My 857D Setup

Equipment
1

I have been building and improving my 857D manpack for several months, and finally reached the point where everything I need is there and can be easily accessed:

IMG_6974
IMG_6974419×629 70.7 KB

I got the aluminum frame from Taobao, the famous Chinese auction site, it costed me around US$50 including shipping to my country Taiwan. Exact the same thing is being sold on eBay for US$130.

The 857D panel is mounted using a mini photographic ball head, so that I can tilt the panel for better access and visibility:

IMG_6975
IMG_6975943×629 47 KB

The data interface made by a Greek guy on eBay, US$42:

IMG_6977
IMG_6977943×629 41.3 KB

The external multi function meter (left), 857D panel (center) and SOTAbeams Fuser 6 DC Distribution Boxes (right):

IMG_6978
IMG_6978943×629 77.6 KB

My handmade Ferrite core choke balun:

IMG_6979
IMG_6979419×629 46.7 KB

The Mini computer (left) for Data and Logging, and the antenna analyzer (right):

IMG_6980
IMG_6980943×629 75.2 KB

The 857D and the coax switch, so that don’t have to tangle with the cables when I want to tune the antenna with my analyzer:

IMG_6981
IMG_6981943×629 76.8 KB

Behind the rig is the MAT-30 tuner:

IMG_6982
IMG_6982419×629 40.6 KB

And the 20AH Li-Fe battery:

IMG_6983
IMG_6983419×629 46.2 KB

The ground plug from the balun:

IMG_6984
IMG_6984419×629 42.4 KB

The ground plug goes to a L-C network tuner I made, to tune the counterpoise:

IMG_6991
IMG_6991943×629 62.5 KB

The tuner then tunes the aluminum foil blanket to resonance:

IMG_6992
IMG_6992943×629 178 KB

Some led illumination is also integrated into the system:

IMG_6988
IMG_6988419×629 55.2 KB

In the field:

IMG_20181118_160709
IMG_20181118_160709472×629 79.9 KB

5 Likes
2

Hi Willis
Nice photos on your toys :slight_smile:
What is the weight of your manpack ?
Please tell me about your 20Ah batterie.
HNY Eric F5JKK

3

Hi Willis,
Very good job!!
Can you tell about your mini-pc?? (model, os., program, display etc.)
Happy new year
73
Roby iw2obx

4

Eric, the weight is 9.5kg, and the battery is also from Taobao (US$60)

5

Roberto,

It’s Pipo X8 with 7 inches screen, running Windows 10, WSJTX and N1MM.
I also installed Ubuntu on it.

1 Like
6

Hi Willis,

I get back pain and feel exhausted just from reading this description!

My recommendation: Cut back on weight, start with the battery!
73 Heinz

1 Like
7

Dear Heinz,

Well, later this week I will post details about my SOTABOX (about half the weight of the 857D setup)

73 de Willis

8

Hi Willis,
I’m a strong proponent that SOTA gear is anything that you are willing to carry!
That said, there are some folks that go in a minimalist direction, with a full station that comes in around a half kilo: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/7ca08e_ed3f35dacc084940ac7035eff5229a94.pdf.
Enjoy!
73, Etienne-K7ATN

3 Likes