Portable Equipment
Find here the equipment (and tricks) used by some experienced portable activators. Please contact BOS ! if you want to add yours.
ON4VT aka OT4V Danny
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Activations : ONFF BCA BLHA SOTA GMA
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Transceivers : FT857D with Palm mini Paddle. SCU-17 for RTTY.
Common power used : 75w
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Antennas : Homebrew linked dipole (link : LINKED DIPOLE) from 6 to 80 meters (Hint : Sota beams lightweight antenna wire) . Fishing rod (Hint : Decathlon Lakeside-1 Travel 600) RG58 coax line. SWR of the linked dipole is flat on all bands, NO tuner needed.
Power source : 100 Ah car battery – For SOTA and bike mobile Lifepo batteries
Logging : QW on a mini laptop. LIVE logging on GMA if internet connection
Extra equipment : Fisher-umbrella, small picknick table and chair
Transport : Car – Bike – The RuXXac Cross
Tricks : Never be in a hurry when going out and “Keep it simple !”
ON/Z35M Vlado
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Guerilla QRP Portable
Activations : ONFF BCA BOTA (=Beaches on the Air)
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Transceivers : Elecraft KX2 with internal ATU and battery, attached paddle
Common power used : 5w QRP
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Antennas : Ground or bench mounted MFJ-1979, 5,2m telescopic vertical, 2.5m of RG-58 coax; Homebrew 40/30/20m tree wire verticals with 3 random lenght ground radials, directly conected to KX2.
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Power source : KX2’s internal Li-Ion 2,6Ah battery
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Logging : Small paper LOG
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Extra equipment : Small gardener’s pad and 0.5sq m nylon cover for seating on a ground or on a bench
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Transport : Mostly by bicycle or walking, sometimes by car (long distances or bad WX)
Tricks : Guerilla QRP Portable – ultra-light portable set up for more agility and flexibility. Non motorized access, fast deployment (5 min), less comfort devices, more frequent short activations (1-1.5h).
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ON6UU Frank (RIP)
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The early bird catches the worm
Activations : SOTA GMA
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Transceivers : KX-2, MTR-3B, IC-703 all with homebrew paddle made out of an relay
Common power used : 5w QRP
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Antennas : Homebrew linked dipole (link : LINKED DIPOLE) with fishing rod, HF-1B, Alexloop
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Power source : KX-2 internal battery, MTR-3B with 9V battery or 12AH gel battery, IC-703 with 17AH gel battery or 12V car battery
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Logging : Paper log
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Extra equipment : Spare paddle, umbrella, small tent, 2 little foldable camping chairs
Transport : By car since all summits are far to go to
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Tricks : The early bird catches the worm. Start early especially when you go far so to be able to work our Belgian chasers on 80
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OT6V René
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The early bird catches the worm
Activations : SOTA ONFF
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Transceivers : Icom 706 mk2 or Yaesu ft 897 +at 89
Common power used : 40w
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Antennas : Homebrew linked dipoles (link : LINKED DIPOLE) for 20/40m,homebrew dipole for 80m, fishing rod 10m high
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Power source : 18Ah battery for Sota activations,For onff activations 40Ah and 64Ah batteries,if the distance is not so far
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Logging : Paper log
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Extra equipment : Little chair (alu), little table (alu) and by bad weather an umbrella
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ON2LVC Luc
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As you can dream it, you can make it.
Activations : ONFF BCA MILLS
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Transceivers : Yaesu FT 857D or Yaesu ft 817D
Common power used : 50w or 4w
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Antennas : Homebrew linked dipole for 20/40m,homebrew dipole for 80m, Spiderpole 12m high
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Power source : 74Ah batteries
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Logging : FLE direct on notebook
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Transport : By car and walking with hand truck
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Extra equipment : Little chair, little table and an umbrella, headset Peltor, parrot mike (Funkamateur), Tripod. Coax RG58.
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ON4MGY Nicolas
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Activations : ONFF BLHA SOTA BCA
TRX : FT-817ND
Antenne : endfed half wave (20,5m wire + homemade 49:1 unun)
Power Source : LiFePO4 3,8 AH
Logging : QW on laptop
Extra's : Little chair, picknick table, fishing umbrella, tarp.
Shorth activations (1 a 1.5 hour)
