Confidence... what's your go-to rig?

Adventures in Ham Radio QRP Portable Ops!

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January 22nd, 2010 by kmack

One thing a QRP operator must have is confidence. To make contacts with a pipsqueak signal takes patience and persistence to be sure. It doesn’t hurt to have good ears and a decent fist either.

Back in the days when bass tournament fishing was my religion, we competitors used to talk about our go-to lure. That was the one bait that we knew we could use to catch a fish, even on days when they seemed to have lock jaw. We recognized confidence was an important part of being a successful catcher of fish.

As a recycled ham, just getting back into my amateur radio hobby after many years of other activities, I feel the same way about my QRP rig. I’m still experimenting, listening to others, but so far, my Wilderness Sierra and Buddistick antenna are my go-to rig!

Ok, now it is your turn. Share with us your go-to setup. When the bands stink and you really want to make a contact, what would you use? Or if you could only use one QRP rig & antenna setup, what would it be?

Leave a comment and share your thoughts with us! I am all ears…

72,

Kelly K4UPG

11 Responses

Larry W2LJ writes:
January 22nd, 201010:07 pmat

At home, the “Go To” set up is my K2 and G5RV – “Ol Reliable” as SpongeBob would say. Portable station?? If I could carry only one rig and only one antenna it would be my K1 and my Buddistick – hands down!
kmack writes:
January 22nd, 201011:57 pmat

Good choices Larry! Maybe the PFR-3 will take over when you get it finished, eh?

72,
Kelly K4UPG
jim writes:
January 23rd, 20105:46 pmat

I love fishing and I enjoyed reading this article. Keep up the good work!
Alex, K5UNY writes:
January 23rd, 20109:36 pmat

Well this is a difficult question to answer Kelly. Doing Portable I take my IC-703, a couple of 5000mah LiPo batteries and for antennas I carry 2, one is my Iditarod(jumper)dipole for use as an inverted V and NO tuner is required, Second I also take along a 20M Half wave End Fed with attached tuned network in a Pomona Box, ala AA5TB website.
I also have a 703+ at the Home Office Shack, used with a G7FEK strung up in the backyard.
Sorry Kelly, I can’t seem to say anything without writing a “book”!!!
kmack writes:
January 23rd, 201011:00 pmat

Alex, I love reading your comments! Keep ‘em coming. The details and info you share if very helpful to me and I am sure others appreciate it too.
73,
Kelly K4UPG
John - WA8HSB writes:
January 24th, 20101:31 amat

Although I carry my KX1 with me on just about every trip I take (business travel; about 2/3 of the year) and I enjoy it with the Buddistick, I’m like Larry, my preferred go-to combo is the K1 and Buddistick.

Thanks to Alex for the reference to the G7FEK. I want to give it a try at the home QTH.

73/72, John
WA8HSB
Art writes:
January 26th, 20106:15 amat

My $0.02…….
Icom 703+, 7.5 amp gel cell, and a Par 10-20-40 end fed. Sometimes a MP-1 may be put to good use.

73
N2qgv
Bryan KJ4QZJ PB#206 writes:
January 26th, 20101:26 pmat

Hey its me KJ4QZJ PB#206 from the Polar Bears QRP_Ops. I have been to your site a few times not knowing a PB was behind it. Good stuff. I sure would not mind more tips on using the BuddieSTICK (see the PB group for my corrections and error post)!
kmack writes:
January 26th, 20101:37 pmat

Hi Bryan… Grrrrrrrr! yep, I is a Polar Bear!

Be glad to help ya figure out the Buddistick. The best source of info is the Buddipole User Group (BUG) on Yahoo Groups. It can work really well but takes getting used to the setup process. I’ll send ya some stuff direct that should help. Key things I have found are to keep clear of metal objects as much as possible. Keep the radial wire elevated at least 2 feet off the ground and the angle of that wire is really critical on the swr. I set mine by ear at low height by sliding the contact to find the loudest noise or signal then fixing the clamp. I have a 16′ painter’s pole to get it up in the air (make sure you guy it!!) and it does very well for me on 40-30 and 20… have not used it on other bands yet but is really sings well on those three for sure.

72,
Kelly K4UPG PB#173 Grrrrr!
Dar W9HZC writes:
January 26th, 20103:12 pmat

No Question, my Icom 703+, battery pack and G5RV.
The 703′s tuner is the best, I just hook it up and go for it.
73′s Dar…
John N0EVH writes:
March 14th, 20104:12 pmat

Kelly,

Well I will probably wiggle out of your question on my go to rig. I have taken ham radio to some lousy places to make QSO’s like deep canyons, high rise hotels and RF noisy areas. My go to rig would be any frequency agile rig that has a decent tuner and can run Morse! I have always found an enthusastic ham that would work me and enjoy the experience. Just the other day I was chatting QRO with a fellow on 40 and he gave me a hard time for running mostly QRP. I tried to explain to him, but his ears were clogged with something or rather his mind was clogged! He kept saying it was stupid to limit your power. It will forever be his loss. He will never experience the joy of running portable and simple but effective electronic circuits on DC power, using what you have and no more and finally the combined experience of executing a fun QSO with another ham who appreciates the entire adventure.

If I wake someday and find no portable ops to chat with, it will because I am the last one.

John N0EVH