W7KI Manpack Radio - Revision history

Rich: /* The Battery */

2025-07-26T18:12:53Z

The Battery

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:12, 26 July 2025
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	===The Battery===		===The Battery===
		+	2025 Update: Go buy a Bioenno Power 12v 20Ah battery pack. It weighs 5 pounds 1 ounce. The original pack I built (described below) was 16Ah and weighed 5 pounds 0 ounces.
		+	<br><br>
	The following text describes how to build a battery pack. If you do not want to build this battery pack then you can buy one already built. For example you can look up "ZIPPY Flightmax 8400mAh 4S2P 30C LiFePo4 Pack" which currently sells for about $75. You will need to find a suitable charger for it.		The following text describes how to build a battery pack. If you do not want to build this battery pack then you can buy one already built. For example you can look up "ZIPPY Flightmax 8400mAh 4S2P 30C LiFePo4 Pack" which currently sells for about $75. You will need to find a suitable charger for it.
	<br><br>		<br><br>

Rich: /* Battery */

2023-11-30T18:01:25Z

Battery

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:01, 30 November 2023
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	<br>		<br>
-	Update ~~11-21-~~2011: The manufacturer has discontinued the 16ah 40160S battery and replaced it with the 15ah 40152S battery.	+	Update November 2011: The manufacturer has discontinued the 16ah 40160S battery and replaced it with the 15ah 40152S battery.
		+	<br>
		+	<br>
		+	Update November 2023: While this article is still a good read for building your own pack, it is probably easier to buy a Bioenno Power BLF-1215A LiFePO4 pack (15Ah / 4.5 lbs). Current price is $210.
	<br>		<br>
	<br>		<br>

Rich: /* The Radio */

2020-10-04T04:37:05Z

The Radio

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:37, 4 October 2020
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	: All of them are good radios. Only problem is I want HF/6/2/440 so I'm stuck		: All of them are good radios. Only problem is I want HF/6/2/440 so I'm stuck
	: with looking at amateur radios.		: with looking at amateur radios.
		+
		+	====Lab599 TX-500====
		+	: New 2020 !
		+	: Modern 10W HF/50mhz all mode portable transceiver with a rugged aluminum case.
		+	: Made in Russia. Worth checking out. Current price $790.
		+
		+	====Icom IC-705====
		+	: New 2020 !
		+	: 10W HF/6/2/440 all mode portable SDR transceiver with a touchscreen display.
		+	: Matching pack and radio-specific ATU available.
		+	: If I had to re-do this project today this radio would be under serious consideration despite being 10W.
		+	: Current price $1300.

	====Vertex VX-1210====		====Vertex VX-1210====
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	<br>		<br>
		+
	===The Tuner===		===The Tuner===
	For honorable mention we have the long-discontinued Kenwood AT-130 which is a very small 80-10m(+WARC)<br>		For honorable mention we have the long-discontinued Kenwood AT-130 which is a very small 80-10m(+WARC)<br>

Rich: /* The Antenna */

2017-11-05T15:46:58Z

The Antenna

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:46, 5 November 2017
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	<br>		<br>
	In June 2015 SuperAntenna released the MP1R SuperStick with a flexible whip.		In June 2015 SuperAntenna released the MP1R SuperStick with a flexible whip.
		+	<br>
		+	As of 2017 SuperAntenna has the MP1DXMAX which appears to be a viable solution.
	<br>		<br>
	<br>		<br>

Rich at 23:28, 11 January 2017

2017-01-11T23:28:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:28, 11 January 2017
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	$2 bridge rectifier KBPC5010 (ebay)		$2 bridge rectifier KBPC5010 (ebay)

-	$144 (8) 16ah 40160s lifepo4 $24/ea (bmsbattery.com or manzanitamicro.com)	+	old: $144 (8) 16ah 40160s lifepo4 $24/ea (bmsbattery.com or manzanitamicro.com)
-	$3 (8) 40160S battery holders 0.40/ea	+	new: $144 (8) 15ah 40152s lifepo4 $24/ea (evassemble.com)
-	$4 (8) 40160S bus bar connectors 0.50/ea	+	$3 (8) 40152S or 40160S battery holders 0.40/ea
		+	$4 (8) 40152S or 40160S bus bar connectors 0.50/ea
	$80 battery shipping		$80 battery shipping

Rich: /* The Antenna */

2015-05-16T13:45:30Z

The Antenna

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:45, 16 May 2015
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	<br>		<br>
	One is the SuperAntenna MP1B SuperStick which is a good solution as it collapses to 12 inches and weighs under 2 pounds. When I first wrote this article their company had no products available which I believe was due to a transition in ownership. Their products are now available again and I plan on trying one out. I would buy the MP1B antenna, TM1 mount, and optionally MC60 coil for 60 meters and MC80 coil for 80 meters. A properly adjusted SuperAntenna requires no tuner however you need to use a correct length ground radial.		One is the SuperAntenna MP1B SuperStick which is a good solution as it collapses to 12 inches and weighs under 2 pounds. When I first wrote this article their company had no products available which I believe was due to a transition in ownership. Their products are now available again and I plan on trying one out. I would buy the MP1B antenna, TM1 mount, and optionally MC60 coil for 60 meters and MC80 coil for 80 meters. A properly adjusted SuperAntenna requires no tuner however you need to use a correct length ground radial.
		+	<br>
		+	In June 2015 SuperAntenna released the MP1R SuperStick with a flexible whip.
	<br>		<br>
	<br>		<br>

Rich: /* The Antenna */

2014-08-04T14:07:29Z

The Antenna

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:07, 4 August 2014
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	<br>		<br>
	<br>		<br>
-	~~The~~ text past this point describes ~~how to build~~ an antenna/coil.	+	If you choose not to purchase a pre-made antenna, the text past this point describes an antenna/coil that you can build.
	<br>		<br>
	<br>		<br>

Rich: /* The Antenna */

2014-08-04T03:10:07Z

The Antenna

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:10, 4 August 2014
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	<br>		<br>
	<br>		<br>
-	The other is the JPC-7 product line which can be found at http://www.108mhz.com/ham-antenna-c-59.html or on ebay. All three versions are lightweight and collapse to a small size.	+	The other is the JPC-7 product line which can be found at http://www.108mhz.com/ham-antenna-c-59.html or on ebay. All three versions of the JPC-7 are lightweight and collapse to a small size.
	<br>		<br>
	<br>		<br>

Rich: /* The Antenna */

2014-08-04T03:08:55Z

The Antenna

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:08, 4 August 2014
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	<br>		<br>
	<br>		<br>
-	Of all the pre-made antennas I found two that appear to worthwhile.	+	Of all the pre-made antennas I found two that appear to be worthwhile.
	<br>		<br>
	<br>		<br>

Rich: /* The Antenna */

2014-08-04T03:08:14Z

The Antenna

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:08, 4 August 2014
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	<br>		<br>
	<br>		<br>
-	Of all the pre-made antennas I found ~~The~~ SuperAntenna MP1B SuperStick ~~would likely be the best off the shelf~~ solution as it collapses to 12 inches and weighs under 2 pounds. When I first wrote this article their company had no products available which I believe was due to a transition in ownership. Their products are now available again and I plan on trying one out. I would buy the MP1B antenna, TM1 mount, and optionally MC60 coil for 60 meters and MC80 coil for 80 meters. A properly adjusted SuperAntenna requires no tuner however you need to use a correct length ground radial. ~~This~~ is ~~my recommendation if you do not want to build an~~ antenna. The text past this point describes how to build an antenna/coil.	+	Of all the pre-made antennas I found two that appear to worthwhile.
		+	<br>
		+	<br>
		+	One is the SuperAntenna MP1B SuperStick which is a good solution as it collapses to 12 inches and weighs under 2 pounds. When I first wrote this article their company had no products available which I believe was due to a transition in ownership. Their products are now available again and I plan on trying one out. I would buy the MP1B antenna, TM1 mount, and optionally MC60 coil for 60 meters and MC80 coil for 80 meters. A properly adjusted SuperAntenna requires no tuner however you need to use a correct length ground radial.
		+	<br>
		+	<br>
		+	The other is the JPC-7 product line which can be found at http://www.108mhz.com/ham-antenna-c-59.html or on ebay. All three versions are lightweight and collapse to a small size.
		+	<br>
		+	<br>
		+	The text past this point describes how to build an antenna/coil.
	<br>		<br>
	<br>		<br>