Parks on the Air (POTA) - QRP CW using SW-3B - Preparation, equipment, set up and activation

Parks on the Air (POTA) activation of Strickland State Forest (VK-6964) located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. My first POTA only activation on Saturday 17 June 2023. Operating on 40 m (7.033 MHz) and 20 m (14.065 MHz).
CW at 18 WPM using SW-3B QRP transceiver, four 3.2V lithium batteries, BaMaKey TP-II iambic key and spark plug gear end-fed half wave antenna (49:1 unun and 20m radiator). Audio recorded using Sony ICD-UX570 digital recorded.
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction and preparation
1:06 - Radio, antenna and equipment
2:11 - Drive to park
2:34 - Set up of antenna
4:04 - Portable station
4:34 - CW on 40m
18:41 - CW on 20m
Music Credit:
Artist: Tubebackr & Tetuano
Track: Loser
Free download link: hypeddit.com/tubebackr/tubeba...

[@vigyt]

Thanks for posting with subtitles. I am just starting to learn CW. Your videos are great practice. 73 de KQ4MET

[@vk2ter]

That is great you are learning CW, it is an enjoyable mode. Good luck with your CW practice and hope the videos help, 73

[@k3xtxhamradio930]

Once againI really appreciate your text and videos. Helping me with cw been a ham for 22 years, and have made only like 5 cw contacts. I'm trying! Thanks W3WI

[@vk2ter]

Thanks William for your feedback, it is much appreciated. Keep up with the CW, it is a great mode. Hope the videos help, 73

[@michaelharkey9675]

de KI5DPA thank you for another enjoyable experience!

[@vk2ter]

Thank you Michael, I am glad you enjoyed the video, 73

[@kishor_VU2MZT]

VERY IMPRESSIVE , LAST LY YOU HAD CONTACT AT FRANCE WITH QRP IS OUTSTANDING , VERY NICE

[@vk2ter]

Thank you, the DX contact to France was a great way to finish the activation. The band conditions on 20m weren’t great so it was a great surprise contact, 73

[@miketaylor6700]

OMG.. you’re driving on the wrong side of the road! Wait.. nevermind .. it’s Australia. 😂😂
Fantastic video!
Love love love you showing us ALL the steps it takes to make it happen!!!
73 . .
Mike
KK7MMN

[@vk2ter]

Thank you Mike for the feedback, glad you liked the video. It was lucky that everyone else was driving on the wrong side of the road too, hi hi. Congratulations on getting your general licence, glad you are getting back into the hobby, 73

[@mattsartori2624]

Wow France 🇫🇷!!!!
Fantastic
Congratulations James !!!
Amazing video well made thanks for sharing 73 de K7BCW dit dit 😊!!!

[@vk2ter]

Thanks Matt, yes it was great to get a contact to France for my last contact. It was a great day out operating portable, the weather is warm at the moment even though it is the middle of winter. Thanks again for the feedback, 73

[@andrewwilliss6500]

Fun little rig James! de VK5LA

[@vk2ter]

The SW-3B is a great QRP rig, I always bring it with me as a backup. Thanks Andrew, 73

[@docpearson]

Wow that was great!!

[@vk2ter]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video, 73

[@soroastronik]

Congratulations!!! Very good POTA!!! 73 de LU1WGO

[@vk2ter]

Thank you Antonio for watching and for your feedback, 73

[@AnthonyJones-vk6xq]

Kicking myself i did not order one of these little rigs before we came on holiday!!
So i will have to be happy with getting a suntan instead of working on HF on the beach here in South West France, but the XYL has booked a week in late August in the same appartment, so a SW-3B should be here before then.......i hope, thanks for the upload, always great to see your videos !

[@vk2ter]

The SW-3B is a great radio for portable operations, it is my favourite QRP radio. Hopefully you will have received your radio before your next holiday and you can then operate from the beach. Thanks for watching and your feedback, 73

[@MrBracey1970]

Thanks for posing this,just learning the CW alphabet at the moment and have bought a SW3B to use portable,very inspiring 😊

[@vk2ter]

The SW-3B is a great QRP radio, I really enjoy using it when operating portable. Good luck with your CW practice, 73

[@CubanFireball81]

Very Awesome, thanks for posting. I am hoping to get out in just a bit (Charging batteries). -de AL9G

[@vk2ter]

Thank you Alex for watching and for your feedback. Good luck with your activation, 73

[@tanaka2003cn]

Nice place! Nice system! de JS3MQC

[@vk2ter]

Yes it was a nice park and an enjoyable activation. Thank you for watching, 73

[@metalslug7767]

Speed WPM ?

[@vk2ter]

I am sending at about 18 WPM. Unfortunately the SW-3B doesn’t show the transmit speed but the RBN indicates 18 WPM, 73