Category: K6ARK Portable Radio

You mean you don’t normally bring a 4 lb Vibroplex bug to operate an 8 oz Quansheng handheld on 2 m CW to activate a remote SOTA summit? Why not? It’s stupid good fun.

@N7KOM, @SOTA-plus, and I join forces to activate a never-before activated summit during the 2025 W7O Oregon SOTA Camp-out. And of course we had to do it in the most ridiculous way possible, using Morse code over CW with modified Quansheng UV-K5 handheld radios.

@SOTA-plus even streamed part of the activation which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/live/Jh9CvsxksP0?si=i8ThNm1FuSnAULMm

Learn how to mod your Quansheng UV-K5 or UV-K6 for easy straight-key use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi35aTjEppQ

On this adventure, we set out to activate a summit on one of the least-used SOTA bands – 160 meters. Requiring big antennas and more power to contend with atmospheric and man-made noise, this band is tough to operate while portable. But that’s not going to stop us. In fact, we pick a peak with a tough hike just to add to the challenge. Think we can get it done? Let’s gooooo!

Desert heat, no water, and 8,000 + feet of gain and loss over about 20 miles makes Rabbit Peak one of the hardest hikes in San Diego, and arguably one of the hardest in SoCal. On this January weekend, Mark, KD7DTS of @SOTA-plus and I set out to do Rabbit, Villager, and Mile High as an overnight trip.

With us, we’ll bring our amateur radios that don’t just add training weight to our packs, but give us an opportunity to make contacts with our friends all around the world in a game called "Summits On The Air" or SOTA.

In my pack, 16 lbs of water and another 10 lbs of food, overnight gear, radio, and camera equipment. Keeping it all as light as possible is key for a trip like this.

100w and a 15m Moxon. What could go wrong?

Mark (KD7DTS) from @SOTA-plus tossed an invite my way to join him and Di (KO6BTM) for her 10th SOTA activation. For kicks, I brought the IC-7300 and a Moxon beam. Band conditions were good, and there were pileups galore. Come along for the adventure, and check out @SOTA-plus when you’re done.

Some of my gear:
IC-7300 case: https://amzn.to/40bbF3k
3 m mast: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806234015686.html
Spreader Poles (I purchased 2.7m versions which do not appear to be currently available): https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806524463943.html

On May 10, 2024, a train of seven plasma shockwaves from recent solar flares impacted Earth, triggering a G5 geomagnetic storm. The results were spectacular.

Leading up to the weekend, I had been watching the geomagnetic storm forecast after noticing multiple significant solar flares up to X3.9. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/3-day-geomagnetic-forecast
A G4 storm was initially predicted, but @TamithaSkov predicted a significant event. So, in addition to my climbing gear, I packed my nicer cameras and fast lenses. The skies did not disappoint!

Sorry for no hamming in this one, but I hope you all enjoy the show anyway.

Minimalist radio fun in the form of a challenge? Yes please.

When @HamRadioCrashCourse proposed the 1 lb POTA Pack Challenge, he had to have known I’d take it as far as I could. An upcoming work trip presented the perfect opportunity.

I prepped the "Classic Band" modified truSDX with audio amplifier circuit, larger display, and thinner/flatter filter design, and paired it up with a minimalist EFHW built from an SMA connector, custom PCB, FT37-43 toroid, and 140 ft of 36 ga PTFE insulated copper wire. A 300 mAh 3s LiPo fed it the rig power. I used the internal mic and the rig’s now amplified speaker for phone operation, a capacitive touch key installed in the rig for CW, and a custom audio adapter made it possible to run digital modes.

Here’s the story of the activation.

truSDX digital audio adapter: https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/LwO6AYPS

With good snow conditions from a recent storm, I set out with a few friends from the Mountain Rescue Team to climb and ski Mt. Baden Powell in March 2024. I capped it off with a quickie Summits On the Air (SOTA) activation using the KH1 and a new prototype KH1 pressure paddle I’ve been designing (more to come on that). So check out the video and join us for the adventure.

www.k6ark.com

CW Learners’ Edition with mostly unedited QSOs and including captions. Great for listening/decoding practices. Operating speed is about 22 wpm.
At 4:48 CW operating begins if you’d like to skip ahead. Let me know how you like this.

@ThomasK4SWL tipped me off on a MTR5B for sale, and I couldn’t pass it up. After tuning up a 40m EFHW to operate on all 5 bands, I rounded up N1CLC and we headed out for a holiday Monday activation of a local summit. Here’s our adventure.