Activating South Mountains Game Land with the Icom IC-705 in gusty winds

Note that my camera died perhaps five minutes before I completed the activation, so it will end abruptly. Sorry about that!
Click here to read full details about this activation, including equipment links, at QRPer.com:
qrper.com/2021/02/pota-field-...
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Thanks for watching!
73,
Thomas
K4SWL

[@daveN2MXX]

I never work CW because my skills are so bad....your videos have caused me to start working to improve and hopefully get on the air with CW soon!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

You can do it! Seriously--if I can do it anyone can. I'm still not a "great" op, but I get the job done usually.

[@daveN2MXX]

@@ThomasK4SWL Your videos are truly inspiring, thank you!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

@@daveN2MXX Thank you!

[@the_mad_swimbaiter455]

Thomas, I'm learning cw and really like watching your activating videos too study my copy. Thanks for all you do.

[@jlowknight]

Yes I liked the video before I was done watching it.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Ha ha! Thank you!

[@barrykery1175]

Good idea carrying a spare radio or two in the car. I learned to carry an extra battery. Set up one time and the battery was dead. Since I was with a friend and he had a 12 volt 14 ah battery with him, I was able to tap onto his battery. But that was in my lead acid days. Snow today? How about 30 inches we had last week? Temp today is 15 degrees. Burrrrr. Yet another neat video. Always enjoy watching. I'm working portable vicariously through you. Hi Hi Barry, KU3X/QRP

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yeah, that's insane, Barry. We've been so lucky: only 1-3" snows this past month. 30 inches and 15 degree temps? That's a different story! :)

[@MrCowboybud]

Hey Barry when is your next video?

[@barrykery1175]

@@MrCowboybud Me? I haven't thought of anything interesting to make a video of lately. No new toys so that's out. Too cold to set up portable so that's out. Barry

[@ke5dxx]

Whew tough weather conditions! Tried to catch you from STX over the weekend but propagation wasn’t having it. Did make my first CW POTA hunter QSO though, inspired by these vids. Stay safe and hope to catch you on the air soon! Thx - KE5DXX

[@ThomasK4SWL]

BRILLIANT Colton!!! You'll start with hunting which is a great way to get your CW chops going, then you'll move into activating CW, too. That's exactly what I did. Look forward to putting you in the logs soon! de Thomas K4SWL

[@BikingHikingRadio]

This was my video for today to watch between customer calls. I got finished just before the end of the shift. Looks like it was really cold and 20 meters was a mess for you but you handled it very well. And, you're right, what's an activation without someone tuning up on top of you. Nice video and glad to see you took out the IC 705 again. 73 de KN3A.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you, Scott!

[@AaronHuber]

Finally I get to hear my call in one of your videos and it was the first contact! Thanks for the QSO and braving the elements. 73 de KO4GBD

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you for making contact Aaron! Great to put you in the logs! 73 de K4SWL

[@RyanFerreri]

Good video. I have a pair of headphones in my go bag for windy conditions. They even keep your ears a little warm.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

A great idea! I actually use headphones at every activation where I'm not making a video. They also make it so much easier to hear weak signals. Cheers, Thomas

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Hi Thomas, enjoying the CW. Nice easy copy speed for me. I notice you don't give out the POTA reference? Does anyone ask for it like you hear on SSB?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

So it's interesting: in SSB/Phone, you tend to give the park number with each contact. Sometimes a state, province or other location identifier is also used if the park entity is, say, in several states. In CW, we typically don't give the park ID, although it's perfectly fine to do so. I do always give the State if working in a multi-state entity because POTA logs need to reflect it. Cheers, Thomas

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

@@ThomasK4SWL Thank you one again Thomas.

[@G7VFY]

What do you do if see a bear or something else bitey. If you had a 2m/70cms radio & antenna, could someone spot for you?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

So black bears tend to be as afraid of us as we are of them--especially those in wildlife areas like game lands (less so, if they live in a city). When camping, bear mace is a nice little investment. Snakes like copperheads and timber rattlers are a real issue here and you just have to be on the lookout. And, yes, a dual-band HT would be a great way to get a spot from a friend--I've done this before.

[@G7VFY]

@@ThomasK4SWL I heard a funny story about copperheads...kinda. I saw a youtube video about a ham who went to collect an old AM transmitter. When they started moving it, they discovered that a family of Copperheads had made their home in the bottom, or rather underneath. Needless to say, they dropped the vintage and heavy transmitter on top of the nasty serpents. The serpents popped as the super heavy transmitter was dropped. The transmitter survived the experience, but nasty snakes, didn't. And the transmitter is now an occasional visitor on top band.

[@liamhughes667]

HI Thomas, I like the little Orange Bracket you have on your IC705 Where are they available to buy, Info would be appreciated, enjoy your videos very much take care in the wind.LiamEI8HY

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Hi, Liam! Here's the info on it. If you know someone with a 3D printer, it's a very quick and cheap print: qrper.com/2020/12/a-simple-3d-printed-foot-for-the-icom-ic-705/

[@qrptedmac]

Geez, azores, N and S west coast. Amazing. PS: That straight key dude needs some practice.