Base Camp and Man Portable Radio Set Up

[materielgeneral]

I don't know how out of the ordinary this thread is, consider it kind of a what if or just for fun topic. If you were to make a rustic base camp setup for deep in the woods(4x4 access) and/or make a man portable CB set up how would you do it?

[MDYoungblood]

Good Question materielgeneral, I hope to see some activity on this post. Sorry but I couldn't help you , I did have a transceiver in my camper but I considered "roughing it" not being able to get a satellite sign for TV.

3's

Greg

[materielgeneral]

Good Question materielgeneral, I hope to see some activity on this post. Sorry but I couldn't help you , I did have a transceiver in my camper but I considered "roughing it" not being able to get a satellite sign for TV.

3's

Greg

Yeah, I would like to see some responses to this thread also. I'm curious as to how others would do it.

[materielgeneral]

Guess this thread is going to die.

[nosaj]

Well would base camp be a permanent fixture where you could leave an run a generator? Define rustic please.
I'd put up an AN-99 if it was permanent, the higher the better. But I'd probably be operating on 11 and 10m. But I am a Ham.
nosaj

[Bluerunner]

My portable / bug out bag CB is a 40ch AM 4 watt cb walkie talkie. They are crap until you put a good antenna on them. I have rechargeable batteries in it and a little solar panel (made by volkswagon??) I found at Goodwill. I use an end fed wire antenna hoisted up as high as I can on a string over a tree branch. The antenna and feed line rolls up to a small package kept in a ziplock bag. A fishing weight on a string shot out of a slingshot gets you high up over a branch. More of a mobile prepper / survival kinda rig.

If the camp is unattended and the equipment is to be left there, I'd use something cheap / disposable in case it is stolen or vandalized. A good wire antenna setup would not be attractive to thief's or vandals and be ready for you if you bring a radio out there with you.

An old car battery on a cheap solar panel to keep it hot for when you get there might be handy. A cheap solar panel won't charge fast but should top the battery off while you are away.

[Grinder74]

When I go camping, I take a small tub. In it is my HR2510, dual band HT, 2M all mode mobile, mobile dual band 2m/70cm antenna and a 50ft coax/dipole. I have jumpers for the camper battery and 100ft string to get antenna up. I do have a 40ch CB HT but dont use it, maybe something to try. All I would need is solar panels and I could do some off the grid work.
Forgot, 2 meter 4el, 102" whip, pool skimmer pole and a chain link fence top rail.

[materielgeneral]

Well would base camp be a permanent fixture where you could leave an run a generator? Define rustic please.
I'd put up an AN-99 if it was permanent, the higher the better. But I'd probably be operating on 11 and 10m. But I am a Ham.
nosaj

In my opinion base camp would be able to move on a moments notice. Say an hour of reaction time. Rustic being in the middle of the woods, think Red Dawn. Could be a two track that a 2X2 could get down to a rutted up trail that a 4X4 would be required.

I have all the respect for ham operators but its not for me. Strictly CB and GMRS.

Keep the questions coming and opinions coming also.

[materielgeneral]

My portable / bug out bag CB is a 40ch AM 4 watt cb walkie talkie. They are crap until you put a good antenna on them. I have rechargeable batteries in it and a little solar panel (made by volkswagon??) I found at Goodwill. I use an end fed wire antenna hoisted up as high as I can on a string over a tree branch. The antenna and feed line rolls up to a small package kept in a ziplock bag. A fishing weight on a string shot out of a slingshot gets you high up over a branch. More of a mobile prepper / survival kinda rig.

If the camp is unattended and the equipment is to be left there, I'd use something cheap / disposable in case it is stolen or vandalized. A good wire antenna setup would not be attractive to thief's or vandals and be ready for you if you bring a radio out there with you.

An old car battery on a cheap solar panel to keep it hot for when you get there might be handy. A cheap solar panel won't charge fast but should top the battery off while you are away.

I love the sling shot and fishing sinker idea. I was doing the same thing throwing a weighted 550 cord and it only goes so far. As far as the camp it would be post SHTF so people would come and go. Probably a radio operator full time.

I currently have a Tram 1499 reserved for this semi mobile/tactical role. It only has about 2 mile range but you use what you can afford.

[nosaj]

Ok middle of the woods.(I picture 20-30 miles from civilization, which Ham radio could cover) Who are you looking to communicate within a 2 mile range? If your running from someone do you think they'd be on the CB? I could see CB in a perimeter role for outposts or checkpoints. But single shack in the woods I dunno.
I'm not really clear on the purpose of a cb way way out in the woods . I'd also suggest a good SW radio especially if POST SHTF so you can get news further out .

Thanks,
nosaj

[Bluerunner]

I think that communications will be the first thing lost in a SHTF situation. CB is likely to be the best resort to find out what is going on everywhere else. Ham stuff is good but there are probably way more CB radios out there. Do both if you can. It is interesting to hear how quiet the bands get when the power is out in large areas. No electrical equipment making any QRM. We were without power for several weeks after Hurricane Katrina. The noise level was so low that I thought I might be able to hear the fireflys flashing off & on. CB let us know where supply trucks were, although they got here two weeks after the hurricane. Better late than never I guess.

[materielgeneral]

I think that communications will be the first thing lost in a SHTF situation. CB is likely to be the best resort to find out what is going on everywhere else. Ham stuff is good but there are probably way more CB radios out there. Do both if you can. It is interesting to hear how quiet the bands get when the power is out in large areas. No electrical equipment making any QRM. We were without power for several weeks after Hurricane Katrina. The noise level was so low that I thought I might be able to hear the fireflys flashing off & on. CB let us know where supply trucks were, although they got here two weeks after the hurricane. Better late than never I guess.

Yeah quiet, my biggest turn off for Ham besides the cost. I don't want to rely on towers and I don't really trust repeaters. that's why I am relying on CB and GMRS. One thing I like is about CB is the amount of operators being low. You can relatively talk with security and if you use code words or other then you are basically secure.

[Dragon449]

Cool topic and something that I dabble with a bit myself. I am enjoy going out into the woods, fields, remote, and setting up temporary radio ops. CB is my go-to as it really is fairly cheap to get going.

I use a few different battery pack solutions to get on the air including a car battery and smaller lead-acid "alarm" batteries. If I am backpacking/hiking I will bring an ht with a few battery packs that I make up.

My go to antenna is a T2LT vertical dipole. These are easy and cheap as hell to make (coax -that you probably just have laying around, and a telescopic fiberglass pole are the main costs) Please check out youtube for construction videos or google. The T2LT are so light and easy to store away its great for a go bag. The pole is light and can be strapped to a lot of things with just large wireties.

[rudy]

I have a pair of old Midland radios that would fit this just fine. I don't remember the model number off hand. I'll describe them though. 40-channel, 4-watt. There is a telescoping antenna on the back side of the radio, and a jack for antenna cable. It slides into a leatherette case or sleeve. It holds 8 C ell batteries. It weighs less than 3 pounds. It has a built in speaker but can use headphones or a separate speaker.

This situation is why I bought a couple of double bazooka antennas. They roll up into a spall package, yet they can last for years.

Lately I've been looking at building a couple of Li-ion batteries to power them.

There is now another option that Midland came out with a couple of years ago. The GMRS micro mobile radios. They are available in 5, 15, 40 wat versions. The latter two have repeater modes in them. [Please login or register to view this link] The 40 watt has a possible range of 60 miles.

Also available from a different manufacturer is this power and carry option: [Please login or register to view this link]
The radio, battery, antenna and cable fit into a .30 ammo can. The unit can be operated while in the can with the lid open. They make 3 different sizes for the midland radios.

[Dragon449]

I know the radio you are referring to Rudy. UK users call them the "portapacks" 77-805 or 850? They are fantastic for portable operation - very cool. Maybe I will source a few out on ebay. Seems like they were more popular in the UK and a lot of the UK cb'ers that like to do SHTF drills and dxpeditions use them frequently. I could see the Midland handheld 75-822 being another good portable cb option and have considered one of these as well.

[rudy]

77-805 is it. When it was first available it used AA size batteries. Personally I thought that was a waste. Then it came out using "C" batteries so I bought 2. I still have one NIB. I've used the other one. When I completed college I worked retail in a Home, farm and ranch store. I bought a 12v dry-cell battery meant for an electric fencer. It powered my radio alright, but it was the size of a .30 ammo can. I later bought a 12-volt Duracell lantern battery. It worked just a well and was no bigger than 2- 6volt batteries.

[materielgeneral]

Cool topic and something that I dabble with a bit myself. I am enjoy going out into the woods, fields, remote, and setting up temporary radio ops. CB is my go-to as it really is fairly cheap to get going.

I use a few different battery pack solutions to get on the air including a car battery and smaller lead-acid "alarm" batteries. If I am backpacking/hiking I will bring an ht with a few battery packs that I make up.

My go to antenna is a T2LT vertical dipole. These are easy and cheap as hell to make (coax -that you probably just have laying around, and a telescopic fiberglass pole are the main costs) Please check out youtube for construction videos or google. The T2LT are so light and easy to store away its great for a go bag. The pole is light and can be strapped to a lot of things with just large wireties.

Good stuff. I have to look into that antenna.

[materielgeneral]

I have a pair of old Midland radios that would fit this just fine. I don't remember the model number off hand. I'll describe them though. 40-channel, 4-watt. There is a telescoping antenna on the back side of the radio, and a jack for antenna cable. It slides into a leatherette case or sleeve. It holds 8 C ell batteries. It weighs less than 3 pounds. It has a built in speaker but can use headphones or a separate speaker.

This situation is why I bought a couple of double bazooka antennas. They roll up into a spall package, yet they can last for years.

Lately I've been looking at building a couple of Li-ion batteries to power them.

There is now another option that Midland came out with a couple of years ago. The GMRS micro mobile radios. They are available in 5, 15, 40 wat versions. The latter two have repeater modes in them. [Please login or register to view this link] The 40 watt has a possible range of 60 miles.

Also available from a different manufacturer is this power and carry option: [Please login or register to view this link]
The radio, battery, antenna and cable fit into a .30 ammo can. The unit can be operated while in the can with the lid open. They make 3 different sizes for the midland radios.

I have the MXT-90 and wish I had the higher power models. When I get the extra cash I will get a couple of the higher wattage radios. I like the Midland radio. It has been good just lower power. I live in a woody area and I can get about a mile out of the MXT-90.

[rudy]

Materielgeneral:

Have you looked at the HARDENED Power Systems? They have a 'container' for your radio that makes it into a man-pack radio.
[Please login or register to view this link]