Simple Ham Radio Antennas--Ham Radio hiking gear. Post #446.
With the approach of summer and the longer days and warmer temperatures that the season brings, many amateur radio operators will be taking portable stations to the field, local parks, and even along hiking trails to enjoy their hobby in the great outdoors. Often times, many of us go off into the "wilderness" with equipment that is a bit too heavy, needs too much power, and requires sophisticated antennas. If you have to carry a lot of weight in addition to your day pack, your pleasant hike may turn into a chore. Dennis Blanchard (K1YPP) recommends going the low-power route (QRP), with a light rig (Elecraft KX-1, Yaesu-817, or even a homebrew cw rig built into an Altoids mint can), and a few light weight dipoles you can string from a tree or other tall structure. Power can be provided by a set of alkaline batteries or a gel-cell battery. In this well-made video tutorial, Dennis reviews what has been historically popular and shows us what he has found to be a workable, e...