Hiking in the Southern Desert of California on West Ord Mountain - How to SOTA Ham Radio

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Name your worst trail accident! Tell us how you dealt with it if it applies.

[@arnoldschmidt2753]

That was truly amazing to see someone so determined to hike all the way up to enjoy the sun and the experience of talking with folks right across the country.

[@THESPORTINGCAMP]

Excellent. Thanks for sharing. '73

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Glad you enjoyed it 🤙🏻

[@hamradiotube]

I just love my KG6HQD Speaker Wire Antenna™️©️®️.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hahaha and all the ™ ® stuff ... how'd you do the copyright one?

[@piecetrain9767]

Love the great video paired with the music.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks man!

[@OutdoorExistential]

Just went up this mountain last week. Thank you for all the info!

[@collisioncourse4264]

Hi Jerry, excellent video. I'm really liking the latest series of videos. Vid length and music is great. The hike routes are cool. Really like the remote locations. Brilliant job.👍

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thank you! Making an effort to up my game best I can. Good to hear you’re enjoying the differences.

[@Whiskey6Radio]

Awesome view from that peak.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Matt! Views like these make SOTA that much more addicting.

[@pacset2]

Very cool

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks OM

[@AD6DMDennis]

Jerry, I gotta say, this is the best SOTA video I've seen to date. Such a great story shown to us, start to finish. This will be my reference video when folks ask me "what is SOTA?" Highlights the trek, the wonderful outdoors, the dangers, & the successes. Kudos, brother!

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Dennis! Feel like a break every so often in creating adds clarity. Cranking through these videos now... I’ll launch another one today

[@scottak6q406]

Love the documentation there Jerry!

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Scott. Hope all is well with you and if you have some free time maybe we can get together on a peak.

[@hikewithme59]

Looks like a great hike, I always go for the awesome view ! I would love to have radios! 🌵✌🏼

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Ya, to have these views while playing radio has made ham radio that much more enjoyable for me. Do you have a ham radio or license?

[@jsieb]

Awesome as always Jerry!

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Jason! I know I can count on my pals from the #JerryNet

[@K3RRR]

Great video Jerry… You are going to have to try those iron boots used by hardhat divers… Sure, it might make the hike a little harder but will give you better protection against nasty cacti! 73 de Robert K3RRR

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Lol, I’d still be on the trail if i were wearing some of those 🤣

[@mountainghost556]

Impressive clear across the country. Hams are going to be the communication when intel is going to be needed the most. I stoped wearing vented shoes hiking in the desert I went to all lether to many spines and sand lol

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Ha, after all these years I finally got stung. I worry more about snakes

[@mountainghost556]

@@KG6HQDJerrySOTA I got a shin dagger last month on a SAR night rescue,that had to be the worst plant attack I have ever had. Love that set up you got.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Oh ya, night is worse because you never see it coming or don't know what hit ya.. Thanks for stepping up and participating in SAR. Can I get a name, callsign and location? You local to me?

[@mountainghost556]

@@KG6HQDJerrySOTA No don't have a call sign I am in NM Dona ana county 30 minutes from El paso.SAR is one of my duities as fire fighter/EMT I,part time. My 40 hr job is privet contractor. Looking to set up a rig like yours. That just amazes me how no matter what can happen in the world you can still get real time information. I am a geek like that, I went to college got a homeland security degree in intelligence analysis, so you can see the appeal that being able to connect with people and pass on information. I have an I have an IC 7300 and an old tempo 20 20 the only problem is where I live I can't set up a proper antenna. Hopefully soon I will be able to move to WY and take advantage of my VA lone buy smoe land and put up a antenna as big as I want lol.

[@Hogdriver88]

2 extra thumbs up for the awesome F-150 and the happy dog de ke2sx

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Two of my favorite things to have on the trail lol

[@goathiker]

Once on a sloppy fast decent I tripped doing a face plant! With bloodied up face I continued down trail almost catching up with small group of teens ...I waved when they looked my way (not realizing I looked like a scary Zombie with blood dripping off my nose! When they saw me they turned and ran down trail! As I approached the TH parking I heard one of them say "Come on, Man!! Get this @#$%& thing started he's almost HEREe!" ...next thing I hear is spinning wheels and gravel spraying around the parking lot as they sped away. I looked in the mirror on my truck and almost fell over laughing!! ...Great flicks, Jerry So when you cashing rain check ...so I can crush you like a bug! LOL

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

That's so funny! I would have loved to see their faces and you chuckling lol. Great story, thanks for sharing Steve. Headed to hike the Sierra's next weekend so I'm still hopeful we can do a Sep or Oct run on those peaks with you. I don't want to show up half stepping with you or the goats so knocking off rust and fine tuning a few things lol. I can't imagine what captions you'll add to your videos with the goats talking about me lol.

[@w2msa]

Thanks for the awesome video Jerry and your dog is a true trail dog. Hope your foot is ok. 73 Noel W2MSA

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Noel - she is totally a great trail dog and foot is all good. Thank you so much for checking out the channel.

[@Gmar69]

I would never wear Soloman shoes for hiking. Straight up wear heavy leather outer with a great outer sole for ankle and foot support. That's my opinion though. That's what I have worn for hiking out there.

[@edrudolph1]

Great video as always Jerry! Is your 40m antenna the same construction as the 20m, just a longer version? Hope to work you on an activation some day. 73 de Ed KM6TNT

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hi Ed - The antenna in this video tunes 40-10m and seems to work well. I have primarily used this speaker wire antenna in many of my videos but while it’s cut and tuned to 20m I am able to get some 40m contacts as it tunes up there too. If you’re looking for a reliable band for SOTA then I suggest 20m for SSB or 30m for cw. What do you use?

[@edrudolph1]

KG6HQD Jerry thanks for the response. I am just getting started with SOTA and am planning on making your antenna. Currently I have two end fed half wave antennas, one for 20 and one for 40. Have made some ssb and CW contacts with both deployed on a jackite 31 ft. mast.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Ed Rudolph lots of options and I like the antenna I have with me and the one that works. Looking forward to hearing about how you make the speaker wire antenna and what creative spin you add to it 👍🏻

[@Hero1395]

Just curious when you’re hoofing it are you beaconing on APRS? And if so are you usually in range of a node? Never ham radioed in the desert or hills. I’m from Indiana so I don’t have a clue what it’s like.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hi Jeff - I now beacon a signal from my truck as I'm headed to the peak which can be found on aprs.fi then search for my call sign kg6hqd-9 and the date. Once I get out of the truck I have my HT going which is either a Yaesu VX8 or FT2D both of which are APRS radios and I do push out a signal for my entire hike. I will vary the beacon intervals depending on the distance of the hike but usually about every 5 - 10 minutes. I don't expect to get a signal out when deep in the canyon but in the off chance I do, and get hurt down in there, I have hope my last position will be known so the wife can send the search part for me since I usually hike alone. When in the desert I find much better results as the high peaks in our area have really good coverage into those areas. Best thing I'd suggest is to experiment in your area and see how it goes. It's part of the fun for me lol.

[@Hero1395]

@@KG6HQDJerrySOTA Thanks for the reply. I really enjoy your channel. 73

[@JohnTarbox]

Great video! How do you record the audio during QSO? DE WA1KLI

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hi John - Here's a video a did not long ago showing how I do just that. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bp-QcoGKhrmgi7c Let me know if you have any follow up questions.

[@abumoto1]

Thank you for sharing. I want once to go to such desert mount, but a cactus is scare. JP1QEC mot.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

It’s a unique type of beauty for sure. Thanks for the comment & checking out my channel.

[@paule7837]

Hey Jerry, are you going to put your last video back up? Paul KK6AAQ

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hi Paul, absolutely just trying to figure out why it was all glitchy. It’s loading now & hopefully will launch tomorrow if it’s fixed. Not sure what happened between Adobe Premiere Pro & KZbin but I’m working on it.

[@brianpowell5082]

Have you been on East Ord (6,168') or Ord (6,309')?

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Not yet 😎.. you headed up there?

[@brianpowell5082]

I've done East Ord this past March, such a gorgeous summit! I still need to hit Ord though!

[@bigphil6980]

Hi Jerry what is the headset you use for your activations and is it a universal or rig specific to you KX as I would find it very useful for my Yaesu when I activate my Parks on the air here in the UK

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hi Phil - You can find a link to the headset on my website here kg6hqd.us/the-hqd-gear/ I bought this headset initally to use with my FT817 and if you use it with that model you will need the Yaesu adapter. This is a great headset and makes life much easier, especially when the wind is up on the summit and you need to hear that faint signal or if I want to just drop the white noise level off to respect other visitors on the peak.