Get geared up for field operating and setting up your field workbench with John Jacobs W7DBO from the Field Radio Podcast. In segment 1, John outlines his method for organizing and planning your field radio adventures. In segment 2 we list essential tools, parts, and test gear you need for light weight trail ops and full scale Field Day deployments. We wrap up the show with an introduction to the Powerfilm Lightsaver MAX portable battery and solar panel.

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Segment 1 - Plan your Event

Mission First Gear Second

Identify what you want to accomplish and select gear to match

What is your goal?

Day trip vs overnighter?
Hotel vs camping vs backpacking?
Travel focus or radio focus?

Field Expediency

Doing work in advance selecting gear to maximize time on air versus time setting up / breaking down

Field Tested Gear: Load out in living room, then load out in back yard, then load out in local park, then once gear is tested, attempt the big trip. Field test in your driveway or at the park first.

Personal prep / Safety First:

Personal Emergency Preparations, travel itinerary, weather observations, red flag warnings.

4 Goals:

Get On The Air
Stay On The Air
Be An Effective Communicator
Have Fun

Gear Must Be:

Modular
Tested
Portable
Understood

Field Radio Podcast

Comms To Go

Segment 2 - Field Workbench

Light weight radio events – SOTA, travel, casual operating, emergency prep

Have a common simplex frequency

Review the wilderness protocol

Simplex frequencies:

146.52 <-- primary
446.0
223.5
52.525
1294.5

Times to Monitor

07:00 - 07:05
10:00 - 10:05
13:00 - 13:05
16:00 - 16:05

EDC – Every Day Carry bag

Leatherman / Gerber multi-tool
Pocket knife
Multi bit reversible screwdriver
Flashlight
Duct tape, electrical tape, gaffer’s tape wrapped on a credit card
5v USB external battery and cell phone cable
Radio, antenna, battery pack,
Lighter
Survival tin
Cash
Micro first aid kit
Pen / pencil / notepad

Goals

Minimalist set of gear – small, lightweight
Easily carry in a backpack
Fix common problems – fix connections, cut stuff / fix stuff

Tools

Multi tool – Full size Leatherman or Squirt ES4
Pocket knife – Swiss army, Victronix, Gerber, etc.

Parts

Wago wire nuts
2’ Solid wire
Gaffers tape – small roll
Fuses if your radio has fuses

Other stuff

Head lamp
Mini volt meter

TOP TAKE-AWAYS

Practice setting up your gear and see what tools you use.
Look at your gear and imagine what could break. Figure out what you need to fix it.
Focus on the weakest items. Cables, connectors, batteries, wires, adapters.

Big radio events – Field Day, Contesting, Public service events

Goals

If anything breaks you can fix it
Balance between being well prepared and going light and easy.

Mechanical tools

Screwdrivers, pliers, wire cutters, socket set, wrenches, hammer, pry bar
Allen wrenchs, hex drivers, wire strippers, tape measure, box cutter,
Xacto knife and spare blades, scissors,

TIP: Get a good cheap tool kit at Home Depot – HDX tool set $20.

TIP: Get a bunch of cheap tools at Harbor Freight for the club.

Electronic tools

Power pole crimping tool
Coax connector crimping tool with die for N, UHF and BNC connectors
Lug crimp tool
Butane soldering iron
DC AA batt soldering iron
Jet lighter
Helping hands or small vice
Head lamp and LED desk lamp

Consummables

Electrical tape – Scotch 33
Rescue tape
Zip ties
Shrink wrap
Solder and solder wick
Paracord

Parts

Spare coax connectors
Coax adapters
Crimp lugs
Fuses
Various resistors, caps,
Power Pole connectors
Wago wire nuts
Audio adapters – ¼ to 3.5mm
Wire
Various stranded and solid
Buss wire (solid)
Batteries – AA and AAA
Various screws, nuts washers

Test equipment

Antenna analyzer
12 VDC power monitor with power poles
VOM – you are not making precise measurements – cheap is OK. You are mostly measuring voltages or resistance.
TIP: Harbor freight $5 VOM. Get 2.
Coax jumpers
Aligator clip jumper wires

General TiPs

Look at your radios. Assume any cable or connector can and will break.
Have spares for all breakable components
Organize your stuff in modules
Mechanical tools and parts
Electronic radio tools and parts
Electronic test equipment

Cases

DeWalt stackable drawers
Heavy duty tool bags

PowerFilm Solar Lightsaver MAX

Portable battery and flexible solar panel

Battery: 18000mAh 66 Wh

LiPo batteries are 3.7v so the capacity is 4.8 Ah

Solar panel guess is about 10 watts

Input: USB-C (3A), 12V (2A)

Output: Dual USB-A (2.5A), 12V (5A peak)

Weight: 1.5 lbs Size: Rolled: 13.5” x 2.5” Unrolled: 34.5” x 13.5”

Solar Charge: 6-8 hours full sun

Wall Charge: 3-4 hours (12V) 6-7 hours (USB-C) 8-10 hours (USB)

Battery state indicator is a row of LEDs.

Built in flash light LED on the end

Cables Included:

USB-A to USB-C Cable

12V Input Charging Cable

12V Output Cable

Runs the KX2 fine. No charge controller noise detected on initial trial.

HRWB056-Field Radio Workbench 02:40:46 Share

Ham Radio Workbench Podcast

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HRWB056-Field Radio Workbench