I love SpoolTenna and the spare spool is ideal for the coax
I have it all in a military pouch for easy transport and no lost components
Works best with a SpoolTenna pen or DX Engineering pencil
Like and EFHW, MAKE SURE THE SPOOL IS AT LEAST 6 FEET OFF THE GROUND
jOhN ve3ips
I walk through the components I used for my IPS Buffet Antenna
Homemade choke
RG-316 Coax
Chelegance JMount-336 Triple Magnet Mobile Antenna Mount
REZ Antenna Scout base
Gabil GRA-7350TC Gabil GRA‑M105 Stainless Steel Multiband HF Antenna whip element
Various Chelegance and Gabil thread adapters
I wanted to test the Gabil shock cord antenna but this time as a Center Loaded or actually a bit offset loaded vertical for use on top of the car on a magnet mount for activations
So to raise the slider coil, I added 2 Chameleon extensions from my MCC/PRV kit.
The base was the REZ Antenna Scout as it takes the 3/8-24 thread from the extensions
The Gabil GRA-M105 comes with some adapters for other threads but I used it as a replacement for the whip
It worked great during the freezing rain and ice storm once I got it peaked. The slider was at 3.25 for reference.
20m sucked and was noisy but I found a SOTA summit activator and another park activator
N4BEL activated SOTA W4C/EM-066 and NC4XL was at US-4852 both were 58 and I got 57s running 10 watts with the FX-4CR. I was very happy to have propagation into NC for my tests. I was stuck on 20m and I couldn’t bust through any pileups with my QRP.
Another fun day taking the antenna test lab out to the park
John VE3IPS
as usual comments welcome
When setting up a solar-powered field station, five key components are essential to making the system work reliably. Here is the gear currently field tested and approved by ve3ips:
1. Solar Panels
These collect light energy from the sun and convert it into DC electrical power. My go-to choices for this are the PowerFilm Solar 60W and 120W foldable panels.
2. Solar Charge Controller
This component takes the DC power from the panels, regulates the battery charging, and distributes power to your radio. I rely on the Buddipole PowerMini for LiFePO4 chemistries and the older Buddipole Charger for SLA applications.
3. Battery
I use Bioenno Power LiFePO4 batteries; for this specific station, I am running a 20Ah LiFePO4.
4. Radio
I used the Icom IC-705, a QRP rig that transmits at 5W on its internal battery and a full 10W when connected to the solar system. For situations requiring higher power, the Yaesu FT-891 offers 100 watts of output.
5. Antenna
Radio communications are all about the effectiveness of the antenna system. For this setup, I used the superb Chelegance MC-750 vertical. The ultra-compact PackTenna Linked Dipole is another absolute favourite of mine.
No More Bent Whips! The GRA-M105 “Ultimate” Rugged Upgrade for the Gabil GRA-7350TC Vest Pocket Antenna
We all know the struggle. You’re out in the field, maybe setting up a “garbage can deployment” or trying to be stealthy in a park, and you’re treating that standard telescopic whip like it’s made of kevlar.
I love my Gabil GRA-7350TC. It’s an absolute game-changer for pocket TSA friendly travel. It fits right in the vest pocket of my Burberry Spy trench coat, making it the perfect companion for my trips to Europe. But let’s be honest: standard telescopic whips can be fragile. One wrong move, a gust of wind, or a clumsy moment, and you’ve got a bent element.
It is also an excellent antenna for stealth and low profile operations.
Note: Always gently pull the original telescopic whip elements in and out
Enter the Gabil GRA-M105 Ultimate Portable Whip.
I decided to grab this rugged upgrade to see if it could handle the abuse of my “run and gun” style POTA activations. Spoiler alert: Buy once, Cry once. This thing is the real deal.
The Build: Military Grade in Your Pocket
Unlike the standard telescopic whip that slides in and out, the M105 uses a “tent pole” design with internal shock cords. It’s made of stainless steel tubing with a copper base. It feels substantial in the hand—no wobbling, no flimsy feel. It snaps together instantly to a length of about 2.35 meters (roughly 7.7 feet).
The best part???? It comes with the M10 connector specifically designed to screw right into the GRA-7350T/TC coils.
So now I can replace the telescopic whip with something more rugged.
It also includes a 3/8″-24 adapter, so you can use it as a standalone whip on a jaw mount or mag mount if you want to run it straight.
It tried it in a mobile setting using a magnet mount and it worked great but adjusting the slider while the antenna is on the center of the cars roof is a bit difficult. So I mounted it on the hood of the car and it was OK.
In the Field: Garbage Can Ready
I took this out with my Icom IC-705 and some light RG-316 coax for a quick activation. Setup was faster than extending a telescopic whip because you just let the sections snap together.
I found a metal garbage can that I could clamp my JAWS clamp to which gave it a good ground.
I have also used a guard rail for roadside ops.
The Verdict
It’s a compromise antenna due to its short length, but when the bands are open, the ability to make contacts is there with just 10 watts.
If you are serious about portable ops and you are tired of worrying about snapping your delicate telescopic whip, this is a solid investment. It turns the already excellent GRA-7350 system into a military-grade feeling manpack antenna. It fits in the backpack without a worry, and it’s perfect for those of us who might be a little rough on our gear or just want that extra reliability when we are miles from home.
It’s a bit heavier than the stock whip (about 340g), but for the peace of mind? Totally worth it.
The bonus is the antenna comes in a nice white carry bag, and the M10 adapters to 3/8”-24 which are like a gold bar in your hand.
See you on the air!
73s,
John VE3IPS
ve3ips 