Jeep Commo Adventure in Wickenburg, Arizona

[@Swamp-Fox]

Thanks for sharing the real-world testing. Glad I am not the only one who experiences "issues".....sometimes it seems like everyday is one of those days!

[@TheTechPrepper]

That's the beauty of the real-world testing. Sometimes stuff refuses to go your way. Adapt and overcome. If you can, do it with a smile. In the end, I learned a bit more about my gear, a bit more about operating from the Jeep, a bit about the offline mapping limitations. The SWR lesson with the tailgate was an eye-opener (open tailgate = 7:1 SWR; closed tailgate = 1:1). Thanks for the BMAC support. More coming.

[@TheGeekiestGuy]

Tempori Servire - adapt and overcome. This is the way. That's why we do dry runs on routes and 3d print things before we commit and make a mold. Just keep on keepin' on. Make test fail, repeat. Do it until it works. 🤙🏾

[@lavenderlilacproductions]

I never would think the tailgate made so much difference in the SWR. Enjoyed the video

[@TheTechPrepper]

I was surprised too!

[@kc8owl]

These real-time, freestyle videos are great. And the very last scene - I have thanked the radio for being smarter than me a few times before when I tried to transmit while the antenna was disconnected and it shut down the transmitter to protect itself. LOL

[@TheTechPrepper]

Same here. I transmitted twice without an antenna connected. Oops.

[@Mike_M_KI4MRC]

I’m so glad I’m not the only one that makes frustrating (in the moment) mistakes but laughable during the post battle assessment. YOU were made for this! Thank you for sharing!

[@TheTechPrepper]

It's all part of the process of trying out new gear in a new environment. It's better to learn now and make adjustments before you need them. We're all human. I don't hide the fact that I make mistakes. Cheers and thanks for the BMAC support.

[@TheGeekiestGuy]

Good on you for showing everything you deal with while testing. I'd rather watch someone like you show some of the things they have to overcome during testing as opposed to watching a flawless run without any issues. Good on you. 🤙🏾

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks, buddy. You walked away with exactly the point that I was trying to make with this video. It was not a "fail" video, but the realities of testing new gear in the field. In the end, we made the HF contact happen. It showed that there are limitations with a compromised, small vertical antenna. The Hustler RM-40 is convenient, but sometimes you need a full length antenna. Also, the SWR jump with the tailgate opened and closed was a new one for me. Take care.

[@TheGeekiestGuy]

@TheTechPrepper that was super interesting that the tailgate changed the SWR that much. Maybe a bonding strap would help. The new Jeeps might have Teflon washer/bushings on that hinge, so you'll have to go to the body if you go that route. Maybe just pop an Anderson connector with an eyelet to the frame and make it so it's still detachable.

[@DominicMazoch]

For those in the Houston area, the SE TX Amateur Club will have a GOTA station at Lawrence Park off I-10 and North Shepherd Dr between 8AM and 3PM local time. You can come look, try your stuff, ask questions. Also CB, FRS, GMRS welcome!

[@bruehlt]

When all else fails - wire antennas are the bomb, especially end feds!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Damn straight.

[@kc8owl]

Welcome to KZbin Loren. :-)

[@slik560]

Well done. Thanks 👍🇺🇸

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@dougdaniels]

That Pale Blue solar panel is excellent. I use it full time to power my Meshtastic rig in my truck.

[@TheTechPrepper]

These are nice, however, I found one issue while testing so far. The pocket on the panels works well for devices that can handle the heat while charging (like my Garmin InReach, Airpods and flashlight). But, my iPhone 8 goes into that "temperature too hot mode" and will not charge. The trick for devices like the iPhone is simply not use the neoprene pocket. Just put in a backpack and run the charging cable to the panels. More testing needed.

[@turdferguson2863]

@@TheTechPrepper thanks to you both because I just started with meshtastic and my friend and I were talking about doing a solar setup for the node between us

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@turdferguson2863 Very nicely done. Meshtastic is an amazing technology. It's perfect for certain application. Another tool for the toolbox.

[@MichaelLeo]

100% get out there! I tried pota hunting "off line" and it was terrible...you gotta get out there and practice!!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Practice is key. I used to spot myself over APRS or ask another operator to spot me when I was active with SOTA (Summit on the Air). I am sure the same is true for POTA. I operating in operate every week and have never activated it. 73's. P.S. I am working on your FZ-M1 Mk1.

[@fbswampfox]

It’s Arizona I’m surprised I haven’t seen a lifted RV rock crawling 😂😂😂

[@TheGeekiestGuy]

I dig the bag system. I was tuning about something like that for my x6200. Bag options are scarce out here. I really wanna try your interface. If it has xiegu support, I'll save up my pennies and get on buy me a coffee. Hell, i should send you some of the kickass coffee from here. My buddy roasts his own on a decent size scale. He calls it Kaleos coffee. Some local businesses sell it on the island.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Look up my callsign on QRZ and send me an email. I'll shoot you a free Basic membership. I like your style.

[@TheGeekiestGuy]

@TheTechPrepper nice. I got my general, and I figured I'd start learning CW. I got a new callsign since WH6GWL isn't the easiest. KH6GG is a little easier on the key. I'll shoot you an email in a bit. 🤙🏾

[@TheGeekiestGuy]

@TheTechPrepper I got an email out. Check your spam folder just in case. I appreciate you, man. I'll be sure and dedicate my volcano national park activation towards you and a few others that helped inspire me. I'm still gonna try doing it qrp first. Whatever happens happens. I'll put it out there like you do. 🤙🏾

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@TheGeekiestGuy You should have two emails from me. FYI: We are doing a member live stream in 40 min. See most recent BMAC post for the details.

[@turdferguson2863]

Let's goooooooo!!!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Yes, sir! Thanks for the support, Turd.

[@turdferguson2863]

@@TheTechPrepper it's been a great return on the investment, lots of knowledge gained ☕

[@thuff3207]

I really like having a tarheel 2 on my a pillar mounted light mount. The point I like for this screwdriver is you can clip a wire on the antenna and make it an endfed for a different configuration. Easier setup and take down. Also can that table run Linux.

[@TheTechPrepper]

The Tarheel is intriguing. I've been on the fence since I saw Jason KM4ACK show his off a few years back. I'll have to give it another look.

[@bradh74]

The Jeep or Mobile should be a great place for a repeater but I don't know much about them yet. Can you get repeaters with dual band (or more) capabilities? Plus I hear that overlanders life the gmrs radios a lot.

[@TheTechPrepper]

The radio (Kenwood D710) that I talked on at the midpoint in the video supports crossband repeat. It's essentially a poor man's repeater. On the over-landing, side you can run twin KG-1000s GMRS radios to do something similar.

[@stevesummersell_K4WXX]

Love the Gray Man 705 lunch bag! Please share more details on it. Also, who’s that guy you picked up?!?

[@TheTechPrepper]

It's my brother-in-law. He offered to join me on this test and run the camera.

[@TheTechPrepper]

The link for that bag is in the description and I posted a high level breakdown over Instagram a couple of weeks ago with my modifications.

[@stevesummersell_K4WXX]

@ I had my sights on an Igloo cooler bag but it didn’t have much padding, just a plastic insert. Yours looks much better!

[@thebnbaldwin]

Nice weather for ah shitz and giggles adventure!

[@TheTechPrepper]

The weather is perfect now. You always learn something when testing new gear for the first time. It was fun bringing you and the community along for the ride. There were a few on-the-fly engineering attempts.

[@BikesBobbers]

Awesome video, can you shoot me the coordinates for camp bravo?

[@BikesBobbers]

I should've just kept watching- nevermind! 11:07

[@TheTechPrepper]

Those coordinates are off. It was a quirk with the open source navigation that I was using. Another lesson learned. I'm going back to get the coordinates.

[@BikesBobbers]

@@TheTechPrepper ah, tech

[@DominicMazoch]

How do you keep a yellow jeep clean?

[@TheTechPrepper]

I wash it once a year. It does not show the dirt for some reason.

[@garytedlock7533]

Gaston , where did you get that bag for your POTA 20, Thanks KD9WTH

[@TheTechPrepper]

It's a prototype bag that I am working on. It's one of one at the moment and needs more work.

[@garytedlock7533]

@TheTechPrepper If you decide to sell them let me know,Thanks KD9WTH

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@garytedlock7533 RR. Will do. Thanks for the interest, Gary.

[@milwman1958]

How’s your radio gear and computer handled the high heat and then the AC at least you don’t have the high humidity of Eastern US. scooter KF0HRF

[@TheTechPrepper]

It's done very well. I have been running the FZ-M1 tablet for almost 2 years now. It's primarily deployed over the summer when we exceed 110F. No issues. My normal manpack radio is the Yaesu FT-818ND and it has survived 4 years of heat and has over a thousand trail miles. Again, no issues. The IC-705 shown here is new to me. This is its second trip in a vehicle. It's nowhere as rugged as my 818, so I specifically earmarked it for vehicle work as shown here. Good question. Be advised: We typically have single digit humidity here unless it's raining.

[@DominicMazoch]

​@@TheTechPrepperYou can cool by swamp coolers!

[@DominicMazoch]

In Houston, the humidity is so high you can take anything from an A/C space, and as soon you go outside, it sweats!

[@DominicMazoch]

What 2/.07M 1/2 l you have over the front left hood?

[@TheTechPrepper]

It's the Comet SBB-5. It works great it's been on the Jeep for the last 4 years. The mount is a Diamond KS400.

[@DominicMazoch]

​@@TheTechPrepperI use the MFJ clone. Simple. Tough!

[@prepperdan]

your vents are closed? whats the temp out there?

[@TheTechPrepper]

It was freezing by Arizona standards at 65F. I want my 100+ degree temperatures back. It's puffer jacket time when it is 70F.

[@TrenchKraft]

I hunt in the Adirondack mountains. 65° and I’d be hunting in shorts and T-shirt 😂

[@DominicMazoch]

65°F is also freezing in Houston!

[@peterkunka2694]

Sir, may I share some frustration with your channel? It's probably me... but, as a Tech licensed Ham operator, I'm not really getting the love with your continued, and failed experiments, in the HF gadget stuff. I am not seeing any reason to upgrade my license by what you are showing me. You had solid comms on UHF to Nevada... Perfect!... build on that and reach a much larger audience... to the hams who already have radios with VHF/UHF capabilities. Seems like the HF tablet/keyboard stuff only applies to a miniscule radio population? I should mention, if you had UHF comms on one mountaintop repeater (White Tanks in Phoenix), there are several other linked and repeater options also available on that mountaintop for use that would have been available, too. No problem, I understand going out and 'specifically testing out HF gear', but this video showed us UHF was better and reliable. We've talked on simplex and on Metrolink in Phoenix before, so I'm not a YT troll or hater... just sharing my thoughts as I would if we were sitting around a campfire. If I'm completely missing something, then "hit me" and make me see the light. I admire your ambition and wish you continued success. Cheers! Pete in Arizona - KI7LIL

[@TheTechPrepper]

Sorry, if you feel frustrated, but I look at all radios as tools to carry out particular tasks. For my particular needs, VHF/UHF simplex or through a repeater network are just one tool and have their merits and limitations. My group in the Southwest use three modes daily. It's not one or the other. 1. Voice on 40m SSB (monitor for 30 min during a scheduled window) 2. VHF/UHF linked repeater (monitor during same 30 min window above) 3. JS8Call on HF (runs all day asynchronously). We do not have to be actively monitoring the radio to receive messages. While the Intermountain Intertie (linked repeater network shown) is our primary as it is convenient, there are regular issues and limitations: 1. This network has regular issues every few weeks in which communication between nodes is not possible. 2. On a recent trip to California, there was no repeater site that I could access to hit the Intertie. HF was the only option. In fact, it worked 100% of the time every day from the RV. See last video. 3. This system is third-party infrastructure managed by someone else. 4. This system has dependencies on grid power for parts of the network. With HF: 1 There is no third-party infrastructure. 2. We exploit NVIS propagation daily to maintain contact with our group across the Southwest with modest home-built antennas that are deployed very low to the ground. 3. With NVIS we can operate with valleys and have terrain features that prevent other communication methods. 3. Unlike voice, JS8Call is a weak signal mode. We can get by with less power and most of the time with compromised antennas like the vertical shown. This was the first time, that this vertical failed to make the contact in the region. The backup plan was to deploy a wire antenna (which worked), 4. Also with JS8, the signal can go below the noise floor (up to about -28dB). In this scenario, you can't hear and you can barely see it on the waterful. I encourage everyone take a look at their communication needs and select the appropriate license, radios, antennas, and operating techniques best suited to accomplish those goals. I hope this helps. Apologies for any typos. -TTP

[@TrenchKraft]

VHF/UHF comms on a repeater are great until something takes the repeater out then you are left with simplex which is challenging in my area.

[@peterkunka2694]

@@TheTechPrepper Right on and good reply. But, if you want comms, I still don't understand "the 30 minute window" to communicate on HF? So, the other 23 hours & 30 minutes each day have no comms? Doesn't seem worth the HF investment for 30 minutes, at least to me? And, how is someone hundreds/thousands of miles away supposed to help you locally? Here in the Southwest, depending on your travel destinations, we have plenty of repeaters (on-grid/off-grid with solar backup) that provide solid VHF/UHF comms reliably. Yes, there can be some locations out of range... and, for those limited scenarios, I'm really leaning towards simply getting a Starlink mini and going local/global with it on D-Star/Echolink/Zello... heck, even texting/calling using my cellphone. Garmin inReach is also an option for comms. My frustration is, I'm trying to follow your channel, but all I keep seeing is you use these little tablets and keyboards that I will never buy for my own use. Turn on a radio, set the squelch, hit a repeater or simplex operator for a solid contact, and keep moving forward with comms. If analog doesn't work and you need to get out, then go to Starlink, and the world is available to you. I have plenty of power with the truck's alternator, or the camper's solar panels/inverter/generator to keep radios going 24/7 when needed. Tent/truck camping would also easily provide similar power requirements to keep in touch. Informative conversation and good talk! Pete - KI7LIL

[@peterkunka2694]

@@TrenchKraft Yessir, you are correct... but, then, there are multiple other repeater options on that mountaintop (running on their own power/solar/battery backup systems) to choose from to keep comms open as options instead of simplex.

[@TrenchKraft]

@peterkunka2694 That’s awesome that you have that redundancy built in there. I know that out west you have different disaster potentials than us but I look at that from my East Coast perspective in that a single bad storm could easily take out that one mountain top. The other issue I see with relying strictly on repeaters is the problem of malicious actors jamming the repeater. VHF/UHF is important but HF is also a great resource and should rightfully have a place in the PACE plan.

[@solaris8592]

Bit rude not to introduce your partner. Just common courtesy.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Some people want to keep their private lives private.