Thanks Tim. You gave me a mention in your video. Just returning the favour! I'd rather refer people to your channel for the technical theory because I try to avoid duplicating what other channels do and (due in no small part to your professional background) you can explain the theory significantly better than I can. I've always said that my channel is entertainment. I show what I've been doing & demonstrate what is possible but I don't claim to be any kind of instructor or educator.
Hi Luke. I always seem to get really good results on Kinder Scout. Did you operate from the true summit or Kinder Low? I normally operate from Kinder Low (which is where most people operate from) but it can get quite busy with other hikers. In my last trip earlier this year I decided to go all out & operate from the true summit. There's a video of that on the channel if you haven't already seen it. It was more of a pain to get to but the plus side of that is that it's much quieter. I didn't see anyone else in the full 3 hours that I was there!
I'm using the earth connection of the 49:1 transformer and connecting that to the dog stake (the spiral type which you screw into the ground - available from most pet shops or online) which I'm using to anchor the kite to the ground. Effectively the stake is also my ground rod.
Thanks Walt. I've just been looking at your channel and you've got some really good content on there. I've noticed you in the comment section of a few livestreams but don't know how I haven't come across your channel before! Looks like you had some great results with the M1ECC antenna. I've also got one of those. Works well as a mobile setup on a mag-mount (static use only, don't try to drive with it on there)!
@@AmateurRadioUK thanks! Yes I love my Slidewinder. I mostly use it portable on the beach with a ground spike. I enjoy your channel. Keep being awesome!
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Thanks for the kind words. Currently watching the livestream you recently did on K2CJB Radio. You said you travel with your work. If you ever visit England or Wales here in the UK be sure to give me a shout. I would be up for doing some kind of collaboration (maybe a beach activation, WWFF, POTA, SOTA etc). I like the positive upbeat approach on your channel. Keep up the good work. 73.
That is a good result James. I wonder if you would use that antenna as a first choice going forward? You're going a great job flying the flag for kite antennas! 73, Fraser MM0EFI
I think the answer to that is "it depends". It works well & arguably may be easier to carry than a mast but in my eyes there are a few problems:- Firstly the amount of space required to setup & fly this thing. Not good for summits with other hikers around to be decapitated by your wire which could be under a fair bit of tension if you have a strong breeze. Secondly you are reliant on there actually being enough wind to keep the thing up in the air. Today's summit there wouldn't have been enough wind to keep it airborne. If the wind dies off you don't have an antenna......you have a useless dead weight! Thirdly you need to make sure that you can anchor the thing to the ground. I use dog stakes which twist into the ground. Fine on soft ground but useless on rocky summits. I guess you could always tie it to a tree or fence post (if there is one) but you still need to get some kind of rod in the ground to bleed the static build-up. Not sure I would want to run this without some way of bleeding of the static. I would like to use the kite more often but I think it's only practical on certain summits under certain conditions.
@@AmateurRadioUK that makes sense. I guess it's a case of take it when there's a good chance you think it will work. It would be good on a quiet beach.
Good video and the Kite antenna certainly gave you good results. Nice pile up on 20m too. The summit looked like it was quite flat and I wondered if you were going to try 2m FM. I have a similar summit near me and it's hopeless for VHF. Keep up the good work James. 73 Chris M0RSF
It performed very well on both bands but I think it was better on 20m than 40m. Not sure if that was just due to the band conditions at the time. On 40m this is effectively a half wave vertical & will have a fairly low take-off angle which is better for DX. On 20m this is a full wave vertical, which will have a higher take-off angle which will be better for shorter EU contacts. I'm not sure how much the angle of the wire in relation to the ground will affect things as it obviously wasn't truly vertical. It was more of a sloper, which I suspect will make it slightly directional. Either way, very good results and something I want to do more often. I didn't try running VHF from this summit, so I can't really comment on that one.
HQ KAP foil from www.kiteworld.co.uk I can't remember which version. It's either the 1.6m or the 3m. I think it's the smaller 1.6m but I can't remember.
I do intend to try it on 80m at some point. We have an altitude limit for kites in the UK and unfortunately an EFHW for 160m would likely bust that altitude limit. I could do a 1/4 wave for 160m but that would require an extensive ground system, which is probably more hassle than it's worth. Also not much SOTA activity on 160m around here.
Awesome 👍👍😎 I have been experimenting with the SOTAbeams Antenna Lifting Kite in the US as well! It's Winter here and lots of snow ❄️. Looking forward to getting back out when the weather is good and the winds are good. Epic work 👍👍 de W6IWN
Class James!
A kite SOTA is on the to-do list asap for me! 😊
Great job again James and thank you for both the mention and for putting theory into practice, 73.
Thanks Tim. You gave me a mention in your video. Just returning the favour!
I'd rather refer people to your channel for the technical theory because I try to avoid duplicating what other channels do and (due in no small part to your professional background) you can explain the theory significantly better than I can.
I've always said that my channel is entertainment. I show what I've been doing & demonstrate what is possible but I don't claim to be any kind of instructor or educator.
Excellent results, James! Really good spread of QSO's on the map too. Definitely on the list of things to try 👍👍
Great video again, was great to work you the other day when I was up kinder scout i got a soaking as well , M7DZO 73
Hi Luke. I always seem to get really good results on Kinder Scout.
Did you operate from the true summit or Kinder Low?
I normally operate from Kinder Low (which is where most people operate from) but it can get quite busy with other hikers.
In my last trip earlier this year I decided to go all out & operate from the true summit. There's a video of that on the channel if you haven't already seen it.
It was more of a pain to get to but the plus side of that is that it's much quieter. I didn't see anyone else in the full 3 hours that I was there!
@@AmateurRadioUK it was just off from kinder low, but due the weather there was no body about especially when the weather took a turn for the worse.
Very interesting James. How do you bleed the static off? Will, M0LGW
I'm using the earth connection of the 49:1 transformer and connecting that to the dog stake (the spiral type which you screw into the ground - available from most pet shops or online) which I'm using to anchor the kite to the ground. Effectively the stake is also my ground rod.
Very cool
Great video! I’ve been thinking about doing this at the beach myself. Thanks for showing your setup. 73, Walt K4OGO
Thanks Walt. I've just been looking at your channel and you've got some really good content on there. I've noticed you in the comment section of a few livestreams but don't know how I haven't come across your channel before!
Looks like you had some great results with the M1ECC antenna. I've also got one of those. Works well as a mobile setup on a mag-mount (static use only, don't try to drive with it on there)!
@@AmateurRadioUK thanks! Yes I love my Slidewinder. I mostly use it portable on the beach with a ground spike. I enjoy your channel. Keep being awesome!
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES Thanks for the kind words.
Currently watching the livestream you recently did on K2CJB Radio.
You said you travel with your work. If you ever visit England or Wales here in the UK be sure to give me a shout. I would be up for doing some kind of collaboration (maybe a beach activation, WWFF, POTA, SOTA etc).
I like the positive upbeat approach on your channel. Keep up the good work. 73.
That is a good result James. I wonder if you would use that antenna as a first choice going forward? You're going a great job flying the flag for kite antennas!
73, Fraser MM0EFI
I think the answer to that is "it depends".
It works well & arguably may be easier to carry than a mast but in my eyes there are a few problems:-
Firstly the amount of space required to setup & fly this thing. Not good for summits with other hikers around to be decapitated by your wire which could be under a fair bit of tension if you have a strong breeze.
Secondly you are reliant on there actually being enough wind to keep the thing up in the air. Today's summit there wouldn't have been enough wind to keep it airborne. If the wind dies off you don't have an antenna......you have a useless dead weight!
Thirdly you need to make sure that you can anchor the thing to the ground. I use dog stakes which twist into the ground. Fine on soft ground but useless on rocky summits. I guess you could always tie it to a tree or fence post (if there is one) but you still need to get some kind of rod in the ground to bleed the static build-up. Not sure I would want to run this without some way of bleeding of the static.
I would like to use the kite more often but I think it's only practical on certain summits under certain conditions.
@@AmateurRadioUK that makes sense. I guess it's a case of take it when there's a good chance you think it will work. It would be good on a quiet beach.
Nice
Good video and the Kite antenna certainly gave you good results. Nice pile up on 20m too. The summit looked like it was quite flat and I wondered if you were going to try 2m FM. I have a similar summit near me and it's hopeless for VHF. Keep up the good work James. 73 Chris M0RSF
It performed very well on both bands but I think it was better on 20m than 40m. Not sure if that was just due to the band conditions at the time.
On 40m this is effectively a half wave vertical & will have a fairly low take-off angle which is better for DX.
On 20m this is a full wave vertical, which will have a higher take-off angle which will be better for shorter EU contacts.
I'm not sure how much the angle of the wire in relation to the ground will affect things as it obviously wasn't truly vertical. It was more of a sloper, which I suspect will make it slightly directional.
Either way, very good results and something I want to do more often.
I didn't try running VHF from this summit, so I can't really comment on that one.
Hi James, It looks like a fun activation! What kite are you using as I may need to give this a go!
HQ KAP foil from www.kiteworld.co.uk
I can't remember which version. It's either the 1.6m or the 3m. I think it's the smaller 1.6m but I can't remember.
Better results if you replace "que are zed" with your callsign. Get rid of using QRZ at all, just send your call, please.
Why don’t you try it on 75/80
And 160 !!
I do intend to try it on 80m at some point.
We have an altitude limit for kites in the UK and unfortunately an EFHW for 160m would likely bust that altitude limit.
I could do a 1/4 wave for 160m but that would require an extensive ground system, which is probably more hassle than it's worth.
Also not much SOTA activity on 160m around here.
@@AmateurRadioUK80m would be fun because all POTA/Sota stuff ends many times when the sun goes down. I bet there would be a huge pileup 🥰
Awesome 👍👍😎 I have been experimenting with the SOTAbeams Antenna Lifting Kite in the US as well! It's Winter here and lots of snow ❄️. Looking forward to getting back out when the weather is good and the winds are good. Epic work 👍👍 de W6IWN