VE6AB Portable Ops
The Pack Counts
Yep, I have my HF rig, and vertical antenna along with other supportive necessities required stored in the pack, and once I'm done playing radio, everything will go back into the pack.
Since I first began operating HF from the back-country, I realized that I needed a way of protecting my Yaesu FT-897D with its internal batteries while the rig resides in the pack.
Now its not that it is being abused by the other paraphernalia that is sharing space with it, but accidents can happen.
After several outings, I found the solution to keeping the 897 from being damaged in the pack, and in particular the knobs on the front of the transceiver.
If you look close just over top of the rig, that is the plastic box that the 897 is placed in before being placed in the pack.
This is a file storage box that I purchased at Staples, and it fits the 897 perfectly with a piece of foam scrunched in between the front knobs of the 897 and the inside of the plastic box.
The lid nicely closes on the rig and just to be extra cautious more so when inserting or removing the 897 from the pack, I have a strap that secures the lid so that the box doesn't accidently open while handling it.
If your farmiliar with the 897, you know that there are protrusions on the back of the chassis that the 897 can stand on, protecting the various connectors that reside on the back side of the 897.
When I have the 897 placed withing this plastic box, and I drop it into the pack, the complete assembly is at the bottom of the pack, and with the pack in the vertical position, the 897 is standing nicely on these chassis protrusions within the plastic box within the pack and totally secure.
If the pack is lying in a horizontal position with the 897 inside in its storage box, the 897 is resting on its chassis feet within this box it is housed in within the pack.
Of course it goes with out saying that this plastic file box weighs basically nothing, so it adds no weight to speak of to the pack and its contents.
Now I am not replacing my wannabe Pelican foam-lined case that I normally store the 897 in within my mobile, but on the trail, this box works perfectly as a second skin for the 897 stored in the pack
On another note but related regardless, if you find yourself wanting to acquire a pack that you may want to use for for a similar purpose, be aware that not all packs are created equal, and one big difference between the different packs you will find out there, is that some packs are accessed through zipped panels, and then there are those like the one pictured here that is a top-loader.
Although not as convenient when accessing the contents of the pack, with a top-loader there is no chance of a zipper letting go dumping your valuable and fragile electronics on the ground.
Having said that, there are quality packs with zippers used for accessing the different internal compartments, and they have extra security against the zippers failing in the form of straps with quick-release buckles that will keep the load from being dumped on the ground if a zipper fails.
Just something to keep in mind when purchasing a pack, and just so you know, mountain climbers use top loaders.
The pack pictured here also has a bladder pocket that resides close to the padded back for a water bladder. The pack has a opening at the top for the delivery hose to exit and from there is routed to one of the front harness straps, giving easy access to the mouth-piece on the end of the hose for quenching your thirst while on the trail.
I use water bladders with all my packs, including my fly-fishing pack, as it beats dealing with water-bottles.
Click on the photo for a closer look.....
