A Simple Handheld Ham Radio Is All You Need For SOTA!

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Charlie, There were some nice views on the hike and enjoyed the video. Hi to Sandy and you both stay safe. 73 WJ3U

[@RedSummitRF]

Thank you so much Don. I appreciate you and your continued support.

[@dougdaniels]

My first 7 activations were all 2m on an HT when I hadn't gotten a SOTA portable HF rig yet.

[@RedSummitRF]

Nice! That's cool Doug. I know somebody who got their mountain goat on 2 meters only. Tough to do. Thanks Doug.

[@alvarogaitan2529]

Great job Charlie and friends terrific job 73 from kb2uew

[@RedSummitRF]

Thx for watching Alvero

[@DARTHDANSAN]

Nice

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Well that was sort of interesting, kinda short and we never got to see Brian, and Malen in action? kudos to Malen for his accomplishments at such a late age. and to have done that much is commendable. Also Charlie when and were do you post prior to going out on an activation? I have been faithfully watching the Sota page for your call to bet into your logs and vice versa but never seem to catch you? But in any event this was an interesting video none the same. so thank you all three for bringing this old codger along. 73 gud dx de Ellis WA1RKS

[@RedSummitRF]

Hey Ellis try me in the morning. I'll be on around 1500 UTC (Maybe a little earlier than that). I have an alert up. ... oh and Malen and Brian only worked VHF. What you saw was the only action available. Thanks! Hope to hear from you in the morning.

[@larry7463]

I listened to your QSO Today interview - for the second time today. Excellent interview!…Really great videos here. Thank you Charlie. I have not done SOTA, but would like to. We moved to Sun City last year from Oregon and I don’t know the land here. Do you know of any easy to reach SOTA peaks on the west side of Phoenix? What about rattle snakes when you’re on the trail (or bushwhacking) here in Arizona? Larry W7YDA

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Larry - welcome to the area and thanks for your kind words. I would love to take you along on your first activation, but I do get quite busy taking others along. We can try and schedule something or maybe you can throw out the request to our Groups IO email distro list azsota.groups.io/g/main for somebody else to take you along. It's a good idea to go with somebody the first time. Either way you should register with the group if you want to do SOTA here in Arizona. There are a bunch of easy peaks over there on the West Side but this time of year you have to go really early in the morning before temps reach 100 deg. I've run into a rattlesnake maybe 4-5 times in my entire time being in the outdoors here in AZ. All but once they let me know that they were there with plenty of distance between us. If you are alert, it shouldn't be an issue. Regarding the close-by peaks, honestly, I suggest either waiting until the fall to do one close by, or heading up to Prescott and doing Spruce Mountain sotl.as/summits/W7A/AW-013 But I guess if you are up to the challenge Lookout Mountain is an easy and close one sotl.as/summits/W7A/MN-144 Take the 150 trail and it's 0.5 miles each way. Make sure you are at the trailhead right when the gate opens at 5:00 am.

[@larry7463]

@@RedSummitRF yeah great Charlie, thanks so much for your long reply. I think I will try and work in a trip to Prescott. I haven't been up there yet and I'd sure enjoy the cooler weather! Thanks again for your reply and for all the videos you do. 73's, Larry W7YDA

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

Nice job with the hot potato HT! LOL! 73 de Jeff K3JRZ

[@RedSummitRF]

Hahaha thank you Jeff. Yeah that thing was bouncing all over huh.

[@bulldogbrower6732]

Where are you conducting your summits work from ? How far away are the contacts ?

[@RedSummitRF]

This particular summit is near Canton Lake north of Apache Junction, Arizona. I do this from summits all over Arizona and even other states on occasion. The contacts were about 40 miles away.

[@frank5596]

I see you were using a Kenwood TH-D72/74. What was the antenna?

[@RedSummitRF]

I was tempted to say the stock antenna, but then went back and looked at it and that has a BNC connector so it isn't. It was Brian's radio so we'll have to see if we can get him on here to answer it for you. I'll point him in this direction.

[@frank5596]

@@RedSummitRF no worries. I use a Kenwood TH-D72 and was just curious 🧐

[@Моєжиття-п3щ]

Дякую за відео. Молодці! Теж планую вихід в гори. Після війни. 73!

[@RedSummitRF]

Дякую за перегляд. відео Я сподіваюся на швидке закінчення війни, щоб ви могли вибратися і знову насолоджуватися природою. Бережи мій друже.

[@MarkPentler]

*depending on where you live

[@mattb7406]

Wish u guys talked about gear

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Matt - yeah, missed opportunity there. It's something I need to try and remember. There's so many things happening, sometimes I forget to do more to bring the viewer along on the journey. Thanks for watching.

[@michaelpounds9300]

Great to see you guys on the mountain top looked like fun KN6LUA

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks. It's always fun to go as a small group.

[@wild-radio7373]

Team Replay for the win 🔥📻😎👍

[@wild-radio7373]

My last SOTA was very much like this :) sometimes 5 watts really gets out!♡

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks for following up!

[@RedSummitRF]

It's all it takes sometimes. I'm sure you had a great time.

[@joeblow8593]

What was the furthest you guys got out on 2 meter FM?

[@RedSummitRF]

All the contacts were between 30 and 40 miles.

[@antargari9129]

Ham Radio Logbook : pin.it/50Ri13q

[@RedSummitRF]

an interesting option for logging. I do like paper logs but I'm making an effort to use my phone more.

[@jmount1200]

@@RedSummitRF HAMRS is a great logger I can save my contacts for POTA, SOTA or Generic.

[@paulhastings3109]

You would be lost without you key hi

[@RedSummitRF]

Very true. I always carry two with me for SOTA . . . just in case.

[@peterpankonin6993]

Malen, sure a different landscape than the summits around these parts, hey? Beautiful in the desert. Peter VA6ARI

[@RedSummitRF]

I don't think Malen likes all the prickly things . . . but who am I kidding . . . NOBODY does LOL

[@JosephVE3GKT]

Man... you should see how difficult these VE3 summits are... that was nothing! Just kidding. Those views were awesome! 73 de VE3GKT

[@RedSummitRF]

There is a lot of truth to that even though you jest. It was a fun activation. IT was fun to meet Malen.