up, halfway through a trip, I adjusted it for him and then he was fine. The second style is the 3 way zipper. This is a nice fast access type system that gets you to your stuff fast and makes packing/unpacking pretty nice. A terraplane 50 has this style. If you go with the terraplane 65 you get bigger size and the torpedo tubes. After that you get into a pretty wide variety due to the number of special purpose packs that may work well for you. The military packs and firefighter packs have a lot of potential for alternate purposes. Good luck in your search hope this helps.

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@NickFrom1228 I really appreciate you taking the time to write back. I am looking into the Mystery Ranch Terraframe 65. It looks like this could be a possibility. Thanks for sending me down this rabbit hole. I like that it has a padded back and large waist belt. That makes all the difference on the Eberlestock when carrying heavy loads.

[@thebnbaldwin]

I have the 5.11 Tactical Battle Belt with g-code and ANR Design holsters.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Nice choice, Brian. Good to see you in the comments.

[@thebnbaldwin]

@@TheTechPrepper Glad to see you back Gaston. Hadn't heard from you in a bit...

[@bruceforster3709]

A little tip for the Fuel Tabs: Put just the tiniest glaze of Vaseline on the Tab. The instant a spark hits it, you're off to the races.

[@TheTechPrepper]

That's an excellent tip! You just blew my mind. I actually use Vaseline for my cotton balls fire starters. Thank you.

[@forgetyourlife]

Catenary is a big word I learned hanging antennas. I’ll be curious if you can get away with only 2 poles and that much wire. I’m thinking you’ll need just a bit of support in the middle to deal with the catenary on 40 and 80m.

[@TheTechPrepper]

This is a great question. I actually have a third support that is always with me. It's the SOTABEAMS Carbon 6. It was actually in the pack and would have made an appearance if I deployed the antenna. I've had good luck with dipoles on this mast only running 5 or 6 of the sections. I used this the following day for my initial deployment and SWR measurements. Some of the links were long and bit more resonant lower frequency, so we're in the process of cutting/tuning a couple of elements. I should have a video update at the end of the month. It will be deployed, analyzed and well absolutely attempt a bunch of regional contacts.

[@spartanaerialservices]

I carry the shadow systems, excellent choice. Would love to try some no random DX with you at some point.

[@TheTechPrepper]

I like your style. I'm on QRZ. Look me up. 73 de KT7RUN

[@ToNzHoLtZ]

Great stove, however mine has 1 side plate with mine..so one side is open

[@richardkennedy815]

I love your video's. I am presently trying to find...or consider building a directional antenna that I can use with my Baofeng VU-9R's or even my quad band [backpack setup] to cover minimally 2 meter or even better 2m/70cm. Any ideas?

[@michaeld4502]

Like the video..... Have you looked into ultralight gear? Like Zpacks... Gossamer Gear.... Hammock Gear to name a few.... For every pound you shed for 2000 steps you save a ton..... You learn this when getting ready to do Pacific Coast Trail which is 6 million steps.... Less weight is huge safety on your body not to mention the speed increase.... You got me interested in getting back into the ham and exploring digital mode.... Live in Phoenix also 73

[@TheTechPrepper]

The only heavy gear I carry is the Eberlestock FAC Track. All the other gear is fairly lightweight. In fact, I actually had the Gossamer Gear One tent in this pack. I almost set it up instead of the tarp shelter. It's my current ultra light tent. It's perfect as I use trekking poles for lots of uses out here. I'm also running the Hammock Gear quilt. It's perfect for our climate, although I froze during Winter Field Day 2021 when hit the mid 20's. Glad to hear that you're getting back into radio. 73

[@Liberty4Ever]

My Eberlestock pack looks like yours, but mine doesn't have any ham gear in it. I use it to carry other equipment (308, probably switching to 6.5 soon) :-) Nice looking antenna. I'm partial to a simple end fed 40/80 dipole for NVIS field use with the SWR optimized for the digital mode end of the bands. I really need to play radio more often. I bought a new Maestro notebook and installed Linux to make a new ham go bag, but haven't gotten into the field with it yet. I think I'm being lazy and waiting for someone to make a full featured live version that I can install without all of the fuss and bother. :-D

[@TheTechPrepper]

It's a great pack for carrying heavier loads. 6.5 Creedmoor is a great cartridge, but it's hard to wrong with the availability of 308. All I am going to say, is that I have a note on my whiteboard with the word "Maestro". You never know what the future will bring.

[@Liberty4Ever]

@@TheTechPrepper - If you make something that allows me to easily use the Maestro for prepper comms in the field (JS8, etc.), I'll buy you several coffees. :-D

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@Liberty4Ever Deal!

[@jblewis8061]

Since the 818ND is now discontinued do you have any recommendations on radios that are reliable and rugged that will work with your Emcomm software?? I’m going to be in the market for 4 or 5 radios for myself and family, but I refuse to get racked over the coals price wise for radios. Any recommendations would be highly appreciated. Love the information in the videos .

[@TheTechPrepper]

I have no immediate plans of adding new radio support untIl I get through some core development, but I do have a Yaesu FT-891 that will likely be getting support next. It's portable, supports 100 watts, has a great receiver, and is still available at a good price. My only complaint is that it's the same size and weight as the FT-857D (also discontinued) but lacks VHF/UHF. The menu system is not my favorite. Check out the videos and write-ups on the FT-891. Thanks for the support!

[@jblewis8061]

Wow I just looked at the video on the ft 891 just before I read your reply. It looks like this will be added to the list . The video on the 857d is very enticing because of its global ability . But for sure the 891 or the 818 will be what I’m looking for regionally communication from Houston Tx to Durant Oklahoma 360 miles. Will Emcomm support for the 891 be available this year ??

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@jblewis8061 I have one, so yes it will. It's on loaner to a friend in TN. This will likely be the last radio that I add support for the initial release. Each new radio adds complexity to the software that can impact reliability. Here's the current list that will be supported: Yaesu (FT-818ND, FT-857D, FT-897, FT-891) and Xiegu (X6100).

[@bruceforster3709]

What are your thoughts on the new Xeigu 20 Watt HF Radio for a similar price to the 818?

[@CW-le8wc]

Great vid. Funny thing is, I'm a member on buy me a coffee, but didn't get notified of this new drop. Found it via your reply to someone else that bought a coffee. Any idea how buy me a coffee notifies members of your new releases?

[@CW-le8wc]

Think I figured it out. Looks like it was posted before I joined. Too bad buy me a coffee doesn't give members access to all posts including ones before joining as a member. Might be something to point out, if you're interested. No worries though, I should get all future posts.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Glad to hear you figured it out. I'll ask the Coffee Support Ninjas. Thanks for becoming a member. I have a bunch of member exclusives coming up this month. You'll get email notifications when I post. Thanks again!

[@timothyrapp1902]

What center frequencies did you have him make for you? I’d be interested in getting one for myself.

[@TheTechPrepper]

We're about to start manufacturing them. I just finished the last bit of testing. Here are the center frequencies that we designed for: 14.200 7.150 5.350 3.900 3.565

[@tomw3380]

There is some good information here but it seemed like one long commercial.

[@TheTechPrepper]

That's a fair observation. I'm trying to do this full time, so I'm trying to let people know how they can support my efforts while sharing info. Not all my videos have as many plugs. If I can't make the transition to doing this full time this year, it's time to fold up shop and just keep all the projects and info to myself. After 3 years and spending an average of 40 hours per week making content, feeding the social media platforms and developing products for amateur radio, burn out is setting in. I could very easily just put that additional 40 hours back into my normal consulting job as software engineer and start spending more time with family and friends again.

[@BobBob-il2ku]

Does NVIS work 10-30 miles away or is that too close?

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

Yes it does. 75m meters works well and 40m pretty good but better 150 to 600 miles at QRP levels. If you run 50 to 100 watts it works even better. If you want a small footprint the lower the power the more discrete you will be. I haven't tested 60m.

[@TheTechPrepper]

It works and depending on the band, you are likely doing groudwave not NVIS (skywave). It will require more power at these shorter distances when doing groundwave. My experience is that I need 40-80 watts when doing 40m through 80m less than 30-40 miles. After that cut off, I can do very well at 30/40 to 300/400 miles on 5 watts.

[@BobBob-il2ku]

Can I use a NVIS setup antenna or do I need to change the configuration to get groundwave?

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

@@BobBob-il2ku You will get some ground wave even set up low for NVIS. That is why Gaston said it can require 50 to 100 watts to have effective ground wave comms. Close proximity to the ground forces your radio waves to mostly go upward. To get better ground wave you need to raise the antenna up higher. As you raise the antenna the resonant frequency goes higher in the band and you may need to use a tuner (matching unit) to match the antenna impedance as it changes. Purpose built antennas like Gaston has had built are most efficient at the height of deployment you intend to use the antenna. "The Antenna To Rule Them All" doesn't exist so the most efficient antenna is purpose built.

[@robert8342-w7x]

What liter backpack do you use

[@TheTechPrepper]

The Eberlestock FAC Track is 37L. It's good for 2-3 days. I need a larger pack beyond that.

[@robert8342-w7x]

@@TheTechPrepper Thanks for the response. I'm very interested in this application. Can't wait for the testing results in better weather. 73

[@vironpayne3405]

I thought this might be a good place to share how my bugout gear, KLR650 and FT-857D, is progressing. My focus is QRP NVIS, but I do enjoy the fun of QRP DX. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pITLdYyij6x-osU

[@lancekilkenny721]

When you say "nuclear power plant," I hear "Palo Verde "...😆

[@TheTechPrepper]

You said it, not me. ;-)

[@SpaceFrawg]

No note, wonder if he's with another woman... no, it's worse than that.

[@TheTechPrepper]

At least I had exonerating camera evidence ;-)

[@DeepSixCycles]

I had a 60m dipole up nvis for a couple years. Very interesting band. I raised it a bit. Only dx has been on ft8. Which is interesting for seeing propagation as you know. Thanks for the videos! Keep em coming! K4OEK/Comms_Zero