Category: Red Summit RF

Richard N1RBD’s ham radio journey began when I joined a wilderness Search and Rescue (SAR) team which uses HTs for communications during call-outs. He does a lot of hiking and backpacking in the North Georgia Mountains and on the Appalachian Trail, so he felt his knowledge of the area could be helpful.

He activated a few SOTA summits with VHF, and was amazed at how far he could get from the summit of a 3000ft mountain running 5 watts. He then discovered Parks on the Air (POTA). Living 7 minutes from a POTA park, he tried some VHF activations with no success. Apparently, there is a huge difference between getting 4 QSOs from a summit vs 10 QSOs from a low-lying park when running VHF!

He started his CW journey in January of 2020 using online resources and apps. His first CW QSO was on March 3, 2020 using a CW Morse Nano straight key to chase a POTA operator for a park to park contact. A few months later, he finally worked up the nerve to attempt a CW SOTA activation. On July 4, I garnered 15 CW QSOs, including my Elmer! At this point, I was officially hooked on CW.

Join us as we talk about how YOU can improve how you do portable radio and CW in this episode of the All Portable Discussion Zone “AP/DZ”. Every aspect of Portable Ops is explored in this biweekly live stream as we discuss news, gear, achievements, the workbench, contests, awards and more – find all Portable Ops related topics here.

Twitter:
Charlie NJ7V @NJ7V_
Dan KC7MSU @KC7MSU
Brian W7JET @BBW7JET

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#APDZ #SOTA #PortableOps #HamRadio

I am from a rural area in western Wyoming. While visiting family there this summer (2022) Sandy and I took a half day to hike to the top of a numbered peak and put it on the air with our ham radio. This is an area where I’ve spent a lot of time, especially riding snowmobiles in the winter. The views were spectacular and very familiar. Neither of us were on air long due to our tight schedule, but it was great to get away and enjoy the outdoors for a short time.

Twitter: @NJ7V_
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#HamRadio #SOTA #CW #MorseCode #PortableRadio

We all approach our Parks on the Air activations a little different – and that is great! We should customize the adventure to fit who we are. But many of us would like to become a little more effective at it.
Our award winning guest today, Brian Duddy N2BTD, is at the top of the SOTA game and will join us to offer his advice on how we might improve how we do POTA.

Join us as we talk about how YOU can improve how you do POTA in this episode of the All Portable Discussion Zone “AP/DZ”. Every aspect of Portable Ops is explored in this biweekly live stream as we discuss news, gear, achievements, the workbench, contests, awards and more – find all Portable Ops related topics here.

Twitter:
Charlie NJ7V @NJ7V_
Dan KC7MSU @KC7MSU
Brian W7JET @BBW7JET

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#APDZ #SOTA #PortableOps #HamRadio

In June and July, the chances of catching a 6 meter sporadic E opening greatly improve. There is even a good possibility in late May and early August. I have made a few 6 meter DX contacts from the top of mountains, but success is very unpredictable. I take 6 meter capabilities with me on my SOTA activations from sometime in May through August. I have experimented with a few 6 meter antennas for portable operations and this is what I have found works best for me.

PackTenna MastMount: https://www.packtenna.com/store/p29/MastMount_VHF_Antenna_Feed_Point_-_Model_VM.html#/
50MHz 45.5" BNC Telescopic Antenna: https://www.ebay.com/itm/143551531179
Feed Line: https://rfconnection.com/
29′ Carbon Fiber Mast: https://www.packtenna.com/store/p24/29%27__Tall_Carbon_Fiber_Mast.html#/
Nite Ize GearTie: https://amzn.to/3zZJcQV
Packtenna TrekMount: https://www.packtenna.com/store/p21/TrekMount_Antenna_Mount.html#/
Comet BNC-24: https://amzn.to/3SN1hKp
SOTAbeams Bandpass Filter: https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/sbm-bpft-100?seid=dxese1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuuKXBhCRARIsAC-gM0gdrTdxRMn1SatIZeuPL4qdUVFMQ7wQUeCGyw4CZ2rMoZaowboF9BkaAgdSEALw_wcB

Twitter: @NJ7V_
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#THNHR #HamRadio #SOTA #CW #MorseCode #PortableRadio

Using a ham radio to communicate with others while in the outdoors, such as from a national park like the Grand Canyon happens more than you might think. The program called Parks on the Air is gaining in popularity. Many of my friends enjoy participating in Parks on the Air, and a different program called Summits on the Air. Recently a few of us got together to have fun camping and using our ham radios. We chose to meet up at the Grand Canyon.

Support Your Park Weekend occurs once a year. Many ham radio operators are out using their radios on this weekend. Some enjoy the challenge of setting up their ham radio station in the field and making as many contacts as possible. Others enjoy operating from less visited parks or locations. Still others like to hunt those stations from home and see how many they can make contact with. Its a fun weekend, combining visiting a national park with ham radio.

In this video I operate from several parks and a summit. I show you what equipment I use as well as what others use.

Twitter: @NJ7V_
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#THNHR #HamRadio #SOTA #CW #MorseCode #PortableRadio

Paul VA6MPM is an experienced mountaineer and backcountry expert who enjoys Summits on the Air in the Canadian Rockies. He has had some very interesting life experiences such as living in Kenya as a teen, which he describes as "life changing". He enjoys activating some of the more difficult and remote summits in North America. If you want to learn more about mountaineering and backcountry philosophies as they relate to Summits on the Air, you won’t want to miss this episode as Paul talk about his experiences.

Join us as we talk about how YOU can improve your SOTA experiences in this episode of the All Portable Discussion Zone “AP/DZ”. Every aspect of Portable Ops is explored in this biweekly live stream as we discuss news, gear, achievements, the workbench, contests, awards and more – find all Portable Ops related topics here.

Twitter:
Charlie NJ7V @NJ7V_
Dan KC7MSU @KC7MSU
Brian W7JET @BBW7JET

Help support this channel – buy us a Coke: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/RedSummitRF
Donate https://www.patreon.com/redsummitrf
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Red Summit RF Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/redsummitrf

#APDZ #SOTA #PortableOps #HamRadio

One of my wife’s most admirable qualities is her independent nature. Sandy W7NRS and our friend Lisa KJ7PJV have been licensed for a little over 2 years. Most of their ham radio experience has been from mountain tops of Arizona, participating in Summits on the Air. Both are pursuing the prestigious Mountain Goat award. They have tagged along with Jon and I, sometimes just husband and wife excursions and sometimes with the four of us as a couple’s activation.

I submit this video as evidence that they are ready to branch out and do their own activations (if they want), either solo or as a SOTA YL DUO.

Twitter: @NJ7V_
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#THNHR #HamRadio #SOTA #CW #MorseCode #PortableRadio

The annual ARRL Field Day event is really fun! It is an event where hams take their radio gear portable, out in the field. This is what I love! The event takes place on the forth weekend in June, over Saturday and Sunday. I like to extend the outing to get more camping time in AND do Summits on the Air. Every year, I drive up on Thursday morning, secure my camp at the Field Day site where our club goes, and then do the "Field Day" warm-up by activating 3 or 4 peaks. This year, Sandy joined the fun for Field Day and the SOTA excursions. In this video we take you along on one of the 4 summits we activated. Sandy is on SSB and I am on CW.

Twitter: @NJ7V_
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#MNHR #HamRadio #SOTA #CW #MorseCode #PortableRadio