| By Dave Warburton, GM0LVI |
Portable Operation from SV
Dave recounts his /P operations from SV. Plenty of success or lots of
Greek tragedy? Read more ...
First attempt - 1999
My first experience of operating /P - almost operating would be more accurate -
was in 1999 from the Island of Zakynthos. Gavin, GM0GAV, was kind enough to
loan me his new Icom IC-706, complete with PSU and Force12
multi-band GP antenna. Unfortunately, I discovered that the location of the
balcony, in the studio we were occupying, made it difficult to set up the
antenna. The steel reinforcement in the building, and a glass and metal
building about 10m opposite, resulted in an SWR that I was not keen to subject
a borrowed rig to. Although I had brought dipoles for 10,12, and 15 metres,
there was simply no way of getting them aloft. The result was zero QSOs from
Zante that year.
Second attempt - 2000
The following year we took another studio on the island. But given my
experience in 1999, I decided not to bother taking a rig. This was
not a good decision
as the studio was a
vast improvement antenna-wise on our last one.
Getting the right gear
I had been impressed with the IC-706, and was keen to get a
small and portable rig both for local /P and /M working, and to
take to Greece. But I didn't want to spend some £900
for an IC-706 that stood a fair chance of being dropped, lost, or damaged in
transit. The solution to all this arrived during a visit to our local
emporium. I spotted a second-user Alinco DX70 for about one third the
cost of a new IC-706. This was affordable, and it would not be a disaster if it
were lost or damaged. While the Alinco did not have
all the bells lights and whistles of the Icom, and lacked the 2m band, it
was good value for money.
One of the problems facing package-deal travellers is the limitation on the weight of luggage. Radio equipment tends to be both heavy and large, and the FT1000s, beams and linears of "proper" DXpeditions are out of the question. The challenge for the package-deal traveller is weight and space reduction. Lost baggage is not unknown and the standard insurance cover provided by most airline carriers is minimal. It certainly would not cover a large HF transceiver. A small and light radio, carried as hand luggage, minimises the risk of loss. It also ensures that one's precious toy will not be marinated in olive oil, wine or Drambuie when the suitcase above yours in the baggage hold starts leaking on the flight home.
Having acquired a transceiver, I now needed a lightweight PSU. After much reading of RADCOM and Internet browsing, I bought a SEC1223 switch-mode PSU, due to its low weight and size. I also bought a small MFJ ATU for use with a tiny CB SWR meter. My normal Kent paddles were too heavy for travelling, so after more Internet browsing, I ordered a Paddlette memory keyer from America. It is about the size of a box of matches, has two memories, numerous software controlled options, and rather a nice action as well.
The next step was to get a multi-band antenna that would fit inside a suitcase. I had been impressed with Gav's Force 12 and so decided to make a copy. The Force 12 had separate sets of radials for all bands (10-20m). I wanted a KISS solution, so I employed two insulated radials with cuts in the insulation at the appropriate resonant points. I also added a telescopic and tiltable tip section, to avoid giving a poke in the eye to anyone in the studio above ours. All the alloy tubing came from car-boot sale ex-cb antennas, the insulated base section was made from a few fibreglass spreader off-cuts, and the whole thing probably cost me less than five pounds to make.
Third attempt - 2001
July 2001 saw us back in Zakynthos, in a ground floor studio that was about 10m
from the sea. Running the Alinco on low power at 50W, I made some 50 QSOs,
nearly
all on SSB, including four with JA. More QSOs would have been made, but my
enthusiasm was attenuated by the dose of AC mains I got every time I touched
something metal. What finally put the lid on things was when my XYL,
Lucy, received a
wallop
while hanging out wet washing above the radials on the
balcony.
Lucy was on the beach during one my early operating sessions, and was asked by the young chap from the next studio, "What's Dave doing with that fishing rod on the balcony?" She explained that I was a slightly eccentric, but harmless, radio ham and the fishing rod was an antenna. Our neighbour was a bit eccentric too. He would belly surf, towed behind a massive kite. At least my hobby wasn't dependent on wind conditions!
The 2001 experience taught me four things. Firstly, a GP antenna, even if mounted a couple of feet above ground works very well close to the sea. Secondly, like Greek plumbing and drivers, some Greek electricians do not appear to follow normal or maybe any regulations. Thirdly, for my comfort and safety, the option of isolation from domestic mains would be desirable in future operations. Fourthly, if ever challenged about TVI/RFI, just say "It's a fishing rod - honest".
More equipment changes
The Alinco continued to provide an extra dimension to my radio fun when
we returned to GM. I took it on several short break holidays to the West Coast,
and made many good contacts with the GP elevated on a 3m pole close to the sea.
Earlier this year, I fitted a Hustler antenna-mount to the car and enjoyed
mobile operating on weekend afternoons from the Sidlaw hills.
One afternoon in June 2002, I spotted a Yaesu FT-817 advertised on the Ebay on-line auction. The rig was a month old, and the cost was about half the new price. This, I told myself was the rig I needed . I needed it because it was lighter than my Alinco, it had most of the bells and whistles of a '706. And, most importantly, it would allow me to operate free from the SV mains, due to the internal rechargeable battery pack. I further convinced myself, and Lucy, that buying this was a really sensible thing to do, because I could then sell my old 2m multi-mode and 2m handie. These would just about cover the cost, hmm! I also pointed out that the chance of my, or her, being electrocuted in Greece, with the associated inconvenience of hospitalisation or transportation of bodies home, would be eliminated. It was I think, mainly the latter "advantage" that sold the rig to Lucy, and resulted in my being the lucky winner of the auction.
Fourth attempt - 2002
Early July 2002 saw us back in the same studio in Zakynthos complete with
FT-817, MFJ ATU and GP antenna. My intention was to work the higher bands, 17m
to 10m, and to minimise weight, I left the 20m-extension piece for
the GP at home.
Big, stupid mistake!
When I started scanning the bands, I discovered that there was very little
doing above 20m, and I ended up
using a 17m GP on the 20m band. Despite this rather inefficient antenna, I
managed to work 12 countries with just 2.5
watts. The most enjoyable contacts for me were the 2xQRP QSOs with SM5CBS and
GM3OXX, and a contact with GB8CG, the Commonwealth Games station in Manchester.
I had hoped to try operating using wire antennas, but couldn't find a
convenient tree near our studio. There were some low olive trees
close by, but with the daytime temperatures in the high 90s, my motivation to
hike up to an olive grove varied in inverse proportion to the heat!
Operating from SV8 is not quite the same as operating at home. The heat is not
conducive to long operating spells during daylight hours. The photograph for
the QSL card was taken at about 0700 local (0400UTC), the sun had been up for
about 30 minutes, and my skin was already leaking in the 85F temperature.
Evenings are usually hotter until well after dark. After an
evening meal, washed down with a half-litre of the local krasi, 30 minutes of
CQing does not hold much appeal. Another factor influencing operating from
holiday studios or apartments is the possibility of annoying neighbours, who may
be only a few feet away, by shouting into a microphone. However CW and "cans"
eliminates this potential difficulty.
Yet more equipment changes
Those who have contested, or gone on DXpeditions, will know that half the fun is
in the planning and preparation. Since returning home and booking next
year's holiday, I've been busy evaluating portable antennas, looking at power
supply options for the 817, and having quite a lot of fun making flea-power QSOs
using various antennas.
I've been trying a Ventenna HFp 10-40m GP and comparing it to my home-brew GP. I've also been playing with inverted-V dipoles on an 8m telescopic fishing-pole. Locations have been on top of a hill in the Sidlaws and at a local beach. So far, my conclusions are that, while the Ventenna is very small and easily carried (20 inches in the carry-bag), it does not perform as well as a full-size GP, though I did work SV8/DF7XE with it, using 2.5W of SSB. Inverted-V dipoles have worked well into EU and have outperformed the Ventenna. My next step will be to try both the GPs closer to the sea, as siting so far has been in dunes well back from the ocean.
I'm also modifying my homebrew GP to include a spiral-wound section for use on 20m, without increasing total height much beyond that of a 17m GP.
Equipment comparisons
I do not intend to, neither could I, give a proper technical evaluation of my
two portable rigs. Comparing them is not a valid exercise anyway since they are
both quite different in their basic purpose.
The Alinco is in essence a full-blown 100W HF transceiver. It lacks some of the functions of "full-size" transceivers, but nevertheless would serve pretty well as a main station radio. Due to the lack of buttons, control over many functions is somewhat awkward, and takes a bit of getting used to. But as a transceiver for taking on small-scale expeditions, or for using in the car, it has a lot going for it. One thing I do miss is an integral SWR meter.
The Yaesu FT-817 is in quite a different league. It has most of the features of a "regular" transceiver, but these have been incorporated in a package where portability, and "take it anywhere", were the key design factors. Something has to be sacrificed in a package that is about the size of a paperback. Compared with other transceivers, the FT-817 is not so easy to operate. Having said this, if all you need to do is set mode, frequency, RIT and IF-shift, you soon get used to the menu control method.
Does size matter?
| Small and light | ||
| Equipment | Weight | Size |
| Alinco DX 70 | 2.7 kg | 179 x 58 x 268 mm |
| PSU (SEC 1223) | inc. leads 2.33 kg (mains and 12V leads weigh 660 gm - more than half the weight of the 817 ! ) | |
| Smaller and lighter | ||
| Equipment | Weight | Size |
| FT-817 | 1.17 kg | 135 x 38 x 165 mm |
| Wall-wart charger* | 0.5 kg | |
| 2.5A PSU | 0.4 kg | |
* The wall-wart charges the internal Ni-Cd pack. I found that this pack would only give me about 30 minutes operating running 2.5 W. I've now acquired a 2.5A PSU which allows the '817 to run at 5W and will also charge the internal batteries - it's also lighter than the supplied wall-wart.
MFJ 901B ATU - 0.64 kg, works very well and tunes random length wire too. I'm now building a mini, lightweight, Emtech ZM-2 ATU for use with the 817.
Paddlette Keyer - 48 gm (amazing how much tech in such a small package - brilliant action too)
On the supplied internal Ni-Cd pack, the FT-817 transmit time is rather limited, particularly if you are running QRO (5W), but a small PSU or external battery will overcome this problem.
Final thoughts ...
If you are looking for a truly portable, coat-pocket, transceiver, and are happy
to face the challenge and fun of working with 5W maximum, the FT-817 has a lot
to offer. It has certainly provided me with more fun and enjoyment than I've
had for a long time.
I've been a confirmed DXer since I was an SWL. DXing to me is about making contacts that involve a challenge and "doing the difficult". So far, my DX challenges have been determined variously, by mode of operation, band, scarcity, penetrating a pile-up, predicting optimum propagation, antenna design and development, development of operating skills, station design and development, and a few other factors too.
The FT-817 is providing me with yet another opportunity for "doing the difficult", but with this rig I can do it "anytime, anywhere."
I think I may be getting hooked on QRP!
73 and good luck
Dave, GM0LVI
Dave, GM0LVI