Field Reports, Morse Code, News, Pedestrian Mobile, Portable, POTA, QRP, Travel, Videos

This Rig Was Made For Walking: Pedestrian Mobile POTA with the Elecraft KH1!

4 Comments

by Thomas (K4SWL)

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, I was on the final stretch of my journey home after spending a full week on the road for FDIM and Hamvention.

The previous day—Monday—I had driven from Dayton, Ohio, to Hickory, North Carolina, so I could be with my father during his surgery. Thankfully, the operation was a complete success and wrapped up late that afternoon. I spent the evening with him and opted to stay overnight in a hotel in Hickory so I could check on him again early the next morning.

By Tuesday morning, he was doing well, and the doctors gave me the all-clear. So, I packed up and began the final leg of my trip back to the QTH.

Instead of heading straight home, though, I wanted to fit in a bit more POTA. Due to my father’s surgery, I had left Dayton a day early, missing a planned activation day with my Ham Radio Workbench friends.

The weather was wonderful, and I was curious to see if Tuttle Educational State Forest had reopened yet. The park had been closed since late September 2024 due to storm damage from Hurricane Helene. A quick call to the Tuttle office confirmed they were indeed open that Tuesday morning!

Tuttle Educational State Forest (US-4861)

If you’ve been a reader here for a while, you’ll know that Tuttle is one of my favorite POTA sites in the region. I’d really missed popping by for activations, so it felt like a bit of a homecoming when I pulled into the site entrance.

The first thing I noticed was the excellent progress on their new educational building. Thankfully, no trees had fallen on it during Helene.

There were still a number of roped-off areas in the park—spots the staff hadn’t yet cleared of tree debris.

I parked my car with one goal in mind: to film a true pedestrian mobile activation.

QRP POTA in Motion

Photo from my activation of Samuel Gross Memorial Woods on May 20, 2024.

Exactly one year ago to the day, I activated a park in Ohio completely pedestrian mobile—walking the entire time. It was a blast, even though band conditions were truly horrendous.

I wrote about that activation in this field report.

The only downside? I wasn’t able to take you along for the ride because I had no way to mount a camera and record the activation.

Several months ago, I purchased a clip-on camera mount for this very purpose. I first tested it while activating a park in western NC this past February, but the resulting footage was almost unwatchable—my arms and hands blocked the view the entire time. I realized I’d need to mount the camera much higher (near my shoulder) to make the video useful and enjoyable.

This activation at Tuttle gave me the perfect opportunity to properly test my new pedestrian mobile setup.

The funny thing is, setting up the KH1 for a pedestrian mobile activation is super, super easy—it literally takes about 20 seconds.

But if you’re making a video? That’s another story.

First, I pull the audio directly from the KH1 by connecting its headphone output to my Sony digital recorder. I then plug my earphones into the recorder. The audio cable from the radio to the recorder is long enough that I can comfortably walk with the recorder in my pocket.

Next, I mount the camera on my shirt and do a quick check to make sure it’s capturing video properly (which isn’t easy—the camera’s so close to my head that I can’t see the screen!).

An unflattering selfie of me managing the camera and radio.

Finally, I take a few extra moments to make audio and video cues to help me synchronize everything in post-production.

All told, it took me an additional 10 minutes to get the camera and audio gear set up and verified. Time well spent, though—I’ve always wanted to film an activation in motion!

Horrible Propagation

Propagation in and around Hamvention (and even today as I write this) has been pretty unstable.

It was so bad two days prior that some of our friends had to complete their POTA activation by working a number of us Park-To-Park using dummy loads. If that doesn’t make a lot of sense, I suggest you check out this (funny) video my friend Vince (VE6LK) made of the whole thing.

So, did it make sense to attempt a POTA activation in these conditions, pedestrian mobile, using a 5-watt handheld radio and a 4-foot whip antenna? Probably not, but I didn’t care. As Farragut put it, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

Gear

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Radio and Antenna System

Camera and Audio Gear

On The Air

While Tuttle has a really nice single-track trail network, I did not hike these for this pedestrian mobile activation for a couple of reasons (reasons I’d suggest you pay close attention to if you decide to walk and operate at the same time).

First off, it’s a bad idea to try to operate radio on a track that is uneven with rocks and tree roots along the entire route. It’s a recipe for tripping, twisting an ankle, and (even worse) falling flat on your face while holding a $1,000+ radio.

Secondly, the whip antenna needs clearance; otherwise, it’ll hit branches. Tuttle’s paths have low-hanging branches in many parts, so I would also need to pay careful attention to this while hiking and operating the radio. I’m well aware that I’m not nearly coordinated enough to do this!

Instead, I opted to walk Tuttle’s access road that crossed the entire length of the park. The road is gravel, even, and there are no low-hanging branches or limbs. Perfect for this type of activation! Continue reading This Rig Was Made For Walking: Pedestrian Mobile POTA with the Elecraft KH1! →

Field Reports, News, POTA, QRP

From Book to Key: A CW Beginner’s First POTA Foray

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My First POTA Adventure

by Alan (WB0ZJJ)

With trepidation, I ventured to Arthur Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Boynton Beach, Florida US-0232) with my tiny QRP-Labs QMX radio and CW Morse Pocket Paddle key.

Imagery 2025 NASA, Map Data 2025 Google, INEGI

The temperature and humidity were both over 90 (90F and 90% plus).  My eye glasses were constantly fogging over as I exited the car to set up a mag-mounted Gabil 7350 antenna atop my Prius Prime, (so I could sit with the A/C cooling and dehumidifying my first ever POTA park adventure).

I adjusted the coax, the counterpoise, and the antenna coil for the best SWR for the 20m QRP frequency of 20.060 MHz, and managed to get it to 1.7:1 this time.

Next, I setup the station in the back seat of my car.  The station consists of:

The Prius Prime has an 11 KWh battery which will allow sitting with the A/C set on 75F for many hours without needing the gas engine to run.

A little about me – a year ago I was reading the Sci-Fi book “SevenEves” by Neal Stephenson where a miner’s daughter saved humanity because she knew Morse code.  I decided I wanted to refresh my CW and get back on the air, (under no illusions I could save humanity).

I successfully built the QRP-Labs QMX rig, participated in the CW Academy Fundamentals class, and became CW buddies with Tim – VA3UZ.

Tim is very active in POTA and helped prepare me for hunting and the “icing-on-the-cake” situation of park-to-park contacts while hunting from a POTA park.

Fully setup in my car at Arthur R Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, I started my iPad VoiceRecorder app, and scanned the Pota.app spots page for 20m CW activators, tuning the radio for each one until I could hear a strong signal.

The band condition was terrible, sounding like a snoring dragon was eating my speaker, but there was a readable signal on 14.044 MHz.  The app said W4TRA was in US-2743 North Carolina, and I heard “CQ POTA CQ POTA W4T<missed chars>  K” screaming along at 19 WPM.

I paddled my call out at 15 WPM hoping, but also fearing, my south Florida QRP signal would make it to North Carolina.

From deep in the snoring dragon I could just barely hear  “??”, so I sent my call again and waited to see if the question marks were for me or someone else.

Oh boy, I heard my call, caught “TU” and then suffered complete panic as the dits and dahs suddenly were passing faster than my brain could swallow.

Only from the recording could I later learn they sent:

“WB0ZJJ TU UR 22N 22N BK”

When I heard the “BK”, I relaxed somewhat to send my formulated park-to-park response:

“TU UR 559 FL FL P2P P2P US 0232  US 0232 BK”

(Thankful that I didn’t make any sending mistakes!)

It was a great relief when I heard “BK RR”.  They continued sending but I only caught “TU” and my call from:  “BK RR US0232 TU <fading WB0ZJJ DE W4TRA K>”  (per the recording).

After a moment I could just barely pick out “CQ” from the snoring dragon and breathed a dragon size sigh of relief.  My very first park-to-park adventure was complete.

Summary

This first foray into POTA was brief, but definitely memorable. After that initial park-to-park contact, I managed one more QSO—a “cell-phone assisted” two-fer with my CW study buddy in Canada. Conditions were so rough that I could only complete it because I already knew his call and park numbers, and had him on the phone to confirm what I was hearing. Not exactly a habit I plan to get into, but it worked!

Shortly after, the thunder started getting a little too close for comfort, so I broke camp. Two QSOs total—one solid, one barely legit—but that first park-to-park was enough to make the outing a win in my book.

My confident CW copy is only around 10 WPM, and every QSO feels like a full cardio workout. I made six during the Florida QSO Party over two days and felt like I needed a week to recover! But this first POTA adventure was a big step forward, and I’m already looking forward to the next one.

Alan (WB0ZJJ)

Guest Posts, News

QRPer Discussion Board: Three Years of Community and Collaboration

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Three Years of the QRPer Discussion Board

by QRPer.net Admin

Purpose

Many of us who regularly visit the QRPer.com Web Log really enjoy the content created and curated here by Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL.  His unassuming style, broad knowledge, and humility have encouraged trust and loyalty among his followers.  Many of us openly defy the YouTube algorithm to follow his real time, real life, activation videos.  We have come to rely on the knowledge he shares in his thorough and comprehensive reviews of new equipment.  We also value his thoughtful and encouraging response to our burning questions.  In short, Thomas’s followers can happily consume as much time as he is willing to devote to meeting our needs, and we have him greatly outnumbered!

The QRPer.net Discussion Board was conceived as a means to ease Thomas’s burden by empowering the QRPer community to crowd-source answers to detailed questions, to provide a forum for discussion among QRP and Field Operating enthusiasts, and to educate and encourage newer operators.  Selfishly, it was hoped that this community involvement would enable Thomas to use his limited time to create more of the unique content that we all crave.

Three years ago, this free resource came into being.  Not only did it serve the desired purpose, but it also built a library of information gained through discussion, answers to questions, sharing opinions, and generally fostering enthusiasm and shared passion among the community.  Oh, and as a bonus, existing posts on the QRPer Discussion Board are searchable, making it fast and easy to find posted comments that match your question or your interest!

Growing Pains

To date there are over 800 members, some of whom have contributed to the almost 1400 posted comments related to QRP and field operation.  A group of volunteers moderates posted content (active moderation is rarely required, because Thomas’s followers are a well-mannered and courteous group).  Until mid-2024, setting up an account was simple and easy, but then our community was discovered and targeted by spammers.

We have tried a number of methods to keep spammers out, because spam accounts started posting off-topic, and objectionable content.  First we applied the hosting software’s automated anti-spambot countermeasures, basically a maze that a new user needed to navigate before creating an account.  This worked to a point, but spambots quickly found a path through the maze to create hundreds of new accounts per week.  So, now we require a correct answer to a QRP- or Amateur Radio-related question, changing the questions as the spambots catch on.  We also manually validate each new account before the owner is allowed to post to the Discussion Board.  This validation relies on 2-factors for authentication.

Validating New Accounts

Preferably account creators are validated because they also sent an email containing their account username, the email address that they used to create the account, and their amateur radio callsign (or “Short Wave Listener” if not licensed) to qrpernet@gmail.com.  When such an email is received for a newly created account, that account is activated for use.  This email requirement is only advertised on the QRPer.com Web Log, and spambots have not yet discovered this connection.

Often new accounts arrive without an email.  When this happens, your humble Admin looks at the username and email address for the new account.  If an amateur callsign can be discovered in either, it is manually looked up on QRZ.com.  When the email address of record on QRZ.com matches the email associated with the new account, the account is considered valid and it is activated.  When the QRZ.com page reports a different email address, it really slows down the process.  When time permits, an “Admin Email” from qrpernet@gmail.com may be sent to the QRZ email address of record, asking whether the licensee created the new account.  Frequently this does not elicit a response, likely because the Admin Email itself is deleted as spam.

Many times the licensee’s QRZ page does not report an email address, so validated communication is not possible.  These accounts are kept on the pending accounts list for a few weeks awaiting a confirmation email, but are then deleted when the pending accounts list grows to the point of becoming unmanageable.

Admin Email is not sent to the (unconfirmed) email addresses associated with new accounts, because that could be further exploited by the spammers.  Finally, accounts are not activated just based on their reference to a valid Amateur Radio callsign, because it is too easy to pirate callsign information and pair it with a bogus email address.

If you have had difficulty getting an account activated on the QRPer Discussion Board, you have my sincere apology.  Please try again, and send an email to qrpernet@gmail.com to speed validation.  Your Admin (who is not Thomas) chooses to remain anonymous to avoid any personal interaction with spammers and spambots.  Your patience is sincerely appreciated, because in the end, one volunteer from your community is handling the validation and activation process.  So far, the spammers have not found a way around these controls, but likely that is just a matter of time.

Conclusion

So there you have it!  It would be great to have all interested QRPers join and actively participate in the Discussion Board community.  You now know the potential benefits, you understand the challenges we face, and you understand how to get your own account activated quickly.  I hope to see your posts soon on the QRPer Discussion Board!

72,

Admin

Accessories, New Products, News, SSB

Two Compact Microphones for the Elecraft KX2 & KX3

6 Comments

Many thanks to Dean (KG7WGX) who recently shared a couple of interesting microphone alternatives for voice/SSB ops who use the Elecraft KX2 or KX3—especially in portable or pedestrian mobile setups.

Dean mentioned that while the stock Elecraft MH3 mic is excellent, it can feel a bit bulky for field use, especially when packing light for multi-mile treks. He also pointed out that unlike the KX2, the KX3 lacks a built-in microphone, which makes SSB less convenient without a dedicated mic.

If you’re considering a minimalist SSB setup, here are two compact, British-made mini-mic options that might be worth exploring:

M0JKS Mini-Mic

This mini-mic is fully featured with PTT and UP/DN buttons, offering near-complete MH3 emulation. Dean noted that it’s particularly useful for pedestrian mobile, especially if you’re using Morse frequency annunciation—allowing you to change frequency without removing the rig from your pack.

G7UFO Mini-Mic

Based on the K6ARK mini-mic design, this compact unit stacks a condenser mic element and PTT switch inside a right-angle TRS plug and printed housing. It’s available either as a kit (for confident kit builders) or fully assembled for plug-and-play use.

  • Based on the K6ARK mini-mic design
  • TRS cable, PTT only
  • Available as a kit ($17) or assembled ($27)
  • Order from G7UFO (U.S. shipping via PayPal)

Thanks again, Dean, for the excellent recommendations!

Field Reports, Morse Code, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, Videos

Post-Hamvention POTA: A Challenging but Relaxing Activation with Friends in Dayton

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Sunday, May 18, 2025, was the final day of Hamvention. It’s typically the slowest day, and I’ve even been known to skip it in favor of doing POTA with friends instead.

This particular Sunday, though, my dear friend Vince (VE6LK) was giving a mid-morning presentation about building go-boxes, so Eric (WD8RIF), Miles (KD8KNC), Len (W8VQ), and I headed to the Greene County Expo Center to attend.

Vince’s presentation was well-attended—most impressive for a Sunday morning!

As tempting as it was, I didn’t abscond with any of Vince’s radio kit!

Carillon Historic Park

Around 12:30, Eric, Miles, Len, and I left Hamvention and ventured into Dayton. We planned to do an activation at one of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park sites (US-0732).

Eric chose Carillon Historical Park as our activation site for US-0732. It’s an ideal POTA spot in many respects, with a large open field, several trees, and plenty of parking. That said, when we pulled into the site, we realized there was a public event underway and the parking lot was nearly full.

Fortunately, the parking attendants motioned us to park in a field close to where we would set up our stations. The music event was taking place on the far side of the park, so it didn’t interfere with our activation.

Eric, Miles, and Len made their way to a clearing and set up my Chelegance MC-750 antenna.

I picked a broad maple tree that provided a perfect shady spot for my station. The canopy not only kept me cool, but also offered a bit of stealth—not that stealth was necessary at this site, but with so much activity in the park, I wanted to keep my entire station contained in a safe, tidy space that wouldn’t trip up children running around nearby.

I set up my Helinox chair next to the trunk and deployed my throw line nearly vertically using the “granny shot” method—a technique I rarely use. It took two tries to get the line placed in a way I felt would support the antenna well. By shooting the line upward from underneath the canopy, both the antenna and throw line stayed in a tight footprint right beside me and entirely under the tree.

My antenna

Speaking of antennas, I was using a homebrew end-fed random wire sent to me by one of my readers and subscribers, Bryan (AD8HK). I believe Bryan may eventually offer a variation of this design commercially, but at present it’s still in development. He sent me this one purely for evaluation.

This particular antenna features a 9:1 transformer with a 17 ft 9 in radiator and an 8 ft 10.5 in counterpoise. With a wide-range ATU—like the one built into my KX2—it matches from 40 meters and up.

With my full station deployed, it was time to hit the air and see if the ionosphere had any charge left in it.

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Radio

Antenna & Supports

  • AD8HK Homebrew End-Fed Random Wire with 17ft 9in radiator and 8ft 10.5in counterpoise

Cable Assembly

Throw Line and Accessories

Other Field Gear and Accessories

Packs & Cases

Logging Supplies

Camera/Audio Gear

On The Air

Band conditions during Hamvention weekend were pretty dismal. I’ll admit, I was fully prepared to call CQ for a couple of hours, if necessary, to complete the activation (Eric felt the same way). We had no other plans for the afternoon, so time was on our side.

The great thing about pairing a small random wire antenna with my KX2 is the incredible frequency agility I get using its internal ATU. And during this particular activation, I definitely needed it. Continue reading Post-Hamvention POTA: A Challenging but Relaxing Activation with Friends in Dayton →

Accessories, Guest Posts, Hacks and Hints, News, POTA, SOTA

How “No Fly Zone” Clothing Changed My POTA Activations

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By Conrad Trautmann (N2YCH)

QRPer.com is a great resource for all of us field activators. Thomas (K4SWL) posts about all kinds of nifty tools and things to help us while doing our field activations. He recently posted a story about Red Oxx bags (I think I need one), also a recent post about insect repellents,  which made me wonder if he’d consider a guest post about “No Fly Zone” clothing. These are clothes made of insect repellent treated fabric. I asked, Thomas said yes, so here’s my story…

A few years ago, I decided to try and activate all of the parks in the State of Connecticut. During my quest, I was out in the parks a lot…often coming home complaining of bug bites, and covered with and smelling of Deep Woods Off bug spray. If there are 100 people in a room with me and one mosquito, it will find and bite me first. I simply attract any flying, biting insect. I’m a bug magnet. I just accepted the fact that getting bit up and dousing myself in bug spray was going to be part of my quest.

Then, my very supportive XYL, Dianne, decided to gift me two shirts from LLBean’s “No Fly Zone” collection. That was a game changer. These shirts work. Bugs hate them. The shirts are long sleeve to cover your arms with a collar that can be turned up and used to cover up your neck.

Conrad, N2YCH wearing an LLBean No Fly Zone shirt and Peter, K1PCN at POTA park US-1815, Little Beaver State Park in West Virginia

My first outing with one of these shirts was amazing. I called my wife from the park to tell her that the mosquitos were leaving me alone, except for my head. I said, “I wish these guys made a hat out of this material.”

Voilà, Dianne found me a hat, too!

Conrad, N2YCH, wearing an LLBean No Fly Zone hat and shirt at POTA US-1716, Silver Sands State Park in Connecticut

The web site for Burlington Fabrics, the company who manufactures the fabric, says this:

“No Fly Zone® Insect Repellent Technology is a permethrin-based technology that converts gear and garments into long- lasting, effective, and convenient insect protection.

The main ingredient, permethrin, is a man-made, contact insecticide, structurally similar to a naturally occurring chemical derived from the dried flowers of the Crysanthemum.”

The web site claims it will remain effective for 70 washes. So far, mine are still working just fine after a few years. Seeing how effective these clothes have been, Dianne has gotten me more shirts to add to my collection, including some short and long sleeve Tee’s and even a pair of socks.

Connecticut is home to the town Lyme disease was named for and we do have ticks here. I’ve been bitten once, thankfully not by one with Lyme disease. To combat this, I wear the LLBean insect repellent socks along with Merrill Moab 3 boots to discourage them from jumping up on me. Recently, I discovered that Columbia Sportswear makes “Insect Shield” clothing, including pants. I bought a pair of their Cargo pants and they worked great paired with my LLBean socks, shirts and hat.

Conrad, N2YCH wearing Columbia Insect Shield Cargo pants, Merrill hiking boots and a light gray LLBean No Fly Zone long sleeve T-shirt. With Peter, K1PCN at POTA US-0020, Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

One nice thing about the Columbia pants is that they have an adjustable elastic drawstring at the ankle cuff that you can pull tight to keep critters out. Insect Shield’s home page says that their fabric is also treated with permethrin. On a recent POTA outing on our way to the Dayton Hamvention, I was completely left alone by the hoards of flying insects at US-1815, Little Beaver State Park in West Virginia. No bug spray necessary.

Conrad, N2YCH wearing a gold LLBean No Fly Zone long sleeve T-shirt with the Connecticut POTA Activators Support Your Park Spring gathering at POTA US-1728, Wharton Brook State Park in Connecticut

Activated all Connecticut Parks

Thanks to my wonderful and supportive XYL who supports my hobby (and probably enjoys the peace and quiet when I’m off doing POTA), I did finally get to and activate all 150 parks here in Connecticut, most of them while wearing my No Fly Zone shirts and hat. They really work and I recommend them for a bug free activation.

Field Reports, Guest Posts, News, POTA, QRP, SSB

James’ first POTA activation with the IC-705

13 Comments

Many thanks to James (KI5OEB) who shares the following field report:

My First POTA Activation with a New Radio

by James (KI5OEB)

I decided, thanks to the influence of many people, mainly Thomas K4SWL and Steve KM9G, to purchase my first-ever new transceiver. I purchased an ICOM IC-705 from a retailer that had an open box item for sale. This was just before the 2025 Dayton Hamvention, when the new Yaesu FTX-1F was to be premiered. Many hours of evaluating specifications and performance numbers went into my decision, with a bit of influence from other videos as well. Most of the video footage that is available is actually from four years ago when this radio was first released.

Before going into the field, I unboxed the transceiver and made a few clicks on the new transceiver. I charged the attached battery during the week prior to use. A few other things I did were to prep an Apache Case and make sure I had the appropriate external batteries. I wanted to be ready to take this out for a successful first park activation.

Last Saturday, Memorial Day Weekend, I had some free time at about noon to go to a park, POTA US-7687 Drummond Flats Wildlife Management Area, to give this radio its maiden activation. It takes less than 20 minutes to drive there from my house, so this is my second most frequent location for activating. The site is a zero noise floor site on any band, which I have observed in the past, and today was no different.

Some quick history, I have a few years under my belt using both ICOM and Yaesu transceivers. I still ask others about things, but I can usually figure it out if given enough time. I have regularly used IC-7600, IC-7100, IC-706 MKIIG and IC-703+ transceivers with success. My standard antenna setups are 40m-10m EFHW from Coffee and Ham Radios with a 10m mast for a sloper configuration, 17’ Chameleon Whip on a Spike, and if I’m going to be activating for a longer time I use a DX Commander Classic 40m – 10m.

Today was only going to be a short, 1 to 3 hour activation, giving plenty of time for the QRP Single Side Band propagation to get out and be heard, much like I have done with the IC-703+ in the past. I set up the CHA-17 on the spike like normal, driving the 18” spike into the hard dirt with a hatchet from the truck. Nothing difficult, just spread out the nine radials on two crimped alligator clips, raise the mast for 17m to start, connect the RG-8x, and I was ready.

Next, I hooked up the external battery to the new transceiver, but wait, I need to make sure the nanoVNA has the perfect tune for 17m. Let me think, the IC-705 has an SWR sweep function like the IC-7100, let’s try that first and see. Bam, first try I was near 1:1 throughout the entire 17m band.

I placed the microphone and transceiver on the table where I’m set up and ready to go. Opened the screen to start the logging software on the laptop. Opened my phone to the POTA APP and self-spotted. I’m ready, but I’m not. In the 10 minutes it took to set up all the things I wanted to use, I got warm in the midday sun. So, I put the tailgate down, slid the canopy out, and proceeded to put up my 10×10 Sun shade, to include 16” nail spikes on each corner for the wind. Placed the beverage tote next to my chair, and now I was ready.

I turned the transceiver back on and listened. Okay I don’t know how to really run this new gadget, but it probably needs AF gain and RF gain, that is the same knob on this radio. Yes, they were nearly zero; now, with a flick of the knob, they are at 60% each. I am concerned that the waterfall is not showing signals. Well, it was learn as you go day here in the park, but the gain being raised made a difference on the waterfall, too. I saw a few faint signals; this will be okay. I hit the center/fix button and have the entire 17m band in view. Looking at the POTA APP, there are only two stations besides me on the band.

I zeroed in on an open spot that wasn’t being occupied and listened for about a minute. I asked a few times, like I’m supposed to, to find if the frequency was in use, but I heard nothing. Spotted that frequency, and we are off. I called CQ for over five minutes, and no reply. Then, I got two contacts back-to-back! Cool! This is going to be easy. Nope, someone moved in 1k below me and made it impossible. I moved up 3k and listened. Spotted on The POTA APP and started calling. Then, I get a few more contacts, and another intruder moved in above me this time by 2k. So I moved down 7k, to complete my activation. Frustrated a bit, but i now had 10 contacts and that was an activation.

So, I decided to move into the 20m space and hunt there for a bit. Went and extended the 17’ whip and got back to the radio to verify. I did something wrong on the screen, so no worries, I still have the nanoVNA handy, and Bam SWR near 1:1 again this time on the 20m band.

I was ready to hunt now. I did a little fiddling with the screen to let me see the Center instead of the fixed view from 17m. 20m band is packed with signals from 14.225 MHz through the top of the band edge at 14.350 MHz. This should be easy, but I’m hunting QRP!

After zero contacts, I wound up selecting a frequency between two QRO stations and parked on 14.291 MHz. I managed to make quite a few contacts here for the next 30 minutes. Great fun, and I had an ‘almost’ pile-up. Then, for 15 minutes, I used the spots page to find other stations.

In the end, I had made 38 contacts in two hours and twenty minutes. The real takeaway, though, was a realization that this is the finest receiver I have ever used. Through the front-firing speaker, I heard stations that I know no other radio in my collection would receive. I had to adjust my AF gain many times due to the fact that a 100-watt station sounded like they were sitting next to me, yelling. Then, I would hear a whisper, turn up the gain, and talk to a station in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan from Oklahoma, that is a big ask for 10 watts. In those 38 contacts, I was amazed, learning new things about the technology that allows a serious communication jump. This only took 38 contacts and a little over two hours.

If I am asked which transceiver I recommend to an amateur operator, I can’t say any other transceiver than the IC-705. This was a huge eye-opener for me. I hope other people in our hobby/service get the opportunity to use such modern equipment. Please, folks, take the time in the near future to peel the plastic off something new or at least go to a retailer or hamfest to try something new!

James Popham KI5OEB

News, QRP Radios

Scott Compares the FTX-1 and IC-705

6 Comments

If you’re curious about the new Yaesu FTX-1 field radio and how it compares to the Icom IC-705, Scott (KK4Z) has been doing a deep-dive series over on his blog. So far, he’s taken a look at form factor, connectivity, and power requirements, but he will add more.

You can check out all of Scott’s FTX-1 posts here: https://kk4z.com/.

Highly recommended reading if you’re considering either rig for the field!

Field Radio Kits, News, QRP Radios

Steve’s MTR3B-V4 Field Kit in a Rothco Shoulder Bag

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Many thanks to Steve (KV4AN), who shares the following article about his portable field radio kit, which will be featured on our Field Kit Gallery page.  If you would like to share your field kit with the QRPer community, read this post.

KV4AN’s MTR3B-V4 Field Kit

by Steve (KV4AN)

The convergence of Solar Cycle 25, lots of great new equipment offerings, many active participants in Parks on the Air (POTA), Summits on the Air (SOTA), and compatible family outdoor activities make this a great time to be a portable High Frequency (HF) QRP ham radio operator.  To take advantage of this happy situation, I was recently able to purchase a MTR3B-V4 “Currahee” Mountain Topper transceiver, shown in figure (1).  The MTR3B-V4 is a miniature three band (40, 20, and 15 meters) CW only QRP transceiver made by LNR Precision.

Figure 1.  MTR3B-V4 “Currahee” QRP Transceiver.

Naturally, I had to form a kit around the new radio.  My three goals for the kit were: small size, lightweight, and self-contained.  Let’s see how I did.  You can comment below if I left something out or if there’s a better choice.

The kit consists of the following items, as shown in figure (2)–links to these items are at the bottom of the page:

Figure 2.  MTR3B-V4 Kit.
  1. MTR3B-V4 “Currahee” Transceiver – 40, 20, and 15 meter QRP CW Transceiver.
  2. Custom Faceplate Cover – A practical and reasonably priced custom faceplate protective cover.   I accidentally ordered the cover for the previous version of the radio, but Joshua had no problem with me changing the order to the new one.
  3. Morse Code paddle – This is a reasonably priced paddle with a fairly good feel that I had lying around when the capacitive knobs didn’t work out.  I plan to replace it in the future with the CW Morse SP4 POTA/SOTA N0SA design paddle, which is smaller and field proven.
  4. 3.5mm Stereo Cable – A 1.5 foot, 3.5mm to 3.5mm stereo (TRS) cable.
  5. Koss Earbuds – Nice quality stereo earbuds.
  6. Earbud Cord Organizer – I hated to add the extra item, but I got tired of untangling the  wires of my earbuds.  This clever item has solved that problem and is color coordinated with the slick line.
  7. All-Weather Notebook – All-weather notepad for copying QSO information in the field.
  8. Miniature Pen – This is a miniature pen that says it writes on waterproof paper.  It will also write upside down, although that may not be a feature you need during normal activations.
  9. Koss In-line Volume Control – An in-line volume control for use with the earbuds.  The MTR3B-V4 has a rudimentary volume control, primarily used to set the maximum volume level.
  10. Battery Pack Pouch – A small pouch that perfectly holds the battery pack and keeps all the components together and protected.  If you use Icom BP-307 or BP-272 battery packs, they fit perfectly too.
  11. Battery Cell Holder – An eight “AA” cell holder with a 9V-style clip.  Eight “AA” NiMH batteries will provide a nominal 9.6V to the transceiver.
  12. AA NiMH batteries – Eight 1.2V “AA” NiMH 2800 mAh Low Self Discharge (LSD) battery cells.
  13. 9V Snap Clip – These are good quality 9V snap connectors that also have the coaxial power connector required by the MTR3B-V4 already attached.  They are more durable than the ones with exposed thin red and black wires.
  14. Coaxial Adapter – SO-239 to BNC adapter for use when using other antennas with coaxial cables which have a PL-259 connector.
  15. Reliance EFHW “Bugout” Antenna – A very small and sturdy 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter End-Fed Half Wave (EFHW) resonant antenna.
  16. Slick Line – High visibility slick line, which ties to the arborist throw bag to get the antenna into a tree and then suspends it.
  17. Arborist Throw Bag – A well-made arborist throw bag with a good all-around weight.
  18. Gerber Mullet Keychain – An all-in-one minimalist tool kit.  Better than a sharp rock, as they say.
  19. Rothco Shoulder Bag – A military-style shoulder bag, just large enough to hold all the kit components.
  20. Battery Charger – The battery charger (not shown) is an eight cell NiMH charger.  It does not fit in the shoulder bag and is left at home.

Of course, it all had to fit in a tacticool bag.  I selected the small Rothco Excursion Organizer, The shoulder bag, shown in figure (3), has all the items from figure (2) in it (trust me).  Use the orange pen as a reference for the size of the bag.  Clipped to the “D” ring on the left side is the Gerber “tool kit”.  The pocket on the front left has the CW Morse paddle, the pen is in its place, and the zippered pocket on the right has the earbuds.  The back zippered pocket has the antenna and battery pack, and safely nestled in the main area is the MTR3B-V4 and an arborist throw bag.  There is a zippered sleeve in the main pocket that contains the cable for the keyer paddle, an adjustment Allen wrench, and the SO-239 to BNC adapter.

Figure 3.  MTR3B-V4 Shoulder Bag.

Conclusion

One thing you may have asked yourself is why I included a Morse Code paddle when the MTR3B-V4 has a set of capacitive touch knobs.  The answer is simple – they didn’t work for me.  I really wanted them to, but the pad of my thumb will not activate the “dit paddle” without moistening it first.  Even then, I have to press the knob hard at a point almost to the joint, which is not a natural code sending motion or feel and results in very sloppy code.

Another item I purchased, but decided not to use was a pair 9V 500 mAh Lithium Ion rechargeable batteries.  The voltage of this battery right off the charger is below the specified input voltage for the MTR3B-V4.

The battery is the area in which I am most concerned.  I’m concerned that the 9.6V NiMH pack may not provide enough voltage over an activation to keep the voltage above the specified minimum voltage of 9V.  I may have to go to a 12V LiFePO4 battery, but that will not fit in the current shoulder bag.  I may have to go with a larger bag or use a MOLLE system where I can strap together several pouches.

I think I’ve came close to achieving my three goals of: small size, lightweight, and self-contained.  I’ve not completed an activation with this kit yet, so I’ll see how it all works together in a few weeks.  I’m also looking forward to reading your comments and suggestions.

72,

Steve

KV4AN

Gear List Links

[Note: Most Amazon and CW Morse links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.]

  1. MTR3B-V4 “Currahee” Transceiver (MTR3B V4 Currahee Mountain Topper)
  2. Custom Faceplate Cover (LNR MTR-3B-v4 Currahee Magnetic Protective Cover – Tufteln)
  3. Morse Code paddle (Black Pocket Double Paddle Morse Code Key – cwmorse.us)
  4. 3.5mm Stereo Cable (Amazon.com: Aux Cord 1.5ft, 3.5mm Aux Cable – Nylon Braided Audio Cable 3.5mm Male to Male AUX Cord Compatible with Car,Headphones, iPods, iPhones, iPads,Tablets,Laptops,Android Smart Phones& More (1.5FT) : Electronics)
  5. Koss Stereo Earbuds (Amazon.com: Koss 191651 KE5 Earbuds (Black) : Electronics)
  6. Earbud Cord Organizer (Amazon.com: ELFRhino Cord Organizer Earbuds Holder Earphone Wrap Earphones Organizer Headset Headphone Earphone Wrap Winder Cord Manager Cable Winder Green : Electronics)
  7. All-Weather Notebook (Amazon.com : GLORYFIRE Waterproof Notebook Tactical All-Weather Spiral Memo Paper Notepad with Waterproof Grid Paper for Outdoor Activities Recording 3″x5″ (5pcs) : Office Products)
  8. Miniature Pen (Amazon.com : Tombow BC-AP54 Pressurized Permanent Ballpoint Pen (Can Write on Wet Paper/Back), Air Press to Squeeze Ink Ink, 0.7, Orange : Rollerball Pens : Office Products)
  9. Koss In-line Volume Control (Amazon.com: Koss 155954 VC20 Volume Control, Standard Packaging, 39-Inch Cord, Compatible with Cell Phones and Headphones : Volume Control: Electronics)
  10. Battery Pack Pouch (Amazon.com : TRIWONDER Tactical Cigarette Pouch Molle Small Military Bag Battery Cigarette Case EDC Utility Card Holder Lighter Slot Mini Cigar Waist Pack (01 Green – 2 Pack) : Sports & Outdoors)
  11. Battery Cell Holder (Amazon.com: QTEATAK 2Set 8 x AA Thicken Battery Holder with I Type Wired Battery Clip Standard Snap Connector : Electronics)
  12. AA NiMH Batteries (Amazon.com: WENJOOP Rechargeable AA Batteries, 2800mAh High-Capacity NiMH AA Rechargeable Battery Long-Lasting Power, 8 Pack Double A Batteries Size for Household and Office Devices – 1.2 Volt Low Self Discharge : Health & Household)
  13. 9V Snap Clip (Amazon.com: CHANZON UL Wire 9V Battery I-Type Power Supply with Center Positive 2.1mm x 5.5mm Male DC Connector Holder Clip Converter, 5 Pack for Arduino, LED Strip : Electronics)
  14. Coaxial Adapter (Amazon.com: Ahoaepy 2PCS UHF to BNC Adapter, Low Loss SO239 Female to BNC Male Coaxial Cable Connector Adapter for CB Radio,Radio,Antennas.Extension Coax Cable : Electronics)
  15. Reliance EFHW Antenna (EFHW Bugout 56:1 40-10M Antenna – Reliance Antennas)
  16. Slick Line (Amazon.com : LiteOutdoors Guyline & Tensioner Kit – 1.8mm Diameter – 60 or 100 feet – Ultralight Reflective Tent Cord, Lightweight Non-Slip Cord Adjusters. Camping, Hiking, Paracord : Sports & Outdoors)
  17. Arborist Throw Bag (Amazon.com : SOB Outdoor Throw Weight Bag 250g Arborist Durable Climbing Rope Bag Multi Throw Bag Tree Rock Spelunking : Sports & Outdoors)
  18. Gerber Mullet Keychain (Gerber Gear Mullet Keychain – Multi-Tool Keychain with Pry Bar, Bottle Opener, and Wire Stripper – EDC Gear and Equipment – Stonewash – Amazon.com)
  19. Rothco Shoulder Bag (Amazon.com: Rothco Excursion Organizer Shoulder Bag, Olive Drab : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry)
  20. Battery Charger (Amazon.com: EBL AA AAA Battery Charger, 8-Bay Individual Charger for NiMH NiCD Rechargeable Batteries with AC Plug Fast Charging : Electronics)

 

Articles, How To, News, POTA, Skills, SOTA

Bitten By the Bug? Staying Safe from Ticks, Mosquitoes, and Other Blood-Sucking Nasties in the Field

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If you’ve been following my field reports for any length of time, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of activating in wooded, remote, and sometimes… bug-infested places. But one thing I never take lightly is protecting myself—and my family (including Hazel!)—from ticks, mosquitoes, and other biting bugs that can really ruin an outing or worse.

Why It Matters

Ticks are more than just a nuisance. In many parts of the world—including right here in eastern North America—they carry diseases like Lyme and others that can have serious, long-term consequences. They’re not just a seasonal inconvenience; they can be a life-changing encounter if you’re not careful. And our four-legged trail companions? They’re just as vulnerable.

Mosquitoes are no joke either. While disease-carrying mosquitoes are more prevalent in other regions, we still have occasional cases of West Nile Virus, and for those who are allergic, mosquito bites can cause serious reactions. At the very least, they’re a major distraction during activations.

My Defense Strategy

Over the years, I’ve built up a toolkit of bug-defense tactics that vary depending on location, season, and bug density.

Please note: many of the links below link to Amazon and are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you. 

“Natural” On-Skin Treatments

If I’m in a place like the mountains of North Carolina—especially outside of the heavy tick season (typically spring)—I’ll often reach for more natural repellents. Here are a couple I use:

  • Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent
    This one’s a favorite. It’s DEET-free and surprisingly effective. I’ve even used it successfully in the Maritimes of Canada, where mosquitoes can be relentless. Every time I catch its scent, it brings back memories of hiking through PEI, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
  • No Natz
    A kind reader sent me a bottle last year, and it’s worked well so far in low-density insect areas. It has a milder scent than Repel, but I haven’t tested it in high-tick or mozzie zones yet.

DEET

I have a real love/hate relationship with DEET. It works, no doubt.

When I’m in an area with heavy mosquito and tick populations, I’ll reluctantly use it—but only as a last resort. I dislike the feel of it on my skin when I’m sweating. It also has this odd side effect: if it gets near my lips, it makes them go numb.

That said, it’s very effective and widely available.

Be aware: DEET can damage certain plastics and synthetic fabrics—your radio gear, GPS screens, and eyeglass frames included—so use it cautiously. Still, it’s more effective (from my point of view) than many of the natural options.

If I’m plotting activations in the backwoods of Alaska where mosquitoes are the size of birds? Yeah, I’m going to use DEET.

The brands I tend to use (although, honestly, I’m not sure there’s much of a difference because the percentage of DEET is a more important indicator) are:

  • Deep Woods Off – You can find these bottles in any local retailer as well. I find that their 25% DEET concentration works in most situations.
  • Coleman 100% Max – These bottles are small and easily fit in my backpack. It’s a very high concentration of DEET (98.11%) so I use it when in areas with a high concentrations of mozzies or ticks.
  • Repel 100 – These are like the Coleman bottles above (98.11% DEET) and you’ve likely seen me use them in videos in the past. I do like these pump spray bottles for backpacking.

Clothing Choice

Bug season usually overlaps with hot, sunny weather, so I wear lightweight, breathable long-sleeve shirts and trousers—typically light in color so ticks are easier to spot. I also wear a wide-brimmed Tilley sunhat, which pulls double duty as sun and bug protection.

I also pack a mosquito head net that fits over my wide-brimmed hat. Frankly, I rarely operate where I need to use this, but I appreciate knowing it’s tucked away in my backpack just in case. This net also works well if I’m hiking through an area heavy with gnats–keeps them out of my eyes!

Treating Your Clothing with Permethrin

Of all the bug-fighting strategies, treating clothing with permethrin has been the most effective for me.

I started using permethrin when traveling to rural parts of Belize where malaria-carrying mosquitoes are a real threat. I treated my hat, shirt, trousers, and shoes, and while my colleagues were constantly swatting bugs, I barely noticed them. Not one single bite.

My go-to product: 

Sawyer Products SP649 Premium Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent Trigger Spray (12 oz).

Important notes:

  • One treatment lasts for six weeks or six washings. When applying on your clothes, the product needs to penetrate the fibers, so apply it quite liberally almost making each article wet to the touch.
  • Do not apply directly to your skin. Ever.
  • Let treated clothing dry completely (12+ hours) before wearing

This approach is so effective, I now treat my summer hiking clothes at the start of each bug season and often re-apply half way through. I don’t live or activate in an area known for heavy tick and mosquito populations, so I can usually get away with only two treatments per year. The most important one is when ticks are most active in the spring.

There are other brands of Permethrin sprays out there as well. I typically buy my bottles via Amazon or at REI (where it’s often in stock). If you live outside the US, any camping gear or hunting store will have Permethrin.

If I’m Stationary

You might’ve noticed in some of my evening or camping activation videos that I’m running a little device nearby. It’s a Thermacell Mosquito Backpacker Repeller—and I love it.

It screws onto a standard fuel canister and creates a small mosquito-free zone. I’ve used it with great success in some of Canada’s buggiest backwoods and on the coast of North and South Carolina in the evenings when mosquitoes come out in full force. One fuel canister lasts a very long time, and I often use it with the family when camping or picnicking. Highly recommended.

Note that you’ll want to keep a stash of Thermacell refills.

Since Thermacell refills aren’t cheap, I tend to stick with other repellents if I’m only performing a short activation or, especially, in an area where the mosquito population isn’t heavy. I do use the Thermacell when I plan to do a POTA rove (thus I can use the same Thermacell pad at multiple sites) or if I plan to stay at a site for one hour or longer.

Note: If You Get a Tick

Ticks happen, even with precautions. I keep a tick puller (or Tick Key) in my wallet during tick season. They’re inexpensive, lightweight, and super effective.

If you’re bitten by a deer tick in an area where Lyme disease is prevalent, consult your doctor as soon as you can.

Often, a short course of cheap antibiotics—often just two doses—can prevent infection if started early.

Final Thoughts

I feel that staying safe from ticks and mosquitoes is part of being a responsible and prepared field operator. Protecting yourself helps ensure your activations are fun, not frustrating.

Do you operate in bug-prone regions? I’d love to hear what’s worked for you—whether it’s a product, method, or even an old-school trick passed down from a camping buddy. Let’s keep the bites to a minimum and the contacts coming in!

—Thomas (K4SWL)

Connecting an international community through low-power field radio adventures.