Portable HF

2021-09-24 I've been a pretty committed ham since I was a teen, over 60 years. And from the beginning the idea of portable operating had a hold on me. Our family was a poor Kansas farm family and there was little money to spare. But even so my folks managed to help me get some basic equipment when I got my novice license, and in many other ways put up with, even encouraged my strange interest. One of the first "portable" things I remember was for Christmas one year they gave me a two handset telephone thing. The two handsets were connected by some wire, maybe about 50ft or so. The advertisement that caught my fancy showed a kid on the roof messing with something while talking with another kid on the ground. The idea of talking remotely, even if only fifty or a hundred feet was overwhelming!
It wasn't until sometime in the early 2000's that I got a real portable radio, a Yaesu FT-817nd. I recall not knowing what to use for an antenna. Variations of dipoles is about all I had ever messed with and somehow a dipole just didn't fit my image of a portable antenna. Prior to a business trip while living in Orlando, FL I got a Miracle Whip to take along. I imagined all sorts of miracles. Unfortunately I think I only managed one contact from the bedroom of friends where I was staying in Dallas. Huge letdown! From then until about ten years ago all I did with the radio was connect it to my home antenna and make a few contacts occasionally.
Antennas was my big hang-up. Somewhere along the way I got an MFJ-971 tuner and began exploring antennas. I even managed to get something going and did a field day with it with some success. That ramped up my interest even more. Then I got my xiegu x5105 QRP 160-6 meter portable transceiver. In addition to being a really neat rig, it had one feature or function that literally changed my antenna world, a broad range SWR sweep/graphing function. I never owned a real SWR analyzer previously and the couple I borrowed only covered the ham bands. But this thing would cover and graph the SWR for any frequency from 160 through 6 meters with pretty wide sweep ranges. Now I could cut a wire, find out where it was resonant and make intelligent changes! I went on from there to get a NanoVNA and haven't looked back. Now antennas are much easier to deal with. Further the x5105 had an internal battery of a respectable size. It was a truly portable HF radio.
From that point on I've spent way too much time and money on portable radios and antennas and related stuff and ham radio has become really fun again! What have I learned?
Vertical antennas are your friend for portable operating. There is a place for end fed and other antennas but the lowly vertical is the most portable and versatile. First choice, if weight and a couple hundred dollars aren't' major issues, I suggest the Wolf River Coils TIA series. My ideal is their mini coil and 213 inch (17') whip with four ten-foot counterpoise wires. It is free standing, has a small footprint and can be used without a tuner on most HF bands. I've made my own DIY version from wire which only weighs a pound or so and can be stored in a very small bag. It does require a tree or a 20 ft or so fiberglass fishing pole to support it. A truly small, effective vertical that is nearly my favorite is made with a 9 ft foldable whip, a DIY tapped coil to cover 40 through 15 meters. It is free standing, very light and works nearly as well as it's 17 ft cousin. Other good antennas for portable are the End Fed Half Wave or the random length End Fed antenna. Both perform well and pack up small.
There are many QRP portable radio options as well as higher power ones. I'm fixated on five or ten watts with size and weight being my most important criteria. I also operate mostly CW but some SSB, both of which work well. I've not done digital when portable as I don't want to have to take a computer along. I currently have the x5105 and an ICOM IC-705. Both are excellent portable rigs. And though the 705 does not have a tuner, I work mostly with resonant antennas so that is not an issue.
The pages below as well as my pages on Parks On The Air talk somewhat extensively about my portable experiences.
2021-08-30 As I think I've said elsewhere, when it comes to radios and antennas, one is "never done!" That is certainly true of what I have described as a "minimalist" portable kit. I've got two of the best portable radios available, the xiegu x5105 and an ICOM IC-705. I didn't say they are THE best, an argument that never ends, but certainly among the top contenders. And I use them both. Yet I almost clicked "buy" on another one last evening! Thankfully, I thought better of it before I made that final mouse click! And when it comes to antennas, I'm almost embarrassed! Three 66' EFHW ones. Several 9:1 based random wire ones. Four verticals, two magnetic loops and most recently a 9' foldable vertical. Several link dipoles. And probably others! And yet, I'm constantly browsing Facebook and other sources for others. It's an endless search for both rigs and antennas. I could mention batteries as well, but they don't preoccupy me as much.
The setup described below on 2021-08-09 has, for a little while now, been my favorite minimalist QRP setup. It is small and works very well. But for the past couple weeks I've been playing with another vertical that has become a contender! It is based on a 9' foldable whip off Amazon. One of it's most attractive features is that folded up, it measures just under 18". It is also light weight and as if not faster to extend and mount than a push up vertical. With the DIY loading coil I built and the four 24 gauge counterpoise wires it is about as small and light of a package I have used yet. And performance seems to be very good. 
So based upon this antenna, here is my current minimalist POTA Activation kit! Weight without an extra battery is 5.1 lbs. My 4.5Ah Bioenno batter and cable add 1.3 lbs.
Packed and ready to go.
X5105, vertical loading coil, counterpoise bundle, 10" ground stake, 25' RG-174 coax, mini paddle and cable, log sheet note pad and pencils. 
Kit set up at k-4265 Richard Bong State Recreation Area. Made 16 contacts, one in Hungary and three in Washington State. All 5 watts, CW. Eleven on 20 meters and five on 30 meters.
2021-08-09 ​The photos below show my current "minimalist" QRP portable grab-n-go kit based on the Xiegu X5105 transceiver. Includes a 4.5Ah Bienno battery in addition to the radios internal battery. I have two keys, a DIY straight key mounted on my log sheet clipboard and a DIY mini paddle. The antenna is a QRPGuys 9:1 Unun with a 35' radiator and 17' counterpoise connected to the radio with a 25' RG-174 coax. The mast is a 15' fiberglass collapsible fishing pole along with a DIY guy rope ring with ropes attached and three tent pegs. Also have a length of light weight cordage to tossing into a tree and a piece of 1/8" bungee cord. The complete kit as shown weighs 6lbs.
2021-07-20 All-in-one POTA kit. I'm always searching for "the best" radio/antenna combo for my POTA activations. I know there isn't any such thing, but it's fun to imagine. The two photos below show my current attempt. Packed weight is ten pounds. the left one is ready to be zipped up and carried off. The right one is exactly the same but showing the contents. And I proved it this morning by taking it to K-4265, Richard Bong State Recreation area just ten miles from our home and where I go often.
Twenty meters was quiet and long. One contact in Hungary and one in Italy along with CA, NM and FL. 14 in all, CW. Ic705, diy 17 ft vertical with 4 ten ft radials. Band noise was low. QRM from grass cutting crew and 4 bus loads of elementary kids was not so low! But I think we all enjoyed the park, sun and breeze! 4 P2P contacts. Thanks everyone. Sorry I couldn't make out a couple calls in the surrounding noise but thanks for trying. One of my objectives was to carry just my IC192 bag and fiberglass fishing pole in one trip. Was almost successful. With kids and lawn mowers running around, had to go back to the car to get my orange cones!
What's in it? My ICOM IC-705 radio, mounted in the top of the ICOM backpack. Miady 6Ah LiPoFe4 battery. A CW Morse CW paddle and a CW Morse straight key as well as a half size clip board with log sheets and a couple pencils for logging.

Two antennas: 1) QRPGuys 9:1 unun with 29 ft radiator and 17 ft counterpoise. 2) My DIY 17' vertical with four 10' radials and a bottom loading coil for 30 and 40 meters. A 20' collapsible fiberglass fishing pole with a collar and guy cords and three tent pegs. In addition for the antenna system I have a 15' or piece of bunge cord with a cord lock and a hook for tying off the end fed antenna if needed and a plastic bag with some cord to use to suspend either antenna from a tree if needed. And my NanoVNA and Elecraft T1 tuner and spare battery. Also have a 25' and a 15' piece of RG-174 coax to tie it all together.

Last but not least, I learned today, seven small orange cones to mark my territory! I've used all of this together a number of times but now have it all in one bag. Sling it on my back and I'm ready to go. Don't need multiple trips to the car or whatever! I think!
2021-09-11 The past few days I've done several POTA activations with my Xiegu X5105 and ICOM IC705. Both are wonderful radios in their own right. Both work well. The X5105 is super small and self contained, including an antenna tuner, allowing for a very light weight and simple portable kit. The IC705 is a bit heavier and bulkier but offers a number of very useful features which make activating a bit easier. So what are my observations for on site operating with the two?
X5105 advantages: Size, simplicity and the antenna tuner are the biggest advantages of the X5105. Deploy and connect an antenna, connect a key (I'm primarily a CW guy), turn it on and go. Whether a resonant antenna or one that needs a tuner, it is ready to go. Its built in SWR graphing function is very useful if your antenna isn't doing what you expect. It sweeps outside the ham bands which can be very useful. There is little to NOT like about the x5105 on a POTA activation.
X5105 disadvantages: 1)The biggest disadvantage that I notice on every contact with the X5105 is the absence of the UTC time on the radio screen! Seems a bit silly, but not having that at a glance means I have to look at some other device, usually my phone for every contact. So though it is small and almost trivial, it is something I notice every single contact. 
​2) The second disadvantage is the heavy use of embedded menus. ​Changing bandwidth, for example, takes a number of seconds as you have to click through the menus, to DSP, then click the DSP button. And to return to where you were you have to click through the menus again. On the one hand that makes a host of functions available on a very small front panel but it also makes it more cumbersome in a real POTA activation. 
3) Another inconvenience is to change CW memories while operating you have to click the MSG button sequentially on the Digi menu option. All that shows on the screen is the MSG # so you have to remember what is recorded in each memory. 
Don't get me wrong, I really like the radio. Those are just a few things I find as disadvantages when working POTA or similar activities.
IC705 advantages: The primary advantages for me of the IC705 on site are 1) its very easy to use. 2) It's recordable CW and SSB message memories for transmitting CQ or whatever, 3) The UTC time display on the screen. Those functions make contacting, responding and logging easier. Ease of moving through the settings and functions "on the fly" are also very helpful things. For example to change the bandwidth is just a button push away. Changing keyer speed is also very simple and always at your fingertips. It is just a very smooth radio.
IC705 disadvantages: Frankly I have a hard time thinking of disadvantages for this radio. 1) The absence of a built in tuner is the one disadvantage of the IC705 I find when doing POTA. I use resonant antennas as much as possible so this is a fairly minor issue. But on those occasions where I need one, it is missed. 2) The traditional ICOM SWR graphing function is limited to just the ham bands so if I need to make major adjustments to my antenna on site I will likely want an antenna analyzer. 
It is an amazing ham radio and is my go to rig for almost all activations.
G90 advantages and disadvantages. I have a third good option in radios as well, the Xiegu G90 with which I've had 286 POTA activation QSOs. It also is an excellent rig. It's main advantages are 1) cost/performance, it is hard to beat on this. 2) the internal tuner and, 3) 20 watt capability. It's two main disadvantages for POTA are , 1) it requires an external battery and, 2) it has no CW message memory. Its menu system is a bit easier than the X5105 and not quite as smooth as the IC705. Not withstanding, it is an excellent POTA radio.
​Observations: So, which is the "best" radio for POTA? At the moment, for me, it's just a choice with minor implications. If I want to be light and agile and minimize setup, I'll use the X5105. Grab it's prepacked bag and my 29' antenna and fishing pole mast and I'm in business on almost any band in just a few minutes with little fuss. If I'm going to be there for a while, and want the easiest operation, I'll grab the IC705 in its prepacked bag (which includes an Elecraft T1 tuner, and a fiberglass pole and go do it. It's a bit bulkier and heavier but has a little more power (10w vs. 5w). The G90 kit is a bit heavier than the IC705 and with the control head separated (which I prefer) takes a little more setup than either of the other two, but it does give me 20 watts and an internal tuner. It's is hard to leave home as it works so well. 
My conclusion? You can't go wrong with any of them!
2021--07-01 After getting home from a POTA activation this afternoon it hit me that I have pretty much settled on my favorite portable radio, antenna and accessories. I say that because almost any time I think of portable operating this is what I first think of. I even have it all packed in a backpack and another bag. And every time I come back from operating the first thing I do is plug the charger onto the battery so it will be ready to go. I've used it almost exclusively for POTA activations the past few months. I took it to our son's place in Minnesota a few weeks back, to our daughter's in Michigan just two weeks ago and used it for Field day this past weekend. The "big items" are an ICOM IC-705 and a Wolf River Coils (WRC) ​TIA Mini antenna with a 17' whip and four ten foot counterpoise wires. Everything else is built around those two things.
The battery is a Mady 6Ah LiFePo4 rechargeable battery. I work mostly CW so have a ​CW Morse Iambic Double Paddle Morse Code Key. I pack 25' of RG-174 coax feedline. And I take a DIY half sized clip board with a DIY straight key attached and log sheets and scratch paper along with a couple mechanical pencils and pins. Those items and a few others are packed into a ICOM LC-192 backpack. Those are the "radio centric" essentials. Of course there are also likely various other items but those form the core.
My primary antenna, as stated above is a WRC Take It Along (TIA) with their Mini coil and a Chameleon 17' collapsible whip and DIY four ten foot counterpoise wires. MY WRC has the short legs so I made three 24" legs of PVC pipe which I slop over the legs if needed to make it more stable. I also have dual collars on it so when I take it to the field it is preset to 20, 30 and 40 meters. I often have other antennas with me but that is an essential one for me. It along with a few other varying items is packed in a tripod carry bag.
My activation today is a typical example of how I head out to activate. My radio bag was packed, charged and log sheets attached, so I just grabbed it. The antennas were in their bag so i grabbed it. Put the two bags in the car, grabbed some water and a snack and took off! When I got to the park which is only about ten miles away I selected a shaded spot with a picnic table and set up the WRC antenna which took about five minutes or so. Then I unzipped the lower bag compartment, pulled out the key and note pad and attached the battery to the radio. Next I unzipped the flap which covers the face of the radio, attached the antenna to the BNC connector on the side of the bag. Powered up, checked the POTA spots page on my phone, clicked on the Reverse Beacon Network icon tuned to a clear 20 meter frequency, sent a couple QRL's, created a POTA spot and sent CQ! RBN showed me almost immediately with good reports. I sent CQ one more time and the first station called. 24 minutes later I had 18 in the log, signed off packed up and headed home. Total time in the park was just under an hour.
The ICOM backpack is pretty expensive but I think it's worth it if you plan to do much portable work. It's so nice to just unzip the cover and get on the air. No setup at all related to the radio itself. I've done quite a few portable operations with equipment and bag options which protect your gear and get it their but you then have to set up and connect up everything. Not a big deal but this is a lot more convenient!
As both the photo of the radio bag and antenna bag contents show I carry some additional things besides the basic items often. The radio bag has an Elecraft T1 auto tuner and a QRPGuys 29' end fed antenna with a 9:1 unun and some rope to suspend it. I don't always have that but it does provide a complete operational setup should I not have the antenna bag. I also carry my NanoVNA antenna analyzer with me in case I need to do any antenna adjustments.
The antenna bag also has a number of things besides the WRC. There is a QRPGuys 40-10 meter EFHW, a wire vertical and a 20,30,40 link dipole as well as some extra coax. I also have three push up fishing poles and guy lines and stakes for setting up the EFHW or whatever else. All that is not part of the basic kit but is usually in the bag so I have options if needed. Finally the WRC whip, tripod legs and PVC pipe leg extensions are in the cardboard tube. In both the radio bag and the antenna bag I always carry a couple 10' or 15' roles of 1/8" bungee cord and cord locks. It's useful for many things but I always use it to tie off my wire antennas. Being small and stretchy it makes tying off wire antennas very easy and forgiving compared to other cordage or ropes. And all my wire antennas are very light weight made with 26 gauge wire so they put very little strain on their supports.
For more on my experience and observations about portable antenna masts, click here.
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Small, light weight home brew straight key for portable use. Shown next to its larger cousin, my old WWII Speed-x key, still my favorite!
2018-05-10 I had difficulties with the cord and connector on my home brew key. So today I did it "right" and wired it up with a jack so any cable with a 1/8 inch plug can be used with it. Much neater and solved the problem.
2018-05-09 Today I decided to make a new portable key. I used the "arm" from my 4SQRP Cricket. For the base I cut off a 2-1/2" by 3-1/2 inch piece of an old clip board. I then marked and drilled the holes to match the arm. Next, using super glue, I attached three little pieces of PC board normally used to build circuits Manhattan style, one for the contact at the front and the other two to match the mounting holes in the arm. I then soldered an old audio cord to the PC board pieces and hot glued the cord to the base. Four little self adhesive felt bumper pads on the bottom finished the project. I've had two QSOs with it. It has a pretty good feel. Total weight of the key including cord is 1.5 oz, vs. ten ounces for my Speed-x key. Whether it is long term successful or not, it was fun to make.
2018-05-05 This isn't strictly for portable operation only but certainly applies. Watching a YouTube video a few days ago I saw this gadget for use specifically with the Yaesu FT-817 radio. It is a power plug that mounts on the back of the radio and allows you to plug a power cord terminated with Anderson PowerPoles to the external power source. Its name is "FT-817 FT-817ND FT-818 Anderson PowerPole Adapter Power Connector", a mouth full to be sure. But it is small and seems to be effective. I've only had mine a few hours, but I'm impressed that it is clearly sturdier than the tiny plug supplied with the radio.
Another benefit is having a "standard" connector for power on the radio. For me at least, this makes it easier to move the radio from my shack bench to a bag to carry into the field, one less special thing to remember. I already have power pole leads for all of my batteries so this works great!
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FT-817 FT-817ND FT-818 Anderson PowerPole Adapter Power Connector
I've been enamored by portable and small HF rigs for a long time. But I've never really taken one anywhere other than the back yard and maybe to a local park, and then with pretty disappointing results. My Yaesu FT-817 currently serves as my VHF rig in the shack. I got a Ten-Tec R4020 several years ago (no longer available from Ten-Tec but a newer version is available from YouKits) and even took it on a canoe trip but never even got it out of the bag as the trip had to be aborted after one day on the St. Croix river due to camp grounds all being full.

I've built several portable antennas, dipoles, end fed half waves, etc., even my own version of a PAC-12 vertical. But again, none of them ever made it out of my yard more than a couple times and then with dismal results.

The other day it occurred to me that I "might" take something with me on the backpacking trip to Glacier National Park this coming July (2015). Two issues will decide that. 1) can I get a package together that has some chance of actually working? 2) Can I spare the weight? The second one will be determined the night before as we load our packs! Through my two previous backpacking trips, one for five nights and one for two,  I have learned that every ounce is precious when it is strapped to your back and you are looking at five to eight hours of hiking, AND more than a little of that is up hill! So we'll see....

The following pages deal with the rigs, the antennas and other issues I have dealt with in putting together a package suitable for a long and hard backpacking trip.
Recently I discovered this interesting and helpful YouTube video on the topic of HF Backpacking by K1YPP. It is a bit slow moving but I found it very informative. There are many good videos on the topic but most focus on operating and spend relatively little time on the equipment, antennas and other issues. K1YPP talks more about the whole package which I found helpful.