Category Archives: Morse Code

Antennas, Field Reports, Morse Code, New Products, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, Videos

From Box to POTA: First Activation with the New Elecraft AX3!

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by Thomas (K4SWL)

If you’ve been a QRPer.com reader or subscriber to my YouTube channel for long, you’ll know I’m quite the fan of super-compact, low-profile antennas like the Elecraft AX1 and AX2.

In fact, I just checked, and my Elecraft AX1 activation video playlist alone includes 36 videos as of this post.

Although AX antennas are certainly a compromise in terms of performance, I find them surprisingly effective for on-the-air programs like SOTA, POTA, and WWFF. While they’re not high-gain, they’re also far from the “dummy load” some make them out to be. In fact, the best DX I’ve ever worked in the field was with my Elecraft AX2 and just 5 watts of power—check out the field report.

The New AX3

A couple of weeks ago, Wayne Burdick of Elecraft announced the new Elecraft AX3 portable antenna, the latest addition to the AX line.

Unlike the AX1 and AX2—which attach directly to the radio—the AX3 is fully self-supporting, thanks to its detachable tripod legs and 1/4-20 base mount. This adds next-level mounting versatility, making it ideal for tabletop or ground deployment. (Check out how Conrad so easily mounted it to two different tripod options in his recent field report.)

It covers 30 through 10 meters and uses a 4-position band selector plug, which I personally find more rugged than the AX1’s band switch. Like its siblings, the AX3 is designed to pair with an ATU, but unlike the AX1/AX2, it doesn’t need to physically mount to the transceiver—so it’s compatible with virtually any rig and tuner combo. The AX3 also supports up to 30 watts.

Despite the added versatility, the AX3 still packs incredibly small: the whip, base, and tripod legs collapse to just 6 inches, yet the whip extends to 45 inches in the field. The side-mounted BNC connector avoids awkward cable bends or adapters.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I’m in the testing group for the Elecraft KH1 and, as such, I was aware the new AX3 was on the horizon, but I had not yet tested it in the field until I ordered one and it was delivered on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

From Unboxing to Activation

Since Hurricane Helene wiped out our local post office, my buddy Vlado (N3CZ) has kindly allowed me to have parcels delivered to his house. When he told me that “a small box” had arrived from Elecraft, I knew exactly what it was.

I had an errand in town that afternoon, so I swung by Vlado’s, picked up the package, and then stopped at the Blue Ridge Parkway Folk Art Center to perform the AX3’s debut activation.

Of course, I packed my Elecraft KX2, thinking it would only be right to pair the AX3 with an Elecraft radio for its first outing!

In my activation video (below), you’ll see that assembling the AX3 was incredibly simple right out of the box. I ordered the full AX3 package, which includes the antenna, mini banana plug, counterpoise wire, tripod legs, BNC-to-BNC cable assembly, and a small nylon storage bag.

I attached the tripod legs, screwed on the whip antenna, clipped the counterpoise to the ground lug, and connected the BNC cable. In less than a minute, the antenna was fully deployed and ready to go!

Gear

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Radio

Key

Antenna

Battery

Pack/Case

Log and Pen

Camera/Audio Gear

On The Air

The first thing I did was make sure the band plug was set to 14 MHz, then pressed the ATU button to find a match on 20 meters. Continue reading From Box to POTA: First Activation with the New Elecraft AX3! →

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

QRP with Friends: Brian (K3ES) Joins Me for a Two-Fer POTA Activation!

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On the activator side of things, Parks On The Air is often a solitary pursuit for me. I typically squeeze in activations as my schedule allows—usually at random times during the day in parks that happen to be along my daily route.

But every once in a while, the stars align and I get the chance to activate with a friend. When that happens, it only amplifies the radio fun. Saturday, March 22, 2025, was one of those special days. My dear friend—and frequent field report contributor—Brian (K3ES), along with his amazing wife and photographer, Becky, stopped by Asheville en route to the Outer Banks.

I was so happy everything came together and we were able to meet up for a short, relaxed, and thoroughly enjoyable activation.

Two-Fer Time!

When out-of-state activators come through the area, I always try to offer them the option of a two-fer—activating two parks at once—to maximize their POTA opportunities. I’m not sure Brian had strong feelings about this either way, but it was simply too easy to pair the Blue Ridge Parkway (US-3378) with the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (US-8313). Since we were meeting at the Folk Art Center, all it took was picking the right picnic table near the MST.

In my rush to leave the QTH that morning, I realized halfway down the driveway that I’d forgotten to pack my antenna. I could’ve turned around, but I knew Brian would have a few antenna options stowed in his field kit—and of course, he did!

He chose to deploy a homebrew end-fed random wire with a 29.5’ radiator and 17’ counterpoise. We paired it with my Elecraft K1 transceiver–a radio I knew Brian had never operated.

The only drawback of this particular picnic table is its proximity to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. When deploying a wire antenna, you have to be careful not to obstruct the path for hikers. We positioned the wire in a near-vertical configuration above the table and kept the throw line tucked away on the opposite side from the trail.

We were also quite conspicuous—another reason I usually avoid this picnic table when activating solo. On a busy day, it’s not unusual to have a dozen people stop by to ask what you’re up to. It’s a great outreach opportunity, but a string of interruptions can make it difficult to complete exchanges—especially while sending CW. Sadly, my internal CPU isn’t optimized for multitasking!

Right to Left: Brian (K3ES) and Thomas (K4SWL)

But when there are two of you taking turns at the key, it works beautifully—one person can handle the questions while the other shows just how cool Morse code still is in the 21st century.

It was a fairly quiet day at the Folk Art Center, but one curious family did stop by to chat with us during Brian’s turn at the key—and I really enjoyed the interaction.

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

  • Elecraft K1 (four band version with optional ATU and internal AA battery pack)

Key

Antenna and Throw Line

Pack and Case

Logging Supplies

Battery

Camera/Audio Gear

On The Air

Brian kicked things off, knowing that band conditions had been flaky of late. He tuned up on 20 meters using the K1’s ATU and started calling CQ POTA. Continue reading QRP with Friends: Brian (K3ES) Joins Me for a Two-Fer POTA Activation! →

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

The POTA Babe Checks In

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By Teri KO4WFP

Glenn W4YES and I headed to Camden, SC the first week of April for some much needed rest and relaxation. Usually when I travel, I schedule a POTA activation or two. However, this trip I decided to try something new – getting on the air QRP at our Airbnb.

Camden is the oldest inland community in South Carolina. According to the town’s website, the earliest permanent settlers arrived in 1750. They experienced a crushing defeat during the Revolutionary War when the Patriots were defeated in the Battle of Camden. After the Civil War, the town “evolved into a tourist mecca for Northeners and Midwesterners seeking a warmer winter climate.” Those tourists brought money and an equine culture developed around racing and polo.

Our first day in Camden, we visited the Revolutionary War Museum. Though small in size, the museum’s exhibits are of excellent quality. They do a great job explaining who lived in the area, the quandary they faced as to whether to be a Loyalist or Patriot (it wasn’t as easy a choice as it might appear), and battles fought there.

Our second day, we explored the National Steeplechase Museum. This museum explores the history of steeplechasing and the personalities involved – owners, trainers, jockeys as well as those who care for the horses. The museum pays homage to Marion duPont Scott who developed the Springdale Race Course where the museum is located. This race course hosts two prominent annual competitions – the Carolina Cup and the Colonial Cup.

National Steeplechase Museum

an old scale used to weigh jockeys
trophy room

We also spent some time driving through and walking in the historic neighborhoods of the city. The weather was gorgeous! Everywhere we looked, there were flowers – azaleas, wisteria, viburnum, and dogwoods (including the pink variety we do not see in Savannah).

a dogwood in full splendor
azaleas at the corner of a home
viburnum
pink dogwood

After exploring the area, it was time to explore the airwaves QRP at our Airbnb. To do this, I brought Craig, my KX2, and a home-brew linked dipole antenna. This is an antenna I built three years ago, when I first got into ham radio. At that time, I had no home station but wanted to get on the air portable for POTA. Despite knowing almost nothing about antennas, I built a usable dipole that became my main POTA antenna for quite a while.

the homebrew linked dipole (photo from GA State Parks on the Air event)

Why did I bring this antenna to Camden? I have the opportunity this month to try the CFT1, a QRP transceiver, by Jonathan KM4CFT. Because the rig does not have an internal antenna tuner, I am reacquainting myself with the subject of resonance and why it matters in antennas.

I set up a home-brew linked dipole Wednesday evening under some trees in a space between the Airbnb and a small lake on the property. The antenna was roughly 20 feet in the air.

the lake from the Airbnb
2nd location for antenna by lake

 My RigExpert Stick analyzer gave me 2.1 at 7.040 –

Thinking I could do better, I moved the antenna (a real pain to do with a dipole) to a different tree with a limb 30 feet high. (Frankly, Glenn and I were amazed I could snag that limb.) This setup generated better a SWR reading – 1.61 at 7.040 MHz.

Now the true test – how well would I be heard?

the bench at which I operated Wednesday evening
RBN picking me up Wednesday evening

On Wednesday evenings, I check into the OMIK CW net. OMIK is a ham radio club founded in 1952 by “Black amateur radio operators from the states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky to deal with discrimination” at that time. Though the club membership today is primarily African-American, others like myself are welcome.

CW nets are a great place to get on-the-air experience with morse code. It was my code buddy Caryn KD2GUT who first introduced me to the OMIK net. I found those who participate in this CW net to be welcoming and accepting of CW operators of all levels of proficiency. Over the past several years, the ops in this net have watched my skills grow and become friends.

Dennis NT4U and Steve W0SJS split net control station (NCS) duties. This evening, it was Dennis’ turn as NCS. As he is located in northern Georgia, I figured he would hear my QRP signal. He did and checked me into the net with a RST of 589. The icing on the cake was that I heard a station he was unable to hear – Charles AI4OT in Virginia – due to the S9 noise at Dennis’ location this evening. I notified Dennis of Charles’ check in so he was added to the check-in list for that evening. Way to go homebrew linked dipole and Craig!

The next day, Glenn did some exploring and found a better location on the property – a hill behind the Airbnb and some sheds. Several large oaks in this relatively open area offered prime limbs to snag with an arbor line. I installed the antenna on a limb roughly 25 feet up in the air.

open area at back of Airbnb property
looking up into canopy at limb I used Thursday evening

Before attempting to check into another net, I spotted myself on QSO Finder, a new website and spotting tool by Mike N4FFF and Becky N4BKY of Ham Radio Duo. I had three exchanges, one each with Joel KE8WIC, Tom NG4S, and James KJ3D.

Spotting myself on CW QSO Finder

On Thursday evenings I check into the Sideswiper Net, a wonderful group of guys who meet on 40 or 30 meters (depending on propagation). Most of those who check in use a sideswiper (also known as a cootie) key but, like the OMIK CW net, they are welcoming of anyone who wants to participate no matter the level of proficiency or key. I’ve asked lots of questions of the members and appreciate their patience schooling me about CW nets.

The NCS this evening was Darrell AA7FV who is located in Arizona. The noise on 40 meters was rough but Darrel did copy me with a RST of 349. Two other stations – Bill WA4FAT in Alabama and Steve W1SFR – also copied me at 559 on this band.

When the net moved to 30 meters, my signal was worse. However, I expected that, as by this time it was dark and I didn’t want to mess with lowering the antenna to disconnect the link between the 40 and 30 meter wires. Darrel in Arizona could barely hear me (he gave me a RST of 129) but Bill could still copy me and acted as relay between our signals. I was thrilled that I had now checked into both nets QRP this week!

the RBN picked me up again

Even better, after the Sideswiper net, my code buddy Caryn KD2GUT and I were able to have our weekly code buddy QSO. We managed a 20 minute QSO on 40 meters before being swallowed up by noise and QRN on her end. Caryn is located on Long Island, NY. The previous night in the OMIK net, my signal was a 229 at her QTH. But tonight, we were both 599 and rocking it on the airwaves.

operating in the dark

During the Sideswiper net and my code buddy QSO, I sat head copying in the dark under the moon and thought, “It doesn’t get any better than this, right?”

Before we left the Airbnb Friday morning, Glenn spied several pitchforks sitting by the sheds. We picked one up and decided to have some fun, with our version of the famous piece “American Gothic” by Grant Wood. I had a difficult time keeping a straight face (watch the video linked down below) but eventually we got the shot.

“American Gothic” by Grant Wood    source: Wikipedia
us goofing off creating a version of the piece before checking out

QRP has its limits; however, I was sufficiently impressed by my experience on this trip that I will travel with a rig from now on. I’d like a better antenna and have ordered an EFHW as that is probably my best bet for a resonant antenna. This hobby NEVER becomes boring because there is always something to learn.

I look forward to trying the CFT1 and my new EFHW antenna when it arrives. How will that turn out? Stay tuned…

Equipment Used

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

First Field Outing with My New-to-Me Elecraft K1!

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In the chaos of the past two months, I managed to post a few field reports out of chronological order. I’m probably the only one who notices—these aren’t sequential stories, after all—but since I was there for each activation, it feels odd when the timeline’s off.

Case in point: you might recall this recent post where I shared how I finally landed an Elecraft K1 field-portable transceiver. I’d been hunting for a K1 for years, so I was thrilled when this one popped up locally in North Carolina.

Last month, I published this field report where I paired the K1 with my AX1 antenna for a low-profile (but high-performance) activation in Pisgah National Forest.

But here’s the thing: that was actually my second activation with the venerable K1. The first one? It took place along the Blue Ridge Parkway on February 24, 2025.

Taking the K1 to the Field!

It’s always exciting to take a new radio to the field—especially one I’d been chasing for so long. I purchased the K1 back in August of last year. As soon as it arrived, I tested it and realized it was in serious need of alignment.

I brought it over to my friend Vlado (N3CZ), hoping to use his signal generator to sort it out. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time that day, so I left the rig at his QTH. Then Hurricane Helene hit, and… well, suddenly it was 2025.

We finally got around to the alignment in February. As soon as it was dialed in, I hit the field.

Blue Ridge Parkway (US-3378)

I made my way to a familiar spot along the Blue Ridge Parkway—the Folk Art Center—and set up the K1.

Mine is a four-bander (40, 30, 20, and 15 meters) with both the optional internal ATU and AA battery pack. To give the internal tuner a little workout, I paired it with my trusty Tufteln 9:1 End-Fed Random Wire antenna.

Once deployed, I hit the ATU button, and the K1 quickly found a solid 1:1 match. With logs at the ready, it was time to hit the airwaves!

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

  • Elecraft K1 (four band version with optional ATU and internal AA battery pack)

Key

Antenna

Pack and Case

Logging Supplies

Battery

Camera/Audio Gear

On The Air

I started calling CQ POTA on 20 meters, thinking I’d eventually migrate to 30 meters if things slowed down. Continue reading First Field Outing with My New-to-Me Elecraft K1! →

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

Ham Radio Workbenches On The Air Field Report: Part 2

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As promised, here’s Part 2 of my extended HRWBOTA activation report from March 16, 2025!

(US-6856)

As I mentioned in Part 1 of this activation, I’d planned to operate for the full four-hour window of the March 16th Ham Radio Workbenches On The Air (HRWBOTA) event—a rare luxury for me. Most of my field activations typically last anywhere from 30 to maybe 90 minutes at most. So, sitting in one spot and operating for four full hours definitely stretched me a bit—but in a good way!

After two hours of non-stop CW with the Elecraft KX3, I took a brief break, swapped radios, and continued the activation with my Penntek TR-45L.

This portable rig is one of my favorite minimalist CW transceivers, and I thought it was a perfect fit for the second half of the HRWBOTA event. I used it to work 20, 30, and 40 meters in CW (in that order).

One nice bonus of using the TR-45L is that mine has a built-in Z-match ATU, which allowed me to easily find a match on 30 meters, even though the Spooltenna EFHW isn’t resonant on that band. The antenna was the same excellent 40-meter EFHW prototype from Rob (KO4HUI) that I featured in Part 1.

The only other minor change during this segment of the activation was behind the camera. Since I was filming in real-time for four straight hours, I had to pause at one point to connect my action camera to a portable battery pack which then limited my ability to use wireless microphones with wind screens. The gusty wind will be more noticeable in this portion of the activation video as a result—but, hey, it’s all part of the field experience!

Now, let’s dive into Part 2 of the gear and activation details…

Gear

Note: All Amazon, CW Morse, ABR, Chelegance, Spooltenna, eBay, and Radioddity links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.

Radio

  • Penntek TR-45L with built-in rechargeable battery and Z-Match antenna tuner (discontinued)

Antenna System

Battery

Key and Accessories

Logging

Packs/Cases

Camera and Audio Gear

On the Air

As I mentioned in Part 1, this was a longer activation, and since I needed to submit electronic logs to HRWBOTA admin Mark (N6MTS), I skipped paper logging—a true rarity for me.

Instead, I logged directly into AC Log on my Microsoft Surface Go, just as I would during Field Day.

During this second part of the event, I started on 20 meters and spent a little over an hour working a steady stream of contacts. Continue reading Ham Radio Workbenches On The Air Field Report: Part 2 →

Morse Code, News, Portable, QRP, QRP Radios

The Return of the Venerable Elecraft K1!

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Some of you might recall that back in the summer of 2022, I performed a POTA activation with my buddies Eric (WD8RIF) and Miles (KD8KNC) at Hawks Nest State Park (K-1813). Here’s the field report, and video:

You might have also noticed that I recently performed an activation with my own Elecraft K1. Here’s a bit of the back story on this particular radio:

My K1 Journey

I originally owned an Elecraft K1 from around 2010 to 2013. It was a four-band version (40, 30, 20, and 15 meters) with the optional ATU. I loved that little radio, but at the time, I wasn’t as dedicated a CW operator and hadn’t yet discovered programs like WWFF and SOTA—POTA didn’t even exist back then! Those programs would’ve given me a perfect excuse to take a lightweight, portable radio to the field regularly.

Eventually, I sold my K1 to help fund the purchase of an Elecraft KX3.

I mentioned in my 2022 K1 field report that I’d been keeping an eye out for a deal on another K1. That Hawks Nest activation reminded me just how much I enjoy operating this simple QRP kit radio.

Not an Easy Search

Finding a good K1 isn’t easy, for a few reasons.

First, there are quite a few K1 variants out there, since Elecraft offered a number of optional packages. The K1 supported up to four bands, but the default kit only included two. Optional modules included an ATU, a battery pack, and a noise blanker.

Most of the K1s I’ve come across have only two bands and no ATU. I’ve been on the lookout specifically for a four-band version with the ATU.

K1s—regardless of configuration—rarely show up on the used market. When they do, the good ones are snatched up almost instantly.

And perhaps most importantly: all K1s started life as kits. There was never a factory-assembled option. So, your K1 is only as good as the person who built it. Building one yourself is no longer an option, either—at least, in the past ten years, I’ve never seen an unbuilt K1 kit at a swap meet, in person or online.

Then Came a Tip…

On July 19, 2024, my buddy Eric (WD8RIF) sent me a message about a K1 for sale.

I skimmed the message on my phone and immediately noticed that it belonged to Joe White (WA4GIR), one of the founding members of the Knightlites QRP Association. It was a four-band K1 with the ATU and the internal battery pack—asking price: $550 shipped.

I ran to my computer and fired off an email expressing my interest.

Soon after, I learned from Gary (N3GO) that this was actually an estate sale to benefit Joe’s widow. Somehow, I had completely missed the /SK in Eric’s original message. Joe had become a Silent Key in July 2023, and I had missed the news due to our summer travels that year.

Suddenly, $550 didn’t feel like too much at all. I had been hoping to find a K1 closer to $400–$450, but this one had two valuable options I wasn’t even counting on. On top of that, it was built by someone I knew of—and had even met before.

Totally worth it, in my book.

Not a Shelf Queen

This K1 isn’t going to sit on a shelf. I plan to take it to the field and put it through its paces with both POTA and SOTA.

In fact, I’ve already completed two activations with it—the one I posted out of order a couple of weeks ago, and another–my first outing–I’ll be sharing soon.

Noise Blanker vs. Battery Pack

Eric reached out last month and asked if I needed a noise blanker module for my K1. Honestly, I hadn’t even checked to see if mine had one installed.

Turns out, the internal battery pack and the noise blanker are mutually exclusive—you can’t install both. The smaller speaker used with the battery pack conversion kit occupies the same physical space as the NB module.

That’s fine by me. I very rarely need a noise blanker in the field anyway and I’ve no plans to mount this in a vehicle.

That said, I am considering replacing the AA battery holder with a small Li-Ion pack—maybe even one I can charge internally, like Elecraft’s KXBT2.

I’m curious: have any other K1 owners done this mod? Had Li-Ion packs been commonplace back when the K1 was released, I imagine this would’ve been a standard option.

Fine Tuning

This radio is in excellent shape—impressive considering it was built in 2001 (serial number 420!).

The only maintenance I’ve done so far is calibrating the frequency—it was about 500 Hz off. I do eventually need to look at the button contacts, which are a bit finicky.

K1 Bail or Stand?

If you own a K1, I’d love to hear what solutions you’ve found for propping it up in the field.

I’m thinking about adding a small fold-out laptop foot, like the one I installed on my TR-35, to give it a better viewing angle. I don’t want anything bulky—just a little elevation to make operation more comfortable. Please comment if you have a suggestion!

Why the K1 Still Shines in the Field

After spending time with this K1 again, I’m reminded why it’s such a superb field radio—especially when fully loaded. With the internal ATU, it easily matches my random wire antennas, making setup in the field quick and painless. I love that the K1 is a complete field radio system in one compact package.

The receiver and audio characteristics are truly impressive: it has a low noise floor, smooth QSK, and brilliant, mellow audio that’s easy on the ears during long CW sessions. Keying is clean and responsive—just what you want when you’re trying to work a pileup or snag that weak signal.

And while it’s not pocket-sized like some modern QRP rigs, for a tabletop-style radio, the K1 is remarkably small and lightweight. It slips into a field pack without taking up much space, yet delivers performance that holds its own against much newer gear.

Since the K1 was a kit radio, it’s also easy to repair and incredibly well-documented. I’ve always believed that kit radios are ideal for emergency preparedness. If something goes wrong, it’s much easier for a non-radio-tech to trace a fault and potentially fix it. That peace of mind—knowing you can service your own gear—is a huge bonus.

In short, the K1 may be over two decades old, but it still ticks all the right boxes for avid field operators!

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

Ham Radio Workbenches On The Air Field Report: Part 1

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Many of you likely know that I’m on the crew of the Ham Radio Workbench podcast and that, in December 2023, we hosted the first Ham Radio Workbenches On The Air (HRWBOTA) event.

Unfortunately, I had one scheduling conflict I couldn’t change, which meant starting the event with my KH1 in a downtown Asheville parking lot before heading to Lake James State Park for a couple of hours of solid pileups with my Icom IC-705. I posted a field report and video of the event—it was a blast! Click here to check it out.

On March 16, 2025, we held our second HRWBOTA event, and this time, I was better prepared with a clear schedule and a plan to operate for the full four hours!

Zebulon Vance Birthplace (US-6856)

Of course, even the best-laid plans can run into hiccups, and mine did. I was delayed due to some chainsaw work I wanted to complete before leaving home. As a result, I arrived at US-6856 just as the event was starting (14:00 local).

No worries, though! I turned on the camera and wasted no time deploying my antenna and setting up my radio gear.

The Spooltenna!

For this activation, I used a prototype of the Spooltenna, designed by Rob (KO4HUI).

Rob, a fellow North Carolinian, had been in touch with me about his antenna idea for months. Back in February, when my daughter interviewed for a scholarship at NC State University (which she was later awarded!), I met up with Rob on campus, and he handed me an early prototype of the Spooltenna. He had just completed the build that very morning.

It’s a unique design based on his own needs for a field antenna. From his website:

SPOOLTENNA is a compact, lightweight antenna designed for portable amateur radio operations like Parks on the Air® (POTA) and Summits on the Air™ (SOTA). Its innovative spool form factor is intended to ensure efficient deployment, teardown, and storage, providing a frustration-free operating experience that doesn’t compromise performance.

The design is also Open Source under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

The Spooltenna he gave me is a 40-meter end-fed half-wave (EFHW). Before this activation, I had only set it up at home to check resonance on 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. I deployed it as a sloper, with the transformer at the highest point.

The Spooltenna is quick to deploy–by placing a pencil, tent stake, or screwdriver in the center hole–and the spool design ensures a tangle-free wind-up. The components feel very high-quality. Rob is also producing high-quality cable assemblies, which were included in the package he gave me.

Rob has rapidly turned this idea into a side business involving his whole family. In just two months, his wife Christi has launched a website, ordered inventory, and—just a week ago—even set up an affiliate program and coupon code offering free shipping to QRPer.com readers.

Rob will be at the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society hamfest this weekend. He plans to attend FDIM and Hamvention in Dayton next month with inventory.

UPDATE: Rob tells me that he will have some inventory at RARSfest this weekend and will even temporarily open up his website for Spooltenna orders tomorrow (Saturday, April 4, 2025) during the RARSfest. 

Again, I’m most impressed with all that he and his wife have accomplished in a few months.

Deploying the Spooltenna was easy, though I had to adjust my setup. I originally planned to support the transformer with a tree next to the picnic shelter, but that tree had been blown down during Hurricane Helene.

No worries! I set it up as a sloper with the transformer close to the ground—similar to many of my EFHW deployments.

My HRWBOTA Activation Plan

I planned to use two radios during this activation—first my Elecraft KX3, then my Penntek TR-45L on the lower bands.

To maximize the chance for HRWB listeners to work me:

  • I did not spot myself on POTA.app, even though I was giving all contacts POTA credit. I knew that if I spotted myself, the normal weekend POTA pileups might make it harder for HRWBOTA participants to contact me.
  • I started on 10 meters and slowly worked my way down.
  • If time allowed, I planned to work SSB on at least one band (spoiler alert: CW kept me too busy!).

First up was the Elecraft KX3! I set up the radio and wasted no time getting on the air.

Gear:

Note: All Amazon, CW Morse, ABR, Chelegance, Spooltenna, eBay, and Radioddity links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.

Radio

Antenna System

Battery

Key and Accessories

Logging

Packs/Cases

Camera and Audio Gear

On the Air

Since this was a long activation and I needed to submit electronic logs to HRWBOTA admin (Mark, N6MTS), I skipped paper logging. Instead, I logged directly to AC Log on my Microsoft Surface Go, just as I would during Field Day. Continue reading Ham Radio Workbenches On The Air Field Report: Part 1 →

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

Pairing the Elecraft K1 and AX1 for low-profile, low-impact portable POTA!

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Friday, February 28, 2025, felt like another “rinse and repeat” day—a pattern I’ve grown used to over the past few weeks.

That morning, I woke up early, published a post on QRPer.com, and by 7:30 AM I was outside with my chainsaw, preparing piles of tree debris for the skid steer operator we hired to move it to the roadside.

As you might imagine, he can collect debris much faster than I can cut and prepare it, so my goal has been to stay ahead of him. I worked steadily all morning and, combined with what I had cut the previous day, managed to prepare enough to keep him busy for the rest of the day. That was fortunate because I needed to help my daughters with activities in town all afternoon.

Finding POTA time

I’ll be honest—after grabbing a quick lunch and a shower, I was pretty worn out. Part of me wanted to use any spare time to sneak in a nap. But I also knew I could use a little POTA therapy, and the weather was unseasonably gorgeous—almost spring-like.

Looking at my schedule, I realized I had about an hour to spare, enough time to detour and activate Pisgah National Forest (US-4510) at the Sycamore Flats Picnic Area. It was the most convenient spot along my route that afternoon.

As for radio gear, I already had my Elecraft K1 packed from an earlier activation that week (which I also recorded and will post soon—obviously, out of chronological order!).

For variety, I didn’t want to use the same antenna as the previous activation. Instead, I grabbed one of my favorite compact antennas to see how well it would pair with the K1: the Elecraft AX1.

If you’ve followed QRPer for long, you’ll know I often use the AX1 during both POTA and SOTA activations. Despite its extreme size compromise, it has always performed well for me.

Loaded verticals like the AX1 typically have a high Q (narrow bandwidth) and benefit from an ATU or capacity hat to help with impedance matching. Luckily, my new-to-me Elecraft K1 has the optional built-in ATU, meaning I could attach the AX1 directly to the back of the radio.

I’ll save the full story of how I acquired this particular K1 for my next field report, but let’s just say I’d been hunting one for a long time—and this one showed up locally. It’s a four-band version (40, 30, 20, and 15 meters) with both the ATU and internal AA battery pack options.

Sycamore Flats Picnic Area

I arrived on site around 13:35 local time and had about 45 minutes to play radio.

I started the activation video and walked through the picnic area until I found a good table. Truthfully, though, the beauty of using the AX1 is that almost any flat surface will do—it’s that low-profile and low-impact.

Once I found a table, setup was super quick: I placed the K1 on the table, connected a battery, attached my Palm Mini paddle (its maiden POTA voyage!), and plugged the AX1 directly into the back of the radio. I wasn’t in a hurry–and it truly shows in the video–but I’m confident I could have deployed the entire station in about 60-90 seconds if required. That’s the magic of the AX1—minimal setup time.

With everything connected, it was time to hit the airwaves!

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

  • Elecraft K1 (four band version with optional ATU and internal AA battery pack)

Key

  • Palm Mini Paddle with new connection cord

Antenna

Pack and Case

Logging Supplies

Battery

Camera/Audio Gear

On The Air

Once on the air, I was thrilled to have no problem collecting hunters for the logs. Continue reading Pairing the Elecraft K1 and AX1 for low-profile, low-impact portable POTA! →

Accessories, Kits, Morse Code, New Products, News

The New KM4CFT KX2 and KX3 Iambic Paddle Kit

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My friend Jonathan (KM4CFT) recently sent me a neat little prototype paddle he designed for the Elecraft KX2 and KX3 field transceivers.

He wanted my feedback, so he generously sent me a set to evaluate at no charge.

Lately, I’ve been tied up with the final stages of debris cleanup here at the QTH, leaving little time for field activations. While I haven’t had the chance to take these paddles out into the field yet (stay tuned!) I’ve thoroughly tested them on both my Elecraft KX3 and KX2. In the meantime, Jonathan has made the kits available for purchase on the HamGadgets website.

The price? $49.97 — a solid deal for a simple, functional paddle designed to plug directly into the front of the KX2 and KX3.

Assembly is quick and straightforward, taking around 15-20 minutes. There aren’t many parts, and the mechanics are refreshingly simple. If you’re curious, you can check out the kit assembly manual here (PDF).

My Impressions

I think it’s an excellent little key for the price. The paddle action is light — the 3D printed material keeps them featherweight, making keying effortless.

For field use, they should perform brilliantly. The light touch required keeps things stable on a table, with the KX2 or KX3 providing more than enough weight to prevent the paddles from shifting as you operate.

The operating angle works well for me too. I know Jonathan put a lot of time into getting this right during the design process — and it shows.

Any Downsides?

The biggest drawback, in my opinion, is that the two thumbscrews securing the paddles to the front of the radio aren’t captive.

This means they can be easily lost during transport. I recommend storing the paddles in a thick poly bag to keep everything together in your pack.

Additionally, because the screws aren’t captive, you need to be a little careful when installing the paddle. I’ve found it easiest to place the radio on its back, so you’re screwing the thumbscrews downward.

I lightly plug in the paddle, then start threading both screws before fully tightening either one. This gives me better control and helps avoid dropping the screws — something that could be a real headache in the field, especially if they hit the ground.

Lastly, these paddles don’t have the “precision key” feel of more expensive options. But to be fair, they’re designed as an affordable alternative to Elecraft’s KXPD2 paddles, which retail for $169.95. Even the KXPD2 — while smaller and sturdier — doesn’t feel particularly “precision” in use. The KX3 paddles come closer to that, but they also cost $239.95.

At $49.95, it’s hard to complain — these paddles do exactly what they’re supposed to do without breaking the bank!

If you’ve held off buying front-mounted paddles for your KX2 or KX3 because of the cost, I’d highly recommend giving these KM4CFT paddles a try.

Click here to check out the KM4CFT KX2/KX3 paddles on HamGadgets.

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

QRP POTA with Vlado: Elecraft KX1 in Pisgah National Forest (Part 1)

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On February 9, 2025, my good friend Vlado (N3CZ) and I headed out to Pisgah National Forest (US-4510) near Looking Glass Falls for a joint POTA activation.

This is Part 1 of our activation — and while I typically write much longer field reports, I’m still in the final stages of Hurricane Helene debris removal around our property.

To keep things moving, I’ll keep this one short and sweet–a postcard field report length. I truly appreciate everyone’s understanding!

Pisgah National Forest (US-4510)

The weather couldn’t have been better for our outing — crisp, cool air with bright sunshine filtering through the trees. It was one of those perfect days where you feel lucky just to be outside, let alone playing radio with a great friend.

Our activation video below captures the entire activation from Vlado deploying the antenna, to setting up the radio gear and both of our activations.

Vlado kicked things off with his trusty Elecraft KX1 hooked up to an end-fed half-wave he built himself.

After he wrapped up his activation, he handed the controls over to me. I logged 41 contacts in 39 minutes — the bands were lively, and the little KX1 was working like a charm. (Golly I love this radio!)

We stopped the video there to wrap up Part 1, but we weren’t quite finished yet. We switched to a different radio and kept the POTA fun going for a while longer — stay tuned for Part 2 next week, where we dive into a new setup and share more of the adventure!

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

  • Elecraft KX1

Antenna System and Throw Line

Key

Battery

Accessories

Camera and Audio

Logs

QSO Map

Here’s what this five-watt activation looked like when plotted out on a QSO Map. Please note that all of the blue lines are the QSOs from this activation on 20 meters.Click on the map image to enlarge.

Activation Video

Here’s my real-time, real-life video of the entire activation.  As with all of my videos, I don’t edit out any parts of the on-air activation time. In addition, I have YouTube monetization turned off, although that doesn’t stop them from inserting ads before and after my videos.

Note that Patreon supporters can watch and even download this video 100% ad-free through Vimeo on my Patreon page:

Click here to view on YouTube.

Thank you

Thank you for joining me during this activation and for understanding why I’m keeping the field report portion on the short side! 🙂

I hope you enjoyed the field report and my activation video as much as I enjoyed creating them!

Of course, I’d also like to send a special thanks to those of you who have been supporting the site and channel through Patreon, and the Coffee Fund. While not a requirement, as my content will always be free, I really appreciate the support.

As I mentioned before, the Patreon platform connected to Vimeo makes it possible for me to share videos that are not only 100% ad-free but also downloadable for offline viewing. The Vimeo account also serves as a third backup for my video files.

Thanks for spending part of your day with us! Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheers & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL)

PS: Consider joining our QRPer.net discussion board! It’s an active community of radio operators who enjoy helping and supporting each other. It’s also the best place to ask any questions you might have about radios, field activities, antennas, or pretty much anything amateur radio. Click here to join.