My Latest Contraption, a QRP portable, all in one, seat & table, etc!

Bungee Tie Down, Close Up

I added a bungee cord on each end to prevent damage from the radio accidentally falling off the table.

Bunggee Does Not Touch The ButtonsThe cord does not touch the buttons.

Bungee Tie Down, Rear View

View from the back

My Latest Contraption, A QRP Radio, Portable Table and Chair 11-12-2014 1-22-32 PM 2448x3264

All in one, QRP seat, table,  umbrella and antenna anchor! The bottle on the table is bug spray! LOL

 

Kx3 Radio In Operation on the Table  11-12-2014 1-25-015

The table is a cutting board attached to the existing shelf.

The cutting board is bigger than the existing shelf, so I have more room for logging and a sturdy place to attach the antenna!

A bungee cord takes up the slack from the antenna in the wind. In a real world test, I found that one radial is all I need.

I tried an experiment, adding two, then four radials. There was no detectable change in signal level by ear on or the S meter.

One radial did the trick, and 4 radials didn’t improve the signal at all.

 

Me, In The Drivers Seat of My Portable Table & Chair Set Up 11-12-2014 1-35-43 PM 2168x1870

Note the guy ropes. This is to hold the chair in place. The golf umbrella is stuffed into  a piece of PVC pipe.

The PVC pipe is tied to the chair with cable ties.

Wind and the antenna pulling on the table would easily turn the chair over.

Satisfaction, with My Latest Contraption

Satisfaction! I can’t wait for the next ham radio outing with my QRP buddies.

Ernest Gregoire, AA1IK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Florida, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

10 Responses to “My Latest Contraption, a QRP portable, all in one, seat & table, etc!”

  • John.... Kc5wpj:

    With a classy setup like that, it probably would have looked like Red Green
    had been there if you had used DUCT TAPE… Very nice post, good
    Luck with it……..

  • Mike, WV2ZOW:

    I have one of those very chairs. Ernest — c’mon — you neglected to mention one of the best features of the chair — the beverage holder pockets on the non radio side.

  • Kyle N4NSS:

    Ernest,
    Your at it again. Great idea!
    Ray has a KX3 now too! I love mine…73

  • Ernest AA1IK:

    John, I admire Red Green!

    Mike, Yes the pocket on the side would hold small things, but they are too numerous and too small in my opinion. I use a cooler for the drinks, but if I get a bite on the radio, that is where I’d stuff the bottle.

    Tnx for the comments, fellas,

    de AA1IK 73

  • Ernest AA1IK:

    Kyle, my goodness, I haven’t heard from you in many a moon, and its been even longer since I heard from Ray.

    Y’all keep in touch,

    de AA1IK 73

  • Rich Line KC8HMJ:

    Not a biggie but the umbrella on the other side would help to keep
    it upright. Elecraft radios shouldn’t touch the ground, just like a flag !

    Rich KC8HMJ

  • Ernest AA1IK:

    Elecraft radios shouldn’t touch the ground, like the flag. LOL Yes, we must show proper respect for these radios. Tnx for the comment Rich,

    de AA1IK

    73 Ernest

  • Frank ON6UU:

    Pull some rubber bands over the KX3 to prevent it from falling. It is bound to happen, we all know that…. ..

    better be safe on that nice radio which costs and arm and a leg 🙂

    73
    Frank
    ON6UU

  • Ray n4eat:

    Ernie, it has been tooooo long, I see you are still sitting down on the jobl
    Ginny is having real health problems that’s the main reason I have been lost to the world. I will keep in touch and yes I now have a KX3, one week ago
    see ya a friend, I hope.
    Ray

  • Ernest AA1IK:

    Frank, Good idea, the rubber bands. I’d hate for it to fall to the ground. I like small bungee cords for things like that. I’ll drill a couple of holes in the table and thread the bungee cords through them. Thanks for the suggestion, Good one!

    73 de AA1IK

    Ernest

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