Author: admin

New to ham radio? Prepare for static, awkward silences, and lots of ‘Hello, anybody there?’—all part of the learning curve. We’ve all been there!

👉 Full Video: https://youtu.be/WqvpkwcG130

👉 Zero to Hero Course: https://courses.hamradiodx.net/b/LmQGB/af697d88594372e

👉 Starter Course: https://courses.hamradiodx.net/b/TqJWp/af697d88594372e

#HamRadio #Baofeng #AmateurRadio #RadioMistakes

Learn how to use ham radio and make thousands of new friends! This course will take you from knowing nothing to connecting with people worldwide. Get the links below!

👉 Full Video: https://youtu.be/WqvpkwcG130

👉 Zero to Hero Course: https://courses.hamradiodx.net/b/LmQGB/af697d88594372e

👉 Starter Course: https://courses.hamradiodx.net/b/TqJWp/af697d88594372e

#hamradio #RadioCourse #AmateurRadio #NewFriends

I’m about to lost 50% of my WEIGHT… and 50% of my SIZE… and GAIN 10% more POWER! Oh, and its 5% more EFFICIENT, and it even comes with more CAPS LOCK!

Let’s go put this to the TO.Test!

Save 8% Direct:
👉 OptiSolex Direct: https://optisolex.refr.cc/optisolex-referral/u/temporarilyoffline?s=sp&t=cp

Or Amazon:
👉 OptiSolex 440w Solar Panel Bag: https://geni.us/Md0G
👉 OptiSolex Smart Charge Controller: https://geni.us/uq8i
👉 OptiSolex Panel+Controller Kit: https://geni.us/8YLfEw

Note: If you order separately, you’ll need your own MC4-Ring Terminal Cable for your battery!
👉 MC4-Ring Terminals: https://geni.us/FvyOq

👉 Power Queen 125ah Battery: https://ipowerqueen.com/products/power-queen-12v-125ah-group27-smart-deep-cycle-lithium-battery?ref=temporarilyoffline
👉 MC4 Tool: https://geni.us/LkbQs

Don’t Plug Your Solar Panels into your batteries, Always use a charge controller!

Click the 👍 Like Button, 🤡 Leave a Comment, ❤️ Subscribe

👉 Support The Channel 👈
❤️ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/temporarilyoffline
📺 Youtube Memberships: https://www.youtube.com/temporarilyoffline/join
💸 Tip Jar: https://paypal.me/temporarilyoffline
🛒 Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/shop/temporarilyoffline
📻 Use Code TO15 for $15 off at Radioddity: https://www.radioddity.com/?ref=bpajyqft
🖍️ How I make my Thumbnails: https://partner.canva.com/c/3622632/647168/10068
⚡ Meter I use in my videos: https://kaiweets.com/?sca_ref=2859744.05ZtMxNK23

👉 Fun Stuff 👈
🫵 We want YOU on TOADs Discord: https://discord.gg/97tkMEc
🕊️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KiloMike9Golf
😸 Github: https://github.com/TemporarilyOffline

Where possible, all links are affiliate links, this youtube thing is an expensive endeavor and every little bit helps.

I built a complete portable HF ham radio station using only Black Friday deals, then did something I always recommend others do: I ate my own dog food.

That’s when I ran into a problem I didn’t fully think through – See Below.

👉 Black Friday Deals Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx3caRwSKzU
👉 Video #1 (The Bag and the Tablet): https://youtu.be/RCm0qUJvANo
👉 Video #2 (The Radio and the Battery): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEihmlBh988
👉 Ultimate Ham Problem Solver, The NanoVNA F V2: https://geni.us/JGSqUGz
👉 Case for any NanoVNA: https://geni.us/uXTsu
👉 Open Ham Clock: https://openhamclock.com

Tools:
👉 Wire Stripper: https://geni.us/XvKRv
👉 Simple Pocket Meter: https://geni.us/RursYP
👉 ATU-10 QRP Tuner: https://geni.us/yArwg

Radios:
👉 Baofeng UV-5R Mini: https://geni.us/helPKO
👉 Xiegu G106: https://geni.us/MxY608J

Software:
👉 DigiPi from KM6LYW: https://digipi.org

Power:
👉 Talentcell battery (pretty): https://geni.us/vWRCM

👉TOADs DI Boards @15% Off: https://temporarilyoffline.com/discount/BLACKFRIDAY15

Computers:
👉 Pi 5 kit: https://geni.us/mIp8P
👉 Leonvo Tablet: https://geni.us/AYhPqr
👉 mini pc: womp womp

Antennas:
👉 Radioddity HF-009: https://geni.us/YVaCx

Hardware:
👉 6 pin mini din cable: https://geni.us/vkr3
👉 8 pin mini din cable: https://geni.us/x0gd
👉 Lever Nuts: https://geni.us/nE412y3
👉 power cord: https://geni.us/Pm7xg
👉 Wire Stripper/Crimper: https://geni.us/LejLm
👉 K1 Wire: https://geni.us/VMupc

Storage:
👉 Go-Bag: https://geni.us/q578a1

Bonus Gear:
👉 Baofeng General: https://geni.us/vGh90u
👉 Baofeng Mini Prison Edition: https://geni.us/2LB8c8B
👉 talentcell battery (raw): https://geni.us/5IQjZ

The Xiegu G106 HF transceiver does not have a built-in SWR meter, and without one, there’s no obvious way to tune an antenna safely or correctly. Pair that with a portable vertical antenna like the Radioddity HF-009, and suddenly a “simple” setup isn’t so simple anymore.

So… now what?

In this video, I walk through:
• Why SWR matters when tuning HF antennas
• What happens when your radio has no SWR meter
• How to tune an HF antenna without a built-in meter
• Using a NanoVNA as a practical, low-cost solution
• Real-world portable HF tuning in the field
• Making contacts after tuning to prove it works

This is not a lab demo or a perfect setup. This is a real portable HF station, built on a budget, tuned in the field, with the same constraints new hams and portable operators actually face.

🔧 Gear & Concepts Covered

• Portable HF antennas
• Vertical antennas with ground radials
• Antenna resonance vs SWR
• NanoVNA antenna analysis
• HF antenna tuning without a tuner
• Field-deployable ham radio setups
• Beginner mistakes (yes, even experienced hams make them)

💬 Let’s Make the Comments Useful

At the end of the video, I ask a simple question:

If this were your station, how would YOU solve this problem?

Not “you should have…”
Not hindsight quarterbacking

Just constructive solutions, alternatives, and ideas that help everyone running portable HF, QRP rigs, or budget stations.

📚 Part of the Black Friday Ham Station Series

This is BF Station #3, part of an ongoing series where I build, test, and operate a complete ham radio station using Black Friday and budget gear only—then actually put it on the air.

If you’re new to HF, portable ops, POTA, SOTA, or just trying to build a station that actually works, this series is for you.

👍 If This Helped

• Like the video so others can find it
• Subscribe for more real-world ham radio content
• Drop your solution or tuning method in the comments

Mistakes are only failures if you don’t learn from them—and ham radio is way more fun when we solve problems together.

73 👋

Click the 👍 Like Button, 🤡 Leave a Comment, ❤️ Subscribe

👉 Support The Channel 👈
❤️ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/temporarilyoffline
📺 Youtube Memberships: https://www.youtube.com/temporarilyoffline/join
💸 Tip Jar: https://paypal.me/temporarilyoffline
🛒 Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/shop/temporarilyoffline
📻 Use Code TO15 for $15 off at Radioddity: https://www.radioddity.com/?ref=bpajyqft
🖍️ How I make my Thumbnails: https://partner.canva.com/c/3622632/647168/10068
⚡ Meter I use in my videos: https://kaiweets.com/?sca_ref=2859744.05ZtMxNK23

👉 Fun Stuff 👈
🫵 We want YOU on TOADs Discord: https://discord.gg/97tkMEc
🕊️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KiloMike9Golf
😸 Github: https://github.com/TemporarilyOffline

Where possible, all links are affiliate links, this youtube thing is an expensive endeavor and every little bit helps.