Explorer POTA20 & Packtenna - QRP CW POTA Activation 09/07/2024

[@woodsbikes6130]

Great video. I also have that mast, and one suggestion for guying it when need is, wrap some electrical tape around the mast just under the cap and put a hose clamp on the tape and put 3 loops of rope on the hose clamp . That's also a good place for a leash for the cap so you don't lose the cap . Thank you for the video. Stay safe and happy hamming everyone. 🙂😎

[@w4arb]

Good advice! I may have to try that. Thank you & 73

[@KD9ZHF]

Gigaparts raised the price of the mast - it’s nearly $100 now. It was $79 a month ago. That’s too much for me. FYI - It’s carbon fiber, and carbon fiber can mess with the antenna. I had a dipole that I could never use with a carbon fiber because it messed with the resonance, but on fiberglass - no problem. Also, the struggle is real, I like seeing your activations from beginning to end. It makes me feel human. I didn’t realize you were editing. I thought you were super efficient. Nope. You’re human just like us. :-)

[@w4arb]

Yikes! I didn’t realize they raised the price. I think I paid $79. You’re right about carbon fiber. I’d love to find a similar size fiberglass mast to do wire verticals with but I haven’t really looked that hard. Thanks for the feedback on showing the whole setup, struggles and all. I’m going to do more of that. 73!

[@KD9ZHF]

@@w4arb no problem - we can zoom through if one gets bored, and you are gracious enough to put it in chapters. I’m looking for a good fiberglass mast too. I may end up with a Spiderbeam if they are ever in stock at Vibroplex. I’ll let you know if I find something easy to use and at a great price.

[@W7LDT]

I’ve been using that Packtenna 9:1 for years. It’s so old it came from the days they used yellow shrink wrap. It has always worked very well with a 31’ radiator. I’ve been thinking about replacing the wire with a longer piece. I am building CW confidence and approaching my first cw POTA activation. I’ve done some CW hunting with great success. I use your channel and Thomas W., K4SWL, to practice copying call signs.

[@w4arb]

That’s awesome! CW activations are a lot of fun. Good luck and look forward to hearing you on the air! Packtenna antennas are great. 73!

[@rabbit6914]

You have reach the time to go out and do a cw activation. You will enjoy it. Doesn't matter if you get 10 as even 1 will be a big achievement and a big success.

[@KD9ZHF]

@@W7LDT I have to say that Aaron’s and Thomas’s videos are generally the only videos I watch from end to end regularly - very inspiring - I’m about ready to start hunting too. I actually have them both on my Ham alert, and I try to tune in to listen to them if I’m near my radio.

[@Obeeewaan]

it is always good to see that Murphy spreads his effects to others in the field and ways to work around him.... 😆 but listening to the code is also useful for my prctice...👍

[@w4arb]

Always, the struggles are never escaped. 73!

[@Realmikeguyver]

I think the Random wire antennas are East Coast antennas. Hams are packed in over there. The best efficiency I have ever seen from a random wire was 74% . Out here in the west, we need that extra 25%. EFHW for us.

[@w4arb]

Very good point!! I totally acknowledge that I’ve got it good in the southeast. Lots of hams in every direction. But honestly, 74% sounds better than I’d expect. I haven’t spent the time to measure much. 73!

[@MoseYoutube]

If you really research toroid efficiencies, a lot of the popular EFHW’s are in the 70%’s as well.

[@Realmikeguyver]

@@MoseKZbin Mine falls in at 98.6% Measured.

[@MoseYoutube]

@@Realmikeguyver very impressive, which band is it that efficient on? I’d like to know more about the toroid selection, winding method, and capacitor you selected.

[@N4FTD-Paul]

Aaron, some feedback on your question about showing set-ups vs the activation contacts in your videos… I enjoy a mix of both. I’ve watched some of your longer activations and like to copy along and imagine the QSO map growing as you go along. I listen to the different fists. Good CW practice. However, in videos like this one I get ideas for my own POTA and portable set-ups. After we exchanged emails about the IC-705 I finally bought mine a while back. I’ve used it several times with my POTA20 mast and KM4ACK EFHW. So, I hope you keep your videos balanced between set-ups and the CW contacts. Like you said, the chapters give us an easy way to choose which pieces we’re interested in watching, so it’s a win-win. BTW, I’m gonna give your inverted vee set-up a try, but use just a random wire with an old MANUAL tuner and see how that works. I’m also a 30m and 17m operator and enjoy both POTA and a nice CW ragchew, sometimes both from the same park. Hope to run into you soon, now that the 2024 Christmas/New Year busyness is almost gone and the Florida WX is great for outdoor radio fun. 72, Paul - N4FTD

[@w4arb]

Thank you for the feedback! I’ve been trying to show the setup more, especially when it’s a new/different setup. Glad to hear about your 705, it’s such a great field rig. It just works with no fuss and does everything. 73 & hope to hear you on the air soon!

[@MoseYoutube]

While I’m on a toroid winding kick that has me experimenting with a lot of EFHW’s, the best QSO I’ve ever had while portable was scored via 9:1 last month. POTA from NC to JA via 5w CW. Was my first time trying a 9:1, and I’m a believer now.

[@w4arb]

Very nice! They certainly do the trick

[@Dave-AA0IW]

Great video, Aaron. You’re 100% correct about the carbon 6….way too flimsy. I only use wire antennas and (usually) the spiderbeams 7m portable mast. I did get that 20’ mast for air travel. That along with my Mountain Topper, wire, 316 & paddle and I’m good to travel anywhere. Practice does speed up the setup/tear down process. Takes me 10 minutes each, so probably not as quick a vertical, but ok with me.

[@w4arb]

I’ve almost bought a Spiderbeams mast many times. But I think this one will serve my needs for the foreseeable future. Sounds like you’ve got a good kit! And great to hear 10 minute setup time is doable. I just gotta practice more!

[@WA2OUZUpstateNYHam-m5f]

Good video Aaron. This reminds me of why I never use wire antennas...lol I'll stick to my verticals and ham sticks. I do have a telescoping mast and wire antenna, but still haven't used it. John WA2OUZ

[@w4arb]

I’m with you 100%. Wire antennas are awesome to use, I’m just not fast enough (yet) at setting up the mast to make it worthwhile over a 17’ vertical. I like this mast so I plan to get more practice with it, but verticals are still my fav. 73!

[@rabbit6914]

Really enjoyed (and found useful) the setup portion of the video, as well as the operating portions. Setup would be even better if you talked a little more at each step about why you are doing whatever it is. For example, why did you decide to give up on the sloper? Still an outstanding video. Thank you.

[@w4arb]

Thank you for the feedback, I can certainly incorporate that. 73!

[@KU9L]

I've had no Activations this summer, I suck, lol. I love my Pactenna 9:1, but what did I do with that nice little Chinese portable tuner I used just once, it was too compact to keep track of it, lol. We are done here Oct 20 & then working our way to IL & FL Hope to work you on 40M this winter.

[@w4arb]

I know you stay busy! Hope you get some more time to operate this fall/winter & I can catch you on the air! On another note- If you come down i85 heading to FL, hit me up. You ‘d be going right past me if you want to do an activation together :D 73

[@Paul_KE9BHN]

W4ARB I got an alert that you were at 40m AKA the Technician Gulag this morning, but by the time I POTAed up in my park you moved to 20m. My radio also wasn't transmitting anything even at 100w, but I'll eventually get QSO #2.

[@w4arb]

Thank you for trying! Normally 40M reaches your part of the country from me pretty well in the mornings and I usually start on 40. Hope to catch you soon & hope you had a good activation! 73

[@btaylor1948]

Thanks Aaron. 73 Bob WB6TIS

[@w4arb]

TU & 73!

[@K4FR_Radio]

Great activation, Aaron. Nice run! 30m is the bomb. Thanks for the QSO! Conditions were great last weekend. Should get even better! The new mast looks awesome. Compact and would be great for hiking. I'd speculate the higher yield of contacts on the wire is higher takeoff angle and in pota they are mostly domestic contacts? My bet would be you make more dx contacts on the vertical. 73 es cu on the air

[@w4arb]

That could be part of it, especially on 40/30. Conditions have been nice! Just got back from an activation this morning and it was great conditions again. 73 and catch you on the air!

[@Aimsport-video]

Soon enough you'll be able to set that antenna swiftly in near dark at the break of dawn... First-itis bit you. Thanks for not editing that out. There are two kinds of wire hams. Those that have lost the end of the wire in the grass, and those that are about to.

[@w4arb]

Ha! That sounds about right!