I remember when there were only a few events each year that really allowed hams to go into the field and operate. ARRL Field Day, Winter Field Day, and NVIS Day were the big three here in Ohio. Then I heard about International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend. Other outdoor operating opportunities soon came onboard. Portable operation was on the rise.
Many hams always had a plan to bug out if necessary, and some of us even had an amateur radio Go Box for emergency operating. But then came Parks on the Air® (POTA) and Summits on the Air (SOTA)—two great reasons to take our equipment to a summit or national/state park and make contacts under these programs’ operating rules. All of a sudden, you were not confined to your shack to make contacts.
Want to Join the Fun? Check Out DX Engineering.
DX Engineering has a whole line of customizable POTA Packs to encourage hams to get out and get on the air. These kits contain everything necessary to start operating in the field. Every cable and connection is accounted for. You do have to look at the “required parts” and “suggested parts” sections in some cases to complete the kit. Operators can choose from three DX Engineering packages:
Not everyone wants a turnkey solution, and that’s okay. The important thing is that you build the kit that works for you. Take what you have and augment it with the ever-growing list of portable equipment offered by DX Engineering. It seems like not a day goes by that something new is being added to the website. Let’s look at some of the most recent additions to the lineup.
I must start off with the DX Engineering Nomad Portable Telescopic Masts.
These come in two colors, red and black. Each color is available in 19- and 23-foot lengths. The small, lightweight Nomad masts are able to support antenna wires and small portable antennas. As a bonus, they come with guy rings that double as attachment points, clips for the guy rings, and a carry bag to keep everything together.
Many portable operators use dipole antennas because they can be tuned to resonant frequencies with ease. DX Engineering recently introduced the DX Engineering Low Power Portable Dipole and Winder Kits. The center-T contains a 1:1 choke balun and BNC connectors.
These are monoband antennas. If you need multiband capability, it can be made into a linked dipole using the included alligator clips. They also include wire winders and a pack of Bongo Ties. The low power dipoles can handle up to 250W SSB or 100W FT8. You do have to do a little bit of soldering during the initial build. These are designed for portable use but may be deployed as a permanent installation if used indoors or in a weatherproof enclosure.
Wire antennas are very common in portable ops due to their easy deployment. A downside to wire antennas is common-mode current. DX Engineering has just the thing need to combat this problem—the DX Engineering Low Power Feedline Choke.
Small enough to fit in your pocket, this 1:1 choke balun has BNC connectors and covers 80-6M, handling up to 250W SSB or 100W FT8. These are designed for portable use but, again, may be used for permanent installations if used indoors or in a weatherproof enclosure.
For a quick, fun, and practical project, DX Engineering offers its basic Single-Band Low Power Dipole Kit. This self-build kit includes the essentials to assemble a dipole antenna: center insulator, two end insulators, and a right-angle BNC connector that you solder on. Coaxial cable, wire for the antenna elements, and lightweight rope to support the center and end insulators are user-supplied. The kit can be purchased as a single or in packs of 10 or 25. These are awesome for youth or club projects.
To tie it all together and enhance the safety of your temporary stations, we recommend DX Engineering High-Visibility Orange Coaxial Cable Assemblies. It’s the same world-renowned, premium-quality RG-8X DX Engineering coax as DXE’s regular black version, but with a bright orange jacket that makes sure others see your installations in parks and other outdoor locations. These are available with PL-259 or BNC connectors.
The leap DX Engineering has made into producing specialized portable equipment is very exciting, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are MANY projects in the works, so keep your eyes focused on DXEngineering.com.
