Before leaving the bricks and sticks, I had quite a few homebuilt antennae in the attic and a few more outside. I had a J-pole Dipole (Ask me later) I had an HF dipole with 10 meter radials, and a couple others. I had (most of )them running through an antennae selector to my SDR. I had other antennae hooked up to my TM-D710 and My TS 850S. I rarely talked on the local repeater with the 710 and I Mostly listened on the 850. I did check in once on an HF (voice) band that I was not authorized (as a tech class) just to prove to my wife that my new $1000 radio and the long wire dipole she helped me build actually worked.
I have not made, or heard contact since (on HF), as we soon packed up to move, into a motorhome and I had to take down the dipole. End of story? NOT!
We are 78 ish days full time on the road now. We have not left Alaska but will soon. I have the 710 and 850 installed in my custom desk in the MH, I have a dual band mag mount antenna for the 710 (only while stationary) and I have not yet deployed the dipole for the 850. I have a 30 foot telescoping mast with a yagi on it for cell boosting that works well, and has plenty of room left for other antennae.
I have a very cheap rabbit ears dipole for the SDR (tuned to local air band) so I can listen to the tower at Eielson AFB (North freaking pole ALASKA!
We have to move tomorrow 🙁 we have been in the same site for a couple of weeks and due to the parks 14 day policy we are moving to a different site (within the park) so nobody asks questions.
No big deal, we are getting good at this. But when we deploy at the new site, I plan to hang the HF dipole off the 30 foot mast. (DON’T tell my wife, yet) I may even take the time to hang my other antennae off the mast, AND make the dual band permanent.
Stay Tuned…