Digital Back Pack Build

[JohnyMac]

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?

[Obh]

Go with the digirig over the CE-19 interface. CE-19 is cumbersome.

[JohnyMac]

Digi Rig? https://digirig.net/

What cables do I need? 

[Jackalope]

   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

   I've got a QDX transceiver on order, planning on interfacing it either with a tablet or a Toughbook laptop.

[gadget9901]

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.

[pkveazey]

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.

[JohnyMac]

Great discussion gentlemen!

Let's keep it rolling forward. 

[JohnyMac]

Here is a YT video on using Xiegu G90, Digirig, and the cables needed. Plus the settings. \"/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al99ItgnJ9U

[Sir John Honeybucket]

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]

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

[JohnyMac]

Great idea Sir John. 

[JohnyMac]

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. 

Stay tuned... 

[cooter]

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

[Sir John Honeybucket]

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

[JohnyMac]

You gentlemen are 100% correct 

[JohnyMac]

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. 

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. 

[cooter]

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

[FeedingFreedom]

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.

[JohnyMac]

 

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

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

[Jackalope]

    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.

[Sir John Honeybucket]

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

[JohnyMac]

@ Jackalope, that toughpad is $800- 

@ 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 

[Jackalope]

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.

[JohnyMac]

LOL! Cool beans Jackalope. 

[Jackalope]

     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.

[igonianarg]

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]

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)