64 Mile, Summit to Summit, 2 meter simplex, SOTA contact

Ham radio summits on the air (SOTA) activation of Kennesaw Mountain. Two of my contacts were activating Blood Mountain 64 miles away. I made the contacts on the 2 meter ham band, using my Kenwood TH-D74A radio and a Super-Elastic Signal Stick antenna. Simplex only, no repeaters
Product links:
Kenwood TH-D74A radio : amzn.to/2MXOEv6
SOTA website: sota.org.uk/
Signal Stuff Super-Elastic - no link
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@yuantronz45]

People who live in the middle of nowhere in states like Alaska, Idaho, North and South Dakota need these radios....

[@matiasforti6088]

You're an amazing wholesome person, great channel!

[@TheBigDawgz71]

Awesome contact. I vacation around Blood mountain all the time. I grew up visiting my parents place in Blairsville Georgia right beside Hiawassee.

[@rawwar7189]

Been there years ago!!! I was a Cub Scout around the late 90’s! Your opening scene with the rocks in the background brought back memories!!!

[@rawwar7189]

Just got my call sign today KI5GUD life is gud here in TX!

[@brianoneill462]

Great video, Brian. You sparked my interest in SOTA now. Just have to get a better antenna for my baofeng UV-5R. Keep on doing a great job on the videos, very informative. 73s KE8MFK from Detroit.

[@billpullen9627]

Keep these contact videos coming man that's awesome.

[@DC.]

This is awesome. I am currently working on Technician, so this is really exciting.

[@jerrymehling833]

Great job Brian and very interesting thank you for sharing Kennesaw Mountain Jerry

[@fatdude8716]

Thanks Brian for the video of Kennesaw Mnt. Parking lot was too crowded last time I was up there. Have activated Dowdell Knob before near Pine Mountain, GA and Brasstown Bald. Neat summit to summit contacts.

[@alvarogaitan2529]

good mornin Brian good video thanks 73

[@WJdad]

Great to see SOTA procedures. Thank you for the historical perspective! Thank you also for the National calling frequency. Thank you for your generous efforts for a mature radio.

[@paulzap6102]

I learn something new every day. I wasn't aware of Sota. Maybe since I live in Florida :( Very interesting! Great contact on HT!

[@HamRadioInAction]

Sota could be tough in FLA, maybe POTA? parks on the air. Same concept. parksontheair.com/

[@keekdachoseone7]

Watching your videos got me into ham radio thank you using a baofeng with an amp im getting 50 to 100 mile contacts on 52 simplex thank you

[@JimmyKI5PRK]

That was amazing. Over 60 miles with just an HT. Great job. I'm studying to get my license. I hope to be making some contacts very soon.

[@markdoyle8713]

Thanks for the sota info setting up mine for September

[@Bob814u]

VERY informative and helpful video. Your explanation on how things work and why were very clear. Keep up the activity as it is needed very much in Ham Radio. 73 de KE5ES

[@davidsradioroom9678]

Great video. Nice activation. I did a site survey about a year ago at the mountain. I am into POTA at the moment, but Kennesaw could be my first SOTA activation when I start. 73

[@michaelzehrfeld7766]

Nice Activity and Video! I´m always listening here for SOTA-Activators in the Bavarian Mountains..... 73 Mike DO1MDE

[@hamonabudget5943]

I have climbed that mountain many times when I lived in Kennesaw, unfortunately, I was not an active ham at that time so I never got to activate the summit. It's hard to find mountains like that now that I live in Savannah GA, but here's to hoping I make it back upstate sometime soon and hopefully catch you on the air! Eric- KM4MJQ

[@johnwellons9239]

Nice video as usual, KN4YFN Fayetteville GA.

[@heathwhittle4514]

Thanks for hiking to the top! Next year come visit Rabun County and I'll put you on Glassy Mountain or BlackRock Mountain. 73, Heath N4TWT

[@d.j.roberts187]

Every time I hike Kennesaw Mt., it gets tougher.. I like going over Little Kennesaw. Just bought a BF-F8HP. studying..

[@HamRadioInAction]

Good luck!

[@dangermandave67]

Nice! Spotting yourself on the database sometimes helps to get more contacts. I haven't had a lot of luck with VHF, mainly because I tend to hike in remote areas. I found that using a roll-up j-pole helped.

[@hikingfish3]

Its amazing what a bit of altitude and a signal stick can do! Great video as always, not overly long but jam packed full of content! As a HAM that has put aside the hobby for a couple of years, it would be nice if you could do a "procedures" video. Think of it as a script to follow when communicating: Identifying yourself to a repeater or how to call out on simplex. That would be great!

[@MagicRoosterBluesBand]

60+ miles on 5 watts HT with a modest antenna?? Crazy!

[@mikesimpson7748]

Good job

[@hamradiotime]

Good video!

[@DARTHDANSAN]

That was neat

[@w.rustylane5650]

I live near Mt. LeConte here in TN. I want to do a SOTA up there but will probably take my Yaesu FT-4VR, 2 meter only HT and my 1/4 wave ground plane and put it on a pole and see how far I can get without hitting our local repeaters. Cheers, KO4IDL

[@mikethees6434]

Since you made this video they have designated .580 for SOTA and POTA

[@longrider42]

Alright, now you have me interested in SOTA, but I will have to wait till next summer. Then go down to Estes Park Colorado, and into Rocky Mountain National Park. Not sure what the mountain ID is, but I can find out. KI7BSL, saying 73s.

[@stephenwilliams5201]

Now that's my game flat footed DX. MY BEST BY ACCIDENT. A PRC 25 MAN PACK. AND A OPENING FROM PLUMBROOK OHIO. TO FORT HOOD. TEXAS. CIRCA 1973 US ARMY SARGENT.( Ten watts) THE NEXT BEST WAS FROM ATOP a THE PEACE MONUMENT AT MIDDLE BASS ISLAND LAKE Erie on vacation. receiving station on 2 meter was near Cincinnati Ohio. Power 1.4 watts. Call sign was n8odn. Now it's kv4li. Flat footed is great .

[@w.rustylane5650]

Yeah, I thought you'd use the .52 national calling frequency. Guess you're SOL on 70 cm UHF band. I'm a Georgia native and have never been on Kennesaw Mountain. I've moved to Tennessee over 20 years ago. Maybe one of these days I'll get back to Georgia and drive up Kennesaw. Cheers and 73's KO4IDL.

[@N0OZRadioSaga]

I live in Iowa .....no mountains here lol

[@waynecampbell7054]

Thanks for the providing an example of how to do 2 meter SOTA. Just got an HT and want to do SOTA's. You mentioned using a yagi antenna. If you used a yagi, should you use it vertically polarized? Most hams using an HT use a whip vertical antenna. Thanks again. 73 Wayne N3DRV

[@Boba0514]

static-y and intermittent af: "you are 5-9, perfectly readable" :D I'm sure it was fine, i'm just new to ham and was a little surprised :D

[@davidgill5336]

I'm new to Ham and taking the tech class tomorrow and Sunday (10/12 & 10/13). I was wondering what adapter you have between the antenna base and the radio?

[@HamRadioInAction]

Good luck on your test. It's a SMA to BNC adapter. I swap antennas often so I prefer BNC connectors.

[@davidgill5336]

@@HamRadioInAction ok thank you

[@robertchambers5821]

Great Video. Try out a role up J-pole. It will be much better than a rubber duck 8P6RC

[@eqradman]

I agree 100%, or perhaps something like an Elk antenna yagi, Rob N3EQ

[@ecv03]

Wow I need to find out more about this event. 73 KM6GXC

[@mriolfo]

Hi, which non-stock antenna do you recommend for the Kenwood HT-D74a? Thanks

[@MarkSmith-ut8hr]

Nice video, I enjoyed watching, so how is that Signal Stuff Super-Elastic still working for you?

[@HamRadioInAction]

It's good

[@qaiwani]

Cool video. I was wondering how do you find each other? Are there certain agreed upon frequencies from vhf, uhf and hf ?

[@HamRadioInAction]

There are national calling frequencies on almost every ham band.

[@qaiwani]

@@HamRadioInAction like available somewhere online for each region? I'm sorry i didn't understand

[@alvarogaitan2529]

morning

[@calypsonotch3953]

how do you know which frequency to dial in?

[@1djtraxx]

Is the SOTO website down? Checked your link in 2021 and it seems to be another entity.

[@strugglingathome]

I don’t know, blood mountain felt like a 5/6 not a 5/9 😉

[@pauldrahos3834]

Are you sure you can't use a repeater on 2m with tech ????

[@HamRadioInAction]

You cannot use repeaters for SOTA contacts. Technicians can use 2M repeaters for normal contacts all day.

[@GoA7250]

So the 70cm was a hit...

[@optimisticpessimist.]

Do people know ahead of time that you will be there attempting to make sota contacts?

[@HamRadioInAction]

Brian VanDerVelde people use SOTA watch website to announce their activation and others can “spot” live activations. I didn’t self spot.

[@larspregge6420]

What antenna is it?

[@1980Baldeagle]

Super elastic signal stick.

[@stacksmasher]

Wait... did you just talk to someone 64 miles away on a simple 5W radio? I thought the range of these are only 4-5 miles.

[@strugglingathome]

2 m band will get you over the horizon. Peak to peak, this is 😎

[@bwc1976]

Altitude is your friend with line-of-sight communication, that's why a lot of repeaters are up on mountains.

[@markr.1984]

None of those are mountains, just hills and not even very big hills.