Yaesu FT-891 Portable

[@RyanFerreri]

The FT-891 manual says it should operate down to 11.47v (13.8 +/- 15%). Is this what you have seen in your setup?

[@moshumzy]

oh i thought you live in Canada this whole time. Great video! very portable

[@OH8STN]

That's interesting. My Wife and I researched moving to Canada about 10 years ago. Yeah, I like this setup very much. I just need to make a day pack configuration for it.

[@JohnTarbox]

Another nice video Julian. Just wish you would provide a little more information about what band were you using and weather conditions etc. I did see you put the antenna, cha mpas, in the video; thanks.

[@OH8STN]

-5c, sunny, 20m, bandx were in the dumpster as usual. MPAS with MIL EXT, single counterpoise on the ground/snow, azimuth Southwest.

[@JohnTarbox]

OH8STN Thanks Julian, I find reports with details much more interesting and informative.

[@OH8STN]

No problem, it's just difficult to remember all of these things, for every video.

[@michaelsharp8229]

Julian, love your videos! What are you using for an antenna and tuner?

[@rugby.7]

Are you using a charge controller?

[@OH8STN]

Always. Genasun GV10L & GV8-BOOST

[@BradSnyder1]

Another nice one Julian!

[@OH8STN]

Thanks Brad 👍👍👍

[@KO4L_Lloyd]

What is ypur antenna

[@OH8STN]

This time, i used the Chameleon MPAS with MIL EXT and a single counterpoise.

[@mikesolomon5584]

Hey Julian, I am still looking forward to anything you want to post about your experience with the 891. I am getting closer to being able to purchasing it. Are you still happy with it? I think I am pretty settled on it, but would still love to hear your thoughts about it. As to these types of videos, I think I still prefer your explanations about how you are working, and building, but this is interesting too. I think I would have liked to see how the conversation started, but it's cool none the less. I am getting my uBitX working and will be making my first HF QSOs here shortly. So I am listening very closely to anything I can get my hands on for proper verbiage and whatnot. I mean, 3 videos in a couple of days? Woohoo! Thanks again. Keep up the great work!

[@OH8STN]

I've got an ft-891 review video in the editor right now. I thought I would have published it last week, but It was much more involved than I thought. In fact, what you see in this video are excerpts from that 891 review. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@OH8STN]

Mike Solomon yeah Mike, I also like the longer format videos with great detail and explanations. Those videos although appreciated by many operators, might be boring to someone who hasn't seen the channel before. That's why I'm augmenting the regular msterial, with these shorter behind the scenes cuts.

[@mikesolomon5584]

Dig it. No, I think you are doing a great job, and I think it's also important to throw things at the wall occasionally to see if it sticks. Keeps you fresh and thinking about new ideas too. As to the upcoming 891 video... That sounds great! I will keep an eye out for it. I am an editor/animator by day, so I get the issue with things quickly getting much more involved than anticipated. But, those tend to be the ones you look back on and have a touch of pride about. So... Carry on Man! Edit forth! And thanks!

[@Toner126]

Ok new ham here (licensed in feb 2018; upgraded ticket in April). I need some help with something. I was listening to some contesting over the weekend and heard many different suffixes attached to callsigns. What do those mean? Where can I find resources to educate myself on the meaning of these? For example, in your video you use “stroke papa” after stating your call sign. Help me understand!

[@OH8STN]

Stroke Papa simply means operating portable /P. /QRP means operating low power. Ham radio has lots of prefixes and suffixes. Usually a prefix is used when operating in another country with your home country call sign. For example, SM3/OH8STN/P means I'm operating in Sweden as a portable station, using my Finnish callsign. Special events stations, Expeditions, or other types of stations might use /1, /2, /3 behind the call sign to let other stations know it's a multi operator station, with multiple transmitters. Best way to learn these things is to listen on air. Experience is the best educator.

[@maxprig]

Good video! Best regards R1BEN.

[@rocklover28]

Hi Julian, I also have a FT 891 radio. I love it and want to go portable with it but I am trying to find a good case/bag to protect it while out in the field. What is the make and model black box you use to transport your 891? Thanks, David/KI7DZK

[@OH8STN]

Hi David. I used that pelican case to transport it temporarily. Like you, I am also searching for a better way to mount/transport it. One thing I have realized is the need for multiple carrying options. Sometimes I want to hike, then use it at a camp site. Other times, use it straight out of a pelican case. So no one way of carrying will be enough. I will return to this topic when I have a better answer 73 Julian oh8stn

[@rocklover28]

Sweet... thank you Julian.

[@robertzingery8888]

Hello Julian I was wondering have you ever used a lower voltage battery like a 9 volt 6 amp battery to run the ft817? I see that the requirement are from 8volts to 16 volts . thanks Robert K6NFY

[@OH8STN]

Absolutely. The benefits of doing that is giving the radio only what it needs for 5 Watts instead of overpowering it, only to generate Heat. So for example using a lower voltage set of batteries, but putting more of them in parallel. This way you maintain the watt hours, ecen though you have smaller operating boltage. I think it would be a brilliant idea. Perhaps 10v allowing leeway for the lag.

[@celticwarrior1961]

all your videos are good

[@OH8STN]

I wish that were true :) Thanks for the kindness. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@celticwarrior1961]

trust me they are all good just some people are more interested in certain topics then others

[@hamtechoutdoor]

Julian, I see you happen to have several QSOs with Italy, we definitely need to have one ! :-) 73 de IK2WQH

[@OH8STN]

Italy is almost directly South (which is good). The best conditions I have usually, are north/south stations, especially if they are also near salty water.

[@bdm1000]

Wow, that is inspiring!

[@larrynathanson9892]

Thank you

[@AndyWragg]

Good contact Jules. 73's Andy - M6UAW

[@mumi009]

how about making a poor man's portable powerfilm solar panel? some of us don't have the 700 bucks or so to buy the commercial version.

[@OH8STN]

It's a valid point, but I'm going to have to leave it to some of my KZbin channel buddies to do that. Radio Prepper mentioned a low cost panel project. I'll encourage others to have a go as well. The reasoning behind this is having come from the budget solar gear at the start of the channel, working my way to the solar gear I have now. For portability, there was nothing else on the market watt/pound watt/kg.