Rule of thumb: Elevated feed point, use tuned elevated radials. Close to the ground feed point, as many radials as you can deploy and no need for them to be tuned.
I attach my 3/8" mount antennas to my truck. Never had a problem with the wind blowing the antenna or truck over. Enough metal on the truck that I don't need to worry about setting up ground planes. WIN WIN for me. - Thanks for the video Steve. Hate to see all of the flooding.
I just did the same today at K-7544. . I need to lower that tripod like you did (same mast). I got lucky today. No wind. She would of fell over. great set up!
Nice tip about the antenna not falling over. I bought this tripod and went to try it close to a metal fence… the wind blew, the antenna felt on the fence and I lost one ss17 😢 I just put together a video for my neighbour who has a mpas lite, in this video I teach him how to get flat swr on all the bands between 14mhz and 28 mhz with the 17 feet whip. You probably know all of that already but it might be interesting to see it 😊 Nice to watch a video of you making qsos! 73
If the legs permit, you can create extensions to widen the base. Take it to a home improvement store look for plastic tubing just big enough to slide over the legs. I'd suggest getting tubing with thick walls so it doesn't bend. In my case I had some plastic electrical conduit that was very thick. You might also put cords at the bottom of each leg to attach tent stakes.
I use the MFJ whip exclusively even at home and I've found a little homework goes a long way with a setup like this. For example, after much testing I know that if I pull out 200 inches of whip I will be resonant on 20m (probably somewhere around 1.3:1). Then it's just a matter of a twitch up or down to fine tune for local conditions. I use a different radial setup (a pair of tuned and elevated radials), so ymmv. I use a tape measure to set the whip, but you certainly could magic marker a line on the whip if you didn't want to pack a tape measure. And I've done the same for every band 6-20. It's a great setup tbh. Quick, easy, and flexible.
@@temporarilyoffline Harbor freight makes 10m tapes in bright yellow that make fine radials, and easy to fine tune swr with. Solder a wire and the connector of choice. Not lightweight but very visible for park use.
It's nice to get you in the log. I run a chameleon 17ft whip on top of a wrc mini mounted to a camera tripod with 4 elevated radials cut 1/4 wave for each band.73's
Nice video and activation. One thing . . . you want that tripod leg downwind. I like seeing how different parts of different antennas interact. Thanks de Bill
Great video! A couple of tripod suggestions: 1. If you are using thr tripod on the ground/grass you might want to secure each leg with an inexpensive landscape staple (they come in 6" lengths - packs of 20 from Home Depot. 2. For a picnic table mount (like your video situation) you may want to pick up 3 cheap bar clamps from Harbor Freight and use them to secure the tripod legs to the table. The clamps run snout $2 each. Keep up the great videos. I always learn something new with the hobby from your efforts. 73 de AE6FE
Yep, I mentioned in the video I didn't have the tools with me to do a perfect match, so I just used the tuner instead. I'll have a follow up video tuning this up without a tuner.
I was up near the Mississippi headwaters this last weekend and I wanted to do a POTA activation and video but the wind was INSANE and the whip wasn't going to have it. I would have had spaghetti if I tried. Good to see you got out to do one!
For elevating a vertical, its hard to beat the lighting tripods using by photographers. I have two. Mine easily raise up to ten feet for operating and come down for adjusting. They hold lighting equipment, so they're sturdy and stable. The market is large, so the prices are competitive and the quality good. You might check what B&H Photo offers, buy a few of the best options, an offer us a review of them.
I got a speaker tripod off Amazon that was pretty good, but not really portable. It's back in my storage unit. I did bring my buddy pole tripod and I've used that with a "mirror mount". You're right, they do work well.
What is your balun? Looks like a ferrite ring wraped with coax. What ferrite material, how many wraps, and what is the ohms resistance and frequency range?
This is a simple balun I made up with what I had on hand. 240-43 (wrong 'roid) and some RG58 (wrong coax) no proof that its working yet, as my wraps as I could get. I did find that most of the RFI problems with the 705 are coming in from the USB side of the house: ua-cam.com/video/gwdEZlHSmjg/v-deo.html
On windy days I'll actually place a leg directly windward and put my bag on it. Alternatively, i also carry some cheap aluminum Walmart tent stakes that i "x" over each leg.
Nice video! I think I will stick with my Chuck mount. It is clunky, but doesn't blow over, and the wind is always blowing here. I mark my whip with a sharpie so tuning is easier in the various bands. It gets it close enough to fine tune when in the field. I also carry a wire with an alligator clip on it to get 40m. I string it out to a fishing pole and it seems to work better than the wolf river coil, and takes up much less space. Maybe you could carry a couple of cornhole bags to weigh the legs down. But that defeats the compactness of the tripod.
We have some really windy days here in NW WI. The past three days have been 12mph average. I'm pretty sure in "normal" conditions it won't be a problem, but I was excited to finally get outside!
Great Video. Suggestion: some weight on the tripod for stability. If you are driving in, you might have something in the car, or small sand bags, or your lunch. I have a bag with antenna parts and tools
great video !!! ... I'm also a photographer and have a very heavy tripod ... I have a ground spike on the way from BD7 Maple for my Comet HFJ 350M which will mount on the tripod ... also have a 30ft counterpoise to add to the mess .... I'll let you know how it works out ..... de George , N2JNZ
It looks like you could use a rock bag or two, to weight down the tripod legs. (Rock bags because you can use local rocks, rather than carry sand bags in a go kit. I wonder if the back pack would have worked, but I did see two different legs being lifted. Nice activation!
Its was a really windy day - stronger than most people would deal with on a normal activation. Overall, like you said it was a nice activation, and thank you!
I got 2 of them but cheaper from aliexpress but to stop it blowin over i drilled some goles in a bit of nylon chopping board to centre it on the whip and 3 small bits of rope and if ya want 40M on it a 34uH coil base is all ya need
Random question: I found an MFJ Frequency Standard Model MFJ 100BX at an estate sale. I do not know anything about these. Does this hold functional/historical value for people? I was considering selling in an eBay auction, or including it with the YAESU MUSEN FRG-7 Shortwave I also bought. Thanks to you, and community for your thoughts.
"Historical value" would be interesting, probably not right now. But things gain Historical value with age and because they get rare as people throw them away and the numbers drop. As for resale value, search eBay for "sold items" and look at the prices in green to see if it's worth your time to sell counting in shipping and ebay fees as well as time to PO and back. The FRG-7 should do well on ebay or at a hamfest.
About your solar setup...after connecting the panels to the Buddipole PowerMini, do you just connect the "battery box" to the Battery connector on PowerMini, and the current goes to battery and the box as needed??
Awesome video, just got my general license. I have a shark 20m hamstick coming in the mail, can you recommend how many radials I should use if say you were going to use this mainly as a base station setup and what length would you make them.
For a base station "as many as you can" - like 16 or 32. You start running into the law of diminishing returns with more radials where they start to provide less gains as you add them. But start out with whatever makes you happy (say 4 in each cardinal direction) and then increase from there if you're not getting the results you want. A hamstick is a great start, but you'll eventually want to upgrade that as well.
Hey thanks for responding I have spent a lot of time in that park I’m not far from you, one more question if you were to try a pota with just the hamstick on your car or truck would you run a counterpoise wire at all or would that make things worse. Kd0ttg
@@wesley20991 I have a hamstick and I've run it QRP on the car without a counterpoise - the car does act like a counterpoise so you're headed in the right direction there. You can always try it and add radials as needed. In this video I put out some radials and played with the antenna: ua-cam.com/video/MQA81LTmYM0/v-deo.html
That large toroid makes a 1:1 choke to remove common mode current from the shield of the coax - the IC-705 is particularly succeptable to to CMC. I also choke out the USB Data cable when using that. I did a video on that here: ua-cam.com/video/gwdEZlHSmjg/v-deo.html I moved the whip to the table because it was very windy that day and the whip kept getting blown over. Ham radio is really about solving problems and having fun.
@@temporarilyoffline thank you for getting back to me! Learning every day. Finally bought my first radio a 10m radioddity. Trying different antenna setups Don’t have my first contact yet but I’m trying😊
@@temporarilyoffline I have to tell you its been a struggle I'm in phoenix/dont know if that makes a difference but I've tried mornings noon and evenings all over the band. Fm-usb-lsb-am and heard some faint signals and a some crazy overmodulated non English - Verticals-dipoles-ham sticks and nothing. I am on the cusp of finally getting a decent cry once buy once like an ft891 or a7300
Yeah, it's pretty annoying when you are operating QRP and someone just comes in right over you. I guess they cannot hear you. Giving them the benefit of the doubt. How do you think that whip would work for SOTA? I used to use Hamsticks on SOTA activations but found them to be a pain in the neck when there are overhanging branches on the hike in.
I think SOTA comes down to weight more than anything else. It's a good whip, weighs about the same as a 10m or 7m fishing pole mast and you don't need vertical wire. Bungee it to a tree? Could work.
Good video. Neat table top antenna. Looks like you need hip boots if you need to use the potty? Hi Hi Amazing what you can do with very low power. Barry, KU3X
This stand also works great on the ground, it was just a very windy day. I've been using it on a lot of activations since this video, it's a simple go-to stand for a variety of antennas
The British Chain Home radars used during WWII ran about 200,000 watts at frequencies around 10 meters and above. Those who worked around them suffered no ill-effects then or after. As one of them noted, they had lots of healthy kids.
What is the max power rating on these telescoping antennas? No info anywhere. Mfj, chameleon ss17, etc. Nobody is printing power rating. 100w at least i hope, i wanna get one
I looked and couldn't find it either. I reached out to Carl at Chameleon and he says the SS17 will handle 500w easy. I have no reason to doubt that, the SS17 is a pretty stout piece of kit.
The melting point of stainless steel ranges from 1400 to 1530C or 2500 to 2750 F, so you have little reason to worry, although if it starts to glow cherry red, you might cut the QSO short.
Rule of thumb: Elevated feed point, use tuned elevated radials. Close to the ground feed point, as many radials as you can deploy and no need for them to be tuned.
Right, we were just talking about that this morning. Fun > work this trip though, deployed the great equalizer.
Nice. Taylor’s falls. Mosquito heaven! We used to go there when I grew up in Minnesota.
Mosquitos are bad this year!
Nice portable set up nothing like makin great contacts outdoors on a nice sunny morning, great work!
It was great to get outsude!
I attach my 3/8" mount antennas to my truck. Never had a problem with the wind blowing the antenna or truck over. Enough metal on the truck that I don't need to worry about setting up ground planes. WIN WIN for me. - Thanks for the video Steve. Hate to see all of the flooding.
I think this is relatively normal for beginning of season here and it's all designed for this kind of flooding... I could be wrong though.
Good to see you made it outside without snow on the picnic table.
I was beyond excited! Spent the whole day out running around!
I just did the same today at K-7544. . I need to lower that tripod like you did (same mast). I got lucky today. No wind. She would of fell over. great set up!
Thanks! Hope you had a great activation
Nice work. Nice to see that you stayed dry and kept the antenna up in the air! 73!
Thanks Jeff! It has rained since that day. Getting itchy to leave!
Used that 1979 for a few years, great portable antenna, cheers n 73
I can see that antenna and I are going to be good friends!
Nice tip about the antenna not falling over. I bought this tripod and went to try it close to a metal fence… the wind blew, the antenna felt on the fence and I lost one ss17 😢
I just put together a video for my neighbour who has a mpas lite, in this video I teach him how to get flat swr on all the bands between 14mhz and 28 mhz with the 17 feet whip. You probably know all of that already but it might be interesting to see it 😊
Nice to watch a video of you making qsos!
73
Today's winds were pretty high, nothing helped but keeping a watch eye on it. -- a better tuning on this antenna is the next video.
If the legs permit, you can create extensions to widen the base. Take it to a home improvement store look for plastic tubing just big enough to slide over the legs. I'd suggest getting tubing with thick walls so it doesn't bend. In my case I had some plastic electrical conduit that was very thick. You might also put cords at the bottom of each leg to attach tent stakes.
Nice video and activation. Great job holding the whip at times too. I must say if that was the CaHR Tumbler it is huge. Enjoyed that thank you.
Thanks! That CaHR Tumbler is 30oz, it's no joke!
@@temporarilyoffline its a beast of a thing. Wow!
I use the MFJ whip exclusively even at home and I've found a little homework goes a long way with a setup like this. For example, after much testing I know that if I pull out 200 inches of whip I will be resonant on 20m (probably somewhere around 1.3:1). Then it's just a matter of a twitch up or down to fine tune for local conditions. I use a different radial setup (a pair of tuned and elevated radials), so ymmv. I use a tape measure to set the whip, but you certainly could magic marker a line on the whip if you didn't want to pack a tape measure. And I've done the same for every band 6-20. It's a great setup tbh. Quick, easy, and flexible.
Definitely some great tips there. I'll ve revisiting the whip with proper equipment, but as you can see - nothing stops this ham!
@@temporarilyoffline Harbor freight makes 10m tapes in bright yellow that make fine radials, and easy to fine tune swr with. Solder a wire and the connector of choice. Not lightweight but very visible for park use.
@loraz0 I have a radiowavez antenna tape - its already marked for the bands. Great idea!
It's nice to get you in the log. I run a chameleon 17ft whip on top of a wrc mini mounted to a camera tripod with 4 elevated radials cut 1/4 wave for each band.73's
That's a nice setup!
Great setup... Nice activation Steve!
Thank You, Thank You!
Nice video and activation. One thing . . . you want that tripod leg downwind. I like seeing how different parts of different antennas interact. Thanks de Bill
Roger Roger
Great video!
A couple of tripod suggestions:
1. If you are using thr tripod on the ground/grass you might want to secure each leg with an inexpensive landscape staple (they come in 6" lengths - packs of 20 from Home Depot.
2. For a picnic table mount (like your video situation) you may want to pick up 3 cheap bar clamps from Harbor Freight and use them to secure the tripod legs to the table. The clamps run snout $2 each.
Keep up the great videos. I always learn something new with the hobby from your efforts.
73 de AE6FE
Thanks for the tips Guy!
I have the same whip. No problems with the swr. 10m start less than half way up. 20m is all the way up.
Yep, I mentioned in the video I didn't have the tools with me to do a perfect match, so I just used the tuner instead. I'll have a follow up video tuning this up without a tuner.
I was up near the Mississippi headwaters this last weekend and I wanted to do a POTA activation and video but the wind was INSANE and the whip wasn't going to have it. I would have had spaghetti if I tried. Good to see you got out to do one!
This guy understands northern wind problems!
Great video Steve. Thank you
You're welcome!
For elevating a vertical, its hard to beat the lighting tripods using by photographers. I have two. Mine easily raise up to ten feet for operating and come down for adjusting. They hold lighting equipment, so they're sturdy and stable. The market is large, so the prices are competitive and the quality good. You might check what B&H Photo offers, buy a few of the best options, an offer us a review of them.
I got a speaker tripod off Amazon that was pretty good, but not really portable. It's back in my storage unit. I did bring my buddy pole tripod and I've used that with a "mirror mount". You're right, they do work well.
A NanoVNA is great for spotting resonance. Just set it up to scan from a megahertz below the band to a megahertz above.
Yep, I have one in my 705 go bad permanently now. The Xiegu radios have this built in and don't need the extras.
What is your balun? Looks like a ferrite ring wraped with coax. What ferrite material, how many wraps, and what is the ohms resistance and frequency range?
This is a simple balun I made up with what I had on hand. 240-43 (wrong 'roid) and some RG58 (wrong coax) no proof that its working yet, as my wraps as I could get. I did find that most of the RFI problems with the 705 are coming in from the USB side of the house: ua-cam.com/video/gwdEZlHSmjg/v-deo.html
On windy days I'll actually place a leg directly windward and put my bag on it. Alternatively, i also carry some cheap aluminum Walmart tent stakes that i "x" over each leg.
Good idea
Nice reflexes! I’ve got the 213” WRC whip and love it. Any of the 17’ telescoping whips out there are a great and versatile antenna for portable use.
Thanks Mike! It was a good day outside after a LOOOOONNNNNNGGGGG winter!
Danke,für das tolle Video.73,de Jozef,OE1CJG.😊😊😊
You're welcome!
One more doodad for the go bag! Thanks! 73 de W8IJN
Exactly!
Nice video! I think I will stick with my Chuck mount. It is clunky, but doesn't blow over, and the wind is always blowing here. I mark my whip with a sharpie so tuning is easier in the various bands. It gets it close enough to fine tune when in the field. I also carry a wire with an alligator clip on it to get 40m. I string it out to a fishing pole and it seems to work better than the wolf river coil, and takes up much less space. Maybe you could carry a couple of cornhole bags to weigh the legs down. But that defeats the compactness of the tripod.
We have some really windy days here in NW WI. The past three days have been 12mph average. I'm pretty sure in "normal" conditions it won't be a problem, but I was excited to finally get outside!
@@temporarilyoffline I am a couple hours south of you, close to the mississippi river. Wind farms everywhere.
Great Video. Suggestion: some weight on the tripod for stability. If you are driving in, you might have something in the car, or small sand bags, or your lunch. I have a bag with antenna parts and tools
Good idea!
great video !!! ... I'm also a photographer and have a very heavy tripod ... I have a ground spike on the way from BD7 Maple for my Comet HFJ 350M which will mount on the tripod ... also have a 30ft counterpoise to add to the mess .... I'll let you know how it works out ..... de George , N2JNZ
Sounds like a fun outing is in your future George! Good Luck!
I use the 1979 exclusively for 20m pota and i have several mounts for it, it’s fully resonant at 20m while fully extended. I use 2 Ten foot radials.
Nice!
I use the exact same set up as KD9VUK. My radials are tape measures so they roll up nicely. This system works awesome, no tuner needed.
@@motorvids Tame measures are an awesome solution - esp those "antenna tapes" form RadioWavz
It looks like you could use a rock bag or two, to weight down the tripod legs. (Rock bags because you can use local rocks, rather than carry sand bags in a go kit. I wonder if the back pack would have worked, but I did see two different legs being lifted.
Nice activation!
Its was a really windy day - stronger than most people would deal with on a normal activation. Overall, like you said it was a nice activation, and thank you!
I got 2 of them but cheaper from aliexpress but to stop it blowin over i drilled some goles in a bit of nylon chopping board to centre it on the whip and 3 small bits of rope and if ya want 40M on it a 34uH coil base is all ya need
It was just that windy, I'll keep plugging along and see if it's a problem long term.
Random question: I found an MFJ Frequency Standard Model MFJ 100BX at an estate sale. I do not know anything about these. Does this hold functional/historical value for people? I was considering selling in an eBay auction, or including it with the YAESU MUSEN FRG-7 Shortwave I also bought. Thanks to you, and community for your thoughts.
"Historical value" would be interesting, probably not right now. But things gain Historical value with age and because they get rare as people throw them away and the numbers drop. As for resale value, search eBay for "sold items" and look at the prices in green to see if it's worth your time to sell counting in shipping and ebay fees as well as time to PO and back. The FRG-7 should do well on ebay or at a hamfest.
Instead f putting out ground radials, I have found that a 48” x84 “ window screen works really well .. Just sayin..!
I've seen kb9vbr doing that recently, and I'm intrigued!
About your solar setup...after connecting the panels to the Buddipole PowerMini, do you just connect the "battery box" to the Battery connector on PowerMini, and the current goes to battery and the box as needed??
Yes, exactly
Awesome video, just got my general license. I have a shark 20m hamstick coming in the mail, can you recommend how many radials I should use if say you were going to use this mainly as a base station setup and what length would you make them.
For a base station "as many as you can" - like 16 or 32. You start running into the law of diminishing returns with more radials where they start to provide less gains as you add them. But start out with whatever makes you happy (say 4 in each cardinal direction) and then increase from there if you're not getting the results you want. A hamstick is a great start, but you'll eventually want to upgrade that as well.
Hey thanks for responding I have spent a lot of time in that park I’m not far from you, one more question if you were to try a pota with just the hamstick on your car or truck would you run a counterpoise wire at all or would that make things worse. Kd0ttg
@@wesley20991 I have a hamstick and I've run it QRP on the car without a counterpoise - the car does act like a counterpoise so you're headed in the right direction there. You can always try it and add radials as needed. In this video I put out some radials and played with the antenna: ua-cam.com/video/MQA81LTmYM0/v-deo.html
If you rotate the tripod so that the two legs are facing the prevailing winds, it may make life a little better. Nice activation, T.O.
Thanks Rick!
That 705 makes you work for the activation. I've been scolded for not adding my call when throwing out the P2P. I spin the dial.
Yeah, I don't have time for scolding. I'm a grown a$$ man.
If you made the radials...what banana plugs did you use and where they were sourced?
I did, here are the jacks I used: amzn.to/3LpEFwQ
a video about the good and bad of the G90 vs 705 vs 818 would be cool
Good idea!
If ever there was a greater example of why you need a VNA, it would be this video.
Exactly!
kK7SWB new ham questions --what is the large toroid you have on the table? Why did you move the antenna from the ground to the table?
That large toroid makes a 1:1 choke to remove common mode current from the shield of the coax - the IC-705 is particularly succeptable to to CMC. I also choke out the USB Data cable when using that. I did a video on that here: ua-cam.com/video/gwdEZlHSmjg/v-deo.html
I moved the whip to the table because it was very windy that day and the whip kept getting blown over. Ham radio is really about solving problems and having fun.
@@temporarilyoffline thank you for getting back to me! Learning every day. Finally bought my first radio a 10m radioddity. Trying different antenna setups
Don’t have my first contact yet but I’m trying😊
@@Mandarin110631 10m is hard right now, but not impossible. Let me know how you get on or if you have any other troubles!
@@temporarilyoffline I have to tell you its been a struggle I'm in phoenix/dont know if that makes a difference but I've tried mornings noon and evenings all over the band. Fm-usb-lsb-am and heard some faint signals and a some crazy overmodulated non English -
Verticals-dipoles-ham sticks and nothing. I am on the cusp of finally getting a decent cry once buy once like an ft891 or a7300
Also tried a wolf river sota special with radials and also w a screen-nothing
Yeah, it's pretty annoying when you are operating QRP and someone just comes in right over you. I guess they cannot hear you. Giving them the benefit of the doubt. How do you think that whip would work for SOTA? I used to use Hamsticks on SOTA activations but found them to be a pain in the neck when there are overhanging branches on the hike in.
I think SOTA comes down to weight more than anything else. It's a good whip, weighs about the same as a 10m or 7m fishing pole mast and you don't need vertical wire. Bungee it to a tree? Could work.
That would work awesome on my deck
It's a great setup. I use it a lot.
Good video. Neat table top antenna. Looks like you need hip boots if you need to use the potty? Hi Hi
Amazing what you can do with very low power.
Barry, KU3X
This stand also works great on the ground, it was just a very windy day. I've been using it on a lot of activations since this video, it's a simple go-to stand for a variety of antennas
Hope you didn't get any latent RF burns touching that antenna while transmitting...
Nope, it wasn't even a tingle.
Transmitting with antenna right next to you? Did you do a rf exposure calculation?
At one point I even touched the antenna while TXing. I suffer for my art.
The British Chain Home radars used during WWII ran about 200,000 watts at frequencies around 10 meters and above. Those who worked around them suffered no ill-effects then or after. As one of them noted, they had lots of healthy kids.
Nice activation. Is that a current balun attached to the bottom of the vertical? 73
It's a 1:1 Choke to keep rf out of the Radio, a must on the coax and usb on a 705
The antenna will work better on the ground instead of on the table.
Would have worked great if I had the right coax that day. I was very excited to get out after 6 months if no sun!
Yes that helps.
Try using the vertical on the table with the rig on and then move it to the ground. You can hear the difference.
get the tiny rig expert. 😀
I've got one... and a nanovna too, just mentioned in the video that I didn't bring it. And as you saw, it wasn't a problem. Fun > all else!
I believe your radials are too long. I find on 20m I need to coil the radials down to about 8-10ft
Thanks!
RigExpert
Yes! Just didn't bring it with me and wasn't going to let it stop my activation. Stay tuned for another video on tuning this whip!
Too easy but the stupid 705 really needs a tuna!
You needed a 100w amp to blow that dude off your frequency.😅
The joys of QRP. I can make the antenna resonant, but it was easier to use the tuner and enjoy the day.
@@temporarilyoffline true, don't waste the trip. ;)
@@DonzLockz success > work
You need to put leg on leeward side. Or weight it down.
Yessir!
What is the max power rating on these telescoping antennas? No info anywhere. Mfj, chameleon ss17, etc. Nobody is printing power rating. 100w at least i hope, i wanna get one
I looked and couldn't find it either. I reached out to Carl at Chameleon and he says the SS17 will handle 500w easy. I have no reason to doubt that, the SS17 is a pretty stout piece of kit.
Sweet, thats the one im getting. Glad i can run full 100w portable with no issues. Thank you for the help 73
The melting point of stainless steel ranges from 1400 to 1530C or 2500 to 2750 F, so you have little reason to worry, although if it starts to glow cherry red, you might cut the QSO short.