Today has been the first time for my new Yaesu FT-817.I’ve taken the opportunity of a sunny, and sunny winter Sunday , to test my on-the-go shack frommy parents’s terrace.
This setup, that is not completed yet, since I’m wating for some Buddistick components alreay ordered at Wimo, is the one I will bring with me for some SOTA next summer and in March when I will be on Dolomites.
Setup is composed by:
- Yaesu FT-817 5 watt HF VHF trasnceiver purchased by second hand last autums.
- LDG z-100 Antenna Tuner
- Proxel PROX-1 HF multiband mobile antenna
- Uni-715 Single paddel for Yaesu FT-817
- 12v 7A battery
Everything packed in a Shimano fishing bag.
I’ve operated 20 15 and 12 meters bands for almost one hours making some CW contacts with OM3LL, YO2BBX RM22WG TC10SWAT and heard but could not make contact VP9/M0BLF.
Tried also to break into some other stations calling but the battery drained to 10,8 volts and decreased to 1-2 W the total output, so with a such antenna, it was really hard.
Well, lesson learned from this experience is that working QRP in portable is really a great compromise, and Antenna efficiency is the most important factor in making DX.
Another important aspect is that working in portable means not having all those facilities that we are used to have in our home QTH and that outdoor operations means taking care of wind noise, and Sun light along to a not perfect temperature.
