Portable HF Operations
Connecting From Anywhere &
Having Fun
Comm Academy 2015
Mark Sheppard, N7LYE
[email protected] Introduction:
a little about me
• Long time Ham
• Long time out-of-doors person
• Career in Technology and Emergency Preparedness
– Current job: AlertSeattle, Project Manager
• Active volunteer:
– Seattle ACS - Director
– Incident Management Teams (NWIMT & Sea-Metro) - ComL
– Forest Service Lookout: Red Top, Tyee & Sugarloaf
– Public service events: RAMROD, Plain 100, Fat-Salmon
• Passion for portable HF – connecting from anywhere
Objectives
To discuss Portable HF
covering these topic:
• Operating Purpose or
Mission – the why
• Location – where matters
• Radios – options and best fit
• Power – batteries and
generation
• Antennas – short or long
range, adapting to where
you are
• Building a kit – carry it well
• Activities – what to do
Disclaimer:
• I am not a doctor,
engineer or scientist.
• I won’t give you a lot of
formulas, software
references or
mathematical analysis.
• What I am going to talk
about is practical –
information from my and
others experience.
• Hopefully, a starting point
to stimulate interest.
Why Portable HF?
Voice & Digital
• Support ACS-RACES-
ARES Mission
• Support Public Service
Events
• Personal back-up
communications
• Recreational fun
• Because you can
ACS-RACES-ARES HF Mission
• Support operations at
alternate EOC location
(evacuation)
• Field Operations when
repeaters are not
available
• Connection with other
agencies and partner
teams
• Situational awareness
HF Support for Wide Area Public
Service Events
• HF maybe the solution
for large area events
• Overcome challenges of
distances, topography
and limited repeater
and internet access.
• Examples:
– NW Ride of Dreams
State wide motorcycle
ride event 2011
NW Ride of Dreams – Statewide event
– RAMROD RFID tracking
Command post communications Ellensburg
Portable HF
Personal Backup Communications
• Power and Cell service
are fragile in the wilder
regions of the west.
• Rent or own a vacation
home or cabin in the
woods?
• Take a ski vacation?
• A small HF rig make be
your backup lifeline to
the outside world.
Cabin at Lake
Wenatchee WA
HF Portable is Good Recreational Fun
• Build a compact kit and
take it wherever you go.
• World traveling – make
the appropriate
licensing arrangements
• Hiking, camping or a
road trips
• Boating
• Walking and bicycling
Location - considerations
• Support for antennas
• Access to power
• Exposure to weather
(lightening)
• Topography e.g. hill top or
valley
• Interference sources
• Creature comforts
Red Top FS lookout near Liberty WA
– Shelter
– Water
– access
Radio Selection
what factors to consider ?
• What do mean by portable?
• Size and weight – will your desk radio
work or is smaller important?
• Power
– Output
– Consumption
– Internal batteries
• Operating features
– SSB/CW all bands
– 1 or 2 bands Elecraft KX3
– CW only – etc.
• Technical features
– Internal/external tuner HFPACK – Mizuho
– Filters/DSP MX-7S
– Dual receivers. Etc.
• Cost
– Factory wired
– Kit
– BMW vs Hyundai Yaesu FT 817 ND
Portable Power Systems
Power Storage:
• Batteries – the critical
element in all systems
– Internal
– Lead/Acid
– Lithium Ion
Power Generation:
• Solar
• Wind
• Gas
Batteries
• Lead/Acid Gel or AGM
• Lithium Ion
• Internal battery packs
Alkaline or rechargeable
– Check manufacture for
accessories also after
market suppliers
– Many provisions for
internal charging or
external cell re-charging or
non rechargeable options.
Lead Acid Batteries
• Two main service designs: • AGM & Gel Batteries
Cranking and Deep Cycle – Pro: store well, won’t spill or off-
• Three Types: Wet Cell gas hydrogen and long life.
(flooded), Absorbed Glass Mat – Con: Twice the cost of flooded.
(AGM) and Gel • AGM vs Gel
• Wet Cell – 2 types serviceable – AGM more tolerant in charging –
& maintenance free. Gel requires lower charging
voltage and can be damaged
– Pro: inexpensive & easy to
charge – AGM hold charge longer than Gel
– Con: possible spills, leaks and – Gel more tolerant of extreme
off-gassing heat and very deep cycle
operations
– AGM is most compatible with
solar and wind system
– Both are available on 2nd hand
market often for free. UPS
Reference: replacements cycles.
http://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/battery-basics.html#4
Lithium Ion Batteries Examined:
Advantages: Disadvantages:
• High energy density – less • Charge/discharge
weight & smaller form protection circuits required
factor • Aging in terms of elapsed
• Reduced self-discharge time and charge cycles
• No-maintenance discharge effects useful life
cycles required • Air travel limitations – fear
• Variety of types & sizes of short circuit fire or
explosion ( remember - Boeing
787 thermal runaway issue)
• New technology – issues to
resolve and improvements
likely
References:
http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/power-management/battery-technology/lithium-ion-battery-advantages-
disadvantages.php
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/lithium_based_batteries
Solar and Wind
Battery Charging Systems
Components of a “green
power” generation system”:
• Generator:
– Photo- galvanic cells
($150/100 Watts),
– Wind ($350/300 Watts) or
– Water turbine (expensive)
• Charge Controller $45 and
up.
• AGM Batteries 35 AH $65
100 AH $190
Gas Generators
Considerations:
• Weight, size & output
• Voltage stability and
quality (multi step
AC/DC/AC inversion)
• Noise RF and audible
• 120 volt AC vs 12 volt
DC
• 2000 Watts – Price $500
- $1,000.
Portable Antennas
a most critical component of HF
Antenna Strategies
what is your business driver?
Communications objective: Hardware strategies and
• Local net check-in, preferences:
• County or regional tactical • Bring supplies adapt to
• Personal e-mail from what supports are there
beyond cell coverage • Build pre-configure kits that
• Local chat with friends can be quickly deployed
given a variety of supports
• Stay in touch with friends at
home from along the road • Bring your own supports
• Across the country • Buy commercial portable
communications packaged antennas
• DX
NVIS Local Communications
Works primarily on 80, 60 & 40 meters
Near Vertical Incidence
Skywave (NVIS):
• Horizontal antenna close
to ground creates vertical
wave
• Umbrella coverage out to
300 miles
• Effective with low power
and simple wire antennas
• This can work with less
than elegant
craftsmanship – a tossed
wire works
Reference:
http://www.qsl.net/wb5ude/nvis/
NIVIS Wire Antennas
DX Engineering example
References:
http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/nvis/NVIS%20-%20DX%20Engineering.pdf
http://www.w0ipl.net/ECom/NVIS/nvis.htm
Antennas for Distance
aiming for a lower angle to the horizon
Easy options
• End feed wire to high
point e.g. tree, flag pole
or kite with counterpoise
• Sloped or high off-center
fed wire
• A simple dipole with
height
• Vertical wire with
counterpoise
Note all options require a
turner
Commercial Portable Antennas
A few examples:
• BuddyPole
• Hamstick dipole
• Steppir CrankIR
• Outbacker
Build a Kit
make it easy to take your gear and setup in the field
Design considerations:
• Enclosure carry and
operate
• Power interconnection
• Heat
• Remote connections to
antennas and tuners.
• Internal, external or
remote tuners.
Practical setup in the Field
Considerations:
• Look for opportunities –
adapt found objects for
antenna supports
• Use a tuner – don’t sweat
length measurements –
unless you want to
• Counterpoise and radials
really help – lighting
grounds usually don’t
Operating
• How much power? Sweet
spot about 20 watts. (5
watts slim 100 watts
luxurious)
• In the mountains it is so
quiet – you can hear it all.
• Your friends in the City
with high noise may not
hear you.
• Experiment try different
antenna/ground Operating position at Sugarloaf FS Lookout 2013
configurations – try a
loop.
How about SOTA?
Summits On The Air –SOTA:
• Contest-like activity
• Carry radio gear to
designated summits
• Activate by making at
least 4 contacts
• Chasers hunt the
activators make contact
get credit point
• http://www.pnwsota.org/
Sugarloaf FS Lookout
near Leavenworth, WA SOTA site
Discussion
Let’s look at the Gear
