Knocking out a QRP POTA activation with Jonathan (KM4CFT)!

qrper.com/2024/02/pota-with-j...
Click the link above to read full details about this activation, including all equipment links, at QRPer.com.
Check out Jonathan (KM4CFT) on KZbin: / @jonathankayne
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Thanks for watching!
72,
Thomas
K4SWL
Chapters:
Intro with Jonathan (KM4CFT): 0:00:00
Antenna: 0:01:15
TR-45L: 0:01:45
Quick overview of the TR-45L: 0:02:20
Jonathan's Activation: 0:08:25
Thomas' Activation: 0:24:58
QRT and Summary: 0:50:08

[@RC-rv1mo]

AWESOME! Papa Thomas and Brother Jonathan at the same table! Gosh what a treat! All the best to both of you and thanks for the inspiration! 72's AG7UW RC

[@JonathanKayne]

It was a real joy to do a joint activation with you! Thanks again for agreeing to meet up! 72 DE KM4CFT

[@ThomasK4SWL]

The pleasure was all mine, Jonathan! Thanks for making time in your holiday schedule!

[@samcollins6394]

Loved the field repair on the radio happening while Jonathan was still operating..

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I thought later, "Wow...I must have been incredibly annoying to Jonathan who was trying to complete an activation!!!" :)

[@JonathanKayne]

@@ThomasK4SWL honestly it didn't bother me one bit! I have a tendency to ignore that type of stuff so I can pay more attention to decoding the CW.

[@MrDn2akj]

I absolutely love that radio and eventually will get one

[@InvestigationsDepartment]

My cw may be poor but I have always found your videos to be inspiring. Happy to see you guys doing such a great job with POTA and the cool QRP rigs Thomas and Johnathan.

[@w4arb]

Nice video! & a fellow backwards keying fella.

[@BobBroeking]

You have the nicest pavilions at the parks you activate in NC!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

You're right about that. We are very fortunate in this regard.

[@K4MJV]

I just purchased and built the KM4CFT QRP kit December. I haven't had the chance to bring it out to tune it yet but it's ready to go. Just need to trim the wire to length and get on the air.

[@EvanK2EJT]

Both great radios! I love my TX-500, and I have a TR-45L on loan right now to put through its paces. So far I'm pretty impressed with it.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

You're right, Evan. Both are gems!

[@leathermech]

I've watched allloooot of your videos and I still stumble a little bit at first when you (or Jonathan) call your first CQ and I don't hear de my call sign follow. Never fails to make me chuckle at myself. Thanks so much for these videos. I'm an evolving ditwit because of you. KA5TXN

[@ThomasK4SWL]

"An evolving ditwit"--I love it! :)

[@frog37]

Almost sounds like old spark-gap! I too am learning and like the dits and dahs reversed.

[@Lee-M0VKR]

Nice Job!

[@billcosgrave6232]

Happy Ground Hog Day!

[@Zach-K7FC]

That rattle/buzz noise reminds me of a dot matrix printer.

[@AE5X]

Thanks for the two P2P contacts yesterday, Thomas! Can you tell us what paddles Jonathan is using?

[@JonathanKayne]

I was using my bamatech TP-III. Mine is fully gray because I was able to do a custom color combination during a group buy on the POTA discord server. Thomas was using his begali traveler I think.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yes, it was brilliant working you, John, on both bands! I was running the KX2 into my AX1 antenna with 5W.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Oh, were you MM (Manatee Mobile), John?

[@AE5X]

@ThomasK4SWL as a matter fact, I was! Rainbow Spring SP.

[@makskk6spm275]

Either KM4CFT has a reversed paddle, or the video is flipped horizontally.

[@davidgrey943]

Thomas what was the output power were running for most of the CW contacts and does the have a higher power setting or is just 5 watts. I am just trying to work out distances worked. I am currently studying at 32 wpm doing decoding CW with Word exercises going OK. Looking forward to getting on the air with CW here in ZL. Thanks for posting content I must sit down with pen and paper and try and read what is being sent and received.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Hi, David, With both radios, we were running about 5-6 watts. The TX-500 will do 10W output--the TR-45L about 5-6 watts. If you're studying code at 32WPM then you're more than prepared for a POTA or SOTA activation! Actually, you're 100% ready just to hit the air and make contacts. Most POTA/SOTA ops run between 18-22 WPM max. Much faster than that and some hunters won't reply because you'll be exceeding their CW speed. :) If you're interested in distances, check out the QSO Maps in my firld report on QRPer.com: qrper.com/2024/02/pota-with-jonathan-km4cft-at-the-zebulon-vance-birthplace-k-6856/

[@davidgrey943]

Hi, Thomas the 32 wpm is what I am learning to receive at not yet tried the realm of transmitting. I am not sure what sort of key to use. I have seen a You Tube clip of someone making a simple morse paddle out of a medium sized nail file with a plastic handle anf a metal shaft. At the moment I don't want to outlay a large amount of money and find a paddle doesn't work for me. Will keep practicing receiving at 32wpm till I am happy my receiving is up to scratch. many thanks for the reply and the encouragement. 73's from ZL1BMA.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

@@davidgrey943 Look at CW Morse Keys. Their 3D-printed Pocket paddle is great and one of the most affordable on the market. I know it'll be pricier to ship to NZ. Also, there are a number of paddles via eBay and AliExpress, though I've never used them, some are quite good I hear. Consider using a free program called "Morse Runner" to practice copying callsigns in a pileup environment.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Oh, and, yes! There are several DIY keys out there. At the end of the day, they're just simple switches.

[@OpossumPiper]

What is that key? I'm sure you've talked about it before, but I spent some time searching through the archives and couldn't find it.

[@JonathanKayne]

I was using the BaMaKey TP-III. It is usually red and grey but I got to customize mine in a group buy. Tom is using a Begali traveler.

[@miketaylor253]

Blimmey someone else who sends CW and writes with different hands.