yaesu 857

[AudioShockwav]

I run a 897-D, It is also opened for full TX, never had a problem with it.
In fact it is an awesome radio, big enough to have all the features I need, and small enough to make a great portable rig for camping, and weekend outings.
I use a LDG AT-200 Pro with it...that, a battery,a home made balun and a long wire are a Station that I can throw in my truck and take anywere.

73
Jeff

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I run a 897-D, It is also opened for full TX, never had a problem with it.
In fact it is an awesome radio, big enough to have all the features I need, and small enough to make a great portable rig for camping, and weekend outings.
I use a LDG AT-200 Pro with it...that, a battery,a home made balun and a long wire are a Station that I can throw in my truck and take anywere.

73
Jeff

Jeff,how do you hook up the long wire in your truck?

 

[AudioShockwav]

I pull it up in the nearest tree..
Awesome camping rig.
I use the tuner into a 1/4 wave whip for 10/12/15/20 while mobile, not the best antenna, but it makes contacts.

73
jeff

 

[Beetle]

If that "long wire" is end-fed, what are you using as a counterpoise? The tuner might find a comfortable SWR, but without a counterpoise/radials it's going to be pretty inefficient.

 

[AudioShockwav]

You are correct, when Camping I run a counterpoise, and just throw it on the ground were I can. I have even used a ground rod, and counterpoise radials when I plan to stay more than a few days, but for short trips, the wire on the ground works fine. The tuner has always found a Match....It would be more effective to cut a dipole for each band, and hang it in the trees, but that is too much work. I compromise with a end feed because it is easy, and the tuner makes the radio happy.
I have to admit....I keep looking at the Budi-pole antenna system, I was that close to getting one, but I Shelled out the coins for the 200 Pro....maybe next time.
For now wire is cheap.

73
Jeff[/quote]

 

[bigred222]

You are correct, when Camping I run a counterpoise, and just throw it on the ground were I can. I have even used a ground rod, and counterpoise radials when I plan to stay more than a few days, but for short trips, the wire on the ground works fine. The tuner has always found a Match....It would be more effective to cut a dipole for each band, and hang it in the trees, but that is too much work. I compromise with a end feed because it is easy, and the tuner makes the radio happy.
I have to admit....I keep looking at the Budi-pole antenna system, I was that close to getting one, but I Shelled out the coins for the 200 Pro....maybe next time.
For now wire is cheap.

73
Jeff

[/quote]

Yeah that buddy pole is lookin pretty good. It looks like it would be well worth it for those who do camping and that sort of thing.
73's

 

[SR385]

The PAR End-Fedz 20m is great for camping. Very convenient end-fed 1/2w. You could make one easily enough but they really aren't very expensive either, so they are convenient.

Plus 20m is a great portable band as it's relatively easy to make a good portable antenna for it.

 

[CDX-007]

For that camping antenna sort of thing I have a premade 61' per leg, center fed set of wires and a magical liittle device called a Dentron Jr. Monitor http://www.rigpix.com/accessories/dentron_jrmonitor.htm which is the best I've found for 300w pep and under. It BLOWS away my old MFJ tuner and I like the way it doesn't change the tuning when you put a paw on the knobs.

This tunes all bands from 10m-80m except 17m which it will tune but doesn't like it.
The performance is fantastic, except for the local 10m chit chat which is mostly vertical of course but occasionally I find someone on 10m with either a horizontal beam or an inverted vee for 10m.

I use 300ohm TV twin lead from the balanced connection on the tuner which enables me to tune basically anywhere and has quite a kick on 20m & 40m where it has some gain.

I've also had great luck with an end-fed 5 wave length which seems to have some decent gain on 20m, but that's about 350' long and I only use that when I camp well away from the general public and out in the "backwoods".

The 122' center-fed dipole works like crazy for a radius of about 500mi on 75m / 80m, especially in the evening, and on 60m I get outstanding reports. I've even been accused of running an amp on that 50w erp band when I'm rolling it back to about 35w!

It sure is a blast to go field-day-ing and build a real performer hanging from the trees.

Seventy trees