Ham Radio Workbench Podcast Episodes

HRWB 251 - 2025 Holiday Shopping Show

12/2/2025

SHOW NOTES

QMX wedge stand
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6944808

KX2 full cover
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4973035

RSE Wire
In Canada at GPS Central
https://www.gpscentral.ca/product/vfcomms-rugged-signal-element
Rest of the world at VFComms
https://vfcomms.com/shop/antenna/rse-line/

QRPer article on Vince’s one day expedition
https://qrper.com/2025/11/one-day-two-radios-and-three-antennas/

QRPer article on Boomerang Radios
https://qrper.com/2025/11/boomerang-radios-anyone-else-have-this-problem

Vince’s new video series on Kit Basics, all are under 3 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXmcQRu-Y7c&list=PLZq42zkkA9oMgMl2Lr15pyhby1wFRG1Mr

Morse Tutor kits and VK3IL Pressure Paddles
https://ve6lk.com/shop/

Desk lamp
BOHON LED Desk Lamp with USB Charging Port Flexible Gooseneck Table Lamp
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08SK4DMHR?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3&th=1

Bob Heil on Triagulation
https://twit.tv/shows/triangulation/episodes/8

Heil Ham Radio DSP Settings for most radios
https://heilhamradio.com/dsp-settings

Weller Pyro Pen
https://www.amazon.com/WSTA3-Pyropen-Professional-Cordless-Soldering/dp/B000ICGMQG

Palomar Chokes
https://palomar-engineers.com/antenna-products/1-1-balun-kits

Night Buddy The Original LED Headlamp Rechargeable Flashlight

Precision Tweezers Set and Prying and Opening Tool Assortment

HamClock https://www.clearskyinstitute.com/ham/HamClock/

Lynovation controllers for Flex radios https://ctr2.lynovation.com/

Butane soldering iron
https://www.amazon.com/WSTA3-Pyropen-Professional-Cordless-Soldering/dp/B000ICGMQG

IC-705 USB-C interface board
https://shop.ihelpu.tech/products/icom-ic-705-usb-c-control-board-upgrade

Ultra PicoKeyer https://hamgadgets.com/UPK-Ultra-Pico-Keyer-kit_p_32.html

Chameleon CHA Hybrid-Micro https://chameleonantenna.com/collections/blemished/products/cha-hybrid-micro

Chameleon CHA Carbon Fiber Tripod https://chameleonantenna.com/collections/all-products/products/carbon-fiber-tripod

Chameleon CHA Puck Hub https://chameleonantenna.com/collections/all-products/products/puck-hub

Any Bioenno battery https://bioennopower.com

Xiegu G90 HF xcvr https://www.radioddity.com/collections/hf-transceiver/products/xiegu-g90-hf-transceiver

G90 case: https://www.ebay.com/itm/146911656768

Nitecore NB Air via Tufteln and power cable

Arborist throw line:
Mini Arborist throw line kit: Tom Bihn Small Travel Tray, Marlow KF1050 Excel 2mm Throwline, and Weaver 8 or 10oz weight Weaver arborist throw line/weight and storage bag
Thermacell Mosquito Backpacker Repeller and fuel canister
Heil Proset-K2 Boom Headset or similar

3 Comments

Brian Whitaker

12/4/2025 01:32:43

Team - so worth the 3+ hours! I was smiling and chuckling and felt like I was right along with you guys! I definitely spend $ at many of your favorite vendors and after this will spend even more.

Thomas - can we talk about the arborist throw line vs 20lb test monofilament and a 2oz weight? As soon as you mentioned the naughtiness of leaving anything in a tree (guilty… but only once or maybe twice), I started looking up a light arborist kit and asking Charity GPT about options. You were talking about 2mm line and 10oz (?) weights… I found 1.6-1.8mm line and a 4oz weight - sufficient?

I backpack with my wife and a normal easy weekend route is 3-5miles and 1000-1500’. My kit is my KX2, hand-made non-resonant EF, 20’ light coax (maybe 174?), an earbud+lapel mic, and extra LiFePO4 pack (hand made same form factor as internal pack), and then my throw line with weight. The idea of adding more than half a pound is disconcerting considering I have the slinging the monofilament line down pretty good now.

Is there a lighter line to use? If smaller then less friction and less weight needed? You mentioned an empty bag and filling it with smooth river rocks… jaggy rocks would catch? Dirt isn’t heave enough?

Thanks so much for all the work you guys put in this!

Brian AG6WR

Adam VE6WMR

12/26/2025 19:35:53

I've only been impressed with the Master Appliance butane irons, without self-starter, that usually fails. The Weller pyropen are a close second. Be sure to use only triple refined butane or you'll clog the nozzle. Unrepairable then. No Bernzomatic butane.or cheap stuff

David Billstro N4SZ

12/28/2025 18:47:15

I have used the 1.8mm line (100 lb test) in high-viz orange for sometime with an 8oz arborist throw weight and it is awesome for non-lightweight adventures. Plenty smooth for sliding over bark and branches.

Paracord Planet Micro Paracord – Thin Braided Cord for Crafting, Fishing, and DIY Projects in 125 ft Spools – Reflective Neon Orange https://a.co/d/ghC9Ug9

HRWB 251 - 2025 Holiday Shopping Show

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