LNR Precision MTR4B V2 Introduction

[@shadowlab9543]

great video !! i just dived down a rabbit hole on sota reflector that's gonna take over all my spare time 😂 found some outstanding mtr3 and mtr5 go boxes that were built by the mod king of mountain toppers dk3it. its like he heated up the bottom of a mountain topper with a torch or something and squished it into small pelican cases and tapped it with a magic wand to add extra goodness 😍 my appetite for anything to do with these superb little radios is insatiable.

[@n4hnhradio]

It is great to carry a 7 ounce radio. I just wish it had DSP filtering. The front-end is too wide.

[@JohnCook-bx4gv]

I am so glad that there are other hams that use 72! One of the best indications that you’re QRP when activating CW!

[@n4hnhradio]

Yessir. I like 72.

[@davidfogel4578]

Very informative. I'm still learning to use my MTR4B 73 de KE6EX

[@n4hnhradio]

I’m glad you found it helpful. I like the MTR4B and the V2 version. Carrying a 7?ounce radio that can communicate across the globe is very appealing. You might enjoy my last SOTA video. The Expedition to Wesser Bald. It features the MTR4B V2 in action. 73, de N4HNH

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Great video and tips! I just picked up the four bander and I love this clip board idea.

[@n4hnhradio]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@Brighamdoc]

Lucky enough to have just got one ordered this week - it's like finding the Holy Grail now days I'm excited to start using it

[@n4hnhradio]

I had to wait 2 months and that was before COVID-19. It is a great compromise (7 ounces) transceiver. I wish it had a 500 Hz filter and I wish they would offer a 60m option instead of 80m. But alas there is no one perfect transceiver. That said, I love carrying a 7 ounce transceiver that can run on a 9 vDC battery. 73, de N4HNH

[@alejandro-lu8ach377]

Great video!! Thank you very much for showing how the measurement of SWR and PWR!!! at 16´30"

[@n4hnhradio]

You’re very welcome! Glad to help. 73, de N4HNH

[@cwqrpportable]

And thank you Alenjandro for referring to that measurement and the time mark where it's found on the video..... very useful.

[@theislandboy8]

thanks for showing us!

[@n4hnhradio]

Thanks for watching, William! 73, Doug

[@CaptainRadioAdventures]

You probably don’t need the watch anymore because the rig has a clock. The rig did marvelously on Grassy Ridge Bald - plenty of audio showing the exchanges between the MTR and the chasers on my video on KZbin. Great video Doug. Very instructive

[@n4hnhradio]

Yes, I’m thinking the watch may fade away. However, I noticed a flaw in the programming for the built-in clock that gives me pause. If you long press Fn and cycle through the menus, and happen to stop on Set Time, it automatically resets the time to 0:00. Might keep the separate one for a bit. But I’m usually logging with OutDLog so I can get buy without either the watch or the radio clock.

[@CaptainRadioAdventures]

@@n4hnhradio Your video just inspired me to do my version of the clipboard idea. Stay tuned.

[@n4hnhradio]

@@CaptainRadioAdventures be sure to share. The credit for this one goes to KC4WZB. He is amazing and repurposing stuff.

[@barrykery1175]

Neat video. What a creative idea fastening everything to the clip board. Palm Pico Paddles? Looks like it's a well thought out radio. I'd have a hard time without a rotatable decoder for the VFO. Thanks for the nice demo. Neat looking little radio. Barry, KU3X/QRP

[@n4hnhradio]

The little arrow buttons work fine. I found that having buttons instead of knobs is an advantage to buttons with little, portable, radios. It’s too easy to accidentally bump the knobs and knock myself off frequency. With the up/down arrows, my frequency setting doesn’t move. Yes, I really like the Palm Pico Paddles. It’s a shame they are out of business. 73, de N4HNH

[@joyhamradio]

Nice radio. TKS Doug!

[@n4hnhradio]

I’m liking it thus far. 73, de N4HNH

[@ai5dd]

I just subscribed, I love CW and QRP field radio :)

[@n4hnhradio]

Welcome aboard! 73, de N4HNH

[@ai5dd]

Do you know how to reduce the side tone monitor volume? I know the rubber stopper on the back is where you're supposed to access this. Is it a dip switch?

[@n4hnhradio]

I don’t think it is adjustable, I’ve never tried. I bought a portable speaker that has a volume control.

[@gregpollard844]

Cool and simple but it's a pricey little thing for only 4 bands. More than half the price of the FT-891 I just bot. Good video to see how it works, thanks.

[@n4hnhradio]

I’ve been carrying a FT-891 on my back for 3 years. It is phenomenal, but it weighs 5 pounds. The MTR4B won’t replace it. But I’m ready to hike with a 7.95 ounce radio in my backpack. 20-30-40-60 meters are my main SOTA bands. I wish the MTR4B could work on 60 meters but it does 80 instead. 60 works better for regional contacts during the day. But I can get most of my SOTA contacts on 20-30-40. Rest assured the FT-891 isn’t going anywhere. 73, N4HNH

[@davidedger3935]

Would you please post info on the battery packs you are using? Great size. Thanks for a terrific video. 73 de N3CI

[@n4hnhradio]

I use either a Red Tiger 11.1VDC 15C 1100maH LiPo battery or the 50C 3000maH version. I’m not sure if Red Tiger is still available though. But just about any RC Hobby store will have this type of battery. I changed the connector to a Deans connector, since the Deans is smaller and lighter. The 1100 maH 15C battery is plenty of power for the MTR4B V2. I could do 2 or 3 summit activations and it would still have charge left. The 3,000maH 50C can power my FT-891 at 45W for around 50 contacts. 73, de N4HNH

[@waynereetz5919]

Nice little rig. Nice demo. What kind of keyer is that? I like that the paddles can be tucked inside/

[@n4hnhradio]

It’s a Pico Paddle. Made in Germany. They went out of business a few years ago, but I heard that there are some similar models on eBay. 73, de N4HNH

[@dwatson4]

So it decodes transmit, does it decode receive?

[@n4hnhradio]

It doesn’t decode TX or RX. It can store 3 prerecorded messages and play them back over the air. 73, de N4HNH

[@davidknesovichsr7647]

Do you have a recommended key and cable to use with this radio. Where did you get case?

[@n4hnhradio]

The key is a Pico Paddle. American Morse also makes a nice key. The case is from Amazon. Here is a link: Portable Carrying Case Bag for GoPro Camera and Gopro Accessories,Hapurs Durable Travel Carry Protective Case Storage Bag for GoPro Hero 2 3 3+ 4 Hero 4 Session Hero 5 Session and Accessories www.amazon.com/dp/B071FGC12H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_KHWB8GGGNFHQ8CSNZJR7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 73, de N4HNH

[@jimstinson7357]

What case is that?

[@n4hnhradio]

Portable Carrying Case Bag for GoPro Camera and Gopro Accessories,Hapurs Durable Travel Carry Protective Case Storage Bag for GoPro Hero 2 3 3+ 4 Hero 4 Session Hero 5 Session and Accessories www.amazon.com/dp/B071FGC12H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_M0SH1R30328VA3HV1TMH?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

[@kareneighth6045]

Thanks for the videos! Where can one get the ny4b efhw antenna?

[@n4hnhradio]

Hi Karen! The NY4G portable EFHW antenna is available at: www.ny4gefhw.com/ 73, de N4HNH

[@georgewashington7444]

I am a brand new CW operator. I’ve been activating SOTA for close to a year (phone) 60% of way to MG! My next project is to activate my 2nd MG all CW I Love the MTRs and I am seriously considering picking one of these up. I have a Venus SW3B other than the extra band in your opinion or experienced others reading this, am I gaining much with the MTR4b?

[@n4hnhradio]

You get the addition of the 80m band. I wish LNR Precision had included 60m instead of 80m. We get better propagation with 60m during the daytime here in the Southeast. But I have made contacts with my close-in friends using the 80m option. These are SOTA chasers who are too far for 2 meters but too close for 40 meters. The MTR4B V2 is a battery miser. It only draws 27ma on RX, versus 45ma with the SW3B. At 5W TX, the MTR4B V2 and the SW3B are nearly equal, with the MTR4B V2 drawing 750ma and the SW3B drawing 800ma. The MTR4B V2 weighs 7.95 ounces, while the SW3B weighs 6.35 ounces. The SW3B has a RF Gain control. The MTR4B V2 does not have a RF Gain control. The SW3B has a volume (AF Gain) control. The MTR4B V2 does not. I use earbuds with an inline volume control. I sometimes use an Anker Soundcore Mini external powered speaker. It sounds very good and has a volume control. LNR Precision doesn’t want us to exceed 13vDC to power the MTR4B V2. I use a LiPo battery that charges to 12.7vDC. I built an adapter with a 1N4007 diode in series with the positive wire, allowing me to power the radio with a LiFePo4 battery from Bioenno. With the diode, the voltage going to the radio is 12.9 to 13vDC. Above 13vDC increases the risk of the final exceeding its 1A current rating. 73, de N4HNH

[@georgewashington7444]

Thank you for the speedy reply! I committed myself to all VHF SOTA (1st MG) and I have been using my FT818 with a N9TAX Rollup Jpole and when going gets tough the Arrow 3 element Yagi. Out of 130 activations I have come up short 7 times. I am amazed at what 70/2/6m can do with a bit of altitude! That being said I will be relieved to complete this phase of my SOTA journey the setup I have now is 18-20lbs total (with other backcountry gear) . Switching this out for a SW3B and a MTR4b with an end fed/9v battery will cut my weight by 2/3. I am going to order the MTR4B because you can never have enough QRP rigs! After I get a couple dozen activations done with each I’ll make a review comparing them! “73” Erik

[@n4hnhradio]

My brother, W4KWM, made Mountain Goat using only his HT. I would get my first contacts with the HT as well, though I also worked HF. We use the Diamond SRH770S duckie, N9TAX roll-up J-Pole, and a 3-element piano wire Yagi that my brother designed. It weighs 4 ounces, including the coax and BNC. It attaches to a trekking pole for transport. I encourage you to keep on going and make MG without HF. I didn’t think of it before I had already activated with HF. I think you will like the MTR4B V2. Let us know what you think. 73, de N4HNH

[@romanomorelli2831]

Do LNR do any other colour case besides red

[@n4hnhradio]

Their other models are blue and white. The newest is red.

[@EricFullwood]

80m for SOTA? Not in my experience. Change 80 to 17m and they'd have a winner.

[@n4hnhradio]

I wanted 60 instead of 80 but they won’t make it. I do okay with 80 but 60 covers the in between range. 73, de N4HNH

[@EricFullwood]

@@n4hnhradio not enough room for that much wire on a lot of summits nor do I get up that early LOL

[@n4hnhradio]

Well, LNR Precision can only offer you 3 useable bands with the MTR4B V2. I think their 5-band model has 17m. 73, de N4HNH

[@n4hnhradio]

The antenna I use for portable ops is the NY4G EFHW. Even when I add the 80m link, it is half as long as an 80m dipole. We have a close knit group of SOTA activators here in the Southeast, with chasers who are shut-ins. We get together for cook-outs and camp-outs twice a year. So, we try to always operate either 60 or 80 meters, to give our fellow activators and chasers the opportunity for chase points and S2S bonus. 73, de N4HNH