How many ways can you operate when activating a park for the Parks On The Air (POTA) program? I count 4 ways; I have tried them all but one is my favorite. #1 When I read the accounts of other activators on social media I conclude the most popular way is to operate from inside … Continue reading My Custom Portable POTA Pack – does it work?
Tag: Portable
Simplest Way to Guy a Telescopic Fiberglass Antenna Pole
There are a lot of YouTube videos showing different ways to support a fiberglass antenna pole, none of which seemed to meet my needs which are fairly basic: rapid deployment, lightweight and uncomplicated. So I devised my own method that I hope you will find interesting. Some hams pound a long piece of angle iron … Continue reading Simplest Way to Guy a Telescopic Fiberglass Antenna Pole
Ham Radio & the Art of Bushcraft
Operating a radio in the great outdoors can be as simple as parking your vehicle, pulling a radio out of your pack, attaching an antenna to the top of the driver's window and keying up. I have done that myself in the depths of winter when it's too darn cold to really get outside and … Continue reading Ham Radio & the Art of Bushcraft
How to Use a Semi-Automatic Antenna Tuner
There are manual antenna tuners and there are automatic antenna tuners - but what is a semi-automatic antenna tuner? I'll explain in a moment, but first a bit of background. For years I have relied on resonant antennas for field portable radio operations. Why carry any kind of tuner around if you don't have to? … Continue reading How to Use a Semi-Automatic Antenna Tuner
Delta Loopy Ideas
It's Spring in Southern Ontario. Maybe. The weather in these parts is highly unpredictable. Temperatures have been above freezing during the daytime and the snow is almost gone. But maybe it'll be back. Who Knows? Whatever happens I have been taking advantage of the good weather for some antenna planning. Antenna planning to me means … Continue reading Delta Loopy Ideas
The VP2E – A Strange (But Proven) Antenna
As an avid POTA activator I was quite excited to come across a new-to-me wire antenna that is rapidly field deployable, fairly stealthy, directional and which has some gain. I would like to thank Germany-based SOTA operator Ed Durrant DD5LP, G8GLM, VK2JI for introducing me to the VP2E. As is my custom, I read Ed's … Continue reading The VP2E – A Strange (But Proven) Antenna
A Versatile Backpack Rig for POTA Activations
I recently posted about POTA becoming a competitive activity. Admittedly, I have caught the bug but I also still enjoy just getting out into the Big Blue Sky Shack and being all alone with just my radio for company. Competing for POTA awards involves rushing from park to park balancing QSO count with getting as … Continue reading A Versatile Backpack Rig for POTA Activations
A Magic Ground Mobile Antenna
Let me start by confessing; I don't operate HF mobile. So my "mobile" HF antenna is only suitable for stationary "shack-in-a-truck" operations. Driving requires my full attention ... and so does CW operation! I mount one of my two portable vertical antennas on a short aluminum pole which in turn is mounted on the hitch … Continue reading A Magic Ground Mobile Antenna
Modifying my DIY Loading Coil
I have been very pleased with my DIY clone of a Wolf River coil. It has served me well on multiple POTA activations for the last few months. But, there is always room for improvement! And, besides, hams love to tinker with their equipment to make it just that little bit better. The coil is … Continue reading Modifying my DIY Loading Coil
Watts on Wheels
My portable operating station - which I use principally for POTA activations - is constructed in the form of a manpack inside a very rugged cotton canvas NATO-style rucksack. Nearly everything is hooked up, ready to go. I don't need to find a picnic table, the manpack has an internal frame just high enough to … Continue reading Watts on Wheels
Ham Radio Outside the Box 