N7MSH PORTABLE RADIO STATION
One of my interests in Ham radio is doing more portable "hill topping" ops in the future. Back in 2000 David Smith (kc7vdi) and myself did the June vhf contest from just below Anthony Lakes using a Ten Tec 526, a 5 ele 2m beam and a 6m dipole mounted in the back of my old "85" chev van. The antennas were mounted on a single mast about 15 ft up. Although it did snow on us that day we had fun and learned a few things. Not un till 2010 did I get around to setting up a system to continue the hill topping .
2000 vhf contest, Anthony Lakes, Or.
2000 vhf contest ten tec 526
My new "portable" set up is based in the back of my 2000 Ford Van. I have built a slide out shelf that when the back doors are full open the shelf slides out with all the radio gear and laptop on it so I can pull under it with the wheelchair and do my thing.
field day 2009 / present day setup
the power for all equipment is provided by this distribution box I built
which has as many as 3 batteries (2 for aux, one for van).
the high amp hookup is far right arrow. all are capable of 20 amp
(or whatever fuse. Batt has 40 amp breaker)
The antenna sys is a 25 foot sectioned mast that the base attaches to the bumper and folds over to put together then erected and latched in the up position. The mast can have one or multiple small area antennas such as a 2m beam, and various dipoles either rotatable or wire. There are also provisions for other "off the wall" antennas to be mounted to it.
setup at the shop
the mast mounts to this bumper mount which pivots to allow the sections of the mast and antenna to be attached then raised and hooked to bracket about 3/4 up the door.
when sections are pinned the mast will rotate in pvc "t"
my "antenna quiver" mounts just like the mast and holds
most of the antennas and all the mast hardware for transport
June 2010 vhf contest setup
The first real test was the 2010 June vhf contest. 6m was pretty dead here so not many contacts, 2m was fewer yet. But I was very happy with the performance of the station. We took along 6m and 2m ssb equipment. The 6m was the FT-450 feeding a dipole and the 2m was a IC290 feeding a 3 ele beam. My hopes were that I could put up the whole system by myself but when it come to actually lifting the mast and antennas it was more than I could manage from the chair.
Mick (kf7ime), Bob (ke7jiw) and myself hooking
up the coax and about to stick it up in the air
Chris (ke7jix) not pictured took pictures and fed us.
The wind (close to 20mph or more) put a bow
in the mast big time with no guy
got the guy on it then the wind changed, unfortunately only had one rope long enough but it kept it in the air for the duration.
I had forgot to drill the 2m part of the mast to pin it so it was basically
a omni directional beam depending on which way it veined with the wind.
"stay"
Next portable ops is planned for June 19 at Adams, Or. for "Christmas in June".
where will set up 20m and 6m and possibly test a 17m base load antenna I put together. Then a 2m / 6m set up at Field Day. Pics to come
Oddly enough the wind machines created absolutly no rf noise,
even on 17m and10m.
OTHER PORTABLE STUFF
Bob's ( ke7jiw) portable setup is based on his pickup, using a modified "painters pole" and a pair of hamsticks in a dipole configuration. The radio is a IC-706 and a Kenwood dualband ( for aprs).
This is a impressive portable setup that Ray (ke7woe) operates. It has HF (IC-7000), LDG 100 pro tuner, a buddypole antenna setup as well as a 2m rig with a log per antenna , complete internet access. pretty much a complete station on a table.
****FIELD DAY 2010****
