Purpose Built, or...?
I'm always on the lookout for a better way to do things. In this case, I've been looking for a better way to carry my FT-897D transceiver (with two internal batteries), associated cabling, a Verizon tablet (or computer), and the normal knick-knacks associated with a portable HF station.
Recently, I've been looking closely at backpacks, having passed through the Gator-box phase of portable operations, and having skipped entirely the Pelican case since I couldn't find one that fit my beloved FT-897D and the paraphernalia in one box without it getting too large.
While there are a ton of great backpacks on the Internet, very few are purpose built for carrying a station. Those few that are can be rather pricey. Then, I happened to run across one that was not intended for amateur radio...
Recently, I've been looking closely at backpacks, having passed through the Gator-box phase of portable operations, and having skipped entirely the Pelican case since I couldn't find one that fit my beloved FT-897D and the paraphernalia in one box without it getting too large.
While there are a ton of great backpacks on the Internet, very few are purpose built for carrying a station. Those few that are can be rather pricey. Then, I happened to run across one that was not intended for amateur radio...
My Requirements
Before I tell you about the product, I wanted to tell you what I was looking for. I don't normally carry more than my portable station when I want to use it. That means, at a minimum, it must safely fit my FT-897D with two internal batteries and the LDG AT-897D autotuner, the microphone, and the associated cabling. I use the Buddipole Deluxe for my primary portable antenna system, so I also want to fit my RigExpert AA-30 for tuning. (But you may be thinking, "you have an autotuner!" True, but the Buddipole is tunable, so why fool my transceiver to match impedance when I can just tune the actual antenna?) I also run WolphiLink for digital operations (PSK-31), so I want to fit that, its cabling, and a small tablet computer. Of course, I also need a notebook and a pen to record QSOs. Finally, snacks and water are important, too.
...and what I found!
There's a company called Mission Critical which is selling backpacks and messenger bags for a specific purpose. It's very important - their products are geared to new dads. That's right, Mission Critical sells tacticool diaper bags. Their backpack, linked here, is perfect for my needs.
So, what makes these bags perfect for my portable station? Well, let's see:
1. The top opening of the backpack is huge. The FT-897D fits down into the bag with nary an issue.
2. The top opening includes a pocket specifically for tablets. It's padded.
3. The side opening allows complete access to the main pocket. It is very easy to get to what I need without disturbing the radio.
4. There is a diaper changing pad which fits into the laptop compartment. That's the perfect place to set down my radio when I'm outside so I don't scratch up the bottom.
5. The front pocket has a bunch of organization possible, perfect for my random cables and logbook.
6. It does have the MOLLE system. It's expandable.
7. It's comfortable to carry.
And the price was right where I wanted it but I was willing to wait until a pretty deep sale. If you sign up for the newsletter, you can get a discount coupon if you don't want to wait.
So, what makes these bags perfect for my portable station? Well, let's see:
1. The top opening of the backpack is huge. The FT-897D fits down into the bag with nary an issue.
2. The top opening includes a pocket specifically for tablets. It's padded.
3. The side opening allows complete access to the main pocket. It is very easy to get to what I need without disturbing the radio.
4. There is a diaper changing pad which fits into the laptop compartment. That's the perfect place to set down my radio when I'm outside so I don't scratch up the bottom.
5. The front pocket has a bunch of organization possible, perfect for my random cables and logbook.
6. It does have the MOLLE system. It's expandable.
7. It's comfortable to carry.
And the price was right where I wanted it but I was willing to wait until a pretty deep sale. If you sign up for the newsletter, you can get a discount coupon if you don't want to wait.
Pictures
| The pictures show: 1. The portable station all bagged up. 2. The Mission Critical backpack. 3. The massive top opening flap, showing the FT-897D transceiver, the AA-30 box (its the white thing in the main compartment), and the tablet pocket. 4. The long diaper changing pad protecting the portable station. |
Your chance to share!
What non-purpose-built tricks have you found in your amateur radio experimentation? I can only imagine that there must be thousands! Let me know in the comments, I really enjoy learning more by listening to you!