Wires & Pliers

Super portable HF setup

Mike Greenfield, N9JIY

I really don't want this to sound like a commercial, but several off-the-shelf items came together in my shack to make a super portable HF setup. I run it on 40 Meters CW only, but it should work for other bands and modes.

The key to the setup is shown in photograph number one. It shows the antenna with supports and consists of an Isotron antenna for 40 Meters. I prepared it for bouncing around in the back of my truck by replacing all the nuts and bolts with self-locking stainless steel nuts, or by adding lock washers, where replacement of the original hardware couldn't be done.

The mast is 11/4-inch outside diameter TV antenna mast sections, 5 feet in length and available from Radio Shack. I can raise the antenna with three sections with no additional help required. The bottom of the PVC pipe on the antenna has saw kerfs cut in it, and a screw-type hose clamp anchors it to the top mast sections. One word of caution. Where the sections join together, wire brush the paint off of the section that goes inside another section. If you don't, it will be very difficult to separate the mast sections.

The base plate was made at a local welding shop. I used 3/8-inch flat steel. The tube is 10 inches of 11/4-inch schedule 80 heavy-wall steel pipe, high-strength welded to the plate. Photograph number two shows how this is put together. When I park my truck on it, it's not going anywhere.

The whole assembly is shown in photograph number three. The coax from the antenna is taped to a TV twin-lead bracket (also from Radio Shack) for strain relief, wrapped around the mast, and then run into the cab through a window. Guy lines would be a good idea, but so far I have never had to use any.

Inside the truck (photograph four), the coax runs directly to my TenTec Scout. A tuner is not needed for the CW portion of 40 Meters. The cigarette lighter powers the Scout at 40 watts. Keying is done with a little Te-Ne-Key. Rather than use the leg strap, I hold the key in one hand and key with the other, and then put the key on top of the dash.

The last photograph shows all of the parts stowed for traveling. Loose items are packed in a plastic box. This box, the radio, and extra antenna (inverted V) and a tuner for the other bands are packed in plastic foam inside the big cooler. The small cooler contains lunch. From back-of-the-truck to on-the-air is under 15 minutes.

Photo 1: The antenna setup using one section of mast. 

Above Photo 2: Baseplate anchored in place by my truck.

Photo 4: Ten-Tec Scout on top of the dash.

Photo 5: All gear stowed for travel.

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