Getting less portable

The cart concept would work with some very expensive items, namely lithium iron phosphate batteries, and winter tents that are light but can contain a wood stove. The cart with shelter and radio equipment was simply to heavy to move more than a few hundred feet unless on perfect terrain, and then it was slow going. I won’t abandon the concept, but ill have to wait to get the items required to be portable. In the meantime, still with an eye to winter field day, I did get a surplus shelter that I have quite a bit of experience with while stationed in Germany in the 80s. It is an M1950 hex tent, and I have coupled it with a surplus Yukon stove that I have had, but not had a use for, for years.

Lake Nebo, KS Parks on the Air campsite

The shelter has ample room for the radio equipment, stove, and a second person. Its 80lb, added to 2-300lb of radio and camp gear, so this will be something that will require transportation of some kind (ATV/Horses).

Interior of hex tent

I tested the setup at my farm, then took it to Lake Nebo, KS for a “Parks on the Air” activity https://parksontheair.com/. Parks on the Air encourages radio operators to take their equipment to a national or state park to make radio contacts from a field location. This was my first attempt at doing such an event and it was successful, in that I made the required number of contacts. The terrain at Nebo is not ideal for the antenna I have, and my ability to be heard on the airwaves suffered. It was fun, and I definitely plan on doing more parks on the air activity since it combines my love of camping with radio. I still need to evaluate what equipment I must have to get lighter and more organized, but with the way that most parks/campgrounds are set up moving the equipment from a vehicle to the campsite is possible without much difficulty.

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