CW Newbie Tries out POTA for the 3rd Time

In this video I show myself doing a Parks on the Air (POTA) activation at Chatfield State Park (K-1212).
Check out ‪@ThomasK4SWL‬: / thomask4swl
EQUIPMENT:
K6ARK 49:1 Balun: a.co/d/bPKii82
20 AWG Wire: a.co/d/fbQsRqM\
3D Printed Winder: www.printables.com/model/2808...
Goture GOLDITE Fishing Pole: a.co/d/jjieRhF
25' RG316 BNC Cable: a.co/d/dkRq18f
Nylon Fishing Line: a.co/d/4tXLq1R
Tent Pegs: a.co/d/31RdddP
3D Printed Guy Wire Mount for Fishing Pole: www.printables.com/model/2808...
3D Printed Iambic Key: www.thingiverse.com/thing:205...
Bioenno Power 3AH Battery: www.bioennopower.com/collecti...
QRP Labs QCX Mini: www.qrp-labs.com/qcxmini.html
Xiegu X6100: www.radioddity.com/products/x...
Recorded on a GoPro Hero 7 Black
Video Edited Using Kdenlive 22.08
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
1:14 Equipment Overview
5:29 Antenna Setup
7:37 POTA Activation
40:26 QRT and Conclusion
#HamRadio #POTA #MorseCode

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Fantastic job, Jonathan! Way to go! I love your advice at the end, too: It's not as bad as you think. Just be willing to send question marks and the other side is going to work with you. We've all been there. You'll find that your CW skills will start to rocket now. Actually getting on the air allows your brain to "do its thing" and your skills improve by orders of magnitude. Oh, and thank you for the shout-out. I'm happy to have even played a small role in your CW journey! Excellent video. Keep up the great work! Cheers, Thomas K4SWL

[@reidlanham2011]

Agreed! I've never found an op on the other side of the cw qso that wasn't willing to be patient. I typically email them later and thank them for their paitience and they are always encouraging. Keep at it!! 73, K8JLW

[@seancook4317]

i hope this guy has like 15 kids and stuffs CB and HAM radios in all of their hands maybe it'll live a few more decades

[@SP-nt4sr]

This is the only way to do it! Get out there and muddle through a few activations and before you know it your at 25wpm! Great video and good work.

[@davehillebrandt420]

Wow! Great job my friend and being only a beginner I think you will catch the interest of newbees faster than an old hand like me. Its exciting to see all you’ve done in a short time and though I’ve been a ham 52 years, Have never done POTA so you’ve motivated me to give it a try. I do like to set upp portable just for fun and see who I get so maybe POTA will be in my future. Will definitely listen out for you. Really like how you do your videos, and being totally blind, your discriptions help a lot. Thanks for spreading the good word about CW. 73 Dave W4CI

[@fitcher-armchair-sleuth]

Hi Jon .. I'm an old ham. Congrats you are doing really well. Enjoy yourself in the hobby and I hope you have many enjoyable years and much fun with cw.

[@nr3rful]

Great on the CW...a true ham !

[@TravelinHam]

Nice vid! I’m starting out on CW myself on my own channel. I have to say though you’re doing much better than me! Keep up the great work! See you on the air.

[@potatoslim2332]

Hey buddy, I've watched K4SWL a lot and this video style is quite nice. Looking forward to your future adventures.

[@jertres2887]

Om you are no newbie anymore! You do great! 73

[@miketaylor6700]

What a GREAT video! You rock! That is so fun watching the whole process. I’m almost ready to go for it!!

[@randalltom9750]

Master that rig, and you’ve proven yourself a true field operator. Great video.

[@JonathanAdami]

Another Jonathan here on a CW journey, you're doing a million times better than I am haha brilliant job that is! Cheers for the video - VK4ALE

[@JonathanAdami]

15:00 pile up -> nervous laugh, oh the feels! the vicarious "wut? ok chill everyone..." haha you handle this like a pro! great to see you doing it!

[@JonathanAdami]

19:58 ??? -> VA isn't it? ultra long dahs on that one, it's funny to hear!

[@klaasva3erw477]

Great video! Hope to be able to do the same soon. I've also used Morsemachine, was very helpful. And the QCX-mini is my favourite!

[@MrGribouillage]

I am a real beginner and your video is inspiring, it shows that you do not have to be perfect to start and that hams are quite patient repeating their call sign when asked ;) also interesting to see who in the pileup you pick depending on the strength of the signal and on who calls a with a little delay compared to the other and therefore ends to be the only that can be heard :)

[@JonathanKayne]

In a perfect world I would prioritize whoever calls first but unfortunately during a pileup it's typically the last callsign that I actually hear clearly enough to call. Even after doing this for many months that's still the case. As soon as you feel remotely confident in your CW skills, get on the air and/or activate a local park. It will only take about about 2 or 3 QSOs before the butterflies go away!

[@kendebusk2540]

FB, Jon! I'm close to taking the plunge myself to get back on the air with CW. I got up to about 18 wpm 30 yrs ago and I've been inactive for a long time now. Your speed is about what I'm capable of now watching ham videos. I watch K4SWL quite a bit and I can copy most of it about 20 wpm but I'd have to get some repeats just like you are doing here. I just signed up to get your notifications, so I'll see more in the future, I'm sure. TU de KA8VLW, Ken, Michigan

[@MTimWeaver]

This was awesome! Congrats!

[@mikej-38qso22]

Very inspiring and a great job. I watch Thomas Weatherspoon as well, so now I'll be watching out for you. Thx 73

[@JonathanKayne]

Don't know if I'll be doing more POTA KZbin videos as my channel is mostly stepper motor videos but I definitely will continue to do POTA. My hope is that doing CW on POTA will help me gain confidence in CW, to the point that I can start rag chewing on CW.

[@DXJungle]

Great video. Thank you for sharing your experience and advice. 73

[@JohnMartinson]

Good work!

[@janiceemery2008]

Excellent Jonathan, keep them coming you may just teach me something, thank you for sharing.

[@JonathanKayne]

I am unsure whether I will do more of these POTA videos as my usual channel content is stepper motor music covers. I might do them every so often though depending on if I feel like it. Main issue though is that there aren't many parks near my QTH and it is starting to get cold outside. I can handle cold somewhat fine but my hands do not.

[@janiceemery2008]

@@JonathanKayne Well I completely understand that Jonathan.

[@LiveFree-ij3hn]

This is cool.

[@SQ5TK]

Love this little rig. Great video, looking forward to see more of your activations. 73!

[@gregmalonewa3gm680]

Excellent Jonathan.....I also have Thomas K4SWL to thank for getting me so involved in POTA.

[@root_etikit3658]

Awesome video! I have the same transceivers and am still learning cw. Thanks for the motivation!

[@KB6NUHamRadio]

Nice video, Jonathan. I'll be listening for you.

[@donbrown1695]

Great job, hang in there and keep up the good work. I will be listening for you, W0AF

[@samcollins6394]

What a fantastic video. As someone who is nearer the start of their cw journey slower fists to practice copy with so beneficial. Thank you and love the k4swl style. Please keep this type of content coming.

[@Runtothemusic]

This gives me confidence to get on the air with CW and POTA....thanks.

[@kevinsullivan5151]

Love the walk-thru of your kit. Always fun to see how others do it. 73, KN4CFT

[@michaelzehrfeld7766]

Fine video and perfect activation, Jonathan. Nice to see you work with your little equipment! TNX and 73 de Mike DO1MDE

[@-Todays-Tom-Sawyer-]

Awesome setup and great activation. I am an almost no code extra but am now up to about 12wpm and buying a QMX soon. LOL, I can relate to whispering code as you send... You're an inspiration to having my first qso.

[@JonathanKayne]

QMX is a pretty decent radio. Right now it lacks an AGC and the sidetone has an annoying thumping sound but other than that it's a great radio. Good luck on your future POTA activations!

[@steveb.548]

I see your point about being left handed. Must be nice to be ambidextrous enough to be able to send with your right hand while logging with your left. Lots easier to keep track of the pencil that way, even if you have to steady the key with your left hand while sending.

[@brucecorbettn9bh398]

Good job on the air and good job making the video. Maybe capture the receiver audio a little better, but real good job!

[@dennispeake1877]

Jonathan, thank you for a good video on CW and how you are adjusting to the sound of CW. After a few Pota 's you will get used doing CW and you'll get hook, Like me. Cheers 73 mate.

[@teamtacoslick]

You did great! That is a ton of fun. I saw your spot but wasn't able to work you. Maybe next time.

[@learnhamradio]

Nice work. I love the QCX rigs and plan to feature one in a future activation on my channel. The Morse decoder is definitely helpful!

[@JonathanKayne]

Took a look at your channel and I didn't know about the method you used to send. Is that what cootie means when you swing the leaver back and forth to create each dit and dah?

[@learnhamradio]

@@JonathanKayne Yep. It's very rhythmic. Musicians adapt quickly, but anyone can do it. It's eligible for SKCC contacts.

[@dd1fk115]

I love people they do so like you. Really nice i wish i could be in america and live there. I have mni interest in CW and learn since years. I have made also few qso but very slow qrs 7-11wpm.. I hope i will be better then 11wpm when i study more cw practice and if next year it will be warmer i will start WWFF or sota , go portable in field action, like in your video.

[@JoeW7BWA]

Great video, looking forward to see more. Just got into POTA QRP and loving it. Hoping to get somewhat proficient with CW, but I’m old - lol. I’m interesting in all you got for extras/options on your QCX Mini?

[@JonathanKayne]

I bought the 20 meter QCX mini, case and cable. After shipping it was around $100. I say a bunch of extras but honestly I didn't add much to it. I did end up buying the TXCO addon shortly after my first field activation because the frequency didn't match what the reverse beacon network was picking up. If you buy a QCX mini I'd recommend you get the TXCO with it.

[@JoeW7BWA]

@@JonathanKayne thanks for the advice. Joe - W7BWA

[@sparty8316]

TU for the subtitles

[@shawnp6653]

Great job! 73 de ki5gx

[@gliderrider]

Wow you did pretty good! Hope my first time goes as well. 73 n5vwn

[@richylad]

Hi, good video, I was trying to work out if the video is flipped, which I don’t think it is, but it looks like when you are sending your dits are on the right paddle ?

[@JonathanKayne]

Yes, I prefer to send dits on the right

[@steveb.548]

Your sending is pretty solid for a beginner, so I hate to mention it, but you do know that you have your paddle polarity reversed from standard right? The standard paddle arrangement, dating back to the old Vibroplex mechanical bug days, is to send dits with your thumb and dahs on the other side. I think the reason for this has to do with the design of the classic old-school mechanical bug, where the dit repeat was a resonating spring and weight mechanism that would sit there and wobble back and forth with the bouncing contacts cranking out a string of dits. With this mechanical arrangement, you need to give the paddle a pretty good slap to set things in motion, and I guess they found that this was easier to do with your thumb. When mechanical bugs gave way to electronic keyers, they just kept the same arrangement. These days most radios are programmable to set this, so do whatever works for you, but be aware that If you ever want to horse around with a bug (just out of historical interest), you'll need to find a lefty paddle - and if you set down at a random key at a field day event, you'll probably have to switch settings. Again, no big deal either way, but If you do want to change over to the conventional left side dit's standard, this is the time to do it though . . .

[@JonathanKayne]

I am very aware that my keyer is swapped. For some reason I send cleaner when I reverse the polarity. I am also left-handed so that has some effect on it.

[@jacekjedlinski5843]

Great job. Does your QCX have AGC ?

[@JonathanKayne]

It does not

[@JonathanKayne]

Just an update but a few months after the last comment I did add AGC to the QCX. Definitely useful

[@SimoneFabris]

CW Newby here who also has just activated his first park CW only! Thanks for the video and hope to call you in air! 73 de IU3QEZ

[@daaufdammahom3417]

Using a decoder?

[@JonathanKayne]

I use it as a helpful aid. Back when I started out being able to use it to decode that one letter in the callsign I missed was incredibly useful. Nowadays I don't use it much, though I leave it on because the decoder in the QCX is really good.

[@kc8aro66]

Your a cw newbie? Good job, I have the 40m once with a few upgrades and not used it yet..73 Kc8aro

[@JonathanKayne]

I really like the electronic keyer for the QCX. I have a small number of radios and different ones seem to have better keyers than others. About the only other radio I own that is on par with the QCX is my IC706mkii. If I owned a Yaesu transceiver it would probably yield similar results. The Xiegu X6100's keyer is usable but seems to be less tolerant of key timing, so when I practice sending a C, it sends a K due to me sending a dot slightly too fast. Definitely recommend playing around with the QCX when you get the chance.

[@teamtacoslick]

@@JonathanKayne Might check to make sure the 6100 is in mode-b for the keyer. if it is in mode-a it will miss dits and dahs. I don't really understand the purpose of mode-a....

[@JonathanKayne]

@@teamtacoslick really? I have mine set in mode a because I thought that was the default mode for most iambic keyers. I'll have to give that a try and see if that helps.

[@teamtacoslick]

@@JonathanKayne Yeah I bet that will do the trick for you! Good luck, hope to see more CW POTA videos and hope I can catch you on an activation.

[@JonathanKayne]

@@teamtacoslick I just switched to iambic mode B and it is now way easier to operate. What I don't get is why that would be the case because according to my research iambic mode only matters when you operate in a squeezing motion which I don't do (yet).

[@bntravelin2]

Might tighten up paddle keys so not as movement. De ne7ts

[@JonathanKayne]

I have since upgraded my paddle to something a bit better. I use a TP-III which has a minimal travel.

[@BikingHikingRadio]

Congratulations on getting out and doing a CW activation! You did an excellent job and hope to work you at a park one day on CW. 73 de KN3A.

[@WKMG365]

Nice work. Added you to Ham Alert. Catch you on the air. Mat - K4OCY

[@JonathanKayne]

Hope to add you to the logbook sometime!

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Great Job Jonathan! being a south paw also I found it interesting that you logged with your left hand and sent with your right good job! thanks for taking the time to do the activation and for making a video about it also will look for you on POTA page to get in ur log sometime keep up the great work. de Ellis WA1RKS

[@JonathanKayne]

What I thought was odd was that I prefer to have the paddle direction reversed as opposed to most others I've seen. It seems like the general setup is left side is dot and right is dash but I like it the other way around. I probably send with my right hand because my pencil would get in the way of sending but I never really noticed the peculiarity!

[@ncphotos]

Great video! de W2CSI

[@on4mgy_radioamateur]

Great job Jonathan ! 73 de ON4MGY Nic

[@W4EMB]

Just worked you at Park 1213. TU GL

[@JonathanKayne]

And you will be in a future video!

[@brianve7jyd943]

Well done Sir - i to have just started on the air - 5 days worth but as a hunter - no pota parks near me - but havin fun huntin - @ThomasK4SWL help me alot aswell - ill keep an ear open for you - 73 VE7JYD dit dit

[@JonathanKayne]

Can definitely recommend you find a park and spend some time operating as an activator! The fresh air is good for both you and your radios and getting to be DX is it’s own thrill. Btw there is an app called hamalert on android (and maybe iOS) that will notify you if a specific call sign was picked up by RBN, SOTA, POTA or pskreporter.

[@brianve7jyd943]

@@JonathanKayne not much POTA up here sum sota but so remote u need pack train or helicopter to get to them - but well figure sumthin out