This Tiny Radio Makes Backpacking Even More Fun

With everything in this 14-ounce bag, I can send a radio signal thousands of miles from the backcountry. No cell service or internet connection required. In this video, I unpack my complete HF backpacking ham radio kit, built around the tiny 5-watt QRP Labs QCX-mini. I cover the wire antenna, matching unit, battery, Morse code paddle, and everything else I bring along. Then I head outside, hang the antenna in a tree, and put it to the test. In this video I demonstrate using roughly 30 feet of wire, my signal was picked up by automated receiving stations nearly 1,000 miles away, and eventually as far away as California, Arizona, and Florida. I use the Reverse Beacon Network website to check those reports; the radio itself doesn’t need internet to transmit. It still feels like magic to me. I’m definitely not a Morse code expert, but experimenting with radio from camp has become one of my favorite parts of backpacking. If Morse code isn’t your thing, I’ve also linked the QRP Labs QMX below, a different model that supports voice. Watch the previous video, “This $20 Gadget Makes Backpacking More Fun”: https://youtu.be/RRrwL3x9Mf0 Gear mentioned in this video: QRP Labs radio (CW version)- https://qrp-labs.com/qcxmini.html QRP Labs radio ( Multimode Including Voice)- https://qrp-labs.com/qmx.html Wire for antenna- https://link.amazon/B0dWLguji K6ARK EFHW Matching unit (female)- https://link.amazon/B09vFAsUP 11.1V 1300mAh battery- https://link.amazon/B08w61ahP Tiny CW paddle- https://n6ara.com/product/tinypaddle/ Coax extension (male to male)- https://link.amazon/B0fUQdgYX Voltage checker- https://link.amazon/B041oXebO Wired earbuds- https://link.amazon/B00W4LL7a 3D printed enclosure for radio: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5175851 Other Links: Reverse Beacon Network (For testing and seeing how far your signal goes): https://www.reversebeacon.net/ Get Licensed: https://hamradioprep.com/ NOTE: In the USA, you need the appropriate amateur radio license to transmit with this radio! 00:00 How This 14-Ounce Radio Kit Works 00:45 What’s Inside the Kit 00:57 The Ultralight Wire Antenna 02:16 Battery & Power Setup 03:12 My Tiny Morse Code Paddle 04:58 The 5-Watt QRP Labs Radio 05:45 My 3D-Printed Radio Enclosure 06:00 Setting Up in the Field 06:40 Testing With the Reverse Beacon Network 07:16 First Signal: Nearly 1,000 Miles 07:50 Reaching Across the Country 09:04 Why This Setup Is So Much Fun #Backpacking #HamRadio #QRP #AmateurRadio #BackpackingGear #CW #MorseCode #ultralight