Looking forward to some real field testing from you Gil.
I'm truly skeptical, but I have an open mind.
J

One point which is not accurate in your reply Gil
 My QRO system is not focused on emergency communications. It is 100% self reliance. My skills can be used for organized emergency communications, but the gear is all about survival. We can't look at my radio gear without looking at my pulk sled, or my tipi shelter, or wood stove, axe, or a any of the other items which make up my field station. The field station is my bugout home away from home. It can serve as a temporary shelter, or a warm space to operate when it is -20.
I'm not a "yellow vest", and never will be!

Julian

Quote

Doing off the grid comms with 100W is really a budget breaker.

When you add power you do quickly add cost. Everything must handle the power, including the antenna, tuner, etc. You need a bigger solar panel, battery, everything. For some applications, I can see how Julian's setup could be useful. I am thinking of more of a community-based emergency system, first responders, etc. His primary kit is still the FT-817nd. Cost can then be taken up by an association or NGO. Not everyone minds cost; more power to those who can afford it, literally, LOL.

Gil.

Hi Gil
I actually love green radios, but they can be difficult to carry when one must carry additional gear. There is a CODAN on my horizon, but I won't talk about that yet

Olivia and Contesia are fine modes for random contacts or skeds, and their weak signal capabilities are amazing. There are two prepper friendly digital systems being developed/re-developed right now. I'm in the beta test groups with both of them. The first is called FT8Call. It takes the extremely efficient FT8 mode and extends the capabilities for long message format, group messages, ...It is not used on the traditional FT8 frequencies, but is meant to be used on a fixed frequency with a group of users wishing to stay in touch all the time. Participating stations are displayed on a heard list. You can pick one or more station to chat or message with. Your group stays on frequency according to their comms plan. Once stations are on your heard list, you can get a list of station they hear, then route through station you hear to reach stations you don't. I'll do a demo on this in the coming months.

The next is APRS Messenger HF APRS This is another fixed frequency mode using MFSK4, MFSK16, PSK63, PSK250, GMSKx ... It works just like traditional APRS only it does it on HF, and can decode multiple modes at the same time. For group communications, stations beacon at user defined intervals, then get displayed on the heard list of other stations- Once on the heard list, you can click on a station to send a message to them in any of the modes that app supports. If condx are bad or extremely low power are required, use MFSK4. Need fast chat during good condx or local comms, use PSK250 or GMSKX for chat or messaging. The best thing here is it can be used offline without internet, or can be used with the APRS-IS to include internet only stations, or connect groups with a combination of HF/Internet where no RF path exists between them. It integrates with VHF APRS, HF APRS and internet client APRS like APRSDroid. Functionality to beacon HFAPRS over PSK63 is already built into DroidPSK btw. This one is a game changer.

The point of my rambling is, there is no point in using tools designed for random contacts on ham radio. Group messaging sets up a network of stations, alerting you when one or all of the stations are there, or not. I have a station up and running 24/7, allowing others in my group to send messages to me if I am there or not, chat in real-time if I am there, and see my location if I allow then to do so. Your RT320 wth a tablet or laptop and audio interface, would make an excellent HFAPRS setup. We use network systems like this to avoid chasing down a random contact. Olivia and Contestia are great for the log book, and weekly net, or sked with a local station, but not the best way to communicate in an emergency. Having established group communications whether fixed or in the field, makes network group comms, far more reliable.

You should join our fb group Portable Digital & QRP http://www.facebook.com/groups/PortableDigitalQRP/ It is all about low power pratical digital field communications. We have a good group of helpful operators there.

I'm kind of sad about the KX2. I wanted one and probably would have purchased one if I could afford to have a radio for fun. For that reason, I am extremely happy with the FT-817ND. I will add the 500hz filter and TCXO to it in the coming weeks. The receiver will never match a KX2, but the KX2 can't be used in minus 20c
Could you explain how to charge the internal KX2 battery with a solar panel?

Anyway, you have to do what you love to do sometimes
Nothing wrong with the kits but, ...

I would very much enjoy seeing you out in the field again. The mountain camping video was epic!

73
Julian oh8stn

Gil.

Hello Operators
Topic of the day is the Yaesu FT-891. Many field radio operators have turned away from the Yaesu FT-891, because of the specs regarding current draw on RX, published on the Yaesu website. Since I have owned the Yaesu FT-857, and 897 in past years, the current specs for the 891, seemed somewhat off! In fact, I wondered if Yaesu simply published "worst case" numbers on the site, without bothering to publish a range of numbers which would make more sense to potential buyers. So, in this video we'll be measuring the current draw of the Yaesu FT-891 at RX, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 Watts.

Background
I've had many requests on the channel for such a video. Operators would like to compare current consumption to other popular rigs like the Yaesu FT-857D, Icom 7200, Icom 7300, as well as understanding how hungry this radio is when deployed in the field. Operators would also like to know why someone would choose a rig with a 1A RX current draw. Spoiler Alert! The truth is, we need to find the balance between QRP/Ultralight amateur radio, and QRO/when your life depends on getting the message out.

The truth is, the FT-891 weighs in slightly more than the FT-817ND with internal batteries. The LiFePO4 batteries I use can work with my 817 or 891. The trick to deploying a rig having such a current draw, is deploying with a lightweight solar panel and charge controller. I know Gil and I disagree on this topic but cheap is never going to be lightweight, and eventually, when your life depends on it, we all wish we would have purchased a thin-film flexible solar panel. No real survival minded person seriously thinks the ebay special from China with a built-in voltage regulator will do the job, but it is cheap! So I deploy both the 817 with a 20w thin film panel, and the 891 with a 120w thin film panel. The 120w panel runs my entire field station btw.

The following link is to my Yaesu FT-891 Current draw test.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1aShLDZcFg

This link is a playlist (which completely contradicts much of the gospel found here) on off grid solar and battery power for field communications.
Portable off grid power for amateur radio.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDoQoVA0hAc&list=PLKMrdrsNkFA43q0POuXM-5-49yOd3t4CP amateur radio
Don't let the titles fool you. Everything I do is about extended field communications in a grid down scenario- The vanilla titles and tags help spread the word to a wider audience.

I do encourage everyone to get off the couch, get out in the field, and test their gear to near failure. Anybody can make videos, blogs or write forum posts. At the end of the day, it is field experience which will save your life.

73
Julian oh8stn

I like the combat shelter's too, they just don't work in Scandinavia during winter.
I enjoyed that second video you woke up showing the shelter and we hear the sound of a sheep in the background. So now we know how you stayed warm over the cold Pyrenees night 😃

Hello Operators.
Over the past few weeks I've published several articles entitled "Man Portable Off-grid Power for Amateur Radio", on www.oh8stn.org. This video is the result of that research & field testing. In this video, I'll breakdown each module & component of my Portable Solar Powered GoKit for Ham Radio. Later on I'll do individual build/review videos for each component.
The  kit follows a "Lego block" approach, and is designed to be modular. The kit is based on three unique  modules:
- Power & DC distribution
- Radio & Computing
- Antennas & Support

The entire kit weighs between 7-10 kg depending on the options chosen (including 1L water and rucksack) .
https://youtu.be/1_-Q0ORT93M
You can find links to the original blog posts, research, field testing, and the usual plethora of full HD images, in the video description, or by visiting the companion blog post at http://oh8stn.org/blog/2017/07/25/man-portable-solar-powered-gokit-for-ham-radio/
 
de oh8stn

Thanks SCARRY.
Yeah we all need to justify the costs find the balance for our needs.
Looking forward to your show & tell.