Many thanks to Leo (DL2COM) who recently reached out after watching my livestream with Josh at HRCC on the topic of QRP/CW portable. 

Leo shared some photos of a complete radio kit he built around the QCX-mini along with a ZM-4 ATU kit he also recently built. Leo has kindly agreed to share these on QRPer.com.

Leo notes:

Attached is a photo of my ultra light kit.

It consists of a QCX-Mini 20m version (self-built), K6ARK EFHW, Palm Radio Pico Paddle, Eremit 2Ah LiFePo battery, headphones and a few cables.

I usually also carry a small arborist kit and if there is still room also the 6m mast from Sotabeams, depending on what I think will work best.

I chose a hard case and went for the Peli 1060 Micro. It has room for everything I need and it could easily hold a bit of RG316 coax in addition (even more if I chose to shorten the 30m arborist line).

The main benefit for me is that I really don’t have to worry at all about what’s inside – compared to a soft pouch. So I can just shove it into my backpack or glove box and forget about it since this configuration is a lot more rugged and water proof – while being slightly heavier.

I will try this out for a while and if in the end I switch to a soft pouch again there are plenty of things I can store in the Peli Case.

Links:

• • Arborist throw weight
  • 1,7mm arborist throw line

ZM-4 tuner kit

Leo also shared these photos of a ZM-4 tuner kit he recently built:

Please find links to some of the products below. I am sure the rest is known to most people.

• • ZM-4 Tuner
  • Front- & Backside plates

Note that the  website is not really what you would call 2022 style but Niko and his family are true QRP aficionados. Also please note that I decided to install higher quality switches but this can also be done at a later stage as the kit is easy to work on in general.

The main benefit over the popular ZM-2 supposedly is that it does tune up 160m and is better at handling low impedances at the feed point in addition to a more rugged and still compact design.

Wow! Beautiful solder work there, Leo! I like the form factor of the ZM-4 as well–seems compact and rugged.

I used to have a clear cover Pelican 1060 case for my first KX1.

I sold it along with the radio in 2016, but a 1060 case came with the KX1 I purchased in 2000. It’s solid yellow, though, and I’ll admit that I prefer being able to see inside the case. I might purchase another clear cover 1060. While it does add a bit of weight and bulk to a pack, it 100% protects it from damage and water/weather. 

Thanks for sharing your photos and notes, Leo!