Ham Radio continues to change. Whether you believe the changes are good or bad depends on a lot on your perspective. But, no matter if you are a traditional brass pounder, or you believe the Internet is the future of ham radio, one question stands out as we enter another year. Is ham radio still … Continue reading This is still a hobby, isn’t it?
Tag: POTA
A Year End Compendium of Outside the Box Antenna Ideas
We have reached the end of another year of crazy ideas here at Ham Radio Outside the Box and a repeat of last year's severe winter has gotten underway in southern Ontario. The daily temperature high remains well below freezing and the ground is buried under a thick blanket of snow already. I have tried … Continue reading A Year End Compendium of Outside the Box Antenna Ideas
POTA PERformer radials – can we make a compromise?
There has only been one light snowfall in southern Ontario so far this season - just a few centimeters that melted away within a couple of days. In anticipation of upcoming heavier snowfalls and a semi-permanent white blanket that will last until spring, I bravely shrugged off the chilly outside air and set up my … Continue reading POTA PERformer radials – can we make a compromise?
QRP? Are we out of our minds?
If we believe in QRP - I mean really, really believe - then we can make it work. Admittedly it's like betting on a race between a tortoise and a hare; where would you put your money? If you read accounts written by diehard QRPers, do you ever see stories such as: "I went to … Continue reading QRP? Are we out of our minds?
A simple outside the box fix for a broken telescopic whip
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" Or conversely, if it is "broke" you have two choices. Order a replacement from the other side of the planet, and wait for the slow boat from China to navigate thousand of nautical miles across the stormy waters of international seas. Or, alternatively, and my preferred solution, is … Continue reading A simple outside the box fix for a broken telescopic whip
A Road Trip with the POTA Tripod Antenna – with surprises!
A spell of warm, sunny weather and a chance to get out to see the fall colors in early October prompted my wife and I to go on a road trip up to Ontario's Muskoka region and on to the fabulous Algonquin Park. The park is Canada's largest and oldest and is the home to … Continue reading A Road Trip with the POTA Tripod Antenna – with surprises!
Construction of the Simple Low Profile Multiband POTA Antenna
Following on from the previous post, there seems to be some interest in how the Simple, Low Profile, Multiband POTA antenna was actually built. Although the antenna is described as "simple", that term relates more to how it is deployed and its appearance than its actual construction. The construction does not involve any special tools … Continue reading Construction of the Simple Low Profile Multiband POTA Antenna
A Simple, Low Profile, Multiband Antenna for POTA
Sometimes it is necessary to set up for a POTA activation in an area where other park users like to go. In this situation we can either entertain distracting inquiries from people passing by who may just be curious about our activity, or blend into the environment and not be noticed. I prefer the latter. … Continue reading A Simple, Low Profile, Multiband Antenna for POTA
Two Resonant Simple Wire Antennas for POTA
One antenna that has garnered a significant following among POTA operators is the POTA PERformer designed by Greg Mihran KJ6ER. In essence it is a raised quarter wavelength vertical with 2 above ground radials. A simple idea that Greg has engineered into a rapid deployment, highly efficient, multiband, portable antenna. Greg has backed up his … Continue reading Two Resonant Simple Wire Antennas for POTA
How many truly field expedient ham radios are available? Maybe only 2!
Only two? If you were to ask the military you might get a different answer. Indeed many hams actually use ex-military portable radios, such as the PRC series. Those radios are in a class of their own, but they are often heavy, designed to be carried into the field by fit, strong, young soldiers. But … Continue reading How many truly field expedient ham radios are available? Maybe only 2!
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