[TenTec] SCOUT packaging for the field

[Bwana Bob]

Hi Alan,

Interesting project. I never attempted manpack (personpack?) portable
with my Scout. I think that the xcvr, battery and antenna would be a bit
bulky for pedestrian portable. The main limiting factor would be an
efficient antenna that is "wearable". I'm not impressed by the various
"miracle" antennas, especially in light of declining band conditions.
Still, the HF pack people are doing it. The portable rigs of choice seem
to be the SGC 2020 and the Yaesu 817.

I have used my Scout portable on Field Day and when cabin camping and
have had excellent results. Since I don't use it in a backpacking mode,
the transit case issue becomes simple. I use a $20 attaché case style
aluminum tool chest from Home Depot. It has padded dividers which can be
moved around. The case holds the Scout, band modules, key, paddle, power
cable, battery or the 938 switching power supply, headphones, etc. The
antenna won't fit.

For antennas, I have tried a G5RV rigged as an inverted V, with mediocre
results. I've had great success, however, using my Ford Explorer as an
antenna base. For 80/75 meters, I use a 67 foot wire running from the
roof rack out to a tree. Switching a couple of fixed capacitors to
ground allows me to cover the whole band. This is an excellent NVIS
antenna. For 40 m and up, I mount an army surplus whip (still available)
on the roof rack. This is made in sections which screw together. By
adding or removing sections it will cover 20, 15, 17, 1n 10 meters. On
40 meters it is 16 feet long and I added a scrap piece of "miniductor"
(9 uH) loading coil. 
It works great, just don't drive around with a 16 foot whip on the roof
of your SUV!

			73,

			Bob WB2VUF

ARDUJENSKI at aol.com wrote:
> 
> I would be interested in all the Scout users that take the Scout for field
> events (including field day) that have nice packages for the radio, battery,
> antenna,  and accessories. I contacted folks like COMMUNICATION-OUTFITTERS
>  <A HREF="http://www.communication-outfitters.com/">Click here: Communication-Outfitters</A>
> or maybe even these folks
> <A HREF="http://www.powerportstore.com/mobile%20packs%20main%20ham.htm">Click here: Mobile Packs</A>
>  to see if they have, or can make a pack for the SCOUT/Z-11
> tuner/battery/accessories. If I hear anything I will be glad to share with
> y'all.
> 
> A couple of you shared some special boxes you had build to house the SCOUT
> and they sure were neat. Got me scratching away on paper
> 
> Here is a site with some ideas too:
>  <A HREF="http://www.hfpack.com/">Click here: HFpack.com, The HF Portable Group.</A>
> 
> For the battery I caluculated for a weekend the following battery size at
> full power)
> 600 ma receive and 10 amp transmit so used a duty cycle of 75 percent receive
> and 25 percent transmit for 20 hours. That would be (0.75x0.6)+(0.25x10)x20
> hours= about 14Ah so two 7.5 Ah in series or a 15Ah+ battery would do the
> trick. Running QRP is about half that. Please correct me if I am wrong but
> looking for a ballpark number.
> 
> I am sorry if this is a bit too basic for some of you folks--excue my babling
> 
> ANTENNA: I have been testing out the St. Louis Loop which is a 100ft sloping
> DELTA LOOP fed in the apex with 300 ohm line.The loop is made out of two
> strands of computer ribbon cable to keep it light and flexible and portable.
> The apex is supported about 20ft up. Good for 40-10m wih good lobe patterns
> and good gain. the original design used a 20ft fishing pole like the SD-20
> fish pole but a local ham got me interested in these windsock poles which are
> very rigid and collapses to about 47 inches and weighs 3 lbs
>  <A HREF="http://www.tmastco.com/TelepolePage.htm">Click here: TelePole</A>
> 
> I got a bag of CHEM STICK lights that were outdated chemical lights for life
> jackets from a local servicing company. These make great lights to work by at
> night
> 
> I am slowly converting over all the radios to ANDERSON POWER POLE CONNECTORS.
> 
> I am anxious to hear about your SCOUT SETUPS........I really enjoy seeing
> nice neat station set ups both in the field and the shack
> 
> I am still trying to com up with a unique module storage container. I think
> all-in-all I am looking for a nice MANPACK for the SCOUT set up. Lets hear
> form you fellas with a lot more ideas than me
> 
> Alan KB7MBI in Woodinville, WA
> FISTS 5702  Proud member of ARRL
> ___ ___ . . .      . . . ___ ___   DIT DIT
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