Category Archives: News

Field Reports, Guest Posts, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, Travel

QRP by the Sea: Dan’s POTA Rove Along the Oregon Coast

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Oregon Coast POTA Rove

by Dan (N7CQR)

Last December (2024), I was planning a trip with friends to Tucson, AZ, while my wife was traveling abroad. I enjoy the opportunity to go somewhere warm during the winter if possible. Alas, the trip fell apart, and I decided to take the opportunity to spend a week traveling on the Oregon coast and activating as many parks as possible. My plan was to start on the central coast around Newport and travel as far south as time permitted. Sometimes we get a nice stretch of warmer weather in this region in December and January. The coast is blessed with many small and medium-sized state parks, and many are oceanside, so I would have plenty of options for daily activities within a relatively short distance from where I would be staying.

I picked four towns to stay at as I drove south: Yachats, Coos Bay, Bandon, and returning north to Newport. I compiled a list of about 25 potential POTA sites between Newport and Bandon on the southern end of my route. Obviously, I wouldn’t be likely to activate all of these for various reasons such as temporary closures, weather conditions (especially as related to exposure to rain or wind—very common on the coast), access to a good area to set up, or other unforeseen circumstances. And there’s always variable propagation to deal with.

Here on the West Coast, we just don’t have the population density and thus fewer active hams than the rest of the country. My goal was to activate three parks per day. Sometimes it was a very short distance to do this, but often I had to drive a fair amount to get to some of the more remote locations.

The other challenge was planning what gear to bring, as I might be operating in a couple of different conditions depending on the weather. Ideally, I wanted to set up outdoors when possible, but realistically, I had to have a plan for also operating in my car. Since I’m a dedicated portable CW/QRP operator, I don’t have any permanent radios or antennas mounted in my car.

My two main portable radios are my KX2 and KH1, which are small enough to use in the car without taking up a lot of space. For an antenna, I had a Diamond K400 door/hatch mount that I mounted on the rear hatch of my Kia Sorento, and I had a telescoping whip that would extend to a quarter wavelength on 20 meters and could be adjusted for 17, 15, and 10 meters depending on which band I was using. I had to get an adapter (McMaster Carr hardware) from the 3/8×24 thread of the mount to the M10 metric thread of the whip.

The tuner in the radios would make up any mismatch. I ran RG 316 to the front seat and attached a couple of 13-foot counterpoises to the antenna mount for good measure. The mount was grounded to the car body through the mounting bracket as well. I almost always got a very good match, so SWR wasn’t a problem, especially since I only ran 5 watts.

For outdoor operation, I had the KH1 with the whip, the KX2 with the AX1/AEX1, my Chelegance MC-750 vertical, and my K6ARK end-fed random wire with the 9:1 balun built into the BNC connector.

Here, particularly in western and coastal Oregon, we have an abundance of trees, but they’re often Douglas Fir with very thick foliage that makes it tricky to toss a line into a tree. Especially at the coast, it’s often quite steep and rocky, such that you don’t have a long stretch of level ground to toss and retrieve a line. Or, if it’s an open wayside, there might not be any trees close by to use. Options are always a good idea.

Shore Acres State Park (US-2581)

When I had to activate from my car, I found that using the KH1 was easier than wrestling with the KX2 on my lap or the console, especially for CW. I could hold it in my hand and log using the tray with the little log sheets. However, I know there are some good solutions for using trays or shelves that mount in the vehicle for larger radios. Still, most of my operating is outdoors whenever possible.

As expected, sometimes I’d arrive at a park and encounter situations that made it difficult to activate. In a couple of cases, the parks (actually more like small waysides off the highway—usually on the coastal side) were closed due to maintenance issues or, in a couple of cases, flooding.  Continue reading QRP by the Sea: Dan’s POTA Rove Along the Oregon Coast →

News

Mapping the Ionosphere: Hamie and Hamilton’s GloTEC-Powered F2 Layer App

10 Comments

Many thanks to Hamilton (KD0FNR) who writes:

Hamie (KO6BTY) and I have been playing with mapping our QSOs for a few years now. We evolved from ionosonde data and Google Earth to data from an NOAA model called GloTEC, (Global Total Electron Content), and Cesium Ion maps. Out of that, we have an app up and running that provides half hour in the past global values for hmF2, (height of the F2 layer at the maximum electron density), and foF2, (the frequency a vertical signal will still be reflected back at.)

The app pulls data from GloTEC, runs it through an open-source data tool called Datasette that uses a plugin we wrote to turn the data into a CZML file that can be viewed with a Cesium Ion map. We use Cesium’s free site, Cesium Sandcastle, to display the map on our page.

The app is at
https://copaseticflow.blogspot.com/p/project-toucans-current-f2-map.html

The code is at
https://github.com/hcarter333/glotec_hm_fo_f2

Here are a few screen shots:

The grid squares are color coded on the foF2 scale. The ‘spires’ are color coded on the hmF2 scale and extend upwards to each spires’ corresponding hmF2 height in km.

The map is hosted though github and Cesium Sandcastle at no cost to us on our blogger.com domain blog. Users can view the most recent GloTEC data for their area by exploring the map.

If you have any feedback, we’d love to hear it.

Thanks Thomas!

What a clever way to visualize this F2 data! You’re such an innovative father/daughter combo! Readers, they welcom your feedback!

Accessories, New Products, News

G7UFO’s Magnetic Case for the BaMaKeY TP-III Paddle

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A few weeks ago, Neil (G7UFO) reached out to let me know that he has started producing and selling 3D-printed magnetic cases for the BaMaKey TP-III.

He generously sent me one to check out, and I have to say—it’s a great option if you’re looking for a simple way to protect your TP-III when tossing it into your field pack.

Here are a few photos—note that the TP-III magnetically attaches to the base of the case. While the bond isn’t super strong, it holds the key securely in place during transport. The cover also stays closed with the help of magnets.

I love his UFO logo!

As you probably know, one of my goals here at QRPer.com is to support independent ham radio makers—especially those who create and sell gear they personally use in the field. This case is an excellent option for TP-III owners in the UK, but Neil also ships internationally.

If you’re interested, you can purchase this case either fully assembled or as a magnet/washer kit if you’d like to 3D-print and assemble your own.

News

Catching Up Soon—Hurricane Cleanup and Charlotte Hamfest

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Dear Readers,

Just a quick note to apologize for the delay in responding to emails and comments.

This and the past couple of weeks, I’ve been spending all of my free time chainsawing and preparing Hurricane Helene tree debris for removal by FEMA.

I’ve hired a skid steer operator to help move the debris to the roadside, and I’ve been working hard to stay ahead of him—it’s been a full-time effort!

As a result, my inbox has been piling up (well over 100 messages now!), and I haven’t had much time to check in. If you’ve reached out, I truly appreciate your patience—I’ll be catching up as soon as I can.

This weekend (Friday–Sunday), I’ll be at the Charlotte Hamfest, and I’m looking forward to meeting some of you there! If you see me, please say hello.

Thanks again for your understanding, and I appreciate all of your support!

72,
Thomas (K4SWL)

Field Reports, Guest Posts, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, Travel

Activating on the Road:  Gems Along the Way – Part 1

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Activating on the Road:  Gems Along the Way – Part 1

by Brian (K3ES)

This two-part article continues my series from 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 one or two more articles (not yet written) over the next few weeks.  In this report, I plan to cover some of the parks and places we found during the trip that were interesting and spectacular beyond our expectations.

As we traveled across the country from Pennsylvania to California and back, we spent a lot of time looking for parks to activate, and sights to see.  While we tried to keep the sights and parks interesting, some of them were unexpectedly amazing, and I would like to share a few of those here.  Part 1 covers our westward trip from Pennsylvania to California.

Moraine View SRA, IL

Since I had already activated parks in Ohio and Indiana, we planned to do our first activation of the trip in Illinois.  To be honest, we chose Moraine View State Recreation Area (US-2311) as our Illinois park, because it was at the right place and the right time.  We had committed to arrive at my niece’s home in Minnesota at the end of our third travel day.  To stay on schedule for this, I needed to complete two activations (Illinois and Iowa), along with ending the the second day’s travel in Prarie du Chien, WI.  We picked US-2311 as the park for Illinois, because it was close to our travel route, and at the right distance from home for our first day’s drive.  That way I could do an early morning activation and be on the road quickly.

Activating US-2311 from a picnic table.  The perforated table top provide a perfect method to hold the collapsible fishing pole that I used to support my antenna.

Choosing a park based on proximity to the travel route might seem like a poor way to find spectacular parks for activating, but that does not account for having Becky engaged in the process.  In this case, she picked our first gem of the trip.  I set up in a shady picnic area to activate, while she and Molly took a walk along the lake that is the centerpiece of the Recreation Area.  They found beautiful views and some spectacular birds.  I finished the CW QRP activation in about an hour, with 11 contacts split between the 40m and 20m bands.  It turned out that six of the contacts were with activators working in other parks, and one of those activators was working from a 2-fer location, so I got credit for 12 contacts in total.  Following the activation, I packed up, and we headed out toward Iowa and our second activation of the day.

Becky captured this picture of the glassy-smooth lake.  Beautiful.
Molly posed for a picture during her walk beside the lake.
This Great Blue Heron was looking for breakfast.
Map of CW contacts from US-2311.

Great Salt Lake SP, UT

The Great Salt Lake is one of the state’s best known geographic features, so it was natural to look for a park near the lake as we planned for an activation in Utah.  Great Salt Lake State Park (US-3075), on the southern tip of the lake, seemed like a good choice.    We had no idea what a GREAT choice it would be.  Stopping at the park was also convenient for eating our lunch, since we would arrive there mid-day.  US-3075 has scenic views of the lake and surrounding mountains, a marina for pleasure boats that sail the lake, beaches for swimming, and it had at least one unoccupied, shaded picnic table that worked well for activating. Continue reading Activating on the Road:  Gems Along the Way – Part 1 →

News, QRP Radios

To Sell or Not to Sell? My Decision on the Argonaut V!

19 Comments

You might recall from my last field report that I was undecided about keeping or selling my Ten-Tec Argonaut V transceiver.

After some soul-searching, I’ve decided to keep it!

The response from the QRPer community was incredible. With few exceptions, nearly everyone who reached out encouraged me to hang onto the Argo V—largely because it falls into that category of radio nostalgia that I’d likely regret parting with and might even end up repurchasing down the road. I have to say, I agree.

Beyond its classic look and feel, my latest activation confirmed that the Argo V is a serious performer. The QSK is silky-smooth, with no audio muting whatsoever—something I now realize is a big part of why I enjoy operating it so much.

Although I also own the Argonaut VI—an upgrade in terms of receiver performance—it’s an entirely different radio with a different architecture. It’s not simply a “newer, better” Argonaut V, but rather a unique design in its own right.

I received dozens of emails from readers interested in buying the Argo V if I decided to sell. Thank you all for reaching out—and apologies for the change of heart! Of the few who actually suggested I sell it, nearly every one of them added something along the lines of, “You should sell it… to me!” Ha!

During last night’s recording of the Ham Radio Workbench podcast, I mentioned this decision, and my dear friend George (KJ6VU) pointed out something important: taking a radio into the field or putting it on the air before deciding to sell is a great practice. Initially, I thought doing so had biased my decision—but in hindsight, I’m glad I did. The experience reminded me why I enjoy this rig so much, and I’m looking forward to giving it much more air time this year.

Thanks for coming along for the ride, and my apologies to those hoping to snag my Argo V. It’s staying put!

Field Reports, Guest Posts, News, Pedestrian Mobile, Portable, POTA, QRP

The Power of Elevation: Scott’s POTA Experiment

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Texas Tower of Power

by Scott (WE5J)

February 14, Valentine’s Day. I’m off work a bit early, so what else better to do than slip off for a POTA activation! I had high hopes of making it to the park, but had to wait on the delivery service to drop off a work package so I could complete my tasks for the day. As luck would have it, they delivered just before 1pm then I was off to my client’s office then headed to Sheldon Lake State Park, US-3056.

(Photo credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife/Wikipedia)

I’ve activated here a few times, most recently at the top of the John Jacob observation tower. The tower overlooks the park, Houston skyline, and the San Jacinto monument from a height of 82 feet above ground. Four days prior, on the top platform using a KH1 with the stock whip and counterpoise dropped between floorboards.  The results were amazing! I expected the activation would be okay, but 12 contacts in 18min is one of my fastest activations!

The KH1 is a 5 watt output transceiver at best, with a compromised antenna. No, it wasn’t power or a fancy antenna.  This caused the hamsters to start spinning the wheels; why was this so successful? Propagation? Elevated radial? Height over terrain? It’s time to test!

Fast forward 4 days, I’m back atop the Tower of Power! This activation was planned to start at the top platform to, (a) get at least 10 contacts for a valid activation then (b) move to ground level to continue.  Nothing like a little a/b pseudo-scientific testing to spice up an activation!

Unfortunately, it was (a.5) and (b) testing; a group was setting up for a surprise marriage proposal on the top platform, to give them space and be respectful I moved down to the middle level. I estimate this is 40’ above surrounding terrain which is still significant in Houston.  As per the last activation, set up on the west side, drop the counterpoise wire (~20’) through the floorboards, and start calling CQ on 20m.

Two cycles of CQ and a Katy bar the door! 12 contacts in 13 minutes, the majority of RST’s 559 or 599. It was a madhouse! No major pileup, but the hunters just kept coming. I wanted to stay in the tower but was running short on time, during a lull I called QRT to move down to ground level.

Once on ground level about 400 yards from the tower, I respotted and started calling CQ. After about 5 minutes the first hunter was a nice surprise from Alabama, not a common state for me. No follow-on callers, so I called CQ again. And again. And again. After roughly 10 more minutes, a fine gentleman from Kansas called. I resumed a few more minutes of calling CQ before going QRT for the day.

While on the ground level, I moved to different locations within the picnic area, tried elevating the radial, holding the radio straight up or a 45* angle, all with no noticeable change in RBN spots or hunter activity. It was painfully obvious that ground level in Houston is not the most conducive for QRP plus a small, compromised antenna.

It was a great day to be out, great to play radio, and it was even more fun to scratch that scientific itch! I can say emphatically, without a doubt, height is might with QRP especially if you live in a low and flat elevation like Houston.

Now that I think a bit, more questions come to mind!  Was the tower acting as some sort of reflector? Will it make a difference if I move to the Eastern platform? Is there another all-wood platform I can try? Looks like we have more testing to do!

Y’all be good! 72!

Scott (WE5J)

P.S. – If you drop a mechanical pencil from 30’ on to a hard surface, all your lead will shatter. Rendering the pencil useless. EDC Mini-Space Pen to the rescue!

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

Should It Stay or Go? A POTA Activation with the Ten-Tec Argonaut V

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On Wednesday, January 5, 2025, I planned a trip to Hickory to pick up my father and take him to lunch. With our family’s hectic schedule, I hadn’t been able to spend any meaningful time with him in weeks, so I was looking forward to catching up.

Of course, as is tradition, I also planned a POTA activation en route.

That morning, before leaving the house, I debated which park to activate: South Mountains State Park, Tuttle Educational State Forest, or Lake James State Park?

It had been a long time since I’d activated South Mountains, so I considered heading there. However, after checking their website, I was surprised to find the entire park still closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene. I hadn’t realized the storm had impacted the foothills that severely—though with miles of trails, it made sense that they were still working to clear blowdowns.

Next, I checked Tuttle, only to discover it was still closed as well. Wow…

I knew the Catawba River access at Lake James was open because I had activated it a few weeks prior. Sure enough, their site confirmed that the Paddy’s Creek area—the park’s largest section—remained closed. Wow.

Clearly, I had underestimated the damage these parks sustained after Helene.

So, I set my course for Lake James, hoping that, by spring, the other parks would reopen. No doubt, park staff were working hard to make that happen.

Another mission

I had a specific radio in mind for this activation: my TEN-TEC Argonaut V.

I bought this radio used almost four years ago and have been very pleased with it. I’ve always been a big fan of Ten-Tec, and to me, the Argo V embodies the super-simple design I loved from their late 1990s/early 2000s radios. It features a big LED display, a prominent encoder, and a proper fold-out bail underneath—a solid legacy field radio.

What I love most about the Argo V (and Ten-Tec radios in general) is its superb audio, low-noise receiver, and silky-smooth QSK.

The Argo V wasn’t built to be a power miser—the audio amplifier is beefy and a bit current-hungry (I believe it draws around 500mA in receive, and more with audio output). But the tradeoff? Outstanding audio quality. It’s the perfect radio for Field Day or long operating sessions when you want to avoid listener fatigue. It’s also a fantastic shack radio.

That said, because of its bulk—and my tendency to grab smaller radios for field use—the Argo V has primarily lived in my shack.

The Argonaut VI

Last year, I acquired a Ten-Tec Argonaut VI, the last Argonaut model Ten-Tec produced—one I helped beta test back in the day.

When I bought the Argo VI, I told myself I might let go of the Argo V at some point. I’ve been debating this ever since.

Lately, I’ve been actively downsizing my shack. I need to sell, trade, or give away radios I’m not using. I don’t like harboring “shelf queens”—I want my radios to get regular airtime. But since bringing the Argo VI into the shack, the Argo V hasn’t seen much action.

My friend Vlado (N3CZ) and I plan to sell gear at the Charlotte Hamfest in a couple of weeks. I figured this POTA activation might help me decide whether to sell or keep the Argo V.

So, with my Argonaut V and my Tufteln linked 40M EFHW packed, I made my way to Lake James!

Lake James State Park (US-2739)

That morning, Lake James was incredibly quiet. There were very few visitors—even though this was the only section of the park open.

Then again, it was early on a Wednesday morning, not exactly prime time!

I chose a picnic table near the parking lot since I was carrying the Argonaut V and gear in a storage box rather than a backpack.

My high-visibility ABR cable assembly.

I quickly deployed my End-Fed Half-Wave (EFHW) antenna and set up the Argonaut V.

Testing the TouchPaddles

Next, I hooked up my new-to-me TouchPaddles, a generous gift from a kind subscriber/supporter.

These keyers were originally sold as kits and have been discontinued for at least a decade. Though a bit bulky, it’s a fantastic CW accessory!

It uses capacitive touch paddles instead of mechanical parts. The added bulk and weight keep it stable while keying.

The unit also has built-in CW message memory. I haven’t programmed it yet (if you have experience with this model, let me know how!), but I plan to experiment with it soon.

The paddle has two output modes:

  • Standard paddle output (for radios with built-in keyers, like the Argo V).
  • External keying mode (for radios without built-in keyers or those with poor internal keying).

I used the standard paddle output since the Argo V’s internal keyer works brilliantly.

With everything hooked up, 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

  • TEN-TEC Argonaut V

Antenna system

Key and cable

Logging

Camera

On The Air

Since I was using a 40-meter EFHW, I had access to 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters without needing an ATU.

I started calling CQ POTA on 40 meters. Continue reading Should It Stay or Go? A POTA Activation with the Ten-Tec Argonaut V →

News, QRP

Bob Discovers the Cause of Low-Voltage Issues on the (tr)uSDX

1 Comment

Many thanks to Bob (K7ZB) for sharing the following update to his recent post, “Experimenting with Low Voltage on the (tr)uSDX.” Bob writes:

Hi Tom,

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.

Field Reports, News, Pedestrian Mobile, Portable, POTA, QRP, Travel

Glen Explores Utah with the KH1: Seven Parks in Six Days

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Seven Parks, Six Days in Utah with the KH1

by Glen (KC8LA)

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!