Let's face it ...... those of us who are Weekend Warriors do not really need to pack like as if we were SOTAteers. Those intrepid QRPers usually have to hike for many, many miles to get to their final destination. For them to not have a redundant set of just about everything would be a disaster. I can only imagine how much fun it would be to hike five or ten miles to a mountain top, set up the station only to find out that your BNC to SO239 adapter broke and that you didn't carry a back up. That would be a hair-tearing-out day, indeed.
For those of us who go to a local. county or state park and set up at an available picnic table usually have the luxury of parking nearby. That makes life so much easier! I usually leave the backpack full of all extemporaneous stuff in the back of the Jeep. All that comes with me is the KX3 in its padded case, the battery and a paddle and set of ear buds along with the antenna du` jour. I carry these items in a very light, over-the-shoulder messenger bag that Cafe Press used to offer, but sadly, they no longer do. Glad I got mine while they had it!
This bag fits everything I need for a few hours of operating outdoors in a park-like environment. Of course if I were to set up somewhere that required a substantial walk or hike, I'd bring the entire backpack with me. It's no fun walking a couple miles back to the car because you didn't bring any zip ties or extra antenna support rope with you in a small day pack. Not only is that frustrating; but it takes away from your operating time. The object it to maximize operating time and minimize set up and tear down time, right?
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that you learn as you go. Do enough portable operations and you'll learn soon enough when to carry light, or when to bring the kitchen sink along with you.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
Larry,
ReplyDeleteGood points. As veteran of nearly 270 SOTA activations, I can say that I don't carry any redundant equipment in my pack. A 5 mile hike with pack full of redundant gear can get heavy. The total station weighs not more than 2 lbs and I can set it up in 5 minutes or less. I do carry, electrically tape, a light weight leatherman style mult-tool and maybe a bit of wire. I only use 3 ft of RG-174 coax and the rest is my antenna wire, a carbon fiber collapsible pole and a 9 to 1 balun. I inspect the gear before I go. So I don't take redundancy on a summit, just material to make light repairs. If I do a drive up SOTA, I can then be redundant, the car is carrying it not me:-)
73,
Mike AD5A