5 Watts & 1 Hour = QRP POTA Energy Boost!

[@Windmill97]

These videos have been inspiring me to learn CW more. I’m about 4 months in and have had a few QSOs on CW. To those out there who are intimidated by it, know that CW veterans are almost always VERY ENCOURAGING to noobs! Love this hobby! Keep up the great work TW!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

WONDERFUL! Keep up the great work. And yes, we CW ops have got your back! Just hop on the air and you will be welcome regardless of skill level.

[@johndigiovanni]

Thomas I am really enjoying your videos. Years ago I did CW for my General but never got on the air with CW out of fear. You have inspired me to relearn it and get on the air with POTA.. I have a way to go but have been practicing everyday for the last several weeks! 73 de N3LUD

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Wonderful! I look forward to working you on the air someday! You've got this!

[@Utahforrest]

I’m 20 minutes in (listening while I mow my lawn). Sometimes your rougher activations are the most refreshing haha! I’ve had so many activations this summer where I have a contact and then we lose signal due to QSB. - making me question everything. Thanks for posting real time, real life field activation videos with all the ups and downs! 73 de KI7QCF

[@ThomasK4SWL]

And thank you for coming along! Field radio is a shared experience and a wonderful community. We are all having those rough, challenging days. It's an honor to keep you company as you mow! (hey, you missed that patch of grass over there! See it!?!) :)

[@shenanigans1064]

Prayers for your family brother. Greatly enjoy your videos and learn so much from them. My goal is to become licensed so I can conduct POTA and all that goes on in the ameture radio community. Have a blessed day brother. Strength and Honor

[@ThomasK4SWL]

You can do it! And thank you so much for thinking about my family.

[@mrjikey]

I just showed my wife this clip and she said “You guys are such nerds!” Thanks for chasing and always great to work you! Especially P2P. You mentioned in your field report watching Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. How is it? I grew up on the original series and this looks appealing. Until next time! Michael - N7CCD

[@KC2BKM]

There are worse things a wife could call her husband lol.

[@mrjikey]

@@KC2BKM Very true! I’m fortunate to have a wife who doesn’t always understand, but happily puts up with our hobby 😉

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Ha ha! A badge of honor! My wife calls me this all the time, too. :) Strange New Worlds? We are MASSIVE fans of it. It's nothing like the original series, but it's also quite fun and the actors are brilliant. We love al of the Star Trek series, in truth, but especially SNW.

[@billcosgrave6232]

I am primarily an SSB operator and I have found propagation in July to be horrible. BTW, I live in the Chicago metro area. Another great video.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yep. Prop has been in the dumps. Some excellent openings, but brief.

[@MrBracey1970]

Your an inspiration Thomas.I’m still learning CW,but I’m getting there,I’m going to be field operator only and my QMX turns up this week!😊

[@ThomasK4SWL]

You can do it! I believe in you!

[@bluegrassdan]

Thomas I have really enjoyed watching you over the years, when you first got started with code it was fun to watch. You go out and do activations so I don’t have to. That probably wasn’t your intention for these videos, but it has sure worked for me. Perhaps after I retire, I can do it for real. Keep up the wonderful entertainment, we enjoy the good clean fun.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I certainly hope you do go out an activate when you've retired! It's the best way to enjoy radio. Thank you so much for the kind comment and for coming along on the journey!

[@EvanK2EJT]

Man, those conditions were ROUGH. I remember this activation, and you were nowhere to be heard, and then you suddenly came up to like a 329 or 429. By the end of the QSO you were maybe 119 and then gone again. The bands have been.......interesting......to say the least.

[@KC2BKM]

Not gonna lie I been holding back on trying an activation till my copy got a little better. But watching you all struggle and the crazy high A index. I am happy to stay inside in bug free, air conditioned, shack and work on my copy and do a little hunting. Fall is just around the corner.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I know, right? You've no clue if an activation is going to be gangbusters or a total bust. :) Always great to work you, Evan.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Ha ha! Actually, it's the perfect time to do your first CW activations because the contacts are few and far between! :)

[@davidwalsh1336]

Are you sure you used your 40 meter counterpoise. On the video it looked like the 20 meter counterpoise. That would explain the high swr, Thanks for your fantastic videos. I feel like I'm sitting at the picnic table with you.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Huh...I need to go back and look, but if I pulled it from the poly bag, it was the 40M counterpoise.