I think I just found out why my (tr)uSDX gave me receive problems when using a 6V lantern battery plugged into the radio in the 2.1mm power input.
In the first several minutes of the DL2MAN explanatory video, he overviews the use of the two ports that can take power.
The USB B power port on the left side can be used for the power supply and for uploading software and for radio control via CAT commands.
The main 2.1mm power port he states can take between 7 -16V.
If 5V is used, he suggests using the USB port.
I wired the 6V battery to a 2.1mm connector and used the main power port and apparently since I did not deliver a minimum of 7V I had flakey receive behavior.
I have since powered my unit from several different USB power packs through the USB port with no issues.
[…]I went through all sorts of USB cables until finally found the right one for powering from power packs/laptops, etc to the (tr)uSDX! This is the one I am using (affiliate link).
73,
Bob
K7ZB
Thank you for the update, Bob! Impressive that the (tr)uSDX can be powered with such low voltage.
In November 2023, the YL had the chance to go to Salt Lake City to collaborate with professional genealogists at the Family Search Library to assist with her family tree. It proved to be a very productive week for her, filled with tips, tricks, and new search areas. Normally, I wouldn’t take a trip like this since I’m still working, but this is something she’s passionate about. I then realized I’ve never been to Utah; they have parks, I have a KH1, and I enjoy exploring. For a few extra dollars and a rental car, I’m going.
I began my research on parks located within an hour of Salt Lake City (SLC). On a whim, I reached out to Forrest KI7QCF for suggestions, and he was happy to help. I ultimately chose five parks in and around SLC: This Is The Place Heritage Park (US-5950), East Canyon State Park (US-3068), Great Salt Lake State Park (US-3075), Antelope Island (US-3062), and Jordanelle State Park (US-3080). Unsure of what to expect from the TSA, I decided to simply bring my Elecraft KH1 Edgewood package charger and spare key. All my activations would be PM. Let’s see what happens; I’ll still enjoy exploring.
This Is The Place Heritage Park (US-5950)
This is the Place Heritage Park (US-5950)
Day one took me to This Is The Place Heritage Park (US-5950). After checking out all the attractions, I set up in a parking lot at the base of a mountain and made twenty contacts, all on 20m. One down. The plan was to activate one park per day. As I was logging my activation, I discovered that Pony Express National Trail (US-4578) runs through US-5950.
Pony Express National Trail (US-4578)
New plan! I returned to the park on day two for my first twofer. Standing under the Pony Express Monument, I made thirteen contacts between heavy snow squalls—running for the car whenever needed! All on 20m.
East Canyon State Park (US-3068) and East Canyon WMA (US-10564)
East Canyon State Park (US-3068)
Day three took me to East Canyon State Park (US-3068). The hour-long drive was scenic and beautiful, winding through the mountains. While en route, I discovered East Canyon WMA (US-10564).
East Canyon WMA (US-10564)
Guess what I did on the way back? I managed eleven contacts in each park within the available time. Four down!
The next morning, I noticed my radio’s charge light was still on. I didn’t think much of it, as I had plugged it in later in the evening.
Great Salt Lake State Park (US-3075)
Great Salt Lake State Park (US-3075)
Day four brought me to Great Salt Lake State Park (US-3075). The lake, mountains, and islands were stunning. It was a bit hazy, but just being there and exploring was great. After taking in the scenery, I set up and got fourteen contacts on 20m. Five down! However, I noticed my battery indicator was only showing half charge—unusual after just an hour’s use.
After the activation, I went exploring. There’s a large square black rock about 200 yards out in the lake that settlers once used as a diving platform. I wanted a closer look. Just a big rock that rolled off the mountain sometime in the last 100,000 years—very much out of place. On the way back, I discovered that the California National Historic Trail ran close to the park. With my battery in question, I decided against another activation.
Antelope Island State Park (US-3062)
Antelope Island State Park (US-3062)
Day five took me to Antelope Island—my favorite park of the trip. The drive over the seven-mile causeway was breathtaking. I opted to activate first. Just inside the park, I found a driveway winding up a hill to what looked like a seasonal restaurant. There was a 250-foot rise above the parking lot, which I climbed for my activation. The 360-degree view was incredible.
During my activation, a Korean student on a field trip asked what I was doing. He was very interested as I explained amateur radio and its possibilities. I suggested he investigate it further when he got home. He thanked me and rejoined his group. We are ambassadors to the world!
I continued my activation and made thirteen contacts—before my radio died. ?!?!? Six down. Would I get another? Had I worn out my battery in just seven months? Long story short, a couple of components in the charging unit had failed, limiting it to 10V. Elecraft repaired it under warranty.
For the next few hours, I explored the island, encountering bison, deer, waterfowl, cattle, grasslands, mountains, and a working ranch from the early 1800s. It was a wonderful day. I think of this park often.
Jordanelle State Park (US-3080)
Jordanelle State Park (US-3080)
Day six took me to Jordanelle State Park (US-3080). The drive was exhilarating for a flatlander from Ohio—mountain passes, sweeping curves, and 75 mph speeds! Had I dared to blink, I’m sure the scenery would have been even more amazing.
The park was beautiful, with a lake, campground, beach, walking trail, and boating areas. If we return, I’ll park the RV there. I decided to set up at the beach for my activation. To conserve power, I turned off everything unnecessary and set the radio to low power—1W with a 1:1 SWR. Could a 1W PM activation be done? Yes! It took over an hour, but I made twelve contacts using 20m, 17m, and 15m.
Final Thoughts
We had a great trip. The YL received invaluable help and information, making breakthroughs in her family tree. I had fun exploring, taking pictures, and successfully completing seven activations. As a bonus, we attended a Wednesday night practice session of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir—an amazing experience.
As I mentioned in my last post, the KH1 has pushed me to explore more. Without it, I may never have visited SLC and the surrounding areas. I’m 67 years old, and while I won’t be climbing mountains anytime soon, the portability of this radio has taken me to places I’d never been before. Hopefully, there will be many more to come!
“It would be nice to hear from your listeners/subscribers about which is the most robust paddle! I have not met a paddle yet that has not failed in the field at some point. Thanks for all your good work.”
This is a great question.
I feel that almost all of the paddles and keys I regularly take to the field pass muster.
Some of my picks
Note that some of the following links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com.
I’m a big fan of CW Morse’s $45 US 3D-Printed Pocket Paddle. I find it to be remarkably robust. I toss it in my backpack without any extra covers or protection, and I’ve never had one break. I also appreciate how easily adjustable it is in the field.
Similarly, the KM4CFT paddle seems to hold up well, though I haven’t owned one as long.
The CW Morse CNC Machined Aluminum Paddle is one of the most rugged paddles I own. This key is CNC-machined (except for the 3D-printed top cover), making it virtually bulletproof. A solid choice!
The BaMaKeY TP-III is another solid paddle. It’s not inexpensive, but I’ve never regretted purchasing one. When paired with the Senrog Bench Block, it becomes a stable tabletop key that won’t move as you operate. During transport, I use the Tufteln protective cover, though I feel this key could survive in a backpack with minimal extra protection.
While the VK3IL Pressure Paddle V2 doesn’t feel substantial in the hand–it’s a touch paddle built on a circuit board–it’s incredibly robust due to its lack of moving parts. It’s easy to protect in a pack, and there’s little that can go wrong with it. If you’d rather not build one yourself, Vince (VE6LK) has some excellent options.
At 298 Euro, the Begali Traveler is the most expensive paddle on this list. It’s also the heaviest. But if you’re looking for a larger, precision field key that’s robust, it’s hard to beat. The Traveler has folding wings that protect the finger pieces during transport and open when you’re ready to operate.
I love this key and take it with me when size and weight aren’t major concerns. Pair it with a Tufteln protective cover for ultimate protection in your field pack.
Your suggestions?
I’ve limited this list to keys I’ve taken to the field numerous times and have owned for at least a year. Of course, my experience is limited to the keys I own—there are so many others on the market!
In your real-world experience, what do you consider the most robust field keys? Please share your suggestions in the comments!
February has been a whirlwind of a month. Between juggling projects and my daughters’ incredibly busy senior year of high school, free time has been in short supply.
That said, I’ve made it a goal (for the sake of my own sanity—ha!) to squeeze in as much radio time as possible.
Super Portable POTA
Before October 2023, my go-to radio and antenna combo for quick POTA or SOTA activations was the Elecraft KX2 paired with the AX1 or AX2 antenna.
My trusty KX2/AX1 combo!
Even now, I rely on that setup when I want to minimize gear deployment and maximize on-air time. As long as I have a surface to set the radio on—be it a picnic table or my kneeboard–I’m good to go.
But in October 2023, the Elecraft KH1 changed the game. Designed for handheld operation with virtually zero setup time, this radio has made quick activations even more accessible. Given my current busy schedule, the KH1 has been an absolute lifesaver.
It stays packed in my EDC backpack at all times, ready for an impromptu activation or some portable POTA/SOTA hunting.
A Spontaneous Challenge: 45 Minutes to Activate!
Thursday, February 4, 2025, was a perfect example of this radio’s convenience.
My wife and I had a long list of errands, including dropping off donations at various thrift stores and hurricane relief centers. My wife loves thrift shopping (and volunteering), especially when it comes to browsing clothing sections. As we stopped at one of her favorite large thrift stores to drop off donations, she turned to me and said, “I’d like some time here. Could you do a really quick POTA activation and be back in 45 minutes?”
Without hesitation (I do love a challenge), I said, “Heck yeah!”
Mental Math
I quickly mapped out my plan:
The nearest POTA entity was the Blue Ridge Parkway (US-3378), about a 5-6 minute drive away.
I already had a mental spot in mind where I could park and get on the air fast.
Filming the activation would add at least 3-4 minutes for setting up my camera and audio recorder.
Breakdown of the time constraints:
Round-trip drive: ~10-12 minutes
Camera/Audio setup: ~4 minutes
KH1 setup: ~20 seconds
Scheduling the activation: ~1 minute
Remaining activation time: ~29 minutes
Totally doable—as long as nothing went sideways!
A Two-Fer Bonus!
When I arrived at my planned activation spot, I needed only one thing: a place to park. Since the KH1 is fully handheld, I could operate anywhere.
The red pin is roughly the location where I parked.
I recalled a small pull-off near the Mountains to Sea Trail (US-8313)—a place I’d used before for a quick hike. If the parking spot was close enough to the MST, this might count as a two-fer.
You can see the Mountains to Sea Trail on the left and the short path leading to it from my parked car on the right.
After arriving on site, I confirmed that I was within 20 feet of the MST. POTA rules require that an activator must be within 100 feet (30.5 meters) of a trail for it to count as an activation–obviously, I was well within those limits.
Although I could have operated directly from the trail, the MST is a busy single-track trail, and I didn’t want to block hikers. So, I opted to activate from the parking spot instead.
Next, all I had to do was grab the KH1, set up my camera gear, and hop on the air!
Gear
Note: All Amazon links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.
I was recently traveling for work to Chicago, IL. I wouldn’t think of a big city as the first place for one of my radios to go, but the KH1 doesn’t take up much room and it’s a new toy I’ve been wanting to play with. I took a train from my home in Michigan to Union Station in Chicago where I was staying downtown. Taking a look at the POTA map there aren’t many opportunities to activate a park.
The map feature on the POTA.app
I don’t always sleep well away from home and Illinois is one hour behind Michigan. I woke around 5:30 AM local time which fits my normal routine. I was wide awake and I didn’t have any appointments until much later in the morning. Time to take a look at the local train system.
METRA Electric Line
I found the METRA Electric Line that ran from Millennium Station downtown to well past the stop I was looking for, 111th St Pullman.This stop brought me to a former factory that built train cars from 1881-1968 and was turned into a national monument. Pullman National Monument (US-7917) which is owned and operated by the National Parks Service.
Finding this route I suited up, packed my bag, and headed out into the early morning dark. I was aiming to make Millennium Station by 6:35 and it was about a mile from my hotel. The sun wasn’t providing much light once I ventured out and the temp was around 23° F°/-5° C°. I stopped a few times to snap some quick pics while trying to make it to the station on time. The color from the sunrise appears much better in the pictures than to the naked eye.
The Chicago river from the Michigan Ave bridge
I made it to the station by 6:25. Plenty of time to buy my ticket and make it to the train. The 6:35 train would make it to 111th St around 7:04 depending on how late it ran. My plan was to make the 8:24 return train giving me an hour and twenty minutes to operate and secure the activation. There was an earlier departure from 111th at 7:34, but that seemed ambitious. If I made a later train at 9:36 I would be delayed an additional 30 minutes due to construction on the line. 7:04-8:24 sounded like plenty of time to activate the park.
Pullman National Monument at 7:08 AM
Given the time in the morning I decided to give the AXE a try on 40m. My KH1 field kit contains a 20’ counterpoise extender of 26 awg silicone wire to add to the 13’ standard counterpoise that I use for 15m-20m. Deployment took under a minute and I was able to find a frequency and lock my VFO in so I don’t bump it while operating pedestrian mobile.
The Elecraft KH1 with AXE operating pedestrian Mobile on 40m
I had the activation scheduled and began calling CQ. I noticed the RBN picked my station up almost immediately based on the POTA spotting page. My PoLo app (Portable Logger) was set up and ready to copy. I do a hybrid method of logging, I copy callsigns via the paper sheets in the logging tray and then enter them with my free hand into the app. This keeps the time sync easier when going to upload the log.
According to the app my first contact was in the log at 7:14 and the final (13th) was logged at 7:31. I had walked into the park 23 minutes prior and had 13 contacts after setting up my station. This also meant that I didn’t need to wait for the 8:24 train, the 7:34 train should work. I packed my gear up and dashed to the station. Thankfully trains have a tendency to run a little later than scheduled and I was easily able to make it. Back to the hotel where a hot breakfast waited.
I don’t believe this activation would have been possible if it weren’t for the KH1. Which is exactly why I have it. Easy to always have on me and bring pretty much anywhere. The deployment speed coupled with the activation speed is unmatched in my experience. The radio is a premium niche product that I am glad I don’t have to live without. I’m looking forward to many more activations with it.
Here are a few other photos from the trip down south.
On Thursday, January 30, 2025, I did something I hadn’t done in months—I activated the Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace State Historic Site (US-6856).
Regular readers know that western North Carolina was hit hard by Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024. The Vance Birthplace–nestled in the Reems Creek valley which experienced severe flooding–had been closed for months.
I hadn’t driven out that way post-Helene, assuming the worst. In general, I avoided traveling into affected areas unnecessarily to keep traffic light for those working on recovery efforts.
Recently, another local activator mentioned that the site had reopened. A quick call to the park confirmed that I was welcome to activate, so I packed up my gear and headed out.
Assessing the Site
Upon arrival, I was relieved to see that the site itself hadn’t sustained significant flood damage. There were several downed trees, including a few that hadn’t yet been cleared, but the picnic shelter—the spot I usually operate from—was in great shape. Two large trees had fallen near it, but thankfully, the structure remained unscathed.
For this activation, I opted to use my Chelegance MC-750 self-supporting vertical antenna rather than relying on one of the remaining trees.
Setup
I was so eager to get on the air that I nearly set up the antenna before starting my activation video. Fortunately, I caught myself just in time, grabbed the camera, and recorded the process.
Setting up the MC-750 was simple. I extended the stainless whip to a quarter-wave length on 20 meters, deployed the four counterpoise wires, and connected the feedline to my radio.
I brought my Penntek TR-45L (full-size version) for this activation, and setup was minimal. With its large internal battery, I only needed to ensure the Z-Match tuner was in bypass mode, plug in the antenna and key, and I was ready to go.
Originally, I planned to test a new prototype paddle that had recently arrived. However, the left paddle wasn’t functioning consistently. (After the activation, I discovered a bonding issue between two contact points—mystery solved!) I quickly swapped in my CW Morse double paddle, which I always keep as a backup.
With my logs in place, it was time to hit the air!
Gear:
Note: All Amazon, CW Morse, ABR, Chelegance, eBay, and Radioddity links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.
Radio
Penntek TR-45L with optional Z-Match tuner and internal battery (note: this item has been discontinued)
Activating on the Road: National Forests and National Grasslands
by Brian (K3ES)
After a short break, with life getting in the way, this article continues my series on our 2024 road trip across the United States (Six Weeks and 7300 Miles: Activating on the Road). I hope to wrap up the series with a couple more articles (not yet written) over the next few weeks.
One of the goals of our great 2024 adventure was to make significant progress toward the Activated All States award for Parks on the Air (POTA). To do this, we planned our route across the American west to pass through all of the Western states that I still needed to activate. Since we still planned to spend time visiting with my parents at their home in California, we kept our travel time limited to about 2 weeks for the outbound trip and 1-1/2 weeks for the return trip. While our route would meander, we had to limit the time we spent in each of the states. Thus, many of the parks where we stopped were chosen because they were located very close to our planned driving route, and could be activated during a short break during the travel day.
To make activation planning work, we became very familiar with maps: Google Maps, the mapping function of POTA.app, a big handful of state highway maps from the American Automobile Association (AAA), and the National Park Road Atlas. While mapping with POTA.app was our go-to resource for choosing parks, it does have one significant drawback: there is only one locator pin for each park, which fails to convey the full extent of some vast entities. This is particularly true for National Forests (NFs) and National Grasslands (NGs). If you are trying to activate entities near your planned travel route through the American west, there is a good chance that you will find yourself within the boundaries of a NF or NG, and chances are equally good that the pin representing that entity on the POTA.app map will not be found anywhere near your current location.
We discovered that the expansive NFs and NGs were represented well on our paper highway maps, and were also well marked with signs along the highways. These entities, operated by the Department of Agriculture, have no general admission fee, are typically not crowded with people, and are generally a permissive environment for POTA operators. By permissive environment, I mean that there were not restrictive rules about antennas, ropes, wires, and use of trees. Some of these entities have picnic areas, campgrounds, and trails that can serve a POTA activator well, but it is also possible to find road-side sites that are suitable for quick activations. The following sections contain brief reports on the six NFs and NGs that we activated during our trip.
Buffalo Gap National Grassland US-7487
We found a trail head parking area in Buffalo Gap NG, located just outside the entrance gate to Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Having finished our drive through Badlands, I decided to do a quick activation of the adjacent entity. Although the trailhead area had few amenities, I was quick to take advantage of one: a couple of small trees that provided a patch of shade for the truck on a hot and bright afternoon.
On the air from US-7487 for a CW QRP activation.The truck is parked in the shade, with my collapsible fishing pole tied to the back bumper to support the antenna.
I set up using my Tufteln 35 ft end-fed random wire (EFRW) antenna, with a collapsible fishing pole supporting the apex for the inverted V configuration. I operated for less than 40 minutes on the 20m band, as usual running CW at 5 watts, and logged 34 contacts. That was a spectacular success in my book!
This map shows the contacts made from US-7487.
Black Hills National Forest US-4524
A few miles down the road from Mount Rushmore National Monument, we found the Breezy Point Picnic Area in Black Hills NF. Having already activated Mount Rushmore, we stopped to eat our lunch, use the comfort facilities, and give POTA dog Molly a chance to stretch her legs. In keeping with the name, there was a pleasant breeze. The temperature was comfortable, and there were a number of picnic tables shaded by adjacent trees. Naturally, I took the time to set up my station to activate this new-to-me South Dakota entity while we were there.
Setting up to operate from the picnic table, with the throw line supporting my antenna in the background.On the air at US-4524.
I threw a line up into the branches of a tall evergreen tree beside my picnic table, and pulled up my Tufteln 35 ft EFRW antenna into a near vertical configuration. In a bit less than 30 minutes, I logged 22 QRP CW contacts to complete a successful activation.
This map shows the contacts made from US-4524.
Oglala National Grassland US-7478
The truck in US-7478, with the collapsible fishing pole located behind it to support the antenna.
Having spent a few days enjoying spectacular sights in southwestern South Dakota, we were close to the corner of Nebraska, and wanted to make a quick hop across the border for an activation before continuing our travel northwest into Wyoming. Consulting our maps, we found that part of Oglala NG was located just across the border, making it very convenient for a quick activation. We followed a highway across the border, turned onto a gravel road, and followed it a short distance to the sign for Oglala NG. Continue reading Maps, Miles, and Morse: K3ES’ POTA Adventures in National Forests and Grasslands Across the West→
Many thanks to Tim (W8TMI), 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.
W8TMI’s Elecraft KH1 Field Kit
by Time (W8TMI)
My Elecraft KH1 field kit is split into two parts: the bag provided with the Edgewood package and a separate bag for added functionality. The Elecraft bag is set up to venture out by itself without anything else required for an activation. The additional bag provides a longer random wire antenna and the ability to get it up into a tree, which increases its gain over the stock whip antenna.
[Note: Most Amazon links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.]
Many thanks to Jonathan (KM4CFT) who shares the following note:
We are pleased to announce the release of some new products: a 100 watt version of the popular KM4CFT End Fed Kit as well as a Leg Strap, which is perfect for those who have the KM4CFT paddles, Bamakey TP-III or ModernMorse Paddles (or any small magnetic paddle).
Recently, @JasonMartinRF left a comment on my YouTube channel mentioning his excitement about getting on the air with CW but also his concern about the high cost of antennas—especially self-supporting options that don’t require trees. His comment resonated with me because many operators face the same challenge when setting up a portable station, particularly for POTA or other field operations.
I immediately thought of my friend Eric McFadden (WD8RIF), who has extensive experience with lightweight, affordable wire antennas that don’t rely on trees for support. Eric has long used a homemade end-fed random wire (EFRW) antenna paired with cost-effective mast solutions, making it a great choice for portable activations. I asked him if he’d be willing to share the details of his setup, and he generously wrote up the following guide.
A Budget-Friendly Self-Supporting Antenna System for POTA
by Eric (WD8RIF)
Because I’ve long used low-cost homemade wire antennas for POTA, and since I usually don’t rely on trees to support these antennas, Thomas asked me to describe an antenna and support systems I often use for my POTA activations.
My “Go-To” antenna for POTA is a 28½’ end-fed random wire (EFRW) antenna with three 17’ counterpoise wires. This antenna covers 40m through 6m (and sometimes 80m) and is constructed from inexpensive speaker wire which can be purchased at big box stores in 50’ and 100’ spools. This two-conductor cable can easily be split into two conductors and the thick insulation helps prevent the finished antenna from tangling.
The idea behind the EFRW antenna is that the length of the antenna is not close to a ½-wavelength on any frequency for which it will be used. The EFRW is not resonant on any band of interest and, thus, it requires the use of an antenna tuner (ATU).
The benefit of the EFRW is that it can be stealthy and lightweight, it can be relatively short when compared to simple resonant antennas, and it can support operation on multiple bands. It is true that this antenna requires the use of an ATU, but even an inexpensive manual tuner can be used for this purpose.
To construct my version of the EFRW, split the speaker wire into two separate conductors. Cut one conductor to a length between 28½’ and 29’ to create the radiator. Cut three more conductors approximately 17’ long. Strip a ½” or so of insulation off of one end of each of the four wires. If you wish, install banana-plugs on the stripped end; I put a green, red, or orange banana plug on the radiator and “stackable” black banana plugs on the three 17’ counterpoise wires so I can easily attach all three of them to a single “ground” post. Install an insulator of some sort on the far end of the radiator wire, or create a small loop on the far end of the wire using a knot or a nylon wire-tie for hanging the antenna. (I use military buttons as insulators on my field antennas, and I often use large paper clips to hang the wire to the top of my mast.)
The speaker-wire end-fed random (EFRW) wire antenna. The three 17′ counterpoise wires are on the left; the 28½’ radiator is on the right.
You can connect the radiator and counterpoise wires directly to your ATU-equipped transceiver or external ATU using a simple binding-post adapter or, preferably, a 4:1 unun. No coaxial feedline is needed or, in fact, recommended.
An LDG 4:1 unun (left) and a simple binding-post adapter (right).
I regularly use a simple binding-post adapter when I’m in the field with my Elecraft KH1 or KX2 field kits. I use a homebrew 4:1 unun when I’m in the field with with my Elecraft KX3 field kit. I use a commercial LDG 4:1 unun (link) when I’m in the field with my Yaesu FT-817ND field kit. (I should note that my KH1, KX2, and KX3 are each equipped with internal ATUs. The FT-817ND doesn’t have an internal ATU but I use a no-longer-available LDG Z-11 ATU with it when I deploy a non-resonant antenna.)
In the field, I suspend the 28½’ radiator as a vertical, as a sloper, or as an inverted-vee, and I lay the three 17’ counterpoise wires directly on the ground, arranged as symmetrically as possible while trying to avoid trip-hazards. (If space is limited, I might lay down only two counterpoise wires or, maybe, even just a single counterpoise wire.)
I usually support the EFRW with a 31’ Jackite telescoping fiberglass mast(affiliate link) or an inexpensive Goture Red Fox Super Hard 720 carbon-fiber fishing pole (available from multiple sellers on Amazon) from which I’ve removed the top three sections to create a sturdy 18’ pole that collapses to less that 30″. (If you order a Goture 720, be sure to order the “7.2m” version because the top three sections are far too whippy to support a wire.)
I’ve supported the 31’ Jackite mast using a drive-on base (more on this below), bungied to a fence-post or sign-post found on-site, and bungied to my folding camp-chair.
I’ve supported the Goture Red Fox 720 on a custom stake (more on this below) and bungied to my bicycle.
The Goture Red Fox 720 mast bungied to my bicycle and supporting a wire antenna as a sloper; the KH1 station is on the picnic table.
The sort of bungie I use to strap a mast to a post, my bicycle, or a folding chair.
I often support my 31’ Jackite mast using a homemade drive-on base. This base is constructed from a scrap of 2”x10” pine about 23” long, a 4″ black plastic toilet flange, a 2’ length of white PVC chosen to provide a friction-fit in the toilet flange, and a PVC reducer at the top. The photos below should provide enough information for you to build your own. I don’t glue any of the plastic items together; I rely on friction to hold the pieces together and I slip the 2’ pipe out of the toilet flange for easier transport in my car. (Disclaimer: I drive a small Honda Fit; I don’t know how well a 2”x10” pine board would survive repeated abuse by a large SUV or pick-up truck.)
The components of the drive-on mast support: a piece of wood, a toilet flange, and some PVC.The drive-on mast base, assembled.The drive-on mast base in use at Burr Oak State Park. The 31′ Jackite mast is supporting the 28½’ EFRW as a vertical and three 17′ counterpoise wires extend out from the bottom of the front passenger door. The station is inside the car.
The spike for the Goture Red Fox 720 is simply a 7” length of white PCV just big enough to slip the large end of the mast into, with a matching PVC cap on one end drilled to accept a 3/8” diameter, 8” long spike. Originally, I tried using epoxy to secure the spike in the cap, but this failed, and now I’m using an appropriately-sized push-nut to hold the spike in place. (The PVC and the 8” spike were found at the local big-box store; the push-nut was found at a local well-equipped hardware store.)
The Goture Red Fox 720 and the custom spike.A close-up view of the push-on nut securing the metal spike to the PVC cap.
I hope this article gives you some ideas for your own field operations!
A huge thanks to Eric (WD8RIF) for taking the time to document his antenna setup in such detail! His approach demonstrates that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get on the air with an effective self-supporting antenna system.
Personally, I believe that using an arborist throw line, a tree, and a simple wire antenna is often the most affordable and effective way to get on the air. However, depending on where you live or where you activate, trees may not always be an option. That’s why having a self-supporting antenna system in your toolkit is always a good idea—it gives you the flexibility to operate anywhere.
If you’ve built an affordable self-supporting antenna system that works well for your field operations, I’d love to hear about it! Feel free to share your experiences, designs, or recommendations in the comments or in a guest post. The more we exchange ideas, the more we can help fellow operators—especially those just getting started—find practical, budget-friendly solutions for getting on the air.
Connecting an international community through low-power field radio adventures.
Please support QRPer by adding us to your whitelist in your ad blocker. Ads are what helps us stay online. All of our ads are ham radio related--no junk, we promise! Thank you!
