Off-Grid Ham Radio

The Lab599 TX-500 was first seen on the channel a few years ago. As a lightweight and rugged rig, it was a first in the ham radio community. Today Lab599 posted some pictures to Instagram. These images showed us the TX-500MP edition. MP stands for man pack. The Man Pack version of the TX-500, adds some much-needed features to the design. This video goes through the limited information we have now. 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio

Welcome to the Off-Grid Ham Shack series, part 1. In this video we go through putting together an off-grid ham radio station, powered by a Power Queen 100ah lithium Iron phosphate battery, Renogy solar panels, and Genasun charge controllers. The purpose of the completely off-grid radio station is emergency communications, survival radio, and ultimately preparedness in group communications during a grid-down disaster. 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio #offgrid Share video url: https://youtu.be/HLnpNgvdzwI Genesun charge controllers: Use coupon code "5forOH8STN". North America: https://sunforgellc.com/genasun/ Europe: https://genasun.eu/ Power Queen LiFePO4 batteries in the video. Use coupon code: "JULIANOH8STN" Europe affiliate link: https://www.ipowerqueen.de/discount/JULIANOH8STN?ref=732d60hj North America affiliate link: https://ipowerqueen.com/?ref=0q1c0pan 00:00 Introduction 03:10 Power Queen 100ah LiFePO4 battery 06:20 Solar strings & Power Distribution 07:40 Energy flow 09:00 Bottom line ____________________ Want something interesting to dive in to while waiting for the next video? - Visit my blog and website: https://oh8stn.org - Latest deal, offers or support the channel? Visit https://oh8stn.org/blog/2019/12/17/deals-discounts-support/ - OH8STN on Patreon community: http://www.patreon.com/oh8stn - Become a YouTube channel member: https://oh8stn.net/3G8LaQl - Buy me a rootbeer: PayPal: https://oh8stn.net/2ZGAEjy

The Lab599 TX-500MP man pack walkie-talkie version was first seen on the channel in January 2024. This is the much-anticipated sibling of the Lab599 TX-500 portable QRP Haam Radio. As a lightweight, rugged, extreme deployment rig, the TX-500MP is the first of its kind in the ham radio world. In this video, we will discuss the battery, availability, CW interface, release and date. 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio Original video URL: https://youtu.be/uDRNwSzjn40 First update video: https://youtu.be/BQ9QmNHs5FU Share his video url: https://youtu.be/QQQqotZi_G4 Blog post about the TX-500MP: https://oh8stn.org/blog/2024/01/16/new-hf-man-pack-from-lab599/ BP-500 Battery Pack: https://youtu.be/rTKyz2yWQv4

A Portable Ham Radio HF antenna should be lightweight, easy to carry and easy to deploy. Operating QRP while man-portable requires a portable HF antenna to reach an even higher level of ultra-portability and efficiency. When we enter the emergency communications and survival radio space, we simply can't waste our output power on an inefficient broadband antenna. Broadband antennas have their place, but I am changing my antenna strategy. This is my new man-portable HF antenna strategy. Let me know what you think. 73 Julian oh8stn Video URL: https://youtu.be/OEpFwZhSdMo Blog post: https://oh8stn.org/blog/2023/02/03/man-portable-hf-antenna-strategy/ Items mentioned in the video: 80-6 meter Off Center Fed Dipole: (Ebay affiliate link) https://ebay.us/sw1M1U 40-6 meter off center fed dipole:(Ebay affiliate link) https://ebay.us/SoPiyb N9SAB eBay store: (Ebay affiliate link) https://ebay.us/OVVZcG Original QCF40 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFN34devU1o ____________________ Want something interesting to dive in to while waiting for the next video? - Visit my blog and website: https://oh8stn.org - Latest deal, offers or support the channel? Visit https://oh8stn.org/blog/2019/12/17/deals-discounts-support/ - OH8STN on Patreon community: http://www.patreon.com/oh8stn - Become a YouTube channel member: https://oh8stn.net/3G8LaQl - Buy me a rootbeer: PayPal: https://oh8stn.net/2ZGAEjy

Intelligent LiFePO4 portable power pack for off grid ham radio by DL4KA Oliver of DIY599. Hello Operators. Today we are interviewing Oliver DL4KA the popular ham radio designer and manufacturer of the PA500 & PA500E (Expedition) amplifiers. Oliver is just about to release a new intelligent portable ham radio power pack called the BAT500. The BAT500 is more than a simple ham radio battery pack. It is a fully protected, LiFePO4 battery wth integrated MPPT charge controller, 3x DC outputs, protected input and outputs, cell balancing, and much, much more. Join me in part one of the interview, where Oliver talks about the incredible portable power supply. 73 Julian oh8stn Share video URL: https://youtu.be/6CNnpvDXEL4 Available from: https://pileupdx.com/product/bat500-portable-power-system/ ____________________ Want something interesting to dive in to while waiting for the next video? - Visit my blog and website: https://oh8stn.org - Latest deal, offers or support the channel? Visit https://oh8stn.org/blog/2019/12/17/deals-discounts-support/ - OH8STN on Patreon community: http://www.patreon.com/oh8stn - Become a YouTube channel member: https://oh8stn.net/3G8LaQl - Buy me a rootbeer: PayPal: https://oh8stn.net/2ZGAEjy

Budget ham radio go kit based on a (TR)uSDX QRP radio. The kit is designed for NVIS or regional data communications using data modes like Winlink, Ion2G, JS8Call, FT8, VARAC, ... This QRP radio covers 80, 60, 40 30, and 20 meters. Hello Operators. This (TR)uSDX QRP Go Kit is designed to remove the finaicial barrier from getting started in ham radio HF NVIS data modes communications. Desoite everything yo see in the video, total budget omes in less than $900 USD A comprehensive blog post has been created, to give you all the supporting information require0,d to get your (TR)uSDX go kit up and running. This blog post is probably more informative than this video. So definately check it out. 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio Share video URL: https://youtu.be/kdslE4r8VyY Blog has an awful loot of additional context. All radio settings tutorials and links are also there: https://oh8stn.org/blog/2023/03/24/qrp-nvis-data-modes-go-kit-trusdx/ Mentioned in the video: (TR)uSDX ebay (TR)uSDX ( https://ebay.us/wSRAI2 ) Tablet Computer eBay Microsoft Surface Go2 LTE ( https://ebay.us/v5GuMU ) 80M Antenna 80M OCF dipole eBay N9SAB 80-6M OCF ( https://ebay.us/SPwYJH ) Audio interface Digirig Mobile for (TR)uSDX Radio GigaParts http://oh8stn.net/digirig-usdx ____________________ Want something interesting to dive in to while waiting for the next video? - Visit my blog and website: https://oh8stn.org - Latest deal, offers or support the channel? Visit https://oh8stn.org/blog/2019/12/17/deals-discounts-support/ - OH8STN on Patreon community: http://www.patreon.com/oh8stn - Become a YouTube channel member: https://oh8stn.net/3G8LaQl - Buy me a rootbeer: PayPal: https://oh8stn.net/2ZGAEjy

In this video, we charge the lithium ( LiFePO4 ) battery powering the off-grid ham shack using a vertical-axis wind generator. Also covered are various methods of charging our solar battery storage, when there is no solar power for our ham radio station. 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio Share video URL: https://youtu.be/X5ycaYcu49I Episode notes: https://oh8stn.org/blog/2024/01/23/charging-a-lifepo4-battery-with-wind-power/ Building your off-grid ham shack blog: https://oh8stn.org/blog/2023/12/21/building-an-off-grid-solar-powered-ham-shack/ Power Queen 20A RF Quiet LiFePO4 charger: https://www.ipowerqueen.de/en/products/power-queen-14-6v-20a-lifepo4-battery-charger-2-stage-automatic-intelligent-lifepo4-lithium-battery-charger-suitable-for-12v-12-8v-lithium-battery/?ref=732d60hj More about Power Queen: https://oh8stn.org/power-queen-lifepo4/ Power Queen batteries: United States https://ipowerqueen.com/?ref=0q1c0pan Europe https://www.ipowerqueen.de/?ref=732d60hj

The off-grid ham shack is now 100% energy self-reliant. It has taken some time to develop an effective grid-down energy strategy. Today, the station acting as a TOC (Tactical Operations Center, can stay in the fight during a prolonged grid-down disaster. This video covers batteries, solar power, wind generator, hand crank generator, power distribution, and much of the comms gear used off-grid, in the station. HUge thanks to @S2Underground for inspiring this video! 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio Share video URL: https://youtu.be/l8T75Kp5tSM Huge thanks to Power Queen for supporting the off-grid ham shack project. You can support the channel uy using my links when you purchase Power Queen LiFePO4 batteries and gear for your off-grid power needs. Use coupon code "JULIANOH8STN" for a 5% discount. United States https://ipowerqueen.com/?ref=0q1c0pan Europe https://www.ipowerqueen.de/?ref=732d60hj Canada https://ca.ipowerqueen.com/?ref=y0igztbu United Kingdom https://uk.ipowerqueen.com/?ref=k0j3c653 Looking for ways to support the blog & channel? Support the channel by shopping on ebay, at Battery Hookups or GigaParts. For GigaParts and Battery Hookup, use my callsign for a small discount. Alternatively, drop a little something in the TipJar. It really makes a difference. Buy me a rootbeer https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/oh8stn Shop on Amazon (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/3P9Zq28 GigaParts: https://oh8stn.net/GigaParts Shop at Battery Hookup: https://oh8stn.net/batteryhookup Shop at eBay (affiliate link) : https://oh8stn.net/ebay Buy an N9SAB Antenna https://ebay.us/OVVZcG (eBay affiliate link) 01:23 Grid-Down Energy Strategy 02:30 Station power configuration 06:25 Comms Gear 14:39 Safety features 15:45 Final thoughts

A response to the world we live in today. Narrated by Julian OH8STN

The Lab599 TX-500MP man pack walkie-talkie version was first seen on the channel in January 2024. This is the much-anticipated sibling of the Lab599 TX-500portable QRP Haam Radio. As a lightweight, rugged, extreme deployment rig, the TX-500MP is the first of its kind in the ham radio world. In this video, we will discuss the VFO, audio interface, USB-C interface, audio I/O, and remote PTT. 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio

The Elecraft KX2 is an iconic portable ham radio. Lightweight and capable, it is an interesting option for the off grid ham radio operator. Today I'm researching the cost of the KX2, so I can plan one for the channel. Hello Operators. I thought since I already have the Icom IC-705, Lab599 TX500, Xiegu x6100 and x5105, and also Yaesu FT-818, why not add an Elecraft KX2 to the collection. Whenever comparisons are done on the blog or channel, people always ask "Where is the KX2?". Perhaps it is time to get the KX2 here. Before we do, lets research and costs, and budget some money. 73 Julian oh8stn video URL: https://youtu.be/3O5dM7aZIyw #oh8stn #hamradio #Elecraft ____________________ Want something interesting to dive in to while waiting for the next video? - Visit my blog and website: https://oh8stn.org - Latest deal, offers or support the channel? Visit https://oh8stn.org/blog/2019/12/17/deals-discounts-support/ - OH8STN on Patreon community: http://www.patreon.com/oh8stn - Become a YouTube channel member: https://oh8stn.net/3G8LaQl - Buy me a rootbeer: PayPal: https://oh8stn.net/2ZGAEjy

Answering off grid ham radio questions about voice modes versus data modes for survival radio and prepping. Asynchronous data and messaging are truly no-brainers. 73 Julian oh8stn Video url: https://youtu.be/rCm7IbyjRxg ____________________ Want something interesting to dive in to while waiting for the next video? - Visit my blog and website: https://oh8stn.org - Latest deal, offers or support the channel? Visit https://oh8stn.org/blog/2019/12/17/deals-discounts-support/ - OH8STN on Patreon community: http://www.patreon.com/oh8stn - Become a YouTube channel member: https://oh8stn.net/3G8LaQl - Buy me a rootbeer: PayPal: https://oh8stn.net/2ZGAEjy

Decentralized social media tools are necessary to protect free speech from censorship. Ham Radio networks might be able to provide the tools we need for emcomm, preparedness and free speech. Decentralized off-grid communication and asynchronous messaging could allow critical news, informaiton and other data through, when social media platforms are shutting down narratives contrary to their own. Lets take a look at my concept for sharing critical news and information, without a middleman, using ham radio. 73 Julian oh8stn Video URL: https://youtu.be/XEd_tm2gFl0 #oh8stn #decentralizedsocialmedia ____________________ Want something interesting to dive in to while waiting for the next video? - Visit my blog and website: https://oh8stn.org - Latest deal, offers or support the channel? Visit https://oh8stn.org/blog/2019/12/17/deals-discounts-support/ - OH8STN on Patreon community: http://www.patreon.com/oh8stn - Become a YouTube channel member: https://oh8stn.net/3G8LaQl - Buy me a rootbeer: PayPal: https://oh8stn.net/2ZGAEjy

The Portable Ham Radio antenna is the keystone of a successful portable ham radio field day or excursion. The lightest and most efficient ham radio antennas available to the portable radio operator, are the dipole, off center fed dipole, and end fed half wave antennas. Tim N9SAB has sent over a care package containing some very interesting ultra-lightweight and ultra-efficient antennas for portable and fixed station use. The package should include signal and multiband dipole antennas, end-fed half wave antennas, and man-portable backpacking antennas, all being lightweight, and extremely efficient. Any of these antennas would be at home on a SOTA summit, on a POTA activation, or a ham radio backpacking trip with one of the ultra-portable QRP radios available today. Let's do an unboxing together, and see just what Tim sent over. 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio #antenna Share video URL: https://youtu.be/SlVT7fc0EMo Ordering a N9SAB antenna? Try this eBay affiliate link. https://oh8stn.net/n9sab Looking for ways to support the blog & channel? Support the channel by shopping on ebay, at Battery Hookups or GigaParts. For GigaParts and Battery Hookup, use my callsign for a small discount. Alternatively, drop a little something in the TipJar. It really makes a difference. Buy me a rootbeer https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/oh8stn Shop on Amazon (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/3P9Zq28 GigaParts: https://oh8stn.net/GigaParts Shop at Battery Hookup: https://oh8stn.net/batteryhookup Shop at eBay (affiliate link) : https://oh8stn.net/ebay Buy an N9SAB Antenna https://ebay.us/OVVZcG (eBay affiliate link) Buy yourself a Retevis DMR radio Amazon USA HD2 with GPS (Affiliate link): http://oh8stn.net/ailuncehd2gps Amazon USA HD2 without GPS (Affiliate link): http://oh8stn.net/ailuncehp2nogps Retevis Ailunce HD2 GPS Europe (Affiiate Link): http://oh8stn.net/eu-hd2-gps Retevis Ailunce HD2 NO GPS Europe (Affiliate link): http://oh8stn.net/eu-hd2-no-gps

Operating a stealth QRP transmitter in a Berlin hotel room was an interesting ham radio experience. My hidden station used a Xiegu x6100 and a Packtenna random wire end fed antenna, to send and recieve Winlink messages over ground wave propagation, on 80 meters. It definately wasn't without its challenges. Hello Operators. Today we are operating te Xiegu X6100, Microsoft Surface Go 2 and Packetenna Mini random wire end fed antenna in Berlin Germany for some cladestine WInlink sessions. In this video we go through the gear, antenna deployment, connection difficulties, and more. 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio Share URL: https://youtu.be/Eo_eW4Rxp8E Gear used: Xiegu x6100 PileupDX GigaParts Microsoft Surface Go 2 Packtenna Mini Random wire end fed antenna Explorer BackPack from GigaParts ____________________ Want something interesting to dive in to while waiting for the next video? - Visit my blog and website: https://oh8stn.org - Latest deal, offers or support the channel? Visit https://oh8stn.org/blog/2019/12/17/deals-discounts-support/ - OH8STN on Patreon community: http://www.patreon.com/oh8stn - Become a YouTube channel member: https://oh8stn.net/3G8LaQl - Buy me a rootbeer: PayPal: https://oh8stn.net/2ZGAEjy

Letting the EcoFlow River 2 Max manage the Retevis HT batteries is easy. Retevis on-board USB charging simplifies charging, ensuring equipment readiness in a grid-down. 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio #shorts

Portable ham radio off grid and outdoors above the Arctic Circle was an incredible learning experience, for grid down emergency communications and preparedness. Enjoy the first episode of the story. 73 Julian oh8stn URL: https://youtu.be/VEannDDbw7g ____________________ Want something interesting to dive in to while waiting for the next video? - Visit my blog and website: https://oh8stn.org - Latest deal, offers or support the channel? Visit https://oh8stn.org/blog/2019/12/17/deals-discounts-support/ - OH8STN on Patreon community: http://www.patreon.com/oh8stn - Become a YouTube channel member: https://oh8stn.net/3G8LaQl - Buy me a rootbeer: PayPal: https://oh8stn.net/2ZGAEjy

Portable ham Radio data modes can be frustrating if you don't have the right portable tablet or laptop computer. In this video, we will go through using the Microsoft Surface, for ham radio data mode communications like Winlink, JS8Call, FT8, RTTY and so on. We'll also discuss screen and drop protection for the Microsoft Surface, setting up the GPS to work ham radio applications, and useful additions like snap-on keyboards. 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio #microsoftsurface Share video URL: https://youtu.be/-XXpvZ2ifh4 Related Blog posts: https://oh8stn.org/?s=microsoft+surface

Running my Icom IC-705 and CHA MPAS for a quick check of band conditions. 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio

Without a solid energy plan, there won't be any emergency communications. #oh8stn

Do off grid ham radio data modes require the internet? A viewer wanted to know if´JS8Call, Winlink, or VaraAC needed the internet for any point of the messages transit to its recipient. As always, I was happy to explain. Some ham radio data modes use the internet for some parts of a messages journey. This is ok when the internet is functioning, but can also be a critical failure point, in a grid down emergency communications scenario. I go through the most common ham radio data modes on the channel, to give you the scoop on which ones are truly off-grid! 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio radio Share video URL: https://youtu.be/ILWY0j5UKvg ____________________ Want something interesting to dive in to while waiting for the next video? - Visit my blog and website: https://oh8stn.org - Latest deal, offers or support the channel? Visit https://oh8stn.org/blog/2019/12/17/deals-discounts-support/ - OH8STN on Patreon community: http://www.patreon.com/oh8stn - Become a YouTube channel member: https://oh8stn.net/3G8LaQl - Buy me a rootbeer: PayPal: https://oh8stn.net/2ZGAEjy

Have you considered taking a modular approach to field radio for off-grid ham radio communications? In this episode of the Arctic Circle Off-Grid Expedition after action report, we talk about the pros and cons of the modular HF Radio Go Kit approach, used for the ACOG field station. Some of the problems might be surprising! Normally I would have operated a QRP-10 watt field radio. Wanting to get over the North Pole during grey line meant using more power than would traditionally required for reliable regional off-grid comms. The modular go-kit was based on the Lab599 TX500, the DL4KA PA500, and the DL4KA BAT500 battery pack. PowerFilm solar provided lightweight portable power, and the Digirig mobile made data communications possible. 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio #offgrid Share video URL: https://youtu.be/9ghDD5BtzDE 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Modular & Rugged HF Go Kit 03:31 Data modes configuration 04:33 GX connectors & the wire mess 07:48 Painfully slow to deploy 08:42 DL4KA PA500 Current consumption 09:53 DL4KA BAT500 solar charging 11:45 Winlink Performance 12:55 Final Thoughts ____________________ Want something interesting to dive in to while waiting for the next video? - Visit my blog and website: https://oh8stn.org - Latest deal, offers or support the channel? Visit https://oh8stn.org/blog/2019/12/17/deals-discounts-support/ - OH8STN on Patreon community: http://www.patreon.com/oh8stn - Become a YouTube channel member: https://oh8stn.net/3G8LaQl - Buy me a rootbeer: PayPal: https://oh8stn.net/2ZGAEjy

PowerFilm solar panel durability survivability test. Will it continue charging? Hello Operators. This demonstration helps answer one of the "Why PowerFilm?" questions, so often seen in the comments. In my experience, PowerFilm Solar provides portable solar panels for ham radio, that are both man-portable and robust. In this video, we can watch this folding solar panel taking multiple hits from a .25 caliber rifle while continuing to perform. Not everyone "needs" such a panel. For those having mission-critical requirements, it's nice to know the PowerFilm option exists. PowerFilm Solar is an American company. Its panels are designed and manufactured in the Midwest town of Ames Iowa. 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio #solarpower Video URL: https://youtu.be/I6KGLD5mkDI Blog post: https://oh8stn.org/blog/2023/08/01/powerfilm-solar-panel-vs-hunting-rifle/

Normally, ham radio is used to contact DX stations around the globe. An amateur HF radio and antenna can also be used for emergency communications, off-grid communications, and preparedness. Whether operating from home or portable, using solar power or connected to the grid, your QRP or QRO station can do things you might not have imagined. JS8Call, VarAC, and Winlink, can tranform a normal ham radio station, into a life saving one. Join me for a while as we discuss Over-The-Air Micro Blogging with Ham Radio. 73 Julian oh8stn Video URL: https://youtu.be/szZlPL2h534 Read more about Asynchronous micro-blogging on my blog: https://oh8stn.org/blog/2023/01/13/decentralized-ota-micro-blogging/ ____________________ Want something interesting to dive in to while waiting for the next video? - Visit my blog and website: https://oh8stn.org - Latest deal, offers or support the channel? Visit https://oh8stn.org/blog/2019/12/17/deals-discounts-support/ - OH8STN on Patreon community: http://www.patreon.com/oh8stn - Become a YouTube channel member: https://oh8stn.net/3G8LaQl - Buy me a rootbeer: PayPal: https://oh8stn.net/2ZGAEjy

An emergency grid down solar powered go kit based on the Genasun Merlin GV-10 M100 Solar GoKit. This is a 100-watt solar briefcase & Genasun charge controller capable of keeping critical devices powered or charged off-grid, during a blackout. The kit includes the solar briefcase, Genasun charge controller, and all required cables for interconnections between components and battery. I've included battery recommendations from Power Queen, and will release a separate video on that LiFePO4 battery. 73 Julian #oh8stn #hamradio share video url: https://youtu.be/PR893unyMog Please read the episode notes for more context: https://oh8stn.org/blog/2023/10/13/72-hours-of-emergency-power-on-a-budget/ Merlin Panther 100 solar kit & Genesun charge controller: Use coupon code "5forOH8STN". North America: https://sunforgellc.com/product/gv-10-m100-kit/ Europe: https://genasun.eu/products/merlin-panther-solar-gv-10-lithium Power Queen LiFePO4 batteries in the video. Use coupon code: "JULIANOH8STN" Europe affiliate link: https://www.ipowerqueen.de/discount/JULIANOH8STN?ref=732d60hj North America affiliate link: https://ipowerqueen.com/?ref=0q1c0pan Vevor compressor used in the test: Code: "VVMH5%OFF" (5% off on all VEVOR products) US site:https://s.vevor.com/bfQsvf EU site:https://s.vevor.com/bfQrdK DE site:https://s.vevor.com/bfQsuF FR site:https://s.vevor.com/bfQsuR ___________________ Want something interesting to dive in to while waiting for the next video? - Visit my blog and website: https://oh8stn.org - Latest deal, offers or support the channel? Visit https://oh8stn.org/blog/2019/12/17/deals-discounts-support/ - OH8STN on Patreon community: http://www.patreon.com/oh8stn - Become a YouTube channel member: https://oh8stn.net/3G8LaQl - Buy me a rootbeer: PayPal: https://oh8stn.net/2ZGAEjy