Category: Outdoor Ops

A Top Loaded End-Fed Half-Wave Antenna for 20m

Imagine this: a short, vertical antenna for 20m that requires no ground, no counterpoise or radials ... And ... no tuner. Now, let's add that it is only 14 feet tall and can be erected in just a couple of minutes. But wait, there's more: it is very lightweight, slips into a shirt pocket and … Continue reading A Top Loaded End-Fed Half-Wave Antenna for 20m →

CLEFHW antenna: Ready for Action

In the last post I introduced a crazy, off-the-wall idea for a variation of the popular End-Fed Half-Wave (EFHW) antenna. I called it the CLEFHW - Coil Loaded End-Fed Half-Wave. Its purpose is to allow backpack portable operation of an electrical half wavelength antenna without the need for a tree or pole to suspend a … Continue reading CLEFHW antenna: Ready for Action →

The Weather Outside is Frightful – Time to POTA on?

Winter came suddenly to southern Ontario this year - and it hit hard. The Town of Gravenhurst, at the southern end of the popular summer destination of Muskoka was whacked with more than three feet of snow in a single storm. We manage winter very well in this part of the world, but that sudden … Continue reading The Weather Outside is Frightful – Time to POTA on? →

The QMX is Full of Holes, Here’s the Essential Fix!

When the design team at QRP Labs (alright, we know that means just Hans) set out to produce a multiband portable transceiver that would be packed with advanced features and could be sold for as little as a meager purse of groats, what was their primary design objective? You can bet your life it was … Continue reading The QMX is Full of Holes, Here’s the Essential Fix! →

Antenna Height Matters – True or False?

How often have you read that an antenna should be placed as high as possible - the higher the better? Is it true? My inner skeptic says "hmm, maybe". It's certainly an aphorism that is open to scrutiny. Aphorism? The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language defines "aphorism" as: "a tersely phrased statement of … Continue reading Antenna Height Matters – True or False? →

Rebuilding the Winter Rybakov Antenna

Almost a year ago I wrote a post entitled "A Simpler Field Expedient Rybakov Antenna for Winter". It is worthwhile to read that post to understand why I felt it necessary to make a winter version of a proven, tried and trusted antenna. My home turf is southern Ontario, Canada about 200km northwest of Toronto. … Continue reading Rebuilding the Winter Rybakov Antenna →

“Old Barebones” – A QRP Z-match Builder Project

I actually don't like Z-matches very much, so why did I build one? I'll get to that in a moment, but first I should explain why I am not a fan of the Z-match. These devices comprise two variable capacitors and one fixed inductor. The fixed inductor limits the tuning range compared to other types … Continue reading “Old Barebones” – A QRP Z-match Builder Project →

The “Titanic” 40m Field Expedient Backpack Portable Antenna

The 40 meter band can be a tricky one for backpack portable operators. The problem is that antennas for that band tend to be large and require a tall pole. In the last post we discussed using a backpack as a support for quarter wave whips or short poles. In that role it is gravitationally … Continue reading The “Titanic” 40m Field Expedient Backpack Portable Antenna →

How to Take Backpack Portable Radio to the Next Level

I know many hams like to operate from inside the comfort of their vehicles. I do too, but only in the depths of winter. Winters in Canada and most of the northern states can often be very challenging so some form of shelter becomes essential. But, in the warmer months (both of them, hi hi) … Continue reading How to Take Backpack Portable Radio to the Next Level →