The Equipment
Seems like a silly place to start; but this is the W1AIR weblog after all.
I’ve spent a lot of time over the past few weeks getting this list of equipment together, and I don’t think that it hurts to go over it a few more times just to be sure that I’ve got everything I need.
In my carry-on bag;
Yaseu FT-897, HF/6m/2m tranciever & power cord; Sony Vaio laptop, power supply and cord; Nikon digital camera, batteries, charger & usb cable; headphones for the plane.
Prior to boarding I will put my Telephone/PPC into the bag along with its charger.
In my Calzone case; (borrowed from CRN)
Buddistick antenna & manual; coax 3′, 10′, 25′ & 50′ (perhpas excessive but you never know); Yaseu hand mic for the 897 as backup; Heil pro-set headset & Yaesu adaptor; Rigblaster P&P & CAT cable; morse code key (to tune the antenna, I don’t do CW); small tool kit with soldering iron, solder, electircal tape, tie wraps and dacron line; a footswitch; Autek SWR/power meter & supply; camera tripod (to mount the antenna and a picture or two!); Kenwood F6A HT, battery, antenna and charger.
I fit a lot into the Calzone case and it will be the best way to have this stuff arrive safely. I thought about trying to pack all of this stuff last night (5/2) into my suitcase, but it was just too much. Checking all of this ‘non-breakable’ (now I’ve probably jinxed it) in the hard sided re-enforced case is probably the best way to go.
I will probably continue to go over the list as I get closer to departure, because something is telling me I forgot something… oh yeah… a small spool of Monster speaker cable… makeshift antenna or counterpoise wire… probably not the only thing either.