New QRP-uBITX in the shack - I - Welcome preparations

A while ago, a friend asked me to fix his uBITX.
I started to search information about this little radio and found amazed that is very close to what I proposed myself to make! So close that the IF are the same to my personal project!

So, after I fix that radio and test it I was very impressed and foresaw some improvements. Both software and hardware...
But, before software, we have to make a workable hardware platform.

Before I had my own board of uBITX, I searched in my shack for some suitable box. And found one from a radio modem (AX25) in the early days of digital communications. I had two cases but only one survived :-)

I made two panels, one for the front and one for the back of the radio from some FR4 pcb board and sprayed with three layers of primer. The colour was the same as the cases so I was very pleased about the result.

After that I made some cosmetic pieces in 3D CAD, printed them and also painted with the same primer.
Right now, when I write this I think to play with some olive green paint! To give it a "camo" look!

Here are some quick tests to see how it looks!

And, "tha day" hase finally came! The uBITX was on my desk!

I couldn't resist and make a quick test to see how it receives...
The firmware is from KD8CEC as I already playied with it with the previous radio.

A big list of mods has to came. I just can say that, at this moment, it is working in progress!!!

Here is a preview of the next post about this radio:

Finished uBITX - YO3HJV

ARO 243, a perfect and reliable 4x4 for ham operations

Astazi am scos ultima achizitie, un ARO 243, la plimbare la Comana. Deh, la cate statii sunt pe aici, era necesara si o platforma pe care sa se desfasoare.
Urmeaza amenajarea interna, cu echipamente si ce mai trebuie radioamatorului cand pleaca in expeditie.
Propagarea nu am cum sa o indes in masina!
Primul drum a fost la Comana, in judetul Giurgiu.
Pe masina a fost instalat un FC40, vizibil in consola de pe capota. La ATU a fost conectata o antena din undita pentru HF.
VHF/UHF am folosit o antena Comet, dual band, lambda/2.
Transceiver FT 857D si sursa Proxel.

Alte imagini de la Barajul Bolboci. By the way, am reusit legaturi in VHF pe direct cu Bucurestiul
Echipamentele:
-Kenwood TM V71
-Yaesu FT817ND
-Antena COMET VHF/UHF
-Antena Midland CB145
-Antena HF 2m

Plus cateva imagini de la intalnire cu membrii forumului Aro4x4.net.

FT-857D Backpack Kit

I added some detailed pictures of the setup:

Spacers detail:



Antenna solution:






Battery solution:





I am not intend to make any comments on this. i let the images spoke for me as one photo is worth for 1000 words.

The goal was to have a entirely portable (backpack) radio for both VHF and HF (20m band) complete with a resonable antenna in order to use it on vacation or in ditress situations.

The goal was achieved with my reserve radio (FT 8857D), a SLA 12V/7Amps battery and a home made antenna (from a old broken CB mobile antenna).

Questions are welcome! Altough, I will accept no comments on photo quality!!! HI During the main phase, the photos was taken with a mobile phone camera :-( as I left my Nikon DSLR to my workplace...)

Regards and Enjoy!
73! de yo3hjv

Rob, 2J0RZD has a nice similar setup! Keep it up Rob, nice job!



Below is the explanation for Bill, K7WCB:
I curently use a 7Ah SLA Battery for backpack operation. This allowed me to operate a entirely day with 15W on a moderate basis on SSB. For "rough" operation I also have a 12Ah SLA on the same width (it fits in the assembly). Because the battery is fixed with two strong tyre-up's, I can easily change them.
I never deplete the 12Ah battery, even the power was set on 25W.
The arrangement is, mainly, a support frame, as you can see in the pictures.
As I do not intend to use the radio in my car (I have a FT8900 for the mobile) I also used the supplied car support frame.
The backpack frame is in "U" shape and is made from alumminium.
In the lowest part of the U, I fixed the supplied car support frame. In this section, the SLA is placed.
The highest part of U is for the radio itself and for the antenna connector. The radio is fixed with 4 screws in the original places.
Between the radio and the U frame I place a spacer made from hard plastic (PVC-the white spacer in the pictures). You must pay carefull attention to the lenght of the screws!!! Max 4mm IN THE RADIO'S BODY, or you will damage the internal PCB!!!
The antenna UHF connector is placed on a small L shape alumminium and can be placed on the upper part of frame (for backpack) or in the lower part (for orizontally placed radio on table operation). In my pictures, that L shape is on the upper part of the frame and the holes are vizible in the lower part. I made more holes in order to allow me to change the angle easily.

If there are other questions related, i am happy to answer. Also, please excuse my bad english!