This year, we’ve experienced some cold weather and snow at our mountain home—conditions that always seem to arrive on weekends. While we haven’t had any significant snowfall, the 2–4-inch dustings we’ve received have been enough to coat our steep and winding mountain road. Since our road is still undergoing repairs from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, there are no guardrails, making it feel a bit sketchy to navigate.
Our family’s approach has been simple: we hunker down and avoid heading into town. Honestly, it’s a great excuse to stay cozy at home.
A Near Miss
On Friday, January 10, 2025, I planned to set aside part of the day for a POTA outing but decided against heading down the mountain. Turns out, that was a wise decision. Unbeknownst to me, a contractor working on a neighbor’s house lost control of his one-ton truck on our slick road. The truck veered off into the creek and narrowly avoided plunging all the way in. While it’s hard to tell from the photo, his truck was precariously balanced on the road’s edge, with the rear passenger tire dangling a good two feet off the ground.
The mishap blocked our road for two full days, as no tow truck could make it up the mountain to retrieve the vehicle.
A Hunting We Will Go!
Undeterred by the weather, I was still determined to squeeze in some POTA time—but in relative comfort. So, I decided to do a little portable POTA hunting from one of our porches.
Since Hurricane Helene took down all of my antennas, I’ve kept a line in a tree near the house for quick antenna deployment. When I want to hop on the air, I simply attach a wire antenna for the bands I plan to use.
That Friday, I deployed my PackTenna 20-meter End-Fed Half-Wave. My goal was to work as many POTA activators as possible, especially since those operating north of me were likely facing some serious winter conditions.
Thanks to my KX2’s ATU, I knew I could find matches on 40, 30, 17, and 12 meters if the resonant bands (20, 15, and 10 meters) were quiet. I decided to capture this hunting session on video, so I turned on the camera and got to work!
Gear:
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My wife and I head to Northern Michigan over the New Year’s holiday almost every year. It’s a nice way to wrap up the year and the busy holiday season. Most of our friends and family obligations are met, and we can spend time unwinding and exploring the wonderful things that Michigan has to offer.
This year was no exception. We found a nice place to stay in Frankfort, Michigan. Several breweries, eateries, coffee houses, hiking trails, miles of shoreline, and a local bookstore made this an ideal location for a few days with nothing pressing to accomplish.
Being a ham, I always take a peek around to see what POTA and SOTA entities may be nearby wherever we end up staying. I was in luck, there was a SOTA within a POTA just north of where we were staying. Along the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (US-0767) is Empire Bluffs sand dunes (W8M/LP-019). This was too much to resist.
Sleeping Bear Dune National Lakeshore
As the plans firmed up around our timeline and bookings, my mind began to imagine the activation. I am well versed in POTA activations and have many tricks to overcome beaches, snow, lack of picnic tables, lack of trees, and many other things that can come my way. My mind began to question if I had the right gear to make this happen and I began to plan for a setup that could be deployed and operated in harsh conditions with little assistance from the environment around me.
I have learned from my previous experiences on the sand dunes of the Great Lakes that conditions can be challenging. I knew I would more than likely face snow on the ground, new snow in the air, wind, cold temps, sand, narrow dune peaks, local vegetation, and the challenge to hike all of my gear to the spot. Now it was time to take what I had and turn it into the SOTA/POTA setup that could get the job done.
The antenna would be the GabilGRA-7350[QRPer.com affiliate link] with three 13’ radials deployed out as far as I could get them. Gabil recommends setting the antenna to the general resonance area marked on the coil and using a wide range tuner to finish the job. I have found this to be true, especially analyzing the antenna on the soil in my backyard where I can get a 1:1 SWR match versus the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan.
Gabil GRA-7350, spare whip, and three 13′ counterpoises attached via 2mm banana plugs
I chose the CFT1 as my radio. It covers the bands that I would more than likely operate and with the Tufteln face cover it weighs around 8 oz.
20 meters being the primary band because with the wind and cold, I knew speed would be paramount. For the tuner and battery, I chose the mAT-10 ATU and the Talentcell 3000 mA Li-Ion[QRPer.com affiliate link]. Finally, the N0SA M7 iambic paddle.
CFT1, mAT-10 tuner, Talentcell battery, N0SA M7, Rite in the Rain book and pencil
To bring this kit together in a way that I could operate standing up, I needed some kind of bag or pouch to wear that would allow access to the tune button on the tuner, the volume and VFO on the radio, ability to log, and key without having to hold on to the paddle. As a fly fisherman I thought about a sling pack or a chest pack, but neither would work with any of my backpacks I planned to haul the antenna.
My friend Erik (WS3D) recommended a waist pack. At first glance I wasn’t sure this could meet my needs. Off to the local shopping center I went to see if I could find some options that could accommodate my SOTA kit. After going into five different stores that had some forms of waist packs, my local athletics sporting goods store had one that I thought might work with some minor modifications.
It was small, which meant it could easily fit into the backpack I planned to use. Once I got home, I was able to stuff each component into one of the several pockets provided on the pack. The question remained: how do I key without holding the paddle?
Following the tip provided by N0SA who designed and made the M7, Velcro attached to the bottom of the key would allow adhesion to the pack. I was able to purchase some of the “loop” material from JoAnn and got to work with my sewing machine. A small 2”x3” portion on the right side of the pack would allow for right hand keying while I kept the logger in my left hand. Keeping my right hand free to operate the message functions, volume, and VFO of the radio if needed.
Outdoor Gear fanny pack with sewn on hook and loop patch
Last week, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, I finally broke a three-week no-POTA activation streak with a short trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway Folk Art Center.
Catching Up on POTA
Over the holidays, I’ve been doing plenty of POTA hunting from the QTH (you’ll see some reports and videos surface over time), but I hadn’t ventured out to a park for an activation. The holiday season kept me busy with family visits, birthdays, and home projects—most of which are ongoing, thanks to Hurricane Helene. Despite all of that, I found a lot of joy in portable POTA hunting from home.
Still, activating is in my blood. So when I found an opening on Tuesday, I seized the opportunity!
Back to the Folk Art Center
Now that the bridge on Highway 70 has been repaired, the Folk Art Center is once again my go-to spot for quick POTA activations. What was a frustrating 15–20-minute detour is now a simple two-minute hop—an improvement I deeply appreciate.
I pulled into the Folk Art Center parking lot around 1:00 PM. Unsurprisingly, the lot was empty—it was a brisk 28°F (-2°C), hardly picnic weather. Then again, POTA always warms me up!
Audrey
For this activation, I brought along my trusty Elecraft KX1 (affectionately named Audrey) and paired her with my Tufteln 9:1 End-Fed Random-Wire antenna.
It had been a while since Audrey had been out in the field, and I was excited to put her back on the air.
Frankly, post-hurricane projects have disrupted my POTA activation routine, and I’ve missed all outings like these.
Gear
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Many thanks to Glen (KC8LA) who shares the following guest post:
New QRPer and Eight Months with the Elecraft KH1
by Glen (KC8LA)
Let me introduce myself—I’m Glen, KC8LA. I’ve been a ham for 30 years, but I only started hunting POTA activators in mid-to-late 2023. Before long, I thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun to activate parks myself?”
Of course, YouTube was the place to learn how to get started. I saw that I’d need a portable radio (like the FT-891), a tuner, a power source, a multiband antenna, and a way to hoist it into a tree. Whew! It all sounded like a lot of lugging gear for just a couple of hours of radio fun. Was it worth it? Back to YouTube I went, searching for an easier way.
Over the years, I’d never thought much about QRP. Then, I stumbled across videos of Thomas, K4SWL, beta-testing a new self-contained Elecraft radio: the KH1. I watched every KH1 video I could find—so many that I joked Thomas became my “best friend” through the screen.
“This is it,” I thought. “I’ll get the KH1!” But when I checked the price, I had to pause and think. After a couple of weeks, I finally decided to order it on November 22, 2023, figuring it would arrive in early December, just in time to prepare for my first activation in January.
Nope. The wait time was three months, pushing the delivery date to February. I could wait, though! In the meantime, I set up my FT-891 in the Jeep using alligator clips to the battery, hamsticks, and a laptop table between the seats for my key and notepad. It worked, but I was just sitting in the Jeep. Come on, KH1!
Due to parts delays, the wait stretched to five months. While I waited, I practiced activating parks with the FT-891 and figured out the basics to be ready for the KH1’s arrival.
Finally, on April 18, 2024, the KH1 arrived. I was sitting on the porch when the mail carrier handed me the box. I opened it right then and there, assembled it, and made my first contact on 20 meters. My hands tremble a bit, so it was challenging, but I did it. Over time, I practiced and now comfortably run 18–20 WPM.
My first activation with the KH1 was on April 26, but it didn’t go as planned—only four contacts. Undeterred, I tried again the following weekend. Eight contacts. Still not a success. Thomas made it look so easy in his videos!
I began researching what I was doing wrong. I learned that a 5-watt activation takes longer than one at 100 watts (obvious in hindsight). Time of day, solar conditions, and operating on QRP-friendly frequencies all make a big difference. Once I adjusted my approach, my third activation was a success, and they’ve been going well ever since.
In the meantime, Hamvention rolled around, and since I live nearby, I put activations on hold. At Hamvention, I made a beeline to Wayne from Elecraft, shook his hand, and thanked him for dreaming up the KH1. We swapped some war stories—I even shared how I’d worked 3G0YA split on 15 meters from a park!
Anytime, Anywhere Radio Is So Much Fun!
Fall at Kiser Lake State Park (US-1966)
Since the KH1 arrived, I’ve completed 70 activations across 23 parks in three states, including seven parks in Utah over five days (a story for another time). Of those, 60 were with the KH1, with only four failures—two due to learning the radio and two from running out of time. I’ve logged around 1,000 activation contacts with the KH1 so far.
The KH1 goes everywhere with me, and I use it 95% of the time in its portable, self-contained configuration. Occasionally, I deploy my homemade “chalk line” EFHW antenna, which consists of 33 feet of 2mm throw line and 41 feet of 26-gauge wire. It’s compact, tunes well, and clips nicely to the KH1’s ES-20 case.
Pool mobile at Grand Lake Saint Marys State Park (US-1953)
I’ve done activations at a variety of locations: tire shops, birthday parties, weddings, bike paths, and even my living room chair. The KH1 makes HF portable operation so easy that I’m contemplating buying a second one as a backup.
Picnic table my home park, Sycamore State Park (US-1995)
The built-in key has been a mixed bag—I’m already on my second one, and I’ve had to use my backup key a few times. But the radio’s battery life has been excellent, easily lasting four two-hour activations before needing a charge. The tuner works flawlessly, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well the built-in speaker performs in quiet environments.
Exploring the Outdoors
Davey Woods State Nature Preserve (US-9403)
What I love most about the KH1 is how it’s transformed my radio journey. It’s encouraged me to get outdoors, discover new places, and revisit sites I haven’t seen in decades. My home park, US-1995 Sycamore State Park, is just 20 minutes away, and I’ve activated it 27 times, logging 594 contacts toward my Kilo award.
I’m still working, so I need to plan activations carefully for parks that are more than an hour away. But with the KH1, I’m always ready for an adventure.
Final Thoughts
North Country Trail National Scenic Trail (US-4239)
I would have never believed that a tiny radio with a 45-inch antenna could reliably make HF contacts, but the KH1 amazes me every time I pull it out. It’s my radio of choice for almost all CW contacts now—I’ve probably made fewer than 20 CW contacts on my FT DX10 and FT-891 since getting the KH1!
Yes, there are plenty of other portable radios out there, but for me, the KH1’s convenience, low “lug factor,” and quick setup time are unbeatable. I can be on the air in under a minute.
If you’re on the fence about trying QRP or the KH1, I say go for it. It’s a radio that has truly enhanced my life, and I can’t imagine my portable adventures without it.
Wednesday, December 18, 2024, was a full but wonderful day. My wife, daughters, Hazel the dog, and I spent it exploring Beaufort, Morehead City, and Atlantic Beach, North Carolina—coastal towns all within a ten-minute drive of one another.
The KX2 and AX1 earlier that day at Fort Macon State Park.
We started the morning at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. While my wife and one of my daughters enjoyed some shopping later, I managed a quick activation at Fort Macon State Park. (You can read that report and watch the activation video here.)
Afterward, we returned to our Airbnb vacation home around 2:00 p.m. for a late lunch. My daughters, still busy despite the holidays, were working on scholarship essays. With their fall term completed online due to Hurricane Helene’s damage in Asheville, they were determined to tackle deadlines before the new year.
While they worked, I felt the pull of POTA (Parks on the Air). However, I wasn’t in the mood for another car ride—especially not a 25-minute drive to the next site. Instead, I decided on a low-key radio session in the backyard, followed by some quiet time with a Sherlock Holmes mystery.
Before dinner, we planned to stroll through Beaufort’s historic district and waterfront. The constant low fog that day had transformed the scenery into something almost magical—perfect for an evening walk. (I’ve included some photos below for those interested!)
Portable POTA Hunting
Hazel, of course, wanted to participate!
I’d already discovered during the previous day’s hunting session that the Airbnb’s backyard had an impressively low noise floor for an urban area.
I suspect it was because many vacation homes in the neighborhood—including the one next door, which was vacant and on the market—were unoccupied during the off-season. Whatever the reason, it was a pleasant surprise for this QRPer.
KH1 Makes it Easy
My Elecraft KH1 has become my go-to radio for backyard sessions. Not only is it incredibly quick to deploy, but it’s also designed for handheld operation. No need to set up an antenna or find a place to sit—I can simply walk around, optimizing received signal strength and avoiding potential noise sources.
For this session, I grabbed the KH1, its whip antenna, and a 13-foot counterpoise. At the last minute, I also decided to bring my camera to record the experience. Though less action-packed than an activation, I thought it might still be worth sharing.
I kept things simple, using only the KH1’s internal speaker. While it’s not the best performer, I appreciate that Elecraft managed to include it—it’s a feature I wish my vintage KX1 had!
Gear
My full KH1 kit built into a Pelican M40 case.
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All screenshots from my action camera (I forgot to take photos with my iPhone!)
POTA hunting is a completely different experience from activating—and I love it.
As an activator, you’re in the spotlight, managing pileups and logging contacts as fast as possible. As a hunter with a handheld 5-watt radio and a 4-foot whip antenna, the challenge is flipped: you have to make yourself heard amidst louder stations, all with the goal of practicing good operating etiquette. Continue reading Portable POTA Hunting in Beaufort: A Relaxing Back-Yard Session with the Elecraft KH1→
Many thanks to Conrad (N2YCH), who shares the following field report:
Testing a new Buddistick Pro at the Silver Sands State Park “Antenna Test Range.”
by Conrad (N2YCH)
Silver Sands State Park in Connecticut borders the Northern shoreline of Long Island Sound and is located in Milford, a town on the Western side of New Haven County. There is a field between the parking lot and the sound that is a perfect “parks on the air” activation location. There are no power lines nearby. It’s very flat with no trees, so there is nothing to block the signal. It’s very easy to access and has a spectacular view.
POTA Map showing the location of Silver Sands State Park in Connecticut
Local hams visit to do POTA frequently, and we often run into each other there. One of those hams likes to build and test antennas and dubbed the park the unofficial “antenna testing grounds.” I’ve also used the park to test a number of different antennas myself, and today’s post details the maiden voyage of a brand new Buddipole Buddistick Pro antenna that I received as a holiday gift.
After using a Buddipole vertical as my primary antenna for years for POTA activations, I was interested to see if the Buddistick Pro measured up. What makes the Buddistick desirable is how compact it is. It breaks down and fits into the zippered case it comes with, but when put together, stands tall.
Buddistick Pro case in the passenger seat with the instructionsThe Buddistick Pro set up at the Silver Sands “antenna test range.”
There are many videos and reviews of this antenna online, so I don’t want to re-hash what’s already been reviewed many times before. However, I did want to share how this worked for me.
Setting this up was a breeze; it took just a few minutes. I did bring along my RigExpert antenna analyzer to adjust it for resonance. I followed the instructions on where to tap the coil and how much counterpoise to let out. Everything is clearly marked, and the instructions tell you where to begin. However, the instructions are just the starting point. I had to move the coil tap a few turns to get the reading where I wanted it. Using the coil does narrow up the bandwidth somewhat, so it’s important to test it to see if you have it tuned for minimum reflected at the frequency you want to operate at. Once you have it tuned, you can leave the taps in place so you don’t have to do this each time.
Setting the coil tap for 20 meters1.16:1 SWR at 14.074 Mhz
One thing I wasn’t prepared for was frozen ground at the park. The temperature here in Connecticut has been below freezing for a few weeks, and the ground at the park was frozen solid, preventing me from using my electric fencepost to support the counterpoise. I improvised and used my Jeep bumper to hold it up.
The Jeep bumper counterpoise mount
Once I was all set up, I connected the RF cable to my Elecraft KX2 to operate QRP using FT8 on 20 meters. I hit the ATU button on the KX-2, and it quickly found a 1.0:1 match.
1.0:1 SWR
Next, I connected the computer, synched the clock, and called CQ. I had a pile-up right away.
WSJT-X and JTAlert screenshot showing stations callingPskreporter map showing spots during the activation
I use the pskreporter.info map to get an idea of how well my antenna is performing. Considering that I was running QRP, I was happy to see I was reaching the West Coast.
View from inside the Jeep at Silver Sands State Park
So, how did I do? In one hour, I completed 32 QSO’s with three of those being park to park contacts. I maintained a steady stream of callers throughout the activation. The coverage exceeded my expectations.
US-1716 POTA activation QSO map on 12-27-2024, FT8 and FT4 on 20 meters
The Buddistick Pro, when packed neatly in its case, slides right into a normal-sized backpack with ease, along with the radio, computer, and a spare battery. For me, it will be a good, light companion antenna for the KX2 while doing POTA or SOTA.
Many thanks to Bob (K4RLC) who shares the following guest post:
Contesting – QRP CW and POTA Style – December 2024
by Bob (K4RLC)
In December, I did the ARRL 10 Meter Contest from Jordan Lake State Recreation Area US-3844, near Apex, North Carolina. This contest is not as competitive as some of the classics like the CQ WW CW or ARRL DX CW contests, so it can afford a person with a smaller station and/or less contesting experience a good time. As the contest is held the second week in December, it basically is a daytime-only contest since propagation is virtually nonexistent after dark on 10 Meters.
For this contest weekend, I had multiple competing personal and family activities. I chose Jordan Lake State Recreational Area (US-3844), about 30 miles from our house, so I could return to Raleigh Saturday night, then drive back Sunday.
I took our Winnebago Solis, the smallest Winnebago, as Alanna and I gave up tent camping a few years ago. The Solis is a wonderful camper van on a Dodge ProMaster chassis that sleeps three, has a propane-powered furnace and two-burner stove, and a refrigerator that can be powered either by propane or by the 140 W solar panels on top of the van, loading up two 100 amp-hour AGM batteries. You can boondock for days or enjoy the luxury of “shore power.”
K4RLC EmComm van named Caledonia (after Dad’s 1937 Chevy convertible)
I went out to Jordan Lake late Friday afternoon and set up an inverted V which I hoped would provide a bit of gain. I had big plans for building gain antennas for the contest (such as a Double Half-Square Curtain array or vertical Diamond), but for various reasons, this unfortunately didn’t happen. I also wanted to operate portable just as I do my POTA and SOTA activities and not from the home QTH. The rig was the Elecraft KX2, an outstanding rig that you can pound away on for a contest, just as we do with the Elecraft K3 on Field Day.
It was already dark when the contest started Friday night. While eating the stereotypical solo male dinner of Dinty Moore Beef Stew right out of the cooking pot (Alanna didn’t accompany me for this outing), I heard only two stations—big gun stations in my own county. However, the band came alive after sunrise Saturday, with the Western and Northwestern Europeans booming in. After trying the non-resonant inverted V, it soon became apparent I would need to use my fallback antenna: a 10-foot telescoping whip, no coil, on a tripod, resting on a 3’ x 7’ piece of screen wire from Lowe’s.
Quickly, I was working such diverse stations as Finland, Germany, Scotland, and Croatia. Despite being less intense than some contests, most stations were running between 30 and 34 words a minute. For the DX exchange, after a signal report, they give the serial number of your contact. This required some pretty intense concentration and listening for my old brain, particularly as I operated in the “Unassisted” category. That is, operating without use of a computer or any other spotting and/or decoding devices. Instead, all my decoding occurred strictly between the ears—the original decoder—helped by lots of strong coffee from a Stanley French Press Coffee Maker our daughter Lauren KA4LHC gave me. Logging was with an old legal pad and Bic pen.
Cup of coffee; CW Key; & KX2 – All I Need
I was amazed at how well I did with 5 watts and the KX2. In the early stages of contests, contesters are avid to make as many easy contacts as possible and typically will give up on a harder-to-copy low-power station after one or two tries and move on. On my end, I had to try multiple times for a station to copy my call, which really slowed down my QSO rate. GM5X in Scotland was kind and patient enough to take five tries to get my call and exchange. Enjoying the beautiful park site and making good contacts, the morning quickly morphed into afternoon, at which point the first of my “other obligations” required me to stop and drive back to town.
Alanna and I had been invited to a Christmas party at the North Carolina Governor’s Mansion by outgoing Governor Roy Cooper, a wonderful and kind leader. Alanna is very tolerant of my radio adventures, but she would kill me if I missed this one. Nor would she like it if I showed up unshowered in my radio activation attire. 🙂 Notably, Gov. Cooper is a fan of amateur radio, especially appreciating its vital role in past weather emergencies and particularly recent disaster operations after the tragic results of Hurricane Helene this fall in Western North Carolina.
Alanna K4AAC, Governor Cooper & Bob K4RLC
As access to the park was closed for the night, Alanna and I went back home still enjoying the beauty of the old Victorian governor’s mansion and its five Christmas trees, as well as being treated to North Carolina delicacies such as smoked mountain trout. Continue reading Camping, Contesting, and Coffee: Bob’s 10 Meter QRP Weekend→
The second activation took place the following day, on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
A Flexible Plan
That morning, I had an activation site in mind but didn’t want to set anything in stone. I wanted my wife and daughters to enjoy their day doing whatever they wanted.
My Trakke EDC backpack containing no less than two full field kits!
Of course, as we walked out the door, I brought along my EDC backpack, which contained my Elecraft KH1 and KX2 compact field kits—just in case!
One of the aquarium staff, along with three divers, gave a presentation about sharks at their massive salt water tank.
The aquarium was beautiful, with an impressive amount of diversity.
Best of all, since it was off-season, we practically had the place to ourselves, save for one school group.
We even spotted this cute little owl.
Interestingly, the aquarium is located within a POTA site: Theodore Roosevelt State Conservation Area (US-3868). The conservation area can be accessed via a footpath that winds through the surrounding woodlands and marshes.
While I briefly considered activating there, I knew we only had time for one activation that day, and I had another site in mind!
Fort Macon State Park (US-2730)
We devised a plan: I dropped off my wife and one of my daughters at a large thrift store (my wife loves thrift shopping), while my other daughter, Neva, Hazel (our dog), and I drove eight minutes to the first Fort Macon State Park beach access point.
Fort Macon State Park is a real gem on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. It’s got a little bit of everything—stunning beaches, a historic Civil War-era fort, and plenty of spots to enjoy the outdoors. The beaches are perfect for strolling, hunting for seashells, or just soaking in the ocean views, while the fort itself is packed with history and interesting exhibits. It’s also a great spot for birdwatching or fishing if that’s your thing.
I had scouted out the beach access parking lot earlier and discovered a picnic shelter that provided a much-needed wind break for the blustery day.
The goal? To be gone no longer than one hour. Factoring in the 16-18 minutes of driving (round trip), that left me about 40 minutes to deploy my station, complete the activation, pack up, and return.
Time challenge
Every time I devise a plan to complete an activation within a set amount of time, I get a bit of a thrill. It reminds me of Darren McGavin’s character, the father in A Christmas Story. When the car’s tire blows out, he doesn’t see it as an inconvenience; he sees it as a challenge and times himself replacing the tire.
Like “The Old Man” Parker, I get a kick out of timing myself during activations. I can almost hear Jean Shepherd narrating my efforts!
KX2 + AX1 to the Rescue
Since I used the KH1 the previous day at Cape Lookout, I decided to deploy my Elecraft KX2 at Fort Macon.
Again, I’d already scouted the picnic shelter during a brief visit our first evening in Beaufort. It was in a fenced area surrounded by protected dunes, with no natural antenna supports like trees or brush. Since I had packed light with just my EDC backpack, I didn’t have my carbon fiber mast or a self-supporting vertical like my MC-750.
In the past, I’ve been known to simply hang a random wire antenna over the roof trusses of a picnic shelter, and it has worked quite well in a pinch. While this was certainly an option, I also knew from experience that threading the antenna through the trusses can be a bit finicky and time-consuming.
There was no need to fiddle with a wire antenna when I had my uber-portable Elecraft AX1 antenna in the KX2 field kit case.
Setting up the KX2 and AX1 takes two minutes at a casual pace. If I’m in a hurry, I can get them paired and ready to operate in under a minute. With the gear ready, it was time to see if propagation would cooperate!
Gear
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As I finish 2024, it is time to look forward to and set ham radio goals for 2025. Why even set goals? We all need challenges not only to maintain our skills but also progress with them. Challenges motivate us, “gamifying” our pursuits. Also, they are fun, the ultimate goal with ham radio as it is a hobby.
When setting goals, one needs to keep in mind the acronym S.M.A.R.T. Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based. From a big picture perspective, goals should excite but also scare one a little. If they don’t scare you, then you aren’t challenging yourself.
This may not sound like much of a challenge given that my goal for 2024 was 60 new activations. According to the POTA website, there are 77 parks (46 in Georgia and 32 in South Carolina) that are within a 100-mile radius of my home QTH. Of those parks, I’ve activated 23. That leaves 54 parks within a doable driving distance for new activations.
In addition to the parks I may activate close to home, I have, as of right now, four trips already on the calendar for 2025: a camping trip with Daisy to southeast Georgia the first week of January, a short camping trip to a nearby state park with my son during his spring break, a short trip to Camden, South Carolina with Glenn, and a trip to Canada (New Brunswick, Quebec, and Prince Edward’s Island) in July.
Between the POTA sites still available close to home and the trips I am planning, I think a goal of 30 new valid park activations is an attainable goal by the end of 2025.
Just as it is good to push myself and experience new parks, I also want to experience POTA in a relaxed and easy manner. Activating the same park over and over may sound boring; but I propose it doesn’t have to be. Experiencing a park over the course of the year allows you to become intimate with that landscape. I think of Aldo Leopold’s book “A Sand County Almanac.”
For those of you that don’t like math, you can skip this and the next paragraph. For jollies, I sat down and figured out that for the 47 activations this year, I had 1,193 QSOs and spent roughly 2,780 minutes on the air attaining those QSOs. That means each QSO took on average 2.33 minutes. Of course, those of you who activate know that how long an activation takes will depend on propagation, how easily and quickly you spot yourself, whether you are running a frequency or also hunting other activators (the latter takes more time), and distractions.
I need 1,000 QSOs for a kilo award. If on average it takes 2.33 minutes per QSO (what it took this past year for the parks I activated), a kilo may take 39 hours. Let’s say I am fortunate enough to activate this refuge twice a month. If so, I’ll need to spend, on average, an hour and a half on the air during each activation to reach my goal. Given this park’s close proximity and my schedule, this goal is attainable though it won’t be easy.
A worthy goal – a kilo at Savannah NWR
On the air with my straight key, cootie, bug, and paddle each weekly
Many of you know I don’t have a ham shack at my home anymore because of antenna restrictions. I am blessed to have a shack at my parents’ house. But, as it is a 15-minute drive one-way, I find it a challenge to get on the air regularly throughout the week.
There are so many ways to do this. For the paddle, I hope to activate POTA weekly. I also usually use my paddle for my weekly code buddy QSOs with Caryn KD2GUT.
As for my mechanical keys, there are QSOs with my other two code buddies – Charles W4CLW and Gary K4IIG. For QSOs with hams new to CW, I usually use my cootie or straight key as I can run slower more easily with those keys. There are also SKCC monthly events and special events – Straight Key Night (January 1st), K3Y month for SKCC (the entire month of January), K2D for International Dog Day (August), the NAQCC anniversary week in October – in which to participate. And when all else fails, there is the old standby of calling CQ.
Increase my comfort level in headcopying QSOs
Speed is not everything. In fact, accuracy trumps speed any day. Most conversational QSOs occur at 20 wpm and under, hence I’ve chosen 20 wpm as my typical speed on the air and will probably stay there for the bulk of my QSOs. I routinely head copy my conversational (ragchew) QSOs. However, I’d like to increase my comfort level and skill in doing so (don’t we all?). What is my plan for doing so?
Before Glenn moved to Savannah, he and I were code buddies and just beginning to run our QSOs at 25 wpm. Now that we live in the same area, we stopped those QSOs. We could be code buddies over vband or Zoom; however, both of us prefer to be on the air as that is why we have a ham radio license and neither vband or Zoom QSOs are valid QSOs we may put in our log. We are working on a UHF/VHF bands solution we learned about from a CW Innovations‘ alum recently. I hope to share that in a QRPer article in the future.
My goal is to have code buddy QSOs with Glenn again, at least once but hopefully twice a week. Regular practice coupled with some ICR training (32 wpm character speed) will knock the rust off my code skills from a lack of consistent practice over the course of this past year. I also plan to check into the 3905 Century Club net or OMIK net several times a month as that on-the-air experience is different from the bulk of my QSOs.
Well, I think that gives this POTA Babe plenty to chew on for 2025. An additional, unstated but most important challenge will be to maintain balance. To ensure I am driving the goals and the goals are NOT driving me. To keep in mind that the journey, not the destination, is what ultimately matters.
Ogeechee River at Fort McAllister State Park
I am curious as to your goals for next year. Please feel free to leave them in the comments below. I look forward to sharing with you my continuing journey in 2025. Best wishes for a safe and fun end of the year for all of you! As to the adventures ahead, stay tuned…
Last Sunday, my family set out on a trip across North Carolina, from the mountains to the coast. Our destination was Beaufort, a charming coastal town I hadn’t visited in 17 years. This quick pre-Christmas getaway was a surprise for my daughters—and for Hazel, our dog, who loves adventure just as much as we do.
Planning for the Trip
Since our Subaru Forester was destroyed during Hurricane Helene, we’ve been relying on our Volvo C40 Recharge. While it’s a fantastic car, its limited cargo space made packing for this trip a challenge. I initially planned to squeeze in luggage, food, and radio gear for the five of us (including Hazel).
However, the logistics got tricky. Everyone packed light, but it would have been a tight fit, especially since we’d need to bring Hazel’s portable (folding) kennel. To complicate things further, we would have to stop for at least one full charge each way during the 13-hour round trip, adding 30–50 minutes to each leg of the journey.
When I learned the level 2 charger near our rental house in Beaufort might be out of service, I decided to rent a minivan instead. Thanks to our insurance provider, AMICA, the process was easy and straightforward. The added space made the trip much more comfortable.
Even with the roomier minivan, I stuck to my original plan for radio gear, bringing only my Elecraft KX2 and KH1, both neatly packed in my EDC backpack.
Arriving in Beaufort
We arrived in Beaufort on Sunday afternoon. Our AirBnB rental was perfectly situated within walking distance of the historic downtown. The home was cozy, and the location couldn’t have been better for exploring the area.
On Monday, we spent the day wandering through Beaufort, soaking in the town’s charm and history. Then, on Tuesday, December 17, we headed to Harker’s Island for a short ferry ride to Cape Lookout National Seashore and its iconic lighthouse.
The Ferry Ride
Spotting Cape Lookout Lighthouse with a low, thin ceiling
Hazel turned out to be a huge fan of ferry rides—she couldn’t get enough of speeding across the water in a small boat (and the attention of the eight others on the boat with us)!
Since it was the off-season, the island was nearly deserted, with maybe a dozen other visitors in total.
The weather was ideal: light winds, and temperatures that made it feel like pure bliss.
A Saltwater Ground-Plane Activation
You might recall from a previous post that I’d been looking forward to trying something new: a POTA activation with my antenna’s counterpoise wire dangling directly in the ocean.
[Many thanks to my daughter Neva (K4TLI) for some of these photos!]
Cape Lookout, with its stunning lighthouse and pristine beaches, provided the perfect setting for this experiment.
The Activation
While my wife, daughters, and Hazel explored the beaches near the lighthouse, I headed to the calm waters of Lookout Bight with my Elecraft KH1. Since we arrived at the island around 10:30 AM and needed to catch the return ferry by 1:30 PM, I limited my activation to under an hour to maximize family time.
Standing at the water’s edge, I let the KH1’s counterpoise wire dangle into the saltwater while operating pedestrian mobile. Did it make a dramatic difference in signal propagation? I can’t say for certain, other than the results were amazing!
Gear
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Sony ICD-FX312 Digital Recorder ($20 thrift store find)
On The Air
I had scheduled this activation before leaving that morning, assuming I wouldn’t have mobile coverage on the island. Surprisingly, we had excellent signals there.
My plan was straightforward: start on 17 meters, move to 15 meters, and finish on 20 meters. Since I didn’t bring my AXE 40M coil or the longer counterpoise, I planned to skip 30 and 40 meters. With limited time, I doubted I could fit those bands into the activation anyway. Continue reading Cape Lookout Activation: A Family Adventure and Saltwater Experiment→
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I started scanning for POTA stations within my propagation footprint. Unfortunately, there weren’t many activators on the air. Much of the country was enduring an arctic blast, so I suspect the cold and snow kept many operators indoors. Continue reading Portable POTA Hunting on a Winter’s Day and Native PSK31 on the Elecraft KX2 
