I finally got to try something I’ve always dreamed of: proper QRP saltwater ground-planing!
This week, we’ve been in Beaufort, North Carolina—a charming coastal town that I can’t recommend enough. As I mentioned in a post last week, I brought along my Elecraft KX2 and KH1 for the trip.
On Tuesday, we hopped on a small boat/ferry to Cape Lookout National Seashore (US-0683). Since it’s off-season, the island was nearly empty—there were maybe a dozen other visitors there. The weather? Absolutely perfect. It felt like pure bliss.
Naturally, I couldn’t resist scheduling a POTA activation. I packed the KH1 in my backpack and set off to explore.
For the activation, I went pedestrian mobile, standing right at the edge of the saltwater at Lookout Bight. Holding the KH1, I let the counterpoise wire dangle directly into the calm Atlantic waters.
Does submerging a counterpoise in saltwater make a dramatic difference in signal propagation? Honestly, I can’t say for sure—but I can confirm this: it works. The experience was incredible, and the activation felt like a huge success.
I’ll be posting the activation video in the next few days, so stay tuned!
In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you: has anyone else experimented with putting a counterpoise wire directly into saltwater? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts—please share in the comments!
We’ve been in Beaufort twice: in 1980 and maybe 2015. Both times we ate at the Spouter Inn. It is charming.
Do you really need to have part if your antenna in the water? I thought proximity to the ocean was sufficient.
I’m not sure if it makes a massive difference, but it was awfully fun to do! 🙂
Hi Thomas,
I had a 4btv mounted on a canal bulkhead with half of the radials in ground and others weighted down in bottom of Canal. It worked great.
YouTuber “Waves and Wires” in Virginia Beach does videos on seaside activations plus he is a pleasure to watch.
I lived in Carteret County for four years. One of the Park Rangers at Cape Lookout is a ham and a member of Carteret County Amateur Radio Society. We took a Park boat over one year for the August Lighthouse Weekend event and set up our rigs in the old lightkeepers house in front of the Cape Lookout lighthouse. We had a fun weekend!! Such a beautiful place. I have always wanted to do park activation from top of the lighthouse!!
Carteret County is a very nice county for POTA Activators, with lots of available two-fers, and a three-fer where the Mountain to the Sea trail runs through Carteret County.
If you can find and read the history of how the residents of Cape Lookout were hit by a hurricane years ago, then abandoned the island and moved their houses by barge and settled Harker’s Island, it’s great history. Many of the current residents are descendants of the settlers and have the “High Tiders” accent still today.
You discovered one of the wonderful jewels of the Crystal Coast, and Beaufort is a wonderful place to visit too.
I’m glad that you got to experience Coastal North Carolina’s wonderfully ever-changing seasonal weather. Cold one day and very warm the next.
Have a very Merry Christmas and thank you for the awesome YT Videos and your promotion of POTA and QRP!!
73
Gary Faust NG9T
Former President of the Carteret County Amateur Radio Society (2022)
P.S. If you’re still in area on Saturday, CCARS is having our 2024 Christmas Breakfast at Cox’s Restaurant on Arrendal St in Morehead City at 8am. Stop by and I will buy you and your family a great breakfast, plus meet some really nice Hams.
Hi, Gary,
How fascinating! Yes, I read about that settlement to Harker’s Island in a book I read about Carolina Hurricanes this summer. Fascinating story! Also read about the hurricane that devastated Beaufort in the 1800s. The governor and his wife were attending a huge gala at the Beaufort Inn when it hit. An amazing story.
I wish I could join you on Saturday. We’re heading back to the mountains today due to holiday gatherings we have this weekend. Else, I’d certainly take up your hospitality!
Let me know if you’re ever in WNC. Maybe we can do some POTA together.
Al the best & 72,
Thomas
Thomas,
I’m glad that you had a good trip to coastal NC. There’s so much history in the area, from Blackbeard’s shipwrecked pirate ship “Queen Anne’s Revenge” to the Lost County in Manteo. NC certainly has something for everyone from the mountains to the sea.
I figured that I was too late with invitation but was glad to extend it. I have wanted to visit your area ever since reading the books based in Black Mountain about life after an EMP. I was heartbroken by the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. I’ve been through many hurricanes during my lifetime living in Eastern NC but you don’t expect to see the kind of damage you folks experienced in the mountains. I have related your experience following the flood to many of my ham friends plus told many of how your home is prepared for loss of the power grid. You can certainly teach others how to be prepared.
Again, have a very Merry Christmas!!
73
Gary NG9T
I activated the Gateway National Recreation Area (US-0680) with a whip and two counterpoises, on the beach on the edge of the water. It was a cold, windy day. I dropped my counterpoises into the ocean, but the surf was moving in and out pretty well. It ended up floating the lines up onto the beach and out of the water. I still made my activation, but I was unconvinced the salt water added anything. 🙂
But it was nice to sit on the beach, watching the boats while I played radio. I would definitely do it again!