Military-Style Radio - HF/VHF/UHF Manpack - Part IV
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- čas přidán 2. 08. 2024
- In this video, we'll take a look at one of the most powerful all-in-one civilian manpacks. It provides all band and all-mode capabilities in a small footprint.
0:00 Introduction
0:35 Why the FT-818ND?
4:05 What can the FT-818ND do?
7:19 VHF, UHF and HF Antennas
12:05 Antenna Deployment
15:14 Manpack Bag
16:16 Batteries and Power
16:45 Gear Pouch Accessories
18:39 Manpack Breakdown
19:35 Solar Charging
21:39 How about an amplifier?
22:58 IC-705 Rant & Close
SUPPORT
www.buymeacoffee.com/thetechp...
RADIO GEAR
1. Yaesu FT-818ND - amzn.to/3TyXTTG
2. ARMOLOQ TPA-817 pack frame - www.armoloq.com/tpa-817b
3. DigiRig Mobile - amzn.to/3QkifOe
4. UHF Male to BNC Female Right Angle Connector - amzn.to/3TdtB95
5. Antennas:
- Comet BNC-24 - www.dxengineering.com/parts/c...
- PackTenna TrekMount - www.packtenna.com/store/p21/T...
- PackTenna Mini 20m End-Fed-Half-Wave www.packtenna.com/store/p3/Pa...
6. Battery: 4.5Ah LiFePO4 -www.bioennopower.com/products...
7. Bags:
- Helikon-Tek E&E Pouch - amzn.to/3QCIRKI
- 5.11 6x6 Admin Pouch - amzn.to/3zUjflD
8. Misc connectors: www.thetechprepper.com/radio-...
9. SOTABEAMS Carbon-6 - www.dxengineering.com/parts/S...
10. Buddipole POWERmini 2 - www.buddipole.com/powermini.html
11. 20W Foldable Solar Panel (F16-1200) - www.powerfilmsolar.com/produc...
12. Coax
- 12" RG-8X - amzn.to/3AD99WC
- 4" RG-174 jumper - amzn.to/3ei1zJA
DIPOLE PARTS
1. BNC binding post - amzn.to/3Q42SZB
2. 26 AWG silicone wire - amzn.to/3Q58DGD
3. S-clip carabiners - amzn.to/3R2gSo6
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
#thetechprepper #manpack #radio #hf #military #armoloq #yaesu
"You know what? What the heck, I've already gone off the rails on this one..." This is one of the reasons I keep coming back. I know when I'm watching The Tech Prepper videos, I'm getting a well-thought out opinion that's been tested in the field, is well stated, and unequivocal. It might not be the right answer for my needs, but he makes me think it through. Keep up the good work Gaston!
I almost edited this bit out. Honestly, it's how I personally view the IC-705. It's a fine gentleman's radio, but it does not do what I need based on my operating needs and style. Take care, Troy!
Yea I agree - the 705 looks like an expensive toy. The 857D was an amazing form factor and now that the 818 is discontinued we need another all mode all band transceiver that’s at least somewhat ruggedized in that same form factor.
I've heard folks say the X G90 is rugged as well. I'm looking to build a do it all radio that must be packed as well as sit on desk at home. I may buy an amp for home use. What do you think of that rig? I know it's Chinese but I do want to save as much coin as possible. Is it as "rugged" as these yeasu radios? I'm brand new to this so forgive me if any of my questions are ignorant..... because they most definitely are 😁
Thank you for taking the time to continue to make these excellent videos. I’m enjoying watching them as soon as you upload them!
Glad you like them!
Another good video Gaston! Really like the new intro and exit clips with the new logo.
Thanks! A viewer was kind enough to make that for me. I could never pull off the logo or the trailer. Cheers!
Appreciate the knowledge. Good stuff 👍🏽
Loving this series.
Thanks for the support. Cheers!
Love your channel. You keep inspiring me to do more with my 818
Glad to hear it. The 818, while an older design, still has a ton of capabilities these days. Enjoy it and use the heck out of it. Cheers!
Yeah, this is really good stuff. Great video, brother. Looking forward to the next.
Thanks. Since you're looking forward to it. Here's the private release of Part V. I just released it to my supporters, but here you go: czcams.com/video/5QHVq3P_xWI/video.html
It will be commercial free until tomorrow (Friday, 0700 PDT).
I just bought an 818 used today. So excited to dig through your videos and build this out. Thank you!
Enjoy that rig. Congratulations and good luck with your build. The FT-817/818 is a fantastic rig.
Thanks for the video. Lots of information to expand one's knowledge base.
Glad to hear that you found it useful. Believe it or not, but that was 18 months of testing distilled into about 24 minutes of video. Thanks!
I’m really enjoying this series. I never considered a man pack set up but now I see the use and want one. Very good stuff.
There are a ton of applications. I want to start by showing everyone the manpacks that I've used over the years. With this foundation in place, we'll get into some real-world scenarios and applications in the month of September.
Thanks for another great video! Love the off the rails part. Your manpacks are very well thought out and I really appreciate the antenna explanations. I'm really looking forward to your HT series. Thanks for all you do!
You are very welcome. I actually went on a couple of different rants. I cut the others out and only left IC-705 bit. There was rant about Wincamp in there too. As always, I appreciate your support on all the platforms. I'm hoping to have a bag update soon.
@@TheTechPrepper Well, I'm with you on the touchscreens. I can activate a touchscreen without actually touching it which drives me nuts. I'd never buy a ham radio rig with a touchscreen. Too easy to damage and they just don't work for me at all. I always have to disable touch pads on laptops too.
Another great video as usual. Looking forward to your video on the 857D as I just picked one up with the intent for POTA operations.
You are going to love the FT-857D for POTA. I have taken the FT-857D many times for SOTA, but it is a back breaker taking it up a mountain. Video ETA: 7-8 days. If you're interested, search my video channel page for "FT-857D". Cheers!
Just noticed the new outro graphics, Very Nice!👍 My man packs are still in development so I am very appreciative of the timing of this series.
Thanks. The credit goes to a very nice viewer who does graphic design. We traded a custom manpack bag for graphic design. Everyone wins.
After a solid, consecutive 5 hour span of research, and years of being on many fences, I'm putting a rig like this together. 100% similar philosophy when it comes to "base, mobile, portable with the same rig"
Got into radio after wanting to be purely portable, and here we go.
You're the man bro. Keep it up. Imo, the best radio channel on the tube.
That's high-praise. Thank you and welcome to the channel. I am glad you found what you needed. These manpacks have been a game changer for me the last few years. They work great from the shack, to the vehicle to man-portable. Good luck!
So much knowledge! Man, I wish you had a podcast
Thanks, man. I'm still learning, but happy to share along the way. I post a lot through out the week on Instagram. Search for "thetechprepper". I drop tips, tricks, projects and a video shorts there when there's something to talk about for a couple of minutes.
This is exactly the info I need. I have an FT857d, so part 5 is exactly me. But I need to hear about alternative. Thank you.
very awesome set-up
Thanks, Matt!
just passed my Tech test. Your channel is sick !!
Congratulations! You'll never regret the work you put into getting license. Enjoy the air waves. 73 de KT1RUN
Thanks for your reasoning against the IC-705. All valid points for your use case.
No problem. I knew that the comment section would be flooded with: "Why not the IC-705?" comments. That radio has great videos, but it's not suited for my style of operation.
I'm not into HF yet but still loved the video. Awesome video, excellent info and kit!
HF is a game changer. You will never regret an upgrade to General. Cheers, Ryan!
Thanks for this video!!
You're welcome!
Good stuff as always, Gaston! I'm digging the 818 setup and plan to shamelessly steal your 857D setup idea when I see it! I purposefully went with the 857D because of it's all-band all-mode capability. I won't mention the FTM-300 that's been in the Gladiator for about six months though! Thanks for doin' whatcha do, man! 🤠
I agree. I know power requirements on the 857D are a little less flexible, but I like the idea of being able to crank up the power if needed.
Thanks, Richard. I am constantly debating which radio to take when I go into the field: the 818 or 857. The 857 always gets the job done, but man does it eat up the capacity in my ruck. In a real SHTF scenario, I see a place for both. I would take the FT-818ND when going portable, and use the FT-857D at the home, vehicle or base camp. I'll touch on this in the next video. There will be an HF series coming soon that will benchmark both radios using mission-specific objectives (i.e. targeted contact in the city, county, state, region and country), so we will see which one should be the SHTF radio.
I really enjoy your video content.thank you. I agree with all your 705 short comings. I went the 705 route with several amps of various sizes for field and shack , and just built an amp from eBay boards .I started with a shack in the box icom 956 pro beast , but soon realized it going to need a set wheels to do my pota plans. And then went down the 705 path.
Glad to hear you're enjoying the content. Have you found an amp that covers both HF and VHF?
@@TheTechPrepper unfortunately not.😀
Estou aprendendo bastante com seus videos. Obrigado. 73
Glad to hear you're learning something from these videos.
Great series
Thanks, Mark!
Nice, well presented video. One drawback of the 817/818 radios is the optional narrow filters are no longer available new and are hard to find on the used market. This could be an important consideration for CW, RTTY, PSK ops.
That's a good point. Thankfully I make it a point to pickup filters anytime I see them at a hamfest.
Man I love your videos.
Thanks. I appreciate the support. I enjoy making these for you.
Another great video. I'm really enjoying what you're putting out here and I'm slowly learning more and more about next level comms. I also like the idea of two batteries, especially when they have electronics that can fail and you're out a battery. I do wonder about having an all-in-one radio though. I mean if anything happens to that one radio, you've lost several radios, not just one. I'm more of the spread-out possible points of failure kind of man, but I also understand having several modes of commo at the same time. Keep up the great work.
You make good points. Personally, I actually work multiple bands (HF and VHF) when I do my field exercises and need the all-band, all-mode capabilities. When I go into the backcountry I also carry an HT (VX-6R), so I have some degree of radio backup. To take a firearm analogy, I see the HT as my pistol (secondary system) and the manpack as my rifle (primary system).
@@TheTechPrepperMust agree with this. Old school field radio operator here. I follow this protocol with my radios and my firearms as well. I gotta say, the more I watch you and here the message you convey, the more I get your practical prepper vibes man. The people need this. Not that you need to hear from me, but you're on path and sharing your knowledge and perspective is worth its weight in gold. You also former military?
@@thedeak Thank you for taking the time to comment. No, I am not prior service. I wish that I had enlisted when I was 18. Instead, I went to college and was put through the grinder as a corporate consultant after college. I had a negative experience that forced me into practical prepping about 10 years ago. Firearms, self defence, medical, gardening, etc. were easy. I thought comms would be something quick to check off. I am still refining my comms training 4 years later. In short, I prefer simple and proven gear and SOPs. I need to go back and watch this video. Thank you for your service.
Thanks for keeping these going.
These are helping me build a nearly identical man pack…but using the HGG 117G.
Planning to put it to work on a few over-nighters this fall and winter.
Really do appreciate these videos.
You are very welcome. I also have the PRC-117G radio pouch from High Ground Gear. I use mine for the FT-857D and FT-891. Do you keep your battery under your FT-817/8 in the HGG 117G?
Ha! I’m so early in the process that I only have the radio at the moment.
All other components are on order.
I’m hoping to configure with battery at the bottom of the HGG pouch, but will have to wait until all items arrive for assembly.
I’ll keep you posted.
In the meantime, I found KC3EXU on QRZ has assembled a man pack like yours as well. Neat to see others going down this path.
i love this channel
Sold. Just ordered one.
Glad to hear it. Enjoy!
Bought an 817 several years ago for all the reasons you did. I get a lot of rain in my AO so i use a waterproof box for transport in the field. QRP + resonant dipole + VARA WINLINK = near 100% comms.
Nice work on your setup. I am trying to get a meeting with Yaesu to discuss a ruggedized version of these radios that supports an IPX7 rating among other features that would be useful in the field. 20 watts and an integrated sound card is on the list. I'd love to get a Winlink email from you. 73 de KT1RUN
@@TheTechPrepper Winlink email sent; good luck with Yaesu
I have got to invest in one of these it is ideal for prepper and for shtf
Trade in a carbine. ;-)
Great video!
Thanks!
Excellent video Gaston! I have been looking for a compact qrp radio. I think the 818 is a great option. I like the trekking pole antenna mount you have too.
I agree with you on the 705. Plus, I haven't had a waterfall yet, I'll be ok not having one for a while longer 🤣 Have a great weekend!
Thanks, Rob. I think I convinced myself to get a second unit after watching this video. I bought mine new for $575.00 3 years ago. When did the price jump? It looks like they are in the mid $750 range now. The TrekMount is nice. The trick is finding local 2m SSB operators. Enjoy the long weekend.
@@TheTechPrepper wow! That's a big jump! I have a local friend that refuses to go beyond tech. I think he needs one too 🤣
No long weekend for me, but I hope you have a good one, 73!
Great job! I’ve enjoyed all the videos in this series! I’m going to steal several of your ideas for my ft-891 manpack. :)
I’m also going to try prove you wrong about the form factor of the ic-705. If you put the battery(s) and tuner (optional) under the radio (which might be in a Windcamp cage), then one has a similar pack to the ones you are building although with more cubes in the radio pouch.
One more bit: I agree about the 705 touchscreen. Has no place on a field radio. The good news is that use of it is optional.
Glad you are enjoying the video series, Will. I appreciate the counter point. I talked about the ARMOLOQ pack frame prototype for the IC-705 but I removed it from the final edited video. The prototype frame did in fact include the battery under the radio as well as had hardware to allow for the tuner, but it was huge. It took up all the space in my pack. I enjoy multi day backcountry trips and there was no room left for my actually support gear with the size/footprint. Everyone's needs are different. I am sure the 705 works for most operators, but it's just not for me.
Nice setup. I don't have a Manpack setup. I use a harbor freight pelican knockoff case. I do own both rigs that you talked about in this video. Two things come to mind when doing arduous portable operations like you do, first thing I think about is the power budget. The second thing I think about is the use of Morse code. I'm not a big fan of Morse code. To me it's another tool in the toolbox when the battery is dying on your computer or the microphone breaks. I would think about carrying some extra fuses if you didn't cover that in this video for the batteries and the radio. And to be honest with you I would put a small Swiss army knife and small plastic trash bag in that manpac.
Good call on the 818ND/817ND radios as ideal manpack radios. Its very hard to make a better case for any other radio, especial once price, ruggedness, and availability are factored.
The larger 100W radios like the FT-857D and IC-706MKiig are possible in manpacks, but are better suited to portable operations by bicylce, motorcycle, etc. At 59 I don't see hiking more than about a mile with my FT-857D, but with my KLR650 I can get reasonably far down most trails beyond where cars can go.
If you're on foot, I truly believe it's the right mix of features given size and weight. I've carried the 857 version up peaks and it's no picnic. While it's more effective, I have to give up some of my precious support gear to hump it. For portable solution that involves a base camp or vehicle, the 857 is the clear winner.
I always enjoy your contributions to the comments section. Take carez
I’m in the UK,I’ve just emailed about postage of the frames over seas,looks like I’m building one of these,have a subscribe 😊
Hello from the U.S. and welcome to the channel. Good luck with your build.
great stuff!
Thanks! I like your handle. Are you a photographer? Any recommendations on an entry level camera for video production? I'm still filming with a GoPro. It's not great for indoor filming. Cheers!
@@TheTechPrepper I am a big Fuji shooter. The XT3 or XT4 and the 10-24mm XF lens would suit your needs very well!
Fred-KD2UKS
Love my FT817 for portable. CW SSB and JS8call FT8. Only thing I do different is take 2 X 9.4 metre extensions for a 40m dipole to get me on 80m then you only need 1 dipole and just clip them on the end of the 40m dipole.
That's a great point. Linked Dipoles are great. I have a PackTenna Linked Dipole that I also bring with me occasionally. I typically use it on 40m and 80m. I need to cut it and add links at the 75m mark. I also realized that the dipole I showed was actually my 17m version.
A very happy September to you, Gaston. Let's go and scare up some Massasauga Rattlers...😎💯👍
Thanks, Guenter! Happy September to you, too. I'll be 41 in a few days. Let's keep September a snake-free month. ;-)
@@TheTechPrepper Agreed! No sweat - no steess, just have a relaxing and peaceful Birthday. Stay healthy and all the Best Wishes from Southwest Germany are sent into AZ-State. 73 & happy Weekend de YFUG 💯🍻🍻🍻🙋♂
A very good video. I really like that Packtenna Pole mount for VHF & SSB. (I checked their web site, and they are out of everything! Not sure if they are still in business?)
ALSO - Your lighting inside the camper, was very good in this video! Good job.
Yes, they are in business. They are a small family owned business. They have.a Google Group where they announce when products become available. They basically sell out with a few days whenever there is announcement.
@@TheTechPrepper Good to know. Thanks!
Typical Tech Prepper excellent video! I too love my Yaesu shack in a box radios. I have my treasured FT-897 (The old original before the D model) and my FT-817ND. I agree with the if only one radio it would be the 817. I truly wonder how quiet the bands would be in the second or third day of STHF, with stations not being powered, noisy transformers out and other effects? I hope I never actually find out. Thanks again for this series, it is one of the best!
That's high praise. Thank you! You raise a good point about the bands being crowded. I have had field outings ruined when I take the FT-818ND on a contest weekend. This part of the reason why I started building antennas for the WARC bands. This is another reason to have radios that have some less common bands. I plan to explorer 6m and 222MHz for local VHF comms. Personally, I plan to build some resonant HF dipoles outside of the amateur radio bands just in case.
@@TheTechPrepper Excellent planning and I need to do the same!
I like the Manpack a lot. You have covered the Manpack very well. I think some scenario based videos would help me decide on the "whys" of purchasing. Your kit is very comprehensive but I wouldn't carry it in a bug out bag because I would have to sacrifice something else. While full featured, it dominates space in a ruck. So, this then becomes an accessory to a vehicle bug out scenario. I can't see a tactical advantage to this system. An HT would suffice it seems for tactical uses. I can see huge strategic advantages and I am a huge proponent of HF for prepping. If you could, please make a video of an SHTF deployment scenario where the added weight of the system is dwarfed by the advantages.
A lot of the value of the manpack is that it is self-contained. Even if deployed in a vehicle or house, it can easily be removed and transported in an emergency (Car breaks down, house starts flooding, etc).
It can also be used almost everywhere- home location, vehicle, bug out location, stop en route to bug out location, temporary operation center (hospital, checkpoint, etc). Great for large-scale coordination or communication that can go around obstructing terrain (using NVIS)
HT (VHF/UHF) is great but only for very close in. In an emergency, repeaters will likely be down or quickly run out of backup power, Simplex range for an HT is usually
Also, the people you need to communicate with really affect whether you need a manpack or not. If you're only talking close in, and don't need to coordinate with family members/friends/groups in other states or other areas of your state, you might not need a manpack.
However, a lot of SHTF isn't bugging out to the woods, but coordinating movements to support local infrastructure, transporting supplies, and relaying/getting messages with other regions.
You are in for a treat. Yes, I will be doing an entire series geared around mission-specific and scenario-based operations after this series. I need to make the manpack series first to demonstrate each radio manpack as they each provide different capabilities. I will specifically be focusing on making targeted contacts (NO RANDOM CONTACTS) at the city, county, state, region and country level with these manpacks.
@@stoneofverbosity something like the kx2 could be considered a mini man pack, self contained with a power source. A mobile radio will probably have better power output and filtering, but the trade off of larger and higher weight. For HF, 5 watts is fine, but for VHF/UHF 5 watts can be tough without repeaters (simplex). Of course, this depends on your area and who you want to contact. Lots of pros and cons for both
The Icom IC-705 is also a very interesting, and up-to-date- all-band, all-mode rig. Max output 10w. Has sound card (only one cable for data and cat control needed, no interface) , GPS, DSP and all the other filters built in, and many other bells and whistles. Very power efficient, too. A bit on the pricey side. I would save up my pennies for something like his.
Don't forget wireless operation, a band scope waterfall display and the ability to charge from a 5v power source.
I love mine. Pricy but really not all that bad when you consider all it does. If you want digi modes it will probably end up being cheaper than the older Yeasu rigs like this because it doesnt NEED a PC to use pretty much all the features.
I love mine. It can do a man pack format like in Gaston’s video by putting external battery (and tuner) under the radio and Windcamp cage.
The wireless is great, but we have done exercises with operators in our group where the wireless connection was unreliable. Everyone running these older Yaesu rig were able to copy 100% of the traffic, the IC-705 copied a fraction of the traffic over the course of our 3-hour exercise. In the end, they had to switch to the USB cable. It's also Windows only, correct?
@@TheTechPrepper ive never used the bluetooth so cant say, but I use my 705 with linux FLdigi, WSJTX, etc.
I love your videos and Seth at Armoloq has fielded several of my orders because of them. Both for GMRS radios and for the 857D (when I find one at a "reasonable" price). I'm going with an FT-911 until then, with another frame.
Have you ever looked at the Amsteel cordage in 7/16"? You can splice into a whoopee sling that is easily adjustable and the 7/16" Amsteel is rated for 1500lbs. Commonly used as winch line. It does not handle abrasion like paradors and I wouldn't;t recommend it as a complete replacement but it's a part of kit the is HIGH strength and Very LOW stretch. I use it for hanging a hammock. You can also make rope "carabiners" with it to have a soft shackle.
Did you go with the Wouxun KG-1000G? I have had mine un-opened in the box along with the TPA frames for about 6 months. There's been no time to experiment with it yet.
Thanks for the tip on Amsteel cordage in 7/16. I'll have to look into it.
Thanks for the support!
@@TheTechPrepper yes, well, the KG-1000G+.
You may want to look at the right angle and left angle network extensions for the mic and programming port. The ones I got hug the case of the radio to minimize lateral forces on the connection while in the bag.
For some reason the link won't post in the comments.
the FT-817/18nd is a radio that I cannot live without. I've had one since they were released, they are rugged , efficient, and easy to use. I know a lot of folks are going for all of the bells and whistles , but in the field that stuff doesn't really help. that's the beauty of the 817/818 is it's plain straight-forward design. a good LiFePo4 battery pack and good antenna's like Gaston shows, and you're good to go! there's a reason as why Yaesu kept this rig on the market for 2 decades.
I am with you on that. I am still torn between the 818 and the 857, but if hard pressed to pick just one, I would still go with the 817/8. I am kicking myself for not showing a few other antennas that turn this rig into a force to be reckoned. For example, my backpacker Arrow II 2m/440 yagi is a screamer on sideband and FM. I know that I am preaching to the choir here, but that's another reason why I love the Yaesu rigs. Most the rigs that I use have been actively sold for almost two decades (i.e., the FT-60 and VX-6). Cheers!
@@TheTechPrepper I had an ft-897d long time back, I sold it and wished I wouldn't have. I bought a Icom IC-7000 ( great rig just to power hungry even in standby.
Great setup. Im highly impressed and very jealous. As a suggestion, It would be nice if alternative/affordable/foreign radios could be introduced in this type setup. Yes, Yaesu , Icoms are the staple, but in these days of inflation, less available money for top end radios, the whole idea is about having a useful communication device for all these features you went over. I have been a HAM for over 5 years with limited assistance and knowledge; learning over YT mainly; basically put, I know to to setup radio, transmit and recieve. Dont ask what about local clubs, I have tried that and got nowhere fast because of their discrimination of other 'foreign' radios, if you didnt have a certain manuf. type or model; it bred an immediate lack of interest to help because of it. Great channel, great info. Thanks for the time you have made to put these out. 73
I look at these as tools and investments for preparedness. It's very difficult to build a manpack at an affordable price for HF. While I have never used it, take a look at the Xiegu G90. It has 20 watts, a tuner, has the right form factor for a manpack and the price is about as low as you can go for a new HF rig. You will be able to get these for a lot less if you look at the used market. Also, ARMOLOQ has frames for these. You're still looking at ~$600.00 for a manpack built on that budget radio. Good luck!
@@TheTechPreppercan any of these models use encryption?
I'm with you 100% on the FT-818 as the "if I can only take one radio" solution. KC8OWL
Every radio system is a trade off. Sorry, I missed APRS Thursday. I was out sick yesterday, but I did receive your ping. I plan to hook up with you guys next week. Apologies for the delay in response.
I'd go with the 891 for the HF power. I'd not worry about 2 meter/440 sideband and just throw in a Bo'fang 10 watt HT or a Tiny Tri-Band 25/20 watt QYT for 2m/1.25/70cm.
The only other option would be two inexpensive linear to throw in for HF and 2 with extra battery power on the 818 BUT still that leaves you no backup rig.
But I still like the idea of two radios in case one breaks.
I totally agree with you on the Icom 705.Awkward for anything more than base ( and even that feels weird)
Lots of good points here. These radios are all tools and it's important to pick the one that is right for your needs and application. We have a thriving VHF/UHF SSB community here, so for my personal needs SSB is a must have on 2m. In general, I would agree that most people will be fine with a dual-band HT and an HF-only rig.
I have always wanted to try the Xiegu G90 because of its 20 watt RF output and built-in tuner, but I am not a fan of Chinese radios due to their build quality. A budget option would be the G90 (HF) and the Ailunce HD1 (10 watts and DMR+analog).
Cheers!
So I got a 817 and a 705. I like both a lot but for totally different reasons and uses. I like taking my 705 when I got camping but I don't think it would be smart for a SHTF type of scenario for the reasons you mentioned.
Also, I did find an interesting manpack kit for the 817 at 511 (I know, I know, don't hate on me for going to 511), but it has an over the top cover with a zipper that allows me to reach into the bag without having to take the cover off. Its not the best overall fit but I really like the one design feature.
Which 5.11 bag? I am always on the hunt for options. You are right about the different roles of the 705 and 817/8. If the IC-705 was 20 watts, I would probably use it in the shack, vehicles and at a base camp.
Awesome series! Will be following along ...KD2ZYO 73.
Thanks for the support. Just one more video in this manpack series, then I will be either doing a "Targeted HF Contact" or "APRS" series.
I’m glad you brought up the amp question. The upside of an amp over moving up to a bigger radio is the super low power consumption of the 818 in receive and standby vs the power consumption of a larger radio in those same circumstances. You can turn the amp on and off easy enough. I have a small VHF amp that I plan to test in my 818 setup, which is very similar to yours. I just have to fix that darn amp first, but hey, it was $10 at a tailgate sale, what do you expect? There is a fair chance I toss it and get something new though, ain’t nobody got time for broken amps. And those 857d radios....have you seen how much they’re going for on fleabay these days? In the last few weeks I’ve seen two, new old stock 857s sell for over $1000. That’s crazy talk. But I’m interested to see your next video because I think you’re probably right about it being the best rig for this purpose.
You raise a good point about the standby receive. The FT-857 are out of sight right now on the secondary market. I may pull the trigger on the MX-P50M as I believe I can easily integrate this as an add-on module using another small MOLLE pouch if needed.
@@TheTechPrepper I have been eyeballing those as well. Do you know anyone that has taken one for a test drive?
Also, you showed the diamond antennas in this video, the last one you showed a signalstick, do you prefer one over the other? I just got my signalstick, thanks to your video, damn you.
Great stuff Gaston. If you keep this up, you just may convert me to an Yaesu user, ;)
My work here is done. By the way, I am going to revisit the EDZ we worked on together. I still have all of our footage. I am actually going to build one for 220 MHz. I still need to give Charlie 2m EDZ. I plan to hook up with him for a SOTA activation during the fall or winter.
GMan, well thought out purpose built kit. Everyone has their own needs and preferences to satisfy so don't listen to the sad hams whine. Your antenna selections are great, compact and weight conscious. I like a vertical in the mix but I'm not sure it adds much to your plan of operations and your EFHW does very well long distance. FB OM
Thanks. I completely agree. Everyone has their own needs. I can only speak to my experience and needs. Take care!
Hey man. I'm a 90% disabled combat veteran. USMC. I was a independent operator and ran comms for my team. UHF (PRC148, PRC119/119F, PRC152), VHF, HF (PRC 104/ KY99), Sat Com (PRC 117, 150, PSCI 3, PSCI 5) Carried a CYZ-10 filled crypto and loaded new keys, also built Field Expediate Antennas. Also conducted missions with MSIDS (Maritime Secondary Imaging System) This is real time servailence sent back to the unit commander over UHF PRC 119 Linked to a CF19 Toughbook, At that time.... That being said Im new to HAM, not even tested yet. I just picked up my first V5r.. LOL. but watching you has given me the Bug For Comms again. I would like to have my teams use the UV5r for an inter team asset and have YAESU that you show for comms with "higher" My main Question is about weather proofing. how are you getting that done? Does the radio come weather proof? ect....
First, thank you for your service to our great country. God bless you.
I am kicking off a new video series (No Random Contacts) this week that will cover comms for targeted communications with known quantities starting with the basics and building from there. As part of the series I will talk about comms for small team tactics (much later in the series). We'll dive into encryption.
For waterproofing, I personally went with an IP67 rated radio. It can be submerged for 30 minutes up to 1 meter. It's expensive (~$300 USD) but it's a tool that use daily. I did a multi-part series on this waterproof radio (Yaesu VX-6R): czcams.com/play/PLZpc6PnzmzmGNxYpbWDdWqQ-uQY9O6B54.html
Another option is to look at the Ailunce HD1. It works with the Baofeng accessories and is cheaper ($200) but it also is IP67 rated. There may be some Chinese radios from Retevis that are water proof, but I have never used them. I try to avoid the Chinese radios due to quality concerns, but they are less expensive. Everything in this hobby is trade-off of price, quality and features.
For your Baofeng UV-5R there's not much you can do short of putting it in a heavy mil bag or dry bag.
Good luck!
I am working on a manpack using a 25mm plastic ammo can that has locking lids with rubber seal on each lid that makes it waterproof and keeps things dry.
I agree. Around 2000 I had purchased the then new FT-817, then later after selling it,
I had the FT-817nd, and now more recently,
the FT-818ND which has changed slightly.
My one complaint is the capacity of the
supplied battery, only lasting about 2 hours.
I recently ordered the more capable and
greater capacity Windcamp battery system.
One other minor point is that VHF only tunes
up to 154 MHz. I wish the later model went
up to 174 MHz as most others do, then it
would cover the NOAA weather band at
162 MHz, though I know most HT's cover
this part of the spectrum. 73 de W2CH Ray.
The internal battery is terrible. I almost went down the Wincamp route, but I found that it was not necessary given that the LiFePO4 batteries have served me well. Yes, it would be nice to have NOAA weather receive. All my HT's support NOAA, so this was never a deal breaker. On my outings, I always carry the VX-6R along with the 818. 73 de KT1RIN
@@TheTechPrepper yes, I agree, thank you.
Oh man; where were you in 1974? I was an RTO in an airborne infantry battalion. Went through Morse code school but after reporting into my unit I was relegated to the company commander as his company RTO. Another guy with me was on battalion net. We humped the PRC-77 but also had a PRC-74B. We never used it. I think we had maybe one day of expedient antennas. Not knowing any better at the time I was okay with that. I later realized it was a huge waste of resources. For example; going to Alaska for arctic training and war games we were scattered all over Alaska. How'd we communicate? We set up PRC-77 relay stations. We had no experience on the 74B or that would have been an excellent choice. A lot of what you are passing on here is over my head. I would have loved picking your brain for all this information and some hands on work. Other than using communications for emergency services work (fire & EMS) I haven't given it another thought but my last job was working in disaster management. We were just starting to look into using ham radio operators to help with communications during incidents. Now that I am retired (maybe I should have said retarded) I've thought about getting into that to help out. Oh well. I am enjoying your stuff. Thanks.
Morning, George. I was born a few years later (1981).
I appreciate you sharing your experience as an RTO. A number of RTO's past and present are reaching out lately. I am fascinated and humbled by all of your experiences. Thank you for your service. I am not prior service, so I am grateful that a few RTO's are taking the time to talk with me. There should be a future video where I start to blend some of the civilian and military concepts. At the moment, I am pouring through a number of radio FM's and resources:
- FM 3-55.93 (FM 7-93): Long-Range Surveillance Unit Operations
- FM 24-18: Tactical Single-Channel Radio Communications Techniques
- FM 11-65: High Frequency Radio Communication
- Near Vertical Incidence Skywave Communication: Theory, Techniques and Validation by LTC David M. Fiedler and MAJ George H. Hagn
Don't worry, radio is complicated at first glance but it gets easier. I struggled initially and have only been on the air for less than 3 years. I am actually sharing the experiences with you and the community along the way. Keep at it now that you have time and are retired. Good luck!
Im a Newbie, bought a 857D & aguishly waiting for you next video. Really need some guidance on the pack build.
Welcome! In that case, here's the private prerelease of the video without ads:
czcams.com/video/5QHVq3P_xWI/video.html
This goes public with ads tomorrow morning. I try to post an ad free release a day in advance for the people that follow me on buymeacoffee.com/thetechprepper
Good luck with your build.
Have you looked into the iCOM 7100 mobile HF/VHF/UHF radio? Granted, its older and uses more power, but it has more power. Keep up the good work!
I looked into it extensively, but if failed to meet the form-factor criteria. The head unit does not lend itself to a manpack configuration. It certainly checked the all-band, all-mode requirement. I don't mind older rigs...that's pretty much all I run these days. I am not a fan of the new rigs for this particular style of operation.
I like your setup.. creating cheat index cards for the ham bands was an awesome idea that I will look at doing. Do you have an opinion on using a roll up J-pole antenna for the vhf-uhf bands?
Also, I would love to see these index cards to get me thinking about what I would create for my own area.
Yes. They are essential pieces of gear. I always carry one with me. I covered in Part III. I use the N9TAX Slim Jim.
Have you looked into the Icom 706 MkIIG? It looks to have the same form factor as the Yaesu 857D. The videos are very informative for someone who is new to HAM radio.
Yes. It's also discontinued and perhaps the closest apples-to-apples all-band, all-mode rig. That rig would be a perfect manpack equivalent to the FT-857D. I would buy one if I could find a 706 MkII. Welcome to the hobby.
I enjoyed the IC-705 rant, coming from a IC-705 owner. While I enjoy working the radio on many modes, you did point out the design flaws. Definitely wish Icom made it more durable.
On the other hand, it does have a built-in GPS. That can come in handy if one runs into trouble while out and about. Just pull up the GPS screen and give the location to a station so they can get help if needed.
On a side note, have had a chance to use the Chameleon Tactical Delta Loop antenna? I ordered one in July because it was on sale at 20% off. It is expensive and bidirectional set up as a Delta Loop, but can be used as a vertical.
The downside is that it's heavy, doesn't come with a carry bag, and requires radials for better receive performance. The plus side is, set up as a Delta Loop, on 17-6m, no tuner needed. The SWR is well below 1.5:1. 20-80m will require a tuner.
Set up as a vertical with the stainless steel whip fully extended and one radial, 6, 12, 15 and 17m doesn't need a tuner. I have eight 25ft ground radials on two terminals made for use as a vertical. That will have an impact on SWR. I still need to do some more experimenting with it.
Just thought I'd mention that antenna as an option for you check out. Setting up a wire antenna can be difficult, but the Delta Loop goes up pretty quickly.
Anyways, another great video.
73, W4ISB
Mike in Tennessee.
The IC-705 has some amazing features and is a terrific radio. I really wish I could take advantage of the 705's innovations. It just does not work for my style of operating. I would love to see a Yaesu "FT-820" with 20 watts, soundcard and IP67 rating. Take care.
It's a great radio for sure. I was thinking about getting the Yaesu 817 or the 705 for HF when I was going for my General. What sold me on the 705 is OH8STN review of the 705. No need to add filters, CAT Control interfaces, etc. The 705 already had them.
Both the 817/818 are nice radios, but with the capability of the 705, it was a no brainer for me. One gets a lot of bang for the buck when getting a 705.
The downside to getting the IC-705 is that Icom did not include any adapters or at least a rubber duck for 2m and 440. I mean, the radio itself was $1,300 when I bought it back in 2020. For that price, a couple of adapters and a rubber duck would've been nice to have when getting the radio. Instead, when I got the radio, it sat on the self for a while before I could use it.
@@pale_2111 Glad to hear it's working for you. It's loaded with features. I just wish at was a 20 watt rig. That's the major thing holding me back.
Great Video, Thank You!...Since the FT 818ND's are hard to find or very expensive, what Radio would you recommend as an alternative?
For this style of operation, there is no alternative at the moment. Everyone in the community is waiting for Yaesu to announce a new QRP radio. I would try local hamfests in your area. The secondary market is being flooded with over priced unit. Many people are also picking up by mistake the Japanse version which as limitations in the US.
I would love to see a 50 watt all band radio with built in sound card and DSP, and the size of the FT891. QRP just does not make sense for SHTF but the size needs to stay as small as possible.
I’d love to see a similar rig come out soon. 50 watts sounds about right. I don’t agree completely with your shtf statement though: it depends on whether you care about direction finding. Oh8stn has a great video that came out recently on this topic.
There clearly is a need for an all-band, all-mode replacement that's no larger than the 857/891. If Yaesu goes this route, I'd love to see a built-in sound card and IP67 rating.
@@TheTechPrepper seriously! I really wish more manufacturers would pay attention to waterproofing for radios that will be going into the field.
Just bought one new from HRO for $640. The 818 was released in 2018 and is based off of the now 18 year old 817 model. It keeps selling well, not sure why Yeasu would pull the product
Wow. That is a great price considering the state of radios in 2022. Enjoy!
Yaesu has a history of end-of-lifing great radios. The FT-857D is a great example. I do not believe that FT-991A was a suitable replacement as it is not portable unless you're interested in POTA. The FT-891 was missed opportunity and they should have included 2m/440.
Awesome setup man! Don't suppose you offer this in a package deal?
This radio was just discontinued. I plan to sell full kits later this year, but they well be roughly twice the price in order for it to be a sustainable business. You can build these yourself a lot cheaper.
I appreciate the video and I'm doing resaerch to get into this man portable radio. I cannot find the 818 in stock anywhere online, are there any runner ups that you might recomend?
Great video. Quick question. Do you use RG-316 as your jumper cable from the rear to the front of the pack frame for both UHF/VHF and HF? Thanks!
Excellent question, Jason. I use RG-8X for the HF side which may seem strange. I like the 12" RG-8X cables from MPD Digital (amzn.to/3AD99WC). I use these on all my manpacks when relocating from the rear. For the VHF/UHF relocation, I needed a thinner jumper. I use a 4" RG-174 jumper (amzn.to/3ei1zJA). I believe RG-174 and RG-316 are the most part pretty equivalent.
If I was brand new to ham radio is this a good starting point for a radio? Love the mobile idea. Plus being stationed here in Japan I wonder if I could pick one up easier.
This is a great question, but a tough one to answer. This radio is a low power rig and can be challenging to make contacts when you first start out in amateur radio. Radios with more power make it easier, but they get bigger and heavier. It really is a Swiss Army Knife in terms of capabilities. The size and weight are great if you're limited on space since you're in the service. If you're up for getting a couple of licenses to get on the air and put in a little practice, then yes it's a good rig. If you don't need a rugged radio and want a more modern radio, take a look at the Icom IC-705. Thanks for your service.
@@TheTechPrepper Thank you for your quick reply. And since I can currently get the unit for below $500 US dollars due to the exchange rate new in the box, I think I'll get it and save it for a rainy day build or use it in the future. I'll defiantly look at the radio you mentioned. Thanks again and really enjoyed your manpack series!
@@whittlefulworld3076 That's a great price. Get it! Enjoy.
Hopefully you pick a different radio for next one other than the Yaesu ft-857d. It's been discontinued so is a non-starter.
It will be on the FT-857D. It's the only tool in its class besides the IC-706MkII. (also discontinued). The industry needs to get back to making these small, all-band, all-mode rigs. These are still available on the secondary market. Unfortunately, they'll run you about $1,000, but there's isn't a better portable SHTF radio.
My 705 is the ultimate shack queen! 😆
It's a great innovative radio. Personally, I'd find a way to break it in the field.
Any reason you use the Comet antennas instead of Signalsticks? Is there a performance difference that you've found, or is it just a Ford/Chevy thing?
Signal stick supports free for all hams ham study as well as a lot of other ham things
I use the SignalSticks on the VHF/UHF manpacks as they are rated for higher power. I use the Comet BNC-24 on this rig as the SWR is a perfect 1:1 match when used in the horizontally polarized configuration on the PackTenna TrekMount. It's also more compact and lighter. I select the equipment based on the operating objective. Cheers.
@@TheTechPrepper Good info, thx.
Started following your channel recently. Lots of good info. Congratulations. I am a bit confused when you say you consume about an Amp an hour with the FT-818, you can generate an Amp an hour with your solar panel, and therefore you can operate indefinitely. If during the first day you keep your battery charged by generating what you consume, during the first night you drain your batteries, you will not be able to operate and charge your batteries on the second day., unless you can generate more than what the consumption is. Am I missing something?
.
I never operate 24x7. My style is to hit targeted, short commo windows. If I have to operate at night, I can simply top off what I used when daylight hits. During the day, I break even in terms of what I use and produce. Good question.
@@TheTechPrepper Thanks for the quick response. Started in HF a couple of years ago, but got hooked on SSB DX from the QTH and from portable setups. Your spin is completely different than what I am doing, but I understand the reasons behind it and look forward to your videos on "No Random Contacts". Never stop learning....73, Greg/KP4PK
@@greghernandez3012 You're welcome. Here you go...
www.buymeacoffee.com/thetechprepper/nationwide-targeted-contact-arizona-tennessee
It looks like the ft-818 has been discontinued. For preppers/ field ops, what all mode transceiver are you recommending? Totally agree on the ic 705 downsides for field use
I'm still recommending the FT-818ND and FT-857D. In my opinion, there are no suitable, current production radios that are all-mode, all-band rigs that are robust enough for the field work that I personally do.
Did you make the cables that connect the solar panel to the PowerMini2, the battery to the radio and the radio to the PowerMini2 or did you purchase them? Could you please provide the details?
Can you do a review on your Panasonic laptop and the capabilities. Is ur computer the cf-19 or cf20? They also make a giz20 or something? Appreciate any insite you provide.
Like your videos. Hope to build the Ft891 radio with military bag ......thanks
Yes, I can a CF-20 and FZ-M1 coming soon. Also, I am just started designing a manpack bag for the FT-891 and FT-857D. My smaller TTP Manapack for the FT-818 seemed to be popular. Good luck with your build. shop.thetechprepper.com/
Have you done the MARS and CAP mods on your rig? Unfortunately for us in SV land there is only side band for 6 meters. It does get out better compared to FM on 6.
I have not applied the MARS mod to the 818 yet. I was about to but put it on hold until I can get to it. However, as standard practice now, I'm having HRO MARS mod all my new radios at the time of order. Cheers!
How does the FT-818 ND compare with the FT-891?
Certainly, Fidel is right. The power of the workers must exceed the airwaves.
21:15 I didn't do the math, but it sounds like you need triple the solar power and double the battery capacity to run indefinitely. What did I miss?
Question: Do you think that the signal sticks would need a counterpoise if mounted straight to the radio.
I have a signal stick and want to mount it to my mobile radio with an L shaped bnc to pl 259 connector.
Should I be worried about ruining my mobile radio?
I may have missed it in the video, but what's the approximate weight for all of this gear on a backpacking/hiking trip?
School is in session!
Yes sir! Sit straight and keep quiet. I need to watch all your videos on the Xiegu 6100. If it's still hackable, I have some software modification ideas I'd like to test. I was thinking of hacking in ALE support. Should I get one?
@@TheTechPrepper we are running Linux natively on the radio. That is probably all I need to tell you 😇
Have you had any issues with your 857? I've got an 817nd and an 891 and have been considering getting ahold of an 857 to complete the "set", if you will. They are hard to come by online and I've been debating the 857 versus the IC706MK2G....I really wish Yaesu would get off their tufts and just make an FT819/FT858 combo or something. And I wish we could get HTs with 2m SSB capability lol. There's my rant.
Enjoy the vids, man.
73.
KC3OLZ
Great question, Kody. I have the FT-891 as well. No. I have not had any issues with the FT-857D, but I have only had mine for about 18 months. The IC-706MKIIg is another great shack in the box. There are actually ARMOLOQ pack frames for the 706. You can't go wrong with either. Yes, Yaesu needs a suitable replacement for the 857D or needs to develop a hybrid of the 857/818. My dream radio would by the FT-818 with an integrated soundcard, 20 watts and IP67 enclosure. Thanks for the rant. 73's
Can you make some of your index field cards available to the public please? At least in pdf format so others can print them? Thanks
If you search my video channel page for "field cards" it will take you to the video that I made on this topic. There is a Google Doc link in the description of that video. Simply make a copy of the doc and edit.
How do you connect the digirig mobile? And, where?
Is your side band range on 2meters still limited to line of sight? Because in places such as Florida it's hard to gain elevation to grab those long distances if line of sight is still a requirement. Would love to know as HF options would overcome the distance issue but side band on UHF/VHF would be nice.
Yes, in general, it's still limited by line of sight. There are actually some occasional propagation characteristics (i.e. tropospheric ducting, knife edge, etc.) on 2m that can go beyond line-of-sight but these are sporadic and should not be counted on for reliable and consistent communication. However, when compared to FM using the same radio, power and antenna system, I have found that I get a bit more distance. My tests are very specific to the Sonoran Desert where we also have some elevation here and there.
That’s what I figured but I am just getting started so I wanted to make sure I had my facts straight. Really digging the info and what you mentioned you planned to roll out soon. It’s exactly the info I am looking for right now. Particularly on the HF side
I have a question now.....I want to make a manpack to have comms when chit goes south, I plan on communicating within my neighborhood(TYT TH-350 or Baofeng UV-9R Pro IP67) and folks around the State(Texas) and maybe other States. What would be the best radio for the manpack(Yaesu FT-818ND or TYT TH-9800D Plus) ?
Wait until my next video. To go out of state you will need HF capabilities. I will be covering a more powerful radio in the next video. It's discontinued, but the FT-857D is really the best multi purpose rig if you can handle a little more weight. It's perfect for vehicles and base camps. The 818 is fantastic if you have to travel long distances on foot. Every radio is a trade off.
hi mate i have the Yaesu 817ND but would like to know your thoughts on running my 20W Xiegu G90 as my HF radio for the field as i only use HF on my 817
The 20 watts on the G90 will definitely give you more of an edge. Since you only need HF, definitely stick with your G90. I personally am on the fence about Chinese radios as the Japanese radios tend to be more reliable and have a better build quality. However, I will be buying a Xiegu if they every come out with the 20 watt, all-band, all-mode radio. 73 de KT1RUN
Very interesting... I am a rookie. But I am tempted to building myself one of these. Any chance you can put the rough price to put each of the man packs that you feature?
To be honest I dont want to watch a video close to 30min video to figure out what price point this man pack would be in.
I've been meaning to do this, but the problem is that the prices change over time. I payed a lot less for my build as every single component has increased considerably since I built it two years ago. This manpack has shown is probably around $1,200-$1,600 USD. The next manpack (FT-857D) is closer to ~$1,800.
I regret letting my ft817nd go I’m looking again for one or 818 on the used market. Have you tried the small ldg tuner made for these?
I bought the Z817 tuner 4-years ago, but have only used it twice. Since this rig only outputs 6-watts, I stick to resonant wire antennas. I would use it in a pinch if needed.
What packable uhf vhf antenna do you carry? Trying to find portable packable dual band antenna
Comet BNC-24
Just wondering, does the TPA Frame fit in the Helicon E&E pouch without chopping off the bags lid?
It will fit in terms of length and width, but not height. The top cap will not fully close over the top.
Thanks!
Are the internals of the 818ND able to be accessed easily and are there schematics for the circuitry available? One of my concerns is being able to repair the radio itself.
I am sure they exist for the FT-817 or FT-818, but I do not have a copy. It may take some digging online. Some of my other radios like the FT-8900 actually included a printed copy of the full schematics.
None of these modern radios can be practically repaired in the field, and by "field" I mean literally at a campsite or the like. You'd need a shop/bench with good surface-mount soldering capability to do much more than fix a connector or jumper a switch.
@@paulplack490 I figured component level repair in the field is next to impossible. Depending on cost I can see having a replacement board for field repair and then perform component level repair when I get back home to a repair station. I just like having schematics and components readily available to me when component level repair is required.
I would love to know how you compare this radio to the 857d
Next week. I have both and there is a place for both.
Hi I dont mean to fry your head but what are your thoughts on the IC706 Mk2G? They are easier to source than 857D radios.. It would be for a manpack setup too.... thanks
The IC-706 Mk2 is a comparable platform as the FT-857. It has the right form factor and is all-band and all-mode. The only downside is the current consumption on RX.
Do you think the 857d will be available again or something comparable
It's discontinued. Everyone who loves this rig is still waiting for a true replace in the same footprint and capabilities. Yaesu introduced the FT-9991A several years back with similar all-band, all mode capabilities, but it's huge.
@@TheTechPrepper I do hope someone comes out with something that is field ready that is all band all mode that is 100w
Are you running your 817 split mode in wsjtx/js8call? Mine is not happy running split.
I am not running split.
@@TheTechPrepper Thx- it has split in the menu but can't seem to change the VFOs back and forth reliably. Swear I used split the last time I had the 817 out in January. Thx for the reply.