Improved Emergency Communications:
Being responsible for 10, 15 people on a trip is a daunting challenge. I really want to be sure our emergency response plan is solid--that starts with safety, which begins with planning.
- We plan a safe trip, with reasonable hiking distances and reasonable prep hikes.
- We prepare by ensuring the boys have the skills to hike and camp in the high country of Utah.
- Our group motto is "Don't be stupid" which really means to not take unnecessary risks.
- We bring highly skilled leaders--skilled and fit.
- We focus not just on reaching the goal, but having a good time along the way (hopefully ensuring no one wanders off because they're depressed, lonely, or mad).
- We bring leaders with a strong first aid background, in case we have to respond to a disaster.
- Our trip plan has an emergency evacuation plan for each day.
- On top of that, two years ago we carried a 2m/70cm HT.
Better Back country QSOs
Let's face it, 2m radio just isn't friendly to the back-country. On these trips, we try to camp at lower elevations which means we're generally down in a drainage, near a lake. Now remember - in the mountains of Utah, 'down' means as low as 10,500 feet above sea level. We're still pretty high! But 2m operation requires line of sight to the nearest repeater, which turns out to be a 2m repeater linked to the Intermountain Intertie system. In order to see it, I have to be at high elevation to clear other mountains. On our last trip, there were about five points (10 miles apart) that met these criteria. With HF, I have a much better chance of sending out a signal--in fact, with an NVIS antenna I have a good chance of hitting people within my general region (Utah). With a standard antenna, well, the continental United States is pretty likely! Bottom line: if I'm carrying radio gear, I'd like to be sure I'm getting out and using it. I want the reward, but I'd also like the boys to get a taste of what's possible.
Operation Mode
So I've been reviewing back country options--obviously I've been into light QRP work, having picked up my 817 last year (and really enjoying the long-distance SSB conversations as far away as Seattle, BC, OH and AK). So of course my initial thoughts leaned toward just hauling my 817 and a big battery with me - and I even have a couple of scouts willing to help carry stuff. But as I added the weight up, I just wasn't sure... For the last long-distance hike, I was carrying about 50 pounds. I started above 65 pounds and come out 15 pounds lighter. And I was feeling it, the entire trip. This trip has to be different...
Meanwhile everyone I spoke with kept telling me the same things I'm reading: pound-for-pound, watt-for-watt nothing beats CW. PSK-31 and other digital modes can really reach out (how about Salt Lake City to Kamchatna on 5 watts?), but PSK means bringing my 817 AND a laptop AND a sound card interface! In the end, everything keeps pointing back to CW... I'm done fighting the trend and I've concluded that I need to learn CW and gain experience operating that mode. And thus, a plan is born...
CW Transceiver Options
Now that I'm going with CW, I have a world of options. Going back to my goals, I want 1) a radio that can communicate in the event of an emergency, without me having to hike to the highest point around, and 2) a radio which can communicate in the evenings when I can have an enjoyable QSO. Moving to CW means there are a number of radios which fit the bill--the challenge is figuring out which radio. Four kits have been highly recommended--I'll try to offer pros and cons of each.
- Elecraft K1: The Elecraft K1 is probably the gold standard for rugged QRP CW rigs. It's relatively small (2.2"H x 5.2"W x 5.6"D), includes an option for internal batteries, and under 1.4 pounds. If you mix and match just right, you can actually get 6 bands out of this tiny rig! Some drawbacks for me, though, are 1) price (nearly $700 with the options I'd want), 2) size (it's a tiny rig but still larger than I want to stuff into my pack), and 3) weight. Add up all the optional components and such and I think you're closer to 2.5 or even 3 lbs. If I didn't own an 817 and I wanted to operate QRP portable CW, I'd probably buy this puppy in a heartbeat. I may yet own one, in fact!
- Small Wonder Labs Rockmite: at the time of writing this, I'm expecting to find one of these under the tree--read my review in a few weeks. The Rockmite is a tiny radio designed for just what I'm talking about: very portable back country use. It's a 40m CW rig that outputs around .5 watts (500 milliwatts--QRPp) on two frequencies. It's ultralight-designed for emergency use. I really can't wait to build mine and start practicing. In fact, my son gave me a Sour Patch Kids tin to put the radio in! Problems are 1) the low output. You always compromise something for weight - in this case, I'm definitely compromising power. 2) dual frequency, single band. This is a purpose-built radio for emergency and probably for 'special interest use' only. NOTE: I am building one, I will use one... I'm not dissing it, I just don't think it'll do what I want.
- Elecraft KX1: I have been looking at the Elecraft KX1 for probably six months now. This is a slick little rig - seriously feature-rich radio packed in a tiny package! It's portable, it can be self-contained (power, tuner, etc.) and can handle up to 4 bands with optional kits. It can output just south of 4 watts with an external 12v battery, too. Normal operating wattage with internal batteries is only about 2 watts though. That's not bad for QRP CW--in fact, even 500 milliwatts can get the job done most of the time. Still, it's got some downsides. First, there's the cost... Fully kitted out (internal tuner, all 4 bands, attached paddles) it'll run close to $600--that's more than I paid for my 817! Second, feedback is that the internal tuner just isn't broad enough to tune everything you might throw at it. Finally, there are additional odds-and-ends to bring with: external power to boost output signal to 4 watts, balun, wire-to-bnc adapter, etc.
- QRPKits PFR3: my final option in this line-up is the QRPKits PFR3. This radio was inspired by the KX1. In fact, it's the build-out of a very experienced answer to "what's the perfect backcountry radio," as answered by Dr. Bob Armstrong (N7XJ). As a long-time owner of a KX1, he had a series of gripes about that radio. As QRPKits' Doug Hendricks listened to Bob present to a meeting of the Arizona ScQRPions club, he took notes. Good notes. And less than a year later, the PFR was born. The best thing about it is the price for performance. For half the cost of the KX1, the PFR delivers two bands (40 and 20), 5 watts, internal manual tuner (with a much wider tuning capability than the KX1), 8 AA batteries rather than six, and a bright yellow case that's just stunningly unique.
In reviewing this round-up of radios, I've obviously caved and bought myself the Rockmite. That's just because I really want an Altoids tin radio! I've eliminated the K1 for size, weight, and cost. It came down to the KX1 and the PFR3. Frankly, I had eliminated the latter until last Saturday's meeting of the Davis County Amateur Radio club. After the meeting, Bob Cart WR7Q was chatting with me. When I told him I was saving up for a KX1, he referred me to Bob and said I'd love the PFR3. After a LONG thread on the QRP-L reflector, I'm sold - this is the way I'm going.
So I'm saving up, waiting patiently, and anticipating the chance to build out the PFR and report on it. Hope the above really helps - lots of info, but it might save someone else a ton of time researching and saving.
73's
K7JTO
