I have the Comet HFJ 350M and the Wolf River Coils in both the original and the YAFI version (78" whip and 2× extensions) on the Comet, once I figured out the Counterpoise, I'm now getting close to reaching 1,000 miles(950 miles) with my Xiegu G-90. Once I swapped out the speaker wire and went to antenna wire, I've went from 4.4 to 5.5 signal reports. As for my Wolf River Coils YAFI, I shocked myself last week by reaching a station near Rome Italy. I've also reached Los Angeles and Idaho and Aruba with my Xiegu G-90 and using just 3 radials. Question, since you've played with both radios, how does the Icom 705 compare to the G-90 in whichever metrics you would consider important? I'm looking at getting the 705 too
DX Eng, called yesterday to confirm that I still wanted the radio, and since my credit union switched to M/C I needed to give DX new credit card information, so while on the phone, I ordered the bag. It's kind of pricey, but it has features that go with the radio. So when the covid-19 subsides and we get new hires here at EDC-1 and the overtime goes down , I'll be looking forward to doing parks on the air with my new iC-705 next spring. 73
Great video. In lieu of an inventory sheet, I have photos of everything in the pack, arranged top to bottom. Deeper pockets are for the longer term and overnight items while the quick access ones are for immediate essentials like lighters, knife, water and food. 73 de KI1Y, Cocoa Beach
Great Video Josh, add a fly rod carrier tube on the side for your long tubular items. They have either dividers or a pull out roll, to give you four compartments to keep your antenna and support tubes from contacting each other.
Thanks for the post. Well done. I appreciate the time it took with prep and editing. It is rather unfortunate that the pack doesn't come with a hip belt. Regardless of size, the weight distribution between hips and shoulders should be prepared to support an 80/20 split. 80% of weight on the hips and 20% on the shoulders. For longer hauls you will definitely begin to feel the fatigue in the upper body without a hip belt even with a relatively light load. I recommend loading the pack up simulating real world use and rucking around the neighborhood or local trails or make it part of your physical training regiment. Carrying a loaded ruck, even with minimal weight strains your muscles differently than normal. Being prepared for an emcomm contingency requires just as much phyisical fitness preparedness as the mental. The two are intertwined and both elements will be called upon in a self rescue event. Keep in mind there is also a science with how to pack the bag re: weight distribution. This is a self correcting problem. After you've packed the bag incorretly a few times your body will tell you to head back to the drawing board with regards to packing and weight distribution. After market hip belts are available, not sure the bag can be outfitted as such - but it may be an option. The bag doesn't seem to have much organic capability to shed weather. I would recommend adding a rain fly or inexpensive Duck Back from REI. Potentially a few thousand dollars worth of gear contained in the bag, it would behoove you to have a $15-20 insurance policy on hand from the WX. Understood that you have pelican cases or similiar internal to the bag, but I've noticed I can become distracted on the trail and there are times where equipment does not find it's way back to its original placement/hardware configuration or a zipper/enclosure gets overlooked. A rain cover can assist with that shortfall. A light colored rain cover can also assist with heat reflection from the sun depending on the environment. I hate having my pogey bait melt everywhere, but its nothing close to having your radio suffer from a thermal event. - Another self correcting problem that I've learned first hand - hope this post can help someone with plannining and logistics. Amatuers talk about tactics, professionals study logistics. 73
Thank you for making a video on this! I had exactly this question. I hope Icom continues to sell the backpack for as long as they sell the IC-705 radio.
I purchased the Kelty Raven military radio backpack a few years ago. I think it is a much better value for around the same price. Good padded and much more adjustable shoulder straps with a chest strap. Any very nice padded waist belt keeps it from moving all over when you are hiking. They are not the lightest backpack out there but if you leave the radio board in it and it goes tumbling down a hill your radio will survive.
Josh, Wolf River also has a spike that pushes into the ground and supports the TIA. I'm a big fan of the Silver Bullet. For the money it's a lot of options in the field. We use it for POTA. 73 KE0OAP
Some survival "experts" would carry three handguns and two full tang knives, but I think your shitting kit (14:30) proves that you are the real expert. An earlier version of this tactical assault shithole shovel was used by Rambo in Nam.
Hi Josh, Great video with very good details on not just ham radio, but what ELSE to pack; i.e. survive! Let me add this to your setup... Get yourself a tough solar panel - like a square 15Watt job & mount it to the pack (magnets!)... that way you can charge & keep charged your stuff while not only hiking, but while operating. It's too bad ICOM didn't incorporate solar panels into the backpack like - Voltaic or some others have done. How is the construction compared to other tough; long lasting backpacks you have used? Do you think it will hold up with time?
Moonraker makes an antenna similar to the Comet, however it attaches via 3/8 24 thread and comes with adaptors for both PL-259 & BNC. I use a truck mirror mount in various configurations.
Dude, you are frikkin' serious! I was expecting just "antenna/tuner/radio/on-the-air" and what I got was a complete BSA prep tour. Serious. . . . When I was a younger man and much more steady on my feet, I'd have set up the bag like you did. Compass, field dressing kit, all that. Now? Get real: I live out of the car and it's all in antenna/radio/Begali/on-the-air from the hotel/motel parking lot. Drive to the park and do that parking lot. So you make me envious of your youth, amigo. And as for the IC-705 parts, yeah, that's a nice bag and looks like another accessory to go with the lens my wife just bought for her equally expensive camera ;-) Thanks for the run through. Great video. 73 de W8IJN
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Absolutely and understood. In truth I admire and am envious of your being able to get out and about. Old saw of a man's gotta know his limits applies to this old gringo. (You don't want to know how many extras of stuff I have in my "carry on bag" And yes, the compass and other bits of the ten essentials is part of that. Plus my anti-stroke meds ;-) ) 73, amigo. Keep on keepin' on.
Hi Josh ! Great video !!! Very nice to focus on the imediate survival aspect of the backpack (very important if anything goes wrong in the SOTA or field trip). Congrats !!! from CT1BIL
Josh, thanks for covering the Icom LC-192 backpack so thoroughly. It's great that you included all of the non-ham essentials as these are very important should their be an unexpected need. I'm still "on-the-fence" as to weather or not I'll buy the backpack as I have concerns about protecting my investment in the 705 from serious damage should the pack take a bad spill. I'm looking at the Pelican 1300 case as it would provide excellent protection, but lugging it up to a summit may not be as practical. I suppose I might place it in a larger backpack with enough room to carry it along with my other stuff. Either way, thanks for giving me a great overview. It's food for thought. 73 de Chris W6NOB
I need to get my general. Too many awesome toys are hf. Maybe the air will be less lonely too. The local club isn’t very active here. Hardly anyone is monitoring.
Hey, I just ordered a 705. I stopped using digital modes due to all the mess and wires. With the 705 I want to get back into digital because it seems like you can do digital without all the wires. Here is the question… Can I update firmware, and do digital modes with a surface go? I really do not want to own a flow blown windows pc but for $800 at costco I was considering the surface go, but after hours of reading I can not even determine if the surface has the ports I need to update the firmware and do digital with the 705. Thanks for you videos!
They should have a fanny pack that adapts this for front IC705 mounting/control while you are walking. Pretty sure I could make one but not a perfect match.
Your are missing a signal mirror. Given that you are in sunny SOCAL and most likely will be hurt in some mountainous area, being able to signal the rescue helicopter would be mighty handy. Just a suggestion from a former Boy Scout, LOL
"A" for effort, from Icom - but no way I'd be putting a 705 into a backpack. Especially for the fact that they charge over $162 for it. I bought a small Pelican type hard case for $35 from Amazon that holds the 705, and Bioenno battery. Yes I need to huff an antenna as well - BUT for what the 705 costs there's no way I'm chancing damaging the screen or buttons.
Great video, Josh… As always. Initially, I'm probably going to try my Chameleon P Loop 2.0 with my 705… Chameleon is also sending me an MPAS 2.0 to review at the end of the month. I know I'm going to need a tuner and wonder what your thoughts have been for something very compact to toss in that backpack of yours? When I was operating QRP a dozen plus years ago with my two FT-817D transceivers, I used the Elecraft T-1 tuner which I thought was great. They still sell that so that is my baseline when trying to decide if there's something better out there that is automatic and has even a smaller footprint than the T-1. Fun times ahead, my friend! 73 de Robert K3RRR
I’m a dude with hurr, hair ties are acceptable legal tender with me hahaha. Scrunchies can help with sling support and a bit more flexible cable management. KN4QWF
Hi Josh, Excellent video. Have you tried the Windcamp Gipsy dipole? I am planning to use it as my SOTA antenna here in Patagonia. Seems lighter than many if you do only 40m.
So, what happens if it rains? I checked the site and I don't see any water proof claims. Seems over priced to me, for what it is. Like you said, hopefully a "tactical bag" manufacturer takes note and release their own comms bag. The smaller the bag, the less you pack. Which is a good thing. You seemed to pull it off. I can't wait to see you take it in the field. I just couldn't imagine going on a hike with less than a 20l bag, and that's minus radio equip. But, admittedly, I'm a habitual over packer.
Thanks , great Video , i am using a EndfEd Antenna 12m. Works also great and ist 20/40m... what is the exact Name of the Molle bag ? or maybe a link ? 73
Any thoughts on whether this pack could be retro fitted for other radios? Looking to make my Yaesu FTM-6000 deployable. Have seen other videos that piece together a number of pouches etc, but looking for a one stop shop concept.
Are you able to fit the Wolf River Coil antenna inside the bag? I am about to pull the trigger and get the bag but I want to carry my Wolf River Coil antenna in the same bag as the radio. Of course taken appart.
Does the GPD pocket 2 cause any noise when connected to the IC-705. I have tried a cheap china mini PC and when I connect the usb cable (that is connected to the IC-705) I get a lot of static (noise). Good video
@@HamRadioCrashCourse lol, what could I possible make up? I am new to the hobby but reading is pretty fundamental. So I clicked on the link and simply read the product…. And this is what it says: NOTE FOR IC-705 OWNERS: The Signal Stick is not designed to be used on a radio such as the Icom IC-705 and the SWR will likely not be as low as you’d hope;
@@HamRadioCrashCourse yeah, it baffles me that they put a nice mounting board on the side, but few options for bolting anything to it. Nonetheless, I love the backpack overall.
Great video many valuable information , i got the backpack and started loading with the 705 and many other Acessories but my concern is the backpack can handle that much weight?
Great Video! I recently won an IC-705 so looking for some ideas and this is very helpful! I went to the Signal Stick website and it makes a comment about the Antenna and the 705 for VHF and UHF. I definetly plan on using it for HF VHF and UHF have you had any issues with the VHF/UHF you use? TY love the videos! 73 de Eric N2KOJ
Thanks for sharing ideas on how to use the LC-192. I am most curious about the radial reel, the reel I can get on HD. What about the actual radial wire? Is it 16 or 18 gauge? Where did you get that?
Did you happen to weigh everything? That thing looks massively heavy. My SOTA kit comes in at 1.7 lbs. I couldn't imagine hiking with all that, and I've done many section hikes.
There is no way the Wolf River coil fits in the backpack, plus the Chameleon F loop, the Sota Beams etc. No way man no way. And the MSR stove and the Coleman Lantern and the Inflatable boat
I didn't say take ALL the antennas. I said pick ONE. Further, I never suggested the F-Loop. Nor did I say MSR stove or Coleman lantern. Are you joking?
I received my HRCC hoodie today. Great choice on the hoodie itself. Has a great cut for the hood and neck, and it's a perfect weight/thickness for a hoodie. Well done 👏
@@HamRadioCrashCourse I’ve yet to see any wilderness videos outside of oh8stn. Most are in the local park for 5 minutes,as for field day that’s typically 6 to 8 hours....yet to see an actual survival based scenario over 3 days in the field.....
@@Stealthmodeactivated-h8w Well now you're just moving goalposts. What is it, taking it to a hillside or multi-days in the field? Who even recommeded multi-day in the field with this bag? Check out mark_M0IAX on Instagram, he goes portable often with this bag.