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[KL7CW]

Keep experimenting, have fun.  If SSB on 20 meters is marginal, it may just be possible to have some success on 17 or 15 meters for several reasons.  These bands may not be open as much, but when they are your chances for success will be much better.  20 meters is crowded and many folks run high power and chase DX.  17 meters and even 15 are less competitive, and no contesting on 17.  On these bands a vertical bike antenna will be closer to the desired 1/4 wavelength and require less loading.  Also your bike and/or trailer counterpoise is much more effective.  You could zero in on 17, realizing it may only be open part of the afternoons during the week, but when it is it is hot !  On bike rides I have stopped and clipped onto a guardrail or chain link fence as my counterpoise/ground connection and a vertical wire.  However as others have stated, a horizontal wire or inverted V if possible will be better most of the time.  Recently I had a good long SSB QSO running 5 watts on 17 with a ham over 1500 miles away, but this was from my home station with a good antenna.  Since we had very good signals, might have worked OK with a compromise antenna in a campground. You will have 3 handicaps with your bike mobile.  1) the antenna, 2) low power,  3) SSB instead of CW.  If you only had one or two of these challenges, your chances of success would be MUCH better.  Nothing better than hiking, canoeing, or biking to a campsite and set up your QRP station and operating for perhaps two days from the tent and/or picnic table.           Rick  KL7CW

[ZL1BBW]

I wkd a G stn bicycle mobile on Blackpool promenade on 20 a few months ago, he wasnt loud but it was a good contact.   Pretty sure this is the guy google  G4AKC  loads of pics

[VA3DKF]

@ZL1BBW

Thank you for that call sign.   I found his webpage and it's stacked with HF Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobile HAM.

I'll share the link

https://www.g4akc.co.uk


@everyone

I continue to experiment.   I found a nice, waterproof, handle-bar mounted pack to put my radio and tuner in.  They fit nicely.  Still trying to sort out an antenna to use while being in motion that will rear mount to my bike rack without dragging any wires behind me.   I mentioned the WonderLoop antenna as possible candidate, so I'm trying to get my hands on one of those to try.   The WonderLoop mounts to the rear of the radio, but I'm sure I would be able to mount it a rear of the bicycle, with a patch cable going along the bike's crossbar to the handle-bar mounted radio.  IA patch cable a few feet in length might do the trick.  Very excited to to try this out.

Everything is coming together nicely and hopefully before Winter I can make my first contact while pedaling.

On a side note, I came across a YouTube video of K8MRD working Parks On The Air.  What I found interesting was on the radio he used, the FT-891 , there was a built-in Record Playback Option that was used for recording his voice saying, "cq cq, callsign, park ect." and that was transmitted at the push of a button.  What a coinvent feature to have while mobile. This feature would be pretty handy to have on a bicycle mobile trying to make contacts.  I do not believe the FT-818 that I have has this function.  Something to sort out later I'm sure.

Oh, I almost forgot.  Working CW has been mentioned a few times, being QRP, Mobile, and with such a small antenna, this could work out quite well.  But probably not while cycling, working a key might be difficult, but not impossible.  Then there is the fact that, I do know know Morse Code.  I've tried and tried hard. But I just keep forgetting letters.  I'm sure I can learn it, that's not impossible either.

If I remember correctly, one of the Elecraft radios translates Morse Code into Text on its LCD display.  Is that correct?  Maybe it even has preset functions to transmit Code.  If so, that could be very handy indeed.  I'm open to methods of learning CW.

This update has been all over the place, thanks to those who are following the tread and keeping up with the rag chewing.

Have a great rest of the weekend everyone.

[VA3DKF]

I gave this a try tonight.  This is image is identical to my setup, minus the CW Key.  My setup is using the Mic that came with the FT-817 and 5 watts.

It was a beautiful night, so I decided to go down to the park, setup on a picnic table and see if I could be heard.   I tried many CQ calls on 40 and 20 meters but no responses.   Lots of great reception though, I heard V31ZA in Belize .  I tuned into the Maritime Mobile Network check-ins at 14.300 and tried my luck there.
I wasn't heard, then called out on a few more 20 meter frequencies and the moved down to 40 meters.  It just wasn't my night.

On Friday, I'm going to visit a friend at the local campground and will bring my radio and a couple antennas.   I'll string up the G5RV antenna and show him and his wife about HAM.  I'll then hook up the loop antenna and try again for a contact.

Oh, I almost forgot.   The copper wire for the WonderLoop is to flimsy to have on the back of my bike, the wind really blows it all around.  Would replacing that wire with a 1/2" dia copper pipe of the same length, 69", bent into the same circle work?  Copper pipe is way more rigid, and the weight isn't a factor for the the rear of my bicycle.   I can flatten each end of the pipe, bend it into a circle, and screw on to the terminals at the back of the radio.  Any thoughts?

Would anyone be around Friday night by their radio?  Silly question for a HAM Radio forum....   

73

[W9IQ]

I recommend a significantly larger conductor. The radiation resistance of a small loop is extremely low so any losses in the loop conductor kills the gain. If you use a conductor with very, very low RF resistance, the gain of a small loop is quite good - about 1.7 dBi.

- Glenn W9IQ

[N8YX]

Have you thought about a small, low, light weight bicycle trailer.  A taller whip could be mounted on the trailer.  With a trailer you could easily use heavier batteries which could be mounted low and help stabilize the trailer, and as a bonus you might be able to up you power to perhaps 20 or 50 watts if necessary.

A BOB Ibex would be ideal for this.

[KL7CW]

I do not think trying to read a display while cycling would be a good idea.  First of all even a good morse translator is much less that 100 % correct, especially with the not perfect code being sent.  Also even reading code by ear while cycling takes your concentration away from cycling, and glancing down at a display is even more challenging.  Some folks have found translators may supplement copy by ear to an extent. However the human brain is probably the best code reader by far in most cases. I have 3 Elecraft transceivers and yes the morse reader seems to work OK, but I have not personally found it useful, but I have been a ham and commercial CW op for 67 years.  For SSB on HF mobile, I would use the best counterpoise (perhaps bike + trailer) all hooked together with good connections, and an antenna as long as practical, perhaps 8 feet or more.  An increase in power from QRP to perhaps 10 to 20 or 30 watts would improve your chances.  I might try 17 meters, not always open, but just may be the best band for successful QSO's for the reasons previously.  In a few years, 12 or 10 meters just might be even better, if the old sun cycle continues to increase.           Cheers,     Rick  KL7CW

[KL7CW]

Daniel,
   Here is another idea for your bicycle experiment.  It has been winter for weeks here in Alaska, and I am sure in Canada you are not far behind.  I would set up an experiment at home you could work with all winter, and if it works translate your ideas to a working bike mobile.  Use a few wires or pipes slightly above ground which would roughly simulate your bike trailer combo.  Erect a temporary mast about the height of your bike antenna.  Run a feedline into your nice warm shack and see what works. Try different loading coils, matching networks, where to put the loading coil, etc.  Try it with different power and on bands and modes you are interested in. When spring comes, put it all on your bike and hit the roads and trails.  When you are away from civilization, preferably in nice clear or high areas you will be surprised on the low RX noise and sometimes better transmit signals.  Also if predictions are correct the old sunspot numbers should be better by spring which should generally better than mid summer or winter for the upper HF bands like 20,17, and 15 meters.  If your QTH is in the lower part of Ontario, propagation should be quite good on these bands to the eastern and mid west parts of the US and Canada during the day, and sometimes on into the evening hours.  I live at 61 degrees north, and generally at this latitude (at least here in Alaska and in Norway, etc. where I have operated), often propagation is more of a challenge than further south. I have operated portable QRP quite a bit from upstate NY and MI from campgrounds.  In NY I was just across the lake south of Toronto and had many QSO's to the mid west, but for some reason VERY GOOD results into the gulf coast states.  Some QSO's to the far west, and even snagged Europe occasionally, usually with poor RST reports.  Naturally operating from Nova Scotia and NB was very productive.            Have fun with your portable or mobile operation, and yes you are still a good ham if you use SSB, data, or whatever.            Welcome to the club.    Rick  KL7CW

[VA3DKF]

I am currently doing just that, experimenting with different antennas.   The past weekend had some great weather and I had the entire two nights to just try different whips and loops mounted on a tripod about the the same height as they would be when mounted on my bicycle, (30" above the ground).

The whip antenna's, particularly the ATAS-25 didn't work all that well without radials.  It received great, but the SWR was all over the place when I tried to transmit.  When tuned up, I did spend a few hours making contacts on both 40m and 20m bands.   

I tried the 69" Circumference Loop antenna the Wonder Loop, that works great for receiving but picks up a lot of noise in my backyard.  I did not make any contacts with this setup, but was getting out a bit, as some people could hear me in the background but couldn't pull me out.  Very exciting and I loved every minute of it, I think i was on the edge of my seat saying, "common baby, you pull me out" as I repeated my call sign in to the mic.   I believe I stayed up to the wee hours of that morning.

The next day, I spend some time listening to the bleeps on digital modes.   I got to thinking, with such a small antenna I'm trying to use on my bicycle I'd give the same antenna a try on a different mode.  This led me to to sourcing a USB CAT interface cable.    More on that later.

Lots of ideas came to mind when I was sitting in the quiet backyard and listening to the noise of the ham bands.  I will continue trying different antennas and learn how to operate on different modes, even digitally.  Who knows, this might even become a thing by next spring.

73 all

[M6EES]

I have the wonderloop too. I squash the loop down after using it. Now after many uses it is almost impossible to get the kinks out of it. Have you found any solution on how to get it back into a good circle ?

[W0DKM]

I wish I had not read this post.

Now I want to Bicycle mobile. I'm not very good at either, Biking or Haming. Just an Amateur at both.
We are blessed to like near many On and Offroad Trails. Most around lake and streams.

I have family members watching when I do either one. I don't remember asking them to keep an
eye on me. But Since I retired, I just am looking for trouble. My set up is going to be a FT817, A Ham stick.
And a trailing wire for a counterpoise. That should work fine. The Solar Cycle is improving.

My wife finds out! She will make wear a life vest.

[W0RW]

Try Pedestrian Mobile first.
It is a lot safer.
Paul  w0rw
See: https://www.eham.net/article/45430

[W9WQA]

john, ka9pgc is the master of bike mobiles. find him...

[K7LZR]

I've successfully operated bicycle mobile using an FT-817nd along with a 20m Hamstick. One morning in spring 2015 I was tooling along the path while casually listening to the radio and I heard some fellows in Pennsylvania (I'm in Oregon) chattering away. For fun I broke in and about fell off my bike when one of them answered me! Wowee! Five watts & a hamstick!. Great band conditions on 20m that morning for sure .

Usually, I was able to contact stations within 300-500 mi. from me if I could hear them.....

[K0UA]

One thing you can do with your ATAS if you don't mind just operating "portable" instead of "mobile" is increase the whip length. Lets say you operate on 20 meters, clip on about 15 feet of small gauge wire to the existing whip and throw the end with a string up in a tree with say a half full water bottle to support and pull up your wire whip extension in the air. If you could put a few 16 foot radial wires on the ground clipped to your bike frame/ground that would likely give you several more dB of gain as well. Of course you will have to resonate your whip+extension at a totally different place up near the top of your coil as your new whip+extension will be near a quarter wave on 20 meters. Give it a try, It does not cost much and will give you something to play with. I do it all the time with my Tarheel screwdriver antenna and it yields many dB of gain over the stock whip..And you can use all the gain you can get with the QRP power. . And the wires/string roll up to next to nothing in size when you want to stop and start pedaling again.