qrper.com/2023/10/kneeboard-sota-insane-dx-with-my-smallest-most-compromised-antenna/?swcfpc=1 Click the link above to read full details about this activation, including all equipment links, at QRPer.com.
My funniest drive-up SOTA activation was sitting in the grass next to a road in a neighborhood. The locals were very curious and emerged from their gated driveways to investigate under the premise of “walking their dog”
Very nice activation with the antenna on the summit. Worked out well. I had a nice copy on you from the home QTH, and I remembered when I heard our QSO that you said GM then GA, so I was being smart at the end and said GM :) Thanks as always for doing the videos. I think my wife and I were in that area along the BRP the other week as well. 72 de KN3A.
If the weather is good, and I start early, I could probably do some of the hikes, but my knees probably wouldn't let me get up our of those low seats. I guess that we have some bald summits here in NH, and I could roll out of the seat without hurting any plants. Listening to your videos is helping my CW copy, thanks. Bill - KE1G
That's a Helinox Chair Zero. I have one and I use it on nearly every SOTA activation. I also got the ground cloth for it, which in many areas is indispensable as it keeps the chair legs from sinking in.
I have that chair, mainly for /p. I picked up the golf ball looking feet for it which makes a huge difference in sand and loose dirt. They actually fit in the Helinox bag itself so no real additional footprint for me.
When I visited for my POTA/SOTA vacation I thought black balsam had the best view, even moreso than mount Mitchell. It was extremely windy so I had a lot of trouble keeping my mast upright because the wind was so strong. Luckily there was a small hole in the ground near the true summit that I used to anchor the mast. In hindsight I should have just used my AX2 like you. I rarely ever do though
I saw that you activated that summit when I looked at the stats page! I hope you also logged your activation as POTA for both K-4510 and K-6937. It's a POTA two-fer. It might even be a three-fer, but I haven't looked to see if it's still technically considered a part of the BRP.
@@ThomasK4SWL I haven't logged this one for POTA but I will do that now! Honestly it's a bit of a challenge to figure that stuff out without having the GIS data on hand
How far of a hike did you walk? and is motorcycle transportation prohibited? I expect it is or I would see a lot of erosion do to riders treating the area as an ORV park ripping thru the area. I am unable to hike but a couple hundred feet and I depend on my motorcycle to get me to the hills to work with my QRP station.
You can ride a motorcycle to the trailhead and park. The hike itself is about 3/4 of a mile to the summit and activation zone. A pretty easy hike, in fact, because there's no serious elevation chance. No wheeled vehicles are allow on the summit and you're not supposed to venture off path either due to erosion concerns.
Sometimes I wonder how you copy in those "pile up" situations, then I notice that sometimes you wait until that's over and there will be one lone person easily readable. I'm sure it's a talent I may acquire somewhere along the way, but my ears are not quite that good for the stacked stations. Keep 'em coming, I still enjoy practicing my copy with your assistance. de KA8VLW, Ken, Michigan
Yes, I try not to answer "tail-enders" with regularity only because others will start doing it and it can make a pileup messy. That said, sometimes, it's just what I hear, so I call back.
qrper.com/2023/10/kneeboard-sota-insane-dx-with-my-smallest-most-compromised-antenna/?swcfpc=1
Click the link above to read full details about this activation, including all equipment links, at QRPer.com.
My funniest drive-up SOTA activation was sitting in the grass next to a road in a neighborhood. The locals were very curious and emerged from their gated driveways to investigate under the premise of “walking their dog”
Very nice activation with the antenna on the summit. Worked out well. I had a nice copy on you from the home QTH, and I remembered when I heard our QSO that you said GM then GA, so I was being smart at the end and said GM :) Thanks as always for doing the videos. I think my wife and I were in that area along the BRP the other week as well. 72 de KN3A.
If the weather is good, and I start early, I could probably do some of the hikes, but my knees probably wouldn't let me get up our of those low seats. I guess that we have some bald summits here in NH, and I could roll out of the seat without hurting any plants.
Listening to your videos is helping my CW copy, thanks.
Bill - KE1G
That's a Helinox Chair Zero. I have one and I use it on nearly every SOTA activation. I also got the ground cloth for it, which in many areas is indispensable as it keeps the chair legs from sinking in.
Wow, Indonesia with 5w and an AX1, I think it works.
I have that chair, mainly for /p. I picked up the golf ball looking feet for it which makes a huge difference in sand and loose dirt. They actually fit in the Helinox bag itself so no real additional footprint for me.
Nice and easy setup! Do you have a link of the board you are using?
tufteln.com/products/knee-board-field-desk
Great summit and video. Betsy (N4AJJ) and I activated it on September 3rd. Thanks for taking us along for the ride! 73 de N4AAJ
Thank you watching! It is a spectacular summit in so many ways. I hope to run into you two on a summit someday! :)
When I visited for my POTA/SOTA vacation I thought black balsam had the best view, even moreso than mount Mitchell. It was extremely windy so I had a lot of trouble keeping my mast upright because the wind was so strong. Luckily there was a small hole in the ground near the true summit that I used to anchor the mast.
In hindsight I should have just used my AX2 like you. I rarely ever do though
I saw that you activated that summit when I looked at the stats page! I hope you also logged your activation as POTA for both K-4510 and K-6937. It's a POTA two-fer. It might even be a three-fer, but I haven't looked to see if it's still technically considered a part of the BRP.
@@ThomasK4SWL I haven't logged this one for POTA but I will do that now! Honestly it's a bit of a challenge to figure that stuff out without having the GIS data on hand
@@JonathanKayne No doubt! I did most of the GIS legwork back when I started activating in earnest in 2020. It took some research. :)
Those helinox chair-zeros are about $150 now. They are super popular in the backpacking community.
Better get that KA9 before he drifts down to 30M!
Java must be very nearly anitpodal for you and probably over the polar region as well, that is incredible!
I still can't believe that happened!
How far of a hike did you walk? and is motorcycle transportation prohibited? I expect it is or I would see a lot of erosion do to riders treating the area as an ORV park ripping thru the area. I am unable to hike but a couple hundred feet and I depend on my motorcycle to get me to the hills to work with my QRP station.
You can ride a motorcycle to the trailhead and park. The hike itself is about 3/4 of a mile to the summit and activation zone. A pretty easy hike, in fact, because there's no serious elevation chance. No wheeled vehicles are allow on the summit and you're not supposed to venture off path either due to erosion concerns.
Thanks Tom, very good advert for the Elecraft AX antenna
Not much European Pota activity- yet?
73 Rob G3RCE
Top 10 Video in the archive. Enjoyed it. Gil - KS4Yx
Thank you!
I really learned a lot by watching this rapid activation. Thank you and please do more like it. 72 de AG7YB.
Awesome contact TOM ❤.. thankyou so much and best regrads .. Galih de YC2VOC
Sometimes I wonder how you copy in those "pile up" situations, then I notice that sometimes you wait until that's over and there will be one lone person easily readable. I'm sure it's a talent I may acquire somewhere along the way, but my ears are not quite that good for the stacked stations.
Keep 'em coming, I still enjoy practicing my copy with your assistance. de KA8VLW, Ken, Michigan
Yes, I try not to answer "tail-enders" with regularity only because others will start doing it and it can make a pileup messy. That said, sometimes, it's just what I hear, so I call back.