Category Archives: Accessories

Accessories, Everyday Carry, Hacks and Hints, News, Travel

A Sampling From My EDC Pack: Ten Essentials I Carry Everywhere

21 Comments

Last year, I mentioned—either in a field report or video—that I carry a full Elecraft KH1 field kit in my everyday backpack, my EDC (Everyday Carry) pack.

That led to a great question from Terry, a reader who was studying for his ham radio license at the time. He wrote:

“Thomas, thank you so much for the field report. I had never guessed a complete HF radio field kit [like the KH1] could be so small that it would qualify as a bonafide EDC.

I’m very curious—what other EDC items would you recommend, not just as a radio operator but in general? I suspect you’ve put some thought into this in the past.”

Great question, Terry! And my apologies for taking, well… several months to respond. Your message got lost in the shuffle when Hurricane Helene hit, effectively dropping an atom bomb on my inbox and free time.

To make up for it, I thought I’d turn your question into a proper post.

I Love EDC

Yes, I do put a lot of thought into my EDC items. I’m constantly on the go, and since I never know when I’ll have time to write a field report, review, or even catch up on emails, I take my work with me. My laptop (a MacBook Pro) is a key part of my EDC.

And, as you noted, so is my KH1 field kit. It’s safely packed inside a Pelican Micro M40, so I don’t have to worry about damage if I drop my pack or something heavy lands on it.

But if I understand your question correctly, you’re asking about the other non-radio-related EDC items I carry.

Another reader/subscriber recently (as in a few months ago) asked for a full video tour of my EDC backpack, and I do plan to make one soon. That said, I’ll need time to prepare because—frankly—I carry a lot of stuff!

For now, though, here are ten items that are always in my EDC pack. Most of these aren’t directly related to radio, but they’ve proven their worth time and time again.

(Note: Some of the links below are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.)

Item 1: Leatherman Signal Multitool

This is my go-to multitool. It features pliers, screwdrivers (with a bit collection), a knife, a saw blade, a whistle, a fire-starting flint, a bottle opener, and more.

I firmly believe every field operator should carry some sort of multitool—it’s indispensable for quick antenna repairs.

Item 2: Rechargeable Nitecore Headlamp

I’ve said it before: a good headlamp is as essential as a first-aid kit, especially if you hike to your radio sites. This is my favorite headlamp for EDC, though I have many others. The one in my SOTA pack has a beefier battery and a brighter beam, but this Nitecore is perfect for everyday use.

Item 3: First Aid Kit

I always keep a compact first-aid kit in my EDC pack. I typically build my own, focusing on cuts, scrapes, tick removal, headaches, stomach aches, and allergies. I keep a more advanced trauma kit in my car and a separate field first-aid kit in my SOTA/POTA packs.

Item 4: PD Battery Pack

This Anker power bank charges everything from my phone to my laptop. With a Tufteln converter, I can even power a radio in a pinch. It’s a must-have for keeping my gear running.

Item 5: Light My Fire Spork

This is one of the most useful things I carry. It’s lightweight, insanely durable, and much better than disposable plastic cutlery when eating a salad or soup on the go. Such a simple item, but incredibly handy. There are numerous options like this on the market (many in durable plastic) but I like this particular one so much, I bought a second for my wife. Makes for a great stocking stuffer.

Item 6: RF Connector/Radio Accessories Pouch

This small pouch holds an assortment of RF connectors—essential backups in case something in my POTA field kit fails. Because let’s be honest… something always fails at some point.

Item 7: Commando Precision Screwdriver Set

This little kit has saved the day more times than I can count. Unfortunately, I don’t think my particular model is still made because the company appears to have closed shop. Very unfortunate because it’s super high-quality and was made in the U.S.

You might still find them on eBay. I wrote this review on the SWLing Post five years ago.

Item 8: PackTowel

A compact, absorbent, quick-drying towel is endlessly useful—whether for cleaning up a spill, washing up, or drying off gear after a sudden rain shower. I carry this 14×10″ size.

Item 9: Victorinox Nail Clippers

This little Swiss Army tool is a gem. It has excellent nail clippers, plus tweezers, a toothpick, small scissors, and a tiny knife.

Small, simple, and super useful.

Item 10: Notepad and Pen/Pencil

I like taking notes, and this combo–a small Rite in the Rain pad and Graphgear mechanical pencil–is always within reach. It’s also my backup logbook when operating the KH1 in tabletop mode.

Bonus Item: Loop Ear Plugs

As I pulled items from my pack for photos, I realized one more essential: Loop Ear Plugs. A friend recommended them, and I got pairs for my daughters and me this Christmas. I’m easily distracted by loud noises when working, so I often use white noise or instrumental music for focus. I’ve also used cheap foam earplugs, but they aren’t comfortable long-term—especially for sleep.

These Loop Ear Plugs, however, are low-profile, lightweight, and so comfortable I forget I’m wearing them. They don’t block all sound, but they take the edge off loud, percussive noise while still allowing conversations. A game-changer for noisy spaces, for me at least!

So much more…

Honestly, it was tough picking just ten (okay, eleven) items. When I look in my EDC pack, I see so many things I wouldn’t want to be without. Most of them are compact, lightweight, and boringly practical—but they make life easier.

I’m setting a goal to film a proper EDC backpack tour within the next month. It’ll be a long video, but I think it’ll be fun to go through everything I carry.

Of course, I’d love to hear from you—what do you keep in your EDC?

Accessories, Morse Code, New Products, News

Pre-Built VK3IL Pressure Paddles via VE6LK

13 Comments

If you’ve been listening to the Ham Radio Workbench podcast, you might have heard Vince (VE6LK) mention that he and VE6TD planned to order parts to produce a batch of pre-built VK3IL pressure paddles.

Well, I just heard from Vince that they have completed a limited run. Here are the details from the ordering page:

For a limited time, VE6LK and VE6TD are selling pre-built 4″ (100mm) long VK3IL v2 pressure paddles. They ship with a high-quality attached 4′ silicone cable with your choice of a straight-through or right-angle TRS plug on the end.

We are the only place you can buy one of these pre-built in North America. If you would rather order a kit, check out VK3IL’s blog [linked here] where he lists other places that sell kits. We are not selling kits, these are pre-built.

You’ll receive exactly the following:

    • Pre-built paddle with integrated 4′ silicone super flexible cable
    • Your choice of straight or right-angle plug on the end of the cable
    • Wrapped in black heat shrink tubing, padded on one side for comfort
    • Paddle is approximately 105mm (4″) long x 25mm (1″) wide x 9mm (5/16″) thick and weighs 28g (1 oz.)

We pre-test each and every paddle before it leaves our hands.

The price for each pre-built paddle, shipped to Canada or within the continental United States (CONUS), is $85 CAD or approximately $59 USD. I believe this is a fair price for those who prefer not to source the parts themselves to build a VK3IL paddle.

I must say that the pressure paddle design functions beautifully. It provides very accurate keying in the field and, so far, it has worked with every radio I’ve connected it to.

Click here for more information and to place an order.

Accessories, Antennas, Articles, Field Radio Kits, Field Reports, Grab And Go, Guest Posts, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, SOTA, Travel

Flying High and Keying Low: A Pilot’s QRP Adventures Across the USA

7 Comments

Many thanks to Micah (N4MJL) who shares the following guest post:

Elecraft KH1 Anytime and Anywhere Adventures

by Micah (N4MJL)

Anywhere and anytime—that’s how I like to describe my Elecraft KH1. This radio goes everywhere I go. As an airline pilot, I bounce from coast to coast and everywhere in between almost daily. Since I’m constantly on the move, my radio gear has to be small and compact.

I’m a third-generation ham radio CW operator. Anyone who’s heard me on the air knows I’m still quite new to CW. I only started running CW activations with POTA/SOTA in the spring of 2024. Here’s the gear that’s been working well for me, along with a few photos from the locations I’ve had the pleasure of activating.

I’ve found that the Pelican M50 micro case is the perfect “shack in a box” for my KH1. This setup goes everywhere with me. Here’s what fits perfectly in the M50:

  • Packtenna 9:1 random wire
  • 20 ft BNC coax
  • Panasonic ErgoFit earbuds
  • SP4 paddles from CW Morse
  • KH1 (fully loaded with internal battery and tuner)
  • 30 ft throw line
  • Write-in-the-Rain notebook
  • High Visibility Orange Cap-O-Matic Fisher Space Pen (with lanyard)
  • Desiccant silica gel pack

In pedestrian mobile configuration, the KH1 is a solid system. I’ve done several activations this way. That said, after 45 minutes of holding the KH1 in this setup, I’m ready to wrap up! Having a portable shack that lets me deploy a random wire that tunes 40-15m and a more ergonomically designed key drastically improves my capabilities.

In many urban environments where I activate POTA, pedestrian mobile is essential. Unfortunately, the security in urban parks can be unpredictable, and the KH1 allows me to operate on the go and quickly move if needed.

Some of you may be wondering what I did to the inside of my M50 case. Well, in my defense, it’s my wife’s fault. She left me unsupervised with a glue gun and a bit of alcohol. When my KH1 arrived this spring, solar conditions were poor, so I had a few days to think and decided to turn the case into a makeshift Faraday box. I used Polyken aluminum tape, cardboard, and a glue gun to line it. Now, I know what you’re thinking: there’s no electrical bonding between the lid and lower box due to the rubber seal, so will this really work as a Faraday cage? Maybe, maybe not—but it sure looks cool! What do you think?

In addition to the M50 case, I carry a support pouch (Magpul DAKA, size small). This heavy-duty, water-resistant pouch contains:

  • 31 ft counterpoise wire
  • AXE1 40m antenna extender
  • Bioenno battery 12V 3Ah (backup battery—“1 is none, and 2 is 1” if you know, you know!)
  • KH1 power cable
  • KH1 right-angle antenna mount

These items aren’t essential but are nice to have for longer activations.

When I’m done flying and ready to play radio, I pack all this gear into my Flash 22 day pack. This compact, minimalist pack takes up almost no room in my flight bag and even has a built-in whistle on the chest strap, which is perfect for California!

When conditions allow, I enjoy using the full five watts of power. My go-to antenna is the SOTAbeams Band Hopper III, which is a versatile half-wave linked dipole:

  • Rated 125 watts
  • Center-fed with 33 ft RG174 coax
  • Guying system included
  • Resonant on 20m, 30m, and 40m (no tuner needed, though the KH1 tuner will also tune up 17m and 15m)
  • Built-in balun
  • Weighs only 14 oz

The wire/guying winders are excellent, and I’ve used this system in all kinds of environments, from sandy beaches to mountain tops above the treeline. I replaced the aluminum tent pegs with plastic ones to keep TSA happier.

The SOTAbeams Tactical Mini Mast fits diagonally in my 22″ roller board. I wrap heavy rubber-coated wire around it to secure it to posts or shrubs when needed.

Along with this radio gear, I also manage to pack a change of clothes—usually enough for a five-day trip. I typically fly three trips a month, each lasting four to five days. My roller board carries me and my radio gear from plane to plane all week long.

On a short backpacking trip along the Appalachian Trail (June 3, 2024), I activated SOTA summit W4V/BR-007 Three Ridges and the Three Ridges Wilderness area (POTA US-9959). The mountain in the distance is The Priest (W4V/BR-002), which I activated earlier this year with my LNR Precision MTR4B.

The summit of Three Ridges is a densely wooded area, so I stopped below the summit to enjoy the view, grab a quick snack, and play some radio. I snagged two POTA-only QSOs with W8WZ in Louisiana and KU8T in Indiana using the KH1’s whip antenna. Once I reached the summit, I used the Packtenna 9:1 random wire for my activation. Continue reading Flying High and Keying Low: A Pilot’s QRP Adventures Across the USA →

Accessories, Morse Code, News

The QRPworks “Key Line MagPi” for KX2 and KX3 now available for purchase

2 Comments

Many thanks to Shel (KF0UR) who writes:

Remember the swivel paddle platform for the KX2 & KX3 my partner Steve KB3SII gave you at Hamvention last May? Well, it’s finally in production and shipping immediately.

https://www.qrpworks.com/key-line-magpi-store.html

It comes configured for the KX2, but includes the parts for the KX3 (a screw and a spacer) which is a very easy change to make. And for non-magnetic paddles it comes with 3M Dual Lock to fasten it. I used it with a magnetic BaMaKey for 800 QSOs on Field Day last year with my KX3. It worked great for me and the other ops.

Thanks for letting us know, Shel! I really love this key bracket and am happy to hear it’s in production.

If you want to see it in use, here are two activations from July when I used a prototype of the Key Line MagPi:

Carolina Beach State Park

Brunswick Town State Historic Site

Accessories, News, Portable, QRO, QRP, QRPer Notes

QRPer Notes: Foldable Stands for Small Radios, ’79 Okino Tori-Shima DXpedition, Another Watertight Case for the KH1, and Demystifying SWR!

4 Comments

Because I receive so many tips from readers here on QRPer, I wanted way to share them in a concise newsletter format.  To that end, welcome to QRPer Notes, a collection of links to interesting stories and tips making waves in the world of radio!

Foldable feet for small radios

Many thanks to Randall (K8UFM) who shares the following tip:

Thomas,

I found these on Amazon and they work great for small radios.

PONICOR 2PCS Zinc Alloy Mini Foldable Laptop Stand, Portable Computer Keyboard Riser with 2 Adjustable Angles, Self-Adhesive Invisible Notebook Stand and Keyboard Lift for Desk (Black)

https://amzn.to/4ewds8n [QRPer affiliate link]

Randall K8UFM

Video: OKINO TORI-SHIMA DXpedition

Many thanks to Wlod (US7IGN) who shares this 1979 film about the Japanese DXpedition to Okino Tori-Shima:

Click here to view on YouTube.

Apache case for the KH1

Many thanks to Tom (WW8D) who writes:

Hey Thomas,

This is Tom WW8D in Salem Va. I sure do enjoy your videos on youtube. I received a new KH1 yesterday and I just wanted to tell you that I have a clear waterproof case like the one you but its a slight bigger fromHarbor Freight. Its an Apache 550 and everything fits perfect in it.

Click here to check it out.

Note from K4SWL:

I purchased the Apache 550 a few days prior to Helene hitting our area. I intend to make a post or video soon showing how this apache case compares size-wise with my Pelican cases. It is, in general, a much larger case than the M40 I currently use with the KH1. See photo below. 

Video: Demystifying SWR

Many thanks to Vince (VE6LK) who writes:

Here is an EXCELLENT video explaining return loss, why lossy coax hides SWR issues and many other things:

Click here to view on YouTube.

Accessories, Field Reports, Morse Code, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, Videos

Morning on the Trail and On the Air: A Relaxing K2 QRP POTA Activation from the Campsite

6 Comments

I woke up around 6:45 on Saturday, August 24, 2024. That’s late for me, but I tend to sleep well when camping and it must have helped that the previous evening POTA activation by the campfire was pure bliss.

There were some noises in the campground that woke me up during the night (probably other campers scaring off raccoons), but aside from that, I slept peacefully in my rooftop tent.

As I lay there Saturday morning, I couldn’t decide whether to make breakfast and hit the air for an early morning POTA activation, or to take a nice hike before everyone else in the campground woke up.

I chose the latter option!

At 7:00 AM, I headed to the nearby trailhead for the Lake Shore trail. It was a very pleasant and quiet hike—roughly 5 miles in total.

Afterwards, I made some blueberry oatmeal and a cup of French-pressed coffee. It really hit the spot!

Next, I grabbed my Elecraft K2 and connected it to the MM0OPX 40M EFHW that I had set up the previous evening.

I realized it had been a while since I’d taken the K2 out into the field, which was why I packed it for this trip. I use the K2 quite often in the shack, but it needed some outdoor time. All radios (and their operators!) need outdoor therapy!

New Tufteln TP-III Protective Cover

My friend Joshua (N5FY) at Tufteln sent me this protective cover, at no cost to me, for the BamaKey TP-III.  Joshua has almost become a specialist in making bespoke protective covers for radios and accessories.

This cover is great. You insert four rare earth magnets (included) into four holes in the bottom of the cover. These work with the rare earth magnets on the TP-III to mag-lock the cover in place.

If you buy one of these for your TP-III, I would advice that you check the polarity of the magnets on the TP-III before inserting the magnets in the cover’s holes. I didn’t do this and found that I’d aligned a couple of the magnets in opposition, thus they repelled the magnets in the case. I had to dig the magnets out and reverse them–not a complicated procedure, but one I could have avoided had I simply thought about this in advance!

Anyway, I do like this cover! Thanks, Joshua!

Gear

Note: All Amazon, CW Morse, ABR, Chelegance, eBay, and Radioddity links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.

On The Air

I hopped on the air and started calling CQ POTA on the 40-meter band. I figured that at this time of morning, 40 meters should be in decent shape.

I was right! Continue reading Morning on the Trail and On the Air: A Relaxing K2 QRP POTA Activation from the Campsite →

Accessories, Morse Code, News

Len Tests a Signet Spring Straight Key

2 Comments

Many thanks to Len (W8VQ) who writes:

I have been working CW a bit in my upstairs QRP station. Last night, 40 meters was alive. Lots of POTA and general QSOs and a few SKCC. I used my new straight key. I thought you’d enjoy a critique.

I used the new key for two SKCC QSOs and three POTA hunter contacts. Here it is between my mini straight key and mini Iambic. Those are small keys, as the ruler shows;

It absolutely works, and I suspect by the way it is designed and manufactured, it will work well beyond my years. It would be excellent for travel as there is little you could do to damage it or throw it out of adjustment, short of using it to play catch.

It does not provide you with any sort of positive CLICK feedback when keying. A vintage Kent Morse Op like myself finds this a negative when keying. I like that positive click (or TAP if you prefer that description) on contact while using a straight key. This key is more of a touch-key because of the design.

If you look at the “Spring”, it’s a manufactured pseudo torsion disc spring that functions both as a spring and a stanchion for the key knob. It’s made to be both supportive and slightly flexible.

There is not enough flexibility in that spring nor space between contacts to give you enough smooth travel to get a positive click. You can get a click if you back the bottom contact screw all the way out, but it’s minimal and you have to hit the key harder than normal to get that minimal click. The spring is strong by design. This key is designed to give you more of a “Touch-Contact” that you hear via sidetone rather than feel via tactile feedback.

Some ops said that you best leave it at the factory setting, but I played with the contact set-screw in the bottom and I think I adjusted it a bit better for my fist. It comes factory adjusted with a very light touch, almost feathery. I now have it on a medium-to-light touch. There is just no “Click” or “Tap”.

Is it the best key (as one op stated in the reviews) I ever used? No.

Is it a cool and unique key that works well? Yes, as long as you don’t expect that mechanical click-on-contact that I like in a straight key for “Pounding Brass”.

There will be no brass pounding with this particular key. But I’m glad I added it to my collection. The fit, finish and manufacture is very well done, IMO. Especially for the price. And it’s unique. I may add it to my POTA kit instead of any other straight key.

Click here to check it out on AliExpress.

-Len

What a unique key! Thank you, Len, for the mini review!

Accessories, News

Elecraft KX2: Paul’s a fan of this “cool idea”

4 Comments

Many thanks to Paul (KE4SC) who writes:

Hi Thomas.

I thought I would pass along this idea for your readers.

I was using my KX2 on PSK31(and cw!) this weekend at the lake QTH. I felt the rig getting warm. I remembered that my wife bought several of these battery powered personal fans (Cold Sky) in the attached pics. She bought them from Amazon for less than $15 each including a charging stand [QRPer.com affiliate link].

It took me a few minutes to realize that the fan “head” will pivot which makes it a perfect cooling device for the rig.

I often though about purchasing after-market heat sinks but none are needed with this little device. It has 4 or 5 fan speeds and it really moves air and cools my KX2. With headphones, I could barely hear the fan.

I really enjoy your videos and website. I hope this helps you and others looking for a cheap way to cool the rig.

73 Paul KE4SC

Thank you for the tip, Paul! 

Accessories, Kits

In Stock: The Ham Radio Workbench Podcast DC Distribution Panel Kit

3 Comments

Many thanks to Mike (KG4MTN) who notes:

Hi Thomas,
Just a note to let you know that digikey has a supply of Ham Radio Workbench DC Power Strips in stock, 43 at the time I reviewed. Product number is HRWB101.

Thought you might want to let your audience know. These are neat little kits, I really like mine!
72,
Mike Serio
KG4MTN

Thanks for the tip, Mike! These will likely sell out quickly.

I may be biased, but I love mine! Such a handy accessory and easy kit build.

Click here to purchase one via DigiKey!

Accessories, Antennas, Guest Posts, How To, News, Portable, QRP

W2AEW’s Trapped EFHW Antenna Tutorial: Building a Smaller, More Versatile Solution for Portable Operations

8 Comments

Many thanks to Alan (W2AEW) for the following guest post:

Trapped EFHW antenna story (it’s all Vince’s fault)

by Alan (W2AEW)

One of my favorite antennas to use for POTA activations is a 40m EFHW wire.  When properly tuned and deployed, it can be used on 40, 20, 15 and 10m without the use of a tuner (although, I really don’t mind using a tuner when I need to).  Most of my activations are on 40 and 20m, so those bands are covered easily.  It can be used successfully as a sloper, an inverted vee, or a combination of these (whatever the trees or support structures allow).  It is efficient, inexpensive to build, lightweight and effective.

There are a few downsides to this antenna.  The first is that it is approximately 68 feet (almost 21 meters) long.  That’s a lot of wire to get in the air.  Some POTA sites just don’t have that much room or support structures to effectively use this antenna.  Another downside is that it doesn’t naturally support operation on the 30m band, another favorite of mine.

A few weeks ago, I watched a video from my friend Vince VE6LK entitled: “Discover the secret ingredients to build a trapped EFHW antenna”. This piqued my interest…

The video introduces a design for a 40/30/20m trapped EFHW.  The fact that it covers the three bands I use the most, and would be shorter than my trusty full-sized 40m, and give me 30m to boot, got me excited to learn more.

Vince used a pair of traps (30m and 20m) that are offered in kit form by Tim Sherry, N7KOM.  Here is a link to kit on Etsy.

Image Source: Tim Sherry, N7KOM

These are exclusively for use at QRP power levels – perfect for my application.  I placed my order immediately after watching the video.  The build instructions are very detailed, including how to tune the traps, which is critical in getting the antenna to work.

Image source: SparkPlugGear

He also used a 49:1 UNUN from SparkPlugGear.  I’ve had one of these in my POTA kit for a while, but only used it occasionally.  This was another good reason to proceed with this antenna build.

Of course, you could also use the QRP UNUN kit from KM4CFT that I made a video about earlier this year.

I created a video that showed how to assemble and tune the traps.  Tuning can be a little tricky, and then stabilizing the turns/spacing to preserve the tuning is critical – not hard, just takes a bit of patience.

With the traps built and tuned, the next step would be to build and tune the antenna itself.

I was able to find the time this weekend to do just that, and make a video of the process.

Details of the resulting wire segment lengths are in the video.  It is important to note that if you decide to build this antenna, your wire lengths will likely vary from mine.  Several factors will effect the resulting lengths (details of the UNUN used, the trap construction, etc.).  My video goes through the process I used to build, tune and test the antenna.

“The proof is in the pudding” as they say.  It was time to actually run a POTA activation with this antenna.  The overall length of the antenna was about 43 feet (about 13.1 meters), which is about 2/3rds the length of the 40m EFHW.  This opens the possibility of using my 12 meter Spiderbeam mast (video review) as a support rather than just relying on a tree branch.

The weather here in NJ has been oppressively hot and humid with heat indexes over 100F, so I opted for a morning activation, before the heat really built up.  The intent was to get some contacts on all three bands, even though 20m probably wouldn’t be very active.

I setup at my “home” park – Washington Rock State Park, US-1635.  I decided to setup the Spiderbeam mast as the support for the new antenna:

The rig was my trusty KX2 with the BamaTech TP-III paddles:

I only had about an hour to dedicate to operating before the family activities for the day, so I figured I’d start on 40m and get most of the “ten” there first, then move on to pick up a few on 30m and 20m.

I was able to put 14 contacts in the log, under “so-so” band conditions, which at least a few on each band, several of which were park-to-park contacts.

Here’s the map of the “reach” that the new antenna had during this short activation:

Overall I am quite pleased with the antenna’s performance.  The near ideal band coverage for my typical activations, and the ease of deployment compared to the full-sized 40m EFHW make this antenna a great addition to my POTA kit.  I suspect it will get a lot of use!

Resources: