Keying In The Rain: One Very Soggy POTA Activation!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

qrper.com/2023/12/keying-in-the-rain-one-rather-soggy-but-incredibly-fun-pota-activation/?swcfpc=1 Click the link above to read full details about this activation, including all equipment links, at QRPer.com.

[@PopeyeKF4LBG]

Imagine my joy when I found out that you have dropped another video! Hope you had a very nice Christmas, Thomas... On to the new vid'! Looks moist.

[@larrytaylor7753]

Thanks, Thomas. I always enjoy your “real-time” videos. I am always able to pick up little setup/operating pointers by watching you.

[@mysteryham4065]

You really make I look easy. I am inspired to try another cw activation. TU

[@ThomasK4SWL]

You should! Go for it! :)

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

There is a photo to text mode which means you lift the text straight out of an image.

[@Matt61702]

I hate to arm-chair quarterback here, but your VK3IL pressure paddle would be perfect for this rainy weather! I have a few VK3IL paddles and I keep them around for rain or the beach because I make enough mistakes on my own without water or sand getting in my key! 😂 Great job getting out in the rain! Now that is really a fun challenge!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

You know, I will give that a go next time. I didn't have it with me for this activation.

[@randalltom9750]

I’d love to have one of those… I wish someone sold a kit. It looks like the perfect QRP paddle for it’s size & weight. I own alot of nice portable keys… the SP4, TP3, Palm Pico, Palm Mini, and a half dozen more. I also have some capacitive keys installed into my QCX Mini(s). If it’s raining or cold, I head for cover. But I get the importance of knowing some tricks & tips. QRP Fieldcraft is part of field operation. For the Packtenna, a ziplock or transparent plastic bag works great.

[@adam-g7crq]

Hi Thomas, thanks for the video, when I've been playing out in the rain with my TX500 i keep a few sheets of kitchen towel to mop up most of the water, just helps with the drying, I'm normally walking or cycling to where I operate so I have to get most of the water off my equipment for the journey home then unpack and let it dry out properly at home.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Great tip! I also need to remember to keep something dry to sit on. :) I don't mind getting wet, but sitting in on something soggy is never fun.

[@dsharaf]

Excellent REAL WORLD activation. Thank you! Not every trip takes place on Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited (CAVU) day. 😉 Perhaps including a demonstration of deploying and using a simple tarp as a cover/shelter would be beneficial to the Fair Weather/Newbie POTA/SOTA/IOTA/etc. activators. 😎

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I plan to do this, actually!

[@mikeroberge5488]

testing the rite in the rain paper I see. Stuff is awsome

[@ThomasK4SWL]

It is indeed!

[@Frank_K4FMH]

Ok, Thomas. I’d LOVE to see your Jumping for Joy launch of the arborist throw bag turn into a full blown Fred Astaire strut in the woods…it would be a classic video., Thanks again for all of your activation videos. Happy New Year!

[@PopeyeKF4LBG]

Hahaha! I was thinking the same thing. Must have taken years to perfect that technique! 😉

[@ThomasK4SWL]

😆 Ha ha!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

You're a card, Frank! 🤣

[@bozidarmiskovic8815]

Hello Tom, I'm a 13 year old operator from Serbia, I also like activating SOTA, POTA and FF. I'm licensed since 2019 and have been watching you for about a month now, I'm quite amazed by your equipment and antennas. My father is a older operator and he says "ahh random wire random frequency rando... I'll just make a GP antenna", but I made your "speaker wire antenna" and used it in my recent WCA activation and I'm quite happy with it. I use the uSDX or the QCX tcvr by QRP labs which the president of our ham radio association gifted to YOTA operators who know CW. Without longer ado I'll just jump to the point, I wanted to ask you what do you think is the best budget antenna to make at home and the best lets say "shack in a box"-(by that I mean a at least a 5 HF band QRP CW if possible SSB and digital) Answer when you can Thanks in advance, vy 73 de YT5MST Boki

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Hi, Boki, It can be difficult for me to answer questions like this without knowing you and your operating style. When I think "shack in a box" I think of radios with built-in battery and ATU. There aren't many of those that do CW, SSB, and Digital modes natively--well, not budget-friendly ones. I would suggest, though, that you check out the QRP Labs QMX. No internal ATU and battery, but it's a wonderful value. For antennas? End-Fed Half-Waves are incredibly useful, and inexpensive to build. They also require no ATU if trimmed properly! Hope this helps, T

[@tlcoucke]

Umbrella! In Minnesota when it gets below freezing one thinks about operating from the car.

[@qrplife]

Your driveway sounds awesome! I want one like that.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

It's great until I need to do maintenance on it. Each time we get a deluge, I usually have to repair and re-work places where the water jumped onto the driveway from the ditches. :) We love living where we do, though.

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Encapsulate the Antenna Transformer to keep out moisture.

[@KC2BKM]

Beautuful area!

[@Cemental]

Another great video! Again your videos are the main reason why I had the knowledge and confidences to do CW POTA activations. I did not know there was radio you could use in rainy weather. Lot's of activations are missed due to rain here in MA. 73 AB1II dit dit

[@ThomasK4SWL]

It's an honor to have even played a small role in your CW journey! Thank you.

[@MentalWhiplash]

And you were wondering how propagation would be....lol. Excellent as always, Thomas. REQUEST....would LOVE to see a portable straight key activation! Hey...you revisited SSB so why not? 72 de AI4TB

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you! I will give that a go sometime. At present, I'm fighting a wee bit of carpal tunnel and wearing a brace part time. When that gets sorted, I might give it a go! I need to!

[@hotshotbfcms]

GE Thomas, what cw key is that you are using? I was hoping to see a link above but didn't see it. I like the looks of it, so what are your thoughts on it?

[@andrewwiggins9934]

That’s a BaMaTech TP-III - highly recommended! 73 N4EEL

[@RC-rv1mo]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...thanks for this video! All the best to you and your most excellent subscribers...AG7UW, RC

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Back at you! Have an amazing New Year!

[@KC2BKM]

DId the dog come to your CQ? lol

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I think so! Ha ha!

[@ea4hwt]

I have to admit I'm a little jealous, the IC-705 is not waterproof.😮

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Oh I do wish it was waterproof. That would be amazing.

[@nickkendall3764]

Hi Thomas please can you let me know what watch you are useing i think its always the same if there are several id be extremely interested to know what make and modle watchs you use and as a byproduct recommend for a portable radio operator/ outdoors persom

[@ThomasK4SWL]

It's a Garmin Instinct. Likely a first generation because I purchased it in the summer of 2019. It's an AMAZING watch.

[@wa1vei]

⁠@@ThomasK4SWLGot the Instinct 2 for Christmas. Agreed, it’s amazing. Especially love secondary clock that can set to UTC. Happy Holidays, Paul

[@toddbu-WK7L]

I **love** my TX-500. Why worry about the rain when you don’t have to?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

It is a marvelous machine.

[@KeepEvery1Guessing]

I wonder how the pressure sensor pad key would handle rain.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I'll have to try that next time!

[@user-nw9cy4pk9k]

Use an Amazon battery for the rest of us lol. Bioenno is more expensive than it needs to be

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

Opps, I missed it. How many tosses?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

It's my policy to immediately forget how many tosses after I actually get one in the tree! :)

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

@ThomasK4SWL Thanks for the reply, One Toss, humility is a virtue.

[@hitthebones]

Good job! 73 r1bp