Wednesday, January 29, 2025, was a busy day, but that morning, I was yearning for a little POTA time. I carved out an hour in the late afternoon to play radio—just enough time for a quick activation on the Blue Ridge Parkway (US-3378).
I had two new pieces of gear I was eager to test:
- A BNC mini antenna clamp mount, designed by my good friend Mike (KE8PTX), for use with Elecraft AX-series antennas and other mini verticals.
- A vintage Swiss Army rucksack, a Christmas gift from a dear friend, beautifully restored by Jack Carter.
BNC Mini Antenna Clamp Mount
Mike designed this clamp to be lightweight, durable, and versatile—it can attach to more than just a tabletop. He’s even clamped his AX1 to tree branches! As with all of Mike’s creations, it’s purpose-built for field operators like himself.
If you have a 3D printer, you can print your own, or you can buy a professionally printed version from Joshua (N5FY) at Tufteln (links below).
A New Vintage Backpack!
This Christmas, I received a surprise parcel. When I opened it, I couldn’t believe my eyes—a vintage Swiss Army rucksack in pristine condition!
Many of you know I have a soft spot for vintage military packs, and this one is truly special. Jack Carter, who restores these packs, wasn’t sure of its exact age but estimated it to be from the late 1950s or early 60s.
Specs:
- Internal aluminum frame
- Water-resistant salt-and-pepper nettle canvas with leather straps and bottom
- External flapped pocket (9 x 11 x 2 inches)
- Adjustable leather shoulder straps
- Main compartment (20 x 16 x 8 inches)
- Weight: ~6 lbs
Jack meticulously documented the restoration process, including deep cleaning, six rounds of leather cleaning, twelve coats of leather conditioner, and two cans of Filson Oil Wax applied with a heat gun to protect the canvas.
The result? A cavernous, beautifully restored rucksack that will accompany me on many POTA and SOTA excursions. At six pounds, it’s a bit heavy for longer hikes, but for moderate treks, it’s perfect.
I chose the TR-45L for its first POTA activation because I’ve always felt the TR-45L has a nice vintage/nostalgic look to it. It and the pack pair nicely!
Setup
Setting up the BNC clamp mount was a breeze. Mike designed it with a dedicated attachment point for the Elecraft AX2’s 13’ counterpoise.
After securing the antenna, I used the TR-45L’s built-in Z-Match ATU to achieve a near-perfect SWR.
Note: Unlike the AX1, the AX2 is a monoband antenna. Mine is set up for 20 meters, though the coil can be modified for other bands above 20 meters.
With everything in place, it was time to hit the air!
Gear:
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Radio
- Penntek TR-45L with optional Z-Match tuner and internal battery (note: this item has been discontinued)
Antenna System
- Elecraft AX2 with 13′ counterpoise
- AX1/AX2 KE8PTX Clamp Mount (print your own or buy at Tufteln)
- Tufteln BNC to BNC RG-316 Cable Assembly
Key and Cable
- CW Morse Outdoor Double Paddle With Steel Base
- Cable Matters 2-Pack Gold-Plated Retractable Aux Cable – 2.5 Feet
Logging
Pack and case
- Vintage Swiss Army Rucksack
- FoxPro padded case for the TR-45L (discontinued)
Camera Gear
- DJI OSMO 4 action camera with Joby Telepod Sport Tripod
- DJI Wireless Microphones
On The Air
To make the activation more fun, I lowered the output power to two watts. Earlier in the day, 20 meters had seemed lifeless, so I expected a casual activation with space between contacts.
I was wrong.
The band supported my little AX2 system surprisingly well.
After I was spotted, the contacts started rolling in.
I logged my first 10 contacts in just 8 minutes—as fast as I can run CW!
The pileups got heavier, and by the end, I had logged 33 contacts in 32 minutes.
Wow!
Here are my logs:
QSO Map
Here’s what this two-watt activation looked like when plotted out on a QSO Map:
Activation Video
Here’s my real-time, real-life video of the entire activation. As with all of my videos, I don’t edit out any parts of the on-air activation time. In addition, I have monetization turned off on YouTube, although that doesn’t stop them from inserting ads before and after my videos.
Note that Patreon supporters can watch and even download this video 100% ad-free through Vimeo on my Patreon page:
Click here to view on YouTube.
Just what I needed!
It had been a hectic day, and I had a two-hour Zoom meeting right after the activation. But this bit of radio therapy was just what I needed to recharge!
Taking my new-to-me backpack on a POTA outing was a blast. And the TR-45L? Its audio is simply amazing. Even when reviewing my activation video, I couldn’t get over how quiet the receiver was and how beautifully rich the audio sounded.
And the QSK? Silky smooth!
Fair warning to Penntek owners: Don’t ever sell yours—you’ll regret it!
Thank you
Thank you for joining me during this fun little activation!
I hope you enjoyed the field report and my activation video as much as I enjoyed creating them!
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.
As I mentioned before, the Patreon platform connected to Vimeo makes it possible for me to share videos that are not only 100% ad-free but also downloadable for offline viewing. The Vimeo account also serves as a third backup for my video files.
Thanks for spending part of your day with me!
Cheers & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL)
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