Last year, just a few weeks before Hurricane Helene hit our area, I received a large package containing several partial kits and even a couple of transceivers.
The package came from a reader and subscriber who wanted to downsize his radio collection but didn’t want to sell his gear. He refused to let me pay him—even for shipping—seeing it instead as a way to support QRPer.com and my YouTube channel. An incredibly kind gesture!
On Monday, February 10, 2025, I finally took one of those radios to the field: an Index Labs QRP Plus.
As many of you know, I’m quite a fan of this radio. Not only was it one of the first compact general coverage QRP transceivers on the market—back in the mid-1990s—but it’s also a brilliant piece of engineering and ergonomics.
Beyond that, there’s a strong nostalgia factor for me. The QRP Plus was the first QRP radio I ever saw in person… back in 1997.
With an opening in my schedule, I was eager to put this radio on the air. The only POTA site that was convenient based on my travels that day was the Blue Ridge Parkway. Since I was already in east Asheville, the Folk Art Center made for the perfect spot to give the QRP Plus its POTA trial.
I picked a picnic table and then set up the Chelegance MC-750 vertical. In no time, I was ready to hit the air!
Gear:
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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.
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.
February has been a whirlwind of a month. Between juggling projects and my daughters’ incredibly busy senior year of high school, free time has been in short supply.
That said, I’ve made it a goal (for the sake of my own sanity—ha!) to squeeze in as much radio time as possible.
Super Portable POTA
Before October 2023, my go-to radio and antenna combo for quick POTA or SOTA activations was the Elecraft KX2 paired with the AX1 or AX2 antenna.
My trusty KX2/AX1 combo!
Even now, I rely on that setup when I want to minimize gear deployment and maximize on-air time. As long as I have a surface to set the radio on—be it a picnic table or my kneeboard–I’m good to go.
But in October 2023, the Elecraft KH1 changed the game. Designed for handheld operation with virtually zero setup time, this radio has made quick activations even more accessible. Given my current busy schedule, the KH1 has been an absolute lifesaver.
It stays packed in my EDC backpack at all times, ready for an impromptu activation or some portable POTA/SOTA hunting.
A Spontaneous Challenge: 45 Minutes to Activate!
Thursday, February 4, 2025, was a perfect example of this radio’s convenience.
My wife and I had a long list of errands, including dropping off donations at various thrift stores and hurricane relief centers. My wife loves thrift shopping (and volunteering), especially when it comes to browsing clothing sections. As we stopped at one of her favorite large thrift stores to drop off donations, she turned to me and said, “I’d like some time here. Could you do a really quick POTA activation and be back in 45 minutes?”
Without hesitation (I do love a challenge), I said, “Heck yeah!”
Mental Math
I quickly mapped out my plan:
The nearest POTA entity was the Blue Ridge Parkway (US-3378), about a 5-6 minute drive away.
I already had a mental spot in mind where I could park and get on the air fast.
Filming the activation would add at least 3-4 minutes for setting up my camera and audio recorder.
Breakdown of the time constraints:
Round-trip drive: ~10-12 minutes
Camera/Audio setup: ~4 minutes
KH1 setup: ~20 seconds
Scheduling the activation: ~1 minute
Remaining activation time: ~29 minutes
Totally doable—as long as nothing went sideways!
A Two-Fer Bonus!
When I arrived at my planned activation spot, I needed only one thing: a place to park. Since the KH1 is fully handheld, I could operate anywhere.
The red pin is roughly the location where I parked.
I recalled a small pull-off near the Mountains to Sea Trail (US-8313)—a place I’d used before for a quick hike. If the parking spot was close enough to the MST, this might count as a two-fer.
You can see the Mountains to Sea Trail on the left and the short path leading to it from my parked car on the right.
After arriving on site, I confirmed that I was within 20 feet of the MST. POTA rules require that an activator must be within 100 feet (30.5 meters) of a trail for it to count as an activation–obviously, I was well within those limits.
Although I could have operated directly from the trail, the MST is a busy single-track trail, and I didn’t want to block hikers. So, I opted to activate from the parking spot instead.
Next, all I had to do was grab the KH1, set up my camera gear, and hop on the air!
Gear
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On Thursday, January 30, 2025, I did something I hadn’t done in months—I activated the Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace State Historic Site (US-6856).
Regular readers know that western North Carolina was hit hard by Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024. The Vance Birthplace–nestled in the Reems Creek valley which experienced severe flooding–had been closed for months.
I hadn’t driven out that way post-Helene, assuming the worst. In general, I avoided traveling into affected areas unnecessarily to keep traffic light for those working on recovery efforts.
Recently, another local activator mentioned that the site had reopened. A quick call to the park confirmed that I was welcome to activate, so I packed up my gear and headed out.
Assessing the Site
Upon arrival, I was relieved to see that the site itself hadn’t sustained significant flood damage. There were several downed trees, including a few that hadn’t yet been cleared, but the picnic shelter—the spot I usually operate from—was in great shape. Two large trees had fallen near it, but thankfully, the structure remained unscathed.
For this activation, I opted to use my Chelegance MC-750 self-supporting vertical antenna rather than relying on one of the remaining trees.
Setup
I was so eager to get on the air that I nearly set up the antenna before starting my activation video. Fortunately, I caught myself just in time, grabbed the camera, and recorded the process.
Setting up the MC-750 was simple. I extended the stainless whip to a quarter-wave length on 20 meters, deployed the four counterpoise wires, and connected the feedline to my radio.
I brought my Penntek TR-45L (full-size version) for this activation, and setup was minimal. With its large internal battery, I only needed to ensure the Z-Match tuner was in bypass mode, plug in the antenna and key, and I was ready to go.
Originally, I planned to test a new prototype paddle that had recently arrived. However, the left paddle wasn’t functioning consistently. (After the activation, I discovered a bonding issue between two contact points—mystery solved!) I quickly swapped in my CW Morse double paddle, which I always keep as a backup.
With my logs in place, 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
Penntek TR-45L with optional Z-Match tuner and internal battery (note: this item has been discontinued)
Note: This is the third article for my trip to southwest Georgia at the beginning of January 2025. If you didn’t read the previous article, it is available here: Chickasawhatchee WMA (US-3739)
In POTA and camping, one may plan and prepare; but no matter how much of that one does, there are invariably challenges that arise pushing you out of your comfort zone. Challenges put one into what I call “ham radio mode”. You know what ham radio mode is, right? You evaluate a situation, assess your available resources to address the problem, and implement a solution with those resources. The trip to southwest Georgia presented several unexpected challenges.
The first unexpected challenge was that of my keys. I brought two paddles – the VK3IL design paddle and the mini palm paddle. Upon plugging it in, the VK3IL would only send dahs. So I defaulted to my backup, the mini palm. However, something was wrong with the connector on the back as randomly, the dit paddle would stop working. Ugh! After my first activation, I used my CW Morse straight key which I brought along because of Straight Key Night on January 1st. I hadn’t used a straight key for POTA in ages and, though a little challenging at first, it was a good change of pace.
CW Morse straight key
The second unexpected event was the soles of my old riding boots peeling back from the boots themselves. This happened as I was packing up my equipment at Chickasawhatchee. Thankfully, I found a Family Dollar store on the way back to Kolomoki Mounds State Park, purchased some JB Weld glue, and repaired them Thursday evening while sitting by the campfire.
boot sole coming off
The third unexpected event (don’t such things often come in threes?) were the cold temperatures at night. I did check the weather forecast before departing Savannah. However, it’s been nearly thirty years since I’ve camped in 30 degree weather and the weeks leading up to the trip had been unseasonably warm – highs in the 70s and lows in the mid 50s. So while I knew intellectually that it would be cold, I wasn’t thinking from an experiential perspective.
The first night I couldn’t get comfortably warm despite having a Northface sleeping bag (rated for 25/40 degrees) and a SeatoSummit Thermolite Reactor Extreme liner. I also threw on top of Daisy and I (she had a sleeping pad and bag of her own), a survival blanket I keep in the car for emergencies.
Late into the first night, I remembered a moving quilt/blanket also in Kai’s trunk for emergencies. I was too cold to retrieve it from the car that night. But for the second night, I laid it on the floor of the tent under Daisy and then wrapped it over both of us. Though the situation that night was better than the first, I was still not comfortably warm. (This is why winter is my least favorite season – I spend all winter trying to keep my hands and feet warm.)
frost on the hood of my car
While I disliked throwing in the towel, I also didn’t want to suffer through two more nights of frigid weather. I tried to remember that the goal has to serve me and not the other way around.
a stinkbug at the campsite – look at the pattern and coloration on it!
After tearing down camp and packing the car, Daisy and I headed northeast back home with a planned stop at Doerun Pitcher Plant Bog Wildlife Management Area (US-7882). It is a relatively small WMA – only 600 acres. The land was purchased in 1994 from a family estate and named for the pitcher plants found on site.
source: Google Maps
Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants. According to Wikipedia, they have a “deep cavity filled with digestive liquid” in which insects are trapped and drown. There are over 100 species of carnivorous plants worldwide and three New World (North and South America) genus including sarracenia which are found at this WMA. The three species one can view at this park are the yellow pitcher plant (sarracenia flava), hooded pitcher plant (sarracenia minor), and the parrot pitcher plant (sarracenia psittacina).
yellow pitcher plantshooded pitcher plants – Photo by David McAdoo, Source: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/sarracenia-minor/
I was able to view all three species though they were not in their prime due to the cold temperatures.
This WMA is easily spotted from the road. It is a short drive into the property where one encounters a kiosk and trail to the pitcher plant bog. As there was no one present and no power lines in the parking lot, I decided to set up here for my activation.
entrance to the park
On the edge of the parking lot was a pine tree with branches low enough to reach with my arbor line. There were plenty of parking spaces to the left of my car so there was no issue running my antenna northwest across the lot. That enabled Daisy and I to sit in the sun (again, it was chilly in the shade here) and see anyone approaching in case I did need to move my antenna. I installed the Tufteln EFRW easily and readied myself to get on the air.
our QTH – Daisy is snoozing in the sun!
Unfortunately, I did not have sufficient cell service to access the POTA site at this park. I texted Glenn and he spotted me on 14.058. As I had a four-hour drive ahead of me, this was a park at which I would not linger so sticking to one band would have to suffice.
Twenty meters did not disappoint. In fifty minutes, I had 23 contacts, many of whom I knew – Steve N2YLO, Todd W2TEF, Ed KN9V, Brian K3ES, Eric WZ5MM, Rick K8BMA, and Bob AC9MG. Though the POTA exchange may be short and not challenging, I always enjoy seeing ops I know on the air during an activation. It puts a smile on my face. (I just wish I could knew and remember everyone’s name. I sent the wrong name to Carlos AE2W – sorry about that!)
QSO Map for Doerun Pitcher Plant Bog WMA 1-3-2025
With this park successfully activated, it was time to head home to Savannah. The other parks I had hoped to activate during this trip – Kolomoki Mounds State Park, Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Walter F. George WMA, Silver Lake State Fishing Lake, and/or Lake Seminole WMA – would have to wait for another trip.
But that isn’t the end. Just like Ginsu knives, there is more! As I had set aside Sunday for this trip, I resolved to find a park near Savannah to activate that day. What park would I pick? Stay tuned…
Equipment Used
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Wednesday, January 29, 2025, was a busy day, but that morning, I was yearning for a little POTA time. I carved out an hour in the late afternoon to play radio—just enough time for a quick activation on the Blue Ridge Parkway (US-3378).
I had two new pieces of gear I was eager to test:
A BNC mini antenna clamp mount, designed by my good friend Mike (KE8PTX), for use with Elecraft AX-series antennas and other mini verticals.
A vintage Swiss Army rucksack, a Christmas gift from a dear friend, beautifully restored by Jack Carter.
BNC Mini Antenna Clamp Mount
Mike designed this clamp to be lightweight, durable, and versatile—it can attach to more than just a tabletop. He’s even clamped his AX1 to tree branches! As with all of Mike’s creations, it’s purpose-built for field operators like himself.
If you have a 3D printer, you can print your own, or you can buy a professionally printed version from Joshua (N5FY) at Tufteln (links below).
A New Vintage Backpack!
This Christmas, I received a surprise parcel. When I opened it, I couldn’t believe my eyes—a vintage Swiss Army rucksack in pristine condition!
Many of you know I have a soft spot for vintage military packs, and this one is truly special. Jack Carter, who restores these packs, wasn’t sure of its exact age but estimated it to be from the late 1950s or early 60s.
Specs:
Internal aluminum frame
Water-resistant salt-and-pepper nettle canvas with leather straps and bottom
External flapped pocket (9 x 11 x 2 inches)
Adjustable leather shoulder straps
Main compartment (20 x 16 x 8 inches)
Weight: ~6 lbs
Jack meticulously documented the restoration process, including deep cleaning, six rounds of leather cleaning, twelve coats of leather conditioner, and two cans of Filson Oil Wax applied with a heat gun to protect the canvas.
The result? A cavernous, beautifully restored rucksack that will accompany me on many POTA and SOTA excursions. At six pounds, it’s a bit heavy for longer hikes, but for moderate treks, it’s perfect.
I chose the TR-45L for its first POTA activation because I’ve always felt the TR-45L has a nice vintage/nostalgic look to it. It and the pack pair nicely!
Setup
Setting up the BNC clamp mount was a breeze. Mike designed it with a dedicated attachment point for the Elecraft AX2’s 13’ counterpoise.
After securing the antenna, I used the TR-45L’s built-in Z-Match ATU to achieve a near-perfect SWR.
Note: Unlike the AX1, the AX2 is a monoband antenna. Mine is set up for 20 meters, though the coil can be modified for other bands above 20 meters.
With everything in place, 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
Penntek TR-45L with optional Z-Match tuner and internal battery (note: this item has been discontinued)
To make the activation more fun, I lowered the output power to two watts. Earlier in the day, 20 meters had seemed lifeless, so I expected a casual activation with space between contacts.
Note: This is the second article for my trip to southwest Georgia at the beginning of January 2025. If you didn’t read the first article, it is available here: Elmodel Wildlife Management Area.
Thursday, January 2nd, Daisy and I headed to Chickasawhatchee Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The park is a short 45-minute drive from Kolomoki Mounds State Park. We drove through more small towns, past peanut warehouses, chicken houses, and cotton fields. Though chilly, it was a gorgeous day with cloudless, sunny skies promising warmer temperatures as the day progressed.
source: Google Mapspoultry house on the drive to and from the parkcotton in the field
The state of Georgia has 14 river basins and 52 watersheds. The Chickasawhatchee Swamp occupies 30,000 acres along the Flint River Basin and 20,000 of those acres are protected inside the Chickasawhatchee WMA (US-3739). According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the swamp is among the largest freshwater swamps in the southeastern United States. It is unique in that “the collection of spring and surface water tributaries unite in bottomlands where the limestone bedrock is thin and soft, giving it a relatively direct connection to the local aquifer.”
source: New Georgia Encyclopedia
The park is well marked and the signage easily viewed from the road. I entered from the northwest corner off Georgia Route 62. In front of me was a packed, red-clay road just begging to be driven. I knew I had an activation scheduled but the desire to explore relegated that activation to the back burner. I drove for nearly an hour in the WMA exploring the park as my own private safari. I was in heaven!
kiosk after entering the parkthe road into the parkI think this is a tilled dove field for hunting.bottomlands in the park – a nice, little freshwater swamp
Around 1 PM, we reached an intersection of two roads in an open area. It was time to stop exploring and take care of business – my POTA activation. At the intersection was a large oak into which an EFRW could be installed and plenty of sun so Daisy and I could sit outside and stay warm. (Though the temperature had warmed considerably from earlier in the day, I still felt chilly in the shade.)
Daisy is ready to POTA!arbor line in tree getting ready to hoist EFRWfeed-end of the antenna connected to my Tom Bihn bag in which I keep my coax and throw kit
Up went the Tufteln EFRW and soon I was on the air. Given the time of day, I opted to begin with 20 meters. Jeff W4JSH was the first to answer my CQ. Over the next half an hour, the calls rolled in. I then jumped to 15 meters for two calls and then 17 meters for six calls. As I had access to the POTA page at this WMA, I tried hunting other activators but was successful with only one – Harry K9DXA at US-1001.
my setup – note the straight key which will be discussed in the next article
Before finishing out the day, I texted Glenn W4YES and he remoted into our ham shack. We worked one another on 40 meters (I gave him a 599 but on his end, I was only a 339). I then worked two more callers on 40 meters including John K4ZI. I was his first POTA contact ever. How awesome is that!
By this point in the day, the sun was lower in the sky, taking the warmer temperatures with it. I packed up my equipment and headed back to Kolomoki Mounds State Park.
This evening I attempted something I’ve never done when camping – build a campfire. Usually it is too wam for a fire when I camp. However, the temperatures would be in the lower 30s tonight again and I hankered to sit by a fire. I know how to build a fire as my ex-husband had a wood stove and I built many a fire in it. It wasn’t long before I had a blazing fire going. I felt like the character played by Tom Hanks in Castaway: “Me….Build….Fire!”
Daisy lounged in her sleeping bag nearby while I sat next to the fire, poking it periodically. Ahhhh. A lovely end to a lovely day. Where to next? Stay tuned…
Equipment Used
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On Thursday, January 16, 2025, I had a long list of errands to run in town, including a session with my physical therapist. After all the heavy lifting and chainsawing I’ve done post-Hurricane Helene, my shoulder has been letting me know it’s not too happy. The PT sessions are definitely helping, though—they’re tough, but I’ve noticed big improvements, especially in how quickly my arm recovers after a day of chainsawing.
One upside to these sessions? My PT office is practically next door to the Blue Ridge Parkway. So, as a reward for putting in the work, I’ve decided to treat myself to a POTA activation—either before or after PT—whenever possible.
On this particular Thursday, my schedule dictated that the activation needed to happen beforehand.
To maximize my limited operating time, I went with my go-to minimalist setup: the Elecraft KX2 and AX1 antenna—a truly dynamic duo!
The UMPP-1
For scale, Peter sent me this pic of my paddle sitting on top of his Begali Expedition.
This activation was also my first opportunity to test the UMPP-1 mini paddle, a compact and lightweight Morse key designed for portable operations.
Back in December, Peter (GM0EUL) reached out to see if I’d be interested in reviewing one of his 3D-printed paddles. These have been gaining popularity among SOTA and POTA operators in the UK, and after taking a closer look, I decided to order one for myself.
What caught my attention was its small footprint and sturdy design—it looked like a key that could handle the demands of the field while fitting neatly into one of my self-contained SOTA kits.
Pricing with shipping is:
UK: £50
EU: 60 Euro
US: $70 USD
If you live outside these regions, I’d suggest you contact Peter prior to ordering.
I felt like $70 was a very fair price, especially with shipping included. More importantly, I love supporting independent makers in the ham radio world—these small businesses are what keep our hobby innovative and thriving!
Setup
As always, setting up the KX2 and AX1 was a breeze!
I then connected the UMPP-1 paddles—they’re certainly compact, but they felt great in the hand and quite sturdy. Despite their small size, I’m not too worried about them breaking when packed tightly in a field kit.
The default action and spacing felt just right to me, but Peter also includes a wee Allen wrench in the Altoids-tin-sized metal box that ships with the key, allowing for easy adjustments.
Gear
Note: All Amazon and eBay links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.
After tuning the KX2, I decided to lower the output power to one watt. Probably not the best idea when using such a wee antenna and being pressed for time—but hey, life’s all about these low-power adventures, right?
After six months devoid of POTA/camping trips, it was time for Daisy and I to hit the road, this time returning to southwest Georgia. There are parks on that side of the state I want to activate but the travel time necessitates a longer stay. My son has two weeks off from school during winter break, plenty of time for such a trip.
After looking at the state parks with campgrounds on that side of Georgia, I settled on Kolomoki Mounds State Park partially because of how the campground looked online but also due to the availability of parks to activate nearby. The POTA map showed six parks to the north, four to the east, and five to the south, all within an hour-and-a-half drive, plenty of parks from which to choose.
my POTA opportunities as printed from the POTA site
Wednesday, January 1st, I loaded up the car and Daisy and I began our journey through rural Georgia to our first park – Elmodel Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
I absolutely love driving through rural Georgia! The roads wind me through little towns with imposing courthouses and kitschy businesses, past water towers and pecan orchards slumbering until spring. While the view may not offer the stunning vistas associated with national parks or glistening metropolitan skylines, it has its own magic, one in which I delight. My car was purring along the road and so was I.
Wilcox County Courthousea bronze bison statue in southwest Georgiafields plowed for plantingpecan orchards
After nearly four hours in the car, we reached Elmodel WMA (US-3748). The park is in the middle of nowhere (as many WMAs are) but the sign and information kiosk are easily spotted from the road. Rather than set up in that open area, I opted to drive a little way into the park as I often like to do.
kiosk by roada spot a little way into the WMA but not blocking the road
As I had yet to set up our campsite for the night and sunset was only three hours away, there was not time to dally. I opted for the Chelengance MC-750. I figured I’d stick to 20 meters so there’d be no having to fiddle with the vertical for changing bands.
setupDaisy snoozing
There is almost always something unexpected during an activation. Today both of my paddles gave me difficulty. The VK3IL-design paddle would not work correctly. When plugged in, it made non-stop dahs. As a backup, I brought the mini palm paddle that was given to me. This paddle, too, acted up when the dit paddle would randomly stop working. (I think the connector on the back of the key is the problem.) ARGH! But that paddle worked 98% of the time and would have to do.
(On a side note – now that I have invested in a wonderful bug – the Frattini Magnetic Evolution bug – and cootie – the W1SFR Titan – it is time to get a good quality portable paddle. As of the writing of this article, I’ve ordered a BamaTech III paddle and await its arrival near the end of January.)
BamaTech Key on order
It was not long after spotting myself (Yay! There was cell service at this WMA!) that John AC9OT answered my CQ.
Operating QRP, I expect my signal reports to hover between 579 and 559. However, today’s reports were not great – 539, 449, 339. Maybe the ionosphere was still unsettled after the prior day’s CME. Unsettled or not, I managed to garner eleven contacts including one from Tim K5OHY, a member of my current Comprehensive ICR course that I am coaching for CW Innovations with Brian K3ES. (Thanks Tim!)
QSO Map for Elmodel WMA Jan. 1, 2025
After 11 contacts, I called QRT, packed up my equipment, and headed for Kolomoki Mounds State Park. My campsite was better than what I expected – lakeside with the sun setting behind the trees. I ate a simple supper and marveled at how blessed I am to have these experiences.
our site – what is not to love about that view?!cut veggies, hummus, and black tea for supperDaisy staying warm in the chilly evening air
As I snuggled into my sleeping bag in the frigid evening air, where would I head tomorrow? North? South? Or East? Stay tuned…
Equipment Used
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In late December, I received a much-anticipated package from LnR Precision: my new MTR-3B V4 “Currahee.”
Life has been hectic, so I didn’t get the opportunity to take it to the field until Thursday, January 9, 2025, when I carved out some time in my schedule.
It was a chilly morning, with temperatures hovering around 20°F (-7°C). Still, I wanted the full field portable experience with the new Currahee, so I bundled up in my winter gear and headed out.
Pisgah National Forest
Rather than doing another activation on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I checked the Pisgah National Forest website and was pleasantly surprised to find that the Lake Powhatan recreational area was open.
When I arrived, the park employee at the entrance gate informed me that I was the only guest that morning. And what a morning it was! Despite the cold, the clear skies and full sunshine made it a glorious day.
The best part? No competition for picnic tables! Woo hoo! (We must embrace the positives, right?)
Quick field kit
About 10 minutes before leaving the house, I hastily put together a quick field kit for the Currahee in my Pelican Micro M50 waterproof case.
This was a trial run to see how I might organize a fully self-contained kit for the Currahee, similar to what I’ve done for my other MTR-3B radios. While I didn’t have time to finalize all the kit components, I wanted to gauge the space available and determine what antenna, throw line, and other accessories would fit best.
Tufteln Cover
Joshua (N5FY), a good friend, sent me a package over the holidays containing some of his latest Tufteln protective radio covers. To clarify, these were gifts; I didn’t pay for them. Among the covers was a brand-new design specifically for the Currahee.
Like all of his covers (you’ve probably seen the ones I use for my KX2, KX1, CFT1, QMX, and others), this one fits brilliantly. In fact, it might be my favorite! The Currahee cover provides a durable, low-profile solution that complements the radio perfectly. Makes it a very durable little package.
Break-In Activation
In the near future, I plan to create a more in-depth video about the Currahee, but my goal for this outing was to get it on the air and give it a solid break-in.
Although the Currahee features built-in capacitive touch paddles, they require contact with bare skin. I wasn’t keen on exposing my fingers to the cold, so I opted to use my trusty TP-III paddles instead. By the end of the activation, my fingers were still getting sluggish, but I managed to log plenty of QSOs.
For audio, I paired the Currahee with my Anker Soundcore Mini speaker and connected it to a 40-meter End-Fed Half-Wave antenna. This antenna is an ideal match for the Currahee since all three of its bands—40, 20, and 15 meters—are resonant. Kudos to LnR and Steve for these excellent band choices!
For power, I used my 9V Bioenno battery. While the Currahee can handle over 13VDC (making it compatible with a “12V” LiFePO4 battery), I prefer running my Mountain Toppers with 9V, which yields about three watts of output power.
Gear:
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As many of you know, I’m quite a fan of this radio. Not only was it one of the first compact general coverage QRP transceivers on the market—back in the mid-1990s—but it’s also a brilliant piece of engineering and ergonomics.
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