[Elecraft] QRP rig for backkpacking

[Kevin Rock]

Howdy,
    I have tried taking my K2 into the field  and was also saddled with a 7 AHr battery.  I used a wire antenna and Palm paddles.  I made contacts from a number of 
sites but am working on a crafting a better antenna.  I am a member of Adventure Radio Society and think you might do well to read their views on what you are 
attempting.  Their URL is : http://www.natworld.com/ars/   There are a number of articles on trail friendly radio here : 
http://www.natworld.com/ars/pages/cumlative_index/articles_idx.html  I had a lot of fun attempting trail radio myself and want to keep doing it in the future.  My 
goal is to pass 15 wpm to earn myself a K1 with an antenna tuner.  Then I will have a lighter rig to camp with.  
   Good luck,
        Kevin.   KD5ONS



 2/5/2003 7:48:43 
AM, "phoon.usinet" 
<phoon@attglobal.net> wrote:

>Fellows, just want to thank you in 
advance for your comments and ideas
>below.
>
>I've designed a nice portable vertical GP 
for mountain backpacking.  With a
>QRP+ a year ago, worked Madagascar, 
Europe, SA, Japan, litterally all over
>the world, from the Flat Tops wilderness 
in Colorado at 10,700 feet up.
>Went through a snow storm and it just 
kept humming.
>
>Trouble was, I nearly killed myself trying 
to hike down a steep rocky slope
>with too much heavy gear on my back.  
In addition to some 50 to 60 Lbs on my
>back in a back pack, I also had a heavy 
canvas bag in one hand, that caused
>me serious balance problems. I slipped, 
and luckily just banged up my hip on
>sharp rocks, and was just plan lucky.  
The weight was in the QRP+ and the
>silly heavy battery I took for it (7 AH 
"motorcycle type").  The QRP+ has
>awful drain on receive, and a less than 
really efficient transmitter chain.
>
>I've already lightened the GP vertical, 
with a few minor improvements
>underway. So there is not much more 
weight I can cut there.  And the antenna
>is fantastic.
>
>I've got to lighten up for the next trip.  
Hence the search is on for a
>lighter rig and battery, as major areas 
for weight reduction.
>
>I take a Padette, so the key is about as 
light as I can get.
>
>From what I can learn, the K2 comes out 
at about 5 Lbs, just about what my
>QRP+ weighs, so it is out of the 
question.
>
>On the other hand, the K1 comes in at 
about 1.3 Lbs, and I can have all the
>CW bands I want: 40, 30 20 and 15M.
>
>I would really like candidate 
recommendations for LIGHT QRP RIGS 
that work
>well, have efficient current drain on 
Xceive and Xmit,  and are ideal for
>backpacking in UTAH canyons and on 
plateaus and the big Colorado peak
>country, where I can easily get up 
above tree line on ridges, or near high
>alpine tundra tarns, after the lightning 
season in Sept. - Oct.
>
>What do you know about the Rockmite 
rigs, and the Oak Hills rigs?  How do
>these stack up in terms of weight, 
performance and current drain?
>
>What are the pros and cons of various 
candidates?
>
>Is it really worth taking a tiny Rockmite, 
with only one band, and not much
>band tuning, for a 7 day QRP outing?  
Seems like it is just too little
>radio, and I'd be better off with a bit 
more weight and the 4 band
>capability of the K1.
>
>Am I being stupid taking the high 
performance vertical GP, though it does
>have some weight?
>
>I could take a tiny antenna tuner, a roll 
of wire, a slingshot, and shoot a
>wire up over a tall pine in the woods, 
with a "counterpoise" (I guess that
>is really just ONE radial) on the ground.  
This would be lighter than the
>portable GP, but the problem here is the 
antenna is not self supporting up
>high where there are no tress, nor on 
the UTAH plateaus on canyon rims,
>where there are no trees.  And, in my 
view, this is a very compromised
>antenna for QRP work.  That 
Madagascar contact to the other side of 
the
>world would NEVER have been possible 
at 4 watts without a high performance
>GP vertical set in an alpine meadow 
above tree line.  So I am not inclined
>to skimp on the antenna. Your thoughts 
and ideas?
>
>If you have had experience, or have 
ideas, please contribute, preferably in
>a public posting here.
>
>Peter Hoon
>VE1CHS
>phoon@attglobal.net