Emergency & Portable - Simple HF Setup - Ham Radio

Emergency HF Operation is very similar in many ways to HF portable operation. Both require ingenuity and flexibility in setting up and HF Radio Station. Peter G3OJV, describes his recent operation where things were not ideal!
LDG Z100 Plus ATU
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BNC to Twin Terminals
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BNC to SO-239
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PL-259 to BNC
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LDG 9:1 UnUn
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[@dennisjoiner3717]

Another great and enjoyable video! Thanks. I've been a Ham for just a little over 29 years, and I'm one that gave up on DX years ago. I'll work it if it falls in my lap, but I can't compete with the folks running Amps or those with a small city sized Antenna farm. Too bad there wasn't a group of frequencies on each band that were ear marked for 100 watts or less then if you can hear a station then with patients you have a chance to work them. Sadly a lot of folks are running more power than they need and are transmitting farther than they can hear.

[@watersstanton]

There are QRP frequencies, but often occupied……l!

[@brian.7966]

so right, and its going to get worse.

[@michaelsanders251]

Thank you, Peter, for helping rebuild my confidencce in the way I have built my mobile QRP set-up. My plan was to have a system that fit into a small pouch. It consists of a uSDR+ tx/rx, an ATU-10 tuner/swr/pwr meter, a small key, and a 49:1 EFHW for 10m-80m using a 110mH trap to reach 80m. While I can use adapters to get my power from the mains, I have a small, very portable solar panel that can be used to charge the internal batteries of both the ATU and the uSDR+. It all fits in a 2"×6"×8" pouch, and besides being a fun "take-along" kit, it is a great setup for emergency communications should the need arise. This video helps bring us back to the spirit in which amatuer radio was founded. Thank you so much!!!

[@watersstanton]

That mobile setup sounds fun. Thanks fot sharing. 73 Peter

[@pinkunwizard]

My current HF setup consists of a PSU purchased in the early 80's, a 40M EFHW and a Xiegu G106. Last week alone I worked 2 Canadian stations running 6 watts on 20 mtr's and attracted reports of 5/9 and a 5/7. Who needs big power, not me.

[@robertallbright]

Excellent very enjoyable Peter 73 Robert G3RCE

[@madcarew5168]

Bag full of wire lengths,some labelled,of various awgs&swgs...trophies of enjoyable experimenting!!

[@watersstanton]

Yep.

[@ehayes5217]

Nice to see u set up with a paddle👍, as I've been about all CW on HF for many years now (& sure hate I didn't catch u on the air)☹️...de WA4ELW in TN dit dit 🇺🇸😃

[@watersstanton]

Have always been biased towards CW. 73 Peter

[@freddyb2098]

Hello Peter, I always enjoy your down to earth informative videos. Thank You so much and enjoy your day.

[@watersstanton]

Thanks, you too!

[@ehayes5217]

Really good video & one that provokes some introspection, too; & for myself, I'm certainly not desirous of having the "biggest" antenna or biggest of anything; however, I DO like having a variety of antennas, say, a vertical (& mine's at the top of a tree), along with several wire antennas in different configurations; that's all I need to have fun! de WA4ELW in TN 🇺🇸😀

[@ianharling9569]

Another great video Peter and i totally agree with the need for a challenge to keep it interesting.I am more than happy using my 40 mtr dipole just 2 mtrs above ground ontop of the garden fence when im operating from The Netherlands.I get great reports from the UK and beyond and the aerial is almost invisible. 73.G7HFS/PA3IKH

[@watersstanton]

Thanks for sharing. Yes, low dipole on 40m can be amazing.

[@taylor7668US]

Loved this video thank you 😊

[@thomashardy9994]

Always enjoyable and informative. I’m currently setting up an EFHW at my house. These videos really help.

[@petermichaelcapani7253]

As always, well stated and well presented, Mr. Waters!

[@watersstanton]

Thank you kindly!

[@iamnobody9542]

YUP! Like you, I aint the rich guy in the old QST cartoons with a Jeeves to do all the work while I just sit and work DX. Also like you, I love portable ops, for which I use an 817ND and the original LDG QRP ATU, the one with the 4 toggle switches on the front. I switch to AM to run the tuner. Not a POTA op, I just go to the park or woods for some good ole ham bone fun. I do like resonant antennas, tho, for efficiency with just 5 W, but play with wire, too. 73 / 72 Jerry wa2omu

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts. Much appreciated.

[@brian.7966]

you are so right.

[@wowsly]

cant beat a bit of qrp :D i have worked all over Europe with my 817. less than 5w and the wonder wand antenna. a bit of wire can go a long way. about 1600 mile is about normal from my qrp station. on uhf/vhf i can work about 30mile with a 10w radio and a x50c antenna on the house roof. keep up the good work and hope you have a great holiday 73 M6CTP

[@madmoe1]

Thanks Pete. Thanks for making great content.

[@ehayes5217]

With those tall trees around ur portable ("/") QTH, if it were me (& if I'd brought some light string & some support line with a wire antenna), I wud've found a small, angled rock, tied a string around it a few times & with string in hand, slung that rock (underhanded) up into (or over) those treetops, then pulled my support line thru with the string; then I'd hang an Inverted Vee or whatever; at least that's what I did here at my QTH!😀🇺🇸

[@watersstanton]

Most of the trees didn’t have lower branches.

[@johnorrells3797]

I agree high power, massive antenna are ok if that what floats your boat. Last Sunday during CQWW I set my task to see what I could work using 5w from my Yeasu 817ND I managed to work two in the US on 15m, among many more

[@watersstanton]

Yes, and with the sunspot cycle still progressing, 5W cab go a long way.

[@CamilleCullen-ow6qj]

Great video many thanks!!! Robert K5TPC (across the pond)

[@ehayes5217]

Yes, a challenge is certainly important; if there is none, it becomes too easy, too routine...

[@dmsungam]

Great video, just consider cutting the scene at about 9:12 where there is a nude little boy on the other side of the window. 73!

[@4X4-RADIO]

1 M Magloop in the loft + 17M Band bent dipole in Loft IC-705 or X6100 or QDX so running @ 2.5W ~5W 177 DXCC on 17M inc ZL4 / KH and 126 IOTA's For me it is 100% the challenge.

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

What about taking a leaf out of W5JGV's book

[@Kinetic79]

Hi Peter. Fun video. Nice setting. Question: do you find that ATU’s are as sensitive to CMC as the transceiver itself? I would imagine that sharply unbalanced currents (like from an end-fed random wire or OCF-dipole) would throw off a small/inexpensive ATU’s SWR bridge readings and could affect its tuning ability? .. but I suppose if you are getting a good match out of the thing, as judged by the SWR meter on the rig (which is choked off), it probably doesn’t matter, eh? You would only worry about that if the tuner were acting up, as a result of CMC getting into the tuner?

[@m0xya]

totally agree and subscribe to this philosophy..

[@Rubedo777]

What a nice guy…80 yrs old and still biking….impressive!…. Peter I’m sure you’d be able to transmit off a soggy sock…. You said the kids were with you….boys? “Hey little Johnny, I bet you can’t squirm up that tree there with this wire…here you are… take this hammer and hook and stick it in the tree right at the top and hang the wire over it…. There’s a fiver in it if you can lad” Okay grandad…. “Oh by the way Johnny… don’t tell your mam ok”…. Ok grandad let’s go…… 😂 Baluns, un-uns and ratios…1:4….1:9…. 49:1….60 odd :1 Will you consider a video explaining these things please… if you will… what to use and why,,, what does it do to the wire. The reason is…I’m thick.😊😊😊 not the brightest bulb in the box.and I’ve been off air since mid 90s 😢 but that’s alright too,,, can’t stop life’s little overdoses stopping you from doing what you’d like to do. 😅 It’s really nice to watch your presentations and I’ve realised a lot from your channel. Best wishes to everyone…. Mind how you go. 😉 73s

[@watersstanton]

Nicely said. BTW the kids were all girls!

[@ehayes5217]

I was totally off the air for 20+ years & it's been a really fun journey getting back into the hobby, sorta' re-learning everything & lots I never knew back then! 73 😃🇺🇸

[@RF_Burns]

Centre Parcs need to hire someone to clean their gutters more frequently!

[@w8lvradio]

Well said, Peter. And I'm afraid that Amateur Radio will go the way of private aviation, and merely be a rich man's toy. Not that I mind rich men being on board, far from it! Having rich men on board might even help us to keep our very spectrum! As far as super stations go, adding a few more zeros to those point multipliers for QRP and medium powered stations would go a long way towards leveling the playing field, if you are into that thing... What happens when you use the 9:1 AND the ATU together?

[@watersstanton]

I used the rig internal ATU and it worked fine. With a floating ATU, you don’t need an UnUn.

[@ICEDoTDK]

god job from Danmark 73

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks.

[@derekhatfield8699]

Hi Peter can you tell me if the SDR play RSP works on Windows 11 I want to buy from you I’ve tried all the other sDR units for 6 months with no success Derek G4WBP

[@watersstanton]

Unfortunately all my gear is Mac. I am surprised that you are having problems as I assumed that most WindowsVersions were OK. Try dropping a line to them in the UK. The should reply very quickly.

[@derekhatfield8699]

@@watersstanton oK Peter will do I will wait to order until I get a reply thanks for email Very Best Regards Derek