"KG6HQD" Hits Hoyt Mountain for SOTA on 122318

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

What's the greatest obstacle you've encountered while in the field playing ham radio?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Broken antenna mast (fishing pole) on a barren mountain.

[@hamradiotube]

Frozen ground when you rely on sticking stakes in to guy your telescopic mast. Thankfully I had a small hammer in my car, otherwise I would have had to abort. Every activation can be used as a learning experience. Then rinse and repeat.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse What did you do with that Josh? Did you have to call it?

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

@@hamradiotube frozen ground? what's that lol.... maybe that's why you guys use those giant batteries up there in the colder weather too "eh"

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse Did you use this one? amzn.to/2phNNu6 ​ I've never had any issues yet..

[@walshgeo]

Jerry, just watching some of your earlier videos. Great activation. 73 George KB3WAQ

[@goathiker]

Good video, Jerry! Especially like the idea of scouting your route with a drone! Another useful navigation gathering intel tool!

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hey Steve, the opportunity presented itself on this one for sure so why not right :) Thanks for checking out the video. How's the snow levels up your way? Early summer still be good to come out and activate together?

[@goathiker]

@@KG6HQDJerrySOTA CO snow pack already 100% in some areas and snow season just got started! Could be a late spring this year in the high country? Winter Bonus pts are well earned this year! Will keep you in loop on a teamSOTA.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Aw man, sounds epic! Thanks and be safe out there. Look forward to doing some SOTA with you this year.

[@woodrow6611]

Great video Jerry. Murphy's law. Glad you got it figured out. Still waiting for you to visit TN!

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Woody and ya, I want to come back there too. Hopefully around June?

[@scottak6q406]

Great activation there Jerry! Like that you stuck to the fix and found your issue. Makes these activations all the sweeter when you work through the problem at hand. I can't wait to do this trip once my knees heal a little more. 73 AK6Q

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Scott, and I totally agree. I wasn't a happy camper when it was happening but I learned something that I'll never forget. Hope this helps a few others think about that if it happens to them. Heal those knees my friend cuz we still need to do a joint activation.

[@hamradiotube]

Man the audio sounded great during the activation! Also, your goal of slowing down definitely shows in this video. Very calm and collected. At least on film hihi!

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

LOL, ya I was actually pretty chill off camera when the radio was jacked up too but it's helping to slow down and enjoy the process. Though I feel I should have already completed the MG award by now, (4.5 years of SOTA) but maybe inside I like dragging this out haha. I was pleased with the audio too as this is the first video with the Zoom H1 audio after that Twitter video I did on making the adjustment. I noted I could turn up the "Monitor" feature more to hear my audio in the Zoom but in the way it's configured my audio is on the GoPro and the RX audio is on the Zoom H1.. love how Adobe Premier Pro synced it all seamlessly.

[@Hogdriver88]

Didn't look so bad going up but very steep on the way down.Great hike as long as the critters are away. At first I thought you were using the same end fed that RIP recently built. LOL at the 'data mode' - as soon as you showed the display I knew it was the narrow filter setting! Glad you got it sorted out.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Ya, the problem was hiding in plain sight 🤣

[@johnkershaw9575]

Great video. Awesome resolution with this camera. Take care. JJK

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks John, it's actually a GoPro Hero 3 of all things. Just ordered a GPH7 today so things will be in 4K here soon and the drone shoots 4K so it'll all match finally.

[@AD6DMDennis]

Great video as usual, Jerry! I especially like it when technical difficulties are overcome. That looked like a rough peak to summit.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

The loose vertical ascent in the beginning as rough for sure. I wouldn't bring my dog on it unless I made her wear her booties. I also wouldn't do this one at night or in the summer when it's hot and the buzztails (rattlesnakes) are out. Jerry doesn't like snakes haha.

[@willian.direction6740]

WoW that was an ankle burner from Go at the truck. Those multi function knobs can trap anyone. My friend turned his mic gain to off on his first SOTA with a KX2, had to qualify on 2m handy until he read the hand book at home. great views . vk5cz ..

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

It was steep and rocky for sure so I'm glad it wasn't a long hike like that. The KX2 is such an awesome rig that's packed with features and controls so as you saw I keep my user manual on my iphone just in case. In this case I'm glad I did 😀

[@douglasdreger3852]

When I was taking geology classes in Socal we called those Yuccas Spanish Swords.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

So you know of what I speak then! They are gnarly and grow like crazy here.

[@vaamorais]

Hey there! Greeting from the UK! great video. What head are you using? and what cable adapter for KX2? Tried the Amazon link but it is broken. Thanks for sharing.

[@samuelbanks5490]

Jerry, thanks for another great video. I am looking for a headset with boom for my KX3. What would you recommend. 73 Sam N5SIB

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hi Sam. I have used a few things and keep coming back to this one amzn.to/2FCiJOq Let me know what you think.

[@ΧρήστοςΠπαδημητρίου]

what antenna did you use? i think that you used an and fed but i didin' t see any antenna tuner.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

I used the LNR Precision Trail Friendly End-fed 40/20/10 antenna. It's super lightweight and works well. I tuned the antenna to 40m which makes it resonate on the other bands and the KX2 has an internal tuner as well. Gotta love the KX2!

[@MrLaserdave]

Great video Jerry. KI6FYQ

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks! Gotta get you back in the log soon 👍🏻