Weekend WX for most of the region will be FB enough to go outside and play. Need to enjoy it while we can before hunkering down in the shacks for winter!
I plan to find a safe es friendly place to park my car and operate from a folding chair. I use a knee or Palm Radio key.
I fashioned a 2x6 plank with a 1-1/4" pipe floor base mounted to it. It's around 2 ft long and I just park the car's rear tire on it and insert an aluminum telescoping mast. Slide it up about 25-35ft. I use an LDG 4:1 UN:UN and use either an auto tuner on FT857 arrangement or an MFJ9200 and matching tuner/swr meter. Seems the UN:UN arrangement tunes better with the MFJ QRP ant tuner. Ues two radial wires of 25" laid on ground or insert in cracks of pavement
For power I use a 35ah Deep Cycle AGN from Lifeline Battery. These are spill-proof and can even be used up side down if needed. Charging is via a 100w Renogy Solar starter kit. I've added another 100w panel to try this week. It's cumbersome but for now workable. Makes QRO op possible if needed. Seems 25w of CW will get you anywhere if 5 won't.
The battery pack and FT857/Auto-tuner are mounted in separate Igloo tall and short coolers. They are a perfect fit with room to spare. The mobile bracket holds the FT and Tuner secure, plenty of extra space for the power cable etc.
For the MFJ setup I only need a 12ah AGM and a box to stow everything in if I want to go minimalist.
So regardless what toys you have to play with, get outdoors and enjoy this weather, it can't last too much longer!
VY 73. Lane de n8aft sk ..