Need HF rig advise... Looking for a qrp? or am I? What to get for SHTF?

Hello hive... I am looking for some HF radio advise. I want something HF that I can operate portable on portable power. Same goes for during power outages, I need something that can operate of my power packs. I currently run a Kenwood TS-440S on an inverted V dipole antenna. I really like this HF radio... While it is not the newest best-est and greatest it does work very well and I enjoy operating it! One problem is its not a great rig to try and operate of low/back up power or portable for that matter. I do have several 2m mobiles, one in my pickup and one in my care. (FT-1900 in each vehicle) I have a FT-2900 as my base. I really like the Yaesu radios I have. I also have a couple Wouxun dual band HTs and really like them...
I had a FT-817ND. I just sold it on ebay and made a little money on it. I just did not care for that radio. I kept looking at it as a really expensive HT. I didn't have much luck on HF with the 5w other then planned semi local contacts. In my AO (Adirondacks) I am better of carrying a 2m HT because there are very few places that I can't hit a repeater. I feel that I have better odds of hitting one of the several local repeaters then making a 5w HF contact in an emergency. So I decided to let the Yaesu QRP rig go... I tried really hard to like it but I really kept looking at it as a really expensive HT. (I always wanted one since I became involved in Ham radio and feel like I was disappointing.) So that radio is gone and now I am considering one of the MFJ QRP SSB rigs as a backup/ HF SHTF radio.... I can only afford to get one or maybe two of those radios... one band each... Or do I buck up the $500 and pick up an Alinco HF for portable and or QRP/ SHTF operation... I imagine I can turn down the power on one of those and operate via batteries for a while should SHTF or say the grid goes down for a couple days. Currently I have no way to power my TS-440S. Also I like the idea of having a backup HF rig. After owning the all band all mode rig I have found I don't like to combine HF+VHF+UHF. I will keep my VHF to my single band mobile radios and HTs. HF deserves a radio of its own IMO... Well that just about sums it up what say the hive? Any radio suggestions would be greatly appreciated... Do I consider a MFJ QRP rig or buy the Alinco... or do I surf ebay for a while and pick up a cheap HF mobile unit of some kind...

First, QRP and SHTF do not go together. Sorry. I would drop that idea. If there is truly an emergency, you want all the advantage you can get. You can always turn down a 100 w rig. You can't turn up a 5w QRP rig.

I will note that the FT-897D can operate from gel cells you can install in the bottom. You may also install a specially designed power supply in the same space. But when operated from the batteries the radio limits to 20 watts.

How long you can operate depends on the batteries you use. I've operated the FT897 and Icom 718 from RBC-6 batteries (12 v, 24 amp-hr when wired in parallel) all day for Field Day my first two years, at 100 w SSB.

You may also obtain power from car batteries, boat batteries, lawn tractors, ATVs, motorcycles, and just about anything with a 12 volt battery. I keep with my HF emergency rig cables and alligator clips to attach to other power sources if necessary. I have an Anderson Powerpole connector installed under my vehicle's dash. You are not limited to batteries you carry. Use your imagination, look around.

HF also needs antennas. Here's one that works:

http://www.hamuniverse.com/ae5jufielddayantenna.html Self supporting.

A modification for this antenna above for easier assembly/disassembly.



and another

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=632450 Can be easily hung fromtrees, poles, etc.

I know QRP and SHTF don't really go together, but I am kind of considering a radio for both... Something I can operate portable and with lower power... I hit enter by accident and posted before I was finished... The rest of my post is now in the OP...

I would try to find a used Icom 706 MKII G.
Much easier to.use than and of the 800 series.

what about one of the ten tec 555's? it can do 5w all the way up to 50w and changing the bands is nothing more than swapping out the freq cartridges.

706 MKII G. is a Good and cheap portable Radio.

Kenwood TS2000 for a built in antenna tuner or a Yaesu FT897+FC30Tunner (rugged).

You can dial in the power output you want on either radio and you have all the bands available 80m-440.

I do not plan on dedicated batteries as the capacity is always junk by the time you go to use them.
Plan on jumper cable type clips to use a salvaged Car Battery or trolling battery plus a Roll up Solar Panel to recharge what ever you found.

Roll Up Solar Panel or Fold Up

Then you need a antenna along these lines.
http://www.buddipole.com/

if it were me I'd.....

1. buy a full pwr rig.

2. put it in a Green Box (eta: with my 2m rig) with a power supply, tuner and outboard battery box.

3. then use it as my primary/secondary unit in the shack.

oh wait, I've done all of that....

SCW redo Emcomm box thread

I'd not be fearful of the Alinco, I'd also look at the 718....

I would drop the idea of operating QRP SSB. I would learn CW and get something like this or this or this.

Have you measured the rX current drain on your 440? Most smaller mobile and base HF-only radios seem to pull ~ 1.0a on receive. I am not sure if you will find many with a much lower current consumption.

If you have your heart set on a QRP radio, the IC-703 is very easy to use, puts out 10w, and has an excellent internal tuner. I have not had much luck with 10w SSB, but do not have trouble making contacts running digital on that radio.

My vote however would be for a TS-480HX or IC-7200. Relatively small radios that are excellent performers and just as easy to use as your 440. In the case of the 480 HX, you have the option of running it like a normal 100w radio but also have 200w capability. The TS-480SAT is slightly less expensive and trades the extra 100w for an internal tuner.

Dedicated QRP CW rigs (like the Ten-Tecs in the post above yours) typically draw 40-60 mA on receive.

Thanks for all the ideas...

2 things to note :
I am not going to learn CW. I build my own antennas and have that well under control.

I have made up my mind that I will be going for a full power rig, and just turn down the power when I want to try and opperate QRP.

Now its a matter if I try to buy something used or go for the Alinco new...?

Opt for a used radio, be it IIC 718, 7000 or yaesu 857d/897d. I don't hear much about the alinco rigs nor do I hear anyone using them.

Buy it back - and this time, use it with a solid-state 100 watt linear amplifier...

Have you seen Elecraft's new KX-3 Transceiver? It runs QRP for portability and low power consumption, but easily docks with a linear amplifier when needed. That's a very flexible approach - something you could inexpensively emulate with an 817ND (or an Icom IC-703) and a "brick" HF amp.

Right now there is a huge backlog of orders on the KX3. It may be the end of the year until the production meets with demand, but I too like the idea of the Elecraft. It is basically an SDR radio with knobs. (ie Flex Radio )

I am on a pretty tight budget as far as radios go... I need to find something use in the sub 500 range...

What say the hive about the MFJ single band HF "qrp" rigs... I don't think I will get one, just wondering if any one has had any experience with one? One band for 250$ ish.

I have been looking at that Alinco HF rig for a while now and I am still pondering it. It will be another month or so before I can pick up another/backup HF rig.

I have been surfing ebay a lot, and watching a ton of HF radios... Also been watching QTHswap website but i seem to despise it for some reason...

Thanks for all the info guys...

Arfcomm'er edjo69 and I have corresponded in regards to the Alinco. I'll not speak for him, but would encourage you to contact via IM or Email...I think he can be of value to this discussion.

All 3 of us posted in this thread where the rig in question was addressed with favorable remarks.

Eham is your friend

eta: I'd be hard pressed to toss $250 towards a mono-band QRP rig...let me re-phrase that, I would Not toss....(to use as primary unit or as described above-you already had a QRP rig and sold it).

then again YMMV

Your loss. Here is your FT-817 on SSB:



And here is your FT-817 on CW:

I know... I keep looking at the mono band rigs but also their price when vs. a new Alinco that covers all HF bands... I have been surfing ebay alot watching for an older rig for a couple hundred bucks.. If I don't find anything I like in a couple months I will pull the trigger on the Alinco. I currently run a TS-440SAT and really like operating an older rig vs the FT-817ND that I just sold.... Give me a wouxun hand held or FT-mono band mobile any day over the multi mode multi menu multi function everything radio... with only a few buttons

Maybe some day when I have more money to play with.... right now I am on a pretty tight budget.

can you turn down the receive current on a QRO rig?

you could expect that during SHTF >95% of the time you are listening...

ar-jedi

Op if you search the threads here for one call "Another TJ4a owner" you will find a post I made about a new radio i bought. Its made by a company called Youkits they are from Canada. Here are the high points for me.

-20w output
- 200mA (miliamp) draw on rx
- 3-4A on tx
- built in battery compartment
- dual ports on front so Mic and computer can be hooked up at the same time.


I plan on doing mostly digital on it so the 20w is great. I am keeping my eyes open for a 100w amp but as of now its on the back back back burner.

If your TS-440 is running well, keep it, add the second SSB filter or a CW filter if necessary. It's got one of the most rugged transmitters as it was originally billed as 1/2 hour key down, with proper cooling of course. The AFSK inputs are good for digital work and the only thing it lacks is a keyer. I held on to mine for 11 years, I'm sure it went to a good home. It's still, if working, a good basic rig, probably the last of the series with 'thru-hole' components. 73, Rob.

I have been looking at these a lot actually 20W on SSB puts you about equal with a manpack so that would be good for me, especially since it will be my second/ back up rig... I plan on keeping my TS440SAT as I really enjoy working HF with it.

Did you buy yours assembled or did you buy the kit? I would have to go the assembled route as I would not want to put that much money into a kit just to have me screw it up. I have worked on vehicle ECUs before but I wasnt soldering on $300 worth of parts

Power on my rig cant really be adjusted for SSB use... you can adjust the power on a carrier mode but I dont think you can power down SSB mode, as ALC is the only adjsutments. Some one more experianced with the TS-440 can probably chime in.

http://www.youkits.com/

$550 shipped for the assembled kit and that puts me back to the price of the Alinco...

I am going to think about what I want my next HF rig to do before I pull any triggers... I have been surfing ebay a lot and keeping my eye open for another cheap/ old rig to use and play around with in the field....

You may be able to pick one of these.

http://www.rigpix.com/collins/kwm2.htm

That will usually end up as a problem. There is always a chance of getting good stuff from ebay, but keep in mind it is a liquidation site for all things busted and broken. Of course they always say "Untested but previous owner said it worked fine" Unless you are buying from a ham, and the ebay name is their call I steer away from radio's on flea bay. There are many people that have bought rigs that were "Tuned", meaning it was a hack job to put the radio on the chicken bands. Just be careful on ebay.

Eham, QRZ, QTH are all better than ebay when it comes to amateur gear.

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