WILDERNESS OPERATING: ONE MAN’S METHOD, PART I

We can call this: “Radios I have known and loved.”

Spring is in the air, made apparent by e-mails in my box asking questions about backpacking rigs and wilderness technique. It appears there are still a few friendly folk fascinated by the crusty comments of an Old Timer about this obscure aspect of the Ham hobby.

HAM RADIO AND HIKING

Many of my best "brass pounding" memories see me seated in a desert, huddled on a high hilltop, or camped near a stream or lake many miles from a highway. I love HF operation and prefer the simplicity and efficiency of CW. The places I like to go don't have VHF repeaters or cell phone access. When I hike, my food, sleeping, and shelter needs are in a bag on my back, so I've become an enthusiastic advocate of lightweight equipment. The combination of these preferences dictates my choice of radio gear.

The biggest factor in my operating satisfaction and success is confidence in my equipment and I've found operating an ARS Spartan Sprint with a little rig a wonderful way to acquire it. Making 30 or 40 QSOs in a few hours with a "peanut whistle" does a lot to convince me that a rig really works.

RIG CHARACTERISTICS

For me, the ideal backpacking radio is one that is carefree and easy to carry. A rig that's huge, heavy, or hard to use finds a home on the shelf. The same is true of a fragile or expensive piece of gear that spoils my fun with worry.

I soon learn to love a rig that provides lots of QSOs with few troubles. A radio should be like the hiking hobby itself: simple, reliable, and well connected to the earth and the operator.

My favorite rigs have mostly been kits - in most cases considerably modified. I've liked rigs best that are:
1. TOUGH. Glass or easily scratched plastic parts, easily bent or damaged cases, fragile connectors, or sensitivity to wet weather worries me.
2. TINY. A rig that is small and light enough not to notice in my backpack brings me joy.
3. TRAIL FRIENDLY. Dangling wires and inconvenient controls annoy me.
4. TECHNICALLY SOUND. I find a rig with a decent receiver, good selectivity and stability, and a good sounding signal soothing.
5. TWO WATTS. I feel confident that this much power is a good compromise between battery life and signal strength.
I really don't mind single band rigs. They are simple, small, inexpensive, and allow easy antenna systems. I usually operate 40 meters in the winter and 20 meters in the summer, but I look at propagation forecasts and try to pick a band that matches my needs.

I'll now put some of the rigs I have owned in categories and comment about them.

ANTIQUES

Ten Tec PM3, Heathkit HW 7, and HW 8: I owned these rigs in the late 70's and early 80's. The receivers were poor and the rigs were bulky and fragile. These belong at home in a rocking chair.

Heathkit HW 9: This was a real rig, but it was big, bulky and drifted badly in the sun. I used one for years, but abandoned it when better rigs came along.

BIG BRUTES

Kantronics KT 140: (40 meters) and similar. This is a 20 watt SSB rig I used for CW in the late 80's. It was small for its time but required heavy batteries. I backpacked it a few times and said "never again!" Mobile radios should stay in the truck.

Elecraft K2: (Multiband kit) I love my K2. Mine is serial number "13" (I was a field tester). I have used it on hikes, but it is too heavy and expensive to throw in a backpack. I put the newer multimode Japanese QRP rigs and the SGE 2020 in the same category. They may be great for camping, contests or a walk in the park but they're not for backpacking.

RIGS THAT WORK FOR ME

MFJ 9040 and 9020: (Monoband). These were good starts, but they're heavy and drift like logs. I used mine briefly and moved on.

Wilderness Radio Sierra: (Multiband kit - uses band modules). A bit large, but a load of fun. My Sierra was much modified and had all the available extras. The tuning rate is too coarse, but that is modifiable. Loaded with extras it became quite expensive. I sold mine to try out a K1.

Wilderness Radio NorCal 40: (Monoband - kit). This is essentially a 40 meter Sierra. I've owned two of them, and used them lots. A ten-turn pot for tuning and a Morse frequency annunciator in one taught me not to like this method. I like glancing at a knob or display to see where I am on the band. This rig is somewhat large for a monoband backpacker, but has room to allow modification.

Elecraft K1: (Multiband - kit). This is a wonderful rig for camping, but too pretty and pricey for the backpack. I liked the built-in ATU and batteries but disliked the complicated menus. It fit the same niche as my K2, so I sold it to try a KX1.

RIGS THAT APPROACH MY IDEAL

Wilderness Radio SST: (Monoband - kit). These are cute and very tiny. I have owned 40 and 20 meter versions for about 10 years and have had loads of success with them. The tuning range is very small (10 - 15 kHz), but usable. The kit is inexpensive, complete, and very easy to build. The enclosure is nearly bulletproof, but not extremely trail friendly.

Small Wonder SW plus series: (Monoband - kit). These are wonderful rigs that really work. You have to provide your own enclosure, but that encourages experiment with trail-friendly features. SW plus rigs have a much wider tuning range than the SST (about 25 kHz or so). They are inexpensive enough to buy by the bunch.

Small Wonder DSW series: (Monoband - kit) Small and packed with features, they have a Morse frequency annunciator (ugh). They come with a tough enclosure that is nice but not trail friendly. I haven't fallen in love with mine.

AT Sprint: (Multiband - surface mount kit). These are really tiny rigs that are fun to build (if you like surface mount). They work great. I've built two of them. The controls are tiny and have complicated multiple functions including ... uh, a frequency annunciator. The rig feels a bit fragile and it may be TOO small. I've used mine lots on the operating table, but it is awkward to use in the field because of dangling wires and the need to hold it in two hands while you tune.

Elecraft KX1: (Multiband - kit). The "ultimate" backpacking rig. Mine covers 3 bands and has a built-in ATU. I worry about the paddles because the connection to the rig feels a bit weak. This rig is so expensive that I am skittish about tossing it in the backpack. Its main fault is being too darn good, leaving little room for modification.

IN SUMMARY: MY BEST LOVED LITTLE RIGS

The SST: I've had more fun operating this rig than any other. Positives: It's cheap, tough, easy to build, reliable, and comes with an enclosure. Negatives: Not an extremely sensitive receiver, has a narrow tuning range, needs an external keyer, control configuration is not extremely "trail friendly". These rigs provide an easy and inexpensive way to try out backcountry CW operating. (Be sure to use a GOOD set of ear buds or headphones). Its simplicity and surprising effectiveness makes me love it like a favorite teddy bear.

SW plus: These rigs work great and have allowed me more tinkering time than any other. Positives: Cheap, easy to build, reliable, wider tuning range, easy to modify, extremely effective. Negatives: You need to provide your own enclosure and a keyer. This rig is especially good for someone who wants to experiment with "trail friendly" enclosures. (I'm going to order another one soon - I want to try some new ideas!)

KX1: Too darn good. This rig provides everything you can think of on a silver platter. It doesn't leave much room for experimentation or modification, and is very expensive.

AT Sprint: Gosh, this is good. It's a rig for the technically elite; I don't dare modify it. Mine stays home more than it should because it feels awkward to operate.
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Dr. Bob Armstrong, N7XJ, a contributing editor to The ARS Sojourner, is an expert outdoorsman, QRPer, builder and family doctor living in Manti, UT.