You’ve seen the Mini Pixie in the Altoids Smalls tin (https://youtu.be/35TRM-uGWsY), but this prototype Micro Pixie (aka "Choking Hazard") that I built brings tiny to a whole new level. What better way to put it to the test than to attempt a SOTA activation with it?
So today, we take this ridiculous little thing out to a never-before activated SOTA summit to see what it can really do. Is 2.7 g of radio and 850mW of output power enough to get the job done? Watch and see.
Youtuber Tees:
https://grapevineamateurradio.com/
Since I get so many questions, I share my favorite gear from Amazon in my new Amazon store. Antenna building supplies, masts, batteries, you name it. Check it all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/k6arkportableradio
Double what? A double bobtail curtain. Yah, that’s right, two bobtail curtains – one driven, and one as a reflector – to #HamHarder on 15 m from a SOTA summit. I was hoping for VK or ZL S2S QSOs, but didn’t have any luck. Still, I managed some consolation prizes. Don’t miss the good stuff at the end.
Palm View Peak is a nice summit with a moderate hike. Summit elevation is 7,160′ on this SOTA summit, W6/CT-068. I had a blast running 15 m on this summit, and I hope you enjoy joining me for the adventure.
My Gear:
Yaesu FT-857D (discontinued)
Homebrew 15 m double bobtail antenna, fed at the bottom of the center element with a high-impedance transformer.
Bioenno 12 Ah LiFePO4 brick – https://amzn.to/37Bucf5
Helinox Ground Chair is discontinued, but the Chair Zero is awesome as well – https://amzn.to/2Ko5BBt
Antenna Poles – https://amzn.to/37C0ExD
NOTE: These are the same style ones I use with my 10m beam. Fiberglass poles are key for any antenna with wire running along the antenna. Carbon fiber messes up the pattern and resonance.
You can find that gear in my Amazon store https://www.amazon.com/shop/k6arkportableradio
I am constantly adding gear to the lists. Purchases through those links give me a small kick-back that helps support my adventures.
Um, yeah… Why not? It’s just an Icom IC-7300 and a 4-element 10m beam. It was for the ARRL 10m contest.
With a newly minted 10m portable 4 element wire beam antenna, I couldn’t resist hauling the station up to a local SOTA summit. The pack wasn’t light, but it’s not too hard of a hike – 1.5 miles and 1,000 ft of elevation gain, mostly on trail.
This was its virgin voyage, with no QSOs yet, so let’s break this puppy in.
My Gear:
I’ve had questions about the chair I’m using and unfortunately they don’t make the Helinox Ground Chair anymore, but the "Chair One" is an awesome alternative: https://amzn.to/2JYxeRB
The Icom IC-7300 is not my normal SOTA rig, but for contests, the waterfall is such a benefit, I sometimes carry it out to summits. It’s a fantastic radio at an incredible price for what you get: https://amzn.to/34g4UAZ
Pool cleaning poles make surprisingly good portable antenna masts. This one is a 12 footer: https://amzn.to/34iaCSW
#hamradio #youtubersbunch #hamharder
Landras Dream by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.
Back To The Wood by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Artist: http://audionautix.com/
Got a sweet postcard in the mail today. Thanks, David, for the kind words, and for taking the time to write. You’re going to love your new MTR3B – it’s a fantastic radio. I have three ????????????. Stay safe out there, and 73 for now. #Shorts #Youtubersbunch #Hamradio
What is the best antenna for my handheld radio? How many times have we all heard that question? In this video, I talk you through the process of deciding which HT antenna will be best for you, and I share a few of my favorites.
RUBBER DUCKS:
Smiley Regular Duck (my preferred SAR radio antenna): https://www.smileyantenna.com/product-p/14650.htm
2.5" Flexible Mini-Duck (I use this one around the house for nearby repeaters and the DMR hotspot): https://amzn.to/39LnuVd
WHIPS:
Diamond RH77 series dual-band antennas
– BNC model: https://amzn.to/37FPiaU
– Female SMA (for Baofengs, Anytone 878, etc.): https://amzn.to/39NdXN9
– Male SMA (Yaesu, Icom, etc.): https://amzn.to/37xdlIM
Signal Stick: https://signalstuff.com/product/super-elastic-signal-stick-sma-male/
The Amazon links above are part of an affiliate account. Clicking through those links and making a purchase gives me a small kick-back to help support the channel.
My previous attempt at this never-activated summit, WE/SD-025, failed. I bailed at the base of the climb due to heavy brush. Today, I go back and try again. It’s cooler and I’m wearing heavy cotton clothing to help shield the scraping and shin-bashing of the manzanita, scrub oak, and sumac.
In my pack is a freshly modified MTR3B with the 17m band added where 30m used to be. I’m hoping for some DX. Let’s see if it works.
What better time to find out than the 2020 SOTA Trans-Atlantic S2S QSO Party? The first winter storm of the year was in-bound, but I’m not going to let a little bit of rain stop me. I chose a local drive-up summit, brought my tent as a shelter, and left my home bright and early to get to the summit and on the air by 5am.
I had a blast activating, and recorded as much of the activation as possible. Here’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Fellow YouTuber, 2E0UKH told me about a 2 element dual-band beam he built. I ran with the idea and made my own, out of arrow shafts, with an additional element. The results? Pretty dang impressive.
2E0UKH YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/ukgadget2
MMANA GAL file: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IQ8l_cLdpa7m4fzYdZe1jQMwLSZQOqi1/view?usp=sharing
Antenna Photos – SWR and Patterns: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GAKAw9uykCkPEijr7
Element Lengths and Positions:
– Driven element
– Position: 0"
– Element Length: 20.17" (ea.)
– Director #1
– Position: 3.78"
– Element Length: 19.05" (ea)
– Director #2
– Position: 13.26"
– Element Length: 18.36" (ea)
SUPPLIES:
Arrow Shafts: https://amzn.to/3oDgpuM
– Note: you can likely find them a little cheaper on AliExpress.com
Threaded Inserts: https://amzn.to/37UQhWm
Arrow Connector: https://amzn.to/3oFrTOA
– Note: you can also just use a threaded rod and a jamb nut or some LocTite to secure it
Key Build Tips:
– Use a drill press. Hand-drilling will not result in straight enough holes.
– Remove the anodized coating from the inside of the arrow shaft before crimping in the inserts. The coating is non-conductive.
– Apply dielectric grease to the outer part of the threaded insert to prevent corrosion.
– If you over-crimp the inserts, you’ll have to re-drill the clearance hole portion and re-tap the threads.
– Be careful installing threaded aluminum rods, as the threads can be easily damaged.
Have fun building, and good luck!
K6ARK Portable Radio shirts for sale (thanks Jason!): https://grapevineamateurradio.com/products/k6ark-portable-radio-t-shirt-special-order
Over 10 years as a ham and no satellite QSOs in the log. But, to be fair, that’s mostly for lack of trying. I recently decided I should give satellites a try
I built a portable 3 element dual-band yagi and have been itching to try it out. Hooked up to an HT, I was able to hear QSOs on a couple of amateur satellites and the ISS over the past couple of days, but I was unable to make any contacts. Suspecting inadequate power was the issue, I hooked up the FT-857 in "split" mode and gave it a shot on a low pass of AO-27. Did it work? There’s one way to find out…
