Phil A. McBride, HP3/VA3QR 🇨🇦🇵🇦

Updates, updates, always updates 🤣

Permanent in-vehicle computer for digital comms interfaced with the FTX-1 and using the Kenwood stereo as a monitor. USB-programmable DC interface to manage power and power/hibernation for the Beelink computer.

Field comms kit upgrade complete. Most of Panama is C4FM, so went with FTX-1 Optima and FT5DR HTs. Still Chameleon MPAS and TDL, 20Ah LiFePO4, 120W Powerfilm solar panel, HP laptop, lots of extra bits. Fully self-contained, capable of operating independent of commercial mains.

Playing with the new Yaesu FTX-1 (Optima) firmware in my truck. Connected WIRES-X via HP3EGD on top of Volcán Barú. So far, it’s stable. Give me a few days to see if it stays that way.

Yesterday’s activation 🙂

HP3/VA3QR/M. Yaesu FTX-1 Optima mobile installation into my 2010 Nissan Navara D40 complete 😁

Hood, doors and tailgate bonded, cabin and bed bonded together. All that’s left is the muffler and waiting for the rest of the parts to arrive to install the FTX-1 Optima in my truck.

My new toys have arrived and Zorro wants to play with them.

HP3/VA3QR PA-0020, currently SSB 14270.

Grabbing breakfast, then off to PA-0020.

My FTX-1 Optima is finally on its way to Panama with the SCU-66L 10’ extension. Mobile installation in a 2010 Nissan Navara in a couple of weeks. Will take video and post as I go.

Received my updated operating authorization from Panama, giving me Class A privileges across the country as HP#/VA3QR. Getting my field kit ready for some ops - perhaps some POTA 🙂

Well crap - now I've got to buy another radio. Thanks, Yaesu.

Give me 6 or 7 years and I'll have one of these up and running in Panama.

So I'm still operating under IARP as HP3/VA3QR, but I'm now receiving help from HP1CDW and the C4FM Panama group. They helped me identify the correct paperwork and the club secretary, who is also a lawyer, is presenting my application to the government. Fingers crossed.

Blowing the dust off of my offgrid field comms kit in anticipation of FINALLY getting my HP license.

Hello hive mind. Is there a coordinated group of people who do P2P #Winklink on Wednesdays? I'm settling in down here in Panama and have found 3 reliable RMS gateways, but would like to have some tested P2P paths. DM me.

I've been pretty busy dealing with the final details of our move to Panama, but I've blown the dust off of my radio gear and am back on the air as HP3/VA3QR.

Something written by my alter ego about how we've digitally boned ourselves.

My alter ego published something again.