Tag Archives: Travel

Field Reports, News, Pedestrian Mobile, Portable, QRP, Travel

Pedestrian Mobile at Pullman: Tim’s Sunrise POTA Activation in Chicago

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Sunrise Activation in the Windy City

by Tim (W8TMI)

I was recently traveling for work to Chicago, IL. I wouldn’t think of a big city as the first place for one of my radios to go, but the KH1 doesn’t take up much room and it’s a new toy I’ve been wanting to play with. I took a train from my home in Michigan to Union Station in Chicago where I was staying downtown. Taking a look at the POTA map there aren’t many opportunities to activate a park.

The map feature on the POTA.app

I don’t always sleep well away from home and Illinois is one hour behind Michigan. I woke around 5:30 AM local time which fits my normal routine. I was wide awake and I didn’t have any appointments until much later in the morning. Time to take a look at the local train system.

METRA Electric Line

I found the METRA Electric Line that ran from Millennium Station downtown to well past the stop I was looking for, 111th St Pullman.This stop brought me to a former factory that built train cars from 1881-1968 and was turned into a national monument.  Pullman National Monument (US-7917) which is owned and operated by the National Parks Service.

Finding this route I suited up, packed my bag, and headed out into the early morning dark. I was aiming to make Millennium Station by 6:35 and it was about a mile from my hotel. The sun wasn’t providing much light once I ventured out and the temp was around 23° F°/-5° C°. I stopped a few times to snap some quick pics while trying to make it to the station on time. The color from the sunrise appears much better in the pictures than to the naked eye.

The Chicago river from the Michigan Ave bridge

I made it to the station by 6:25. Plenty of time to buy my ticket and make it to the train. The 6:35 train would make it to 111th St around 7:04 depending on how late it ran. My plan was to make the 8:24 return train giving me an hour and twenty minutes to operate and secure the activation. There was an earlier departure from 111th at 7:34, but that seemed ambitious. If I made a later train at 9:36 I would be delayed an additional 30 minutes due to construction on the line. 7:04-8:24 sounded like plenty of time to activate the park.

Pullman National Monument at 7:08 AM

Given the time in the morning I decided to give the AXE a try on 40m. My KH1 field kit contains a 20’ counterpoise extender of 26 awg silicone wire to add to the 13’ standard counterpoise that I use for 15m-20m. Deployment took under a minute and I was able to find a frequency and lock my VFO in so I don’t bump it while operating pedestrian mobile.

The Elecraft KH1 with AXE operating pedestrian Mobile on 40m

I had the activation scheduled and began calling CQ. I noticed the RBN picked my station up almost immediately based on the POTA spotting page. My PoLo app (Portable Logger) was set up and ready to copy. I do a hybrid method of logging, I copy callsigns via the paper sheets in the logging tray and then enter them with my free hand into the app. This keeps the time sync easier when going to upload the log.

According to the app my first contact was in the log at 7:14 and the final (13th) was logged at 7:31. I had walked into the park 23 minutes prior and had 13 contacts after setting up my station. This also meant that I didn’t need to wait for the 8:24 train, the 7:34 train should work. I packed my gear up and dashed to the station. Thankfully trains have a tendency to run a little later than scheduled and I was easily able to make it. Back to the hotel where a hot breakfast waited.

I don’t believe this activation would have been possible if it weren’t for the KH1. Which is exactly why I have it. Easy to always have on me and bring pretty much anywhere. The deployment speed coupled with the activation speed is unmatched in my experience. The radio is a premium niche product that I am glad I don’t have to live without. I’m looking forward to many more activations with it.

Here are a few other photos from the trip down south.

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

Maps, Miles, and Morse: K3ES’ POTA Adventures in National Forests and Grasslands Across the West

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Activating on the Road:  National Forests and National Grasslands

by Brian (K3ES)

After a short break, with life getting in the way, this article continues my series on our 2024 road trip across the United States (Six Weeks and 7300 Miles:  Activating on the Road).  I hope to wrap up the series with a couple more articles (not yet written) over the next few weeks.

One of the goals of our great 2024 adventure was to make significant progress toward the Activated All States award for Parks on the Air (POTA).  To do this, we planned our route across the American west to pass through all of the Western states that I still needed to activate.  Since we still planned to spend time visiting with my parents at their home in California, we kept our travel time limited to about 2 weeks for the outbound trip and 1-1/2 weeks for the return trip.  While our route would meander, we had to limit the time we spent in each of the states.  Thus, many of the parks where we stopped were chosen because they were located very close to our planned driving route, and could be activated during a short break during the travel day.

To make activation planning work, we became very familiar with maps:  Google Maps, the mapping function of POTA.app, a big handful of state highway maps from the American Automobile Association (AAA), and the National Park Road Atlas.  While mapping with POTA.app was our go-to resource for choosing parks, it does have one significant drawback:  there is only one locator pin for each park, which fails to convey the full extent of some vast entities.  This is particularly true for National Forests (NFs) and National Grasslands (NGs).  If you are trying to activate entities near your planned travel route through the American west, there is a good chance that you will find yourself within the boundaries of a NF or NG, and chances are equally good that the pin representing that entity on the POTA.app map will not be found anywhere near your current location.

We discovered that the expansive NFs and NGs were represented well on our paper highway maps, and were also well marked with signs along the highways.  These entities, operated by the Department of Agriculture, have no general admission fee, are typically not crowded with people, and are generally a permissive environment for POTA operators.  By permissive environment, I mean that there were not restrictive rules about antennas, ropes, wires, and use of trees.  Some of these entities have picnic areas, campgrounds, and trails that can serve a POTA activator well, but it is also possible to find road-side sites that are suitable for quick activations.  The following sections contain brief reports on the six NFs and NGs that we activated during our trip.

Buffalo Gap National Grassland US-7487

We found a trail head parking area in Buffalo Gap NG, located just outside the entrance gate to Badlands National Park in South Dakota.  Having finished our drive through Badlands, I decided to do a quick activation of the adjacent entity.  Although the trailhead area had few amenities, I was quick to take advantage of one:  a couple of small trees that provided a patch of shade for the truck on a hot and bright afternoon.

On the air from US-7487 for a CW QRP activation.
The truck is parked in the shade, with my collapsible fishing pole tied to the back bumper to support the antenna.

I set up using my Tufteln 35 ft end-fed random wire (EFRW) antenna, with a  collapsible fishing pole supporting the apex for the inverted V configuration.  I operated for less than 40 minutes on the 20m band, as usual running CW at 5 watts, and logged 34 contacts.  That was a spectacular success in my book!

This map shows the contacts made from US-7487.

Black Hills National Forest US-4524

A few miles down the road from Mount Rushmore National Monument, we found the Breezy Point Picnic Area in Black Hills NF.  Having already activated Mount Rushmore, we stopped to eat our lunch, use the comfort facilities, and give POTA dog Molly a chance to stretch her legs.  In keeping with the name, there was a pleasant breeze.  The temperature was comfortable, and there were a number of picnic tables shaded by adjacent trees.  Naturally, I took the time to set up my station to activate this new-to-me South Dakota entity while we were there.

Setting up to operate from the picnic table, with the throw line supporting my antenna in the background.
On the air at US-4524.

I threw a line up into the branches of a tall evergreen tree beside my picnic table, and pulled up my Tufteln 35 ft EFRW antenna into a near vertical configuration.  In a bit less than 30 minutes, I logged 22 QRP CW contacts to complete a successful activation.

This map shows the contacts made from US-4524.

Oglala National Grassland US-7478

The truck in US-7478, with the collapsible fishing pole located behind it to support the antenna.

Having spent a few days enjoying spectacular sights in southwestern South Dakota, we were close to the corner of Nebraska, and wanted to make a quick hop across the border for an activation before continuing our travel northwest into Wyoming.  Consulting our maps, we found that part of Oglala NG was located just across the border, making it very convenient for a quick activation.  We followed a highway across the border, turned onto a gravel road, and followed it a short distance to the sign for Oglala NG. Continue reading Maps, Miles, and Morse: K3ES’ POTA Adventures in National Forests and Grasslands Across the West →

Field Radio Kits, Field Reports, Guest Posts, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, SOTA, Travel

Snow, Sand, and Solar Storms: Tim’s New Year’s Eve Radio Adventure

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New Year’s Eve Sand Dune SOTA & POTA

by Tim (W8TMI)

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

I had a kit and a plan, now to get to it. Continue reading Snow, Sand, and Solar Storms: Tim’s New Year’s Eve Radio Adventure →

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

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

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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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On The Air

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Flexible Plan

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

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

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

The NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

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

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

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

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

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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Radio

Antenna

Pack/Case

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On The Air

Funny enough, as I started my activation, Neva took Hazel for a walk on the beach. However, Hazel had other plans—she put on her brakes and refused to venture far. She insisted on staying with me at the shelter, so Neva tied her leash nearby and went off on her own gusty beach walk. Continue reading Coastal QRP: Chasing High-Bands with the Elecraft KX2 and AX1 at Fort Macon State Park →

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

Cape Lookout Activation: A Family Adventure and Saltwater Experiment

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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!]

Although I’ve activated several POTA sites near saltwater—Myrtle Beach State Park, Huntington Beach State Park, and Cape Hatteras National Seashore (on the Pamlico Sound and at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse) to name a few—this was my first time actually standing in the water with my counterpoise submerged.

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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Radio and Antenna System

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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 →

Articles, Guest Posts, News, POTA, Travel

Bryce and Joe’s Triple-State POTA Activation

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A Triple-State POTA activation!

by Bryce Bookwalter (KD9YEY) and Joe Ladwig (W9NVY)

It’s finally winter here in Southern Indiana, which, for many, brings a time of cozy indoor activities and quiet radio time in the comfort of a warm shack. For Joe and me, however, this means it’s winter POTA time!

I have always preferred hiking in the winter—there are fewer bugs, less humidity, and typically much better views since the leaves aren’t in the way. It makes sense that my passion for outdoor radio also increases in the colder months. With work and school (Joe is a teacher) slowing down for the year, we decided it would be a good time to fit in another POTA trip.

Over the last two years, we have been checking states off our “activated” list, and lately, we have had to travel farther and farther away to find a state we haven’t activated. Joe had the lofty goal of traveling to the Minnesota (MN), North Dakota (ND), South Dakota (SD) tri-corner and catching Iowa (IA) on the way, but once we looked at the total travel time (27 hours!), we decided there might be other opportunities that are closer and less prone to winter mayhem.

We have set our sights on the corner of Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. One of the perks of being in “the crossroads of America” is that there are many places within a day’s drive. This intersection of three states is no exception. With a mere 6.5-hour drive, we will be able to activate three states in one day. We plan to overnight in Wheeling, WV, and then start our triple-state POTA adventure the next day.

Our first destination is US-0704 Fort Necessity National Battlefield in PA. With 68 activations already on record here, it seems like it will be a great place to activate. I have always enjoyed history, so this site is one that I am particularly excited to see. Activating at National Parks can have its challenges, so we will be sure to plan our equipment accordingly.

Our journey continues into Maryland, where we will try to activate at US-6400 Youghiogheny Wild River State Natural Area. This area is part of the Mississippi watershed that stretches from the western slope of the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the Rockies in the west. Based on the topography I see on the map, this spot has the potential for some beautiful views. This site has 46 reported activations, with 45 of them being successful, so we anticipate victory!

Our final state to activate this day will have us traveling back into West Virginia. We will stay another night in Wheeling before heading home the next day, and US-5585 Coopers Rock State Forest is conveniently on the way. Coopers Rock is another site with some amazing topography, at least according to the map, and I am very excited to see it! According to the website, “Coopers Rock State Forest boasts some of the most iconic views in Almost Heaven.” I’ve been to West Virginia several times, and the views never disappoint.

With our destinations selected, the next step is to pick the proper gear. With a trip of this scale, and this far from our ham shacks, it’s important to plan carefully. I always like to have backups when I go to activate, but in this case, I think having a few extra will be a good idea. Since this is a trip for POTA, we really have the entire vehicle to pack gear into, so why not bring all the toys?! Another important consideration is the parks we have chosen. One of them is a historic battlefield and a National Park… I can’t imagine throwing heavy lines into trees and hoisting antennas into the air will be tolerated, so having an antenna system that doesn’t require that will be an important consideration.

With these factors in mind, we have selected the following gear:

Radios

    • Yaesu FT-891 w/ tuner: This workhorse always delivers exceptional performance and I’m not saying anything new to speak of its POTA capabilities. Due to its size (especially with tuner) and weight, this isn’t a first choice for me as a backpacking radio. But with a car to carry it, and not having to carry a full camping loadout along with it, this radio is a go-to for our POTA escapades.
    • Xiegu G90: If you’ve watched any of my YouTube videos you know that this is my typical POTA rig. It relatively lightweight, has an internal tuner, and isn’t a huge battery draw with it’s 20W max output. I typically run it at 10W to give myself the QRP challenge and it consistently performs very well.
    • QRP Labs QMX: This little beauty is my backpacking radio of choice. It is incredibly lightweight and versatile. Currently, as far as I am aware, it still only runs CW and Digital modes. Eventually it will have the capability to run SSB and I am very excited for when that day comes. Until then, I use it for FT8 in the field and it does a great job. I am still learning CW so I haven’t used it to make contacts that way yet, but I will soon!
    • Yaesu FT-60: This is my HT of choice, which I always like to have with me when I travel. Before I leave, I will have the local repeaters programmed into it and it will be fun to try and reach a 2m/70cm contact via simplex while at the parks as well.
    • Yaesu VX-6: This is Joe’s HT of choice and another great radio from Yaesu. With it we can also try and get a 1.25m simplex contact…if band operators are out there.

Antennas

 

    • PackTenna!: The first thing going into my kit is the PackTenna! This antenna has proven itself to be incredibly capable and super easy to use. I have the 40m extension that goes with it as well and between its performance and the weight…it has quickly become my favorite antenna.
    • SOTABeams Bandhopper 3: This antenna is a 20m, 30m, and 40m dipole and works wonderfully, especially when paired with the Tactical Mast from SOTABeams. The only drawback to using this antenna is that to change bands, you must lower the antenna to the ground and connect or disconnect the alligator clips along the wire. Other than that, this antenna does great work.
    • K9EI Antennas: Joe and I both use K9EI antennas and they work great. Not only is K9EI a local in our area but he also makes great products. The 20m EFHW is always in my kit as a reliable backup and has saved my activation on numerous occasions. Joe has a 40mEFHW that is incredibly useful and has a unique design. With its rugged construction and versatility, it is Joe’s antenna of choice for POTA.
    • Wolf River Coil SOTA Special: Yes, yes, yes…another antenna. This vertical antenna has been fun to experiment with. It’s the only vertical I own, or have used for that matter, and it’s done the job each time. I used it for my first ever SOTA, which you can see on my YouTube channel. These types of antennas are great to have along with you when you are unsure of the area you are trying to activate in. If there aren’t trees, or if you aren’t allowed to utilize trees, or put stakes in the ground for guy lines, these verticals are a low-impact solution that will usually get the job done. I picked this one up at Hamvention 2024 and it’s been a great addition to the fleet.

Masts

Masts are a great solution for wires-in-the-air without having lines in trees. I have two masts and will be bringing both.

      • The SOTABeams Tactical 7000H has been a great addition to my kit and has served me well for a couple years now. It is a bit on the heavy side, but it stands tall and strong in many configurations and has accomplished every task I’ve asked of it.
      • The POTA20 is my newest addition which I picked up at the Huntsville Hamfest. This lightweight mast is my backpacking mast of choice. It is super bendy and can have trouble holding up a ton of weight, but it remains incredibly useful and one I carry on all my POTA trips.

Other Gear

Since we have the luxury of a vehicle, and not everything having to go into a backpack, we can bring along all the comfort items.

      • Table
      • Chairs
      • Laptop (though I still like to log with pen and paper)
      • Camera gear (for filming YouTube videos)
      • Bag of connectors, adapters, fuses, wire, alligator clips, tools, etc. (Very Important)

Needless to say, we are both looking forward to this trip very much. The parks mentioned above are the parks we will for sure be going to, but there are also other parks in the area and if time allows, we will try and add more to our list.

You can also see a video of our adventure at @backpackingbooky on YouTube. You can also search for Bryce Bookwalter / KD9YEY on YouTube to find the channel.

Thanks for reading and thank you to Thomas for sharing his platform and I’ll see you down trail!

News, Pedestrian Mobile, Portable, POTA, QRP, QRP Radios, Travel

The Eternal Question: Which Radio Should I Pack?

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It’s a question as old as time itself:

“What radio should I take on vacation?”

This month, we’re heading out for a short vacation, and while I think I’ve already answered this question for myself, it’s always fun to explore the possibilities a bit further.

As you probably know, I’ve accumulated a fair number of QRP radios over the years—so many, in fact, that it’s borderline embarrassing. When people ask me how many radios I own, I tend to dodge the question. It feels a bit like admitting to an addiction! It’s the same feeling I get after the holidays when I finally total up how much I spent on gifts. Sometimes, it’s better not to know the number.

Less is more

Honestly, I’d be a happy camper with just my $125 TEN-TEC R4020 two-band, CW-only radio.

I told a friend recently that I’d honestly be content with just one radio from my collection.

I know that might sound surprising, especially since QRPer.com often showcases my radio “addiction.” But the truth is, aside from radios, backpacks, and books, I don’t accumulate many things. We intentionally live in a small house (by American standards), and we like to keep it uncluttered.

That said, most of the radios in my collection are ones I genuinely enjoy using. Any one of them could be my only radio, and I’d be happy. So choosing one radio for a vacation should be easy, right?

Not quite.

Almost every time I face this decision—“Which one should I take?”—a couple of radios consistently rise to the top of the list. I’ll share those choices in a moment, but I’d love to hear your thoughts: would you make the same choices, or would you pick something else?

Vacation Parameters

Before diving into my choices, here are a few details about this particular vacation:

  • It’s short—just four nights.
  • I haven’t been to this area in 17 years. (The destination is a surprise for my daughters, so I’m keeping it under wraps for now!)
  • This is a road trip. Since our beloved Subaru is out of commission and not yet replaced, we’ll be taking our Volvo C40, which has much less cargo space.
  • With four people and Hazel (our dog), the trunk/boot will be crammed. I won’t be able to squirrel away extra radios like I’ve been known to do on longer trips.
  • I’ll likely only have time for two POTA activations. The focus of this trip is family time, so any activations will be short.
  • I’ve never visited the POTA sites we’ll likely visit, so I don’t know if wire antennas are allowed or what the conditions will be. One site is a historic/archeological area, so I’ll need a low-impact setup.

The Contenders

Given the tight space and limited time, I’ll only bring one radio. It needs to be versatile enough to handle unknown conditions and compact enough to fit with our packed gear.

The Mountain Toper MTR-3B

It’s hard to beat the MTR-3B for size. This ultra-compact, lightweight, self-contained kit is both impact and waterproof.

However, it lacks an internal ATU, so I’d be limited to wire antennas. Since I won’t have room for my MC-750 vertical, I’d need to rely on finding parks that allow wires in trees. I could call ahead to confirm, but this adds complexity.

The Penntek TR-45L.

The TR-45L is an excellent choice. It has a large internal battery that can easily handle 10 activations, an internal manual ATU, brilliant audio, and it’s nearly self-contained. Add a key and almost any antenna, and you’re good to go.

I’ve even used the AX1 antenna with the TR-45L, for low-impact setups. But like the MTR-3B, it’s CW-only, which eliminates SSB as an option. It’s also a bit larger than my other QRP radios, and I need to prioritize space.

It would also be nice to have a radio small enough to fit on my folding kneeboard.

The Elecraft KX3

The KX3 is an incredibly capable radio. It handles SSB, CW, and even digital modes like PSK-31 and RTTY without extra gear. It has an excellent internal ATU and pairs beautifully with the AX1 or a simple wire antenna. It’s small enough to fit on my folding kneeboard, too.

That said, there’s one radio that offers nearly the same capability as the KX3 but is even smaller and has an internal battery:

The Elecraft KX2

The KX2 is my go-to travel radio. It’s compact, versatile, and so capable it feels like the Swiss Army Knife of QRP radios.

Every time I travel, I try to talk myself out of bringing the KX2 just to mix things up, but it’s hard to argue with its convenience and reliability. For this trip, where time and space are limited, the KX2 is the clear winner.

I’ll pair it with a random wire antenna, the AX1, and a minimalist throw-line kit. This setup will allow me to adapt quickly to park conditions, even if wires aren’t permitted.

What about the KH1, Thomas?

Okay, I may sneak a second radio onto this trip.

The KH1 is so compact it can fit in my Pelican M40 case, which slides under the seat or into the glove compartment.

It’s my EDC radio, and I like having it on hand for impromptu pedestrian-mobile fun or when I want to work a friend who’s activating a park on the other side of the continent. Who knows?

What do you think?

The IC-705 might be a great choice, too. I’ve even paired it with the AX1 using a capacity hat.

While I know I could make any radio in my arsenal work, the KX2 takes the guesswork out of the equation. When time is limited, that means more time on the air!

Would you choose the KX2 for this mini-vacation, or do you think another radio would be better suited for the job? Please comment.

Antennas, Articles, Field Reports, News, Portable, POTA, QRP, Travel

K3ES: Stealth Activating with the AX1 Antenna System

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Activating on the Road:  Stealth Activating with the AX1 Antenna System

by Brian (K3ES)

The AX1 Antenna is on the air from the Profile View parking area at Mount Rushmore National Monument.

As I prepared my radio gear to do Parks on the Air (POTA) activations across the states of the American West (Six Weeks and 7300 Miles:  Activating on the Road), I knew that I would need to operate in a wide variety of different park environments.  This need was primarily connected with differences in topography, vegetation, population, and regulatory environments.

A selection of wire antennas, a throw line kit, and some collapsible mast options would serve many of my needs well.  However, I also expected that our travel schedule might require me to activate quickly or unobtrusively, from less-optimal locations.  Since I do not have an HF rig or antenna system installed in my truck, any vehicle-based operations would need to use equipment from my portable POTA kit.

For these occasions, I intended to use either a wire antenna supported by a telescoping mast attached to back of the truck, or my diminutive Elecraft AX1 base-loaded vertical antenna system.  During the trip, I found that I could use the AX1 to complete rapid, and extremely stealthy, activations.

My AX1 kit is kept in a Maxpedition Fatty pouch.
AX1 components are organized inside the pouch, and counterpoise wires are located in a hidden zippered pocket.

I had ordered the AX1 antenna system from Elecraft early in 2024, and took delivery in March.  I used it in a variety of configurations, gaining experience and confidence in its ability to make contacts (K3ES Travels: Ten Days of QRP with Compromised Antennas).

In early May, I also ordered an AM1-2 clamp-on antenna mount from ProAudio Engineering, and it had proved its versatility in deploying the AX1.  All of this equipment and more found its way into a Maxpedition Fatty pouch, to become part of the stealth antenna kit packed for our trip across the country.

I Wonder if this Will Work…

A view from the truck…  The AX1 antenna mounted on the fender, is seen with a great landscape from Badlands National Park.

Badlands National Park (US-0005) was one of the most spectacular parks that we visited on our cross-country adventure.  I plan a future report with full coverage of the park and the activation, but the conditions in the park led me to make my first attempt at a truck-based activation.  Shade was almost non-existent, the sky was cloudless, the air temperature was over 90°F, and the ground was too hot for POTA Dog Molly’s paws.

We pulled into a parking space at a roadside overlook, so that Becky could take some pictures, and I decided to try for a quick activation from the truck.  After I set out a bowl of water in the back of the truck for Molly to drink, I pulled out my radio gear, and looked over my antenna options.  I could have put up a mast and used a wire antenna, but I did not want to block access for other visitors, so my thoughts turned to the AX1 system.

The small size of the parking lot made it important to keep my operating footprint within the confines of my own parking space, both to avoid inconveniencing others, and to minimize the risk of damage to my antenna components.  I decided to try attaching the AM1-2 clamp to the cylindrical base of my 2m/70cm mobile antenna, which is mounted on the front fender of the truck.  The AM1-2 clamped on securely, and provided firm support for the the AX1 coil and whip.  I also attached a counterpoise wire to the ground screw of the AM1-2, then tossed the wire under the truck to keep it on the ground, hidden, and out of the way.

That left two questions:  could I get the antenna to tune, and would it radiate well enough to get contacts?  I connected my feedline to the AX1, ran it in through the open driver’s window to the KX2, and quickly got answers to both questions:  yes and yes. Continue reading K3ES: Stealth Activating with the AX1 Antenna System →

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

From Bluffs to Barges: K3ES’ CW Adventures at Pikes Peak State Park (in Iowa)!

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Activating on the Road:  Pikes Peak State Park is Where???

by Brian (K3ES)

During our road trip across the country and back (Six Weeks and 7300 Miles:  Activating on the Road), Becky and I planned our route to enable me to complete at least one Parks on the Air (POTA) activation in each state across the American west.  One of the first parks that I activated on the trip was Pikes Peak State Park (US-2311) in Iowa.

You heard that right, Iowa.

This was one of my favorite activations during our time on the road.  I had an amazing view of the Mississippi River Valley while I was operating, and since this park was less than an hour from our final destination for the day, I had enough time to work plenty of contacts.

Molly wants you to know that Pikes Peak State Park (US-2311) is located in McGregor, Iowa.

When we arrived in the park, I took Molly the POTA Dog for a walk around the park.  She is always excited about a walk (particularly after riding in the truck for several hours), and it gave me the opportunity to scout the park for a good location to set up my station for the activation.  The park is located on a bluff, hundreds of feet above the river, with walking paths and overlook platforms offering great viewpoints.

A number of park visitors were enjoying the overlook platforms and the pathways, and I prefer to keep my station out of the way, so I settled on using a path-side stone bench for my activation.  The bench was located under some trees that provided both shade and support for my antenna, a perfect location.

Activating US-2311

This is the bench I selected for my operating position in the park.  Trees provided support for the antenna, and shade for the operator.  In the background is one of the platforms overlooking the Mississippi River Valley.

When we returned to the parking area, Becky took Molly, and set out on a hike to nearby Bridal Veil Falls.  I picked up my radio pack, and returned to the bench.  I tossed my throw line over a tree branch, and hoisted the Tufteln End-fed Random Wire (EFRW) antenna into a vertical configuration.  Laying out the 17 ft counterpoise wire along the ground, and attaching a 15 ft RG316 feedline completed the antenna deployment.

I placed my KX2 next to me on the bench, connected the feedline, power cable, earbuds, and VK3IL pressure paddles.  I opened my log book, secured it to a clipboard balanced on my knee, and was ready to get on the air.

Having caught a good tree limb with my throw line, I am preparing to hoist the 35 ft radiator wire of my EFRW antenna.
Here I am operating from my bench.  Another of the overlook platforms is visible in the background.
The view from my bench was great, and Molly came to share it with me for a few minutes before I finished the activation.

As always for new-to-me parks, I scheduled my activation in advance on POTA.app while I had a reliable internet connection.  That way, I was good to go, even if cellular service was unavailable at the activation site.  Since I operate in CW mode, I just had to find an open frequency and begin calling CQ.

The Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) picked me up, generated an automatic POTA spot, and calls began coming in.  In truth, even when I have data service available in a park, I seldom do more than monitor continued automatic spots.  The RBN even updates my spot when I change frequency or band.  The RBN spotting function works spectacularly well for a CW operator, even at QRP power levels.

Results

This map shows the locations of hunters who made contact with me at US-2311.

I stayed on the air until after Becky and Molly returned from their walk.  In about 40 minutes on the air, I logged 27 CW contacts on the 20m and 30m bands.  The pace was steady, and I was able to work my way through all of the callers.  I am grateful to each of the hunters who tracked down my QRP signal, and stuck with me to complete a contact.

During our 6-week excursion, solar conditions were stable, and propagation was great.  The Tufteln EFRW antenna was quick to deploy, quick to pack, and performed impressively when paired with the KX2’s excellent internal tuner.

Gear

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

There are a number of birds visible in this view of the river valley.  They appear center-right as a string of white dots near brown islands. (Click image to enlarge)
A small boat passes a string of barges in the river.
The bluffs at the top of this view are located in Wisconsin, on the far side of the Mississippi River.

Final Thoughts

If you are ever find yourself in northeastern Iowa, I definitely recommend taking the time to see Pikes Peak State Park.  Activate this park, if you can.  The views are amazing.  If you can bring binoculars, or a long lens for your camera, so much the better.  We could see a large number of birds standing along sand bars in the river, but could only guess at the species.

Early fall is probably not the best time to view Bridal Veil Falls, but it should be spectacular in the spring.

Becky enjoyed the walk to Bridal Veil Falls.  It involved moderate elevation changes along the trail.  She was disappointed with the Falls themselves, because water flow was minimal after a dry period in early autumn.  The Falls should be much more impressive in the spring.

A panoramic view of the Mississippi River Valley.
Some views of the river peeked out from between the trees.
Becky reminds us not to miss the little things, even when we are surrounded by spectacular views.

Best 73 de Brian – K3ES, XYL Becky, and POTA Dog Molly