The POTA Babe Loses Weight

By Teri KO4WFP

I love living in the state of Georgia. The state contains diverse natural spaces – mountains and valleys in the north, rolling hills and forests in the middle, and a plain extending to the coast with wetlands, marshes, and forests.

source: Georgia DNR
source: GA DNR

The Georgia State Parks on the Air event celebrates and draws attention to state parks scattered throughout these spaces. For this year’s event (April 5th and 6th), I signed up to activate George L. Smith State Park (US-2179), a park located a little over an hour from my home. I’ve activated this park several times in the past – for POTA as well as the K2D special event.

To do something different and to qualify for the hike-in bonus (100 points) for the event, I planned to hike the Deer Run Trail. This trail runs past the historic mill on site and through a wooded area on the southeast corner of the park. To qualify for the bonus, I had to hike at least 1 mile from my vehicle so I walked a section of the outer loop trail.

water released under the mill on the lake
iris blooming

The hike was pleasant. Daisy and I walked through a forested area bordered by cypress bottomlands and farmland. Several benches along the path offered hikers a quiet place to relax. I was surprised by how many people we encountered.

the path leading from the mill – somewhere I’ve wanted to explore
the trail is well marked
a spot to relax on the trail

We finally reached the junction of the loop and .7 mile trail, the latter having a power line running along it. Here was another bench set admist a mixture of pines and hardwoods. A tall pine directly across from the bench had a branch about 30 feet high, just perfect for the dipole antenna I brought, that is if I could reach it.

the junction of the .7 mile trail and 3 mile loop trail
pine tree I spied for my dipole antenna

I removed my throw bag, arbor line, and throw weight, and tossed the line to see how close I could come to that branch. My line and weight ran over a broken branch forming a notch about 10 feet lower. I tugged to remove them and stared in amazement when the line abruptly broke free and fell at my feet…WITHOUT the weight attached. Oh crap! I was so gung-ho to nail that branch that I forgot to securely tie the weight to the line. (doh!)

my throw weight lodged in the notch

I stared in amazement, my mind slowly processing my situation. I did not bring an additional weight because I stopped carrying it since I never needed it (until now that is) and wanted to travel light for today’s hike. Shoot! Now what?

I spent the next 15 minutes trying to find a branch long enough to reach that spot as well as throw sticks at the weight. Nothing came close to dislodging it.

Well, I could just throw in the towel. But POTA Babes don’t give up that easily. I had an obligation to the event as I signed up to activate this park and hunters would be looking for me.

The only items in my pack I could attach to the arbor line and throw were an insect repellant bottle and my Nalgene water bottle. The insect repellant bottle I rejected because of its spray trigger which could definitely get stuck on a branch. But the Nalgene bottle might work. Daisy and I drank some water to lighten it. I tied the arbor line to the lid, found a branch about 15 feet up in the air, and tossed the bottle. Would this even work?

Nalgene bottle

It did! I know you antenna purists out there are shuddering. However, I figured a lower antenna was better than no antenna at this point. I brought two antennas with me for this activation: the Tufteln EFRW and a home-brew linked dipole I built roughly three years ago. A dipole is an amazing antenna, even if homebrewed. I figured my signal needed all the help it could get with the lower height and power lines nearby so I chose to use the dipole.

homebrew linked dipole antenna (40-30-20 meters)

Daisy and I settled across the trail in the understory to shade ourselves from the sun. One leg of the dipole ran across the hiking trail. To give the antenna as much help as I could, I secured both ends of the dipole roughly 6 feet up in foliage. Where it crossed the trail, it was high enough anyone would pass easily underneath it.

I took a breath, pressed the ATU button to activate the internal antenna tuner, cleared a frequency, and began calling CQ. I had no idea what to expect. Continue reading The POTA Babe Loses Weight

Ham Radio Workbenches On The Air Field Report: Part 2

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

(US-6856)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gear

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

Radio

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

Antenna System

Battery

Key and Accessories

Logging

Packs/Cases

Camera and Audio Gear

On the Air

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

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

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

New Antenna: Elecraft announces the AX3 compact vertical antenna

Check out the following announcement posted to the QRP-L discussion group by Wayne (N6KR) at Elecraft:

We’re pleased to announce the AX3 whip antenna.

This highly integrated antenna covers six HF bands, handles up to 30 W, and has many features to facilitate quick-deployment POTA/SOTA and general QRP field operation:

    • Coverage of 30/20/17/15/12/10 meters (+ 40 meters with AXE1 adapter)
    • Right-angle BNC connector for direct coax attachment
    • Unique low-loss, plug-in contact block simplifies band switching
    • Built-in tabletop tripod
    • Housing, whip and removable tripod legs quickly disassemble into 6″ (15 cm) pieces
    • 1/4-20 threaded mount in base for use with taller tripods and hiking poles
    • Two counterpoise attachment points (mini-banana jack and binding post)
    • Supplied with waterproof nylon bag and counterpoise wire

Please click on the link below for details:

https://elecraft.com/collections/antennas/products/ax3_ax3-30-10-meter-whip-antenna

Note that the link name incorrectly refers to the AX1. We were in a hurry 🙂 This will be corrected tomorrow.

We’ll have a few dozen of these at the DX convention in Visalia, California tomorrow. If you’re at the show, please drop by for a demo.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

Those who own radios like the Xiegu G90 will appreciate the 30 watt power handling of the AX3.

Of course, regulars here will know I’m a big fan of the Elecraft AX1 and AX2 antennas, so I will certainly test the AX3 as well!

Magnetic Declination Matters: Tips from W7UDT

Azimuth Maps & Magnetic Declination Corrections in the Field.

by Randall Tom (W7UDT)

According to the USGS website (which is wrong!), in the United States, the current magnetic declination can be found below.

Here’s the USGS link:  https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/outdoor-resources/what-is-declination/

Did you know that magnetic north changes over time?  And with that, magnetic declination changes over time!  The link below is from the organization Alpine Savvy.  Apparently, both have change dramatically.

https://www.alpinesavvy.com/blog/find-the-correct-declination-for-anywhere. 

Their website has a chart showing the change at Portland Oregon.  It illustrates a dramatic change since 1900 to today, from 14° East to 22° East (currently), a full 8° difference over time.

Bear in mind, magnetic declination has a greater, more exaggerated variance and effect closer to the equator.

So what does it mean for the Ham rotating a large beam?  Everything.  Everything should be based on current data, specific for their location.  It matters.

For the correct current magnetic declination information on your location, go to:   https://www.magnetic-declination.com

Many of the online references, even those at the USGS website are incorrect.  Printed maps, topographic maps, are often incorrect.

Accordingly, you’ll need to orient your Azimuth map, and your antenna orientation!  In my case, 12° 52′ East in Boise… Not 15° East as shown on USGS references.

It may not seem as important in HF field operations, given many field operators utilize wire antennas and therefore antennas orientation is less impacted by precise magnetic declination.  But you need to understand these changes, in declination and magnetic north are, in some way, connected to the Sun and its influence on radio propagation, and the earth’s geomagnetic fields.

As an example… In WW2, the US Navy torpedoes often failed to detonate properly due to their magnetic proximity fuse detonators.  The problem:  They were not properly calibrated to their respective lat/long declinations.  A simple oversight, or a misunderstanding with profound implications. Its costs were incalculable and directly affected the war effort.

Per my previous post, “The World is flat!  Just ask any Ham!” I’d encourage you to visit NS6T.net, print out a correct azimuth map for your location, and get your current magnetic declination, and adjust accordingly.

Well then, there ya go… Shoot straight, Good DX, and 72!

de W7UDT ID sk  ee

Futureproofing the KX1: My Spare Parts List

If you’ve been a reader of QRPer.com or a subscriber to my YouTube channel, you’ve no doubt figured out that I’m a huge fan of the Elecraft KX1 transceiver.

The KX1 was my first handheld CW field transceiver and, frankly, it still holds its own today as an effective and fun field radio. With up to four bands, an optional internal ATU, internal battery pack, attachable paddles, and even a built-in logging lamp, it was well over a decade ahead of anything else in its class for size, weight, and portable versatility. In fact, the only commercially available product that truly bests the KX1 in every category is the Elecraft KH1—produced two decades later in 2023.

Using the built-in LED logging lamp!

Even with the release of the KH1 and other ultra-compact radios on the market, the KX1 remains a rare find on the used market and has long since been discontinued.

Over the past few years, I’ve received numerous inquiries from readers asking which spare parts they should order to keep their KX1s on the air.

Back in 2021 or 2022, I placed an order with Elecraft for a few needed parts to repair my KX1. While I was at it, I decided to order additional spare parts I might need in the future.

Before placing the order, I consulted with Elecraft’s KX1 repair specialist to get suggestions—focusing especially on components that may not be easy to source outside of Elecraft. Fortunately, Elecraft still maintains a healthy stock of KX1 parts—no doubt because every KX1 started life as a kit!

Suggested Spares List

I recently went back into my order history and pulled together a full list of the parts I purchased for my KX1 spares bag. Some of these components (like the 3.5mm jacks) are relatively common, but I’ve included them here for completeness:

I would have added a spare firmware chip to the list, but those are no longer available. If you’re digging into your KX1, handle that firmware chip with care and take precautions to protect it from electrostatic discharge.

The good news? All of these parts—and every other component in the KX1—are easily cross-referenced in the KX1 manual. You might even spot a few other components worth adding to your order while you’re browsing.

Click here to view the KX1 manual as a PDF.

I hope this helps! I’ve been asked about this often enough that I figured it was worth sharing in a post.

Cheers & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL)

South Carolina QRP Club’s 2025 QRPFEST on May 10, 2025

Many thanks to Bill (W4FSV) who shares the following announcement from the South Carolina QRP Club:


South Carolina QRP Club 2025 QRPFEST

This year’s theme: “Hams Just Want To Have Fun”

Saturday, May 10th, 2025, 09:30 am until 02:30 pm, at the Heyward Park on Savvany Hunt Club Rd in Sandy Run Calhoun County. (Just off Exit 119 of Interstate I-26.) Come rain or shine… Event is in a covered pavilion! [Click here for Map.]

Sponsored by The South Carolina QRP Club. Co-sponsors: Calhoun County Amateur Radio Group, Dutch Fork Amateur Radio Club, Edisto Amateur Radio Society

Things to see and do!

Free admission and parking

All hams, new hams and want to be hams are welcome

Prize Drawings every 30 minutes

Free food

Our famous “QRP Dogs”, Chips and Soft Drinks will be served from 10:30am to 02:00pm

QRP On-The-Air!

There will be two QRP stations set up for on the air demonstration. New hams are especially invited to make contacts (Elmers will be present to assist!)

Show and Tell

Bring your QRP equipment, kits and home brew rigs to show and share with others.

Come and get it Parts Bonanza!

Thousands of electronic parts free for the taking… transistors, diodes, capacitors, inductors, resistors, knobs, hardware and more!

Kit Building Sessions

Three different kits will be available to build at the park. All tools, soldering equipment and supplies will be provided, As well as experienced builders to provide guidance.

Kits will take between 15 to 30 minutes to build. We will stay longer if needed! The price of each kit is $10.00 each (cash only)

Kit Choices:

1. Ham Radio 24 Hour Clock (easy build) (bring a kid)

2. Endfed Random Wire Antenna (9:1 unun)(only 5 solder connections)

3. Combination QRP Dummy Load / R.F. Wattmeter (16 solder connections)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: W4FSV AT: w4fsv@breadboardradio.com
(803)606-1812

Watch for more information

The Return of the Venerable Elecraft K1!

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

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

My K1 Journey

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

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

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

Not an Easy Search

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

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

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

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

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

Then Came a Tip…

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

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

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

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

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

Totally worth it, in my book.

Not a Shelf Queen

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

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

Noise Blanker vs. Battery Pack

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

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

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

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

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

Fine Tuning

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

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

K1 Bail or Stand?

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

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

Why the K1 Still Shines in the Field

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

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

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

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

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

Ham Radio Workbenches On The Air Field Report: Part 1

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

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

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

Zebulon Vance Birthplace (US-6856)

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

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

The Spooltenna!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My HRWBOTA Activation Plan

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

To maximize the chance for HRWB listeners to work me:

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

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

Gear:

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

Radio

Antenna System

Battery

Key and Accessories

Logging

Packs/Cases

Camera and Audio Gear

On the Air

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

VA3EKR’s Experiments in Capturing Clean Audio in the Field

Many thanks to Scott (VA3EKR) who shares the following guest post which was originally posted on his blog:


Mar. 29, 2025, Troubleshooting Audio Capture with Voice Recorder

by Scott (VA3EKR)

When I activate a park for POTA, I always use HAMRS, running on a tablet as I get better battery life than a laptop, and I confess I still like the confirmation from QRZ that you have the correct contact, or that it at least matches the state you think it is. Still, sometimes I do not have internet connectivity, and additionally, I often neglect to put in the proper RST of the QSO in the fields (POTA doesn’t actually require it), as the tablet is not terrific about hopping between fields.

A nice solution to this is audio capture, where I can fix a broken call sign, fix the RST before submitting to QRZ/LOTW. I am too self-conscious to video myself, so I use an audio recorder. It is pictured below. It was only about CAD $100, and has a nice line-in and a line-out so that I can record while I listen.

Next to the recorder is a toroid I had as extra when I made a transformer last summer, and a relatively long audio cable that I coiled as many times as I could around the toroid.

This is an example of the audio quality before troubleshooting the problem. Just the first few seconds demonstrate the issue.

Audio Player

The received audio is reasonable, and it is when I am sending that the problem shows itself. It was unclear what the problem was, perhaps one of:

  1. Bad audio levels, either the gain on the recorder, or the monitor level of the KX2.
  2. Stray RF being coming back from the antenna on transmission
  3. The audio input cable acting as an antenna picking up transmission

I did not think it was bad audio levels, as I had done some playing-about, though not in a terribly rigorous fashion. The stray RF was my largest suspicion, as I had only started noticing the problem when I started using a Ham Stick in my car during the winter months. Inside the car, there are a series of LEDs on the transmission shifter that indicate what gear the car presently is engaged. I noticed that when I transmit, the “drive” LED flickered a LOT, and this worried me. I had not bothered to ground the HamStick to the car chassis, but did run a 17-foot counterpoise that I clipped to the antenna shield, and I hoped this would be sufficient. As corroboration, I have been able to hit France, Spain, Norway, Oregon and Idaho with the setup.

After a very chilly and rainy day at the horse barn, I was tempted to do an activation, but I decided to stay in the warm house and do some experimentation. I set up in the living room with my AlexLoop that I got in Dayton last year. This gave me the opportunity to try another configuration, and see if the audio was the same as when using the Ham Stick in the car. Indeed it was.

I tuned the loop for maximum noise on 20m, and tuned with the internal ATU of the KX2. I found a POTA activation in North Carolina, and he gave me a 599 with 5 W! I love getting surprising performance with obviously bad operating conditions, like from the interior of a brick house! And the antenna was oriented for east-west, not south! But the audio was still terrible when transmitting.

I spent some more time adjusting the monitor level, and recorder gain. Still nothing sounded good.

I next wanted to see if perhaps the common-mode current was the issue, so I used a LDG 1:1 UnUn, shown below. I was really hoping it was not this, since when you add the BNC connectors and the additional cable, the added size is about the size of a KH1!

After putting the transformer in line with the antenna, the audio was not appreciably different.

The last experiment, corresponding with the last theory, was to put in an audio cable that had better shielding from HF.

This seemed to really do the trick! Here’s the resulting audio with a QSO to North Carolina from inside my living room. There is an initial try at the beginning, and then another successful QSO at the 1:17 mark.

Audio Player

I hope that if anyone else encounters similar issues recording from their radio, that this might prove useful.

Connecting an international community through low-power field radio adventures.