On Friday afternoon (August 16, 2024), after dropping off one daughter at her volunteer job and the other at Shakespeare class, my wife and I had about 90 minutes of free time before the next scheduled activity.
We opted to visit the Sycamore Flats Picnic Area in Pisgah National Forest (US-4510) so that I could fit in a POTA activation while my wife caught up on a project she’d been working on.
The picnic area was bustling with activity–the busiest I’d seen it in a while. No doubt, everyone was out enjoying the beautiful weather and the last hurrah before many local kids head back to school. Nevertheless, we found a nice picnic table to set up and play radio.
I did not have all of my camera gear with me, so opted not to film this activation with my phone.
Since there’d be no video, it meant that I could operate with earphones and a minimal amount of extra gear. It’s nice to do this every so often!
On the way out the door, earlier that day, I grabbed my Mountain Topper MTR-3B field kit. The goal was to put it on the air since it had been a few months since I last used it. I like rotating out radios regularly so I don’t forget nuances of operating them while in the field.
The previous day, I also charged the two Li-Ion rechargeable batteries [affiliate link] that are stored in the MTR-3B Pelican case. At least I thought I charged them!
When I checked the batteries, they were both completely dead. Turns out, the USB charging station I’d connected them to the previous day was not plugged into an AC outlet. Doh!
This presented a little problem because the only other battery I had in my GR1 rucksack was a 3Ah LiFePo4 battery which likely pushed about 13.2VDC. The MTR-3B doesn’t care for voltages much higher than 12VDC–at least, if you are higher than 12V, you need to make darn sure you’ve got a great SWR match.
I was a bit bummed because I hadn’t packed a backup radio in the GR1 and I wasn’t driving the Subaru which has a Venus SW3B headrest field kit.
Hang on…
Then it hit me…I’ve got my EDC (Everyday Carry) radio with me: the Elecraft KH1! Woo hoo!
I went back to the car and grabbed my Trakke EDC bag.
Then pulled out the KH1 packed in my Tufteln-modified Pelican Micro M40 watertight case.
It is such a luxury to have a small, lightweight, and versatile radio always at the ready in the backpack I carry with me everywhere.
Since I’d already deployed my K6ARK 40 meter counterpoise-less end-fed half-wave [affiliate link], this was the antenna I connected to the KH1.
I also grabbed the Bamakey TP-III from my GR1 pack and the 3×5 Rite in the Rain Pad and Zebra mechanical pencil [again, affiliate links] from the MTR-3B kit (don’t worry, I returned these to their respective kits post-activation!).
I had announced this activation on the POTA website, so hypothetically, the RBN should auto-spot me.
I turned on the KH1, moved to the 20 meter band, and was tuning around looking for a clear frequency when I heard a station calling CQ POTA.
It was Jeff (VE7EFF) with a great signal–floating between 539-559 (QSB was heavy Friday).
Conditions have been so poor as of late, I assumed that he must have been traveling and activating a park in the eastern part of Canada.
I sent my callsign and he replied immediately.
Turns out, Jeff was activating Okanagan Lake Provincial Park (CA-3921) in British Columbia. Wow! Post activation, he contacted me thanking me for the Park-To-Park and noted:
“It was a pleasure to finally POTA QSO with you yesterday from Okanagan Lake Prov. Pk CA-3921, here in Southern BC. I was operating with KX3 at 10W into a 20m dipole at ~30ft using a telescopic mast.
[…]You were my 3rd contact of the morning. Off to a good start for me, then nothing for a while, then later I got a call from SM3NRY in Sweden!
In total, I had 29 contacts yesterday, most on 20m, and five were on 17m. Nothing for me on 30m or 15m bands. It was pouring down rain all day. So, I operated from inside my SUV.”
Thanks so much, Jeff, for reaching out post-activation. It’s a true joy to see the station on the other side of the QSO! That drive-on mast mount and dipole were serving you brilliantly!
Next, I found a clear frequency and starting calling CQ POTA. Within a minute, I was logging hunters! Other than the steep QSB–which, at times, required three or four callbacks to finish the contact–the bands felt alive.
I also worked my buddy Mike (N7CCD) in Washington State which proved that little opening to the northwest was still viable.
This activation wasn’t rushed at all, so after logging a total of 16 contacts in 18 minutes, I thought I’d give the higher bands a go.
In general, I find that if 20 meters has heavy QSB, it’s more profound on the higher bands. Still, I had another 30 minutes to play radio and loved the idea of fishing out a bit of DX on the higher bands if at all possible.
I moved to 17 meters and used the KH1’s internal ATU to find a match since a 40M EFHW isn’t resonant on 17.
After calling CQ POTA for a while I had no replies, so I moved up to the 15 meter band.
Again, 15 meters was very quiet, but I was determined to work at least one station!
After a while N7CCD came back to me with a stronger signal than he had on 20 meters. I swear Mike has some special arrangement to so consistently find those paths to the southeast! Thanks, Mike!
Then, immediately after finishing the contact with Mike, I got a call from Norberto (KP4GR) in Puerto Rico. His signal was solid and I was chuffed to add another 15 meter contact to the logs! Thanks, Norberto!
Finally, I received a text from Vlado (N3CZ) and he told me to move to 40M so he could work me on ground wave from his QTH. His signal was so strong, it sounded like he was in the park with me!
All in all, I worked a total of 19 contacts with the KH1 during this casual activation.
Here’s the QSO Map:
For fun, here’s the QSO Map with the distance in miles noted for each contact (click image to enlarge):
I couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing and enjoyable afternoon at the park with my wife.
I must admit: while I love filming activations, it’s also nice to enjoy some quiet park time with my wife and operate with earphones instead of a speaker. Plus, when operating CW with earphones, it’s so darn quiet and stealthy!
Next activation, though, I’ll bring the camera!
Thank you!
I hope you enjoyed this field report as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Of course, I’d also like to send a special thanks to those of you who have been supporting the site and channel through Patreon, and the Coffee Fund. While not a requirement, as my content will always be free, I really appreciate the support.
Have an amazing Sunday and radio-active week ahead!
Cheers & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL)
Hi. Nice write up. What bag is that with the orange lining?
That is the Bannoch Backpack by Trakke in Scotland: https://trakke.com/collections/waxed-canvas-backpacks/products/bannoch-backpack?variant=43850604708053
Mine has the older G-Hooks and I purchased it with a huge discount during Black Friday last year. Still, I think I paid $220-230 US. It’s become my favorite daily backpack. I love it.
The prices with the new latches is way up there. I’m glad I got mine when I did. 🙂
Cheers,
Thomas
Great write up. I have got to put NC on my bucket list!
I use earphones 99% of the time. I have hearing aids and it is so much easier using earphones plus the advantage of hearing those weak cw stations.
Thank you, Dennis.
Absolutely! Wearing earphones also makes it so much easier to work weak signal stations, especially since they give you a bit of sound isolation, too.
I need to consider using earphones more often and recording the audio via my digital audio recorder. I don’t do that often because it just takes longer post-activation to prepare the video. 🙂
What earphones would you recommend?
Pretty much any earphones will work. I’m a fan of the very inexpensive Sony earbuds. I eitehr use them or EgoFits, but I’ve used this same Sony model for 15+ years. They’re comfortable, give you excellent sound isolation if needed, and get the job done: https://amzn.to/4dVvoJd (affiliate link)
Over the years, I’ve purchased quite a few of these and put them in all of my bags just to have access to earphones and sound isolation in noisy environments where I need to work or think. 🙂
Having a totally self-contained station in a Pelican Micro case as a backup is a great way to thwart attempts by Murphy to sabotage a portable outing.
I haven’t had my KH1 for more than a month, but one of the things I really appreciate about the radio is the KXBT2 battery inside. In fact, I have been known to describe my KH1 as a “battery with attached radio” ;-). What I love about it is that even if I haven’t remembered to recharge the battery after a couple of outings, I can be sure that there is still enough juice in it for an activation. The huge battery capacity plus the low self-discharge rate for a LiPo battery makes it very well suited for an EDC-type rig.
Cheers
Michael VE3WMB
P.S. I admit to being spoiled by my KX2, but one of the other things that has really surprised me about the KH1 is how good the receiver is.
I love that! “A battery with attached radio.” I’ve always felt the same.
Honestly, you can charge the KH1 internal battery once and probably do something like 8 activations with it before recharging. It’s a bit insane!
-Thomas
Thomas, I tried to hear you on this one while I was operating from Great Salt Lake SP (US-3075) but it just wasn’t happening. All I could hear was your pile-up on 20 meters and nothing on the higher bands.
Like you, I worked VE7EFF up in the Okanagan, also using the KH1. My station used the built-in whip in “tabletop configuration” with the Tufteln right angle adapter. A little pea-shooter in these rough solar conditions.
72
Oh Matt! I would have loved to work you KH1-to-KH1 coast-to-coast!
Impressive that you also worked VE7EFF P2P with the pea shooter!
I wish I would have seen you in the spots because I would have waited for a potential prop opening to work you, OM.
Next time!
Cheers,
Thomas
Great timing on this one, Thomas! I was just talking to my brother John – N7BHP last night about those 9V rechargeable batteries for a QRP rig he could keep in his EDC backpack. Sent him the link from your post 😉
I did tune in to see if I could work you on 17M. You were there, but so weak and with such strong QSB, I thought it’d be a bit too rough. Great to get you on 20 and 15 though!
It’s always great to work you, OM. I was impressed there was much life in 15M at all so was very pleased to hear you call out–amazing that there was a path on 20 and 15M, but 17M was shaky.
Those 9V work well for radios like the MTR-3B that are so extremely frugal with current.
Cheers,
Thomas
Thomas, it was a great surprise when I heard you call me back. I immediately recognized your call sign as I have watched and read so many of your blog posts.
I look forward to us making contact again sometime in the future – P2P and KX3 to KH1 from southern BC to NC.
73, Jeff – VE7EFF
I hope we make many more P2Ps this year, Jeff!
Tom, I was looking for you on 20m on Friday, but couldn’t hear you – although I seem to hear many stations south of my temporary RI QTH. Hope to catch you while I am visiting the East Coast.
Scott, KK6IK/1
I should be on the air a fair bit in the coming weeks and RI is usually in my 40, 30, and 20 meter path at times! Hope to work you, OM.
I see you have a connector on the antenna wire to presumable change the length of the wire for different bands? I didn’t realize this K6ARK antenna doesn’t requires a CP. What is the other wire in the photo that has a banana plug from a black to red wire?
It’s a little cumbersome trying to manage a long counter poise more or less permanently attached to the rig, when I just want to use the radio for practice or to look through the menus. I want to remove the ground nut as infrequently as possible sense it can easily be lost.
I was actually thinking of attaching a short CP pig tale, more or less, “permanently” to the ground on the radio with a banana plug at the end. I would have the CP disconnected from the rig unless I need it. . This way when I just want to practice or look through the menus I don’t have to deal with an attached bundle of CP wire. When I am ready to operate i just connect the CP to the banana plug and I’m ready to go. Do you see any problem with that?
Joy N6GO
Hi, Joy,
So, technically, any end-fed half-wave can be made and will function without a counterpoise. There is a loss in efficiency, though, and I also find that the antenna is a little less forgiving (SWR wise) than an EFHW with counterpoise. Also, I see a slight change in SWR when I touch the radio because of body capacitance and likely because the antenna is seeking ground. That said: it works! It works well for POTA and SOTA.
When I’ve used this antenna in the past, it’s been with the MTR-3B which has no grounding point on the chassis. Since the KH1 has that convenient ground lug, I think it’s a great idea to attach a counterpoise for the EFHW this way.
The little banana jack connection in the counterpoise is simply there to act as a weak point if someone were to, say, trip on my counterpoise. Or, if I’m going pedestrian mobile and activating while walking witht he KH1 and the counterpoise gets snagged somehow. The banana jack connection will fail before it pulls the KH1 from my hand!
Your idea for the KH1 sounds like a good one!
Cheers,
Thomas