Jackery + IC-706 = Portable HF? Testing a Simple Mobile Ham Radio Setup

Today I decided to see if I could get back into portable and mobile HF operation without building a dedicated battery system or running power cables through my vehicle. Instead, I grabbed my trusty Icom IC-706 MkIIG, an old ATO Iron Horse 20-meter hamstick, a well-used magnetic mount, and a Jackery Explorer 1000 portable power station to see what would happen. The setup is about as simple as it gets: • Icom IC-706 MkIIG HF/VHF/UHF transceiver • Jackery Explorer 1000 portable power station • Alinco 13.8V power supply running from the Jackery inverter • ATO Iron Horse 20-meter hamstick antenna • Three-magnet mobile mount with quick disconnect • CW operation using a straight key The results surprised me. From a local park in Southwest Ohio, I was able to make contacts into Utah, Colorado, and British Columbia using CW. The old hamstick antenna still performs remarkably well, and the Jackery handled the load without any issues during this casual operating session. This isn't necessarily the most efficient way to power a mobile HF station, but it may be a practical option for operators who already own a portable power station and want to get on the air quickly without installing a permanent mobile setup. In this video we discuss: • Using a Jackery power station for amateur radio • Portable and mobile HF operating • CW contacts from a county park • The classic Icom IC-706 MkIIG • Hamstick antennas and magnetic mounts • Quick disconnect antenna mounts • Preparing for future POTA activations • Getting back into amateur radio after time away from the hobby Sometimes you don't need the perfect setup. Sometimes you just need to get out there, put an antenna on the car, and start making contacts. 🔗 *Products & Gear I Use (Affiliate Links)* Below are some of the products I use or talk about in this video. Clicking these links helps support my channel at no extra cost to you: • Hollyland Lark A1 Wireless Microphones https://amzn.to/4po2BCp • Seeed Studios SenseCAP Card Tracker T1000-E for Meshtastic: https://amzn.to/46D5rMM Jackery Explorer 1000 v2: https://amzn.to/4ebtsPM Links to many of the things I use and recommend can be found at my Amazon Storefront: 🛒 Amazon Storefront: https://a.co/d/0fqC8vw5 ⚠️ *Amazon Affiliate Disclosure* As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click on one of the Amazon links above and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue creating content. Thank you for your support! 73 and thanks for watching! #HamRadio #IC706 #PortableHF #MobileHF #CW #MorseCode #Jackery #POTA #ParksOnTheAir #Hamstick #AmateurRadio #QRP #PortableRadio #ARRL #CountyHunting