Number ONE thing to do: Test your setup before going out into the field. You definitely need a LiFePO4 battery. I was surprised that you attempted to run the radio off the car. Good first attempt. Keep at it! Hope to catch you on the air one day! 73!
My goal for this was to not purchase any additional equipment besides the stuff I had already. As-is, the rig worked at the home QTH, but clearly transporting/installing the antennas resulted in a break somewhere. It's speaker wire Western Union tied together, after all. After this trip, I ended up building a 4s3p LiIon pack for the radio with 18650s I had extra from a past project, so I'm set for power now.
@ Moving things in a car can definitely help or hurt equipment. Had a PC years ago that had issues. Brought it to work to see if others could figure out what was going on and it just started working. Weird things can happen. Good luck on your next activation! 73!
@@KI5UCO That was one of my guesses too. It was good quality cable, but the long length combined with that particular car always having a weak battery made it just low enough to keep tripping the low voltage protection.
That’s it! My second transceiver ever. Manuf. 2005, got it early 2024; I had to rebuild its battery from it sitting so long. It still rivals the functionality of my other Icom HT and Chinese mobiles.
@@baaelectronics I still have mine sitting on the shelf. Last year to shut someone up I bought a battery from amazon for it. Then the drop charger died.. again Amazon.. Been working like new ever since. Same ham wants the radio. Thought of selling it but its true dual and a fantastic HT. Surpasses every HT I own including the ft3. People always ask what kind of a mobile rig I'm using hi hi 73 ✌ goof luck to you
"POTA" seems a little contrived and strange to me but to each his own but the whole "Q" language things seems completely unnecessary and I would vote to get rid of it and just use plain english./
I see it as an excuse to get out and operate portable, especially for those who might otherwise not have motivation to. Q-codes come from CW (try using only plain English in a Morse code conversation and see how much longer it takes you!), so I'm sure its use in phone carried over from that... just like other radio services have their proprietary abbreviations.
Number ONE thing to do: Test your setup before going out into the field.
You definitely need a LiFePO4 battery. I was surprised that you attempted to run the radio off the car.
Good first attempt. Keep at it! Hope to catch you on the air one day! 73!
My goal for this was to not purchase any additional equipment besides the stuff I had already. As-is, the rig worked at the home QTH, but clearly transporting/installing the antennas resulted in a break somewhere. It's speaker wire Western Union tied together, after all.
After this trip, I ended up building a 4s3p LiIon pack for the radio with 18650s I had extra from a past project, so I'm set for power now.
@ Moving things in a car can definitely help or hurt equipment. Had a PC years ago that had issues. Brought it to work to see if others could figure out what was going on and it just started working. Weird things can happen.
Good luck on your next activation! 73!
Field radio is always interesting 😀You guys did a great job adapting on the fly and learning for the next one! N7BBQ
Fantastic stuff. I'd say your voltage problem was likely due to the length of your cable
@@KI5UCO That was one of my guesses too. It was good quality cable, but the long length combined with that particular car always having a weak battery made it just low enough to keep tripping the low voltage protection.
@baaelectronics we live and we learn. You'll get it next time!
Is that a W32-a hahha! My first HT
That’s it! My second transceiver ever. Manuf. 2005, got it early 2024; I had to rebuild its battery from it sitting so long. It still rivals the functionality of my other Icom HT and Chinese mobiles.
@@baaelectronics I still have mine sitting on the shelf. Last year to shut someone up I bought a battery from amazon for it. Then the drop charger died.. again Amazon.. Been working like new ever since. Same ham wants the radio. Thought of selling it but its true dual and a fantastic HT. Surpasses every HT I own including the ft3. People always ask what kind of a mobile rig I'm using hi hi 73 ✌ goof luck to you
"POTA" seems a little contrived and strange to me but to each his own but the whole "Q" language things seems completely unnecessary and I would vote to get rid of it and just use plain english./
I see it as an excuse to get out and operate portable, especially for those who might otherwise not have motivation to.
Q-codes come from CW (try using only plain English in a Morse code conversation and see how much longer it takes you!), so I'm sure its use in phone carried over from that... just like other radio services have their proprietary abbreviations.