After finishing, revising and size-reducing my HamPi, I decided to continue on and finish assembling a new revision of a portable station.
Since I actually have plans to use this in the field, I wanted to pack things up as small as practical while loosing as little functionality as possible.
The Radio Pocket
The base of my system was my Elecraft KX-3, the internal antenna tuner and batteries make it ideal portable rig (almost like that was what it was designed for!). I didn’t really do any measurements, but I arbitrarily decided that it should fit into a GoRuck padded Field Pocket. I didn’t realize it at the time, but you can easily fit an entire amateur radio station into a GR-2 padded field pocket with room left over!
Inside this GR-2 Field Pocket:
- Elecraft KX-3
- Internal Tuner
- Internal Battery
- MH-3 Microphone
- Generic PC “Stick” Microphone
- Rugged Earbuds
- End-Fedz Trail Friendly 10/20/40M Antenna
- 20′ RG-174 Coax
- Spool of Dental Floss
- 2 1/2oz steel weights
That’s it. That’s a fully functional ham radio station. There’s even enough room left in the case for a CW key if that’s your thing. It’s not really my thing, I prefer digital modes and that necessitated a 2nd field pocket…
The Digital Add-on Pocket
Inside this GR-1 Field Pocket:
- HamPi
- MicroUSB Power Cable
- Micro Combo Keyboard/Trackpad
- MiniPro-SC USB Interface
- USB Cable
- KX-3 Interface Cable
- Elecraft USB Interface
- Anker Battery
- Anker Folding Stand
Together with both cases I have a fully modern HF amateur radio station that fits almost anywhere.
It’s my hope to take a few short hiking trips this summer into state parks and find a nice tree to shade me for some QSOs.