InterceptRadio.com Forums

...I built a pack radio.

http://www.interceptradio.com/wiki/index.php/W7KI_Manpack_Radio

Very cool Rich!

Just in time for Field Day. :D

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" SILENCE IS CONSENT "

Made to Government Specs:
1) Measured with a micrometer.
2) Marked with a chalk.
3) Cut with an axe.

Jim N7UAP - Bellingham, WA / InterceptRadio.com

I was wondering how this was coming along.

Wow.

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i like the antenna, BTW SuperAntenna is a good manufacture of a prebuilt alternative its what I use in my shack-in-a-box
http://www.shop.superantennas.com/

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
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DE K7MHI

Yeah the antenna was quite a project. When the spec was to have a rigid HF antenna and mast collapse to 18" or less I realized commercial products wouldn't cut it. It was time consuming to source lightweight materials and modify them to suit but it worked out well in the end. I hope a commercial manufacturer makes this stuff someday as its sure a lot easier to buy it than build it.

That's half the fun though.
I wonder what the battery pack in the baby wipe box looks like when it is screened at the airport? A friend of mine is an instructor and travels a lot. He has one of those pads you use to write on for use with a laptop and projector. I guess it looks pretty wild on their scanners. He never had a problem until he went to Wyoming. They freaked and he missed his flight. He hasn't had a problem since.
I like the setup. The fact that you made it is even better.

Vince.

With my FT-817, I use RC car battery packs. I've been though both TSA and Customs with them; I do them a favor and put the radio and battery in a seperate tub so it doesn't look goofy on the CTX machines which show density of objects.

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OSHA would cringe!


Love that battery!!

I once cleared out the Port Townsend police department when I found a "device" in a bike style water bottle that turned out to be a (probably commercially available :roll: ) bike light battery... Oh the memories... :mrgreen:

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"A well regulated breakfast, being necessary to the healthy start of the day, the right of the people to keep and eat food shall not be infringed."

the super antenna M1 is just that FYI
also the mini buddy pole portable would also fit into that

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
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DE K7MHI

The mini-buddipole isn't a very rigid design as the whip is telescopic which I consider to be too flimsy for a field radio. Another problem is that it doesn't do 60/80 meters. The biggest problem is that they didn't seem to have time to respond to emails with product questions. I responded in kind by not finding time to purchase their products.

I looked at Super Antenna however I did not see any size/weight specifications on their website. This is kind of silly when they are selling products claiming to be portable. Their website doesn't specify what kind of whip they use however I doubt it is an 8-foot collapsible which is what I prefer. Their antenna is only good to 40 meters and appears to use an additional long non-tappable coil for 80 meters. This creates two problems as there is no place to tap for 60 meters and their coil design might not fit in the pack.

Like I said, commercial products didn't cut it.

Nice setup, Rich. We need to set up a sked one weekend.

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-Tom, W1WSO -- Plymouth, CT
http://tf.sdf.org/monitor/