Unchained Preppers
Communications => Radio => Topic started by: JohnyMac on January 29, 2023, 02:15:24 PM
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Good afternoon folks!
I have started this thread in order to help us all in building a solid backpack digital comms setup. Hopefully, all will share their experiences, past and current, so some of us lower IQ folks can learn.
This is what I am looking to do.
1) Buy a tablet instead of using a Raspberry pi. This will minimize parts of the comm setup. Screen, keyboard, and
computer all in one. Leave the tablet air gapped. Down load the FLdigi program onto a memory stick and have
the memory stick scanned for nasties. Then download FLdigi software from the memory stick to the tablet. Or
use the tablets MicroSD card tray. (.6-lb)
2) Buy a Xiegu G90 MARS modified transceiver (2.2-Lb)
3) Buy the Xiegu XCE-19 Data Interface Expansion Port (.5-LB)
4) 12V, 6Ah LFP Battery (PVC, BLF-1206A) (1.3-LB)
5) I have a Par EndFedz Antennas EF-QUAD which I really like. It played nice with Patriotman's G90, in a sloping
configuration. (1-LB)
This set up is around 5-lbs and could be easily stored in a large (12"x18") EMP bag. The comms would live in my GOD bag. GOD bag + Comms = ~30-lbs
Before I pull the trigger on this setup, what am I missing?
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Go with the digirig over the CE-19 interface. CE-19 is cumbersome.
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Digi Rig? https://digirig.net/
What cables do I need? :cheers:
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Some folks are just using a QRP Labs QDX transceiver with a small linux notebook and a battery packs and end fed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTop-QL6Fhs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTop-QL6Fhs)
I've got a QDX transceiver on order, planning on interfacing it either with a tablet or a Toughbook laptop.
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I have been thinking of doing this also.
Will be keeping an eye on this thread.
I am also exploring LORAWAN for setting up a mesh network for wide areas.
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When I was using my ICOM IC-718 for digital, I just used two cables. One cable went from the Headphone Jack to the Audio line in on the Computer and the other went from the Headphone out of the Computer to the Mike input jack on the Radio. Then I just turned on the VOX. Bam! I had instant Digital without any interface. The Computer heard the Radio's audio signal and the Radio could hear the Computer's audio output. As soon as the computer sent a signal, the VOX would key the transmitter. I actually could have just used the radio's Mike to pick up the sound from the computer but I didn't want extranious room sounds to get mixed with the computer's sounds.
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Great discussion gentlemen!
Let's keep it rolling forward. :pirateThumbUp:
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Here is a YT video on using Xiegu G90, Digirig, and the cables needed. Plus the settings. \"/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al99ItgnJ9U (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al99ItgnJ9U)
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Perhaps we should schedule a 'Prepper's Night Out" that is; to schedule a specific ERIN net using our back-up station out portable. Best if it went into the day pack (Mine is a Hey Kitty book bag and comes with a matching hat...).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/supercollider/2330857852 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/supercollider/2330857852)]
The goal is to be out the door, I don't care if the first time is in the back yard, no power cord and with your portable antenna kit. I'd bet that most hams, given an hour, can't walk out the door and set-up even a hundred feet from the house.
It's a thought.
de Sir John Honeybucket
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Great idea Sir John. :bravo:
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I pulled the trigger on the following...
> Xiegu G90 MARS modified transceiver
> Digirig & Cables
> Lenovo M8 Tablet (Android Pie 9 OS) & cable for HT 2-meter
> LiFePO4 9 Amp 12 V battery
Boy O' boy this hobby is expensive. :facepalm:
Stay tuned... :popcorn:
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Perhaps we should schedule a 'Prepper's Night Out"
I'm in. I will try to set up portable for next Tuesday 's cw sked. Weather pending of course. CW is the original digital mode after all. I will work on a photo of my /P outfit.
Mike
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Cooter!
You had a very good signal tonight, with your roaring 4 - 5 Watts QRP rig during our CW sked. I relayed your message to the ERIN Digital Net. Agreed, Morse code is my number one preference. With a shirt pocket station like you use (MTR ' Mountaintopper) , portable is much more realistic.
Morse code is a survival skill.
- Sir John Honeybucket
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You gentlemen are 100% correct :thumbsUp:
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Items are starting to arrive for my radio backpack build.
The Lenovo M8 arrived and guess what? It will not operate unless connected to the internet. I want to download the app onto a memory drive, do a scan on the drive to make sure their are no nasties attached to the FLdigi app, then down load to the tablet.
The directions were awful so I contacted Lenovo to find out how to do it. After 20-minutes of trying to get some support someone told me that I can not do what I want to do on their M8. The agent I spoke with could not understand why I would not to be online. :facepalm:
So I am back to looking for a tablet or small computer (Weight is an issue) that I can run not using the interwiz and download from a memory card or memory stick drive FLdigi to it.
This is exactly why I started this thread so we can all learn from each other. Why reinvent the wheel. ;)
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Success, a little one anyway. Sir John and I did our weekly sked on Mon this week (Valentine's Day today).
I was portable on the LNR MTR4B using battery power and a lightweight 40-30-20 link dipole (inv vee) strung up from a tree.
Full disclosure, this was only a couple hundred feet behind the house and I was sitting in the passenger seat of the truck. Baby steps.
Great conditions on 30, we both had excellent signal reports.
I want to go further afield sometime but have some severe time constraints at present.
Mike
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I think I'm going to pick up one of the Evolve laptops like Obh has. I have several laptops, but they're all pretty heavy and all run off 18 or 19 volts, instead of 12 like the Evolve. I've had several ipads, and never found them useful for much of anything, especially without a keyboard or USB ports. By the time I get a tablet that works and all the doodads to make it connect, I'll probably be carrying more weight than the Evolve. And for $150 (not $60 like they were selling for a while), if it's not useful for radio I'll do something else with it, like run my irrigation system.
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:thumbsUp:
I am looking at a https://www.amazon.com/Hyundai-Display-Quad-Core-Processor-Storage/dp/B08SZD2RGF/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 (https://www.amazon.com/Hyundai-Display-Quad-Core-Processor-Storage/dp/B08SZD2RGF/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8)
I have not pulled the trigger as yet on anything.
Is this the one you are thinking about FF? https://www.ebay.com/itm/334709733487?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110013%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIMRXI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D245320%26meid%3D90d7681e1f9944fab5f4eadccf222ab1%26pid%3D101196%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D334732488038%26itm%3D334709733487%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSIMRVIMLRV5WebV1_0&_trksid=p2047675.c101196.m2219&amdata=cksum%3A33470973348790d7681e1f9944fab5f4eadccf222ab1%7Cenc%3AAQAHAAAA4Hu6A12tbgsOEr8tufGJ8piMwSpA8oD0jTBb2dctT5ZHNdmjjD5yqX12Wa6GjWkNc0f4jsfKsndwpB6iyGsmmyXJpa4IxDJS%252FnCH8Q2SO4%252BamirLqg1cb%252BpPYjo1p6qKBN3pdG9sqV7fUzsYqiGKIBEjO3wZAd7EI%252B325dYVkk6UU8K6HaIWXQao5KQtQpmyRsJGUWz0qUXntNYQckseZZ1oY1F%252B3n7bmXZvQHEs7tI9sDgPxLo7mTkdfbLRt9bFxP8Fyj8ohK6QEIZAEcAmvq7hppU8vHua%252B3goCGcZmBEG%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2047675 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/334709733487?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110013%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIMRXI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D245320%26meid%3D90d7681e1f9944fab5f4eadccf222ab1%26pid%3D101196%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D334732488038%26itm%3D334709733487%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSIMRVIMLRV5WebV1_0&_trksid=p2047675.c101196.m2219&amdata=cksum%3A33470973348790d7681e1f9944fab5f4eadccf222ab1%7Cenc%3AAQAHAAAA4Hu6A12tbgsOEr8tufGJ8piMwSpA8oD0jTBb2dctT5ZHNdmjjD5yqX12Wa6GjWkNc0f4jsfKsndwpB6iyGsmmyXJpa4IxDJS%252FnCH8Q2SO4%252BamirLqg1cb%252BpPYjo1p6qKBN3pdG9sqV7fUzsYqiGKIBEjO3wZAd7EI%252B325dYVkk6UU8K6HaIWXQao5KQtQpmyRsJGUWz0qUXntNYQckseZZ1oY1F%252B3n7bmXZvQHEs7tI9sDgPxLo7mTkdfbLRt9bFxP8Fyj8ohK6QEIZAEcAmvq7hppU8vHua%252B3goCGcZmBEG%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2047675)
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I'm still in the process of building my portable digital mode station. I've got a QDX transceiver on order, but it hasn't been built yet. I'm guessing I've got another 4-6 weeks before mine is built.
For the data terminal, I went with a Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1, running Windows 10 on a 256 GB SSD. I've always used and liked Toughbooks, and they've performed well in the past. The Toughpad seems very rugged and durable and it's significantly lighter than my Toughbooks. From my research,the Toughpads do an adequate job when used for digital modes. I guess I'll find out later this spring once the QDX transceiver arrives.
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COOTER did his ' Prepper's Night Out' to make our QRP Morse sked. We passed 2 formal radiograms both from his test location in Florida. I received him easily in in coastal Virginia. For those wondering, have a look at his QRP rig ; the LNR Precision MTR4b. You can slide it into your shirt pocket and run it a VERY long time on AA batteries. Antenna was a linked dipole (for band changes) no tuner required. Basically, he PASSED the question " Can you walk out your door, even 50 feet and communicate?". He did and that's well over 600 miles. , two formal messages passed, no computer to keep powered, protected and carried. The comms computer was between his ears. Sure,Cooter mentioned that it was not far, but my experience says that 'first fifty feet' are the most important. After that, a few miles more is just icing on the cake.
Let's think about this for the ERIN Net as well - put a suitable list of equipment and batteries into a small day pack and set-up away from the shack, then make comms during one or more of the ERIN time/mode skeds.
'See you on the radio.'
- Sir John Honeybucket
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@ Jackalope, that toughpad is $800- :facepalm:
@ Sir John, IMO, working CW is the original and best digital mode. As you write, "no computer to keep powered, protected and carried. The comms computer was between his ears."
All good stuff folks :thumbsUp:
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Johny, I purchased my Touphpad last month for $189.00. Bought it on eBay, they have many used ones in different configurations. I also bought a new battery for it at $44. I'd rate mine at very good to excellent condition. New Toughpads were $2000-4000, so they depreciated quickly. It's running Windows 10. It's sitting in a Faraday bag at the moment.
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LOL! Cool beans Jackalope. :thumbsUp:
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There's a good review of the QRP Labs QDX transceiver in the March, 2023, issue of QST. The reviewer primarily uses his QDX for portable digital communications. The QDX transceiver is almost foolproof and it sets up quickly. For those folks interested in portable digital operations, you might want to check out the review.
The author doesn't mention the wait time for the radio. I've been waiting about four weeks, thus far, and I'm guessing it'll be another 4-6 weeks before mine gets built. The company does provide a wait list, so you can see where you are on the list and it's updated almost daily.
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Perhaps we should schedule a 'Prepper's Night Out" that is; to schedule a specific ERIN net using our back-up station out portable. Best if it went into the day pack (Mine is a Hey Kitty book bag and comes with a matching hat...).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/supercollider/2330857852 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/supercollider/2330857852)]
The goal is to be out the door, I don't care if the first time is in the back yard, no power cord and with your portable antenna kit. I'd bet that most hams, given an hour, can't walk out the door and set-up even a hundred feet from the house.
It's a thought.
de Sir John Honeybucket
Excellent idea Sir John. I still don't have my license, so I listen from afar doing just as you said - I've learned shortcuts for setting up, but each new location makes for new challenges.
(Just catching up with this post)
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Good video for this thread by OH8STN. Title, Best HF Ham Radio for Off Grid Survival
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSv0G2Ydm_4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSv0G2Ydm_4)
Like he said, "I am sure there are others".
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Along with building my new back pack comms, I want to replace the current Par End Fed Quad antenna. The antenna works great however, it is only 40, 20, 15, 10-meters and it weighs in at 2.5-lbs.
Has anybody had any experience with N9SAB (https://www.ebay.com/str/n9sab) antenna?
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This YouTuber likes the N9SAB antennas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEpFwZhSdMo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEpFwZhSdMo)
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No, which one are you considering? They seem pricey for wire antennas.
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Jackalope, the 80-6 Meter one QRP Random Wire End Fed Variable Length 80-6M Portable Ham Radio Antenna PETG/CF
Here is my progress on my new comms man pack so far.
> Replaced the 817 and LDG Tuner with a G90 radio which has the internal ATU,
> Bought a Hyundai 7" tablet. This tablet was $50- and it could run air gapped using a android version of FLdigi, msg, etc. The
FLdigi program is on a Micro SD card which lives in the tablet. The tablet weighs in just under 13-oz.
> Digirig sound card. This is MUCH better than the Xeigu CE-19 interface. A lot easier to use too.
> Bioenno LIFePO battery 12V 9AH. ~42-ounces, and
> As mentioned above, looking for a 80-6 meter antenna that weighs less than the 40-10 meter PAR END Fed Quad antenna
that weighs in at a hefty 37-ounces.
That's where I am today.
:cheers:
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Quick update...
I got the tablet to work with my G90 with the help of the Digirig Forum. A gentleman on the forum, an electrical engineer with Digirig, shared with me a beta version of AndFLmsg (V1.6). With some tweaking of speakers/microphone settings and a few clicks here and there, my tablet now acts as a computer during digital comms.
When I have a free minute, later this week, I will put together a Xiegu G90 Android 10 Tablet Cheat Sheet and make it a sticky. Again, later this week ;)
It is great when hams reach out to help other hams. :cheers:
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Jm,
Please do post that info. Many of us do use the G90 and the Android tablet for FLdigi would save a lot of weight. But ou knew that. ;-)
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LOL W1DWD, nothing is simple using digital, as I am sure you know.
When I first started digital I had a full head of hair and non of my clothes were rended. Then getting my tablet to play nice, well I am bald now and buy new clothes at the Salvation Army. To make a long story short, with the help of Digirig, I was able to make it happen.
Once I have a free minute, I will consolidate my notes and post here on a sticky. It will be for the Xiegu G90 and Android 10 tablet, but what I learned will probably by 95% useful to others.
One thing before you do anything, using a USB C to USB C cable, (tablet USBC port your USB C power port is also used as a data port) from your tablet to the Digirig interface, works like a charm. I used the headphone jack to USB C Digirig but it didn't work unless it was a 3.5 jack that handled four (not three) functions. They are called Four pole audio jack to USB C cable.
But, in all fairness, the USB C to USB C cable worked best.
Also, the sequence of how you hook all up can mean success or no digital joy.
You have to hook up the Digirig to tablet first because the tablet has to recognize the interface. Then turn on your radio and hook up the cables from the radio to Digirig.
I hope that gets you started till I can post the "cheat sheet".
73
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I have a good deal of experience with N9SAB antennas and would be happy to answer any questions.
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My experience with running digital on a tablet has been less than spectacular. I eventually picked up a cheapo Dell laptop on eBay and have never looked back. Makes power a little bit more of a challenge but worth it in my opinion.
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As a side note, I have been trading emails with N9SAB who owns N9SAB HF Ham Radio Antennas. (https://www.ebay.com/str/n9sab). He is a new member here so be nice :lmfao: :cheers:
My antenna arrived yesterday (80-6M) and I was going to run it today but it is sleeting sideways. It is 33 degrees, sleeting, with a lively breeze of 10-14 mph and some nice gusts topping 20 mph. If I was out on the water with Mad Max, I would have put a reef in the main for sure. :P
@ N9SAB, concerning a laptop vs. tablet, I went out and bought a $99- laptop from Ebay too. It is a Evolve III and only weights 32 oz. Plus it runs off the 12 volt battery too when the laptops battery runs down. :thumbsUp:
Sunday looks good though with temps in the mid-50's and some solar activity to top off the house batteries. I will run the antenna through its paces, probably with the G90. This project is coming to its end. Then it will be time to go out and do some SOTA back packing adventures.
Finished my AR-10 "pimp out" yesterday so Monday I need to test fire it to make sure it works. Lining up that adjustable gas block was a pain in the butt. I borrowed a AR-10 .308 Barrel Vise Block from CJS06. THANK YOU SIR. I will do a write up on that in a week or two after I get my Accu-Tac Bipod. It is backordered.
Time to throw a few more logs into the wood stove. :thumbsUp:
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A reef in the main for sure! Let me know how your testing goes. We can make any adjustments or tweaks as needed. Thanks for the welcome!
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Items are starting to arrive for my radio backpack build.
The Lenovo M8 arrived and guess what? It will not operate unless connected to the internet. I want to download the app onto a memory drive, do a scan on the drive to make sure their are no nasties attached to the FLdigi app, then down load to the tablet.
The directions were awful so I contacted Lenovo to find out how to do it. After 20-minutes of trying to get some support someone told me that I can not do what I want to do on their M8. The agent I spoke with could not understand why I would not to be online. :facepalm:
So I am back to looking for a tablet or small computer (Weight is an issue) that I can run not using the interwiz and download from a memory card or memory stick drive FLdigi to it.
This is exactly why I started this thread so we can all learn from each other. Why reinvent the wheel. ;)
I had similar issues with Android tablets.
My solution was to pick up a brace of these Android ipod-touch style things - G-Mee. https://www.amazon.com/G-Mee-2-Smartplayer-Cellphone-Kids-Android-More-Bluetooth/dp/B0B1CZL7VQ (https://www.amazon.com/G-Mee-2-Smartplayer-Cellphone-Kids-Android-More-Bluetooth/dp/B0B1CZL7VQ)
It's wifi-only with no camera or GPS.
Mine have never been connected to the internet. They can be via wi-fi if you want, but I don't. There's bluetooth, etc. In the field I carry them in VN-era "Chieu-Hoi" waterproof 20-rd M16 magazine bags since I got a bunch of them cheap a while back. Prior to that I was using an MRE beverage bag. Both types of bags allow you to manipulate the controls and use the touch screen.
Mine are loaded with the following apps:
- AndFlmsg
- APRSdroid
- Briar
- Crypt4All Lite
- Morse Code Agent (allows "burst" transmission)
- OnePad
- Avenza maps (and accompanying topographic mapping of a 200m radius of my location)
- A PDF viewer
- Secret Space Encryptor
- Silent Boot
- Sound Recorder
- VLC media player
- Wire
- Notepad
Despite what the amazon product info says, this device will accept up to at least a 512Gb MicroSD card. Contact the seller for spare batteries. Each of mine has two spare batteries.
Several months field use and maybe 12 months total of messing around with the device in the shack Mine have been totally reliable.
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Todd , very cool on your Android based solution. I just got things loaded and stable on my Amdroid last week and hope to test it during tonight's ERIN net. In all, I'd rather use Morse, due to its extreme efficiency and simplicity, and field portability but that's not likely to happen except with a few individuals. So using an Android for prepper comms is a secondary option / solution. This works well with my little TrUSDX qrp rig.
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I continue to trade emails with Tim over at N9SAB Antennas. I had a few glitches with the antenna I had ordered and like the true customer service oriented business owner he has dropped into the mail a new antenna that should hope fully to meet my needs. A review to come.
Currently, I am looking for a day pack size that can house my G90 and accoutrements for POTA, SOTA, and basic backpacking trips. Currently, I have the kit stored in the top of a 52 Liter backpack from Fjallraven. The electronics, (radio, mic, Digirig, etc) are stored in a EMP bag the rest are in freezer sip lock bags. This works great for a 3-4 day trek but is a bit overkill for a day trek.
I ran across this pack (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj7xV6oEn04) from gigaparts. What are your thoughts? What are you using to carry your field equipment? How much does it weigh?
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Bwahaha,,,,,, Don't get me started on what's in my Radio Backpack. I've got an ICOM 718 with LDG autotuner, 200 feet of Wire on spools, Freq Counter, Antenna Analyser, Antenna Switch, VHF/UHF Handi-talkie, and a crap load of related odds and ends. All I need is 12 volts and someone to carry all that crap.