What's Going On With PackTenna? George, KJ6VU, Stops By To Give Us The Scoop!

[@thuff3207]

I just love my packtennas, and yes, I use the random wire the most with my KX2. Thank you for posting this video to learn about the station controller using a Raspberry Pi. That sounds interesting since I have most of my shack using Node-RED. I will have to get one to make my shack work remotely.

[@georgekj6vu889]

One of the reasons to go with Node Red as the dashboard is that I can give you the flows for the station controller modules and you can just drop them into your own dashboard and customize it as you like.

[@dantheradioman]

I agree with George about 2m SSB! I've used his TrekMount trekking pole antenna for VHF SSB & FM while hiking SOTA. Gotta love the 818 for all mode, all band & low power!

[@GAParksandPropagation]

They are so popular they are never in stock lol

[@georgekj6vu889]

We are working to fix that. Lots more coming this week.

[@timjames9567]

Great to "see" George!

[@Krispin291]

The man, the myth, the legend! Sensei Mike! 🤘😎🤘I am late to every video today! A lot to catch up

[@hamradiotube]

Lol better late than never!

[@ac0m-glennthompson432]

What is the headphones George is using?

[@georgekj6vu889]

I am using a Jabra headset

[@ac0m-glennthompson432]

@@georgekj6vu889 Thanks George. Have several of the Packtenna antennas. They are the best!

[@hikerboyz]

Thumbs up for 2M SSB!

[@StephenBeaudet]

Will you guys be at Orlando Hamcation 2025?

[@georgekj6vu889]

Hi Stephen. Unfortunately no we will not be at Hamcation.

[@LarryAllenTonar]

George KJ6VU, I hope you have a excellent system for encoding station operation rules, alerts, and a soft fail scheme so simple boo-boos don't destroy your system remotely. Is your gen-8 magic smoke detector module available? How about your bear/teenager about to electrocute themselves module? I hope you put command confirmation into your voice controls. My hands-off car voice control loves misunderstanding me. I was expecting to build your system for myself down the road after my next move. Now I'm a probable future customer.

[@georgekj6vu889]

That is up to the user to program. The reason for using Node Red as the main control interface allows you to customize interlocks or whatever you want to do.

[@angelscomputers]

I'm confused, why a booth if dont have antennas to sell? I mean, the Packtenas are ALWAYS out of stock soooo, definitely the booth will be for other stuff, Anyways, I will appreciate if he can focus more in build a stock and theeeen get a booth. I must be missing something for sure...I hope the idea is not to force people to go to the event so will be the only chance to buy the Packtenna...I really hope...

[@georgekj6vu889]

The goal is to have enough antennas in stock to be able to order on-line AND have some at Hamvention. The problems in having enough stock boils down to the assembly house not making them properly and it has taken time to get it straightened out. It's very easy for them to do automated pick and place assembly but all the PackTennas are mostly hand assembled. The transformers / toroid cores, wire elements are done by had. Only the connectors are automatically assembled. Anyway, we are expecting to have enough soon. George

[@angelscomputers]

@@georgekj6vu889did you ever considered sell them as a kit so that way you take all of the building work out of your shoulder? Or there is a “secret” in the build that you wants to keep? I mean, got to be something for being so popular with so many EFHW in the market haha. Anyways, I hope I get lucky one day because that antenna intrigues me so much as I have many EFHW so I’m dying to try what makes it so special.

[@georgekj6vu889]

​@@angelscomputers Yes I have considered kits. The problem with kits is that people always have trouble assembling things and I don't have the bandwidth to debug the problem. As a result I made the decision not to do kits. I also found that when I surveyed people about kits vs pre-assembled, the vast majority of people want an assembled product that works off the shelf. The overhead for me in building antennas is supply chain management (making sure the right quantity of the right materials are available on time) and managing the assembly house / QA checking their builds. I don't personally assemble anything that gets sold. It's all professionally assembled for quality, cost and volume purposes.

[@angelscomputers]

@@georgekj6vu889 Fair enough. And how about like the QRPLabs aproach where they sell the QMX+ as a kit or charge you $50 to build it? that will give people options. Anyways, just ideas, Im not trying to run your business, just ideas as every single time I hear Packtenna the next 3 words immediately are "Not In Stock". Ill keep checking the website almost daily. Good luck and enjoy retirement!

[@rstiosejo]

Two of my 🎉 favorite persons in the world. Stay Safe 73 Ruben KD6CWI