Pedro’s (tr)uSDX Compact and Affordable Field Kit

by Pedro (PP2PB)

Here’s my new kit.

This kit weighs just under 1,2kg and has phone and CW operations in mind. I might add some cables for digital modes, but I haven’t tested this rig with digital modes, just yet.

The (tr)uSDX was bought assembled with the LO bands RF board, and I assembled the HI RF board myself. I got Adam’s alternative case printed out for easy band switching and did a minor mod to the RF boards soldering a Zener diode reverse polarized as a high SWR protection.

I also added a USB port to the battery pack because the (tr)uSDX can operate with around 0,5W directly from USB and that’s a great way to test for SWR and fine tune the antenna without stressing the finals.

The manual antenna coupler is also my creation and even though it doesn’t appear on the exploded view it does fit in there no problem (it was added after I took the pictures).

Gear List:

Small Molle ag

(tr)uSDX with both Hi and Lo bands RF boards

Alternative case by Adam K6ARK for easy RF board switching

RG316 2 meters

27MHz Telescopic antenna works on 10m –

Small counterpoise wire

Homemade 49:1 UNUN made with FT82-43 toroid

3D Printed CW Paddles for the Quansheng K5 (needs minor modification to work on regular radios)

Male to female P2 3.5mm cable

Homemade 6W dummy load made inside a 90º BNC male connector (2x 100ohms 3W resistors in parallel) – great cheap insurance with these simple rigs.

Small USB Cable

Generic Earbuds

(tr)uSDX power cable with powerpoles

20m of 24AWG wire for the primary antenna with some generic red paracord for setting it up

Charger for the battery pack with powerpoles

Homemade battery pack using a 4S battery holder with 3x 18650 cells and a BMS board, and the extra space for a step down DC converter with USB out and the 12V powerpoles

Homemade manual antenna coupler

72 DE PP2PB

Many thanks to Pedro (PP2PB) who shares the following article about his portable field radio kit which will be featured on our Field Kit Gallery page. If you would like to share your field kit with the QRPer community, check out this post.

Main bag

Canvas bag
Xiegu X6100 (complete with hand mic, power and usb cable) with aluminium shield
Homemade 6Ah Lifepo4 battery
Earbuds (an old Zune HD pair, and yes, the Zune HD still works)
Aliexpress CW Paddle
Coax: 5m RG-316, 2m RG-316 with homemade inline choke, 30cm RG-316 jumper
Homemade 2m/60cm Signal Stick “clone” (The X6100 can tune it to 6m, 10m and even 12m bands!)
2x homemade QRP 49:1 UNUN (one 2:14T and one 3:21T) made with FT82-43 toroids
3x plastic S-Biners/Hooks for antennas, coax, etc.
SO239 to BNCm and BNCf to BNCf adapters
SD card with R1CBU alternative firmware (awesome project runs directly from SD Card without messing with original firmware) –
Antenna wire: 26 AWG 20m, 5m, a couple 2-3m counterpoises. And a couple 30cm alligator clip jumper cables.
BNC to banana adapter (for any type of improvised antenna)
Some generic paracord and velcro for general purpose

Support bag

Canvas Molle bag
Chargers for the Lifepo4 battery and for the X6100
Generic Chinese 4:1 balun
Chinese watt meter
More of the plastic S-Biners/Hooks –
Some random length of fishing line (its my throwing line) and a heavy bolt
Notebook for logging
Some more generic paracord
Homemade pi match manual antenna tuner made with a couple of AM/FM radio variable capacitors and a little coil with a tap. Handles 100W SSB with ease.

I have a few generic fiberglass poles for antenna deployment that I fitted with a guying system made of paracord: simple, slim, lightweight and strong. And generic tent stakes. I only take them when needed.

This kit is my travel, POTA, SOTA kit. The main bag contains everything needed for operation, and the support bag has a few things to prolong the operating time (on multiple day trips) and for better antenna deployment.

I’m really into DIYing stuff and being from Brazil its hard and expensive to get stuff from USA, so DIY is the way to go.