N7RCS Field Kit Evolution
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2025 12:59 am
In this 2-part series I cover the evolution of my CW QRP operating as I transitioned from a home station to 100% portable/field ops. In 2018 my wife and I moved to FL in an 1800 sq ft home located about 7 miles from the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Bay. The yard was large enough to allow me to set up many wire antennas, some as long as 130 feet. I had a number of 30 & 40 foot fiberglass poles used to support various configurations from slopers to half loops to verticals. During the years 2018-2024 I was a serious QRP contester, operating mostly with a KX3/PX3 combination that produced very good results for me. At one point one neighbor became concerned that my wire antennas were some sort of device to electrocute the flocks of pigeons that hung around our backyard and pool. Fortunately a local ham disabused this neighbor of that idea and I never heard from her again.
During my final year in FL I had built a series of QRP Labs QRP rigs which are ideal for portable ops. At the time, I never realized how important these radios would become in the very near future.
Fast forward to early 2025, when we decided to move to Seattle to be closer to two of our grandkids. The decision meant we moved from an 1800 sq ft stand-alone home with no HOA and a good yard, to an 800 sq ft condo with an HOA and no yard for any antennas. My serious contesting days and nights were over. I had to find a way to adapt to my new circumstances. Fortunately, the Seattle area in which we live has many parks with good areas for portable radio ops. And fortunately, I had the perfect radios for portable ops: KX3, QMX, & QMX+.
My initial attempt at portable ops setup was to simply employ either a folding table or a standard clipboard that could hold a QMX, Bienno battery + buck converter, CW key, and writing pad. These worked OK, but it was difficult to keep it all from shifting around or balancing it all on my lap, as I realized I did not need an actual table on which to work. Plus, getting up from my seat proved challenging, especially sitting as low as I was in my folding chair.
Before I continue on, I have to say I have great parks nearby overlooking the Puget Sound in Seattle. They provide space to set up several EFHW resonant antennas.
But I knew this set up was just temporary, especially if I planned to get more serious about portable operating and knowing there was no chance to operate from our condo with all its limitations.
In part 2, I discuss further field kit evolution and the ways and techniques I used to simplify portable ops setup and operating.
During my final year in FL I had built a series of QRP Labs QRP rigs which are ideal for portable ops. At the time, I never realized how important these radios would become in the very near future.
Fast forward to early 2025, when we decided to move to Seattle to be closer to two of our grandkids. The decision meant we moved from an 1800 sq ft stand-alone home with no HOA and a good yard, to an 800 sq ft condo with an HOA and no yard for any antennas. My serious contesting days and nights were over. I had to find a way to adapt to my new circumstances. Fortunately, the Seattle area in which we live has many parks with good areas for portable radio ops. And fortunately, I had the perfect radios for portable ops: KX3, QMX, & QMX+.
My initial attempt at portable ops setup was to simply employ either a folding table or a standard clipboard that could hold a QMX, Bienno battery + buck converter, CW key, and writing pad. These worked OK, but it was difficult to keep it all from shifting around or balancing it all on my lap, as I realized I did not need an actual table on which to work. Plus, getting up from my seat proved challenging, especially sitting as low as I was in my folding chair.
- Initial N7RCS field kit desk in Seattle.
- ClipboardFieldDesk.jpg (212.62 KiB) Viewed 1807 times
- N7RCS folding table field desk in Seattle
- FoldingTableDesk.jpg (124.83 KiB) Viewed 1807 times
But I knew this set up was just temporary, especially if I planned to get more serious about portable operating and knowing there was no chance to operate from our condo with all its limitations.
In part 2, I discuss further field kit evolution and the ways and techniques I used to simplify portable ops setup and operating.