What changed
Portable and mobile stations — edited Aug 29, 2026 by Unknown editor
This is the first recorded version, so every line is shown as added. Note: Imported from content/wiki
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## Mobile HF
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- Mount the antenna as high and as far from the body of the vehicle as practical; a trunk lip or
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hitch mount beats a magnet on the roof edge for HF.
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- Bond the exhaust, hood and trunk lid to the chassis with braid — vehicle body panels are joined by
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paint and glue, not metal, and the resulting noise and poor ground kill performance.
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- Run power **directly from the battery** with an inline fuse at both ends, not from the accessory
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socket.
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- Screwdriver or hamstick antennas for HF; a simple dual-band whip for VHF/UHF.
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## Safety
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Operating while driving is legal for amateur radio in most states, and unwise in traffic. Use a
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speaker mic, and pull over for anything that needs attention.
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## Backpack portable
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See [parks and summits](/wiki/operating/parks-and-summits) for the activity, and
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[power and batteries](/wiki/station/power-and-batteries) for what to carry. Weight discipline is
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everything: every operator's first portable kit is twice as heavy as their third.
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## RV, camping and travel
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A wire thrown into a tree and 20 watts is a complete station. Check license reciprocity before
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operating outside the United States — many countries honour US licenses under CEPT or IARP
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agreements, and you sign with a prefix indicating where you are.