As I’ve mentioned countless times, what I love most about the Elecraft KH1 is how it has become my EDC (Everyday Carry) radio. It’s the perfect companion for those impromptu activations I manage to squeeze into my daily routine.
Take Thursday, December 5, 2024, for example.
Around 3:00 PM, fresh from a physical therapy session (working on that shoulder!), I found myself rerouting due to a washed-out bridge on Highway 70—a lingering reminder of Hurricane Helene. The quickest path home took me along a short stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway. And, as any POTA enthusiast knows, you must seize the chance for an activation if you’re on the Parkway anyway!
Time was tight—just 25 minutes from start to finish—but that’s all I needed.
2-Fer Time!
I parked at the Folk Art Center, grabbed the KH1 from my EDC bag, and hiked a short stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST). This lucky spot scored me and my hunters a 2-fer: US-8313 (MST) and US-3378 (Blue Ridge Parkway).
I had the parking area all to myself.
In addition to the KH1, I actually had my camera with me because I’ve been planning a video to showcase the gear I carry in my EDC backpack. No doubt, when I eventually produce that video, I’ll reference this activation as an example of why it’s so nice to have an Everyday Carry radio.
Gusty Winds
It was a gusty day, and unfortunately, my wireless mics (with wind screens) were still in my full radio bag at home. Without them to combat wind noise, I opted to record the video intro and summary from the relative calm of my car.
I only walked, perhaps, 50 meters down the MST.
For the activation itself, I used audio piped directly from the KH1 into my digital recorder—clean, crisp, and wind-free. The downside? No narration during the activation.
Ironically, setting up the camera took longer than setting up the KH1. The radio was ready in a breezy 15 seconds, while the camera setup stole a couple of precious minutes.
Gear:
My KH1 in the M40 Pelican case with my Tufteln angle adapter on top. This was my entire field radio kit.
Note: All Amazon, CW Morse, ABR, Chelegance, eBay, and Radioddity links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.
This month, we’re heading out for a short vacation, and while I think I’ve already answered this question for myself, it’s always fun to explore the possibilities a bit further.
As you probably know, I’ve accumulated a fair number of QRP radios over the years—so many, in fact, that it’s borderline embarrassing. When people ask me how many radios I own, I tend to dodge the question. It feels a bit like admitting to an addiction! It’s the same feeling I get after the holidays when I finally total up how much I spent on gifts. Sometimes, it’s better not to know the number.
Less is more
Honestly, I’d be a happy camper with just my $125 TEN-TEC R4020 two-band, CW-only radio.
I told a friend recently that I’d honestly be content with just one radio from my collection.
I know that might sound surprising, especially since QRPer.com often showcases my radio “addiction.” But the truth is, aside from radios, backpacks, and books, I don’t accumulate many things. We intentionally live in a small house (by American standards), and we like to keep it uncluttered.
That said, most of the radios in my collection are ones I genuinely enjoy using. Any one of them could be my only radio, and I’d be happy. So choosing one radio for a vacation should be easy, right?
Not quite.
Almost every time I face this decision—“Which one should I take?”—a couple of radios consistently rise to the top of the list. I’ll share those choices in a moment, but I’d love to hear your thoughts: would you make the same choices, or would you pick something else?
Vacation Parameters
Before diving into my choices, here are a few details about this particular vacation:
It’s short—just four nights.
I haven’t been to this area in 17 years. (The destination is a surprise for my daughters, so I’m keeping it under wraps for now!)
This is a road trip. Since our beloved Subaru is out of commission and not yet replaced, we’ll be taking our Volvo C40, which has much less cargo space.
I’ll likely only have time for two POTA activations. The focus of this trip is family time, so any activations will be short.
I’ve never visited the POTA sites we’ll likely visit, so I don’t know if wire antennas are allowed or what the conditions will be. One site is a historic/archeological area, so I’ll need a low-impact setup.
The Contenders
Given the tight space and limited time, I’ll only bring one radio. It needs to be versatile enough to handle unknown conditions and compact enough to fit with our packed gear.
The Mountain Toper MTR-3B
It’s hard to beat the MTR-3B for size. This ultra-compact, lightweight, self-contained kit is both impact and waterproof.
However, it lacks an internal ATU, so I’d be limited to wire antennas. Since I won’t have room for my MC-750 vertical, I’d need to rely on finding parks that allow wires in trees. I could call ahead to confirm, but this adds complexity.
The Penntek TR-45L.
The TR-45L is an excellent choice. It has a large internal battery that can easily handle 10 activations, an internal manual ATU, brilliant audio, and it’s nearly self-contained. Add a key and almost any antenna, and you’re good to go.
I’ve even used the AX1 antenna with the TR-45L, for low-impact setups. But like the MTR-3B, it’s CW-only, which eliminates SSB as an option. It’s also a bit larger than my other QRP radios, and I need to prioritize space.
It would also be nice to have a radio small enough to fit on my folding kneeboard.
The Elecraft KX3
The KX3 is an incredibly capable radio. It handles SSB, CW, and even digital modes like PSK-31 and RTTY without extra gear. It has an excellent internal ATU and pairs beautifully with the AX1 or a simple wire antenna. It’s small enough to fit on my folding kneeboard, too.
That said, there’s one radio that offers nearly the same capability as the KX3 but is even smaller and has an internal battery:
The Elecraft KX2
The KX2 is my go-to travel radio. It’s compact, versatile, and so capable it feels like the Swiss Army Knife of QRP radios.
Every time I travel, I try to talk myself out of bringing the KX2 just to mix things up, but it’s hard to argue with its convenience and reliability. For this trip, where time and space are limited, the KX2 is the clear winner.
I’ll pair it with a random wire antenna, the AX1, and a minimalist throw-line kit. This setup will allow me to adapt quickly to park conditions, even if wires aren’t permitted.
What about the KH1, Thomas?
Okay, I may sneak a second radio onto this trip.
The KH1 is so compact it can fit in my Pelican M40 case, which slides under the seat or into the glove compartment.
The IC-705 might be a great choice, too. I’ve even paired it with the AX1 using a capacity hat.
While I know I could make any radio in my arsenal work, the KX2 takes the guesswork out of the equation. When time is limited, that means more time on the air!
Would you choose the KX2 for this mini-vacation, or do you think another radio would be better suited for the job? Please comment.
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→
I’ve received eight messages from people who would like to give a special ham radio person—their spouse, partner, parent, child, or friend—a gift but don’t know what.
I get these messages every year, and while I’m typically busy in December, I enjoy answering them because it means that I can take a gift decision in a significantly positive direction for someone. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy being Santa’s helper, am I right?
No one who contacted me was looking for a radio suggestion–they were looking for accessories that maybe the other person wouldn’t spend the time or money on themselves. We talked about this in the latest Ham Radio Workbench episode. In fact, sometimes the best gift is a high-quality accessory that one might not buy for oneself.
Below, I’ve included the list of things I’ve been suggesting this year.
Remember that most of these ideas assume that a special person in your life likes to play radio outdoors (i.e., Parks On The Air or Summits On The Air).
We’ll also keep the price at or below $150 (roughly).
Note that many of these links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com. Since this post is somewhat time-sensitive, I will not link to an affiliate site if its price is higher or its shipping status (at the time of posting) is more extended. Here we go:
A quality pre-built antenna
There are hundreds of varieties of antennas on the market, so if you’re unsure if the gift recipient has an antenna tuner, it’s best to stick with a resonant antenna like the super-popular End-Fed Half-Wave (EFHW).
PackTenna 20 Meter EFHW: Almost all field radios have 20 meters, and this short antenna is efficient and super easy to deploy. PackTenna makes a very high-quality antenna that will last for many years. PackTenna also *just* added some 40 meter extension wires to inventory as well–this would give the 20 Meter EFHW more versatility.
Many hams will not spend their hard-earned money on a high-quality cable assembly. Instead, they will buy something cheap from Amazon, eBay, or AliExpress. I love ABR cables because they are super high quality and will last much longer and perform better than cheaper options.
If you buy one of these cables from ABR, use our coupon code ABR10QRPER at checkout to save an additional 10%.
High-Visibility Jacket ABR240-UF with PL-259s and 5 Ferrites: This cable is an excellent option because it has a high-visibility jacket. Choose a 20- or 30-foot length—I tend to use 20 feet myself. This cable is heavier than the one above, so don’t choose it if you know the person will use it on long hikes.
Field tools and EDC accessories
I like to take these items to the field when activating or camping.
Leatherman Signal Multitool ($140): I use this tool more than any other and carry it by clipping it inside my left pocket. It has good pliers, wire cutters, screwdrivers, blades, and even a whistle and flint for starting fires. I never leave home without it.
Nitecore NU25 Rechargeable Headlamp($40): I don’t think a field kit is complete unless it includes a headlamp. If you’re out on a trail and are running late as the sun sets, a good headlamp will save your bacon. It also frees up your hands when packing field gear in the dark. I even use mine when working on soldering projects requiring good lighting.
Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Camping Lantern: I love this rechargeable lantern. It’s not backpack-friendly, but it is the perfect companion for late-night park activations or simply camping with the family. The lamp has a warm light that can be pretty bright. It even has a hand-crank to recharge it in an emergency. (See this lantern in the photo above.)
A Morse Code Key
If you know that the ham radio operator in your life is a Morse Code or CW operator, you really can’t go wrong by buying a key. There are multitudes of keys out there, but since we’re so close to the Holidays, you will need to purchase something that can be shipped and received in time. Please check out the delivery times for these. Again, I’m attempting to keep the price point below $150 US.
KM4CFT Iambic Paddle Kit: This paddle works brilliantly and is quite affordable. It is a kit, but is very easy to assemble.
N6ARA TinyPaddle Jack: This is a wonderful micro key that can be tucked away in a pack as a backup. I actually use one of these as my main key for one of my field kits.
Have you run out of time to buy your gift? No worries—I have a great idea.
My backpack is one of the most essential items I take to the field. People often ask me which brand, model, and size they should buy, but it’s tricky because proper hiking backpacks must fit the person wearing them.
My suggestion is to make a certificate for your loved one, telling them you’ll take them to an outdoor supply retailer like REI (US), SAIL (Canada), Decathlon (UK), or, perhaps better yet, your locally owned camping supply store and help them select a backpack.
The important part is that you want to take them to a shop where they can be properly fitted for a backpack. They should also bring some of their radio gear to ensure it fits inside.
Keep in mind that quality backpacks are costly. A good daypack can cost between $100 and $250.
Happy Gifting!
Thoughtful gifts like quality antennas, durable cables, field tools, or Morse code keys can make a big impact for the ham radio enthusiast in your life. These practical accessories show your support for their passion. I hope these suggestions help you find the perfect gift to make their holiday season special. Happy gifting!
Last December, I set a goal of 60 new Parks on the Air (POTA) valid activations by the end of the 2024. When I sat down to calculate this goal last December, I figured one park a week was easily attainable. In fact, in my article about Jack Hill State Park, I laid out my vision for pursuing this goal – gathering activations during breaks in my son’s school year with some overnight camping trips sprinkled in.
Black Balsam SOTA/POTA in North Carolina – July 2024
Well, life doesn’t exactly go according to plan, and it certainly didn’t for me in 2024. The April trip I planned to Florida was cut short for personal reasons. The July North Carolina trip was cut short due to weather. The Thanksgiving camping trip with my son was postponed until next spring. Those changes reduced the number of parks I could activate during school breaks.
In addition, my personal life has undergone much change this year. After my divorce, I moved into a place of my own and became a single mom. I worked through the trauma of an emotionally abusive marriage and began to prioritize self-care. I’ve always been a busy person juggling many plates; however, at age 53, it is time to re-evaluate my priorities and savor the life God has given me.
Needless to say, the goal I at first thought would be an easy slam-dunk has proven to be anything but that.
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park in Florida – December 2023
At this point, there are three weeks left in the year and I’ve activated 47 parks successfully, leaving me 13 short of my goal. Do I think I’m going to attain the goal I set? No. I certainly could make a concerted effort and push myself to reach 60 parks. But the older and wiser Teri is looking for balance in her life. She realizes that the journey is more valuable, more meaningful than the destination.
She sees the glass as half full, looking at what she’s gained on this journey: learning how to execute solo camping trips with her dog Daisy far from home, a better understanding of her equipment, a connection with other hams through POTA QSOs, the opportunity to share her successes and struggles through these articles.
Daisy and I at Hiltonia Wildlife Management Area in Georgia – January 2024
Just because we are nearing the end of 2024 doesn’t mean my journey with POTA or ham radio is over. No. No. No. There are many more adventures ahead for this POTA Babe. I’ve said it many times – ham radio is about relationships. I can’t begin to express how much it means to me to have all of you with me through this journey. Here’s to the adventures ahead of us.
George L. Smith State Park in Georgia – September 2023
On Friday, November 15, 2024, a window of opportunity opened up for me to fit in a POTA activation—and I couldn’t be happier I took it!
Life in Swannanoa is gradually normalizing after Hurricane Helene, but free time remains scarce. I imagine my neighbors would echo this sentiment, especially since so many of our local businesses—lifelines for the community—are gone.
One example: Our post office
Take our local post office, for instance. Severely damaged by flooding, it operated from a temporary mobile unit for about a month.
Our mobile post office. The shipping container next to it held parcels for pickup.
Unfortunately, as cold weather settled in, the mobile post office was shut down, and operations were moved to a facility 40 minutes away—a location entirely out of my regular travel routes.
The staff there have been working tirelessly under challenging conditions, but receiving both mail and parcels has become an unreliable ordeal. Parcels are delayed, letters are misplaced, and some items—like our insurance check and my daughters’ university acceptance letters sent in October—have yet to arrive.
Thankfully, in this digital age, we’ve found workarounds. Most communications can be routed online, and we are now having our parcels sent to my friend Vlado’s QTH for safekeeping. Thank you so much, Vlado!
We’re sorting it all out, but we know that some items will simply be lost in the confusion and shuffle.
An Unexpected Activation Window
On this particular Friday, I planned to pick up two FedEx packages from Vlado after dropping my daughter off at her Shakespeare rehearsal. When I called to confirm the delivery time, Vlado and I discovered that the packages wouldn’t arrive for several more hours.
Suddenly, I found myself with a two-hour window—just enough time for a quick POTA activation!
Pisgah National Forest (US-4510)
The closest POTA site to my daughter’s rehearsal spot was Sycamore Flats in Pisgah National Forest, about a 20-minute drive away. Factoring in setup, teardown, and round trip drive, I’d have roughly an hour for the activation.
Shaking things up
As I drove, I pondered how I could make this activation unique.
I rarely stick to the same setup, preferring to experiment with different radios, antennas, and configurations. This time, though, my SOTA pack and EDC bag contained the same gear I’d used in previous activations: my Elecraft KX2, KH1, an EFHW antenna, and a few other field accessories.
Then I remembered the AX1 in my LowePro Case—it had been a while since I used this compact antenna in the field.
Inspired to make things even more challenging, I decided to attempt the activation with only one watt of power.
That would turn a routine activation into something a wee bit more adventurous.
When I arrived on site, I chose the picnic shelter as my location since it wasn’t occupied and it had some of the only picnic tables still in place after Helene flooding.
Setup was quick, and in no time, I was ready to hit the air!
Gear:
Note: All Amazon and eBay links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.
If you watch my activation video (see below), you’ll notice that after tuning up, I remembered to lower my power before calling CQ. (My KX2 always defaults to 5 watts, which is typically my maximum output power.) As I adjusted the power level to one watt, I thought, “Why not lower it a bit more?” Continue reading Turning Half a Watt and the Tiny AX1 Antenna into a Proper POTA Adventure!→
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:
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.”
Yesterday morning, I replied to a message from a reader planning to obtain a vanity callsign. He asked, “Which [suffix] letters would make an easy callsign to send [in CW] and copy in your experience?”
This is a great question. I do have a few suggestions.
My previous call
I suggest avoiding ending your callsign with a “K.”
I speak from experience.
I was not an avid CW operator when I upgraded to General over two decades ago. I was auto-assigned the following callsign by the FCC: KF4TZK
It was a mouthful in SSB, especially when articulated phonetically: Kilo Foxtrot 4 Tango Zulu Kilo.
When I started operating in CW, I realized how confusing it can be to have the letter “K” at the end of one’s call. If your sending isn’t near perfect—or even when it is—people will assume the “K” is simply “OK, back to you,” and they copy “KF4TZ.”
I got tired of correcting my call by sending back “KF4TZK K” to let them know the K was part of my suffix.
If your call ends with a K, there’s no reason to change your callsign unless you also find it gives you trouble. If you have a ‘2 x 1 call (a callsign with two letters, a number, and a letter) ending in K, it’s not a problem.
I would also suggest not combining too many letters similar in dit patterns, like “HSI” or “HSH.” Strings of dits can be complex for some to copy.
Best advice?
When I decided to apply for a vanity call and ditch KF4TZK, I consulted my dear friend and wise Elmer/mentor, Mike (K8RAT).
He said:
Write down all available callsign options you’re considering, then practice sending them. You’ll know which one “feels” right.
He was spot on: K4SWL felt right, and since SWL (shortwave radio listening) is what started my radio journey, it was a no-brainer.
If you feel comfortable sending a callsign—if the rhythm and cadence feel right to you—then it’ll likely be easy to copy on the other end.
Final thoughts
Remember, this is a fun and creative process. Enjoy the journey of deciding on a new callsign!
In the end, very few “bad” calls are out there. It’s incredibly rare that I copy a call and think, “Wow—that’s a stinker!”
Even if your call sounds a bit awkward in CW—many do—rest assured, others won’t have difficulty copying you if your sending—your pace and spacing—is accurate.
What do you think?
Do you have any suggestions? Feel free to comment.
Many thanks to Jonathan (KM4CFT), for sharing the following article about his portable field radio kit, which will be featured on our Field Kit Gallery page. If you would like to share your field kit with the QRPer community, read this post.
CFT1 Field Kit
by Jonathan (KM4CFT)
I thought I would supply my own field kit I recently put together for my CFT1.
This will also be the official announcement of my newest product, which is a CW Key leg strap. The leg strap is something I originally got my dad to fabricate for me out of some scrap metal a while back, and now that I have the version 2 iambic paddles, I thought it would be nice to mass-produce them. They are compatible with any magnetically mounted paddle.
This is my CFT1 Go Bag. It contains everything I need to activate my CFT1 except for a mast or throwline.
The kit consists of the following:
Note: All Amazon links are affiliate/partner links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.
QRP radios, product announcements, reviews, news and more. Low power amateur radio fun!
Please support QRPer by adding us to your whitelist in your ad blocker. Ads are what helps us stay online. All of our ads are ham radio related--no junk, we promise! Thank you!
I parked at the Folk Art Center, grabbed the KH1 from my EDC bag, and hiked a short stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST). This lucky spot scored me and my hunters a 2-fer: US-8313 (MST) and US-3378 (Blue Ridge Parkway).
It was a gusty day, and unfortunately, my wireless mics (with wind screens) were still in my full radio bag at home. Without them to combat wind noise, I opted to record the video intro and summary from the relative calm of my car.
Ironically, setting up the camera took longer than setting up the KH1. The radio was ready in a breezy 15 seconds, while the camera setup stole a couple of precious minutes.
I hopped on the air and called CQ POTA. Fortunately, the RBN picked me up right away, and since I’d announced the activation just minutes before, I was spotted on POTA.app in no time. Continue reading Twofer: Impromptu Trail & Parkway Activation with the Elecraft KH1 
