Hello Operators.
During August 2020, I spent some time above the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, practicing my portable ham radio field craft, testing my camping gear, and testing my tipi tent shelter, wood stove, and off grid camping with my dog Snapper for the very first time. This trip had two goals. The first was to showcase the camping gear, lavvu shelter and titanium wood stove used for off grid camping. The second was to test a new portable ham radio station which we will publish in a follow up video. The was truly a crash course in ham radio survival.
Many operators enjoy POTA – Parks on the Air, Islands on the Air, SOTA – Summits on the Air, or other types of short HF portable radio operations. There is an increasing number of operators who enjoy longer field excursions, car camping, RV camping, or just getting the heck off grid for days or weeks at a time. There is also emergency communications and preparedness. Whatever the reason for getting outside with your amateur radio gear, make certain your gear serves your requirements well.
Here’s a my field day field deployment loadout:
Camping gear:
– Detailed information on my gear:
– My tent is the Tipi 4 from Nortent:
– The wood stove is a titanium wood stove from Nortent:
Cooking gear:
Lixada Titanium cookware
900ml pot:
350ml cup:
1000ml Fry pan:
Ham radio gear:
Lab599 Discovery TX-500:
– Super Antenna MP1:
Portable power:
– 100 watt solar panel from PowerFilm:
– PowerFilm Lightsaver Max to power my qrp radio:
Insect defense:
– A Thermocell Backpacker to keep the mosquitos and midges away:
__________________-
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73
Julian oh8stn
great thoughtful video
Oh I want to be young again and do this stuff all over. But watching your channel takes me back.
This is a personal thing and not a criticism of anyone else. I have stayed away from gas canisters because of the cold weather challenge and the difficulty of recycling or even disposing of them. I found I was only going North of my home when using canister fuel so that when I came back on Sunday I could go into the waste transfer facility to get rid of the empty canisters. The stores which sell them should have to recycle them.
Now there are reusable 1lb cylinders available in North America which can be refilled from a 35 lb capacity forklift tank. Those are fitted for liquid withdrawal and the adapter for filling the reusable tank is National Fuel Gas Association and ANSI compliant.
Love the videos !! Just a heads up for your Jetboil stove and cold weather. I do a lot of backpacking and use my Jetboil in all temperature ranges. In the cold, I keep the fule caniste3r in an inside pocket of my clothing and keep it inside my sleep system at night. That coupled with some canisters that are a blend work well in the colder temps. KO4BPM
Brewed coffee: You bring your water to a boil then lessen the heat to a simmer. Not sure how to do that on a wood stove. Put the coffee in the water. Let it simmer a few minutes. The coffee sinks. Remove from heat and wait a couple minutes. Good coffee! you will get a few grounds but it isn't bad. Then again, you may have already known this. AB3QL
Reviving an old video, but I was about to suggest seasoning the fry pan when you mentioned it in the video. It's the simplest solution that should work wonderfully if done correctly.
Hi there! Greeting from UK.
Great video and very useful tips on your approach to all the logistics to support ham radio. On top of that you document most of it in video and a drone I believe so that is quite a lot to manage.
Good job.
Julian, I thoroughly enjoy your content. You are very clear and understandable when your presenting information, and appear to be a SME when discussing your topics. Please keep bringing us easily digestible information. Thank you.
thanks for sharing your experience!
Warm bra
What would you say is the average weight of your backpack fully loaded? I see you are using the Super Antenna MP1, which I have,. How well does it work for you on 20M SSB? I love your videos. They are the most detailed I've found so far on operating remote in the field.
Hi Julian, part of the pleasure of listening to your channel is the details of the additional kit and situations that you identify for using communications equipment in the field. The tents and non comms equipment details and identification is helpful – I don't operate in cold climates, but do have very heavy rains to cope with -sub tropical, it can get cold here but not down to your extremes. Please continue to tell us about how you make your station as a complete entity in the field – FUNCTIONAL, It all helps. ZL1MX
Ti seasons very well with lard and an oven 👌 I'm asking your help with a solar panel selection, I've been debating between the 20w or 30w solar film panel for backpack basecamp I won't be using a ham radio (call me crazy)😆 just for my gear lights battery's any type of camping luxury that kinda thing!! Please any input would be grateful stay strong&healthy safe&happy!!(=✌💚
Wow, how did I miss this when it came out?! Thank you, as always Julian, for sharing all of this with us. Excellent info here. 75% radio and 25% everything else? I'd probably say it's a bit more toward everything else, and second that people often don't consider that enough. This is along the same lines of how folks need to get their gear out and practice with it in the field regularly rather than just buying radios and keeping them in storage until needed.
The problem with titanium pans is that titanium does not distribute heat evenly on its surface. This is part of the reason why the food sticks to the titanium pan. In that sense, both stainless steel and cast iron are superior to titanium.
Thanks for putting this video together. I’ve been looking for a tent system like this for a while, lightweight but still able to support a wood stove. Curious about the US flag patch on your ruck… usually only see this done in the states
Fabulous ♡♡♡
🤜🏻👍🤛🏻
I use the Muurikka pan, some silava for making it greased and you can make a handle in the field also. Not so heavy even , i use it a lot.
https://scandinavianoutdoor.fi/muurikka/varusteet/ruokailu-ja-astiat/astiat/raiskalepannu/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA-rj9BRCAARIsANB_4ACMvLtjvGkTY9F8Lopj_VguAoi1bLpxH3UChbztVyQQu5T_-BvLzWUaAp8PEALw_wcB
Good Morning sir, I just wanted to tell you that I have been watching your channel for a couple of years. I dont comment very often, but dont let that make you think I dont get a lot out of your videos or that I dont greatly appreciate what you are doing. I am currently building a kit and it has been a long time coming from when I started following your channel a couple of years ago. Just for fun, I have had one of those tents you have a couple of, for a couple of years. It is a really nice option, probably out of my budget, but I also understand you get what you pay for as well. My wife and I have a little off grid cabin, in the southeastern part of our state. We built the cabin ourselves, using portable power generator to power the few electric tools, but mostly using hadn't tools to build the cabin. While there, a family emergency occurred, that ended with good results, based on the situation. However, being 2.5 years ago, I left there, with the knowledge that places like our cabin and other places my wife and I find ourselves camping and vacationing in areas, the cell phone service etc, does not work or works to slight, that in an emergency, it is not going to cut it. I left our cabin that weekend after the incident with my dad and low blood sugar putting him into a diabetic comma if you will, with a strong desire to learn about ham radios and how I could utilize one for a case such as this. I know the Volunteer firefighters in the areas of that part of the state all operator on Ham radios and some private repeaters etc. I passed my tech license July 2018. Since then, I have been saving for better radios, battery packs etc. Long story short, I have acquired My general class, and most recently my Amateur Extra class, and the new ICOM IC705. I purchased the radio last week, and ordered the super antenna this morning when I woke up. I am looking forward to working with my equipment, and I appreciate your willingness to help us come up with other solutions for true offered comms. Thank you so much. The low watt icom ic 705 is a great started radio for me, (I think) I am also wanting to learn more about the raspberry pi and working with some low signal digital modes. I know it is baby steps to get there, but slowly but surely, i keep learning more and looking forward to experiencing more with the low power HF modes etc. Thanks again for always being willing to help us learn more about true off grid comms. I wish you was my neighbor. 🙂 since your not, I will keep watching and looking forward to your next videos. Thanks again, stay safe and healthy and I Hope you have a blessed week.
Dale
KI5ARH
Love the channel! I'm in Northern BC… Ugly weather here too. I'm new to the ham scene but not the outdoors. Issues with sticking food in your pack pan? I pack tinfoil and use it in the bottom of my pan. Comes in handy for many other things too. Cheers!
YES! I agree. My Ham Buddies all either use a trailer to ham in the wilderness (like Winter Field Day) to a canvas tent. You cannot go out too far from a vehicle that way. I just purchased a Smokey Hut from OneTigris. I've set it up a couple of time. It goes up very quickly. I want to be able to put my rig and all it's components on my back with a shelter, sleep system and food for more than three days. I'm not there yet but I'm moving in that direction. Next purchase for me will be the Wolf River Coil TIA ( Take it Along). I take a lot of guidance from you and your videos because I like your setup so much. I'm going to try a Ham Pi computer load out and I'd like to go headless with a tablet like you do. 73 KE0OAP
@OH8STN Ham Radio You always put up such quality content. You put so much thought and effort into what you do and it's very apparent in this video, too. Thank you for your work. 73s
Who makes the 20 panel solar array?
Just ran across your channel I love it I've subscribed love to see what you're doing snapper looks like a wonderful dog my girl Freya who's a border collie says hi to snapper and I as I always say our dogs are better than most people we meet they love us no matter what blessings to you young man from The Hills of Oregon USA
Love your videos. I'm anxious to see your IC-705 videos, operating that rig in the outdoors
Thanks for the video. The tent and stove look like a great combo. Also, glad to see you consider your dog's comfort 🙂
Get a pack for Snapper, The weight for her sleeping bag should not be an issue at all.
Interesting video. But, why didn't you just pull your dog into your sleeping bag. The 2 of you would have stayed toasty warm. 😁🐶 Awesome video & aerial footage. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome video. I enjoyed seeing a similar setup to what I use when backpacking. I'm also looking to lighten my load in every possible way and have recently purchased some lightweight titanium gear to save my knees and back and allow me to bring more radio gear on my trips. Lixada is a good cheap alternative to the more expensive toaks or other titanium brands, but works just as well in my opinion. Really enjoyed watching this! Thank you!
Julian, I really liked your video on extended portable emergency communications. Lots of good info. I use an REI Dome 2, and have not had occasion to camp in winter conditions. I also use a MSR Miniworks Filter, coffee filters over the inlet port to filter out gross particulate matter, and a battery operated UV light to purify the filtered water. Take care.
I've found that if i take my pans out of the camping kit and using them day to day you can get used to cooking on them and also they get seasoned in the process.
I’m a simple man: I see a doggo, I click like. Prepper ham radio is a bonus.
Being basically lazy, for me its more 75% welfare and comfort and 25% radio. I am not in with both feet but I am increasing my portable field activities. I operate primarily CW and my focus is generally antennas for HF that really work but, being lazy, are extremely easy to deploy. You are my hero. 73
Excellent video Julian ! When folks plan this stuff they often for get about the existence load that's going to keep them alive. Radio truly is just a piece of the puzzle. I hope Snapper likes her new sleeping bag. Thanks for Sharing !
Have you ever tried or considered the small denatured alcohol stoves for just boiling water? Even a "pop can stove boils water pretty fast and are very economical to operate. Plus they weigh next to nothing. That weight savings can go towards your fry pan. The cat food can stove is simple to make. Lots of videos about that on Youtube.
I am with the 40% – 60% ratio. Sustaining yourself and those with you should be your primary concern. The activity that you engage in is secondary, and not equal. If you don't keep the focus on the sustaining capability, you may find that your communication activity might become more of an emergency communication experience.
Thanks for the great video Julian!
73, phil KF6IF
I have a hard time getting the weight down on just my radio gear.
Thank you as always for your videos.
What good is a radio if the operator is now in a state of emergency themselves?
I think as much attention needs to be paid to the operator as the operations.
You have a badass loadout and a beautiful dog.
The willingness and ability to evolve your setup is also a big part of it.
I love my luggable setup, but I'm already turning an eye toward weight reduction and being able to use it in a variety of situations.
That being said, I'm not a camper but love the outdoors. I want to learn more about this stuff so I can prepare or at least be resourceful and improvise as well as I can.
73 de N2NLQ
Outstanding out camping with you radio and dog 73 stay safe
Hi!, another very interesting video, thank you!
I'm interested as to how you pack the stove in the bag. Do you have a video or blog post of how everything packs up?
I don't live at 65 degrees north so I can get by with much less equipment, which is good, because I'm old and like many hams, my mostly sedentary lifestyle has left me in less than optimal condition.
I have a Hennessy hammock with integrated rain fly and mosquito netting. I got an insulated pad that's custom fit for it that allows moderate winter camping without literally freezing my butt off as would usually happen in a hammock. You mentioned your sleeping bag but didn't mention your ground pad. From my experience, a good ground pad is essential for winter camping. I like Thermarest pads or something similar – a self inflating air pad with open cell foam inside to insulate far better than air.
I made some aluminum can stoves that burn alcohol. The stove weighs 3/10 of an ounce. Not good in winter, so I'd probably use the MSR Whisperlight International. I camped with fires a lot as a boy scout five decades ago, but for the last 40 years I've preferred the simplicity of a small cook stove. I never cared for the smoke, and a fire is not covert. A fire can be smelled a mile downrange. I do have a twig stove that can burn a small amount of twigs or pine cones. I do like the efficiency and the fact that I don't need to carry any fuel.
It's always good to see what others are doing, even when they're doing something completely different. Your videos are so well done they're always a joy to watch.
The T-Fal cookware company makes an excellent line of non-stick cookware called, but not made of Titanium. It is the best nonstick I have ever found, and is available with or without handles. Much lighter than cast iron!
Try an MSR whisperlite. It’s multi fuel and works at very high altitude and very low temperature. Being able to care different size fuel bottles is a huge plus. You could siphon gas out of a car and it would work perfectly.
Titanium is awful in conducting heat, you will get hot spots and stuck food. Plain aluminium is actually a much better heat conductor. Cast iron is great but too heavy unless you are pulling a pulk, to be honest you'd be better with a good quality teflon fry pan. Jetboil are one trick stoves, better off with either a multiful stove like a Coleman XGK or Primus Omnifuel combined with pots that have built in heat exchangers, same performance as the Jetboil but you can use big pots on them or a Trangia with the multifuel or gas burner insert (very very common in Scandinavia).
Julian, absolutely terrific job you've done training that beautiful pooch of yours! It's difficult to train a dog not to snap/grab food from your hand or fingers. Snapper's got to be a great camping buddy! Our previous companion, Missy, was so gentle she'd let us put the food into her mouth.