Category Archives: Videos

Portable POTA Hunting on a Winter’s Day and Native PSK31 on the Elecraft KX2

January 19, 2025 Thomas Witherspoon 2 Comments

This year, we’ve experienced some cold weather and snow at our mountain home—conditions that always seem to arrive on weekends. While we haven’t had any significant snowfall, the 2–4-inch dustings we’ve received have been enough to coat our steep and winding mountain road. Since our road is still undergoing repairs from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, there are no guardrails, making it feel a bit sketchy to navigate.

Our family’s approach has been simple: we hunker down and avoid heading into town. Honestly, it’s a great excuse to stay cozy at home.

A Near Miss

On Friday, January 10, 2025, I planned to set aside part of the day for a POTA outing but decided against heading down the mountain. Turns out, that was a wise decision. Unbeknownst to me, a contractor working on a neighbor’s house lost control of his one-ton truck on our slick road. The truck veered off into the creek and narrowly avoided plunging all the way in. While it’s hard to tell from the photo, his truck was precariously balanced on the road’s edge, with the rear passenger tire dangling a good two feet off the ground.

The mishap blocked our road for two full days, as no tow truck could make it up the mountain to retrieve the vehicle.

A Hunting We Will Go!

Undeterred by the weather, I was still determined to squeeze in some POTA time—but in relative comfort. So, I decided to do a little portable POTA hunting from one of our porches.

Since Hurricane Helene took down all of my antennas, I’ve kept a line in a tree near the house for quick antenna deployment. When I want to hop on the air, I simply attach a wire antenna for the bands I plan to use.

That Friday, I deployed my PackTenna 20-meter End-Fed Half-Wave. My goal was to work as many POTA activators as possible, especially since those operating north of me were likely facing some serious winter conditions.

Thanks to my KX2’s ATU, I knew I could find matches on 40, 30, 17, and 12 meters if the resonant bands (20, 15, and 10 meters) were quiet. I decided to capture this hunting session on video, so I turned on the camera and got to work!

Gear:

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Radio

Elecraft KX2 with Windcamp X2 Side Rails
- Tufteln KX2 Protective Cover
- KXPD2 Paddles
- Elecraft KXBT2 Li-Ion Battery Pack

Antenna & Cable Assembly

Case

LowePro CS60 Hard Side Case

Logging

Field Notes Pad
Kaweco AL Sport (the Skyline Sport is a plastic version and much better deal)

Camera/Audio Gear

- DJI OSMO 4 action camera with Joby Telepod Sport Tripod

Portable POTA Hunting

I started scanning for POTA stations within my propagation footprint. Unfortunately, there weren’t many activators on the air. Much of the country was enduring an arctic blast, so I suspect the cold and snow kept many operators indoors. Continue reading Portable POTA Hunting on a Winter’s Day and Native PSK31 on the Elecraft KX2 →

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

Some Much-Needed Radio Therapy with the Elecraft KX1

January 13, 2025 Thomas Witherspoon 2 Comments

Last week, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, I finally broke a three-week no-POTA activation streak with a short trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway Folk Art Center.

Catching Up on POTA

Over the holidays, I’ve been doing plenty of POTA hunting from the QTH (you’ll see some reports and videos surface over time), but I hadn’t ventured out to a park for an activation. The holiday season kept me busy with family visits, birthdays, and home projects—most of which are ongoing, thanks to Hurricane Helene. Despite all of that, I found a lot of joy in portable POTA hunting from home.

Still, activating is in my blood. So when I found an opening on Tuesday, I seized the opportunity!

Back to the Folk Art Center

Now that the bridge on Highway 70 has been repaired, the Folk Art Center is once again my go-to spot for quick POTA activations. What was a frustrating 15–20-minute detour is now a simple two-minute hop—an improvement I deeply appreciate.

I pulled into the Folk Art Center parking lot around 1:00 PM. Unsurprisingly, the lot was empty—it was a brisk 28°F (-2°C), hardly picnic weather. Then again, POTA always warms me up!

Audrey

For this activation, I brought along my trusty Elecraft KX1 (affectionately named Audrey) and paired her with my Tufteln 9:1 End-Fed Random-Wire antenna.

It had been a while since Audrey had been out in the field, and I was excited to put her back on the air.

Frankly, post-hurricane projects have disrupted my POTA activation routine, and I’ve missed all outings like these.

Gear

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Radio and Speaker

Antenna and Cable Assembly

Key and Accessories

Logging

On The Air

With the TalentCell battery providing over 12 volts, I was pushing about 4 watts of output power from the KX1. Continue reading Some Much-Needed Radio Therapy with the Elecraft KX1 →

Field Reports, Morse Code, News, Pedestrian Mobile, Portable, POTA, QRP, Travel, Videos

Portable POTA Hunting in Beaufort: A Relaxing Back-Yard Session with the Elecraft KH1

January 5, 2025 Thomas Witherspoon 14 Comments

Wednesday, December 18, 2024, was a full but wonderful day. My wife, daughters, Hazel the dog, and I spent it exploring Beaufort, Morehead City, and Atlantic Beach, North Carolina—coastal towns all within a ten-minute drive of one another.

The KX2 and AX1 earlier that day at Fort Macon State Park.

We started the morning at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. While my wife and one of my daughters enjoyed some shopping later, I managed a quick activation at Fort Macon State Park. (You can read that report and watch the activation video here.)

Afterward, we returned to our Airbnb vacation home around 2:00 p.m. for a late lunch. My daughters, still busy despite the holidays, were working on scholarship essays. With their fall term completed online due to Hurricane Helene’s damage in Asheville, they were determined to tackle deadlines before the new year.

While they worked, I felt the pull of POTA (Parks on the Air). However, I wasn’t in the mood for another car ride—especially not a 25-minute drive to the next site. Instead, I decided on a low-key radio session in the backyard, followed by some quiet time with a Sherlock Holmes mystery.

Before dinner, we planned to stroll through Beaufort’s historic district and waterfront. The constant low fog that day had transformed the scenery into something almost magical—perfect for an evening walk. (I’ve included some photos below for those interested!)

Portable POTA Hunting

Hazel, of course, wanted to participate!

I’d already discovered during the previous day’s hunting session that the Airbnb’s backyard had an impressively low noise floor for an urban area.

I suspect it was because many vacation homes in the neighborhood—including the one next door, which was vacant and on the market—were unoccupied during the off-season. Whatever the reason, it was a pleasant surprise for this QRPer.

KH1 Makes it Easy

My Elecraft KH1 has become my go-to radio for backyard sessions. Not only is it incredibly quick to deploy, but it’s also designed for handheld operation. No need to set up an antenna or find a place to sit—I can simply walk around, optimizing received signal strength and avoiding potential noise sources.

For this session, I grabbed the KH1, its whip antenna, and a 13-foot counterpoise. At the last minute, I also decided to bring my camera to record the experience. Though less action-packed than an activation, I thought it might still be worth sharing.

I kept things simple, using only the KH1’s internal speaker. While it’s not the best performer, I appreciate that Elecraft managed to include it—it’s a feature I wish my vintage KX1 had!

Gear

My full KH1 kit built into a Pelican M40 case.

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Radio and Antenna System

Elecraft KH1 Edgewood Package
- Included 4′ whip antenna and 13′ detachable counterpoise
- Zebra Mini Mechanical Pencil (preferred over the included Zebra pen)
- Pelican Micro M40 mine is the modified version from Tufteln
- Panasonic ErgoFit Wired Earbuds

Camera and Audio Gear

DJI OSMO 4 action camera with Joby Telepod Sport Tripod

On The Air

All screenshots from my action camera (I forgot to take photos with my iPhone!)

POTA hunting is a completely different experience from activating—and I love it.

As an activator, you’re in the spotlight, managing pileups and logging contacts as fast as possible. As a hunter with a handheld 5-watt radio and a 4-foot whip antenna, the challenge is flipped: you have to make yourself heard amidst louder stations, all with the goal of practicing good operating etiquette. Continue reading Portable POTA Hunting in Beaufort: A Relaxing Back-Yard Session with the Elecraft KH1 →

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

Coastal QRP: Chasing High-Bands with the Elecraft KX2 and AX1 at Fort Macon State Park

December 31, 2024 Thomas Witherspoon 6 Comments

Two weeks ago, my family and I enjoyed a short vacation in lovely Beaufort, NC.

Although POTA wasn’t the focus of this trip—family time was—I managed to squeeze in two wonderful portable activations.

The first was a pedestrian mobile activation on Cape Lookout National Seashore. It was simply magical. I’ve always wanted to try a pedestrian mobile activation with my antenna counterpoise dangling in saltwater, so this was a first for me.

The second activation took place the following day, on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

A Flexible Plan

That morning, I had an activation site in mind but didn’t want to set anything in stone. I wanted my wife and daughters to enjoy their day doing whatever they wanted.

My Trakke EDC backpack containing no less than two full field kits!

Of course, as we walked out the door, I brought along my EDC backpack, which contained my Elecraft KH1 and KX2 compact field kits—just in case!

The NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

Our first stop was the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. While we’ve visited the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher numerous times, this was our first trip to Pine Knoll Shores, and we were glad we went!

One of the aquarium staff, along with three divers, gave a presentation about sharks at their massive salt water tank.

The aquarium was beautiful, with an impressive amount of diversity.

Best of all, since it was off-season, we practically had the place to ourselves, save for one school group.

Interestingly, the aquarium is located within a POTA site: Theodore Roosevelt State Conservation Area (US-3868). The conservation area can be accessed via a footpath that winds through the surrounding woodlands and marshes.

While I briefly considered activating there, I knew we only had time for one activation that day, and I had another site in mind!

Fort Macon State Park (US-2730)

We devised a plan: I dropped off my wife and one of my daughters at a large thrift store (my wife loves thrift shopping), while my other daughter, Neva, Hazel (our dog), and I drove eight minutes to the first Fort Macon State Park beach access point.

Fort Macon State Park is a real gem on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. It’s got a little bit of everything—stunning beaches, a historic Civil War-era fort, and plenty of spots to enjoy the outdoors. The beaches are perfect for strolling, hunting for seashells, or just soaking in the ocean views, while the fort itself is packed with history and interesting exhibits. It’s also a great spot for birdwatching or fishing if that’s your thing.

I had scouted out the beach access parking lot earlier and discovered a picnic shelter that provided a much-needed wind break for the blustery day.

The goal? To be gone no longer than one hour. Factoring in the 16-18 minutes of driving (round trip), that left me about 40 minutes to deploy my station, complete the activation, pack up, and return.

Time challenge

Every time I devise a plan to complete an activation within a set amount of time, I get a bit of a thrill. It reminds me of Darren McGavin’s character, the father in A Christmas Story. When the car’s tire blows out, he doesn’t see it as an inconvenience; he sees it as a challenge and times himself replacing the tire.

Like “The Old Man” Parker, I get a kick out of timing myself during activations. I can almost hear Jean Shepherd narrating my efforts!

KX2 + AX1 to the Rescue

Since I used the KH1 the previous day at Cape Lookout, I decided to deploy my Elecraft KX2 at Fort Macon.

Again, I’d already scouted the picnic shelter during a brief visit our first evening in Beaufort. It was in a fenced area surrounded by protected dunes, with no natural antenna supports like trees or brush. Since I had packed light with just my EDC backpack, I didn’t have my carbon fiber mast or a self-supporting vertical like my MC-750.

In the past, I’ve been known to simply hang a random wire antenna over the roof trusses of a picnic shelter, and it has worked quite well in a pinch. While this was certainly an option, I also knew from experience that threading the antenna through the trusses can be a bit finicky and time-consuming.

There was no need to fiddle with a wire antenna when I had my uber-portable Elecraft AX1 antenna in the KX2 field kit case.

Setting up the KX2 and AX1 takes two minutes at a casual pace. If I’m in a hurry, I can get them paired and ready to operate in under a minute. With the gear ready, it was time to see if propagation would cooperate!