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What's New

Starting A New Company?

Then check out my new blog by clicking Should You Start A Company Today?

Also, check out my new Workshop for Start Up Companies by clicking Workshop!

Manuals

I've set up a page that has downloads of various manuals in Acrobat format.  All of these are for equipment I have owned with lots on Yaesu...but other stuff is there too.  Click Manuals.

Shack-N-Bag TM

Just added a new page with lots of photos showing my easy to "grab and go" portable station.  Click Shack-N-Bag for details.

El Cheapo AZ-EL Rotor System for Satellites:

Details on how to assemble my under $50 approach for my AA5FR El Cheapo AZ-EL rotor system for working the LEO (low earth orbit) AMSAT birds. Click Cheapo.

ATAS-120a Antenna

I have gotten so many requests for info and photos on the ATAS antenna, I've created a separate page.  Click ATAS to see!

New Band:

I have just made my first Six Meter contact in 40 years. Actually about 3 dozen as far away as Canada and Saint Louis. Since both of my rigs offer it and they are the first six meter enabled rigs I have had since high school, I decided to use the tuner and the same 80-10 Meter "AA5FR KindaSorta Dipole" and see what happens.  Getting very good reports up and down the east coast with 40 watts and working just about anything I could hear.. Now considering a moxon to maybe pursue Six more seriously.

New Shack Additions

Just bought the Kenwood TH-F6A HT to add to my minimalist lineup where less is more.  Great little radio in an incredibly small package.  Just added the Diamond CR320A Tri-band Mobile Antenna to the car to run this as an easy mobile. Covers the same 144/220/440 as the TH-F6A HT and works MUCH better than the cheapie MFJ dual bander mag mount.

Also, just convinced the XYL that an HF mobile mount is a good idea, especially for mountain topping (she is less convinced about using it while driving)!  That way, we can operate portable in the comfort of the car with the top down on the convertible. 

Just got the Comet CP-5 and the Yaesu ATAS-120A auto tune antenna.  Will also be using the ATAS for portable operation.  Update:  Just added the Diamond K-400C Mount for the ATAS as I was finding the Comet CP-5 not quite good enough.  See new test results now that I have installed the K-400. Will dedicate the CP-5 to the CR320A by clicking ATAS.

I have gotten so many requests for info and photos on the ATAS antenna, I've created a separate page.  Click ATAS to see!

Email: 

You can email me by clicking on my eyeball contacts (yep, really my eyes.)

   Click to email AA5FR

A Gift - Even If There Is Less Than A Zero Chance We Will Work Together

This is one of the ways that I am "paying it forward."

Zero cost.  Zero expectations - except that it is with my hope that it helps improve your life - and more quickly gets you from your current Point A to your desired Point B.

 Click for your free copy!

Click the Five Year Life Book Cover to download this 82 Question Pop Quiz. 

Don't even think about starting a company or new venture - or even a new romantic relationship without answering these 82 questions about your life - five years from right now! 

Make sure your personal life goals, your romantic goals and your new business goals are totally congruent.  Click the book cover to download your free Workbook with my compliments.

Follow Me On Twitter

Click To Follow Me On Twitter

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The AA5FR "Shack-N-Bag" TM

The AA5FR "Shack-N-Bag"

The AA5FR "Shack-N-Bag" TM  is my personal packaging approach to turn the FT-857 into something that is as close to portable as my old FT-817ND was.  I loved my FT-817...actually, I loved both of the two 817s that I have had in the past.  But for all its capabilities, I found the FT-857D a MUCH better radio with more power, DSP, speech processing, etc.  The one thing that the 857 doesn't have is built-in batteries.

So, one main question was: how to power the 857 with enough juice to really operate for more than just a few minutes? The other main question was: how to package everything I REALLY needed for my typical portable operations - while containing it all in the smallest footprint possible?

The "Shack-N-Bag" TM  is my simplistic solution to both questions. It lets me combine the following into an easy to "grab and go" 16 lb. package:

  •  Yaesu FT-857D which is a much-improved radio over the great FT-817. The 857 is terrific for both mobile and portable operations - especially with the "Shack-N-Bag" TM  approach. Weight of the FT-857D is 4.6 lbs.

  •  PC310 Odyssey 12 volt motorcycle battery, which gives me 8 AH of power for under six pounds in a very small footprint of Length 5.43"/ Width 3.39" / Height 3.98".  Weight is 5.9 lbs. I got mine on EBay for about $108.

  •  ACI BCSC 7a Supercharger - a great little 12 Volt, 7 Amp Constant Current Charger (Equivalent to 14 Amp tapered charger in charging time.)  A great side benefit is that the charger also acts as an AC supply for both receive and even transmit up to about 5-10 watts...giving you both recharge of the battery and AC power at the same time.  Recharge time for a fully depleted PC310 is about 45 minutes. Measures 6 ½” x 3 ¼” x 2” and weighs 18 ounces.  I got mine on EBay for about $49.

  •  LDG Z-11 Pro Auto Tuner powered by the PC310.  Weight is 1.5 lbs. If I am using my ATAS-120 for portable operations, then the Z-11 has to be bypassed.

  •  Timewave ANC-4 Noise Filter powered by the PC310.  This is used in noise filled locations like my balcony operation. Otherwise, it isn't used. (More info on this very effective gizmo is on my Equipment page.) Weight is 2.0 lbs. If you skip this component, your "grab and go" is only 14 lbs. It was not used when these photos were taken but it, too, fits in the bag.

  •  Heil Traveler headset / mic

  •  All of the above is neatly contained in one reasonably sized NexPac camera bag, Model 122L  for true "grab and go."  This particular bag is a snug and near-perfect fit for all of the above without being too big and the included shoulder-strap is most useful. It took some effort to find a bag that was such a great fit to the radio and other gizmos I wanted to include.  I got them on EBay for under $30, plus shipping, for both bags.  The large bag, Model 122L, measures 14" X 9" X 6.5" and the medium bag, Model 122M, measures 11" X 9" X 5".  The two front straps are VERY adjustable so you can really get 10 lbs of errr radio in a 5 lb sack!

Total weight for the whole set up, including battery, radio, tuner, noise filter, coax, log book, kitchen sink etc.: a luggable 16 lbs. for the fully stuffed large bag.  Not great for hiking...but works GREAT for easy picnic portable to the balcony, to a beach cabana or a mountain vista. Yes. the FT-817 is only about 3 lbs. But if you have the same tuner, battery, cables, etc., there would only be a 2 lb difference in total weight.  For me, the extra 2 lb. weight is well worth the extra features contained in the FT-857D.

I can attach the rubber duck with a 90 degree angle connector, poke it up and out the end of the closed lid and operate Pedestrian Mobile on VHF / UHF or attach my Arrow II and work the AMSAT birds.  I can set the bag down on a rock, table or beach cabana and flip open the lid, attach the coax to whatever I am using as the portable antenna du jour and start operating with all the equipment in the case.  Because of the way that everything fits in the case, the radio and tuner are tilted up so that all controls are easy access, ventilation is not a problem and the only set up needed is for the antenna itself. 

I only use the second camera case if I want to take the charger with me to either recharge the battery or use as a quick A/C supply.  When the battery does need charging, there is a charging pigtail that is always connected to the battery making the connection to the charger a 10 second operation that doesn't require the battery being removed from the case. This pigtail is included with the above charger.

For me, and the ways I usually operate, this approach works great.  I wanted the minimum bag that would still hold all the stuff I use and what I need for "grab and go." 

(Note:  I have no economic interest in any of the above companies...nor do I sell any of the components or any bundled package!  My goal was to give you all the info necessary for you to roll your own!)

The Photos

If you mouseover the photos in IE, you will see details about each photo (apparently, the mouseover doesn't work with Netscape or Firefox so you might want to start up IE if you are really THAT interested in the details.) 

If you click on the thumbnail photo, you will get the BIG picture.

   
Shows both matching bags I bought for $30 on EBay. The large white boat bag holds the two small bags and a whole lot more. We got so many questions at Dayton about this bag my wife bought me, I included a close up so you could see that it is from LL Bean.
   
This is the smaller of the two bags and holds the charger and some other misc stuff. The ACI Supercharger
   
Small bag pockets The big bag with radio and tuner and battery. This is the same photo as the big one at the top of the page.
   
The big bag with radio and tuner and battery - Side view Easy to access pigtail for connecting ACI charger
   
Ready for contacts! Ready for contacts!
   
Aerial view Exposing the battery and wiring by lifting the velcro flaps
   
Battery and cabling removed Battery back in bag
   
The velcro flaps hide the mess Big front pocket
   
Big front pocket Big front pocket - contents including 40 meter dipole, balun, Two meter rubber duck, coax, radial roll
   
Back pocket for log book and pen Two side pockets for coax
   
Nice and neat Back of rig
   
Ready to rock and roll All the mess out of sight and out of mind - until the battery is depleated
   
Close up - bypassing the tuner for use with the ATAS-120 Will you be the next log entry?

None of the above is leading edge stuff...but, hopefully, will give you some ideas for developing your own Shack-N-Bag approach for your own equipment and your own personal perspective for ideal portable operations.

73 / 72,

AA5FR

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Name:

Robert

QTH:

Clearwater Beach, Florida and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Call is AA5FR/4 when portable in Tennessee.

Locator:

EL87NO - FL,
EM85HS - TN

IOTA - NA34 - FL.

Rigs:

Yaesu FT-897D, usually running only 20 watts. My main HF rig at my base station on Sand Key Island.

Yaesu FT-857D. This is my mobile rig working with the ATAS-120.  Amazing result with the two - my first three contacts sitting in my Florida parking lot:  Northern Ireland, Slovakia and Ukraine. 

I also use the FT-857D as the main component of my "grab and go" "Shack-N-Bag" for easy portable operations.

Typically using a SignalLink USB for all the digital stuff - especially PSK-31. Timewave ANC-4 for noise control. Both are amazing devices worth their weight in DXCC certificates.

Auto antenna tuners:  The battery-powered LDG Z-11 Pro for the often portable FT-857D and a LDG AT-200 Pro for the usually stay-at-home FT-897D.

Antennae:

Above auto tuners with "KindaSorta" HF dipoles at 110 feet (35 meters)

Arrow II dual band VHF/UHF satellite yagi.  Also use two Advanced Receiver preamps:  SP432VDG for 435 MHz and SP144VDG for 144 MHz - both of which greatly improve the reception for most satellite passes and compensate for the low gain of the Arrow II and the LMR-195 feedline loss.

Arrow J-Pole for 144/440.

Yaesu ATAS-120a for mobile and portable operations - which does a surprisingly amazing job for both.  Best DX so far: Mobile from the top of the Smokies to VP8, Falkland Islands - with 10 watts - even at the bottom of this sunspot cycle.  I have gotten so many requests for info and photos on the ATAS antenna, I've created a separate page.  Click ATAS to see!

Interests:

Everything! including my wife (absolutely my #1 favorite way to spend my time), digital photography, Photoshop, mountain hiking, sailing, biking, scuba diving, computers, writing, helping start up companies really get started and, of course, ham radio!

Previous Calls:

WN4LEJ - Novice
WA4YFH - General
KD5SB - Advanced
AA5FR - Extra

 

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There, you can post your own Profound List for free and let those who match your list, find you - Efficiently!

Click Facebook to check it out!

Email: 

You can email me by clicking on my eyeball contacts (yep, really my eyes.)

   Click to email AA5FR

Sunsets:

Click for a slideshow of my sunset photos:

Click for Sunset Slideshow!

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AA5FR - Another Creative Focus of Good-Man LLC Pox 3051 Clearwater Beach, Florida 33767
© All Content and Photography Copyright 2005 - 2009 by Robert Goodman. 
All Rights Reserved.   Email Robert@AA5FR.com   Last update: 06/26/10

Welcome to the  Ham Radio World of  AA5FR