More Gain, More Power - 2m S2S Madness

The Arizona Summit-to-Summit 10 Point Madness event provides a great opportunity to push the limits of 2m simplex and see what's possible over long distances. Although I didn't set any new personal records on this trip, some great contacts were made and plenty of fun was had.
The yagi is a homebrew design made from U-channel aluminum, steel hardware, and arrow shaft elements. The matching network is made from parallel 1/4 wavelength sections of 75 ohm coax to transform the 28 ohm yagi impedance up to 50 ohms. Those coax sections are wound a few times through a toroid as a common mode choke.
The boom is about 8 ft in length when extended and folds down to 32 inches. total weight of the antenna is about 2 lbs, and the pool cleaning pole mast adds another 2 lb or so.
MMANA GAL file: drive.google.c...
Links to Parts:
Mast: amzn.to/3lzIZOp
Arrow Shafts: amzn.to/2YygPdT
Threaded Arrow Inserts: amzn.to/303BpTA
3/8" U-channel aluminum: www.homedepot....
1/2" U-channel aluminum: www.homedepot....
HARDWARE:
Nylon Threaded Rod: www.mcmaster.c...
Aluminum Threaded Rod: www.mcmaster.c...
... more durable alternative
Stainless Steel Threaded Rod: www.mcmaster.c...
Aluminum Hex Nut: www.mcmaster.c...
Nylon Washers: www.mcmaster.c...

[@HammockRadio]

"And that's about it!"... Then proceeds to build a 6 element Yagi on a mountaintop... If only we could all be as awesome as Adam!

[@HamRadioDX]

Haha reaching into your backpack you never quite know what you're going to pull out! Didn't expect the Mirage amp. Nice work Adam great video

[@K6ARK]

Go big or go home 🤘😁

[@ronrico2620]

​@@K6ARKwhen it's really time to go big I get my 90 lt kelty external frame

[@frosty1433]

I’m so confused, but I’m so invested.

[@papa_hovo]

Kilo 62 alpha niner

[@frosty1433]

@@papa_hovo three months later it all makes a lot of sense, and I'm building RF circuits now.

[@jacobwilliams676]

Huntsville ham fest is one of my favorite memories. Won the grand prize on the raffle. Yaesu mobile vhf/uhf radio. Great vendors at that show too

[@beefstuart8769]

Brilliant use of c-channel for the Yagi boom! I’ve been banging my head around a more professional build vs something like tape measure and PVC and this fits the bill. Always great content as usual 👍

[@qrplife]

Pretty convenient fence post installed on the summit! Looks like fun.

[@forgetyourlife]

Isnt that considered litter? lol, One day some do gooder will hike it out. Surprise!!

[@KM4ACK]

Always fun to watch you on the summit. 👍

[@roypatterson7866]

Great video

[@azav8raa]

Great video, Adam. At one point I thought you were going to pull a Honda generator out of the bottom of the pack! Love the 2M yagi, but watching the elements screw on has me pondering different ways to deploy (attach) the elements. When deploying my own portable 2 element 20 - 6 yagi, most of the time is spent screwing it all together. Maybe magnet attached elements that saddle the boom. Nice to see you back. 73.

[@W4TRI_Ronny]

Can't wait to build this antenna! I'll check back for the file! Thanks!

[@W4TRI_Ronny]

Everything came in today. We have a McM Carr in the next town. 2 day shipping. Need a place to host it? Google Drive share works well. Thanks!

[@K6ARK]

Awesome! I just need a few minutes at home. Lol. I'll try to remember too upload when I get home tonight. Message me or email direct with questions.

[@W4TRI_Ronny]

@@K6ARK Direct email sent via QRZ address. Thanks!

[@K6ARK]

@@W4TRI_Ronny File has been uploaded and is linked in the description now. drive.google.com/file/d/1AbS8-IfvqWfSls3dJduocMYf3PVeOz47/view?usp=sharing

[@MountainMan7.62x39]

That looked like a lot of fun

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Nice video Adam. Wish I had seen that amp at Huntsville. I enjoyed hearing the Mt. Baden Powell contact too. Been up there with scouts several times.

[@K6ARK]

Yes! The amp is a bit beat up, but still works well. For $175, I couldn't pass it up.

[@ronk6cpr994]

Thanks Adam for the cool video and QSO. That was a fun QSO! I wish more hams would run 2M SSB. Next time I'll video my end too ;-)

[@MARRANCA2]

I agree!! Too much cheap FM gear and not enough DX capable rigs

[@hamradiopenpals]

The 4K was awesome!

[@forgetyourlife]

the 240p was awesome for my small phone data plan!

[@kn6eze]

I had no idea this insanity was taking place on your summit when we made our S2S happen 😳

[@K6ARK]

😆 it was awesome. Thanks for the contact!

[@n5pa]

Great video Adam! I am mainly a Contester and DXer, but I enjoy working a new Grid Square on the Weak Signal as much as a new DXCC Entity. I have never operated 2 meter Weak Signal from a mountain top, but I have been in on a lot of great Tropo openings and have 41 states on Tropo. It was exciting watching you work the good 2 meter DX!

[@K6ARK]

Awesome, thank you. Unfortunately, we don't get much tropo out here in Southern California except for the occasional offshore propagation. We do occasionally get openings out to Hawaii even. If I see the propagation forecasts picking up enough for that to be a possibility, you can bet I will be on a local mountain top with my station giving it a try. Thanks again for the kind words, and good dx.

[@n5pa]

@@K6ARK: Adam, hopefully you can get in on a good Tropo opening. They are a blast! One Sunday night in the late 70’s there were several of us on 144.200 with our nightly activity when a guy broke in and asked where we were located. He was in Poughkeepsie, NY. Then for the next hour it was like 20 meters during CQWW. Worked 20 states that night and I never turn my beams or turned the power above 3 watts. Memorable night!

[@thuff3207]

I am glad we could help you with the 2m AMP we tested at the HARC Test bench. That is a nice 2 meter yagi and it looks like you had fun on 2m!

[@weathervanerc8147]

As a newbie. Love the simplicity of the antenna design. Thank You sir. Great video. KC3WSG

[@MailmanJustin]

Fantastic job, you're video production keeps getting better and better! I'm jealous, I don't have any summits nearby, otherwise I'd be out constantly. 73

[@stingy49]

Great to see you back on KZbin! I activated my first sota summits with CW on Monday! Even got 2 Japan stations. Got into hf and sota because of your videos! Hope to catch you on cw sometime. W6DER (previously KM6BJK) 73

[@kn6eze]

Congrats on your first CW activation! It's a truly noteworthy achievement. Hope to catch you out there one day.

[@Mandarin110631]

unbelievable!! cool cool video

[@ke6mt]

Nice setup, Adam! I agree - those horned lizards are soooo cute! 73, Rex KE6MT

[@johng5680]

Hi Adam. Great Video, lots of fun to watch. KQ6LT 73

[@andrewd4890]

Good work, Adam. Dxing on vhf is lots of fun especially when people are used to being limited to short distances on their short antennas and low power from HTs. Thanks for the Spanish clip too, I even understood most of it! 73 Andrew VK1DA/VK2UH

[@Kody10538]

This is awesome. I would love to build something like this...would love a more detailed video on how to make something like this.

[@phildurall7466]

Delightful video Sir!

[@glensaamanen720]

Another awesome video. Do you have a video on what your typical none radio day hike load out is ? Pack boots clothing and such ? I guess it would also depend on the season ...

[@douglasvamateurradioandmore]

I get distracted by nature as well. Cool stuff

[@jlowknight]

Great video!

[@juanfgonzalez2039]

That's badass 😎👏

[@m7trsradio]

Hi Adam. Still a great video. I've watched it again to get some ideas. I want to build a 5 ele yagi for sota 2m FM & ssb. I am now using my other account. My other account was/us Motters Motters. Will have ago at building one of these. I've been reading about them, about gamma and hairpin matches. I am not technically minded so I guess it will be trial and error with that part. I've seen people use a strip of wire across the two elements on a tape measure yagi. Should be on the build in the next month. Motters M7TRS 73 👍🏻

[@wancable9702]

im enjoy your video ☺️

[@2metercrew389]

I sure wish I would’ve known you were going up there… I guess I missed out on this one

[@K6ARK]

Oh, this thing will get out to play again. Not to worry... Would love to try to get you from Cerro Noroeste or Mt Pinos north of LA.

[@joeblow8593]

How far away was the Mexican station?

[@K6ARK]

Probably only 60 or 80 miles, so line-of-sight.

[@David-N7NRE]

Have you checked out the ELK 5L logperiodic dual band beam. 9/11 db gain respectively in a 1.5 pound package. I'm surprised how lightweight your beam is. Great stuff.

[@bg7jaf]

nice antenna!

[@thekhakihat3233]

Hey Adam. Great video. Thanks for taking us along. Quick question: how did you match impedance for that antenna?

[@RP4886]

Very cool video, i have a fire look out near me (sierra butte) Ive been wanting to try a similar set up!

[@ReedAB8AS]

Awesome video Adam. Always enjoy you’re adventures. Do you know what your pack weighed that day? I’d need help for sure with that gear. 😂 73 sir

[@K6ARK]

Probably about 35 or 40 lbs. Not the heaviest I've carried, but it wasn't light!

[@davistroy]

Would love to see pics or a video on the matching component - it’s the part I’m confused on. How did you insulate the driven element from the metal boom?

[@AD6DMDennis]

Ridiculous is always best hamming.

[@K6ARK]

Isn't it, though? 🤘😜

[@AI6XG]

With that big of a pack I thought you would have a couple beers in there as well.

[@K6ARK]

Or at least some coffee, right?

[@boisinnawoods]

Great video and awesome antenna! Thanks for sharing. I was wondering how you anchor the pool pole mast?

[@Kody10538]

What part is it that you used in the middle of the channel where the threaded bolt goes through? Seen at 6:13

[@reidlanham2011]

Another inspiring video, thanks! 73, K8JLW

[@weberfire1979]

Great video Adam. I am always excited for your new videos. What's the longest 2 meter contact you have ever made?

[@K6ARK]

So far, 328 miles, but I know I can exceed that with this setup 😁👍

[@AusJackal]

Interesting video Sir.. just gotten into Ham.. been around raduo/comms for a koooong time.. was interested in 2m SSB but I'm kinda disappointed in the lack of good radios that include SSB... Unless you like the cheap Chinese radios... 😒

[@K6ARK]

I know! It's very hard to find full power options in the "new" market, especially for portable ops. An IC-705, FT-817/818, FT-857, or IC-706 MK2 on the used market are worth looking for.

[@AusJackal]

@K6ARK i did a search for a few of those.. a lot are selling from Japan but I was warned off of those as they may not cover US frequencies.. thank you..

[@seandrake7534]

Did you build the yagi antenna or did you get it some places is yhere a video on it

[@fededevi1985]

They sell aluminum telescopic ladders that extend to 5.5 meters. Weight: 14kg but if you cut off only 1 mast will be probably less than 5Kg. On top of that, if you can stabilize it you can probably put anorther 2+ meter of support since the ladder is made to support 150Kg.. If you manage to keep it straight up. Probably doesn't matter that much for 2m but still..

[@mikecampbell410]

Do you have a build video for the antenna ?

[@K6ARK]

Not yet, but like the 6m beam, I am working on a video that walks through the construction methods I used, and will share the MMANA files for the designs. There has been lots of interest in these designs, so I'm going to try to get this video (or series if it needs to be) out in the next month or so.

[@weberfire1979]

I am also interested in a build video for this

[@ericcbn8210]

Very interesting video and Nice job for this antenna build. What transciver do you use in this video ? 73 from France.

[@K6ARK]

Eric, I use the Yaesu FT-857d for 2m SSB and CW. It works very well! Hopefully Yaesu will come out with a new version soon.

[@juanfgonzalez2039]

First to say First and zero too and last too

[@lawrence1md]

Do you have a video on the Yaqi build?

[@jmount1200]

Would a 5 element (2 elements spaced similar in spacing to the 3 element) then attached to the front of your 3 element provide a considerable amount of gain for a S2S contact from Southern AZ? I guess it is worth a try.

[@PD5RM_Robin]

Is there a build video of the yagi?

[@PatAutrey]

So when making a 2 element YAGI is it better for the other element to be a reflector or a director

[@harmerdean]

Are there plans for building the antenna? Try SSB on 144.200 sometime.

[@K6ARK]

I will attach a MMANA file as soon as I have a chance. I also plan to do a few videos on portable yagi construction tips - how I make the elements, the boom, and the match. I did work SSB from the summit, making one contact, and even called CQ on CW for a bit but had no takers there.

[@vicmiller7191]

Fantastic video vlog thanks for sharing I hope to hear you one day on HF... 73 Vic KE8JWE

[@rossrobinson7943]

So how much was SSB vs FM? There don't seem to be many HTs with SSB support.

[@frankwc0o]

When you use your Yagi in a vertical polarization, do you us SSB on 2 meters?

[@LanceSheppard]

Any video of the build?

[@macmam]

Good spanish 73 tks

[@EricPopeKG7QWK]

How does someone get involved?

[@omarjensengarcia2153]

Is it okay to ask the diagram of your yagi? Thanks

[@nativetexan9776]

The bad part about using an amp on simplex is it gives the receiving station a false sense of a contact they will hear you but if they are running without amp, you will not hear them.

[@K6ARK]

Excellent point. That can happen, but the pre-amp on SSB and CW helps on my RX side, as does the 6 element yagi. I was constantly adjusting my power during the activation from 20w up to 160w. Worth noting, Joe, KE9AJ was running just 5w on his end when we made contact. Fun stuff!

[@gustav316]

After further research, it was actually a Norwegian woman ham, activating in Svalbard!

[@Knarf14]

Id turn it horizontal and work ssb

[@johnhess351]

No stove or pot? Theres another 3 lbs...plus a half gallon water...Gotta have a warm beverage hanging out on a mountaintop.

[@CraigSotelo]

What frequencies do you use for calling cq on 2m ?

[@K6ARK]

A mix, depending on what's common in the area. In SoCal, 146.52 national simplex calling frequency on FM, or 146.580 which is the adopted "adventure" frequency and common SOTA op simplex FM frequency. For SSB and CW, 144.200.

[@CraigSotelo]

@@K6ARK thanks I’m in socal as well I’ll keep an ear out for you

[@K6ARK]

@@CraigSotelo excellent! I will be on Mount San Gorgonio midday Saturday through Sunday morning this weekend. Hope to get you in the log.

[@68vmoore]

Im going to Huntsville in the morning August 2024 KO4MAQ 73

[@fpaolo63]

Mmmmm, a very heavy backpack. How many Kilos ? :)

[@K6ARK]

About 18-20. I've definitely carried heavier, but also often carry a lot less 😆

[@richarde735]

was this FM or SSB?

[@K6ARK]

I did a bit of both on this activation.

[@juanfgonzalez2039]

You don't sell that type of antennas?

[@K6ARK]

Ha! No, I have a full time job (and then some) as well as volunteer work with SAR and a rock climbing access non-profit. Just finding time to prep antenna kits is tough these days!

[@ol2tmx6916]

You forgot to take water with you )-,

[@paulhastings3109]

Will you share your build on you 2mt boom tnxs KQ4CD Paul

[@bedrich2]

FM or SSB?

[@K6ARK]

I operated some of each that day, along with a bit of CW.

[@adlucem9845]

Ham radio would be cool but there no way I'd ever ask the gov to speak. dont you feel embarrassed getting a ham license?

[@K6ARK]

Not in the least. The license helps ensure parts of the bands are dedicated for our use and keeps users from causing problems for others. FCC enforcement (or lack thereof) shows that one could execute similar levels of communication without them even noticing, you just wouldn't have many others to talk to. The call sign is needed for the radio games I like to play. The only thing I would be embarrassed about is being so paranoid of the world around me that getting an amateur radio license sounds like a threat.

[@crecimientoinfinito1436]

Congratulations from Medellín Colombia HJ4RJI Jorge Ignacio Restrepo

[@Mandarin110631]

KK7SWB- new ham here-will you please repost the plans for the Yagi or send them? i cannot open it no matter what i do--TYSM

[@K6ARK]

The file is a MMANA GAL file. Did you try opening using the app?

[@Mandarin110631]

@@K6ARK no but will try ty

[@metroatlantahamradio334]

I enjoyed this video soo much!!!!! DE K4KHO