Tag Archives: Knee Board

Accessories, Hacks and Hints, How To, News, Portable, QRP

Rich’s easy-to-build and incredibly affordable Field Clip Board V 1.0

9 Comments

Many thanks to Rich (KQ9L) who writes:

Hello Thomas,

I’ve attached couple pictures of V1.0 of my field clip board. I’ve been searching for the perfect clipboard to use in the field. The main requirements of the design include: lightweight, low cost and the flexibility to allow a comfortable operating position while securely holding a radio.

What I came up with is a based on an inexpensive fiber board clip board:

I chose to set it up somewhat unconventionally and designed it to use the clipboard “upside down”.  Setting it up this way provided ample space at the top to mount the radio while still providing room to attach a metal pad mounting point for paddles.

The radio is held securely in place with craft 3mm elastic bands. The bands were made with metal “toggles” so I can easily add more holes to the clipboard to accommodate varying rigs.

The metal pad is just a stick-on metal plate purchased from Amazon. I plan to add a leg strap in the future and will do so once I’m sure no other major modifications need to me made.

I’m pretty happy with the way the clipboard came out and would appreciate any comments or suggestions!

Rich
KQ9L

This is brilliant, Rich! I love both how affordable this board is and how easy it is to build. Having the clip at the bottom of the board is a fantastic way to secure your logging notebook as well. 

Thank you for sharing!

News, Portable, QRP

Dale’s 3D printed portable transceiver knee board

13 Comments

Many thanks to Dale (W7HLO) who writes:

Hello Thomas,

My wife decided this winter that she would like to see me playing radio outdoors rather than in the shack during the summer months so graciously purchased a KX2 for me for Christmas. During the long wait for it to arrive I think I read most everything on your blog about 3 times. I noticed in several of your postings that you were using a folding lap desk designed and printed by CarolAnne N0RNM.

Her design inspired me so I designed a copy cat of sorts. I wanted mine to be slightly larger so it ended up being 8.5” wide and 14” high when unfolded. 8.5 X 7 when folded up. Like CarolAnne’s it has the same recessed area to attach a sticky pad and I added cutouts in which to put a leg strap.

Now if the weather would only improve so I can go do my first SOTA and POTA activations.

If anyone would like to print one of these lap boards for themselves I have put the files up here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5320260

72

Dale / W7HLO

Very cool, Dale! I love it. 

And, wow! Your wife purchased you a KX2 for Christmas? She’s a keeper indeed! 🙂

By the way, loads of people have asked me about the N0RNM kneeboard and I believe within the next couple of months it may be available for purchase. This would be convenient, of course, for those without a 3D printer at home.

I’ll certainly post an announcement here on QRPer.com when it available. 

Again, Dale, thank you for sharing your project! 

Field Reports, News, Portable, QRP, SOTA

SOTA Plan B: An aborted activation followed by an amazing (although gusty) alternative!

8 Comments

On the morning of Thursday, September 23, 2021, I had one thing on my mind: SOTA!

It had been well over a month since my last SOTA activation and I was eager to hike to a summit and play radio.

It had been raining for a few days but overnight, a front moved into the area that swept out all of the clouds. We were finally feeling proper fall weather.

It was gorgeous outside and I made up my mind I’d fit in a summit activation.

I was visiting my parents in Hickory, NC, so I knew I’d have to drive a bit to activate a unique (to me) summit. On top of that, I knew I’d be alone and trails would be very muddy after days of rain. I decided to stick with an easy hike, so picked Flat Top Mountain (W4C/EM-026) off of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

I announced my activation via the SOTA website and drove about one hour to the trailhead of Flat Top Mountain.

Aborted!

As I drove up US321 to Blowing Rock I noticed that clouds were hangin over the mountains. In the foothills, it was blissful: clear skies, sunshine, dry air, and quite cool. As I drove up the Blue Ridge escarpment, it started getting a little gusty outside–I realized that the mountains were still on the edge of the cold front. Continue reading SOTA Plan B: An aborted activation followed by an amazing (although gusty) alternative! →