For the unlicensed, the is also of course CB.. Still a lot of experimentation possible with antennas and portable stations.

Gil.

It was an interesting experiment. Probably very RF noisy indeed. Lots of cars zipping by only feet away.. I don't have a noise blanker on the K1, but it was all right. Earphones help a great deal. There might be a 10/11/12/15/17/20m magnetic loop in my future, after I build my 20/30/40m model. Trip to Home Depot planned tomorrow!

Gil.

Bugging out is the last thing I'd want to do. I wouldn't even know where to go. Away from the city probably, but then what? Yet, I want to consider the worst case scenario, which would be on foot with a backpack. That when that QRP stuff shines...

Gil.

For those who don't want to learn Morse code, there is always this: http://k1el.tripod.com/K42_C.html. When the going gets rough though, my brain can pull the code out of the noise much better. It's a neat little kit. I might get one if I ever go out in the boonies with buddies who don't know code. So if I'm the one mauled by the bear, they can call for help!

I took a new photo of the Mantiz, I'll attach it here. My review is here: http://radiopreppers.com/index.php/topic,298.0.html

Since CW is the last resort, simplest and one of the most reliable solution, I just went with that.. If Ray and I had not known Morse and tried SSB, we would still be trying, be very frustrated and not successful. Had I beed calling for a real emergency, I would have been long dead. This is why HF voice requires carrying a whole lot more weight. I can see it with my K2, too big to take anywhere on foot, and I would have to get a battery one size over.. My K1, or a KX3 would be the biggest radio I'd be willing to carry, period.

If the power went out, for a long time, current-hungry Ham radios will not operate for very long. It will be too late then to learn Morse code. You won't have two months of leisure time to practice. My little 2.9Ah battery doesn't need a big solar panel. I can charge it during the day and be on the air every night for months, years if I buy spares. By then, I would have learned to build my own batteries. Relying on repeaters or any radio powered by your 120V house circuit is not a good option. Solar, wind, or any other constant sources of electricity are a must, even human-powered. You wouldn't need to be Lance Armstrong to power a QRP rig with a bicycle-mounted generator. You could even have a circuit with a capacitor that shocks the cyclist when the voltage drops too low..  ::)

I have been slacking off with the Radiopreppers net on Sundays, and I want to revive that... We'll start with CW, then half an hour later or so, SSB. I am sure it will become quickly apparent that SSB isn't going to cut it.

In my opinion, digital modes are great, but it is more of an "in-shack" option. Every little gizmo you add uses more current. First, those modes are high-duty-cycle. You must feed the interface, the computer, the screen, and of course the radio, which has to be an SSB model. It's a lot of stuff, lots of cables, big batteries. If you're bugging-in and have a giant gasoline tank and a generator, you might be operating for some time. When the gas runs out or goes bad, you're SK. Generators are noisy, they draw attention. You get the CW coder/decoder mentioned above, and you have a digital mode right there that plugs into your QRP radio! AND you can talk to people who don't use it as a digital mode. Maybe it's an "organic mode"  :o

What I expect is that if things go bad, they can get really bad really fast. We're not talking about being two weeks out of electricity because of a storm here... It's important to think of it that way. My Systema instructor used to say: "You can go learn any decent martial art and be able to handle 95% of attackers. We train for the remaining 5%!" So, do we prepare for the 95% of situations, or the 5%? I am already prepared for the 95%. The rest, I am not.. Not yet anyway. For that, I believe you must go "lean." Only consider the simplest and most efficient gear and training. Drop anything that might not work or requires too much stuff. Reduce the number of variables to be able to control the situation.

All right, time for bed. Ya'll have a good night  :)

Gil.

Wholeheartedly in agreement with Ray.

I have 2m capability, FM and SSB. There are repeaters around my location, but I would not expect them to stay on for long. Probably no longer than a week. People are not going to risk their lives to maintain a repeater. Still, 2m I believe is good to have for local chatter and warnings. Those radios are cheap and you can get a brand new 75W FM radio for less than $200; sold!

As far as HF and SW, I want to know what's going on... Maybe I'll want to report on the situation as well.

My take on equipment is: The simpler the better. Small radios, small batteries, small solar panel. SMALL! Complex technology goes first. For me that means no computer. Too much overhead, too big. I have a solar scientific calculator in a tin can, and that's it. Generators won't work without gas, and gas would run out really fast. So I won't bother with a generator at all.

I want to build a network of friends on the air, for morale boosting and information collecting. Just being able to ask "what have you heard?" is of great importance.

Ray and I have been successful in establishing daily contacts. Anybody else?

I suggest that we all connect to each other on the air. CW if possible, SSB if not. Even digital. Morse code can't be beat for simplicity and efficiency.

That's what I expect in a TEOTWAWKI situation. I expect to hear from you guys!

Gil.

My update and copy of Eham review. My hat is off to LNR Precision. Just read...

QuoteI found a Mantiz FX-2 for sale on Eham. This product came out recently so it was a fairly new unit, with the latest firmware; $120 including shipping, can't be beat. I really like the form factor. It will fit, with wire antenna and small battery into a cargo pants pocket. It is heavy for it's size, suggesting a high degree of integration. The radio is built in China. For $185, you get a lot. My two favorite bands, built-in keyer, wattmeter (forward/reverse), digital display and variable bandwidth filters (more on that later). Power is about 3.5W which varies with supply voltage, antenna and frequency. I have seen it as low as 1.7W on 30m, though I was calling tonight on 10106 and saw 3.5W... Your mileage may vary. The case is metal, feels solid and has tabs in the back to tilt the unit for easier viewing.

My first impression was that the radio is very small. The display has a nice blue backlight. I heard CW as soon as I plugged it in. There was two issues with this unit that I noticed right away. First, the wattmeter did not work and crashed the unit when selected. The filters were all off-center. I could only use #4 and #5 (widest). A 750Hz sidetone would be necessary to use all filters, or moving the bandwidths 150Hz down. Now, that such a small transceiver has five filters, in itself is a small miracle. It also has RIT.

The menus are not intuitive. Fortunately there are few functions and the manual is clear. It doesn't take long to remember everything. Messages memory works great, though there is no auto-repeat.

I would have left it at that if it wasn't for the wattmeter issue. I really wanted that function to estimate SWR, and thus not have to carry another piece of equipment. So, I emailed Larry at LNR Precision. He replied within an hour, asking me to send it to him and that there would be no charge! How's that for customer service?

A week later I got a package from LNR. It wasn't my Mantiz... It was a brand new unit! Impressive... I plugged it in and tried the wattmeter; it works. Some filters however are still off-center. Not such a bit deal, because they are all usable on 40m. On 30m, I can use #4 (600Hz) & #5 (800Hz). The same filters are wider on 40m.

The sidetone is 600Hz. As far as I know, there is no way to change the frequency. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. You can change the sidetone volume with a small screwdriver. The headphones volume is essentially on/off. You can't hear anything until you turn the knob about 80%, especially on 30m.

I would have given it a 5 if it wasn't for the filters misalignment. It's not too bad, but still an issue on 30m. LNR's customer service also contributed to my good rating.

I had an 800 miles QSO with 2W on 30m using a Buddistick, so the Mantiz works, no doubt. I am keeping it. Again, you get a lot for such a small package. If anything goes wrong, I know LNR will help me out, no questions asked. I like their end-fed dipoles and plan on getting the 30/40 model available to use with the Mantiz; great combination. The Budistick works fine on 30, but not so well on 40 with the standard coil and whip. The K1 is still my favorite, but you can't just throw it in your backpack like the Mantiz. Definitely a great radio for backpackers!

Gil.

Neat!

QuoteHave you found some particular areas/freqs that you gravitate toward?

Hello Wes. Yes, I spend a lot of time on 7030, evenings. Also recently, more time on 30m, 10106 and 10132 with Ray. I also use 14060 mid-day with my K1 and Buddistick, because that antenna is more efficient on 20m than 30. Otherwise 40+30 would do fine for me, which incidentally are the two bands of that neat little Mantiz transceiver I just got, and that should be returned to me on Monday  :)
I have more QRP radios with 40m than any other. 30m is great to use with the Buddistick, because it doesn't play well on 40.

Ray, that Sierra is a neat radio. Great job on the conversion! How does it compare to your KX1, size and performance?

QuoteVery cool - I'm in lust over your K2!

Hi Tim. The K2 is great, and does SSB. Stop by some time to look at it... I would love a KX3, and might sell that K2 to get one when I can afford the difference. I could sell my K1 & K2 to finance a KX3, but I am too attached to the K1. Even my K2 would be hard to get rid of. I have aligned it perfectly now and it works like a charm..

A note about the Buddistick... Everyone complains about how inefficient that antenna is. To some degree, of course.. An eight foot antenna with one counterpoise wire is not going to compete with a dipole at 60ft. However, it can be set-up in minutes anywhere. I would not be java-portable without it. I don't think shooting a wire up a street light post would be well perceived.. I already wonder if anyone will call the police seeing me transmitting CW at the coffee shop.. I need to make sure I shave before doing so! No tanning for me either  ::) Has that ever happened by the way? The Buddistick is discreet. Some people don't even see it and walk by without notice. Anyway, that antenna works. 800 miles on 2W with the antenna inside the house is proof enough to me. When there is no tree anywhere around, it is a lifesaver. I would also look into some 35ft. telescopic mast for an end-fed, but it's hard to find one that doesn't have too thin a tip.

At that coffee shop, I clamp the antenna to a table and run the counterpoise wire on the white picket fence up front. Nobody sees it.. It is a good way to promote Ham radio by the way.. Works better than old guys wearing orange vests using HTs at public events. People rarely see QRP operations. All they know about Ham radio is the usual shack photo with a guy in not-so-great-shape holding a D-104 or the proverbial orange-jacket wearer. Nothing against either, but there are many other facets to Ham radio the public doesn't know. There is also no reason why there shouldn't be more younger Hams around... I don't think many of them know that you can take a small transceiver up a mountain top or hiking. Hence the Sierra couple type of tragedies. Now, a young guy sees me with my little K1 sipping a hot chocolate, he might think "hum, I could use something like that for my next adventure.."

Anyway, I do plan on promoting CW QRP any way I can. I won't make a crusade out of it, but it is certainly worth mentioning it to others, because it is so useful and neat!

Another word about slingshots... Get one! Less than $10 and you can shoot a 1oz weight way up there! Not to mention many other fun uses..

Gil.

Here below, the perfect java radio:

Quotethe guy that got busted for, among other things using a 3KW transmitter.

I wonder how they could possibly find that out..? Probably opened his mouth or did something else. And I think anything above 25W is excessive...  ::)

Gil.

QuoteOh - I've had that discussion about 'Why would you bring a GUN?!?!"  .  Until she was spooked by wandering 'critters' in the middle of the night and then all that liberal manure she had poured into her brain began to listen to the brain stem which wanted to remain alive.   

;D

I remember another interview right before Y2K. A journalist was interviewing a man and a woman. He asked the woman how she was prepared, and she described her food stores, water, etc. Then he asked the guy. The man said "Oh, I just have a gun, and I will be coming for her food!" You should have seen that woman's face!  ;D Priceless.

Next time I date a woman, I'll mention having a "bug-out" bag and watch her reaction carefully...

People are more receptive to radios than guns, but both are just survival tools and fun hobbies.
Hell, you could injure someone badly with an old Icom  ::)

Yes, my ex did live for years in California... To her credit, she did go to the range once and shot a black powder revolver. There was some hope.. Oh well..

Gil.

It's unbelievable how removed from nature people have become. Also unbelievable is the lack of common sense most display. I read about "tourists" dying like that all the time. In National parks even, barely off the trail. The only argument I ever had with my ex girlfriend was about something like that. We were camping in Idaho last year, away from any campsite, and I mentioned that we should have brought a gun. She didn't think it was a good idea and asked me why. I pointed to the rusted steel fireplace enclosure riddled with bullet holes and said "because of that, and if a bear shows up, run like hell while I get mauled.." She had very little concept of personal safety. I wouldn't dream about being without a radio, or one of those spot gizmos outside of cell phone range. I think the radio has a better chance to work, and won't cost me $60/month in membership fee..

Let's face it, life is easy these days, and natural selection is no longer a survival factor. Comes an SHTF situation, and it will hit like a freight train. Death in the millions. Just because nobody is prepared or they think they are and plan on bugging out to the woods. Yeah, right... Hell, I'm not sure I'd make it myself if I tried to pull that off. That couple in the Sierras could have saved themselves by having as much as an SSB capable CB, or of course, better yet, a small CW radio thrown in the back..

Ray, you're absolutely right that QRP portable is directly related to prepping.

"Java portable," I like that  ;D I also want to try horse-mobile and ultralight-mobile, with a Zepp antenna behind the plane!

Gil.

I had a blast today with my K1 at the coffee shop! 800 miles on 3W out into the Buddistick on 30 and 20m (6W on 20). Trying to copy Morse with cars zipping by is good practice. You can see the Buddistick and counterpoise wire if you look carefully. The bicycle in the background is mine  ;) Can't do that with a QRO station!

Gil.

I yet have to get a Signalink USB interface... It's on my list. I hope to get on the Winmor bandwagon. Still, CW is my go-to mode. Digital modes are great, especially the store/forward systems, but practically, so complicated... I guess with the mini laptops selling for $300, it's easier. That's more money however.. $300 laptop, $120 interface, charging system for the laptop... If I can make it all fit in a small ammo can, including antenna, battery and solar panel, maybe.. But that would be difficult. Not impossible, but not easy. I have an MTS400 40m SSB transceiver kit I'm building right now, and that would be a prime candidate for a Winmor/Winlink?  station. It's not very useful to me anyway, since it doesn't have CW.. Ah, darn, another project!  ::)

Gil.

QuoteWe're either speechless or too jealous

It's only the most comprehensive article ever posted here  :o

Gil.

The "Cinestar" is $9K, so there is a wide range of models with different payloads...
I don't see any model below $1800 on that site...

Gil.