[K3PZN-List] Public Operation

Thu Jun 15 11:39:36 EDT 2017

Hey Jim,
Yes I will be there! I will also be a Franks open house this Saturday with Mike. My goal was when it's nice outside I'd like to go places and operate such as a park or something like that. But keep my power supply for the shack when I'm not out operating away from the shack. I'm super excited to get the 706 I traded him my TS-480SAT. He said it is relatively unused and I've always wanted one since Mike told me about them. I wasn't planning on using solar panels to charge the battery cause I'm not 100% sure how many and how big I would need. 
Kyle 
KC3FMP 

> On Jun 15, 2017, at 11:35 AM, James Nitzberg via K3PZN-List <k3pzn-list at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> 
> Hi Kyle,
> A credible rumor suggests we will be meeting next Tuesday at the Frederick PVRC meeting!(Surprise, I am also a member of PVRC...and CCARC...like Mike N3VOP and others).
> I missed the beginning of your thread for powering your 706 Mark II-G (which is a GREAT radio, by the way, you are going to have a LOT of fun with it).  
> Was your purpose always to be "off the grid" (100% removed from A/C power)?Are you using solar panels to keep the battery charged during your portable operations?
> Look forward to seeing you at the PVRC meeting.
> 73,
> Jim Nitzberg   WX3B
> 
>      From: Kyle Thornton <kyle.3599 at outlook.com>
> To: Benjamin Horton <k3fpe at verizon.net>; Carroll County Amateur Radio Club <k3pzn-list at mailman.qth.net> 
> Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2017 11:06 AM
> Subject: Re: [K3PZN-List] Public Operation
> 
> Thanks guy! 
> I should have the 706 today, hopefully I don't need to sign for it ($800 of insurance on it) as my parents are out and I have to work all afternoon and the mail usually isn't delivered until 3 or so. I'll have to look into getting one of the deep cycle batteries and that antenna instead of building a Dipole... 
> thanks
> Kyle KC3FMP
> 
>> On Jun 14, 2017, at 9:05 PM, Benjamin Horton <k3fpe at verizon.net> wrote:
>> 
>> I use the Icom 703 which is like the 706 but much lower power output.  A 40, 20 or 80 meter inverted V antenna is a sure fire portable antenna.  Using the auto-tune, the match works well and will provide a good match.  Use of a deep discharge Marine Battery will complete the set up for a nice portable Station.  Regards, Joe  K3FPE 
>> 
>>     On Tuesday, June 13, 2017 10:32 PM, Mark Rosenthal <marksro at comcast.net> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Kyle-
>> 
>> A Marine Deep Cycle battery would be preferable to a car battery.  Car batteries are designed to give big bursts of power (think cold cranking amps to turn over the big V-8).  Deep cycle batteries are designed to provide steady output over a long period of time (such as to run lights, radios, etc on your boat or RV when no generator available).  Such a battery will provide 12 volts (duh) but the radio is probably designed to work on 13.8 volts.  This means you will be putting out something less than 100 watts, but a small enough difference I wouldn’t worry.  More important- some modern radios (with microprocessors) don’t do well at 12 volts.  Research your radio.  If people say it has a problem at 12 volts, you can build (or buy) a voltage booster to get it up to 13.8 Volts.  I have a Kenwood TS-590 and everyone online said it would not do well at 12 volts.  So I spent money on an MFJ battery booster.  Used it only once because everyone online was wrong.  My radio worked just fine on 12 volts.  (If you need one, let me know- I can let you have mine at a discount.  Only used once).
>> 
>> I bought a pair of 55 amp-hour batteries.  (I thought I needed about 90 amp-hours, but that was way too heavy to carry).  I could operate all day long with one.  And could even charge my laptop in a pinch.  But not what you would use for backpacking (about 40 pounds).  If backpacking is your choice, a Lithium ion pack is lighter, but you would have to cut back to 5 or 10 watts.  Research your radio for it’s specific power requirements.
>> 
>> For an antenna, a vertical would be much easier.  Not only is a 40M dipole long, to get good coverage it would need to be up 10 meters or so.  Not so easy.
>> 
>> I used a MFJ-2286 antenna, a telescopic 18 foot whip with a base loading coil.  At first I had it mounted on a heavy duty camera tripod, set low on the ground, with 20 radials, 5 meters long each (1/4 wave for 20 Meters).  This worked great.  I used it about four times for NPOTA and typically would get 200 to 250 contacts per day.  I then added 4 more radials, 10 meter long, thinking it would help me get closer to 50 ohms for 40 meters.  Used that twice and never saw much difference in performance (still great).  
>> 
>> I then attached the antenna to a trunk lip mount.  No radials, just the car for counterpoise.  Even on 40 it tuned up just fine.  Also made tons of contacts.  During NPOTA, in a total of 240 activations, the above set up netted me 48 states, about a dozen countries, and 47 national parks, many of which were QRP.  Not bad for an antenna mounted on my trunk.  (Just remember to take the antenna off before you drive away.)
>> 
>> There are many ways to do portable operations.  Do more research online and pick what looks good to you.  I really enjoyed making contacts sitting in a park.  And with NPOTA, there was a purpose beyond just chatting.  Met some very nice people with that event.  After you get the kinks worked out you may wish to look into SOTA or NOTA.  Gives a reason to work at making the contacts.  The chasers are very appreciative.
>> 
>> Good luck.
>> 73
>> Mark
>> W3MSR
>> 
>> 
>>> On Jun 13, 2017, at 8:53 PM, Kyle Thornton <kyle.3599 at outlook.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi all, 
>>> I was curious, I'm getting an Icom 706 MKIIG (thanks Steve and Andy for verifying that I am a real ham) I wanted to try something different and make a di pole for say 40m and go places to operate. I think that would be super cool. I don't have a generator nor can I afford one. What are my other options? I have a dead car battery that I use as emergency back up for my 2 meter only rig but would that be enough for an HF rig? 468/7.225 means the di pole would need to be around 64' long and 32' on each leg? What do you guys think? 
>>> Kyle 
>>> KC3FMP 
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 
>>> 73 de K3PZN Westminster, MD
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> 73 de K3PZN Westminster, MD
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