How I log SOTA points while you sleep

Once a week, on a weekday, I get up at 4:00 am so that I can be on the top of a Summits on the Air peak by sunrise. My log is full of VHF/UHF contacts on multiple bands including many summit to summit contacts within minutes. All of this with time to return home, shower, and report to work at 7:30 am. Oh, and I also work HF too if I'm really ambitious. See how I do it in this video.
SOTA activation of Deem Hills W7A/MN-142
Twitter: @NJ7V_
Instagram: RedSummitRF
Audio of the CW QSO's can be downloaded here:
drive.google.c...
#MNHR #SOTA #SummitsOnTheAir

[@AD6DMDennis]

Cmon Red, get a head lamp! You're stressing me out hiking in the darkness. 😅

[@RedSummitRF]

🤪 sorry dude. I had to "lighten" the load somehow. #DadJoke 👎🤦‍♂️ sorry. 😂😂 thanks Dennis.

[@davidsradioroom9678]

Wow! You have to be dedicated to get up at 4 am. When I lived in Mesa, I worked in grounds-keeping. I was at work at 5 am. That takes dedication. That was a really nice SOTA activation. It was inspiring.

[@RedSummitRF]

Thank you David! Getting up early . . . it helps when it's to do something you love! I appreciate the support.

[@piecetrain9767]

Beautiful mornings. That’s not a bad way to start the day.

[@RedSummitRF]

It sure was a lot of fun. Thanks 👍

[@jlowknight]

that's one angry bee! haha, I had to rewatch that part a few times it was extremely funny. I need ham operators friends like you in my area. Maybe I just need to move. Awesome videos. be safeish, Cheers!

[@RedSummitRF]

Haha yes! People keep asking me for a repeat of the bee thing but I'll have no part of that. LOL "Be Safeish" haha! Spoken like a true adventurer. Thanks!

[@TheHamNinja]

Radio and a show. Nice dance and a fantastic sunrise! Thanks for the vid.

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks Christian. Glad you enjoyed it. Looking forward to our next adventure.

[@KB1HQS]

Nicely done! Thanks for sharing.

[@RedSummitRF]

TU Stu. I really enjoy your channel. And excellent work on the web page!

[@KB1HQS]

@@RedSummitRF Thanks Red!

[@KrypticPatriot]

That Sunrise 7:04 !!!

[@RedSummitRF]

IKR!

[@120dale]

Like what you are doing in the valley, well done!

[@RedSummitRF]

Thank you Dale! Appreciate it.

[@juergenw7495]

this view is unbelievable :O

[@RedSummitRF]

Thank you. The sunsets and sunrises in Arizona are like this quite often.

[@ke6mt]

Beautiful sunrise activation! 73, Rex KE6MT

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks Rex - it was kinda hard to believe the footage when I got home. It was an amazing view.

[@7wt]

Nice job!

[@RedSummitRF]

Thank you sir!

[@ukrainehamradio]

Ham on the heaven ))) Gorgeous!!!

[@RedSummitRF]

Indeed! It was so beautiful that morning!

[@vaamorais]

Great way to start the day!How did you record audio from the radio? It had a very pleasant and warm tone.

[@RedSummitRF]

I've experimented with different things. For this video I actually used my cell phone with a lapel mic. I thought it turned out pretty good too. Thanks for noticing.

[@linpemberton9437]

Omg Charlie, I bet you wouldn't have got stung if you didn't swat at it but with Africanized bees you just never know! Lucky you weren't swarmed after that one sting

[@RedSummitRF]

I'm telling you Lin - that thing was bent on stinging me regardless.

[@linpemberton9437]

@@RedSummitRF Oh man, I'm sorry. I've had nasty bee encounters too. Fortunately avoided being stung. I have stories to tell you if we are ever allowed to gather again

[@alvarogaitan2529]

good job 73 from kb2uew terrific video coming ?

[@RedSummitRF]

You are tearing through those vids. Awesome! Thanks 👍

[@jereljohnsonmph441]

Were you on the 146.52 or just the local repeater? When you do SOTA on VHF do you have to use the 146.52 or anything you can reach will work? I’m learning and would like to do this. De KI7SDA.

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Jarel - repeaters out of bounds for SOTA. 146.520 is a great place to get contacts. Simplex only on VHF/UHF and of course HF works too. Thanks for watching.

[@CalSextons]

Great video as always. Looks like you might want to get yourself some lemon grass essential oil, or lotion. If you have it on, you won’t run into grumpy bees unless your too close to their hive. Bees love the smell of lemon grass. You might have a few fly by to blow kisses. Lol Another of my hobbies is beekeeping, honey bees and Africanized. Hey Red . . . question for you. Do you run the little SOTA Goat app? If you do, are you still getting audible notifications from the app? Asking as mine stopped. I’ve done a few apple updates, so was wondering if maybe I lost notifications from the updates. Figured you might know.

[@RedSummitRF]

Wow Donald, you think that will really work with the Africanized bees? I'm willing to give it a go! When I think of it logically, it seems it would attract more bees instead of detour them, but you are the bee keeper! I don't have an Apple phone. I would love to be able to run the SOTA Goat app, but it's not available on Android. I haven't heard anything about it. Have you asked on any SOTA forums or social media platforms. If you aren't plugged into any of those I can drop the question for you.

[@CalSextons]

@@RedSummitRF The Lemon Grass will attract a little more attention, but it won’t be hostile. Lol But as you know, the best path for Africanized, is avoidance. I just have a hard time destroying any bee colonies, so I grab up, conduct removals, remove to a remote location, re-Queen them, then send them to friends who donate to college programs. The lemon grass smell mimics a pheromone that calms the little ladies. That little be that was targeting you, reminds me more of the little leafcutter/ground bees. If you were standing on their little holes . . . they can get a bit perturbed. It’s worth a try though, getting stung and having a reaction miles from help . . . is scary, and beats the alternative . . . an Epi Pen with a nasty little stinger. Lol Stay safe, keep the videos coming. 👍🏼

[@Paul_VK3HN]

Very FB video record of the activation. Didn't know you have summer bonus in Az, but it makes sense. In VK3 we have winter bonus points. How did you record the Rx audio? And the US map overlay is excellent. 73 Paul VK3HN.

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks again Paul. Yes, it is consistently in the mid to upper 40's C in the summer and we can go weeks with the overnight low not falling below 35 C. In those cases summer bonus is nice to have. I record the audio with a Zoom H1n. I run a line from the audio jack of the FT0817 to the recorder and then to my earbuds. 73!

[@Paul_VK3HN]

@@RedSummitRF Thanks Red. I am impressed with the number and speed of the chasers. Good luck, enjoy the mountains.

[@nvrumi]

Red, what recorder are you using to capture your contacts? I'm interested in recording my contacts so I can review them later. Thanks.

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi David - for CW I plug in a Zoom H1n inline recorder into the radio then plug my headphones into the recorder. For phone, most of the time I just use the mic in the GoPro 7. Occasionally for voice (as I did in this video), I use a lapel mic into my cell phone and match the video and audio in post. Thanks for watching the video and for your question/comment. www.amazon.com/Zoom-H1n-Handy-Recorder-Model/dp/B078PTM82R/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=zoom+h1n&qid=1603215063&sr=8-5 www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M4J5WCM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@jsieb]

Must have been a bee hive nearby, they did not like you there. Great video Red! Go Deep State!!! 😂

[@RedSummitRF]

Haha must have been a hive, yeah. Thanks! Deep State for the win 😂😂

[@go2douglasvamateurradioandmore]

At least one, i've been up there twice and there is one in a little cavelike structure to the west of the peak and possibly another one just below the peak to the south.

[@go2douglasvamateurradioandmore]

Which way did you take to get directly to the peak?

[@RedSummitRF]

There is a park off of Deem Hills Parkway at W Andrea Drive. I parked there and took the Circumference Trail to the Ridgeline Trail to the saddle north west of the summit. Then I bushwhacked south east up to the summit. sotl.as/summits/W7A/MN-142

[@newchromebook3323]

bears ???

[@RedSummitRF]

bears? what's the question?

[@newchromebook3323]

@@RedSummitRF do you take bear spray and / or a side arm?

[@RedSummitRF]

@@newchromebook3323 oh I see. No not really. The bears here in Arizona are "black bear" not "brown bear" so they are not much of a threat to us. I've taken a side arm a handful of times in the really remote areas in Arizona. Now if I was in Wyoming, where I grew up, then I would have a high caliber handgun or rifle AND bear spray all the time. But not here. Just a different ecosystem here in Arizona.

[@brianve7jyd943]

good one charlie - scoop up a bit of dirt spit on it make a paste and put on the bite asap - works like a darn - 73 de VE7JYD

[@RedSummitRF]

You know it Grim Reaper!