Arizona is Trying To Kill Me - the Chameleon CHA LEFS4010

Today I head out to the arizona desert and setup a radio station and make contacts. Super Super Easy to get on the air with today's setup.
Today's calls: W4KWI, KA4RRU, AF4OD, VE7WGX, WE5E, W8APS, N8WNA, KD9WES, KE4EST, N9XO, K9TQ, K4OTT, W8SUN, VA3BLV, VA7BIX
Today's Park:
Kartchner Caverns State Park:
Park Site: azstateparks.com/Kartchner
POTA Site: pota.app/#/park/K-1059
👉 Today's Station:
👉 Antenna: CHA LEFS4010 chameleonantenna.com/shop-her...
👉 Radio: Xiegu X6100: geni.us/MGWeG3
👉 Coax: ABR RG-316 25' w/Choke: chameleonantenna.com/shop-her...
👉 Mast: DX Commander 10m Expedition Mast: dxcommander.com/product/10m-e...
👉 Battery: Bioenno 3ah LiFePO4 geni.us/9SddeL
👉 Band Plan Cards: www.clubgearonline.com/produc...
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[@DonzLockz]

Try going to an Aussie desert!😂 It's good to see the Xeigu make an appearance again.👍

[@temporarilyoffline]

Been a while for the Xiegu... So many radios to play with!

[@HOAHamRadio]

Fun to watch; appreciate all the explanations, as always.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Thanks Bob, see you soon

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Team 8 for me , love to Strip the wire off quickly when using that technique.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I suspected as much... 🤣

[@jmount1200]

Arizona has those thorny things so that not only zebras have stripes.

[@temporarilyoffline]

That's the reason!

[@douglasvamateurradioandmore]

Like many of my vehicles.

[@W6IWN_Radio]

Awesome antenna 👍 Thanks for the video, Steve.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Its pretty slick. Thanks for watching!

[@ATeamVallejo]

Looks fun! You are making me want to go to the desert😃

[@temporarilyoffline]

It was a lot of fun. And a beautiful spot too. We wound up camping there for a night after quartzfest.

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

Everything in nature is trying to kill you… LOL. Stay safe! 73!

[@DK5ONV]

😲

[@temporarilyoffline]

True!

[@DonzLockz]

Simon, Woohoo!😂

[@temporarilyoffline]

Roight!

[@victorcharlie7491]

Great day to go to the Park, nice work man, tnx.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Great day for a park!

[@stevethibodeauxn4sfc257]

Hi Steve, good job filling in the pota.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Thanks 👍

[@larrytaylor7753]

I always figure - 8 the wind up to avoid twisting the wire. Not as bad as Australia, but in AZ, if it has roots, it will poke you. If it moves along the ground, it will bite you.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Always tryna kill ya!

[@larrytaylor7753]

You pronounced it precisely correct. I will be there in March for an activation.

[@douglasvamateurradioandmore]

He did. When in March, I will try to make contact?

[@temporarilyoffline]

Thanks, good luck!

[@larrytaylor7753]

Just checked the calendar. It’ll be Thursday, April 11th.

[@stephanhersey1186]

Kartchner Caverns is one of my favorite Arizona State Parks. I hope you did the tour of the caverns, Well worth it. Arizona State parks are some of the best. I hit Alamo Lake State Park after leaving Quartzfest where I met you and thanked you for your video about a DMR code plug. Great stuff. I'm working at trying to activate all the State parks in Arizona.. Bucket list. Steve, k7ofg.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I didn't see the caverns and I went to that park twice and stayed over night... Next time. Great to meet you at QF!

[@hamradiobasics]

Looks like you had decent weather for this activation. Enjoyed the video Steve !

[@temporarilyoffline]

Thanks for the tweet!

[@kevingaukel4950]

Welcome to Arizona - I suspect that is an Arizona Mesquite Tree/Weed. Lots of thorns.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Weed for sure!

[@DK5ONV]

Good Job, Steve - you rock 💯💥👌

[@temporarilyoffline]

Thanks UG!

[@Paddy_Roche]

Well done on the Hawaii Steve

[@temporarilyoffline]

Thanks Paddy, that was a difficult one!

[@ghostmandka5498]

Awesome antenna!

[@temporarilyoffline]

It sure is!

[@ShooterReadyStandBy]

Cool getting HI and Simon. See you Thursday

[@temporarilyoffline]

See ya then!

[@dougdaniels]

Team 8, if you don't have a winder, or you just want to save space, you can do it around your thumb and pinky and then wrap some velcro around it.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I've done that too!

[@MTimWeaver]

You were pronouncing the state park name correctly. Hopefully, you had the chance to go into the caverns. They're amazing. And, yes, Everything here in AZ is trying to kill you, all the time. The desert is harsh and unforgiving.

[@temporarilyoffline]

No caverns on either visit to the park... Next time. It's a nice place!

[@janhenkins]

Team eight, damn straight! Baaaaah! Excellent video TO!!

[@temporarilyoffline]

You're damn right!

[@gregmihran8616]

Great video! I don't own a 6100 so I'm likely ignorant ... I noticed each time you ran an SWR band scan, the second sweep was about to show higher readings than the first (which always seemed to be near flat) before you stopped it. Is the second scan more accurate? Why is it much different on the second scan? Just curious 😀 73 KJ6ER

[@temporarilyoffline]

I hadn't noticed. I'll check next time I use it.

[@wb6msa]

Cool video, makes me want to try qrp pota. Always enjoy your videos

[@temporarilyoffline]

Most of my POTAs are QRP, can't tell if it's just because I'm lazy though.

[@temporarilyoffline]

And thank you!

[@ozone385]

Good video, I do the figure 8 wind.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Very nice!

[@taylork7aie]

Proper pronunciation on the park! About a 45min drive from Le QTH!

[@temporarilyoffline]

Next time!

[@don_n5skt]

That looked like a lot of fun other than the bits where you kept getting stuck. Had to go on the website to see what the Caverns were. Looks interesting. Also, I really want to try Simon's tent pole antenna. Oh and Team 8. The CaHR winders make that easy.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Its almost always a good day to POTA

[@OpenIncidentTech]

Well small world. I was out south of Willcox camping last weekend playing with a thousand foot beverage.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Oh, you mean antenna... 🤣

[@thehamjazz]

G'day Steve! Wooohooo great to get ya "Paaaak to Paaaak" buddy. Your park looks way warmer than it was in the arctic north that day hahaha. Cheers and beers my friend

[@temporarilyoffline]

You were snowing that day, roight?

[@thehamjazz]

@@temporarilyoffline hahaha, QSL buddy, wooohooo. Great signal on 10W up there mate

[@temporarilyoffline]

@@thehamjazz I love 10w in a park!

[@miket7184]

Hi Steve. That's a cool park to work. And yes, I've had these things 'get my attention'. I'm nearest Catalina State Park in north Tucson and the last couple times I've activated there, have been visited by a roadrunner. I think it must have been looking for a handout. I saw one in my back yard grab a lizard and made a quick meal of it! Mike ND7E

[@temporarilyoffline]

Hey Mike! Roadrunners are cool, good to hear one liked you.

[@mikesmithg0rfd356]

thank you

[@temporarilyoffline]

You're welcome

[@AndrewK4OTT]

Thanks for the contact

[@temporarilyoffline]

You bet!

[@AndrewK4OTT]

@@temporarilyoffline my 10 year old son has been searching my callsign along with my old callsign and finding videos were people make contact with me. He thinks it is the coolest thing and that I am famous. Never mind my own KZbin channel that is monetized but that don’t make me famous, it’s when people make contact with me on the radio. Lol. 73 till I catch you on the air again.

[@temporarilyoffline]

@@AndrewK4OTT my kids don't watch my channel either ... No love for Dad

[@temporarilyoffline]

@@AndrewK4OTT What is your youtube channel? (Probably can't link it, but if you give the the @ or the "Name in Quotes" I'll find it.

[@LeeMcc_KI5YPR]

You might wander around the Texas Hill Country. Plenty sticky mesquite here. Of course, Az has gila monsters AND rattlesnakes. Texas has rattlesnakes, corals, moccasins, and copperheads. But gila monsters more than make up for that. Carry on.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I feel safer already!

[@prestonm4s]

Its amazing the xiegu x6100 can tune a wet noodle

[@temporarilyoffline]

Xiegu has always made good tuners

[@robertmeyer4744]

great POTA. end fed half wave easy set up. I made a few. so I wind short one straight and long figure 8. I got one just for 10/11/12. just fold over for the band I wand at end. different color heat shrink on end. 2 stack of FT 240-61 cores . ran a KW SSB did not heat up to much. 10 meters hopping lately in NY as well. even 12 meters. I need more antenna wire . used it up. making end fed half wave cut for 80 meters. 2 stack FT 240-43 but 3 wrap on primary and 64:1 . for lower frequency . but with a twist. a relay to switch out UNUN and make straight end fed 1/4 wave on 160 meters. just a idea for now. with 80 meters bypass torrid or switch to 1:1 and you 160 1/4 wave. fun to try some day. nice you had power. free battery charge . 73's

[@temporarilyoffline]

I have a multi-mode transformer project I need to work on too

[@thebnbaldwin]

You pronounced it correctly Steve! Remember, Prescott is "presskit".

[@temporarilyoffline]

Thanks. I'll definitely forget preskit

[@HamRadioDX]

There is a lot of desert out there!

[@temporarilyoffline]

Sure is!

[@briansalsbery9968]

I am puzzled by the flat VSWR, especially at 10m. I’m used to seeing the typical bathtub shape and having to set the 40m resonance point low in the band to keep the higher bands in range.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I've seen that also, maybe the height above ground was just right with the sandy soil and low vegetation.

[@KeepEvery1Guessing]

1. It may be worth packing a pair of cut proof gloves. They're probably also thorn resistant. 2. Your x6100 kit is incomplete: No key or paddles. (I snagged K4SWL for the first time on Monday.)

[@temporarilyoffline]

I haven't found a favorite key yet for portable use. I have a few and I need to dust them off

[@Yaegermeister163]

I have the same antenna and have done two activations using the EFHW. Want to try the dipole. Maybe a video building a multiple band wire for it would be awesome to see!

[@temporarilyoffline]

What bands?

[@Yaegermeister163]

Mostly 20m but used a tuner with my FX-4CR and worked 17m too.

[@temporarilyoffline]

@@Yaegermeister163 that antenna should work for you on 40, 20, 15, & 10 as is.

[@TangoOscarMikeN3WS]

Team 8, but that would be a pain with that winder.

[@temporarilyoffline]

(It was)

[@Dusty_Ham]

I read the title as "This antenna is trying to kill me" I really shouldn't youtube before coffee.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Coffee GOOD!

[@dan_in_sd]

And now Flagstaff has like 3ft of snow. LOL

[@dan_in_sd]

and its still snowing.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I'd say I missed it... But I don't

[@dan_in_sd]

@@temporarilyoffline LOL👍

[@Kinetic79]

I wonder if a 1:1 balun could have been squeezed onto the same toroid as the 49:1 (only either the balun _or_ the unun active at any given point in time), without affecting the impedance transformation on the 49:1 due to some type of capacitance between the different windings. I would think the answer is yes, if you wound the 49:1 wide spaced first, and then judiciously squeezed in some bifilar turns between the existing windings. I just built a QRP z-match tuner with a single toroid, and it's got 2-3 practically overlapping turns ratios with the same type of magnet wire, that can be switched in and out... that's a powdered iron toroid, but similar concept. Might be an interesting build to try?

[@temporarilyoffline]

That would be cool to try. I have some plans for a combo transformer that I need to get around to building.

[@timw8ngt]

I’m team 8. Cool video, thanks Steve!

[@temporarilyoffline]

Thanks for watching Tim!

[@JT-py9lv]

You got it right. Kartchner Caverns.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Thanks!

[@DJK9RAA]

Welcome to Arizona ! You picked a nice area. I just got a X6100 would like to know what Mike are you using? Thanks DJ K9RAA

[@temporarilyoffline]

It is a custom mic kit from KM4CFT, I have a video on it (and a thousand other x6100 vids)

[@KI7JOM]

Steve, I've always been on Team 8. I prefer un-kinked wires.

[@temporarilyoffline]

#metoo

[@pcfreak1992]

Team 8! 😎 Never have it tangled even without a winder

[@temporarilyoffline]

I edited out most of the untangling... Took forever!

[@nerdlywehunt]

Love all your videos but you shirt is on inside out!!!!! 73

[@temporarilyoffline]

I was wondering if anybody would notice 😜

[@user-tl5tt5yw3c]

Or you cud feed an end fed di pole with balloon and feed Abt 3 foot of ground with balloon holding up just the end of wire

[@LetsGoAmateurRadio]

I tried to build the K6ARK kit mic but it’s too small to solder and fit into the case with my poor soldering skills. How does that mic sound? Have you tested it against the factory Mic?

[@temporarilyoffline]

I haven't heard any complaints in my signal/sound when using this Mic. (This is the KM4CFT version)

[@1shARyn3]

Come next door to NM and we'll give you a run for your money on thorns (except some of ours are hair fine --- they go into the fingers easily and are a bear to find and/or remove) [Heads Up] { Chihuahuan vs Sonoran Desert }

[@temporarilyoffline]

I was in NM for a few days on both sides of the AZ trip. Very nice place!

[@zabud30533]

Steve, can you send me a link to the Extra Class frequency reference card you show near the beginning of this activation? KD4CQU 73s

[@temporarilyoffline]

www.clubgearonline.com/

[@NovemberOneOscarGrouch]

How do you like that antenna compared to a Packtenna, Xtenna, or any of the other EFHW antennas? It looks bulkier and heavier. I enjoy the Xtenna (currently being used in Romania by a deployed friend) and the Reliance Bugout EFHW is really light and works great. I haven't been able to test a Packtenna (always sold out, but George says more are coming). I would be interested to see how that antenna works as a dipole.

[@temporarilyoffline]

It's very lightweight, maybe not as strong. I think our coffee and ham radios EFHW is the best though.

[@NovemberOneOscarGrouch]

@@temporarilyoffline haven't had the chance to compare with the CaHRtenna, yet. Thanks for responding. It's certainly an interesting design.

[@temporarilyoffline]

@KF4TPY it's highly convenient for portable use.

[@MikeN2MAK]

I always have issues winding the RG316.

[@temporarilyoffline]

You and me both!

[@imahamjim]

How long is the end fed?? Thanx. Jim

[@temporarilyoffline]

I think this one is 62 feet

[@raithjames860]

What type of microphone were u using? Looked like a kit or something u made?

[@temporarilyoffline]

The KM4CFT kit. I have a video on it.

[@dovetomarc]

Is the mast you’re using available from dx engineering or do you have to order direct from the UK?

[@temporarilyoffline]

You can get it from DX Engineering, but there are also a few other collapsible masts available in the US if you're not going to do DX Commander type-stuff.

[@thebnbaldwin]

There is so little water in the desert that God gave the plants proaction from being chewed on by critters for the moisture in the branches.He made an exception of the Javelinas who can chew on the prickly pear cactus. Or so the story goes...

[@LeeMcc_KI5YPR]

Feral hogs also eat prickly pears. I have game camera video somewhere.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Hogs eat almost anything. They were fun to raise when I had them.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Right! Everything is on defense... Or is it offense?

[@hamradioexperience]

Team 8, but I don't use a winder. I have a video on how I do it. I need to dig around and figure out more on your mic. Seems like a 3D print? 73,

[@temporarilyoffline]

My mic? DJI amzn.to/3OB2Ydt

[@hamradioexperience]

@@temporarilyofflineI should get one of those too. I meant the mic/ptt for the radio. Looks like a 3D print. (not that the weight savings would really help me that much as I'm hauling an FT991A and a 20 AH battery with me 😂 )

[@temporarilyoffline]

@@hamradioexperience a few similar comments later and I realized what mic you meant 🤣 This was a kit created by KM4CFT. It's an icom compatible mic, but he's a smart guy and might make a yaesu model.

[@hamradioexperience]

@@temporarilyoffline Nice! I'm also finding some things that could work on the various 3D print websites...but I'll check out KM4CFT!

[@g4lmn-ron401]

Team 8, or hand over hand in a roll, so no loops or twists.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Sweet!

[@aramb]

Aha! I see you ditched half of the web stuff in the "go bag". That was driving me nuts.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Web stuff?

[@aramb]

@@temporarilyoffline I should have said "the mesh stuff" that covers the large compartment.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yeah, a long time ago​@@aramb

[@douglasvamateurradioandmore]

Where can i get that antenna?

[@temporarilyoffline]

I've got some links for you in the description

[@douglasvamateurradioandmore]

Are you still in az?

[@temporarilyoffline]

Nope, FL now

[@BryanDaniel42]

i want that microphone!

[@temporarilyoffline]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKDaaqlrec-We6s

[@BryanDaniel42]

@@temporarilyoffline oh there's no way i could do that lol

[@thehappyhogger4484]

Team 8.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Right on!

[@zl1hog]

Team 8

[@temporarilyoffline]

Smart!

[@KG6NLWMotoRadio]

#TeamStraight but I bet @HamJazz would say otherwise!

[@temporarilyoffline]

Ole Simon is a Looney!

[@KG6NLWMotoRadio]

@@temporarilyoffline but he’s fun too!😎

[@JxH]

When you're doing POTA, it's likely that you're not very far from your parked car, so why the oddly out-of-place preoccupation with tiny ultra-lightweight gear? By way of exaggeration, you could probably quite easily bring a 200-lb generator, Jerry Cans of gasoline, a 1.5kW amplifier, and the biggest transceiver on Earth, along with a desk and chair. Okay: I jest... If you're doing SOTA and backpacking up a mountain, then it all makes sense. But for POTA, step back and reconsider: why the preoccupation with tiny lightweight gear?

[@temporarilyoffline]

It's always about the mission I'm testing out. I've done POTA with huge batteries and amplifiers, or just activated right from the car. Gotta mix it up.

[@TrzCharlie]

When you live here, you learn to bring gloves. Just sayin...N7OMI

[@temporarilyoffline]

I believe it!

[@user-tl5tt5yw3c]

A large helium balloon will pull that coax up 50 feet and you cud make a ham harder video with balloon

[@temporarilyoffline]

I want to try a kite one day.

[@psychodadsn]

My brother and I are hoping to try the kite idea at our parents house in Myrtle Beach this summer.

[@user-tl5tt5yw3c]

@@psychodadsn kite sounds like great idea thanks for reply