The Best Option for Regional SHTF Comms - No Random Contacts Series 

Community building and training are probably the number one factors. Effective em coms requires organization and coordination. More good stuff.

We tried a similar experiment. 2 stations 30 miles distance. Mine on 2800 feet, the other on 1500 feet and separated by mountains 13000 to 14000 feet high. Both stations half wave dipol on 80 m 18 feet above ground. 20 watt output. It just didn’t work… untill we lowered the antenna both to 7 feet. We did it within the same hour. Vocap gave us the same conditions for both tries. 5 and 6 , even with 10 watts. Radiowaves sometimes do funny things. Training makes you successfull❗️ 73 de HB3XBL 👍🇨🇭

No idea what language this guy is speaking. Came here to see if I could set up communication with my family. I now know the people I need to seek out when SHTF

Used NVIS a bunch in the military. They are great in the mountains also were line of sight comms just don't work due to giant mountain sitting in the way. As the F1/F2 range changes throughout the day you will have to adjust frequencies.

that was cool what you did with the audio and video there. I always wonder what I sounded like to the other people. Thats a good test to see what your audio sounds like. Thank you and thank your friend for sharing that.

WONDERFUL video, everything you need in one concise 17 min video, love it !

Gaston, big thank you for all the great videos. Getting out into the field, operating, and experimenting is the best kind of amateur radio. Keep up the great work, and keep inspiring others!

I recently activated POTA on 40 meters in the morning. My EFHW antenna was only at 15 ft peak, the ends of the antenna were at 5 ft. My initial 10 contacts were all within 50 miles of my location, with several being 30 to 40 miles. I was only running 20 watts. The system works and it's good to practice (train) where ever and when ever you can.

So after I have been doing this for a long time, what I have found is that after the first bounce, polarity does not matter at all. Now I'm sure I will find someone out there with a science degree that will tell me this is wrong, but in my years of doing this I have found what is good on paper almost never shakes out in the real world.

In HOA's in the Houston area, people are placing wire antennae on wood fences using electric fence insulators.

Really glad I found this channel. I'm into preparedness, and along with my father, got my technician license a while back, but haven't done that much with it in practice yet. I bought us both some cheap uv-5r handhelds, and I recently upgraded to yaesu ft5dr and started playing around with APRS a bit. But what I'm really hoping to achieve is a way to make contact with my parents reliably, even if external systems like repeaters are down. They live about 30 miles away point to point. We are in Ohio, so no mountain ranges in between. I'm getting back into studying for my generals now, and I really like the concept of the portable man pack radios that you introduced me to. I honestly view all of this as more of an emergency comm tool. I don't have a desire to buy a ton of radios and equipment for exploring every corner of the hobby. So I really like the idea of buying a portable radio that does every band I would practically need for emergency comms. I see that the 857d is hard to come by with it being discontinued, but some pages have redirected me to the yaesu 891. It looks like the difference between those two is that 891 doesn't do 2m or 70cm? I don't personally think that's too much of an issue, because my use case for HF radio is repeaters being down, and I would think that even with high power/good antennas, it might be hard to make a 30 mi contact over 2m/70cm without the use of a repeater? At any rate, the 891 is somewhere around $650, which is significantly cheaper, and my father is definitely only interested in terms of emergency comms, and has very little interest in the hobby itself. I was thinking of getting that radio for him since it has higher power, and could be used as a base station radio 99% of the time. For myself, I was actually considering the ft-818. I do actually get out and backpack, and I'm also involved in our local SAR group, and we have been looking into a mobile base station radio for use in trainings/searches. Most members don't have their HAM license, but we operate on one of the business bands on the 2m/70cm band pretty much exclusively. So I believe, the ft-818 would do the trick on that front as well as my personal comms with my family 30 mi away, given the right antenna setup? Just looking on some advice to see whether my thought process is way off on any of this. Thanks to anyone who wouldn't mind a few words of wisdom!

Great video! I've been practicing NVIS for years now and have found that MAKING tons of random contacts has been one of the best ways to learn about NVIS propagation characteristics operating in multiple environments, antennas, transmitters, power levels, modes, times of day, bands, etc. But I totally get your mission here, and great job at it - a network of folks is critically important for emcomm. VOACAP and other planning tools can be helpful to get you ballpark estimates but there's nothing that beats lots of direct experience. You're on the right track in doing this test! One thing I've found is that, more than power levels, mode matters a lot for NVIS - CW and JS8Call present a ~18 to 20 dB gain over voice modes, basically turning your 100 watts on SSB into an equivalent 6,000+ watts using more effective weak signals modes!!!

Great video. Thanks for all your videos and the knowledge you are willing to share.

Congrats on the short skip QSOs on 80 m. There are a couple of ways you could experiment and try to determine if the 40 mi contacts were NVIS or ground wave. First, try at different times of day on the same frequencies. If the propagation changes much, For example, if it is severely attenuated midday or in the afternoon, it is likely NVIS. Try reorienting your antennas so the end of the wire is pointed toward the other station on each end. With a dipole, that is a pretty strong null for ground wave propagation and I would expect it to be much more difficult to make the contact. Then turn the antennas again so they face broadside to each other's station. If it's ground wave, the signal should increase significantly. If it's NVIS, the signal should be the same in each orientation.

Love this experiment and your discussion. I'm into ham radio not for the hobby and fun of it, though that's great, but for emergency preparedness. My goal is to upgrade my ham license to General so I can do this exact sort of thing.

I really enjoyed this video. I don't have much money, so I can't have the station I would like to.... I have an Icom IC-7200 (LOVE the Rig!), which goes to an LDG Auto-Tuner and out to a 1/2 Wave Dipole for 80 Meters with the Apex at about 22 Feet. That was as High as I could safely get up in our Cedar Tree, LOL! I've had VERY good luck with this configuration-The Antenna is a home-brew that I built. I have worked 40 States and 9 Countries with this, running at 100 Watts. The VHF Rig is a Yaesu FTM-200D

Good video Gaston. I'm in a valley so I'll definitely need to try NVIS for short contacts... when I get HF. 🍻👍

Currently using the Chameleon Emcomm iii portable as a base hf antenna and have been having lots of fun making dx contacts. I've been very impressed with the performance. Thanks for the video. Chameleon makes some excellent products.

Out Bloody Standng mate many thanks for that and greetings from the UK.I have also found the having similar antennas for Tx and Rx stations is very important for NVIS

I’m new to Ham Radio and I really enjoy the content. Keep the video’s rolling..👍👍👍👍

Gaston, another excellent video. Yes, antennas are a big, big part of the game. +3dBr is effectively 2X power in Watts, but with a near omni direction antenna it takes +6dB (quadrupling power) change to double the effective range. When you use antenna gain you increase transmit and receive passively. So, yes, the Hamsticks are compromised. I am hoping to get back to 80m NVIS in a few weeks. Our closest distance has been about 25 miles. I doubt it was groundwave due to 25ft antenna elevation and strong propagation directly off the end of an EFHW antenna. Regularly I get 50mi with 80m NVIS. Where NVIS and groundwave overlap there can destructive interference. Also, NVIS antennas may be improved with a reflecting element on or near the ground. Mileage and configuration varies. I've lucked out with a chainlink fence as a reflector. Another simplex mode to look at is 2m SSB with horizontally polarized antennas. On Tuesday evenings there is a 2m SSB net that has participation through most of Florida and parts of GA. The net control typically runs stacked loops. Other participants may opt for Yagi antennas. Unless there is active VHF ducting most are running power of 100W-200W, but with that power with +5dBi antenna gain they routinely have 150-200mi range. If there is any VHF ducting their range is 300-500mi. We have played with vertically polarized antennas and it is not as effective. At that point the benefits of SSB over FM become marginal. You can get in the game with your FT-857D at 50W with a 5dBi antenna, but you will not have as consistent results for longer distance. If you go +9dBi and higher antenna gain you'll see reasonable to good results consistently at 50W. The 160W Mirage repeater amps are a popular starting point for power, if you want to run with the big boys. The more you work 80m and 60m, I think you will find them more reliable than 40m, especially during solar minima. The rub being best propagation will typically be near dawn. The plus is effective power can usually make up the difference with 80m or 60m NVIS when propagation is not ideal. 60m the FCC limit is 200W. During solar minima power may not make up the difference for 40m NVIS. Antenna restricted operators, especially digital only should consider dedicated small transmitting or magnetic loop antennas. If you are doing FT8 or JS8Call exclusively and you are antenna restricted loops make very good antennas. Small loop antennas, especially vertically polarized loops, have both high angle and low angle radiation near the ground. It is one antenna for NVIS and DX. A vertical loop only needs to be about 1 loop diameter above the ground for both NVIS and DX. A horizontally polarized loop should be about 4 loop diameters off the ground. Definitions seem to vary, but small transmitting loops seem to be defined as =

More great content Gaston! Good job again.

I just watched your video and just wanted to say you can build a dipole put it 4 to 8 feet off the ground and get just as good of a signal or maybe better. I have the Cha MPAS lite and love that antenna. I do POTA once a week and it’s my go to antenna. I’m a extra class ham and I love the hobby but sometimes we way over complicated the hobby. You can build a dipole out of a few dollars worth of wire. If you have an old 50’ drop cord a little time and you can built them for free. Look online for a simple dipole calculator. Yes I have tried this and got excellent results. Just putting the info out there for folks who are getting into the hobby and don’t have $1500. Great video.

I've taken a greater interest in HF digital communications as a result of your videos. Now I'm participating in a weekly Winlink net. For this net I have been playing with different bands/modes each week. Always enjoy the videos and looking forward to the one on VOACAP! 73

I've got a similar setup, but built on an aluminum frame which loads into a SAW can for storage / safety. I've managed to cram an 857d, tuner, battery, and SWR meter in there, along with a power distribution block and hookups. It's fully removed from the can when in use, so no extra connections or heat issues. Perhaps not as portable, but very functional, and armored.

A good HF rig is invaluable. Still using my old Icom 745. Solar cell array, 12 volt batteries, and homebrewed antennas. Very dependable communications. N5QDM. 73's. And yes, the day is coming and who can say when.!!!

great video

couple of ideas: first, ALE! not all bands can be open at all times, but a good ale setup with 160,80,75,60,40 plan will give you a very high success rate for a link in the area (excluding a nuclear blast scenario perhaps ;) second, a circular polarization in both antennas should improve communication on NVIS. now the challenge is having the antenna to be both ale capable multi-band, as well as circularly polarized. I would be glad to hear a simple solution for this one. third, a backup plan bird with an vhf repeater onboard should provide an alternative in case no other comms available, for around 30min flight time, so scheduled comms in this case.. and lastly a satellite messenger for the last resort.

Wow love the analysis

I like your objective, concise and organized presentations. Not having a 60 Meter capability is a challenge. You probably would have had a better success and needed less power. There is less D layer absorption on 60 than 75/80. Most "all band" antennas don't resonate will on 5 MHz. You can send both voice and digital traffic on a 60 Meter channel. FEMA and MARS use 60 Meter channels to communicate with hams and obtain situation awareness for very very bad SHTF days. Monitoring those channels could provide good intel. Choosing to not have an antenna tuner limits your choices for 60 Meter capability. A home built end fed half wave 60 meter antenna using a $35 unun and some wire between your poles, even with a cheap tuner would cost a fraction of the Chameleon antenna. Its no surprise that a vertical antenna on 75 Meters would have an adequate signal at the takeoff angle for your 200+ mile circuit. I will look forward to your future presentations.

Excellent vid!

I am just starting out.. Know almost nothing about radios. Whenever I see someone who is proficient in their trade.. I am always impressed. That's partly because of the lack of intelligence, in general, all around US.

HRCC gets a "do not recommend" and "NotARubicon" gets a subscription. Difference of perspective.

I use my ft 450D for my NVIS setup, from here in Tacoma, i can reach all 4 boarders and about 100 - 200 miles past thoes as well here and there.... Using full power btw.. but interesting Lee enough when you use 2 m Sideband (different radio), from my location I'm able to get up into north Canada Vancouver area and south I'm able to hit the outskirts of Portland and all the West Coast areas in Washington... While most of the west side kind of cuts off in the Olympic mountain range.. by the way I'm here in Tacoma

An NVIS antenna is my goto antenna. 200ft of stainless steel cable off a tuner at just 7ft. Works great. BUT you must test and tweak your setup. Also works for long distance contacts perpendicular to the antenna.

Love your content! You may want to talk directly into the mike rather than across it. I may be wrong, but I’m fairly confident that it will improve your audio and make you sound louder. I know that is often the case with CB mics anyway.

Stirred up fond memories of NVIS techniques during wintertime roundtable roundtable chats in the 1980s when i was home for Xmas university semester break...a low dipole or a horizontal quad 10-15ft off the ground did a great job for day comms, in a 100mile+ radius on the 75 meter band. Nowadays, this aspect of ham radio plays a role in a Post-Apocalyptic fiction adventure series i have authored...it will be of interest to Preppers, Bushcraft fans, Post-Apoc story fans and of course, Hams!.

Awesome project!! Thanks!

Great video! I've did a lot of NVIS experiments. Best performing antennas are single band: Dipole and Full Wave Loop which give max gain to zenith. EZNEC is your friend as are NOAA ionosondes. Digital modes like VARA allow for reliable QRP NVIS. The Winlink network is a great tool for experimenting with antennas. Keep it up! 73

Great video Gaston. In Canada you require Basic with Honours (B+) for HF with a power restriction. Another option for antenna is a fan dipole which can be made relatively cheap.

Good video. I'm an extra class up near Show Low. Love to get a mug!

Love that shirt bro!

HRO has the Yaesu FT 891 for $639. That would be a great value for a 100 watt rig.

I have a question re the battery pack I see you use. Do you regulate the voltage after it? Do you just charge it up to 15v ? If regulated, have you checked for noise from the regulator and or got a link?

Im interested in a SHTF type all in one radio like these... Great Stuff!

I've had excellent results with NVIS using a Chameleon EMCOMM II horizontally @ 10'. A feedline choke and a counterpoise on the ground parallel to the radiator were included. 40m day contacts from 5 miles to 300 miles were no problem. Icom IC-7300 @ 100 watts. 80m night looks promising, but I haven't experimented enough with this (coming soon).

Outstanding thanks.

Those square cage structures we see on German WWII Command Cars in 1940s vids are NVIS antennas. That's how German Unit Commanders passed Enigma Traffic via HF Radio.

I've had to do vertical to get around some hills in our area. It works great with a high gain antanna.

Well done 👍

Thank you

What battery setup do you have with this Man pack I know you've mentioned other batteries in the past but I was just wondering for the specific build

I'm using a homemade cubical 2 meter quad with 3 directors and have vertically oriented it. The signal locally is very clear. The vertical technique does not work farther than 30 miles for 2 meters but I've about dialed it in.

The FCC has the “OTARD” rule (47 C.F.R. Section 1.4000) that prevents restrictions being set by an HOA as long as your antenna follows federal regulations. Your HOA is also prevented from punishing you for an "eyesore" antenna as long as the rules are followed.

I like the K.I.S.S. method. All these digital modes need "extra stuff", cw or ssb phone is simple and effective. If the SHTF keeping a laptop running would be unnecessarily challenging.

The CHA LEFS 8010 is an eight band, no- tuner, High Frequency (HF) antenna for use on the 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meter Amateur Radio Service (ham) bands (60 meters with a tuner). So it would have been possible to use 60M if you had a tuner to see the difference between 40M and 60M. Another option beside the CHA LEFS 8010 would be the CHA EMCOMM III P which has been very popular this year with the different branches of the US MILITARY.

Good demonstration. I am adding an inverted V to my base antenna, but been wanting to get a Yeasu Ft897 (obsolete, but still a good portable rig) and do some POTA. I think the sloper may be a better choice than throwing a random wire in a tree. I'll have to try it out.

For short distances like that, we found top band 160m worked best for us also data modes cuts through very good as well.

Very good video. I'm running an I-Com IC 705 with the EMComm III wire antenna with the transmission point 65' in the air sloped 45' and the counterpoise straight down. Works well for NVIS on 80 meters. Thanks for your insight .73 KF0CA

I have a similar need for my Parks on the Air hunts. Having hard time reaching neighboring states on 20m. Im skipping over KS and WY from CO. I think ill try this NVIS setup to see how i do. Good info here…

A buddy sent me a link to your real-life inReach video, given we are both experimenting with inReach for short text comms. I decided to stick around. I can do VHF/UHF via the repeater system here at the house. For HF I have to operate portable. So I'm an experienced portable operator. If you're looking for a non-random contact in the Carson City area, let me know. I picked up a FT-857D a couple of years ago, thinking that I would put it in my 4Runner. When that didn't happen, I thought about selling it. But I managed to capture a 500Hz CW filter for it by buying another radio (with one installed). Collins 2.5KHz phone filters are still available so I decided to keep the radio. It's a solid radio and I deployed it a couple of times for POTA activations. With the new filters and the excellent form factor, I think it's a great field radio and it has all-mode VHF/UHF capability as well. If your buddies with HOA restrictions or compromise antenna systems are up for some experimentation, they might try a random loop antenna strung around the perimeter of their backyard fencing. Use a 9:1 Unun for the match (it will need a tuner) and a common-mode choke before taking the coax into the house. It will definitely be NVIS at about 6ft AGL and is relatively stealthy. Test it with an analyzer for using to be sure it is not close to resonance on any band they intend to use. Keep the coax run as short as possible to minimize loss. I stapled some electric fence wire to my wooden fence, connected one end to the "antenna" connection and the other to the "counterpoise/ground" connection of the 9:1 Unun. I was able to make FT8/JS8Call contacts using the antenna and 25w. The tuner (impedance matching unit) in my Elecraft K3 matched it just fine. My location is too noisy for much else, although I have been able to work a few CW operators during the weekly CWT events. This is good content. 73 de AG7TX

Very good trial and error operation ! One thing I mentioned before was running a wire 5% longer than your antenna wire. Run directly under your antenna and laying on the ground. It is not tied into the antenna. It is only a reflector. It helps focus the signal straight up. This may be helpful for close in coms. It would be worth a try and see if signal strength improves. The Yaesu FT-891 is an excellent 100 watt HF radio for emcom base or portable. It comes in at about $640.00 and is currently available. Keep the videos coming. I enjoy watching and seeing the results you get. I'm glad you tried ham sticks. Wire usually works best and if you can't use a full length antenna on 80 meters, a shortened wire antennas with a coil in each leg that electrically shortens the antenna length may a viable option. These can be made yourself or bought commercially.

I love NVIS!

That was great. It's always nice to hear the received signal. Did you have a chance to use lower power with the Henderson station? I'm always curious about that. With your first local contact, what a surprise, it seems like it would have just worked! Goes to show, we've all gotta have a solid PACE plan. Pretty neat Gaston. I need one of those mugs.

Great shirt.

Another great video! At 1:34 you indicated the mission objective was to make contact with three known 'quantities', did you mean entities? If not, could you please elaborate?

That attempted QSO with K7IAL that failed is nearly identical to what I need to accomplish between where I work and my QTH (39 miles with a 1,300 foot mound of dirty in my way). And the proposed test that @K6ARK mentioned in the comments could simulate the field setup I need… i.e., your setup at the QTH works, the field exercise is to go to K7IAL with that deployable dipole to secure NVIS contact with your QTH. I’d love to see a nerd video on the success of that exercise.

So I’m based in payson by setting up an antenna in payson on our property would I be able to reach people in phx without any crazy set up in the city?

what is the brand of the red power supply? can't read the label. thanks. keep up the good work.

For those in the Houston area, the Oak Forest ARC will have its monthly meeting or at TranStar at 9 AM local. I will bring my FTM6000 phone/Digi combo. WinLink demo using Digirig. D I not have to be a member or a ham to come. Also testing for all classes. We have started being a go set up so a new ham can get on the air under 3rd party rules as soon as they pass tech. Any advice welcome.

I find my 144 foot doublet is about 40 feet high, and 60 feet wide in the flat middle section, each end zig zags and slopes down to fit a city lot; manages regional 80M connections handily. It does not do 20M well to the east, and since I am on the Pacific Coast that means most of America. I do the Oregon Emergency Net, and the ORCA Digital Net.

I have a qyt kt 8900d as my base with a dual band Ringo ranger I have a yaesu ft65 and a u s9x3 handhelds I use them daily on frs gmrs and the 2 meter murrs bands

So is it fair to say that 10 watts or less is not a great option for NVIS communications? (10-50miles) I have had some success but I think conditions have to be right.

FWIW: I am not sure how much HF long distant 2 way comms will be useful. Other than getting some distance news, there isn't really much benefit. I think SDR or wideband reciever is probably more practical since you can monitor local emergency responders (fire, police) presuming they aren't using encrypted digital comms. As far as contacting distant family: odds are the other party won't have the equipment or license, and syncing the time & frequency is going to be difficult. Odds in a crisis, power will be un-reliable, & likely HF band traffic would be significantly higher making it difficult to converse. Consider if a dozen other people are using the frequencies you choose during the scheduled time. What if one of the parties has a problem and cannot fulfill the schedule you established. Right now comms traffic on HF bands is pretty much nothing as few people are using it, but in a crisis odds are HF traffic would increase significantly For the most part I think FRS,GRMS radios are more practical, because in a crisis, you can hand them out and have the means to communicate with neighbors which you can work with. Maybe a neighbor needs some help to address a problem, or for a neighbor watch system. The short range of FRS, GRMS are a benefit since its unlike nefarious people some distance away can listen in and target you unexpectedly. Beyond that, 2 way comms has little practical use, and using a long range comms put you at risk for crime. a competent HF operator likely wouldn't have to much trouble locating your position, if they are short on supplies there is a risk they might pop on over with nefarious intentions. In a SHTF, I would only monitor HF bands for news, but I would never transmit. A few low cost SDRS with a good antenna is a practical option since you can use a low cost SDR to monitor the HF bands. FWIW: These are my recommendations for future video topics: 1. SDRs and how to monitor P.25 transmission & emergency responder traffic 2. GRMS\FRS radios to communicate within the neighborhood 3. Electronic monitoring systems: PIR RF motion sensors to detect movement on your property, Trail cameras, IP cameras. IR beam intrusion detection systems. 4. Grid down alternative power systems, Small quiet inverter generators (ie Honda 2200i), whole house inverter systems. 5. Livestock perimeter defense using electric fence systems.

KC8OWL is my buddy!! Very cool!

A horizontal wire a couple feet off the ground will bounce back the signal effectively and 80m or 160m will do it. Im into this hobby for em comms and portable capabilities.

What Mapping Software are you using in this video? Thank you for make such helpful videos. I enjoy watching them.

Great video, Gaston. FWIW, what’s the closest you’ve ever made an NVIS contact? Thanks!

There's plenty of digital modes to fall back on. I've been doing some PSK31 lately with HRD software. Made a few contacts on 20m mostly. One contact on 40 and one on 10m. For digital modes, JS8 is probably the most reliable and doesn't decode "garbage," aka atmospheric noise. On occasion, there is some packet loss. Had many great QSO'S on JS8.

I’m just getting started into com systems, which one would be the best for me to get

What software are you using in the video? The one you used to put the callsign in to lookup?

I had an unusual experience with a a NVIS antenna, I was in the desert near Salton Sea and make a contact in Washington state. I am sure it was a fluke but I did twice on different dates. This was about 1200 miles (your mileage my vary). I was using a folded dipole from Cobra. N6JAI

What is your power supply setup on your wall? Thanks in advance.

I haven't done ham stuff in years, feels weird to hear it again. Lol. I need to get back into it.

What radios are these being used?? Can this work with cb radios too??. This is neat. If going from radio to radio and is there a repeater set up with what is going with the set up. ??.

Consider out on one frequency and back on another

I'm going to go a different route for my home NVIS set up and use a 40/60/80 meter fan dipole. This would accomplish everything you are trying to do and perform better than using a EFHF. And at the same time, have 60 meters. The EFHW could then be put at a greater height to allow it to perform better. I also am going to use something like the painters poles you are using at the ends. I found some 22' painters poles that have snap out clips to raise and lower. Really fast to adjust. This will allow me to quickly lower each end of the antenna. My plan is to cut the 80 meter antenna for the 3.800 Mhz portion of the band and then have an add on section of wire with quick disconnect ends to add additional lengths of wire on each end to get a better SWR match in the 3.500 Mhz portion of the band. The additional length of wire on each end, which will be a about 2.5 + feet and can just hang down. This will allow me to have a very good SWR on both ends of the band. I know, the antenna will work fine at 1.6 to 1. I'm just anal about having the lowest SWR possible. If it proves to help, a linked piece of wire under the dipole can act as a reflector. I may or may not have to remove the unused portions of the reflector when changing bands. Time will tell on that one. I already have a lightweight linked 20/40/60/80 dipole for field use. I know there can be a little interaction with a fan dipole, but I'll figure it out. If it does not perform as I want, I'm only out a little bit of wire. Like you, I also want to be able to operate on 60 meters. Antenna building has always been an interest of mine. Saves a lot of $$$$ to. P.S, I was just going to build a 40/80. You got me thinking about how useful it would be to have 60 also. Thanks.

Nice setup what type of backpack are you using for the manpack

Hello Gaston! Thank you for making these very informative videos. I was wondering if I could ask you for some advice. I've had my license for a couple years, and have been playing with my VX6R and FT2DR since then with simplex, repeaters, and APRS via the FT2DR. In my area most of the activity is on 2m FM repeaters. There are also a couple of 2m digipeaters with iGates. My question is: which would be the first ham shack radio you would recommend? Do you recommend I go with a dual band, dual TX/RX radio so that I can monitor/talk and also utilize the data at the same time? Or should I aim for a more dedicated 2m data radio, and then another radio for voice comms (maybe a couple of FTM-6000R's, or a FT-2980R and a FTM-6000)? Thank you, Rob.

very interesting 🙂🇱🇹👍❤️

We are getting ready to do some of these test in Texas. wondering if my ic-705 will pull it off at 10W. Will let you know.

Love your channel just wondering are you a vet you sound like one. I spent 8 years USMC Avation mechanic, but had a collateral duty of comms for the nuclear weapons security force 2nd MAW. Been a ham for 45 years but now am disabled and play with radios all day mostly. Try an inverted V antenna at a low height 15ft or less but install a ground rod and a shadow set of ground counterpoises right underneath your V that should blast you signal straight up and be great NVIS comms. You can actually do 40 and 80 like an x and feed both in the center. More power is needed when on 80 quite often. Keep up the good work. Chuck AA4CP Ft Pierce FL

Practice, practice. No personal group to work with but I do NVIS to have the capability. 73 Doug N8VY

Think of NVIS as shinging a flash light on your white ceiling to provide light in a room.

I missed the frequency you were using for this experiment. I’ve been wanting to work on this same project as well 73’s W4ERC

Im wanting to set up ATAK with my radio so i can have live gps of my team could you show us how to use ATAKS?

Better to overestimate, rather than underestimate the initial equipment outlay, but I think you can build a decent 100W HF station using new quality major brand for $1000. But just ‘cause you can, doesn’t mean a ham will. Let’s face it, ham’s tend to be suckers for gear. 😊

Well done. I've been wanting to play with NVIS and was wondering about the config of that setup.

A horizontal loop at fence top height around the backyard might work better

Great video I've just recently renewed my licence after a long break due to life... I work full time in the industry as a Snr Comms N/W Eng'r Hoping to go out in a few more weeks & buy some new gear. Trying to work out if it is worth also spending $$$ on at least some "common" digital gear like DMR & Apco as apposed to each brands proprietary digital ( D-Star for Icom, Fusion for Kenwood & so on ) or just stick to Analogue.? Hope to maybe make the contact one day on H.F. Just courious what prediction software do you use ?, take care, & stay safe. Thx Rgs Wayne VK3ECS ( Australia)