Hey everyone,
I am looking for ideas for a tilt-over system for the DX Commander Classic. I have one in my head, but I am not sure about it. It is more PVC-driven. But want to ask the community first for better ideas. My goal is to let the ground plate stay on the ground.
So I built the desk too today, pulled all my gear out and put it up. Now I need to get things connected up. The next step will be building the Tx Antenna. My LoG is working great
So building a few LoGs and wanted to try a donut Ferrite to see if there is any difference between this and the binocular core.
The other was 3:9, this one is 4:12. So both are 9:1 and 50ohm-ish. The binocular sounds so good. Haven’t had this much fun in a minute.
Heading to Yellowstone after getting a divorce for a much needed escape; putting together a lightweight HF portable station. Curious if there’s anything obvious I’m missing or if you’d make any changes. Going fishing as well!
Current setup:
Radio
Xiegu X6200
Antennas
QRP EFHW
JPC-12 portable vertical
DX Commander Expedition Pole
Feedline and stuff
25 ft RG-58X
PL-259 to BNC adapters
FT240-31 common-mode choke (8 turns of coax through the core)
10 ft counterpoise
Power
2 × 7Ah LiFePO4 batteries
LiFePO4 charger
Deployment Gear
Throw line
Tent stakes
Paracord
VHF/UHF
HT with upgraded antenna
The plan is to run the EFHW as an inverted-L. I’ll have the transformer/49:1 unun about 5 feet off the ground, a 10-foot counterpoise, and the Venture/Expedition pole supporting the vertical section. The FT240-31 choke will be at the feedpoint.
The JPC-12 is coming as a backup antenna if deploying the EFHW isn’t practical.
I’ll mostly be operating 40m through 10m, SSB, and probably some POTA-style operating while traveling through Yellowstone and the surrounding areas.
Questions:
Would you change anything about the EFHW deployment?
Is the 10-foot counterpoise sufficient, or would you bring a longer one?
Would you bring anything beyond an HT for VHF/UHF in Yellowstone?
Any Yellowstone-specific operating tips from those who’ve operated there?
Trying to keep the kit reasonably lightweight while still being effective.
73
K4IRX
I’m in the process of rebuilding my shack in the wake of a divorce. Going from an attic Antenna due to HOA…to a dual antenna system. A LoG for Rx and DX Commander for Tx. Not wanting to drill holes as I’m renting…I’m going the pass through route. So instead of buying one, I’m building one! I’ll take any criticisms or even pointers.
So I want to build a shack. But I’m kind of lost on where to do it. Should I do it in the garage or build one in a shed? My antennas will be 100-150 feet from the house, if I do the garage.