Hi all,
HFpack is a form of pedestrian mobile (/PM) operation where the radio is
secured to your body or installed in a pack in such a way that it can be used
when needed without any setup. There's a dedicated Yahoo group for those
interested in this ("hfpack"). This is a great source of information. HFpack
operators have their own operating events, special frequencies, etc.
The small size of the KX2 should make it ideal for HFpack operation. An op who
currently use FT-817 mentioned this when we were at Dayton. The KX2 is half the
weight and has twice the power output, meaning more of his weight budget could
be dedicated to batteries, antennas, etc.
The KX3 is another frequent choice for HFpackers, thanks to its expanded band
coverage. 6 meters works great with small antennas, and the 2-meter option also
comes in handy.
As a frequent hiker, I often use the KX2 hand-held. But I'm interested in
exploring the possibilities of pack- or belt-mounting the rig. I can also
imagine a rapid-deployment whip antenna attached to the pack frame. It could be
a telescoping whip such as an MFJ1820, or maybe a wire spool with a weight for
tossing it into a tree.
In the half-crazy-but-who-cares department: how about putting a small tuned
loop *inside* a backpack? On a band like 17 meters, which is great for HFpack
during the day, a small loop would be reasonably efficient, and could cover
most of the SSB portion of the band without retuning.
In an month or so, Scott (AK6Q) will have a light-weight, snap-in mobile mount
bracket for the KX2. This should be useful for some potential HFpack
installations. Beats velcro :)
Anyone working on an HFpack installation?
73,
Wayne
N6KR
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