Full field test of the DX Commander expedition antenna

[@geekverve]

I'm a very inexperienced ham and found this to be quite helpful. It was very interesting to see how your particular portable station was setup and operated. Thanks!

[@francisboudreaux3880]

I love watching the camper videos. I was just wondering about the mosquito population. I haven’t been following you long but I am Imagine the mosquitoes like to see you. I did enjoy your video thank you for being there.

[@MrScotchpie]

This is what I love about amateur radio. 73s, M7AGG

[@James_Bowie]

Callum needs to add this to the DX Commander manual: Caution -- gin and radials don't mix. 😀

[@wayneskiba1237]

Hi Carl, really like your shirt, hihi, and I also enjoyed your video especially you antenna setup you really took the time to show how you set it up, really nice! I also enjoyed your discussion regarding how the atmospherics interacts with radio signals I found to be very interesting, and also, Carl, I can see that you are well stocked with liquid libation!

[@dgrewar]

Great video Carl, thanks for sharing.

[@wfwtheradioguy3414]

Tent Beer CQ Sounds as though you have your priorities in the correct order. 😂 Love the shirt!! I think it would look better with WØFW on the sleeve..... just sayin'. Great video... really enjoyed it. Thanks for taking us along.

[@brenwyattm0rij909]

Good video Carl. Might be worth booking exam in now. Think you have till end off Aug. Martin Lynch had some spare places. You only need 52%ish to pass. 32-33 correct answers out of 62, 10 of which are about licence conditions which you will have answers to. Worth a shot. Other big section is receivers and transmitters but all answers are in the book. Have a go, nothing to loose mate.

[@jeffmerlin2580]

Love the T-shirt 😁

[@gbamck]

Great stuff. I look forward to the camping/outdoor videos and this didn't disappoint. Good to see the 857 in action with Callum's Expedition multi-bander. A good combination. I look forward to seeing your progress with the voltage regulator, Carl. Something I have been looking at myself after reading (and worrying!) that some fully charged LiPo's can put out too much for my 817.. Cheers and 73 from 2E0 something (I passed my Intermediate 😎 )

[@M0SZT]

Fab news about the 2E0, yes will look into a regulator, I have heard they put out noise but will check

[@larrybushman1]

That looked like you were having way to much fun. Many thanks.

[@sbateson67]

Carl I would suggest you look towards a solar controller to keep the batteries topped up during the day.

[@andy2E0JIU]

Great video carl.that dx commander working really well 👍👍

[@stanae7ut199]

I’m jealous! Thanks for taking the time you do to make these.

[@James_Bowie]

Great demo of the Expedition on 30 watts. Thank you. 👍🏼

[@RonanCantwell]

Great video. Nice to see you getting some decent contacts too. I've been looking at the expedition antenna as an option for camping etc.

[@M0SZT]

Thanks, yes the DX expedition is well wort it

[@thesydmc]

Carl chill out, love it.

[@DG1PY]

Gentlemen, this is really amateur radio. Make experiences outdoor with antennas and radios. Thank You, Cheers Thomas.

[@AndyWragg]

Nice one Carl. Good to see some portable operation.

[@ianxfs]

Good one Carl! Nice QSOs. You might get even better performance if you have the antenna free-standing away from the car. It looks like a metal tube you have it tied to too, but hard to tell. Again, in free space is the way to go if you have the room 👍🏻 Keep having fun! Ian.

[@M0SZT]

Yes I hope to add a guying system, I must admit this bit I'm not looking forward to as I fear fumbling around and crashing the antenna in windy conditions. I just need to practice guying it

[@ianxfs]

Mine’s been fine. I take the disk out of the bottom and stand it on a guy peg. I can hold the pole in one hand and reach all three guy peg points. Then tap in. Stood up to good winds so far 👍🏻 Use good pegs, not the bent thin wire ones meant for light tents.

[@M0RMY]

Great job. Love the T-shirt. When I was building the DCX last week for Callum (Perkins was busy) a bloke asked me if I was fishing.

[@M0SZT]

yes the shirt helps get past that question, now they tend to go 'is it radio?'

[@billwoodroffe4291]

Great video Carl, well done on your achievements looked like a fun time, great shirt., 73, Bill M0TDW

[@M0SZT]

Thank you

[@motodevcam]

Interesting process really, its not often you can sit and observe band conditions over a long period. I must get to a camp site when the weather (and covid) calms so just have a relaxing 24 hours of radio.

[@Chewbury]

Great video! Once you break through the reluctance to learn, it all begins to get easier :) 73 de MM0SNK

[@tommyd3575]

Great video! You've inspired me to get my licence reactivated after 20 years dormant. Now to find the paperwork! Keep up the good work! Ex-G0TDD

[@M0SZT]

Brilliant, keep in touch and update me! Let's chat over the radio!

[@tommyd3575]

@@M0SZT Forms in the post to reactivate licence 😃

[@M0SZT]

@@tommyd3575 brilliant news! Where are you based?

[@tommyd3575]

@@M0SZT Chester

[@Frisky0563]

enjoyed the video Carl I like that antenna DX Commander made

[@richardtwyning]

Nice one Carl. Like the movie clips. I wish you could have gone to the hills with Cal and the gang. Liked the D74. Loving mine, but only scratched the surface with it so far. 73's M7GTX

[@M0SZT]

Cheers Richard, hoping to meet Cal at the next one. Yes I wonder how many people watched the video right to the end 😀

[@ae1tpa92gwtom2]

Hi Carl, always a real pleasure to watch your videos. Again happy to see the 897 in use, lately my favorite radio to work with. Amazing what you can do with low or mid level power. Yesterday worked South Africa with 80W operating portable, wire vertical, DX Commander on 20m from bulgaria. 40m seems to have allot of static crashes🙄 try an inverted L for the 20 n 40, these work great , easy to set up. I learn from Cal M0MCX, as well, and come to respect the wire vertical for portable ops, the End Feds also offer a great set of options, Take Care Carl, great video. 73s LZ/AE1TP A92GW

[@M0SZT]

Thank you Thomas, inverted L sounds a good idea, I'm going on a family holiday and will try to put up a stealthy antenna in the cottage back garden, maybe inverted L for 40m

[@K5NOV]

You could have put big signs lit up neon warning of the wires running along the ground and still you would have a pillock come along and trip. Great vid mate very interesting to watch

[@M0SZT]

Cheers, it was me who tripped over my own radials ;-)

[@Dr-T]

Hi Carl. In terms of a better discharge curve from your batteries, you need to consider changing technology from Lead Acid to LifePo4. Lead acid (any type) has a pretty linear discharge curve over time. LifePo4 maintains the voltage (+/- 5%) for almost 90-95% of its capacity and then the volts' fall off a cliff!' I'm done using Lead Acid :-) (Lifepo4 is also circa 1/5 weight for equivalent capacity so much easier to lug about!)

[@bilbocrackers3246]

Looking forward to using my just received DXC Expedition.... Thank you for posting (MW0MFB)

[@M0SZT]

Fantastic kit, I didn't take my time with mine, sort of built it in the field, I would suggest a relaxed day building and testing.

[@sm3uwzmrportable914]

What a great video Carl. Seems that we like the same things. Have also got the fishing questions when erecting an antenna up in a tree. Use a fishing rod and 40g lead weight to get over the top of trees works great but people passing by looks at me like I´m crazy. Hope to catch you on the bands just ordered the same antenna from DX Commander. 73 de sm3uwz/Lars

[@M0SZT]

Happy fishing!

[@USXPOP]

Good field work. Next time you should have the DX Commander set up down just right. Enjoyed listening to the contacts in spite of the QRN and the QRM from the group just down the field. Dinner looked like fun, too bad I wasn't there. 73 W0YVY

[@2e0txe]

I was going to say hang on! A 2E0EZT video radio trip out without some APRS action, and then boom! The trusty Kenwood appears :D Well done... I've certainly enjoyed getting out /p away from the noise at home.

[@M0SZT]

cheers buddy

[@Radiomate]

Another amazing video mate! I bought the same rig after watching your vids 😍😊

[@M0SZT]

Fantastic radio, I love the carry handle, haven't tried finding internal batteries for it though

[@karinhart489]

Like the message on your t-shirt!

[@Tantalicdavid]

Use a solar panel & charge controller I use a 100w folding panel no battery worries then

[@James_Bowie]

This. 👍

[@forextraderradioman]

Thank you for this video, greetings from Hamburg/Germany, Dietmar, DL4HAO

[@M0SZT]

Greetings!

[@timg5tm941]

Interesting vid, thanks. How long did it take you from arrival at the site to having the antenna ready to operate?

[@M0SZT]

Once you have the antenna ready it would take 30 mins approx. I mess about filming, fixing previous mistakes, drinking tea etc

[@timg5tm941]

2E0EZT amateur radio ah right so that 30 mins is arrival to being on air yes?

[@M0SZT]

@@timg5tm941 if all goes well and not windy and plenty of lighting.

[@txfotog]

Great video Carl ! I'm with you: I don't have much knowledge on circuits, etc. But I really want to get into projects where I can learn 73! Michael-WA5AZQ.

[@treedance1]

I do license free radios such as United Kingdom's (PMR446) similar to (FRS) very rarely CB Radios. But I learned in the early days about atmospherics.

[@markjordan4593]

Nice video, so this pole is to hold four quarter wave verticals and radials?

[@M0SZT]

Yes the DX commander is multi band vertical

[@ElectromagneticUK]

It is fishing but not as we know it...…..did the extra space have to be purchased?...….good video.

[@M0SZT]

Which extra space buddy? Camping space..no.

[@ElectromagneticUK]

Yes camping space, it looked like you had a good spot with plenty of room but noisy neighbours. Nice to see the DX commander deployed, all the best.

[@r188ops8]

Great t-shirt Carl 👍🏻👍🏻🤣. Passed intermediate last week, just waiting for C/S then going to have a crack straight at full, you never know 👍🏻🤣

[@M0SZT]

Yes I'm studying for the full, I've learned loads while a 2E0, I learn by doing rather than reading though.

[@r188ops8]

Yes I agree, practical works better for me too. I’m just going to give it a punt with what I know, just might fluke it and pass 🤣👍🏻

[@yoki9743]

Nice pun.... "that wire has a lot of energy in it"...

[@WillemvanderHouven]

Hi 2E0EZT just Googling around the net and found some footage about de DX pole on your channel. Nice to see it in action. But I wonder how you did mount de base of this antenne near your car? So I am looking for the plate that holds the base just by putting your car on it. without the need of guy ropes. 73 PE1NGW

[@M0SZT]

I've used Jockey wheel clamps bit.ly/3hGlpLH

[@M0SZT]

The drive over mast had 2 sections of masts then using the jockey clamp I've clamped the DX commander giving space for the base plates

[@ammocraft]

Love the T-Shirt! 😂😂😂

[@mickibbett2120]

Hi just to say that a 70amp hour battery will allow you to draw 70 amp for one hour. Or 1 amp for 70hours!

[@evdyo]

This weekend (10 - 11 August 2019) the conditions were indeed really bad with a lot of static. Carl I hope to work you soon.

[@DrHWO]

Great video, Carl. Excellent example of how with modest power, a good antenna and the right location, you can trap a few intoxicated oasis tributees and reward them with carefully applied RF. Did you pack the genital clamps? 2E0HWO

[@M0SZT]

I should have asked if they knew any RF Burns?

[@DrHWO]

I can feel amateur radios’ first heavy metal band coming on......... “Carl, Callum and the toasted gonads”.

[@motodevcam]

What is your digi-path settings just out of interest? DE M3MSU

[@normangarland6558]

All British guys look alike to me LOL.... not really, Callum has more hair. :)

[@MikeM0XMX]

Good fun.

[@Frisky0563]

can you change the elements as needed ? How tall are the mask sections disassembled?

[@M0SZT]

You can change the elements or set up the antenna for 6 bands so no need to change. Not sure but they are shorter than the normal length so ideal for fit in luggage etc.

[@Rowan369]

Love the t shirt.

[@bilbocrackers3246]

P.S. Fishing is also great!

[@M0SZT]

ha yes, I spent most of my childhood fishing, no one used to ask me if I was radioing though ;-)

[@markjordan4593]

But how long does it take from the bag to transmit with one person?

[@nivid01]

I am a radio user, but I reckon there is no point making radio contacts if their location is not established, Also there is a big difference between transmitting on 30W and transmitting on 50W (60% more).

[@adelarsen9776]

Hey, you've got a Jumbo Joe. Let me get this straight..... you like portable, beer drinking, bbq, antenna erection, camping and green radio. That's fantastic. :-)

[@virtual_knight]

what battery pack do you use when mobile to power the radio ?

[@M0SZT]

All different varieties but the lipo battery 8ah is light enough to carry about if I've got other gear to carry

[@problemwithauthority]

Carl, you are fishing...fishing for radio contacts.

[@TURBOSMOOVE-n6r]

Great Vid thx!

[@normangarland6558]

Wouldn't it be great to get a ride in the Ballon with your radio. Drop a trailing wire out of the basket and see if you could be mobile, portable and QRP...

[@davidevans6432]

Auronautical Mobile is NOT legal for UK amateurs.

[@normangarland6558]

@@davidevans6432 and baefengs are not legal without a license.. But........

[@normangarland6558]

too quick. The US laws are that if you have the permission of the aircraft or boat, you are legal to operate within your license...

[@M0SZT]

Yes it would be great fun, if the wire trails on the floor is the station no longer nautical? :-)

[@thailandpressphoto3868]

No I'm not fishing haha I love that

[@G1WHP]

Caught anything mate. . . 🧜‍♂️

[@G1WHP]

Which campsite were you at?

[@M0SZT]

Rue Hill Cauldon Lowe, great site, yep got a few bites nothing special.

[@desbelfastireland9982]

NICE POST ..THANK YOU DES CREAN BELFAST IRELAND 68CT022

[@johng7rwf419]

I hope you've put a toilet roll in the fridge with all that chilli 😉

[@Frisky0563]

haha