I’ve split this page up into a few sections. I’ve been slowly transitioning my ‘station’ into “kits”. I got the idea from Thomas - K4SWL. He has been a great influence on my portable/POTA operations and was a huge driver in me finally learning CW (after 15 years as a General!).

I’d originally created “kits” but each radio had it’s own antenna and that just got to be a mess.

Now things are more modular

Home Station

Radios

I’ve become somewhat of a Yaesu enthusiast and didn’t even really realize it.

  • FT-DX-101D is my main home rig
  • FT-710 is my ‘other’ radio. This is more or less reserved for larger trips where carrying a bigger radio isn’t a painful process. IE: When we’re taking the RV out to a state park, although this hasn’t happened in quite some time!

Antennas

The home antenna farm is constantly in flux. A few weeks ago I lost a messenger line in one of the trees bringing down the 40 meter dipole. Also, due to the fact that grass grows and I haven’t dealt with the coax, both my 40 meter vertical and 80 meter dipole are disconnected currently, but this is soon to change

  • 40 Meter dipole @ about 40 feet
  • 80 Meter dipole @ about 40 feet
  • 40 Meter dipole @ about 30 feet (because multi-op!)
  • Triband Hex Beam on a Carlson’s roof tower @ about 25/30 feet with a Yaesu Rotator (10/15/20 Meters)

DX Engineering 40M Vertical

This was originally a 80-10 meter 43 Foot vertical. I’d purchased this antenna over 10 years ago and shipped it to Afghanistan as part of my deployment. It arrived very late to the party, so it never got installed but it’s been solid since installing it at now 2 different QTHs.

I did modify the antenna a bit. The included tuner was sold off to a friend several years ago when I wasn’t using the antenna and it was collecting dust. The tuner itself actually died some years later, so I simplified this antenna a bit. It’s simply a 1/4 wave ground mounted vertical for 40 meters. Simple is best and because I was doing some multi-op work, with filters in line, monoband made more sense.

Other Shack Gear

  • N1MM+ for contest logging
  • Wavelog | I run a homelab… some of which is documented on my other blog. Wavelog runs in the browser and is my ‘central’ logging software. This handles mostly QSLing at this point. More to follow here in the future.
  • Amateur Contact Log - N3FJP’s AC log has been in my shack since the beginning of my ham radio venture. It’s got some quirks, but it’s solid.
  • Remote control setup …. eh… more to follow here!

Portable / POTA

Radios

Icom IC-705

The IC-705 was one of the first real portable rigs I’d purchased (aside from the Ft-817 when I was about 16 and the KX3 I barley ever used). The 705 is a great radio. I’ve got some disagreements in the design decisions put into it though. It mostly lives at home these days.

Lab599 TX500

I was initially very skeptical about this radio. In fact, the 705 had an accident on it’s way to Hawaii and I’d decided just prior to that the KX2 was my next radio. Until I dropped the 705. I picked up the TX500 on my way home from the airport. It has been a fantastic radio and is my go to for portable operation! Again, a few design quriks but it falls much more in-line with how I expect a portable HF radio to work.

TenTec R4020

They don’t make em like they used to! This little radio is fun to operate and so compact. Truthfully, I’ve managed only 1 true ‘partial’ activation with it. Very recently in fact. I have hunted a bit with it at home and it’s a great little radio. Many thanks go to Chris WR7B for this little radio. This style of operating has been something of a goal of mine for as long as I can remember and trying to find an original TenTec was impossible when I was looking.

Antennas

My antennas are constantly changing and evolving! I try something, then try something else… Most probably think I’m crazy… maybe I am!

MC-750

MC-750 Deployed in a hot, muggy GA Park!

The MC-750 was my go to antenna for a long time. I’d run this thing everywhere. I actually had to leave this at home on a few trips to force myself to use other antennas. For now it stays at home as I reprogram my brain to try something different. But if that says anything, it says the antenna itself works.

DX Commander Expedition

DX Commander, as pictured in my POTA QSL card.

The DX Commander is a great antenna. I usually run the DX Commander Expedition. I find it’s a little more involved to setup than something like an EFHW or the MC-750 but it’s bonus is being able to switch bands quickly! On beach I’d prefer this antenna over almost anything else currently. The bonus is with a bunch of wire and a few other bits, you can really make anything with the mast. So the mast serves duel purposes, something I’m always on the lookout to do.

Tuners

I don’t use tuners often in the field, until recently. I do like the idea of having a tuner with me though! Again, options!

Currently I almost always carry the ZM-2 tuner. I’ve really only ever used it with an EFRW. I’m still working out the kinks in that antenna.

Summary

I need to put some work into updating this page a bit more. Currently I’m building out kits and making things modular.

I travel to all different places, so the ability to swap components for the expected situation is something I’m working towards.