LOST my DOG on the Mountain while doing Summits On The Air (SOTA) & Ham Radio

[@TheHamNinja]

Love the tense music at the beginning to generate a sense of drama. Good job as usual editing. On my third or so SOTA expedition my dog went missing. A few times before she would start to walk off with other hikers that arrived. She normally stays right with me but I noticed her keeping her distance. I looked for a while, called the wife for reinforsements. I was about a mile from the car so I figured I would drop my stuff off there and then continue looking. There she was, in the shade of the car. On later hikes I noticed her moving away from me once I fired up the radio. It turns out that she doesn't like the squeaks, squawks, and other crap that comes out (nobody likes that). I switched to a headset which also gives me VOX, making logging easier and the dog is happier as well. 73 dude, N1CLC

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Crazy man, glad you found her. It’s funny, my dog always knows the way back to the truck for sure. She doesn’t seem too bothered by radio noises but it’s probably because I’m not paying attention to her when my ears are being messed with lol. I love using my headsets but unfortunately it takes away from my ability to capture audio for the videos 😬. I’ve tried running the Zoom H1 in-line but I haven’t figured out the best settings to make that work yet.

[@goathiker]

It's the stories (Lost Dog) that make the SOTA journey interesting.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

So true, glad it had happy ending

[@goathiker]

Had similar experience with the goats ...lost them on the way down from a SOTA peak after we spotted a fire! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnW7fpyXltaWpqc

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Holy cow! I was wondering if they ever strayed on ya and not cool when a fire breaks out while on the mtn

[@lytcomm88]

Thanks for starting the video off resolving the dog issue. Instead of keeping us worried.😁 Great video! Also, Sometimes turning airplane mode on and off will force your phone to acclimate to the nearest towers when you move to a completely different location than usual.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

That I did not know! I’ll have to try that (airplane mode truck) thanks

[@djshnibz]

Cool video Jerry, keep them coming.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Will do

[@codyhildeman2426]

Not going to lie had me worried for a bit.. glad she came back lol crazy dog!

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Me too buddy

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

That’s scary. Glad she came back.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Me too!

[@scottak6q406]

Nicely done Jerry! Glad the dog is back safe... those rattle snakes will be out soon, be safe.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Me too and they are already coming out. I almost grabbed a snake last weekend when out activating and grabbing a rock to toss at my dog as she was sniffing toward a burrow and being stubborn on a recall. Pucker factor 😬 that video is in que and I didn’t get my oh s$>}| response lol

[@ChannelGregg]

My heart broke reading the title, and I didn't watch. HAPPY to read that she is safe.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Ya, when I realized she wasn’t around & after yelling for her to come back my heart sank too. I thought, “Did I actually lose her” I wondered if she got lost in that thick low brush & just couldn’t find her way back, did she make it to the highway & get hit by a car, how far away did she go? My mind raced & naturally thought the worst. Somebody suggested my title was click bait but it definitely shook me & will change my attention on how she is managed while on the Hills. It was a lesson for me I hope others can use if in a similar situation and was a memorable enough part of the trip to include a segment in this video since Tahyo is a character in nearly all my videos.

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

Another Great Day in CALIF

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

ya, just glad I found her 👍

[@BradSnyder1]

Great stuff Jerry! 👍🏻

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Brad

[@r188ops8]

Glad dog’s ok and came back Jerry, they can be arses at times, but can’t stay annoyed at them for long!! 👍🏻👍🏻 ....Paul

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

So true Paul... she proved to me that I do in fact love her 😉

[@09keller]

Another great one in the can. Glad your dog came back. You have likely said this many times, but which Jpole are you using. Great content. Keep them coming Jerry.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

There are many out there but I use a dual band (VHF & UHF) version of the roll up j-pole. I think it’s an Ed Fong version if I recall.

[@euro9115]

Happy to see Tahyo came back. Funny when you said if you turn the radio on she might find her way back ... Kiddo comes out to the garage station (or my inside office station) when I TX on 75m. We've done testing and now have empirical evidence - seems like she's susceptible to RF in that segment of the bands (lol). Also, the noise you experienced is probably coming from that solar system's charge controllers. Interestingly, I don't get interference from the solar system at my house, but I do get interference from the controllers in the Tacoma and Vanagon - go figure. (KF6IRK)

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hey Capt Irk! Ya, glad she came back too... I’m pretty fond of her. And I figured it was the panels and it was weird it wasn’t on every band or even throughout the whole 20m band. Funny she likes 75m lol

[@hondaridgelineenduser5934]

I enjoyed this video, 73 sir

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks!

[@scottfulton159]

Interested in how you set up the antenna. n6wmd

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hey Scott, good to see you on here man. I have a couple other videos on the antenna build & deployment. I’ll add the cards to this video this afternoon but you can find them on my channel.

[@MrLaserdave]

Great video again Jerry. You might have said it before, but what logging program do you use? Dave KI6FYQ

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hey Dave, I use the HamLog app on phone and for sending myself a CSV file to upload to SOTA website and also cloud synch it to my desktop. Works pretty decent for what I use it for. What about you? What do you use to log?

[@MrLaserdave]

KG6HQD Jerry I am doing it the old fashioned way now, paper and pencil, that's why I asked. I'll check out this one. Dave

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

at least the paper and pencil is reliable :) If you check out my video on the Secret Way to Fast uploading of SOTA contacts you'll see why I like the HamLog app.

[@maxprepper9126]

Tried buying VX8dr but Yaesu stopped making them. Got any suggestions for similar radio? KF4JBZ Mike

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hey Mike, I’d probably look at the FT2-D or try to find a used VX-8 if anybody would Part with theirs cuz I know I won’t 😎

[@hawkeyeCH53E]

Jerry why did you switch from the Yaseu rig to the Elecraft?

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

A few reasons drew me to the KX2 - the display is much more friendlier in size & position, the menu system is very easy to use, the receiver & filters are top notch, it’s a very efficient radio & batteries last very well, it interfaces simply to my laptop, the built in tuner is very handy to take up the slack in a deployment situation, it’s nice & small & lightweight so very back pack friendly. It has what I need for SOTA & works very very well plus it has double the output power ability of 10 watts. The 817 is a total shack in the box, durable & a very capable radio that has served me well & is a great rig too. Right now the KX2 is the new toy so it’s getting the love & attention on my trips.

[@hawkeyeCH53E]

Thank you for your response. I might go with the Xiegu 5105 as a starter. Not sure if I'll get as immersed into the hobby like you and Josh. Pretty sweet rig. Did you buy just the basic radio or the travel kit they offer?

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Checking back with ya, what did you end up buying? Josh runs that X5105 as does Tony @K9ARV . Loving my KX2 and still have my Yaesu FT-817ND as a back up, though I might sell that one soon.

[@hawkeyeCH53E]

KG6HQD Sir, thank you for your response. I’m moving a lot slower in the hobby as I took on more responsibility at work. I entered the hobby with budget in mind. Hence the draw to Josh’s Beofang videos. I have the money to buy just about anything I want. Problem is really that I’m cheap, ha ha..... starting small and working toward big as my interest / knowledge grows. I’ve always been intrigued by radios / electronics. We had AN/ARC-94 and 174 on our CH-53E helicopters. I was a tweek, Avionics tech, so got to play with it from time to time. Guys would do phone patches off the flight deck to MARs stations and what not. I did a MARs call from Okinawa once when phone calls were $70 for 10 mins. That was a very interesting experience. For now I’m living / learning a lot from you and Josh. I appreciate your scenic videos and wealth of knowledge. Not to mention you are promoting a very active / healthy option of Ham radio.

[@MoTown44240]

I love my Chow Chow but he's a 'PITA' when off-leash so rarely have him off-leash. Can't run anymore (bad knees) Kobe not permitted to go on walk-abouts. Hi

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

I like to let her run around and be a dog when we are up there. This time she took it too far when I wasn’t paying attention cuz I was making a different video on how to deploy the antenna so she took a liberty. Gonna have to keep a better eye on her since she’s being a sneaky one lol

[@MoTown44240]

Because Kobe is a rescue and not raised from a puppy I have learned in the 6.5 years of being with him that off-leash in an open area would be disastrous for me especially if we are in new territory. He does fine at a local dog park with 6 foot high fencing. Surprising because his vertical jump ability is just over 7 feet. If I was 20 years younger and 40 pounds lighter then if I had to chase him it wouldn't be a problem. Athletic injuries from my younger days are alerting my pain centers and I struggle not gaining any more weight. SOTA is not something I will do in my locale, NE Ohio, but maybe some day the K9 and I will make a drive to a mountain for the fun of it, providing I don't have to do too much walking. Enjoying your videos about our hobby.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hey Terry thanks for sharing. One way to help a dog understand the "come" command is to do about 15 minutes of obedience a day with him/her and when they aren't paying attention to you, you do a quick turn and say follow or heel or whatever as long as it's consistent with a pop of the leash. You also work on the down command too so they stop when you say stop. Additionally, for a dog who runs away when called remember that being next to you has got to be the safest place on the planet and as soon as they turn your direction and head your way, you have to get down on a knee and use that 12 year old little girl voice to praise them to encourage them to continue to come to you. As a reinforcement you can use a long line (I've used a 60' lead coupled to a 30' lead so if they try running away it's easier to step on the lead and catch them to at least have control. Once you have the end of the lead, you call them and reel them in. Again, as long as they are coming your way, you are singing them praises..it doesn't take long for them to understand what is happening. Introducing an e-collar is another option but it all starts with a leash first while they just wear the e-collar. As a reference, I've trained horses and several hunting dogs and have been a police K9 handler as well. It's actually harder to train a person on timing of what I briefly described above to help somebody but if you have more questions on that feel free to hit me up and I'd be happy to elaborate more if it helps.

[@MoTown44240]

Jerry I agree with everything you have said. I was 20 coming up on my 21st birthday when my pal Bravo was struck by a speeding truck at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Air Station. I scooped him up and drove to him to the base Vet. He died of soon after arriving at the animal Doc's from a splintered rib puncturing his heart. I haven't had a dog since. Then 6.5 years ago I adopted him for my Grandson. He lost interest after one week. His other Grandparents tried to care for Kobe. Kobe was their first pet encounter. No experience. A month after Kobe leaving Ohio and travelling to Illinois I receive a phone call from the other Grandparents that they can't return the dog to their Animal Shelter so they are having him put down. I rescued him. At my age I did not need the responsibility of another living being. I'm in my mid-sixties, just recovered the previous year from a stroke. My legs aren't working like they used to work the previous 15 years when I was a long distance runner. Injury at work; disability retirement; progressive weight gain from lack of exercise; new responsibility of caring for a K9. I learned quickly about bathroom habits and exercise for my new pal. For a while we were walking each other on the walking trails in the rural areas nearby. I live in a country/rural area but there's no place to walk safely with my skittish K9. The 6 foot leash became too short very quickly. I soon attached a piece 3/8-inch diameter rope with carabiner clip to the 6 leash giving Kobe freedom to roam about. When I want to train him I coil in the rope and walk him next to me with the 6 foot leash. Kobe is a short haired Chow Chow. I learned very early that if I wasn't paying attention and didn't have my feet planted that he could ground me quickly. Not fun. I stand at 6-04, haven't grown since age 12, and tip the scales at 315 pounds. Chow's were bred to pull sleds and wagons and perform some hunting in China. This K9's rear legs are built for pulling. I learned from a lady, she takes in many shelter dogs, to lay the rope on the ground at my feet and step on the rope. Lower point for Kobe to pull from requiring more power than he muster. Kobe knows the commands Sit, Stay, Down, Come, This Way and he's still learning Quiet. He knows these commands verbally, in both English and Spanish, and with hand signals as he was trained by my Son. My Son received his K9 trainer's certificate while incarcerated (TMI). Getting back to Kobe. Our first outing back in Ohio was at Run, Bicycle, Canoe/Kyack Special Event (I work a lot of those with my ARC). I would be away from home for about 6 hours and I wasn't keen on how much time Kobe could hold his bowels. I quickly found out one of the reasons that the other Grandparents wanted to get rid of Kobe. He likes run. He's a smart dog. When I took him out of car to do his business at my route at a turn amongst farmer's fields he figured a way to slip out of his collar, and away he went. A real dilemma for me because I'm concerned about him getting hit by a vehicle and I need to be watchful for cyclists to report to Net Control. When my station closed I was able to summon help from a couple hams that were also done. Kobe came to one of them, was snatched, and carried back to my car. I really wanted to spank his hind end, but resisted. I've gone through 6 collars and harnesses trying to find the one that he can't slip out and found one, as long as it doesn't come apart, that has worked the best. It's a choker with prongs that pinch into his fur when I give a snap pull on the leash. I've been using it for over a year now. I have to be observant that none of the links are losoe. At home, the longest period he's on the run is about 6 hours unless my neighbor intercedes. He will come to her. I can with 6 feet of him and jumps, turns and runs as if we are playing with each other. I would to play with him but I'm physically unable. The dog park I mentioned earlier isn't open in the winter plus it's a bit of a drive to get there. Thanks for your replies Jerry. Maybe we'll cross paths again on a CW frequency. I've been a QRP CW OP since being licensed in 1986. I only work QRO when contesting with my amateur radio club. I am one of their point getters. Hi Best 72/73 Terry KB8AMZ

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hey Terry - I apologize for the delay in responding as I'm finding out my KZbin app on the iPhone doesn't send me all the comments so I can keep up with everybody so I have to fire up the laptop and do some checking when I can. Either way, quite the story on Kobe and where you are with him. Have you considered maybe hiring a trainer to introduce and electric collar? I don't always recommend them because if the person holding the button doesn't know what to do, why to do it, and when then it can mess a dog up and add confusion. It's really about training you to be honest as the dog will learn pretty quick. Anyway, I suggest that because of the physical aspects of not being able to get after him it's a tool to possibly consider. Also, the pinch collar you describe (choker with prongs) I have used as well and a quick pop is all that's needed. You need to position those up high and fairly snug where you can put about two to three fingers in it but it rides just behind the ears and down around the neck under the jawline or else it's useless and ineffective. Again, people who don't know how to use them often criticize other who do as "cruel" but it's better to be quick and precise with a correction than play war with the dog and create other issues. Anyway, hope that helps a little more and good on you for taking that up despite the difficulties involved. Best of luck on Kobe and I too hope we QSO on CW or even SSB one day soon. Take care - 73

[@Capt_Duffy]

How u pronounce her name .?

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Tie yo would be a good way I suppose. Cajun for “Big hungry dog” and she lives up to it

[@bradleyjohnson452]

I'm sure that Verizon is blocking your Sprint service

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

No kidding! Stupid Verizon

[@cbv1979]

Hi, I saw your comment on Sunny Lenarduzzi's video on the 7 KZbin hacks that work and thought to say hi and give your channel some love. Thank God you found your dog. Do you have coyotes or other dangerous animals on that mountain? Stop by one of my videos and say hi, especially if you like to get inspired, motivated or just want to laugh with me and my daughter. You are definitely invited. ;-)

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hi Claudia - thanks for stopping by and I'm a bit disappointed I'm just seeing this comment. I try to stay up on all comments via the KZbin app on my phone but this proves it doesn't capture all of them so I apologize for the delayed response. I'm so thankful I found her too. She never does that and is my total hiking buddy so I'd be really upset if I lost her for good. We do have coyotes, bears, and mountain lions but I'm not worried about those. Bears and the cougars aren't too fond of dogs and coyotes really aren't a threat to her either, especially when around me with all the human scent but I know why you asked :) I will check out your channel and show some Sunny BOSS love back. Thanks :)

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

Hurd you on the 640 early in the morning 73 kg6mn jerry

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Haha, I've been mostly on either Papa system or digital mode and of course simplex, but do still pop in over on 640 from time to time to say hello to the fellas 👍

[@agvulpine]

Saw this video shared on Facebook. The title is misleading & clickbaity. I'd asked "Which peak is the dog lost on, I'll grab my flashlight." Disappointed in you, sir.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

I chose to combine two things that happened on this activation, my dog running off which I chopped down from at least 15 minutes to just a couple to share what happened as I was really concerned about that since it was a first, and then the activation. Picking names of titles isn’t an area of expertise for all so if you were highly offended by me combining these two events then I’m not sure what I can do for you. Thanks for sharing your opinion.