Basic Ham Gear For Getting into HF

 Amateur radio is just that - amateur.  We make our own gear, make our own equipment, troubleshoot our own problems, and work with whatever we've got. 

As you press forward, over time you're going to acquire some gear and you're going to need some more.  I'm a fan of Amazon Prime for some things, and also Ebay.  I use Amazon for where price isn't an issue, and I need something quickly and want it to work for me reliably, I use Ebay where something might be very hard to find, discontinued, or extremely expensive where buying used isn't going to be an issue. 

It is the Lord's counsel that we should always be thrifty and practice provident living, so you may get some equipment and later upgrade to a better version - the goal is going to be to get what you need so you can do what you need to.  Personally I dislike borrowing any tools only because I never know if I'll finish a project anytime soon, so I slowly acquire gear over time.  However, if you have an issue such as weather, or something gets blown down by a storm, or your kids or neighbors trip over a line, you'll want the tools to repair your own gear on hand - mine were slowly acquired over several years.

So, aside from individual projects with tools needed for the prjects, here's just a list of equipment you may acquire over time: 

Multimeter - this is used for testing electrical circuits, continuity, battery charges, resistance - at some point you will be using this and need one.  These can be bought on Amazon (or Ebay) and start as low as $8.00.  You'll be using this if you do anything beyond buying a handheld from the factory.

 Wire stripping, cutting, and crimping tool - these become a real heaven-sent work-saver when you're working on any project where you're stripping, cutting or crimping.  You just put the wire across the top, and squeeze and voila - you have a perfectly stripped wire at exactly the right length with one swift move, no more twisting or trying to pull the insulation or outer sheath off or even accidentally cutting through the wire (this isn't what you use for coax).  These start around $22, not a high priority item, but when you start working on multiple projects, I don't want to be without mine.  You'll obviously want regular wire-cutters as well.

Coax crimping tool (big blue thing) - you're going to be using this to put connectors onto your coax, like a PL-259.   You'll have to see Youtube or get a ham to show you how to use it.

Coax cutting tool (small grey thing) - you'll be using this to strip your coax outer layer before you put your connectors on it.  You'll probably need someone to show you how to use it or you can go on Youtube and look up how to use it.

 These are often sold together in kits, sometimes with connectors like shown here, the kits run about $22 on Amazon.  The small blue pliers I use for trimming up cuts.

 EMF detector - these are useful when trying to pin down any interference within your home or on your vehicle or stray emissions, or even make sure your RFI exposure / emissions within your equipment is within limits.  These can run about $30 on Amazon.

Soldering iron - perhaps the most needed item, you'll need that and some solder.  Ultimately you'll be having to hold multiple pieces together, so if you can get a kit that comes with arms that will hold things together, definitely go for it.  Mine allows me to control the temperature of the iron as well.  Simple kits start around $10, and ones with a few accessories like this one shown can run around $40.

Heat gun - for a lot of your connectors, making them waterproof, you'll want shrink-wrap tubing or your connectors will come with it for outdoor applications.  These start around $16 on Amazon 

Network analyzer - these can get expensive, but you can't get into HF without them, but this is the entry-level-just-as-good basic version, the Nano VNA (Vector Network Analyzer) - you'll learn about these between your General and Amateur Extra Licenses, this one comes with an SMA connector, you'll need to purchase an SMA to SO239 connector (also available on Amazon or Ebay).  Make sure it tests the bands you're going to be woking with - 80M is going to be in the 3MHz range and if you use it up to the UHF spectrum, you'll need one that goes up to the 500's MHz - these start around $40 on Amazon and ebay, keep an eye out for deals.  This does not have a fancy protective case, it is a circuit-board, screen, and adapter ports - it was specifically designed to be inexpensive for hams and other hobbyists to get into because the item after this is spendy.

"Rigexpert" antenna analyzer - if you'll be doing this at all for any extended period of time, this is much nicer to have than the Nano VNA.  However, again, check the bands it works on, a lot of these only work on HF or a limited section of the bands.  I watched for months on eBay until I found one that was for $200.00 used that does all HF, VHF and UHF bands, they run $900+.  Again, you'll learn about these in your General and Amateur Extra but definitely worthwhile to have, a very good investment. 

BUTANE TORCH - if the electricity goes out, soldering with electricity isn't going to be much of an option.  These can be used for soldering in the field with a bit of practice and skill.  A pair of them can run about $15 on Amazon. 

Other items: 

Folding tables - if you're out making your own command station, or doing a field day, a folding table can be really nice that you can pack up and take with you, along with some folding chairs.  If you can get a canopy, I recommend it.  

Coax connectors - PL259, SO239, BNC, SMA - whatever you're using, pay attention, they are not all the same, some are meant for crimping, others are made for soldering only, some are made for thicker cables, others for thinner cables - if you're working on HF at all, having a bag of these is pretty nice, can be bought on Amazon.

Electrical connectors - multi-packs - available from Home Depot, for working on your car electrical system, making pig-tails, you name it. Make sure it's the right gauges and sizes. 

Electrical tape - you'll be using this, multi-colored tape is nice because it makes it easier to identify components in the dark or rain.

Spare fuses - you'll want spare fuses that go with any of your gear and match them and keep them with your gear. 

Zip ties - small and large - you'll be using these. 

Silicone tape - self-sealing, also can be used for weatherproofing connections between cables or out in the elements. 

Dielectric grease - can be used to improve connections where there's been moisture or light corrosion, if you have a rough connection, do not get it on the center of your coax, some hams report having had a ton of noise from their system with this, fine on the outer connections but keep it from the center. 

At any rate, these are just some of the tools you'll run into needing or using over time, keep an eye out, say a prayer, and the Lord will bless you.  

HF Rigs - High Frequency - Going Global

If you want to talk around the world, and do long-distance communications for a disaster - i.e. contact the Bishop's Storehouse or Church Headquarters - this is where HF begins to take over the driver's seat.  This is also where the real fun begins!  This section is written with the expectation that you would have either received your General or Amateur Extra license, or are working on it and so would be familiar with some of the concepts presented herein.

My hope is to make this easy to understand and save you some money.  I would strongly recommend you get involved with the clubs listed on this page, and work with an Elmer as you get into your first HF rig. 

Main thing you'll want for an ERC purposed HF rig:

80m capable - the church uses 80m because it can be used at night as well as daytime. 

Niceties: 

Data - LSB (lower side band), Data - USB (upper side band) - this allows you to hook a laptop to your radio and you can start sending spreadsheets, emails, and such using programs like Winlink and FLDigi (more info later on these). 

CW - morse code, not really used by the church, but still very popular, you'll hear it used in maritime applications (ships) and aircraft in distress.  As you know CW is extremely useful because it has extremely narrow bandwidth, requires very little power, and requires very simple equipment (you just have to know CW to use it).  

100 watts output.  A good, nice, round number, fairly standard for most HF rigs, until someone puts an amplifier on it. 

Here are a few different types of HF rigs.

Base stations

These are the most commonly thought of types of ham radios, these are the type that typically sit on your desk and go to an antenna outside of your home. Realizing that your ham radio is what you're going to use when you can no longer use a computer or your cell phone, it makes sense that they would cost a bit of money, but given the fact that they don't need any other infrastructure to operate, that makes them seem relatively inexpensive.

These aren't recommendations, but just overviews of some of the equipment: 

There's the ICOM7300 - this is an HF only base-station.  A very high-end rig . They are expensive comparatively, but they are definitely very high quality. 

There's also the Yaesu 991A - a "Shack in the box" - meaning, this is an all band rig, it does UHF, VHF, HF, radio teletype, digital, you name it.  This is what you'll typically hear me on for the stake/regional exercises.  Yaesu is also a very high quality name-brand. 

Ham radios typically aren't designed to plug into the wall because they are designed for emergencies and disaster responses, they don't typically come with a three prong plug, but are designed to be wired into car batteries, car power systems, solar cells, emergency power packs, etc.  So if you wish to run on commercial power – anything plugged into the wall coming from public power sources – you're going to need a switching power supply.  You will need to look at the owners manual for your radio and make sure that whatever you purchase needs that radios specs so that you don't damage your equipment. But here's one that I purchased off Amazon, and I was very pleased with it: TP30SWII.  This plugged into the wall, and then your radio gets wired into the back of it.

Depending on the radio you buy, you may wish to buy an external tuner, You can get a remote tuner that sits at the base of your antenna, and radios like the nine then the one often come with their own internal tuner. I purchased an external tuner because it's even more capable than my internal tuner, because like everything when you have something dedicated to one specific purpose it tends to be more capable in that regards. My lack of space and capability for building a resonant antenna  meant that I was operating a little outside the parameters I would be comfortable with using my 991's tuner to compensate for, so I got an external one. 

And for when the power goes down, you definitely don't want to have backup or emergency power. One of the easiest ways to provide that power is through portable power pack. I would recommend getting as many watt hours as you can possibly afford because If the grid goes down you will need it.  One of these can power your radio and your tuner, or you can switch to an internal tuner just to save energy in a grid-down scenario.  You can find these on Amazon, ebay, etc. 

 

 

Now if you wish, you don't have to get the power switch or, you can just keep your powerpack charged and hook your radio up to the powerpack, save yourself some money on the power switch or, and now you got a portable power source for other radios. You can also just use the internal tuner in your radio if it comes with one and save yourself even more money. If you're going to go at this and feel inspired to learn everything about it, then you may want to get those other pieces of equipment so that you can operate as many different ways as possible and gain the knowledge and experience as well as freedom that comes with being able to.

Mobile rigs!

Mobile rigs are versatile in that they are not only mobile-capable, they are portable-capable.  Built to withstand the shock of driving over rough roads, they can also be adapted to a portable case and set up easily in the field and withstand a bit of rough handling.  

They generally just wire to your battery on your vehicle but can also be wired to a power pack; You will need an HF antenna suited to the bands you wish to operate on.  This will be addressed in a separate entry, but just getting the radio is a major step! 

One of the most popular ones I've seen is the Yaesu 891.  

Many of you might be asking why not just get one radio for your vehicle, rather than one for VHF/UHF and another for HF.  You can, that would be the 991a (up above). However, that's a large mobile mount for one, two, they are portable capable, but are more designed to be a base station, and others who work on them have told me they haven't handled vibration from driving conditions as well as some of the smaller HF units.  It's like a car, no one car does everything* - you want gas mileage, buy a hybrid, hauling capacity, get a truck, speed, get a sportscar, off-road, get a Hummer or a Jeep.  

 Portable rigs!

Technically all ham rigs are "portable-capable" but some are more portable than others.  

This is a Xiegu G90 rig.  It's portable (the brackets on the side and sticking out are to keep the knobs from getting slammed while it's being packed around), it is a SDR or Software Defined Radio - you can hook it to a laptop and update its firmware and program it to do different things.  This puts out about 20 watts and runs in the $400 range.  Extremely capable for the price, you'll need to get a battery pack for it, either a power pack, or an actual battery to hook to it.  You'll also need an antenna as well.  What makes a portable versus a mobile?  Whether you put it in your car or carry it around!

QRP Rigs!

QRP is one of the Q-codes for "low power" - generally defined as 10 watts or lower. 

QRP is its own specialty, it can listen very well, but may have difficulty getting out depending on the antenna you use and depending on your location (i.e. next to a transformer station) and conditions (bad band conditions make things difficult). 

This is a Xiegu X6100, one of the latest QRP rigs, about a mid-range radio.  It's also SDR, comes with an internal battery pack, and can hook to external power to double it's output to 10 watts, and of course, if you put an amplifier on it, you can boost it even more.  I have a tactical delta loop antenna and with the 5:1 binocular balun on it, boy does this thing perform!  

 

 So the question is, what are you planning on doing?  Operating from home?  In your vehicle?  In a go-kit?  Out while hiking?  

Best advice in all this is consult with your Heavenly Father in prayer (see Ether for a spiritual reference on working with the Lord on problem-solving and troubleshooting in keeping the commandments of the Lord as they built their barges). Also, go to club meetings and get on the air with others and ask their thoughts and experience.  Get a bunch of different opinions on these issues, and always, James 1:5.

HF Antennas - Getting Started

If you're looking at HF antennas, then it's assumed by now you have your General or Amateur Extra License (congrats!!)  and have a basic understanding of why different antennas are needed for HF and VHF/UHF bands as well as a knowledge of basic connections, coax, and SWR/Impedance/inductance/resonance/capacitance etc.  

At this point you're going to need to be working with an Elmer (someone who helps you with your ham) and be either be adept at doing research online, or actively involved with a club to help you. This entry is only intended to get you pointed in the right direction. (I mostly learned online, and then with others, and with a lot of trial and error). There's no way around the learning requirement.  Ham is about being self-taught, trial and error, a lot of learning, and a lot of testing.  Think what you're prepping for though, if you want to be ready for anything, you'll need these skills and knowledge. No exceptions.  But!! Like millions of other hams, you can learn! 

HF Antennas do not* have to be expensive, nor do they require a massive tower in the back yard nor does it require a massive yard. A fully functioning, global-capable antenna can be built for less than $150 (and many for way less than that). 

My main consideration is cost, and also portability.  I have an antenna that's set up at home, but I also have three different ones I've built or bought that I can set up in the field.

However, they do require a bit of equipment to set them up - get your own bit by bit, or go to a ham club, they will have them. 

You are going to need a network analyzer/SWR meter. 

 These run from inexpensive to expensive. 

The inexpensive version is the Nano VNA (Vector Network Analyzer). You will probably have to buy an adaptor as the connectors for the Nano VNA is an SMA adaptor, and your antenna will have an SO239 or PL259 connector.

Nano VNA

 These run about $30-$50 online.  

There's also the Rig-Expert, just make sure this goes to the frequencies you need.  I watched on e-Bay until I found one or a pretty decent price used, because brand-new, these are pretty high-end, and there pretty expensive. However this is going to be a permanent piece of equipment and investment into your communication capabilities. Just make sure that it covers the frequencies that you're going to need it be covered for.

Rig Expert Stick

Rig Expert Full Size

You are also going to need to buy some coax. This can be bought in bulk online, I have a lot of RG58 on hand for my own station.

You'll need coax and electrical connectors (not all coax is created equal, I bought mine off Amazon).

You'll need soldering kit and equipment. 

Coax cutting tools. 

Connector crimping tools if you're going to do crimping versions of connectors. 

You'll want weather strip / tape for protecting joints from weather. 

When it comes to your antenna you can buy OR MAKE the following:

A dipole:

 

 An end-fed half-wave, half-sloper antenna (I made one out of an electric fence wire and use it for ERC). 

A vertical - like the Wolf River Coil (requires tuning to change bands using your analyzer, as well as ground radials - I have one of these, it's a "fair weather" antenna, any wind over 3-5mph and it tipping over becomes an issue if you don't secure it to the ground).

You can buy or make a Tactical Delta Loop:

And for those of you within an HOA or other issues, there's the gutter mount antenna where you make your gutter into an antenna:

There's also the DX Commander (buy or make):

For QRP (low power) I have also used a kite-string-holder end-fed antenna: 

And there are many, many, many more. 

I have used, or communicated with all of these in the field.  There isn't any one "best" for all situations antenna. 

Right now, for HF I'm partial to the Tactical Delta Loop in the field (I made it with some fishing poles and wire) because I don't have to run radials and I can put it in the ground and I've had success with it on 80-20m. You can buy them pre-made as well.  I think my homemade one is a bit more robust for heavy use and a bit of accidental abuse over the long-term.

I made it for ~$110 total (the fishing poles were the expensive part). 

I like it because I can set it up at the church as an HF command post within about 10 minutes and take it down in about 5. I don't have to worry about it blowing over with anything more than a light breeze.  I don't have to put wires up in trees etc. I use the Wolf River Coil for my 2m/70cm communications for ERC in the field - when used for 2m/70cm I don't have to have it up so high as I do for HF and so it blowing over in a +3mph wind isn't an issue because I only set it up to be about 5-6 feet high. I home-made two 4" PVC pipes with caps on them and put straps on them to carry my antennas in. I like it because it's easy, looks sleek, and does a great job.

And at home I have an end-fed made of electric fence wire that I had to loop back around in a U-shape because I'm limited on room and guess what? It works! 

One of our hams has the Gutter-Antenna and he does just fine on HF and we hear him perfectly well!

You may want to get an antenna tuner, local or remote externals, or use a transceiver that has one built in - all of which can be acquired bit-by-bit.

At any rate, if you're feeling overwhelmed, don't be - you'll figure it out step-by-step as we all do until you know what you're doing.  None of us knows everything, and we're always learning. You will have to do some troubleshooting, and this is where you run with the others.  

Some tips: 

Figure out how much you have to spend. 

Figure out what your space will allow. 

Figure out what you're going to be using it for (mobile, home-base, set-up or take-down, field ops, etc.).

Don't get hung up on appearances - you don't have to have the cool looking tower that costs a few thousand. 

Get with an Elmer or start looking up online how to make one, or start shopping around to get the parts used, and have at it. 

If it works, it works!  If it doesn't, figure it out until you make it work! 

If I had known what I was doing and had gotten more help early on versus trying to go it alone the entire time, I could have literally had my antenna up in a single day - but I had to figure it out, and it took a while, mostly over hemming and hawing over the type, and trying to figure out how to get the length I needed to make it resonant before I realized I could just experiment with making my antenna U-shaped to get the length within the space. 

'73.