How Not To POTA In The Desert

From Road Side Ribeyes To Road Side Ham Radio. Ryan, KF8IV And I Travel To Big Bend National Park For A Parks On The Air Activation. This Is Our Adventure.
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[@MrTommy001]

Love the Buc-ees hat.

[@bobkopf227]

Wow you and Ryan were really lucky to find that resort hotel

[@hamradiotube]

Right?! lol

[@WhatsUpWithSix]

That's my favorite park. It's an amazing place. So glad you were able to see it. Next time I will take you to some nearby sites too. Great video!

[@larrystokes8787]

Sounds like the Ranger was bored. It looked like that area was “so” busy.

[@hamradiotube]

I don't think so. He was a younger guy. Totally cool. He just didn't know what to make of our situation so he radio'd it in and long story short, they decided we need to pack it up. Couldn't have asked for a better run in with the law to be honest.

[@DK5ONV]

Best Part of the Video I find is the Breakfast Time. You Guys did a fantastic Job, everyone of you. 💯👍🙋‍♂

[@BurtonChristmasLites]

Mike I run two rigs at one time, on two different bands, on FT8/FT4. The key is having them transmit at the same time (tx even or odd). Works like a champ. Robert KD4YDC

[@m0aze611]

Great vid - sunshine, warmth and amateur radio - what a cocktail of delight. Jealous YES!. I don’t use antennas with radials any more for the same reason. 73 Mike

[@Marty48034]

Hydrinate!! A term coined by Trek of MDFI. Hydrate and Urinate. If you're not urinating, then you're not drinking enough.

[@ka5get]

🤣🤣🤣The things folks will do to talk on a freakin' radio!! Good on you guys!!! Keep up to good work!! Make them memories!!

[@hamradiotube]

HAhahahaha!! right!?!?!?!

[@hikingwithjackieboy]

Big Bend National Park is such an awesome place

[@douglofreddo7886]

POTA with a Buc-ee's hat equipped is peak operator.

[@WD4DAN]

Hah the Snatch reference - love it

[@Superacerc]

when we went and camped at big Bend, they made us register for every place we were allowed to stop at, and we had to be there only the day that we are said that we could be there, they are very picky about where you can be. I hope you’ve gotten a chance to see the Hot Springs on that same end of the park where you were near the Rio Grande.

[@hamradiotube]

We didn't get a chance to see a lot of things at the park. We mostly focused on getting as many contacts as we could. We were only there for 2 days. I didn't even know there were hot springs!

[@Superacerc]

@@hamradiotube yeah it's right near where you saw all the trinkets. There's an old border cross g that you used to be able to drive into Mexico on that side. There's a gravel road in that direction with an old hot springs building that was demolished in a flood but the concrete pool sides and bottom is there. The spring flows down into the Rio grande. Beautiful place to see.

[@pasjeihobby]

Amazing

[@tech160s]

Nice to see some of your beautiful country! Great video. G'day from VK2VRJ.

[@Superacerc]

Also, make sure to go to the west side of the Rio Grande, and look through the canyon where the Rio Grande enters the canyon. It’s one of the most beautiful sites at big Bend.

[@hamradiotube]

now you tell me!

[@hkmp5s]

@@hamradiotube So you missed the hot springs and the Rio Grand entrance canyon. Tell me you at least made it to the Valley of the Nordic Blonde Nymphomanic Women.

[@hamradiotube]

@@hkmp5s Nah, we didn't hardly do any sight seeing. We just wanted to get as many contacts as we could. That was the goal. I wish we had more time for that as I would've loved to explore the park, but POTA comes first.

[@LifeAtTerminalVelocity]

That is a monster master suite! And those comforters haven't been washed since they came out of the factory. Wow a Zenith CRT TV!

[@hamradiotube]

If you used those comforters as parachutes, you would plummet to your death so fast you wouldn't even know what disease killed you first.

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

Thumbs up for your tent. Make sure you leave a review wherever you booked the hotel. 73!

[@CC-hk6vy]

Bitva really nice view!

[@thedoorchick]

We just sort of hijacked one of the primitive/tent campsites for a little while. Technically could have been kicked out, but it was so remote, the chances were slim. Jason wants to organize a bigger trip for this fall and stay in the park.

[@hamradiotube]

We thought about doing that too but decided otherwise. Still had a blast. I'd love to go back for sure.

[@ronjohnson2155]

7300 is a no-go in a multi station environment, as they have no front ends. Thus, you will have much better performance with a better rig.

[@N2YTA]

In the seventies I had a job where I traveled all over the country, I've seen worse hotel rooms.

[@MattPatterson1411]

Down in that area Airbnb is your friend. Can find some nice places to stay.

[@Jonathanlexy]

Really funny !

[@MichaelColonnakc2scy]

Great video Mike! Enjoyed it!

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks Michael

[@3henry214]

OMG.. LOL, that room condition (cracked tiles, black bottomed tub, dubious stains) is about the same as the one that I spent a night in at the Airport Quality Inn in Tucson, AZ while en-route to TX... at least you didn't have to endure an early morning wake up call from Arizona Air National Guard F-16's taking off and "Buzzing" the Hotel as they passed low overhead. A certain cure any constipation issues. Cool POTA adventure video! Steaks looked good!!

[@hamradiotube]

See I think the F-16's would have made up for it. When I lived in VA I used to love going to VA beach. There were always fighter jets flying around. That's the sound of freedom!

[@craigvk2paw17]

Nice quote from Snatch

[@hamradiotube]

Ahhh, you got that!!

[@craigvk2paw17]

@@hamradiotube no sugar for me Turkish I’m sweet enough

[@JamesHannibalKH2SR]

Great video Mike! Thanks for the shoutout. 👍🏽

[@hamradiotube]

No way, thank you man!

[@craigdavidson2977]

OMG, that hotel room. 13:00 This is why I have an RV because cool places like Big Bend National Park have no decent accomodations - too remote. You also can't find much to eat and I like to spend my days exploring not wasting the whole day searching for food and shelter and restrooms.

[@hamradiotube]

Fortunately we had the smarts to pack my 12v cooler with steaks, ground beef, and sausages so we ate pretty good while we were out there. And we had a big bottle of Jameson so we managed to sleep ok as well haha!

[@brokensimulations]

super rad! jelly!

[@LambertMatias]

Looks like a fun road trip pota-style! Dont forget to give us the link for that cool mouse pad. Cheers and 73!

[@hamradiotube]

It's already in the description.

[@SouthTexasVet]

Need to stay at the Gage hotel in marathon next time

[@BryanDaniel42]

does the solar panel and charge controller cause RFI? I tried to have mine hooked up to the battery (all bioenno stuff) and run 10m and had severe RFI from the charge controller.

[@hamradiotube]

Not at all.

[@denelson83]

Quirky QRP needs to do a VE-land version of that reference mat. 🇨🇦

[@TheRealOutdoors]

Recently got my Technician license and would love to learn how to do all the stuff you're doing in the video. I need guys like you in my area. :P Looks like a lot of fun, but just don't even know where to start

[@DXJungle]

Find a radio club in your region. Attend a few meetings and make some new amateur radio friends. 73

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

"DEM CHEAP CHINESE BAND PASS FILTERS!!!!" Great job Mike!!!

[@hamradiotube]

Yeah they didn't quite do the job. I would have made so many more contacts had I not been fussing with them half the time we were out there.

[@mattthomas7882]

Is there a band pass filter you do recommend? I've been looking and really only find broad coverage from 3 to 30 mhz. Or some that look super sketchy.

[@dougdaniels]

I'll be sleeping in the truck 🤣

[@hamradiotube]

That prob would have been better.

[@kyoshivp]

The very first POTA I did was at K-1213. I was set up at a picnic area near the reservoir when a group of bird watchers rolled up into the parking lot and got out of their cars to observe the wildlife. The group kept migrating towards where I was setup and got dangerously close to my Buddistick Pro. Meanwhile, I thought it was all pretty obvious that they should maybe avoid that area.

[@bradl2636]

It’s shocking how many folks you run into with zero situational awareness… and I do mean zero as in none.

[@kyoshivp]

@@bradl2636 Completely agree. One guy's foot was right next to one of the tripod legs. I never thought I'd utter the phrase "those fucking birdwatchers...", but here we are.

[@bradl2636]

@@kyoshivp 🤣

[@billholt5573]

Hotel…a little humor makes anything okay! 😮

[@AdamSWL]

All that Hotel room is missing is Anton Chigurh blowing out the lock and storming in with his suppressed Remington. I would not be getting much sleep in there that is for certain. And I love your CHiPS Raybans! Respect mah authoritah!

[@hamradiotube]

Perhaps I'm too young to get that reference?? I know CHiPS though and I love my aviators. And Cartman.

[@AdamSWL]

@@hamradiotube No country for old men. Great film! I love the aviators too! 73's Mike!

[@av3510]

Next time, you need to bring JJ along with his de-luxe trailer! Funny trip log, though, Miguel!

[@hamradiotube]

I don't know who that is but you had me at de-luxe trailer!

[@av3510]

@@hamradiotube I was talking about kc5hwb. That thing is de-LUXE!

[@rickhartnett3971]

Do you get airline miles from the hotel?

[@hamradiotube]

Nope. Just a few diseases.

[@Frisky0563]

Hi Mike hope your well! 73s Don

[@seanfoley7097]

Been there.

[@david_W5QDF]

Wonder if you could add some ferrite to help your band pass filters???

[@hamradiotube]

I already had a choke. I think they just suck.

[@q1o1mancow]

what did you use for a trailer hitch mount for the pole, home made or where can you get them KD9JRU

[@davidsradioroom9678]

I think you guys had fun, despite the 5-star accomodations.

[@pauldanielczyk3398]

Mike remember I should not shake your hand at Hamcation again...

[@StealthGTI]

You were right: You set up an antenna in the desert and was found, albeit by a park ranger. HAHA! And no Hampton Inns out there, huh? 😅

[@hamradiotube]

Only the disease infested roach motel we stayed at. I suppose we could have just slept out in the desert and had cleaner accommodations.

[@TravelinHam]

Two words: Bed Bugs.

[@TheBigdutchster]

Yes, that hotel was pretty janky. I trust that it was cheap. Greetings from KE8YAI in SW MI where it's a balmy 53-degrees.

[@hamradiotube]

No it wasn't. It was $150 a night!

[@milwman1958]

Ahhhh A No tell Motel, KF0HRF

[@bradl2636]

I’ve stayed in some funky motel rooms… but damn dude… did you fumigate..? Obviously I can only make an assessment based upon your video but I’m giving it a solid 8 hairballs out of 10. Well done. 😂

[@PendejoRyan]

It was more disgusting in person!

[@NickFrom1228]

That hotel room would cause me to bring in a container of disinfection wipes and wipe everything.

[@paulg549]

Good to see how you guys do it and give us new guys some ideas. The topper of the video was the so-called accommodations. I'm still chuckling and cringing at the filth.

[@seanfoley7097]

Been there

[@AD6DMDennis]

Sweet motel man, how'd you score that luxurious room?

[@hamradiotube]

I know a guy

[@brentN4BDW]

Why does this trip make me feel it could rival Clark’s trip through the Grand Canyon (Vacation)?!!

[@hamradiotube]

That's not possible. We didn't go anywhere near there. We did go to the Grand Canyon last year and I did make some videos during that trip. I'll assure you, the only thing I thought about on both trips was "sorry folks, parks closed" and Clark nudging his family along as they need to high tail it out of Grand Canyon after he stole the money out of the register. We are 100% on the same page my friend! 73

[@ScottWalton]

Well that’s a bummer you got kicked out of your spot. This is one of my biggest concerns about starting POTA honestly, running afoul of the rangers. Feels like maybe another video coming from this location? Were you able to find another place to set up and try some more?

[@hamradiotube]

Nah, it's honesty never been an issue. I wouldn't worry about it at all. This is the first time it's ever happened and quite honesty, I kinda expected it. This video was shot on day 2 as well. We sat out there all day on the first day. We were pretty exhausted so we ended up calling it after this. Do not let this discourage you from getting out and starting POTA. Every ranger interaction I've ever had has been positive. Including this one. The guy was really cool about it. He just said we couldn't do it. He had to radio it in too because he didn't even know if we were allowed.

[@ScottWalton]

@@hamradiotube Thank you Mike!

[@Radioman7600]

Wife and I call that a "Big Ass " TV.

[@richardspiek1401]

Got any discount codes for that Hilton you're in and how much was the room? Thanks, ...N3JLR

[@hamradiotube]

Yeah, use code: HERPIESALLDAY LOL. No joke the room was $150 per day.

[@gliderrider]

@@hamradiotubeOMG!!!😮

[@dwatson4]

I thought surely there would be a fireworks stand selling sparklers and snakes

[@hamradiotube]

I wish. Those are the only ones I like lol!

[@dwatson4]

How much was the room?

[@PendejoRyan]

Too much lol

[@davidryeburn6446]

Your band pass filters may or may not be as bad as you think. Suppose you have common mode current on your feedline. (And you almost certainly will have some of it if you use an EFHW antenna, or even a dipole if you just connect coax feedline at the dipole's midpoint without using a balun there, or if your feedline is not perpendiculat to your antenna and to your buddy's antenna.) Interference from the other station coming in via common mode is not going to be attenuated by the band pass filter, so you have to kill it off before it gets to the filter.Try inserting a common mode choke on the antenna side of the band pass filter. It may help to earth ground the coax shield at the junction between the common mode choke and the band pass filter. Do all this for both rigs. If you try this, let us know whether my suspicions are correct. David VE7EZM and AF7BZ

[@hamradiotube]

Well if you put a choke at the antenna, the coax won't act as a counter poise and you'd need to put a counterpoise on. Which I've not had to do in the past with other band pass filters. I do have a choke at the radio though. I'm going with the band pass filters just suck. $45 from China.

[@davidryeburn6446]

@@hamradiotube Don't put the choke at the antenna. Put it at the transmitter end of the feedline. The sequence is: Antenna, then feedline (shield can act as counterpoise), then choke, then bandpass filter, then rig. This assumes you WANT the coax shield to act as a counterpoise, which you probably do if it is an EFHW antenna. But if it's a dipole do put a choke at the antenna because the antenna is balanced and the feedline is not. And then put another choke at the rig end of the feedline, then the bandpass filter, and finally the rig. When you had a choke at the radio end of the feedline, was the order feedline, then choke, then filter, then rig (correct) or was it feedine, then filter, then choke, then rig? The latter way, the filter wouldn't filter out any common mode interference. You want to avoid a situation where common mode can convert to differential mode or vice versa. David VE7EZM and AF7BZ

[@lauriepalmeira7519]

I loved these traveling videos! Looks like it was a great time. Beautiful area. :) W1RCY

[@Chriswilsie]

Link for the mouse pad?

[@Chriswilsie]

Sorry I just missed it.

[@bigjohn75]

I had A friend back in the late 90s who worked for AT&T and he was a field repairman he actually still fix payphones ended up getting phone herpes and went from his ear to his brain from contraction to death was three months! This is why I never use public phones or let people borrow my cell phone

[@hamradiotube]

OMG are you serious? That's terrible!

[@bigjohn75]

@@hamradiotube unfortunately yes. That's why I say don't use public phones.

[@mikeramsey9747]

I have to ask, were you two renting that room by the hour? That is BAD. Interesting trip to set up remote POTA.

[@hamradiotube]

It certainly has that by the hour charm doesn't it?

[@robledgerwood6802]

I need that mouse pad. Where can i get one?

[@JamesHannibalKH2SR]

Link in the video description. Or just search the web for QuirkyQRP.

[@peteknapp8940]

Wasn't that hotel in Breaking Bad?

[@hamradiotube]

This hotel broke bad

[@LeopardAppaloosa755]

Parker Rangers 🤦‍♂️ Tyrants at play... It was his discretion as to whether you need a subjective "use permit" or not. There is no rule in his little "Break Rules Go to Jail" book that specifies the size of a sun awning or two. He just was feeling turned on that he got to tell someone what to do. What a sickness.

[@channelview8854]

Anybody attracted to any profession that resembles law enforcement almost always has the "Wyatt Earp Syndrome". Most would do the work for free just for the thrill of ordering people around except they need some income.

[@ke4edd]

8:00 I'm a "born again" ham. Got my ticket in '93, Was out of the hobby for a while, just getting back into it the past couple of years, only just 2 months ago got an HF rig. So, that disclaimer made, I may not know what I'm talking about. I certainly am not out there setting up canopies on roadsides with emergency power like you (though I'm game), and you definitely have experience on me. BUT... Seeing as a filter is an attenuator, not an impervious gate through which the unwashed cycles shall not pass, and seeing how close the two stations are, I'd expect there to be some bleed over with or without filters. I saw a decibel rating on those... does Google Translate handle the Chinese characters well enough to understand them? That said, though, yes: cheap crap is crap and good luck finding anything affordable AND worth having. But I'm curious... I would be interested to see a side-by-side comparison with and without the filter (or have both 7300s identically configured and sharing an antenna -- receive only, of course -- and have the filter on one radio to compare the signals in realtime). Also, a comparison without the filter, with the filter, and then maybe a fellow local-to-you ham has a higher-quality filter you could borrow would be interesting to show how higher quality is (or isn't?) worth the price. Ah, but what do I know. As I said, I'm only just getting back into all this. Thanks for the video... gonna go see what else you've made -- I see you have quite a bit...

[@LetsGoAmateurRadio]

Might cringe but reminds me of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

[@hamradiotube]

Those aren't pillows!

[@SuperCapsfan101]

Did you have to pay to stay at the Casa de Cucuracha, or did they pay you? 😎

[@pieterdutoit9642]

Well now you know why the guys go in RV/ campers, think if there was a rain storm maybe you would be dry think you had it better tan the old Cow boy,,s !!! driven

[@bradgollifer9340]

How are you getting around the no youtubing in a national park rule that I have seen other channels complaining about.

[@SuperCapsfan101]

“Border Patrol! Show me your hands!”

[@t.j.speakman7723]

Views for days

[@hamradiotube]

Oh, so beautiful.

[@ke9g]

Buc-ee's hats are good for an extra 3 dB!

[@ryank5tar]

bruh, take 2 showers when you get home, to get that hotel room off of you.

[@hamradiotube]

I took a bath in bleach when I got home.

[@dwatson4]

Dude you should have just slept on the ground

[@christophersmith1155]

hotel or methlab ?

[@BigJohnsHamShack]

I will bet money the place you guys stayed had an hourly rate. 🤮

[@KB2CWN]

Gross