POTA with the KM4ACK End Fed Half Wave Antenna

[@KM4ACK]

Glad you like the antenna 👍 I seem to remember you being stoked about being able to wear a short sleeve shirt in February in Texas. Us southern natives kinda chuckled. We knew what July and August had in store. It’s not so much the heat as the humidity that will bring ya to your knees. Great video as always.

[@hamradiotube]

Heck yeah! I still am stoked. The heat doesn't bother me. I just need to get used to it again. I've been away from the south for far too long. I am a Florida native don't forget.

[@wx0mik-testing]

Are you getting more kits coming in soon? I just got myself a QRP rig and a nice little antenna would be great to go with it.

[@HamRadioDX]

Another great video Mike. Sweet lookin shirt too mate 👍 great to see you uploading more recently

[@hamradiotube]

I do make the shirt look good don't I? lol!

[@HamRadioDX]

@@hamradiotube 100%. Hams next top model stuff right there. Good on ya man, great activation

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

@@HamRadioDX who would have thought hams had such a great sense of high fashion

[@HamRadioDX]

@@MidlifeRenaissanceMan haha I know right 😂

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

@@HamRadioDX how was field day ??? I pulled out my old FT101B where B is for Boat Anchor, and my old PMG / Army issue Type IIB Straight Key and busted out a single QSO across town to Max VK2ARZ It’s a bit quiet on RX but it works. Definitely needs some love. I was going to throw a flower pot antenna together and try for some FM stuff given the activity but picked up a guitar instead :-)

[@timw8ngt]

Thanks for the video Mike. I just bought that antenna myself. One of my son’s just got licensed and that antenna looks like a fun build my son and I can do together.

[@hamradiotube]

Nice, that will be a great project!

[@BradSnyder1]

Very nice Mike! Because of your build video of that antenna, I have one coming any day now. haha Texas can be brutal during the summertime but at least you stuck to it. Keep it up my friend! 73

[@hamradiotube]

Nice! It's a sweet antenna. I'm not complaining about the heat. That's why I moved here. Plus, in the "winter" I'll still be wearing short sleeve shirts.

[@thomasstandley6309]

Good to see you back outside in the Great Texas Sauna. You might want to consider a short road trip activation to where you can get a breeze off the Gulf like to Galveston Island State Park.

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks Thomas. I was actually at Galveston Island State Park on Friday. It was awesome. 81 contacts in an hour and the antenna was about 20' from the ocean.

[@9M6WST]

In the proccess making myself a KM4ACK similar type of antenna also. Good job in assembling the antenna and good park activation video. Keep up the the good work Mike, produce more video for us out here in Malaysia. 73.

[@hamradiotube]

Hey thanks for watching in Malaysia! I've got plenty more videos in the pipe line, just need more time to film. 73

[@kennethblackwell1137]

Well done. Nice to see your results. I have one....I have tested here in the yard....but anxious to get out to a park. It may be Fall because of the heat here in S. Alabama and surrounds.

[@hamradiotube]

Right on. I hear you on the heat. It's not exactly cool here in south Texas either lol!

[@w1lex848]

Good stuff. Love the portable setup. Relatively new ham myself looking forward to learning and operating portable.

[@TheNoCodeTech]

You are my POTA hero! Rock on man! great video.

[@hamradiotube]

Wow, thanks!

[@ThatOldStoner]

Thank you for rekindling my interest in radio. I just went to HRO and ordered an 891. I also picked up an MFJ fiberglass mast, power supply, rig expert, power poles, and a book. Now I'm going to order a Wolf River Coils Otophone and a Mega Mini TIA. Now to keep studying for the general. Peace and 73 brother, KC7UIP

[@ThatOldStoner]

Wolf river order placed along with a 500' spool of coax and a mast mount. Lets do this.

[@hamradiotube]

Right on man thats awesome to hear! Congrats on all the cool new toys too! Get that General and you will be out portable in no time. You don't have to wait to use it either. You can listen all you want so you can still play radio, just don't transmit until you upgrade. I'll be curious to know how that Otophone works. Good luck and we'll catch you on the air!

[@hamradiotube]

Nice.

[@stevegriffin9552]

Hey Mike great video that Huntsville State Park is a beautiful looking park there we was at nice and green.Your setup looks fantastic , clean and simple as always you look like you was having a lot of fun. Hope you got something good to eat with that nice cold beverage. Hope to hear it again real soon take care. 73 WD5ENH Steve

[@hamradiotube]

It's a nice park for sure. It can get crowded on the weekends though, which doesn't do well for ham radio a lot of times. Thanks for watching and hope to catch you on the air. 73

[@stephenrussell1766]

Another great video! I have a question though, when doing POTA do you or is it customary to send all your contacts a QSL card?? I'm a newbie and trying to fiqure this out. Thank you for all of your help.

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks for watching. It's not customary, but you can. That would get rather costly too. I don't send qsl cards at all. I do it all electronically via LOTW and QRZ.

[@wild-radio7373]

You always #hamHarder !♡ This is so great to watch, have been working way too much lately! Hope to be able to get out to a park myself soon! What a beautiful park! We dont have to worry about alligators though!! Awesome pota! Be well #hamFam 🤜🏻👍🤛🏻♡♡♡

[@Bob814u]

Very Lovely park. I was there for Prison Training (of course) and had to go out there to see how it was. Love the videos, keep them coming. 73! de KE5ES

[@hamradiotube]

It sure is, and not far from me either. Thankfully you were prison training and not prison escaping lol!

[@seanmcdaniel5094]

Thanks for the video! I did my first POTA today, so watching this was a pleasant reminder of how I spent my morning. I had a bit more luck, but then I was operating 20W. I have enjoyed all of the videos, and I am sure that I would not have done POTA if it hadn't have been for channels like yours that keep us inspired and informed. 73 de KD5LCH

[@hamradiotube]

Hey thats awesome to hear. Congrats on your first POTA!!! Thanks for watching. Have fun out there.

[@loganchapmandesign]

Great video as always, I think my dad (KE8OXZ) and I (KE8OIB) worked you at this activation, or maybe a different one. Either way it was great to hear your voice through my radio for the first time after watching your videos since before getting my license over a year ago! I definitely wouldn't have been nearly as motivated to get my license and upgrade to general as I was without your videos introducing me to POTA. Can't wait to get you in the log again! 73 de KE8OIB

[@hamradiotube]

Hey thats awesome! That's great we were able to work each other too. Thanks for chasing. I'm glad that these videos helped motivate you to get out there and go portable. It's so much fun. Hope to catch you on the air soon. 73

[@Bobsbbq]

Great job, 👍 I like that park as well. Yes bands have been tough. 73 N5BSB

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks Bob. It's so close to me too, its great!

[@AllanBProductions]

Did you attach the wire to the very top of the mast?

[@don_n5skt]

Nice Mike. I wondered how you would deal with the mosquitos. I always pay a price when I forget the bug spray. I also love Jason's antenna. I have a second on order for the 705. The first is with the SO239. I like that I can choose the connector type.

[@hamradiotube]

I keep bug spray in the car at all times. I learned that early on in life. Now you just have to get out there portable and use the antennas lol!

[@don_n5skt]

@@hamradiotube True. Too damn easy to just drive up and slap on the Ham Stick ;)

[@davidcline4286]

I'm in Deleware State Park,Ohio this week and brought the g90 and my EFHW. 0 contacts.Guess Ill try again today 73 Mike

[@hamradiotube]

QRP has been very tough lately.

[@davidcline4286]

Finally Changed out to my 41 foot long wire and 9:1 box and opened up the world literally.

[@gabrielguzmann1ufo905]

Hey 👋 Mike hope all is well, surviving here in NYC!

[@hamradiotube]

Hey Gabe! Hope you're doing well.

[@jordan1234564]

Where can I get a 20ft pole? They don't have them on the link.

[@hamradiotube]

If you want a 20' pole search for a Shakespeare Wonderpole. I can't seem to find a link to the one I bought a few years ago so they may be discontinued. The one I'm using in this video is no longer available either, but it's a Goture Sparkle 10 meter carbon fiber pole for what it's worth.

[@daveN2MXX]

Great job with the video! Can't go wrong with an EFHW antenna. 73 from NJ N2MXX

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks David. I've really become a fan of the EFHW in the last year. I have 5 of them now!

[@Pigeon__Man]

I need a mast so I can try a sloper config. Great antenna, has not failed me.

[@hamradiotube]

I usually run my EFHW's as an inverted V but slopers work well too.

[@billryland6199]

That is amazing for only 10 watts to an EFHW. I make my own 49:1 transformers for EFHW wires but use larger wire on the same core. A counterpoise helps.

[@hamradiotube]

Not too bad. I've not had the best of luck lately with qrp. Last year seemed much better even though we're supposed to be on the upswing of the solar cycle. It seemed easier to conjure up the pileups even with 5 watts.

[@gutyup101]

Congratulations on the park activation! Pretty good for qrp.

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks Susan. It's been pretty tough going qrp lately. Seems like last year I could summon the pileups pretty easily with 5 watts. Now that the new sun cycle has begun, it's a lot harder.

[@denelson83]

@@hamradiotube You got 14 states and Puerto Rico lit up there, Mike.

[@hamradiotube]

@@denelson83 It's not enough. I want all the states in one activation lol

[@denelson83]

@@hamradiotube Ah, yes. POTA WAS. 73 VE7NDE

[@MikeN2MAK]

I'm a new ham with a G90 & WRC and I definitely have to work for it to activate, but I just got my Happy Skull shirt in the mail, so hopefully the 3dB gain will help. I've been looking at adding an EFHW to my kit too. 73, N2MAK

[@hamradiotube]

That shirt should help a lot lol! It's been tough lately with lower power. Sometimes you have to work for it more than others. If you can't get the park activated, just start walking around with that shirt on and the girls will come flocking to you and you'll forget all about POTA for a while!

[@vicowen3032]

Nice video, Mike…looks like a pretty place with low QRN. QRP is a little rough from out here in the PNW, so I’ll stick with my K3. Really enjoy your channel! 73, Vic KB7GL

[@hamradiotube]

Yeah not much noise when you get away from civilization. It's nice.

[@_onthemike_]

@k8mrd did you change the coax? What were you using that give you better results?

[@hamradiotube]

Gosh I'd have to go back and watch. I feel I was using RG316 at first, but switched to a run of RG8X. Don't remember which length as I have multiples of both.

[@peter-vk4qrp58]

Great video Mike. If you wear Hayden shirt, you must end each contact with a mate!

[@HamRadioDX]

He got at least 6dB wearing the shirt

[@HamRadioDX]

@@hamradiotube you even tested the ventilation capacities of it in the hot Texas summer heat, nice 👌

[@hamradiotube]

Forgot all about that. Should have brought some Fosters too lol!

[@hamradiotube]

It wicked the moisture off my back very effectively.

[@HamRadioDX]

@@hamradiotube Cheers man, I'll let the warehouse know

[@carlossilva.k2wc.542]

Hi Mike, What is the software that you use to register the contacts? I’m a POTA beginner, 73 de K2WC

[@hamradiotube]

Its called HAMRS. www.hamrs.app

[@carlossilva.k2wc.542]

@@hamradiotube Thank you for your prompt answer my friend, here ready for Field Day,73

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

Nice activation! I need to tune my EFHW. Hopefully soon cuz I’m dying to know my my soldering worked!

[@hamradiotube]

What are you waiting for? Get outside and get it done!

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

@@hamradiotube Been stuck chauffeuring my wife around the state since she fractured her tibia plateau & had surgery for it. Plus rain. Hopefully not for much longer.

[@davidsradioroom9678]

Nice activation! Nice antenna. What bands does it cover?

[@hamradiotube]

Depends on how long you cut it for. I cut mine for 40 meters so it does 40, 20, 15 and 10. If you cut it for 80 you can get all of the bands without a tuner but you might need to add a coil to add a little inductance to bring the higher frequencies into resonance. I've not done that yet, but I'm sure it's not far for me.

[@SmokeSignalsRF]

Another great video…. Hayden tshirt… High Vis Wire! …. Alligators 🐊 on the Air!

[@hamradiotube]

Those are 3 really good things.

[@w0met24]

Good evening Mike another great POTA video. My brother and I are big into POTA as well and use the same antenna all the time. You can also use an inverted V and it works well like that. 73 W0MET

[@hamradiotube]

Oh yeah. Thats how I usually run my EFHW antennas. I just felt like a sloper that day.

[@barrykery1175]

Nice video. Glad the antenna worked out for you. I like the tripod the radio is mounted on. Hey, save your voice, program the digital voice recorder for calling CQ. You picked a very nice location, next to the stream. Any bugs? Barry, KU3X/QRP

[@hamradiotube]

All kinds of bugs, the second you get out of your car! Thats why I always keep a can of OFF with me. Other than that, it is a great location and I go there often.

[@dannybryant4440]

another Great video Mike, what wire are you using and How much wire did you have on that antenna and what bands were you operating. I have that antenna on order

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks Danny. It's the wire that comes with the antenna. I didn't actually measure how long it was after I built it though, but I cut off about 12 baofengs in length. You can check out my build video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKrEpYyaZpl1j8U I was on 20 meters in this activation.

[@dannybryant4440]

@@hamradiotube 12 baofengs? now I will have to get a measurement for that.LOL I went back and looked at the order it is 67 ft i think. thanks, keep the videos coming

[@hamradiotube]

@@dannybryant4440 Yeah that sounds about right.

[@robertallbright]

Thanks Mike presumably you were on 20m? Hope POTA catches on over here in Europe?👍 73 Rob G3RCE

[@hamradiotube]

You got it. I've had a few people say that same thing. If you all would get out there and get on the air I'm sure it would catch on. It didn't happen overnight here either but now its huge.

[@AdventUK]

Good Video Mike,like the simple setup the Black box holds what type of Battery?I have a Bison Box inside it 100Ah Leisure Battery its a beast to carry. The 705 certainly looks good. 73 Mike BTW your 5-9+ on this PC.. Tattie Bye, Keith . M0KLL

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks for watching. I've got 2 Miady 16ah LiFePO4 batteries in parallel inside. Not the greatest batteries but they were inexpensive so I went with them. For actual good quality batteries that are not grade B cells I prefer Bioenno batteries.

[@matthiaspobig5614]

Hey Mike, nice Video again 😉. THX and 73 de HB9FZF, Matthias

[@hamradiotube]

Thank you.

[@bluemax1955]

Great antenna but impossible to get so I just built my own!

[@hamradiotube]

Yes they are only made in small batches. Not too hard to build your own for sure.

[@o2bnov0307]

Enjoyed watching from San Antonio. I'm going to try and take my HF rig to field day, so the rig can get back on the air. Apartment-living is not very helpful for ham operations. :)

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks David. Get out there and get on the air. It doesn't take much.

[@sq6nef]

73 From Poland

[@hamradiotube]

73

[@mark351]

Stay hydrated!

[@hamradiotube]

Always.

[@davidj.wilcox6053]

The antenna was just available again so get yours now! Dave K8WPE

[@hamradiotube]

Get em while they're hot.

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Mike, Nice activation. Drenched, wish you were back up north? :-) Stay safe. 73 WJ3U

[@hamradiotube]

Hell no, I love it! Hope to catch you during field day. We'll be KN4TR.

[@DonDegidio]

@@hamradiotube Hi Mike, Hope to be closing reverse mortgage next month. First purchase will be FTDX10. Will use it for POTA in my minivan. Next year when rest of funds are available, looking into FTDX101MP with all the extra filters, or either a Flex or Anan. Stay safe. 73 WJ3U

[@DL8ZAJ]

Thanks for the video Mike. Too bad KM4ACK does not ship to Germany. Tryed it several times. I did activate some parks with QRP last year and will do it again in the near future. But it is kind a tough to do it here in DL becouse the POTA programme is not that popular in Europe than in the U.S. Have fun! 73

[@hamradiotube]

It can be tough getting stuff from over seas sometimes. Thats too bad. I'll bet if more people got on the air doing POTA in Europe it would gain in popularity. It didn't happen over night in the US either. Go make it happen!

[@ReedAB8AS]

Hey Mike, another great video from Texas. I also have that antenna from KM4ACK & thanks for the P2P contact de AB8AS

[@hamradiotube]

Right on, thank you!

[@janhenkins]

Awesome activation, Mike! I also have a KM4ACK (Jason, you rock!) antenna that I have finished building, but have not used it in anger yet. Keep up the good work! 73, Jan - M7HNK

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks Jan, I'm sure you'll have great success with the antenna. Just get out there!

[@TJVergerII]

Is that HamLog I see? Just updated now HamLog will not work without a update. Or is that why your not logging on your mini.

[@hamradiotube]

Nope. HamLog is dead to me (and iOS). Everyone is using HAMRS now. It is by far the absolute best portable logging software ever made. And it's available on all platforms. My iPads are too old for the software though.

[@mattb7406]

Great vid man! Please recommend your favorite 20w POTA antenna. thanks!! KD9IRA

[@happyending486]

Awesome, enjoy Mike.. greetings Galih YC2VOC 🎉

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks for watching.

[@AliReza-zx8km]

Nice........

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks

[@bilymac2321]

I had your signal in CA, but just not enough to attempt a QSO that day. 73 W6BKM

[@hamradiotube]

Thats too bad. Thanks for tuning in.

[@PelenTan]

So this is a "complaint" from people like me. I put that in quotes because it's more of a minor annoyance than actual issue. Could everyone slow down a bit when reeling off their call-sign? There are are number of us who for various reasons have trouble catching all the letters and numbers when they are called out like you're a barker at an auction. ;-) Yeah it's "cool" and all when the roll off your tongue like that. But...

[@dwayneschank5456]

That's how I feel it sounds cool wish I could listen that fast. I would get all tongue tied I'm to slow I guess .but I do like watching him do it

[@hamradiotube]

Sorry you can't keep up but that's how I operate. You could always ask what the callsign is. People do that and it's not a problem.

[@PelenTan]

@@hamradiotube Wow. I make a simple ask based on a physical disability due to injury and you criticize me for not being able to "keep up". Nice! Way to make everyone, including combat vets, feel welcome on the air. But you do you.

[@dwayneschank5456]

@@hamradiotube Rock on I like watching your videos

[@davidp3412]

Thanks mike for the videos - 73 - KD2ETN

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks for watching. 73

[@blomidon]

Mike were you on 40. It’s never open here during the day. VO1OK

[@hamradiotube]

I was actually on 20 during this outing. Most of my POTA activations have been on 40 though. It's pretty much always open.

[@alvarogaitan2529]

Hi Mike 73

[@hamradiotube]

Hi Alvaro

[@alvarogaitan2529]

73 from kb2uew

[@hamradiotube]

73 to you.

[@ralphnunn3]

Please don't take this wrong, but I'm glad to see that you struggled to get this one. It's also nice to know that you have had some failed activations. I say these things because it's nice to know that I'm not the only one that struggles. QRP can certainly be a challenge, but it's a fun one. Enjoyed the video! DE K7RLN

[@hamradiotube]

Not all activations are major pileups and thats ok. I just like being outside and playing radio. We all struggle from time to time to make contacts. Thats half the battle.

[@wx0mik-testing]

Second! LOL

[@hamradiotube]

I'll first your second lol!