Thomas Does Radio or Something

For the QRPer's Field Radio Kit Gallery , this is my KX3 and speaker wire in a camera bag activation kit. This kit is the continuation of the equipment I used for my Maine ATNO expedition and other activities on that return to my parents almost a year ago. Primarily, it's a change in bags and an improvement of the audio connection options for more sustained activations. Writing up this kit for the gallery also will probably be an incentive for further change. With how loosely packed it is, there's space for options! You can see this kit in action on my recent trail activation . The bag packed and ready for an expedition, even if just a little ways away.

With an Elk Antennas 2M/440L5 providing me directional operation on 2m and 70cm and a couple handheld rigs that include 1.25m, I wanted more than just a stock whip to operate with those rigs. Since I have access to scraps of copper refrigerant tubing at the day job from test/prototype systems, I thought it'd be a great material to build with. To put it briefly, the results have been fantastic to start. As initially assembled on the terribly scientific test stand of an empty recycle bin.

The afternoon after my sky picture , I went out to one of Wisconsin's newer POTA entities (Capital State Trail, K-9773) after work to pick up another activation. One of my hunted P2P contacts included a request for a station setup picture, so this is for VA5MUD who was operating from VE-0111. This was a quick activation cut right at 10 QSOs due to the arrival of the anticipated rain. Antenna setup using the trail emergency locator marker as a support for the fiberglass pole.

The Quansheng UV-K5 ( product page archive ) handheld transceiver has been notable in cheap amateur radios of 2023 by using both a wideband FM chip BK4819 ( product page archive ). With support of 18-620 and 840-1200 MHz half-duplex with 6.25/12.5/20/25 kHz channel spacing, this puts the chip in the range of five ITU Region 2 amateur bands (10m, 6m, 2m, 1.25m, 70cm, 33 cm) and spitting distance from a sixth (23 cm). Presumably hitting 4m and the rare 8m would be within reason as well. The easily hackable firmware indicates at least nominal receive capability up to 1300 MHz, though!

I found the sky outside particularly striking last week. Just to get the blog rolling again, I'll put this here as non-radio-related content for your enjoyment. Sky over Fitchburg, Wisconsin on the morning of 2023-10-24. Shot with Samsung Galaxy S10+, unprocessed JPEG.