Handheld Radio GoBag For Amateur (Ham) Radio Field Portable Communications

[@mikel9567]

Looks like a good kit. I would recommend adding a couple of survival items though just because you never know if you can access your survival bag. Specifically I would add a space blanket, a way to start fire and a life straw. You can put all of that into a small Alok sack, throw in a few band aids and have yourself some very basic supplies which could help keep you alive for 24 hours or so and not take up any room. Also, I'm surprised you don't have a compass in your kit. I would think you would use a compass quite frequently if you're out in the field.

[@FieldRadio]

All good items. This bag sits next to my 72 hour kit that knocks all of that out of the park. Remember, when building a bag you define not only what it IS but what it is NOT. This is not my 72 hour kit, or my get home kit. There are always going to be some overlap. But defining the bag helps keeps it on point and mission focused and not creeping into a 70lb ruck stack. :)

[@W8MJL]

I'm a new Ham, awaiting my call sign, and i've been doing a ton of research on go bags and boxes. I live in an apartment the doesn't allow antenna, no base station for me, so these go bags would be my primary source of radio equipment. I've got to say that this is THE most thought out go kit i have found for HT's, thank you SO much for the massive amount of information you provided. I will be setting up a kit with your instructions. And when i get my call sign i'll try shooting you a personal thank you.

[@MrAndreGodoi]

Great. Don't let some rules stop you. Do some research on stealth antennas. You'll have a lot of fun.

[@GrandPoppyA]

There are a ton of stealth antennas to explore. Welcome to HAM radio! 73S K7BKB

[@craigbushby515]

Please don't think you can't have a base station, i have a mag mount antenna on a pizza pan sitting on top of our curio cabinet!!!! It works great

[@GrandPoppyA]

Craig Bushby I have almost the exact setup.

[@TwstedTV]

dont let landlords scare you from doing a base station. because once lights go out and you have a way to power your base station some how, all those people will be shit out of luck while you have some form of communication. Due note though, DO NOT let them hear the radio, or people WILL force themselves into your apartment and you will be in danger. keep it very discrete and low volume ONLY with headphones. and dont give your exact location in emergency situations, if you know you will be ok. (hard to explain what I am trying to convey) I was in a situation where I was in my friends apartment complex, and he had the radio loud, it was a blackout for several days, and people broke through the door and invading the apartment because they heard the radio and they was freaking out that they had nothing. it was extremely scary situation. If you have things that others dont, keep it extremely discrete or they will take it from you by force. in horrible times people tend to act like animals.

[@jazbronoh5873]

I like how thorough and simple this is. For a go kit bag. You can get a crank flashlight/radio, as upgrade. Thanks for sharing! New sub.

[@dorslv2342]

this has been one of the best videos on go kits I've seen and beats most videos for being down right informative! keep up the good work...

[@bruceforster3709]

I agree. Very Well done. My wife has a Yaesu FT-60. My primary HT is a VX-8. My backup HT is an FT-4.

[@donaldsmith3048]

Need to have a P38, small can opener. At the price maybe 4 or 5 of them. I have carried one with me starting 1960! I never go anywhere without it. If you want you can get them by the hundreds and give them out. It will not take long to see that it is a must have!

[@FieldRadio]

Good call. My 72 hour kit has them stashed away in pocket.

[@nunyabidness517]

Good job. Small repeaterbook, or printout of repeaters/+or-/tones in an area you're visiting would be a good addition.

[@FieldRadio]

Thank You! That is a great idea! Especially if you plan on traveling outside your normal area. I did mention at the end needing print out of repeaters, I just did not have it in the bag to show visually.

[@caseym890]

Put everything in a large zip lock bags for waterproof needs.

[@johnblaze1111]

This is an incredible setup. I just came across your channel today in my research as I'm getting started on my HAM licensing training. My primary motivation for this is EMCOMM and your setup seems to fit the bill perfect. I've tried to sign up for the podcast but it appears the site is down. Can you confirm if this is the case or am I dealing with an issue on my end? Great video! Thanks again, excellent inspiration for a newbie. 73.

[@Flatus4La]

Nice video and great ideas. Forgive me if this was covered and I missed it but in regards to the 2 is 1 and 1 is none idea ... would you suggest making 2 identical bags to split the items up where you mentioned "2 radios" so that you could hand one bag to another operator if you ever needed to split into groups? To go even further ... some of these inexpensive radios would allow you to make 4 or 5 identical small bags for a search-and-rescue team with plenty of redundancy for the group. The remainder of your items could stay at your portable base of operations?Thanks again for the great videos! 73 Kevin

[@FieldRadio]

If your purpose is to issue to a SAR member I would suggest doing sling bags versus hand bags. This is my personal bag that sits in the trunk and goes on all outings. It accompanies my Kenwood bag that is my primary bag.

[@hemitj]

Thank you. Just found your channel & subscribed!

[@t3fLoN77]

Thanks for the stream! As much as I want to get into the theory behind this video I have some reserves about carrying this huge sack of gear to basically wind up with a Baofeng handheld. Seems like way too much gear to effectively wind up with a few watts ERP and I don’t see many situations where that would really pay off. You’d be better off trying to shove an FT-8800 with a 7ah battery and a charge controller into that bag. Go bags are all the hype these days so I get the demand for videos like this. If you calculate all of the situations you’d really expect to use this, it would probably be grid down repeater down cellphone down and 50 watts + gain will be your only friend. HTs are a false sense of security. They barely work well under perfect repeater use conditions. Next time you want to test that theory, grab that bag, go out into the middle of the Arizona desert and make some calls. You MAY get responses from off-roaders on 146.52 but in shtf situations would you want that?

[@FieldRadio]

Thank you for the comment. Like I mentioned this is not my primary HT, this is my backup bag. Also I do have an 50w bag and a HF bag. If you can't tell I like to parse gear out into bags then throw in what's needed at the time. However, that little Baofeng did save me from a cold night in the mountains with a sunk ATV. So for me yes it did pay off. I had a hot shower and nice bed to sleep in that night versus cold and wet.

[@t3fLoN77]

Field Radio Podcast Nice work!

[@chrispierce2942]

I wouldn't discount the baofengs just because they're inexpensive and Chinese made. Your assessment that repeaters may be down is correct but that being said, I've used the 5 watts and na771 antenna and got repeaters at up to 40 miles in upstate ny. Now pair that radio to a back packable 2m ground plane and you can really reach out. My ground plane breaks down and stores in a 1 and 1/2 inch PVC pipe approximately 2 ft long and also holds the screwdriver I need 2 tighten down my radials when it's deployed

[@MarceloXQ6BQ]

Missed the live streaming but I'm glad that the video is still available. Thank you! 73 and Happy Holidays! de W6EUH - XQ6BQ

[@FieldRadio]

Thank you for watching!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Awesome video, thanks for sharing. I have been looking at different radios to get ideas for improving my field communications setup.

[@iamsemjaza]

Evolving checklists.

[@pathopkins4500]

I missed the notification of a "LIVE STREAM" =( Great podcast =) I reposted over on G+ =)

[@FieldRadio]

Thank You!

[@davidsradioroom9678]

You have some great ideas. Thanks!

[@jaysonscaccia3188]

John Jacobs jinngelhimer Schmidt...his name is my name too 😂

[@ChessInstructorSF]

Great job John, but one quick question, redundancy is great, but you have all these items in ONE place?! What happens if you lose the bag? Now you lost 2 of everything? Why not 2 Go Bags? You thought about search and rescue and a laser pen, but no space blanket to keep you warm, or to make a shelter, no first aid kit, or a whistle the ultimate communication device that does not need any power! And some type of food (candy, or sport bars) that can give you energy while you are hiking to the higher grounds. Also why the worst radio ever the UV-5R! You think it will perform under search and rescue conditions? I think not, specially when you have better radios with more power. You also have many one-function element, while a cell phone might have a GPS, note pad, and flashlight. I am looking forward to that PDF just because I like some of the items you have. Thanks

[@FieldRadio]

Good comments. This is just one of many bags. :) (Unless the wife is asking) This sits along side my all mode go bag, regular HT bag, 72 hour kit, etc. All my survival items sit in other bags, just the most common items sit in this bag that are handy. Like I said in the video, these radios are not my primary (or secondary) HT's in the field. They are the reserve radios, but funny you mention Baofengs not good for SAR, I've used them on two situations, one saving my bacon and another saving g a list runner. So yea they are good for SAR also.

[@bradleyjohnson452]

Do you have a list of items displayed that could be attached to the description? Great video and well though out kit.

[@FieldRadio]

Here is the link to the pack list. I am working on updating the links to items for reference. w7dbo.net/equipment_ht.php

[@bigphil6980]

are the hand talky antenna's you mentioned only available in the US as i have been looking for them in the UK but have not been able to find them keep up the good work i am a newly qualified ham and since i found your podcast on youtube i have learnt a lot so thank you and keep the good work coming phil M6PGU

[@FieldRadio]

Which antennas? The Signal Stick? I know the owner, may be able to work something out. :)

[@aggie1871]

where did you get the bag itself from

[@FieldRadio]

Cabelas

[@glennroberts6107]

Equipment listing of what and where to purchase is always welcome.

[@JayGamzTV]

That magnetic car antenna how many miles range can take?

[@FieldRadio]

Not much, but it get's the antenna outside of the vehicle and gives a nice ground plane. So better than on the HT but not spectacular.

[@JayGamzTV]

Do you think how far estimate miles?

[@kennyratliff8308]

Just signed up at the website. Hope you are still emailing the PDF list! Volunteering to support a bike race next weekend, seeking resources to equip a good kit. Thanks! Kenny / KI4SFB

[@craigbushby515]

Where did you get the business cards?

[@FieldRadio]

GotPrint.com Dirt cheap and great use to tag all of your gear with them and for eyeball QSO's

[@bigphil6980]

can you give me the contact for getting the signal stick for me to get 2 for my baofangs in my go kit

[@FieldRadio]

Email me at [e-mail] your contact information.

[@marksouthard7543]

I can’t find that goal zero stepper that you described. Any chance you can give me a link to the item. Thanks.

[@FieldRadio]

I can't find it on the Goal Zero site. They may have discontinued. I still see the link on Amazon so that might help your search. amzn.to/2K5JNFU