Tag Archives: Morse Code

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

First Field Outing with My New-to-Me Elecraft K1!

4 Comments

In the chaos of the past two months, I managed to post a few field reports out of chronological order. I’m probably the only one who notices—these aren’t sequential stories, after all—but since I was there for each activation, it feels odd when the timeline’s off.

Case in point: you might recall this recent post where I shared how I finally landed an Elecraft K1 field-portable transceiver. I’d been hunting for a K1 for years, so I was thrilled when this one popped up locally in North Carolina.

Last month, I published this field report where I paired the K1 with my AX1 antenna for a low-profile (but high-performance) activation in Pisgah National Forest.

But here’s the thing: that was actually my second activation with the venerable K1. The first one? It took place along the Blue Ridge Parkway on February 24, 2025.

Taking the K1 to the Field!

It’s always exciting to take a new radio to the field—especially one I’d been chasing for so long. I purchased the K1 back in August of last year. As soon as it arrived, I tested it and realized it was in serious need of alignment.

I brought it over to my friend Vlado (N3CZ), hoping to use his signal generator to sort it out. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time that day, so I left the rig at his QTH. Then Hurricane Helene hit, and… well, suddenly it was 2025.

We finally got around to the alignment in February. As soon as it was dialed in, I hit the field.

Blue Ridge Parkway (US-3378)

I made my way to a familiar spot along the Blue Ridge Parkway—the Folk Art Center—and set up the K1.

Mine is a four-bander (40, 30, 20, and 15 meters) with both the optional internal ATU and AA battery pack. To give the internal tuner a little workout, I paired it with my trusty Tufteln 9:1 End-Fed Random Wire antenna.

Once deployed, I hit the ATU button, and the K1 quickly found a solid 1:1 match. With logs at the ready, it was time to hit the airwaves!

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

  • Elecraft K1 (four band version with optional ATU and internal AA battery pack)

Key

Antenna

Pack and Case

Logging Supplies

Battery

Camera/Audio Gear

On The Air

I started calling CQ POTA on 20 meters, thinking I’d eventually migrate to 30 meters if things slowed down. Continue reading First Field Outing with My New-to-Me Elecraft K1! →

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

Ham Radio Workbenches On The Air Field Report: Part 2

1 Comment

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 →

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

Ham Radio Workbenches On The Air Field Report: Part 1

6 Comments

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 →

News, QRP Radios

Xiegu X6200: CW Keyer Timing Issues Addressed

4 Comments

Some of you might recall that I tested both an early prototype and a production model of the Xiegu X6200—both arranged to be sent to me on loan by Radioddity.

One of the biggest issues I had with the X6200 was that the keyer timing was off. These keying issues were most noticeable when operating in iambic mode, especially when forming letters like C, R, or K by squeezing the paddles—something I often do. For example, when I tried sending a “C,” as in “CQ,” the keyer would produce a “B” instead.

I last mentioned these keying issues on September 20, 2024, here on QRPer.com while testing firmware version 1.0.1.

New Firmware

On October 14, 2024, Xiegu released firmware version 1.0.3, which some readers told me addressed the keyer timing. But, of course, my life changed on September 27 when Hurricane Helene swept through the mountains of North Carolina. Testing firmware was the last thing on my mind, and frankly, it just slipped through the cracks.

On January 15, 2025, Xiegu published yet another firmware update: version 1.0.6.

This past Wednesday morning, I realized that I had never updated the firmware on my X6200 loaner and tested the keyer timing in real-world conditions. So, I downloaded the update, installed it, and packed up the X6200 for a POTA outing at Lake James State Park (US-2739) that afternoon.

I actually recorded this activation and will publish a full field report and video in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, I wanted to get the word out early: the keyer timing issues are pretty much resolved!

Why do I say “pretty much”?

Before Xiegu addressed the keyer timing, making contacts was tedious due to the number of times it would miskey a character.

On Wednesday, that was no longer the case. The keyer responded as it should and worked very well.

That said, I did note three minor anomalies:

1. Occasional Miskeying of “C”:

About three times over the course of my activation, when I sent a “C” by squeezing the paddles, it produced a “B.” So, roughly 3% of the time, this happened. I plan to reach out to Xiegu and see if they can tweak this further. In truth, though, I suspect this might be a nuance of my own sending style. I may even try shifting from Iambic B to Iambic A mode to see if it resolves the issue. Either way, I don’t consider this a major concern.

2. Inaccurate Keyer Speed Indicator:

The displayed keyer speed is off. When I set it to 18 WPM, it was actually sending at 22 WPM. Likewise, 20 WPM was closer to 25 WPM. This is easy to compensate for once you’re aware of it, but it’s worth noting.

3. One Keying Pause:

Once, when I sent my callsign rapidly three times in a row for a QRP DX contact, the keyer paused briefly, as if the buffer had filled, then resumed. It was a bit odd, but it only happened once. I’m not sure if this was related to the keyer itself or another element in the radio software that needed time to catch up. Regardless, it didn’t hinder my activation.

Of course, I’ll be sending these observations to Xiegu.

Summary

Before firmware update 1.0.3, I couldn’t recommend the X6200 to operators who primarily planned to use it for CW—it would have been a frustrating experience.

Now that Xiegu has addressed the keying issues (with the few exceptions noted above), I believe CW operators won’t encounter significant problems using this radio.

That said, I’m not done with the X6200 yet. I plan to take it to the field and use it in the shack for a few more weeks before shipping it back to Radioddity (who, at this point, have probably written off this poor radio!).

Look for my full X6200 field report and activation video in the coming weeks!

PS: If you’re a Patreon supporter, keep an eye on your inbox! I’ll be sending out an audio dispatch this morning–an addendum to this post–where I share more detailed thoughts about the X6200 and discuss the key characteristics I look for in a transceiver as a CW operator.

PSS: Many thanks to Radioddity for sending me this X6200, which has amounted to a very extended loan. Radioddity is a supporter and affiliate of QRPer.com. If you use this affiliate link you’ll save 5% off your purchase.

News

More Dogs for the POTA Babe

10 Comments
By Teri KO4WFP

Spring has arrived in Savannah bringing great POTA weather. There are still parks within a two-hour drive of my home QTH that I have yet to activate.  To check one more off the list, Daisy and I headed to Di-Lane Wildlife Management Area (WMA) this past Wednesday, March 26th.

Di-Lane WMA (US-3744) is located just south of Waynesboro, Georgia. You may recall this town because I mentioned it in a previous article. It is known as the Bird Dog Capital of the World. Why? The town hosts the Georgia Field Trials – a competition that evaluates a bird dog’s ability to find and point flocks of quail. Waynesboro is well suited to the sport given the layout of land and large numbers of quail in the area.

Waynesboro water tower     source: thetruecitizen.com

By now you are probably wondering what the heck bird dogs have to do with POTA. The land Di-Lane WMA occupies was formerly owned by Henry Berol, heir to the Eagle Pencil Company in New York. (A side note: he named the plantation for his two daughters Diane and Elaine.) Mr. Berol was an avid bird dog supporter and developed the plantation to host the trials. After Mr. Berol’s death, the land was eventually purchased by the Army Corps of Engineers as wetland mitigation for Lake Richard B. Russell. It is currently managed by the  Georgia Department of Natural Resources with a focus on bobwhite quail.

There are several entrances to the Di-Lane WMA. The one I chose off Herndon Road is flanked by a brick wall and iron bird dogs atop the two pillars which pay homage to the plantation’s past. Just inside the gate is a large barn and check station for hunters.

entrance to Di-Lane WMA
barn by check station inside entrance
WMA map Source: GA DNR

I drove past this area and found a quiet spot at the edge of Dove Field 1. Despite sunny skies, the temperature was quite comfortable in the mid-seventies.

driving in the WMA
our road along dove field #1

Everywhere I looked, spring was evident. Flowers were prevalent – bluish and yellow wildflowers, white flowers on wild blackberry vines, and big clusters of flowers on a large bush. Not to be outdone, the sides of the roads were edged with lush, bright-green grass.

There were several trees beside this road of a sufficient height for the end-fed random wire I prefer to use. What I didn’t realize is that instead of a POTA activation, I was actually here to practice throwing my arbor line as it took me ten or so tries to snag a branch at the height I preferred.

tree for EFRW antenna
feed-end of the EFRW antenna

I posted on the CW channel of the Discord POTA server the day prior that I would activate this park. I received a request from Cainan N9FZ that I use a frequency to assist regional hams working to hunt all the Georgia parks. Hence it wasn’t a surprise that Cainan was the first to work me when I called CQ on 40 meters. He was followed by five ops before I moved to 20 meters. Continue reading More Dogs for the POTA Babe →

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

QRP POTA with Vlado: Penntek TR-45L “Skinny” in Pisgah National Forest (Part 2)

1 Comment

On February 9, 2025, my good friend Vlado (N3CZ) and I headed out to Pisgah National Forest (US-4510) near Looking Glass Falls for a joint POTA activation.

This is Part 2 of our activation — if you missed Part 1, you can check it out here!

While I typically write much longer field reports, I’m still in the final days of Hurricane Helene debris removal around our property, which has been my main focus.

As with Part 1, I’ll keep this one short and sweet–a postcard-style field report. I truly appreciate everyone’s understanding!

Pisgah National Forest (US-4510)

After wrapping up Part 1 with the Elecraft KX1, we decided to switch things up for the second half of our activation.

We swapped the KX1 for the Penntek TR-45L skinny and replaced my paddles with the TouchPaddles Model P1. The antenna setup remained the same: the QRPGuys Portable No Tune End Fed Half Wave, which continued to perform like a champ.

The weather, again, was amazing — sunshine, cool air, and the peaceful sounds of the forest surrounding us.

Vlado added more QSOs to his log, making the most of the lively bands.

When it was my turn to jump back in, I logged 18 contacts in 19 minutes before we had to call QRT for the day.

It felt like one of those activations you never want to end. As always, the TR-45L was a pure pleasure to operate.

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 “Skinny”

Antenna System and Throw Line

Key

Battery

Camera and Audio

QSO Map

Here’s what this five-watt activation looked like when plotted out on a QSO Map. Please note that all of the orange lines are the QSOs from this part of the activation on 30 meters.Click on the map image to enlarge.

Activation Video

Here’s my real-time, real-life video of the entire activation.  As with all of my videos, I don’t edit out any parts of the on-air activation time. In addition, I have YouTube monetization turned off, although that doesn’t stop them from inserting ads before and after my videos.

Note that Patreon supporters can watch and even download this video 100% ad-free through Vimeo on my Patreon page:

Click here to view on YouTube.

Thank you

Thank you for joining us during this activation and for understanding why I’m keeping the field report portion on the short side! 🙂

Of course, I’d also like to send a special thanks to those of you who have been supporting the site and channel through Patreon, and the Coffee Fund. While not a requirement, as my content will always be free, I really appreciate the support.

As I mentioned before, the Patreon platform connected to Vimeo makes it possible for me to share videos that are not only 100% ad-free but also downloadable for offline viewing. The Vimeo account also serves as a third backup for my video files.

Thanks for spending part of your day with us! Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheers & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL)

PS: Consider joining our QRPer.net discussion board! It’s an active community of radio operators who enjoy helping and supporting each other. It’s also the best place to ask any questions you might have about radios, field activities, antennas, or pretty much anything amateur radio. Click here to join.

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

QRP POTA with Vlado: Elecraft KX1 in Pisgah National Forest (Part 1)

7 Comments

On February 9, 2025, my good friend Vlado (N3CZ) and I headed out to Pisgah National Forest (US-4510) near Looking Glass Falls for a joint POTA activation.

This is Part 1 of our activation — and while I typically write much longer field reports, I’m still in the final stages of Hurricane Helene debris removal around our property.

To keep things moving, I’ll keep this one short and sweet–a postcard field report length. I truly appreciate everyone’s understanding!

Pisgah National Forest (US-4510)

The weather couldn’t have been better for our outing — crisp, cool air with bright sunshine filtering through the trees. It was one of those perfect days where you feel lucky just to be outside, let alone playing radio with a great friend.

Our activation video below captures the entire activation from Vlado deploying the antenna, to setting up the radio gear and both of our activations.

Vlado kicked things off with his trusty Elecraft KX1 hooked up to an end-fed half-wave he built himself.

After he wrapped up his activation, he handed the controls over to me. I logged 41 contacts in 39 minutes — the bands were lively, and the little KX1 was working like a charm. (Golly I love this radio!)

We stopped the video there to wrap up Part 1, but we weren’t quite finished yet. We switched to a different radio and kept the POTA fun going for a while longer — stay tuned for Part 2 next week, where we dive into a new setup and share more of the adventure!

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

  • Elecraft KX1

Antenna System and Throw Line

Key

Battery

Accessories

Camera and Audio

Logs

QSO Map

Here’s what this five-watt activation looked like when plotted out on a QSO Map. Please note that all of the blue lines are the QSOs from this activation on 20 meters.Click on the map image to enlarge.

Activation Video

Here’s my real-time, real-life video of the entire activation.  As with all of my videos, I don’t edit out any parts of the on-air activation time. In addition, I have YouTube monetization turned off, although that doesn’t stop them from inserting ads before and after my videos.

Note that Patreon supporters can watch and even download this video 100% ad-free through Vimeo on my Patreon page:

Click here to view on YouTube.

Thank you

Thank you for joining me during this activation and for understanding why I’m keeping the field report portion on the short side! 🙂

I hope you enjoyed the field report and my activation video as much as I enjoyed creating them!

Of course, I’d also like to send a special thanks to those of you who have been supporting the site and channel through Patreon, and the Coffee Fund. While not a requirement, as my content will always be free, I really appreciate the support.

As I mentioned before, the Patreon platform connected to Vimeo makes it possible for me to share videos that are not only 100% ad-free but also downloadable for offline viewing. The Vimeo account also serves as a third backup for my video files.

Thanks for spending part of your day with us! Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheers & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL)

PS: Consider joining our QRPer.net discussion board! It’s an active community of radio operators who enjoy helping and supporting each other. It’s also the best place to ask any questions you might have about radios, field activities, antennas, or pretty much anything amateur radio. Click here to join.

Announcements, Morse Code, News

QSOFinder: Making It Easier to Connect Over CW

6 Comments

Many thanks to Becky (N4BKY) and Mike (N4FFF) who share the following announcement:

A New Way to Connect On the Air with CW

by Mike (N4FFF) and Becky (N4BKY)

Hi everyone! Mike and Becky here, (aka the HamRadioDuo) and we are excited to share a brand new tool to make it easy to find people for CW QSOs. If you love Morse code and ham radio as much as we do, you know how thrilling it is to sit down at your rig, ready for a QSO, only to find yourself calling CQ into the void. Wouldn’t it be great if there were an easier way to tell the world that you’re here and ready OR or to look at who else is out there looking for the same type of QSO as you.

Meet QSOFinder.com, a simple yet powerful tool designed to help CW operators connect in real time. Whether you’re brand new to CW and just looking for a quick exchange or an experienced operator who loves a long ragchew, QSOFinder makes it easy to find like-minded hams on the air.

Our Inspiration

If you’ve ever done a POTA activation, you know how helpful the POTA spotting page is – it’s like shouting from a bullhorn to let others know you’re on the air. We wanted something similar but tailored for everyday QSOs. That’s how and why QSOFinder was created!  Learning Morse Code is enough of a challenge, so we wanted to try to make getting on the air and having that first or hundredth QSO a little easier.

How It Works

The idea is simple:

  1. Post Yourself as Available – Enter your callsign, frequency, preferred CW speed, and what kind of QSO you’re looking for. Maybe you’re in the mood for a quick and casual exchange, or perhaps you’re hoping for an in-depth conversation – you get to decide!

    Click to enlarge image.
  2. Find Other Operators – Browse active listings from fellow hams and tune in to their frequencies to answer their CQ and start a QSO.  They may already be connected with someone, but what a great way to find a conversation and work on your decoding skills.
  3. Leave Comments – If you try to reach someone and don’t hear them, you can leave a comment on their listing to let them know you tried.   It’s a great way to keep the community engaged and informed.
  4. Get Notifications – Want to know when a new operator posts? Enable notifications to stay updated without having to constantly check the site if your browser is open to QSOFinder.com.
  5. Filter by Band – If you’re working with a monoband antenna or just prefer a certain band, you can filter posts to match your setup.

Built by CW Hams, for CW Hams

We’ve been testing QSOFinder with our friends, and it’s already making a difference. It’s been a fantastic way to get people on the air, and we hope it inspires more operators to jump in and enjoy the magic of CW.

This is the first tool we’ve released, but if you like it and want to see more, let us know! We’d love your feedback – whether you have suggestions, run into any issues, or just want to tell us it’s working great, there’s a feedback feature built in. You can also drop us a comment on our YouTube video.

HamRadioDuo – QSOFinder YouTube Intro Video

Our main goal with HamRadioDuo has always been to inspire and encourage others to get on the air, have fun, and build their skills. QSOFinder is just another way we’re trying to make that happen.

Give it a try at QSOFinder.com, and let us know what you think!  The more people posting to make themselves available and the more operators answering those already on the site, the more fun this will be.

Happy QSOs!!!

73 Mike N4FFF es Becky N4BKY

P.S. If you haven’t already, subscribe to our channel – it’s a free and easy way to support us, and we’d love to have you along for the adventure!

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

Index Labs QRP Plus: A Proper POTA Field Test!

13 Comments

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:

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

Radio

  • Index Labs QRP Plus

Antenna System

Battery

Key and Accessories

Logging

Packs/Cases

Camera and Audio Gear

On The Air

I decided to test the waters first on 15 meters, which had recently been yielding plenty of POTA hunters. Continue reading Index Labs QRP Plus: A Proper POTA Field Test! →

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

The Fun Continues for the POTA Babe

4 Comments
By KO4WFP

Note: This is the fourth 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: Doerun Pitcher Plant Bog WMA

January 5th, Daisy and I hit the road again for one more POTA activation toward my goal of activating 30 new parks in 2025. The trip to southwest Georgia, though cut short, was productive in that I had three successful activations, I worked through the obstacles I encountered, and I got the break from my obligations and responsibilities I needed.

There are still quite a few parks on the eastern side of Georgia I have yet to activate. As I had no time constraints today, I picked a park close to the Georgia – Florida border: Ceylon Wildlife Management Area (US-9772), an hour and a half drive from my home.

source: Google Maps

Ceylon WMA parcel map     source: https://georgiawildlife.com/ceylon-wma

What I didn’t realize until I began researching and writing this article is just how significant this park is. It is the newest wildlife management area (WMA) in the state of Georgia and 24,000 acres in size. It not only has environmental significance but is also important for national security reasons. The Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is the home port of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet’s ballistic missile submarines and adjacent to this property. Keeping this land out of the hands of resort, residential, and commercial interests protected the fleets access to the Atlantic via the Satilla River.

Image from Submarine Group Ten      source: New Georgia Encyclopedia

The property is named after Ceylon Mill Village, a town established on the site 1874 for the purpose of processing timber. The town “was named for the Southeastern Asia country (current-day Sri Lanka, then British Ceylon) where tea was grown and shipped to the world.”

The town is long since gone and today it is wildlife that occupies the land, including the gopher tortoise, Georgia’s state reptile. This WMA has one of the highest densities of gopher tortoises, somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000, in all of Georgia.  I came across one of their burrows while looking at the pre-bellum and antebellum graveyard on the property.

gopher tortoise burrow at the base of a gravestone
antebellum grave
postbellum grave

The park is a short drive from Interstate 95 though the signage and entrance is not as readily visible as many WMAs. After passing the information kiosk, I began looking for a site not so heavily wooded. There was evidence of controlled burns and management for the cultivation of longleaf pines on the land. Longleaf pines are an important species in the southeast, one that is in decline due to centuries of logging. (I wrote about the importance of this habitat in my article on my activation at Oliver Bridge WMA.)

entrance area with information kiosk
controlled burn area
young longleaf pine taking advantage of the open canopy
the open road begging to be explored!

I found a cleared area and pulled off the side of the road next to a downed tree. The tree would serve as my seating area and Daisy could lay down in the shade it provided. Though the temperatures were still chilly, the cloudless and sunny skies over head would certainly overheat anyone laying around in a fur coat.

my parking spot
napping in the shade from the fallen tree

I had the EFRW installed in short order, oriented it to the northwest, settled on the trunk, and got down to business.

getting “comfy” on my woody QTH

I stuck with 20 meters for most of the activation. That band gave me 37 QSOs in an hour. After some hunting, I worked 11 contacts on 15 meters and three contacts on 40 meters before calling QRT. (Look at the contact waaaayyy out west in California.)

Even though I had good cell service and internet access at this site, I was not successful in hunting many activators due to the band conditions. I had three park-to-park (P2P) QSOs – Rod K4DSX, Jeffrey WJ3FF, and Marshall K1SN but ended up with credit for 10 P2P QSOs. Rod was a three-fer, Jeffrey was a two-fer, and Marshall was a five-fer! (Is there such a word?)

Ceylon Wildlife Management Area POTA QSO Map 1-5-2025

This is a park to which I plan to return. Ceylon WMA is easy to access; there is more territory in it begging to be explored;  and I have cell service to spot myself and hunt other activators. With this successful activation, I now have four activations toward my goal of 30 for 2025 and 26 yet to go. Where will my next POTA adventure take place? Stay tuned…

Equipment Used

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