Category Archives: Antennas

Antennas, Articles, Field Reports, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, Travel

K3ES: Stealth Activating with the AX1 Antenna System

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Activating on the Road:  Stealth Activating with the AX1 Antenna System

by Brian (K3ES)

The AX1 Antenna is on the air from the Profile View parking area at Mount Rushmore National Monument.

As I prepared my radio gear to do Parks on the Air (POTA) activations across the states of the American West (Six Weeks and 7300 Miles:  Activating on the Road), I knew that I would need to operate in a wide variety of different park environments.  This need was primarily connected with differences in topography, vegetation, population, and regulatory environments.

A selection of wire antennas, a throw line kit, and some collapsible mast options would serve many of my needs well.  However, I also expected that our travel schedule might require me to activate quickly or unobtrusively, from less-optimal locations.  Since I do not have an HF rig or antenna system installed in my truck, any vehicle-based operations would need to use equipment from my portable POTA kit.

For these occasions, I intended to use either a wire antenna supported by a telescoping mast attached to back of the truck, or my diminutive Elecraft AX1 base-loaded vertical antenna system.  During the trip, I found that I could use the AX1 to complete rapid, and extremely stealthy, activations.

My AX1 kit is kept in a Maxpedition Fatty pouch.
AX1 components are organized inside the pouch, and counterpoise wires are located in a hidden zippered pocket.

I had ordered the AX1 antenna system from Elecraft early in 2024, and took delivery in March.  I used it in a variety of configurations, gaining experience and confidence in its ability to make contacts (K3ES Travels: Ten Days of QRP with Compromised Antennas).

In early May, I also ordered an AM1-2 clamp-on antenna mount from ProAudio Engineering, and it had proved its versatility in deploying the AX1.  All of this equipment and more found its way into a Maxpedition Fatty pouch, to become part of the stealth antenna kit packed for our trip across the country.

I Wonder if this Will Work…

A view from the truck…  The AX1 antenna mounted on the fender, is seen with a great landscape from Badlands National Park.

Badlands National Park (US-0005) was one of the most spectacular parks that we visited on our cross-country adventure.  I plan a future report with full coverage of the park and the activation, but the conditions in the park led me to make my first attempt at a truck-based activation.  Shade was almost non-existent, the sky was cloudless, the air temperature was over 90°F, and the ground was too hot for POTA Dog Molly’s paws.

We pulled into a parking space at a roadside overlook, so that Becky could take some pictures, and I decided to try for a quick activation from the truck.  After I set out a bowl of water in the back of the truck for Molly to drink, I pulled out my radio gear, and looked over my antenna options.  I could have put up a mast and used a wire antenna, but I did not want to block access for other visitors, so my thoughts turned to the AX1 system.

The small size of the parking lot made it important to keep my operating footprint within the confines of my own parking space, both to avoid inconveniencing others, and to minimize the risk of damage to my antenna components.  I decided to try attaching the AM1-2 clamp to the cylindrical base of my 2m/70cm mobile antenna, which is mounted on the front fender of the truck.  The AM1-2 clamped on securely, and provided firm support for the the AX1 coil and whip.  I also attached a counterpoise wire to the ground screw of the AM1-2, then tossed the wire under the truck to keep it on the ground, hidden, and out of the way.

That left two questions:  could I get the antenna to tune, and would it radiate well enough to get contacts?  I connected my feedline to the AX1, ran it in through the open driver’s window to the KX2, and quickly got answers to both questions:  yes and yes. Continue reading K3ES: Stealth Activating with the AX1 Antenna System →

Antennas, How To, News, Portable, POTA, QRP

Videos: Mike’s Insights on the POTA20 Ground Spike and a Clever Tripod Antenna Hack!

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Over the past few weeks, my buddy Mike (KE8PTX) has quietly made several YouTube videos I thought I’d share here on QRPer.com.

By the way, Mike is the fellow behind the new Explorer POTA20 Carbon Fiber Mast Ground Spike. You may have seen me use this in a recent field report and activation video.

Ground Spikes

In Mike’s first video, he describes the evolution of the POTA20 (and Carbon 6) ground spike system and its variations. As you’ll see, quite a lot of thought and engineering went into this simple design:

FYI: You can get the POTA20 mast at Gigaparts and one (or more) of the ground spike models at the Ham Radio Adventure Guy’s online store.

Tripod Hack

In this video, Mike demonstrates how you can easily hack a portable camera tripod to support a carbon fiber mast.

As Mike notes, “It’s a bit more to fiddle with than just a spike. But in the frozen north you have to deal with ground conditions. Get yourself a cheap tripod and give it a try. Will also work well when the park will not let you stick anything in the ground or use a tree.”

Click here to check out and subscribe to Mike’s YouTube channel.

Antennas, How To, News, Portable, QRP

John’s Rainy Day Antenna Project Notes

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Many thanks to John (N3AAZ), who shares the following notes from a recent antenna project:

Hi Thomas

For what it’s worth, here’s an easy, cheap, very lightweight, multi-band, no counterpoise antenna for portable ops.

This build took place on a rainy day at a campground in an 18ft RV and was inspired by an article written by Craig (WB3GCK): No Counterpoise Speaker Wire Antenna.

This antenna can be set up as an inverted V or inverted L.

I cut a 30/20 ft version to hang on a 32ft Jackite telescoping fiberglass mast. I read that several ‘random’ lengths, the 50/25 and 25/17, have also been successful.

Cut a 30 ft length of speaker wire (do not peel or separate it yet), then measured back 10 ft and peel off then cut only one side of the speaker wire twin lead. This will effectively create a 30-foot antenna with a 20-foot “balanced” feed.

You will then need a “BALUN” with unbalanced input and balanced output.

My 1:4 and 1:9 did not work because both ports are single-end BCN connectors soldered on a PCB.

Luckily, I also pack an MFJ 9211 (1:4 QRPocket Current Balun).

Using a NanoVNA and MFJ-902.mod.aaz (mod to form an L-network–more info on my qrz.com page) I measured less than 2:1 SWR on 40, 30, 20, and 15 meters.

The N7DDC ATU-100 reports…

    • 1.18 :1 SWR on 15M
    • 1.03 on 20M
    • 1.16 on 30M
    • 1.88 0n 40M

It loads well.

My first 20-meter contact was a POTA contact with W4TTU (approximately 700 miles away), who gave me a 559 at 5W–he was 579 and signed “72,” so I assumed running QRP as well.

Not too shabby for an impromptu rainy day project hi hi!

72
John
N3AAZ

Thanks for sharing these notes, John! This looks like a fun little antenna build.

Accessories, Antennas, Articles, Field Radio Kits, Field Reports, Grab And Go, Guest Posts, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, SOTA, Travel

Flying High and Keying Low: A Pilot’s QRP Adventures Across the USA

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Many thanks to Micah (N4MJL) who shares the following guest post:

Elecraft KH1 Anytime and Anywhere Adventures

by Micah (N4MJL)

Anywhere and anytime—that’s how I like to describe my Elecraft KH1. This radio goes everywhere I go. As an airline pilot, I bounce from coast to coast and everywhere in between almost daily. Since I’m constantly on the move, my radio gear has to be small and compact.

I’m a third-generation ham radio CW operator. Anyone who’s heard me on the air knows I’m still quite new to CW. I only started running CW activations with POTA/SOTA in the spring of 2024. Here’s the gear that’s been working well for me, along with a few photos from the locations I’ve had the pleasure of activating.

I’ve found that the Pelican M50 micro case is the perfect “shack in a box” for my KH1. This setup goes everywhere with me. Here’s what fits perfectly in the M50:

  • Packtenna 9:1 random wire
  • 20 ft BNC coax
  • Panasonic ErgoFit earbuds
  • SP4 paddles from CW Morse
  • KH1 (fully loaded with internal battery and tuner)
  • 30 ft throw line
  • Write-in-the-Rain notebook
  • High Visibility Orange Cap-O-Matic Fisher Space Pen (with lanyard)
  • Desiccant silica gel pack

In pedestrian mobile configuration, the KH1 is a solid system. I’ve done several activations this way. That said, after 45 minutes of holding the KH1 in this setup, I’m ready to wrap up! Having a portable shack that lets me deploy a random wire that tunes 40-15m and a more ergonomically designed key drastically improves my capabilities.

In many urban environments where I activate POTA, pedestrian mobile is essential. Unfortunately, the security in urban parks can be unpredictable, and the KH1 allows me to operate on the go and quickly move if needed.

Some of you may be wondering what I did to the inside of my M50 case. Well, in my defense, it’s my wife’s fault. She left me unsupervised with a glue gun and a bit of alcohol. When my KH1 arrived this spring, solar conditions were poor, so I had a few days to think and decided to turn the case into a makeshift Faraday box. I used Polyken aluminum tape, cardboard, and a glue gun to line it. Now, I know what you’re thinking: there’s no electrical bonding between the lid and lower box due to the rubber seal, so will this really work as a Faraday cage? Maybe, maybe not—but it sure looks cool! What do you think?

In addition to the M50 case, I carry a support pouch (Magpul DAKA, size small). This heavy-duty, water-resistant pouch contains:

  • 31 ft counterpoise wire
  • AXE1 40m antenna extender
  • Bioenno battery 12V 3Ah (backup battery—“1 is none, and 2 is 1” if you know, you know!)
  • KH1 power cable
  • KH1 right-angle antenna mount

These items aren’t essential but are nice to have for longer activations.

When I’m done flying and ready to play radio, I pack all this gear into my Flash 22 day pack. This compact, minimalist pack takes up almost no room in my flight bag and even has a built-in whistle on the chest strap, which is perfect for California!

When conditions allow, I enjoy using the full five watts of power. My go-to antenna is the SOTAbeams Band Hopper III, which is a versatile half-wave linked dipole:

  • Rated 125 watts
  • Center-fed with 33 ft RG174 coax
  • Guying system included
  • Resonant on 20m, 30m, and 40m (no tuner needed, though the KH1 tuner will also tune up 17m and 15m)
  • Built-in balun
  • Weighs only 14 oz

The wire/guying winders are excellent, and I’ve used this system in all kinds of environments, from sandy beaches to mountain tops above the treeline. I replaced the aluminum tent pegs with plastic ones to keep TSA happier.

The SOTAbeams Tactical Mini Mast fits diagonally in my 22″ roller board. I wrap heavy rubber-coated wire around it to secure it to posts or shrubs when needed.

Along with this radio gear, I also manage to pack a change of clothes—usually enough for a five-day trip. I typically fly three trips a month, each lasting four to five days. My roller board carries me and my radio gear from plane to plane all week long.

On a short backpacking trip along the Appalachian Trail (June 3, 2024), I activated SOTA summit W4V/BR-007 Three Ridges and the Three Ridges Wilderness area (POTA US-9959). The mountain in the distance is The Priest (W4V/BR-002), which I activated earlier this year with my LNR Precision MTR4B.

The summit of Three Ridges is a densely wooded area, so I stopped below the summit to enjoy the view, grab a quick snack, and play some radio. I snagged two POTA-only QSOs with W8WZ in Louisiana and KU8T in Indiana using the KH1’s whip antenna. Once I reached the summit, I used the Packtenna 9:1 random wire for my activation. Continue reading Flying High and Keying Low: A Pilot’s QRP Adventures Across the USA →

Antennas, Articles, Field Reports, Guest Posts, POTA

64-Contacts Spanning 6-Bands, 8-Countries, 3-Continents Using A 17m Coaxial-Sleeve Vertical Dipole

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Gee, the title almost tells the whole story.  But not really.  The title is where I ended up; how I got there, is the story.

Here’s the story.

Today, I hope to activate Fintry Protected Area CA-3505 in southern British Columbia.

One of my objectives since I started POTA last year is to try to activate as many parks as I can in the Okanagan region of BC that have not yet been activated by anyone.  Nothing like a good challenge.  I expect that most of them haven’t been activated because they are quite remote and difficult to access unless one has a true off-road all-terrain vehicle.  Even at that, sometimes it still requires backpacking-in, to boot (no pun intended).  This is in part because many of the Protected Areas and Ecological Reserves are not always directly accessible by vehicle.  The roads often do not enter the park boundaries at all.  They get you close, and then you need to hoof-it in to be POTA legit inside the park boundaries.

Fintry Protected Area has never been activated before, by anyone. I’m wondering why?  Compared to many of my past activations, it isn’t nearly as difficult to access as some others I’ve been to.

The location in Fintry CA-3505 that I will be activating today is located about a 1-hour drive north of Kelowna, BC (where I live) via West Kelowna.  The last section of travel is via rough gravel roads.

Continue reading 64-Contacts Spanning 6-Bands, 8-Countries, 3-Continents Using A 17m Coaxial-Sleeve Vertical Dipole →

Antennas, Field Reports, POTA

Activating CA-4252 With A Novel Coaxial Sleeve Telescopic Vertical Dipole

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In recent times I’ve been feeling the urge to start experimenting with telescopic vertical whip antennas.  Vertical whip antennas appear to be somewhat simpler to setup than elevated dipoles.  So, it seems like a worthwhile endeavor to experiment with.

Recently, I purchased two Chameleons telescoping verticals whips:  their 17’ version and the 25’ version, for experimental purposes.  I’m looking forward to trying various configurations, which will likely not be until next spring or summer as our weather here in the Okanagan Valley of BC is starting to show hints that winter is just around the corner.  So, for now I have one specific configuration idea in mind that I have been itching to try:  a 1/2 λ Coaxial Sleeve Telescopic Vertical Dipole.  However, this configuration is required to be elevated with a tall mast.

In a sense, I suppose one could call this a Hybrid Telescopic Vertical Antenna because the top-half of the antenna will be a standard 17’ telescopic vertical whip from Chameleon.  And, instead of typical radials, the bottom-half of the antenna will be using the same concept of a Coaxial Sleeve Vertical Dipole, tuned for the 20m band.

I won’t take up too much space in this report outlining the construction details.  I just wanted to see if this antenna concept has any viable potential for ongoing uses.  This is the antenna I will be using today atop my 30’ carbon fiber telescopic mast.

Here we go with the events of the day.

Today I will be attempting to activate Vance Creek Ecological Reserve, CA-4252.  The Vance Creek activation spot is located about 1.5 hours drive NE of Kelowna, BC, Canada.  The access road into Vance Creek is a gravel forestry service road (FSR), just north of Lumby, BC.  I will be the 2nd person to ever activate this park, and the 1st to do it with CW.

We left home early with plans to make this another full day of playing with POTA.

Having never been here before, we drove the length of the reserve in search of a good spot and settled for a location just inside of the far-end of the park boundary at around 16:00 UTC (09:00 PDT).  We chose this location because it is one of the few areas to easily park off the roadway.  Beyond the sign titled “Woodlot” is a forestry logging harvest area (outside the park boundary).

Continue reading Activating CA-4252 With A Novel Coaxial Sleeve Telescopic Vertical Dipole →

Antennas, Field Reports, Guest Posts, POTA

Uncharted Trek into Trout Creek Ecological Reserve, CA-4221

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My goal for this summer is to do more backpacked day-trip POTA activations while I’m still physically able to. This is my 4th backpacked-in activation this past week or so. And a thank you to Thomas K4SWL for letting me share my adventures from the Canadian out-back.

Today’s goal is to activate Trout Creek Ecological Reserve, CA-4221 which is about one-hour drive south of Kelowna, BC, Canada, which is where my wife Alexis (VE7LXE) and I (VE7EFF) have lived for the past 12 years. Alexis accompanies me on all my POTA activations.

It is a beautiful late August day. The temperature is expected to be about 31℃, or 88℉.  The one-hour drive is just the beginning of the day’s adventure. We were able to conveniently park at the Summerland Golf and Country Club, but this is where all conveniences end for us.

Trout Creek Ecological Reserve has never been activated before – I’ll be the first. It’s no surprise this reserve hasn’t been activated before. It’s all wilderness with no trails to follow. I have to rely on my Garmin 66sr GPS and Pixel8 smart phone with Google Maps with Satellite View to help me navigate to and through the reserve in search for an optimal operating location.

I expected the trek to only be about 1 Km in with about 600 ft elevation gain. It’s all uphill, all the way. From the golf course parking lot, the hike starts out relatively easy. At first, there appears to be some semblance of a trail.

Continue reading Uncharted Trek into Trout Creek Ecological Reserve, CA-4221 →

Antennas, Field Reports, Guest Posts, Morse Code

Experimental Antenna Reins-in Surprising Results

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Editor note – Please enjoy this guest post from Jeff Bourgeois VE7EFF.

Today, September 6, I hope to POTA activate Inonoaklin Provincial Park CA-3626 in Southern BC, Canada, located on the shores of the Lower Arrow Lakes. On this activation, I will be using my novel experimental homebrewed Coaxial-Sleeve Dipole. The results were surprising!

We have been wanting to come back to this park since a brief visit to the area last summer.  I especially wanted to come back because, at that time, it had never been activated by anyone. I had plans to activate another park in the area that day.  Unfortunately, I was beaten to the draw just a few weeks ago by another ham.

The other reason I didn’t get here sooner was because it is a 3-hour drive east from our home in Kelowna, BC. 3-hours is pushing the limits of how far I’m willing to drive on daytrips, especially in mountainous areas. We rarely, if ever, do overnight trips.

We left the house very early in the morning on Sept. 6, 2024.  While the countryside is very beautiful enroute to the Arrow Lakes, I kind of dread the drive as the roads are often narrow, twisty-windy and up and down steep mountain passes.  At times it felt like being on a roller coaster.

Continue reading Experimental Antenna Reins-in Surprising Results →

Antennas, Field Reports, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, Videos

Field Report: POTA Energy Boost at Tuttle Educational State Forest

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Somedays, I just need a little POTA and radio-active therapy to energize the day. And this was one of those days.

On Thursday, July 18, 2024, I woke up still feeling quite tired because I had been out the entire day before helping my sister with a move–my wife and I didn’t get back home until midnight.

I was exhausted!

That Thursday, though, I still needed to hit the road again fairly early to help my sister with her home closing and then bring my dad home (finally) from the skilled nursing facility where he’d spent the previous 2.5 months!

It was a big day, and I was feeling pretty low on the energy reserves even after the morning coffee. We’ve all been there, right?

I didn’t think I would have time to fit in a POTA activation, but my father’s nursing facility contacted me and asked if I could pick him up after lunch instead of before. All of a sudden, I had a two-hour chunk of time, so, of course, I was going to get radio-active!

Fortunately, I had my GoRuck GR1 in the car, after my trip to the NC coast, packed with the KX2 and a few antenna options!

Looking at the time, I knew Tuttle Educational State Forest would be my best bet for a quick activation. Accounting for travel time and lunch, I would have about a one-hour window to operate.

Tuttle Educational State Forest (US-4861)

I arrived at Tuttle and wasn’t surprised to find the place nearly empty. Tuttle caters to school groups, and since schools were still in summer break, I didn’t expect to see any school buses or large groups.

My plan was to attempt this activation using the AX1 antenna–just to keep things simple.

I chose a picnic table in the shade and set up my gear in short order!

Gear

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On The Air

I hopped on the air hoping that propagation wouldn’t be too rough, but turns out, it was not in the greatest of shape. Anyone active in POTA lately knows this struggle! Continue reading Field Report: POTA Energy Boost at Tuttle Educational State Forest →

Antennas, Field Reports, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, Travel, Videos

Beautiful POTA activation at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson and Afternoon in Southport!

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On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, my wife and I were in the middle of a week-long stay in Wilmington, North Carolina, while our daughters attended residential programs at NCSU and UNCW.

That particular day, we couldn’t decide what to do because the weather was fickle! Temperatures and humidity were high, fueling a constant string of isolated thunderstorms rolling over Wilmington and the Cape Fear River area. Every hour or so, a new storm would roll past.

Heather suggested I fit in a POTA activation, and, of course, I loved the idea. I just didn’t want to play radio anywhere near thunderstorms.

We decided to drive south to one of my favorite coastal towns in North Carolina: Southport. Based on the weather radar, it looked like we could drive to Southport on the west side of the river, then return via the Fort Fisher Ferry on the east side, potentially avoiding most of the isolated thunderstorms moving north along the coast.

After stopping in Leland for supplies, we made our way to Brunswick Town/Ft. Anderson State Historic Site, directly across the Cape Fear River from where I’d activated the previous day at Carolina Beach State Park (US-2722).

En route, we drove into a thundershower with rain so intense that most cars on the road turned on their hazard lights and slowed to a crawl. Visibility was nil.

Fortunately, the heaviest rain only lasted 10 or so minutes, and by the time we were two minutes from the park entrance, it had slowed to a drizzle. As we parked at the visitor’s center, it had all but cleared up.

Brunswick Town/Ft. Anderson State Historic Site (US-6834)

Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site is unique in that it offers a blend of colonial and Civil War history along the beautiful Cape Fear River.

Founded in 1726, Brunswick quickly grew into a bustling port town known for exporting naval stores. However, the town was burned by British troops in 1776 and never rebuilt, leaving behind ruins for visitors to explore today.

During the Civil War, Confederate forces constructed Fort Anderson atop the remnants of Brunswick. The fort’s earthen walls and impressive gun emplacements now stand as a reminder of the region’s strategic importance during this turbulent period.

Visitors can explore the colonial foundations and Civil War earthworks, while enjoying the river waterfront.

There’s also a visitor’s center with exhibits detailing the area’s rich history.

I was pleased to spot a picnic area on the opposite side of the parking lot from the visitors’ center. This would allow me to set up close enough to the car that if another storm approached, I could pack up quickly.

First, I introduced myself to the staff and asked for permission to activate. I was confident they would grant it, as this site had been activated 39 times already (mine would be the 40th).

The two park rangers inside were incredibly kind and accommodating. My wife and I ended up speaking with them about history for nearly 30 minutes. I also gave them more insight into the POTA program and asked if activators were following their rules. Fortunately, they gave a very positive report. NC State Historic Sites protect both the archaeology of the site and the natural resources, so I always ask for permission to activate because some sites have restrictions about putting lines in trees or stakes/spikes in the ground. Fortunately, this was not an issue at the picnic area.

Setting up

Since weather was iffy and since Heather and I wanted to spend the rest of the afternoon in nearby Southport, I decided to pair my Elecraft KX2 with my AX1 antenna.

This also gave me a chance to try out a new 3D-printed bipod that my friend Mike (KE8PTX) sent me.

This Bipod consists of a 3D-printed clip and knob designed by Adam (K6ARK) and two legs designed by Mike.

I was really amazed at 1.) how easy it was to attach the clip to the antenna’s BNC base and 2.) how incredibly stable this Bipod felt even compared with the OEM bipod.

Thank you, Mike (and Adam)!

With the radio set up, I was ready to activate!

Gear

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On The Air

I assumed 20 meters would be the best place to start and, frankly, I hoped it would be productive enough to cap off my activation in short order so that my wife and I could continue our travels.

Unfortunately, propagation was not compliant. Continue reading Beautiful POTA activation at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson and Afternoon in Southport! →