My First Summits on the Air (SOTA) Activation - Ruin Ridge W7A-MN-061

[@shanelien]

Echoing 564 Fire’s comment. The best method to get noticed while running a QRP rig is to be able to get a spot out. Using the SOTA Goat app, if you have cell coverage works great. Having a friend available to spot you work too, if you don’t have cell coverage. Otherwise you did what I do. Find someone else doing a POTA or SOTA and call them. As you already know, for this to work you’ll need time on your side. Great video! Well thought out and organized kit. Looking forward to your next SOTA video.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks for the advice. Cell is definitely spotty out here, but APRS does work pretty well on these peaks. I should be able to find someone to spot for me through aprs.fi. I really appreciate the helpful hints. Stay tuned! I just ordered my flag. 73

[@shanelien]

The Tech Prepper there is a way to send out a spot via APRS. Check out KG6HQD Jerry here on KZbin. He has a good video on it.

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@shanelien Thanks for the suggestion. Time to catch that video with a nice beverage this evening. Take it easy.

[@markdoyle8713]

I am the person who has an icom 705 KN4KAX. And has several amps for different situations. You need the hf 100 watt Mini PA little red box and a lipo battery to turn that frustrating attempted QSO into a nice exchange. I have the same endfed and it works beautifully with the red box amp . Rock on. Love the rest of the setup . Future you will be using the 891 a lot more. And then i can hear you from hurricane land. 73-

[@FTWOAN]

Excellent Video. Summits on the air and parks on the air recent revitalized my interest in HAM radio and has pushed me to start studying for my General license.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Good for you. You will never regret the work you put into your General. HF is a lot of fun while on summit.

[@williamcorp190]

Nice job and enjoyed the SOTA trop with you, w2wc

[@TangoOscarMikeN3WS]

Congratulations on your first SOTA. Doing a QRP SOTA or POTA activation when there is an event going on can be hard, as you discovered. Spotting really helps, if you can't spot yourself, don't forget you can ask your contacts to spot you. I've had to do that and they were more than happy to help me out. Look forward to your next one.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Now that’s a great tip. I’m going to file that one away for the next action. Thank you! I’m thinking about getting a second PackTenna Mini EFHW antenna and cutting it for 17m, so that I can switch bands if I run into another contest. 73

[@AA0Z]

@@TheTechPrepper N3WS knows what he's talking about. If you get spotted, or can spot yourself, doesn't matter if others are calling over you, you will be heard and make contacts. POTA and SOTA chasers know how to hear their activators.

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@AA0Z I've been recently bingeing on his content after this first activation--great channel! I appreciate the comment. It will come in handy as I am planning on activating W7A/MN-025 next. It's only been activated once and is quite a bit farther and at higher elevation than this first peak. 73.

[@lasantiagoa]

Most definitely spot yourself. For SOTA you can use APRS to spot yourself. Google APRS2SOTA for the full parameter list. Same with POTA (see below for the parameter list). Both of them can also be accessed via @APRSIS through JS8CALL. @APRSIS CMD :POTAGW :callsign K-xxxx FREQ mode comment Hopw this is useful, de HI8ILO. 73.

[@ReedAB8AS]

Congratulations !

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thank you! SOTA is a blast! This weekend I will be scouting W7A/MN-25 and possibly activating it. More miles and more gain. 73

[@BargainBasementHamRadio]

Awesome fist SOTA activation! Love the scenery, I miss Arizona.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thank you. Arizona is great, but there are a few weeks in the summer that are questionable.

[@BargainBasementHamRadio]

@@TheTechPrepper lol...I agree. I was stationed at Ft. Huachuca from 1988-1992.

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@BargainBasementHamRadio Thank you for your service. That area is really nice. I am sure you made it down to Bisbee, Arizona? That's one of our favorite places to RV in the summer.

[@BargainBasementHamRadio]

@@TheTechPrepper Spent plenty of time there. I have an old Army buddy who lives there.

[@collisioncourse4264]

When you don't have cell coverage, you can put out a SOTA Alert. This is a pre-set alert which you can set the approx time you will be at the summit also frequncy, mode, and summit code. Send the alert when at the trailhead or last point of cell coverage.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Great point. I have since learned this trick to set an alert in advance from home. I've also been using APRS and have had good luck with APRS2SOTA. One other trick I've learned it to ask for spot from another ham over voice. Thanks for joining the conversation.

[@ky4tgtodd203]

Good deal on the SOTA activation! The landscape there looks like your on a different planet from me here in Kentucky lol! Look forward to more videos! 73

[@TheTechPrepper]

Yeah, the desert feels like a different planet at times. It's beautiful, but half the time it's trying to kill me. More videos forthcoming. Just invested in the GoPro Hero 9, so the adventure shots should improve. 73.

[@AA0Z]

When your on a SOTA summit and you want to contact another SOTA activator, might want to call "summit to summit", or "summit to POTA". That usually gets the attention of the other SOTA activator. Also make sure the other station know your on a SOTA summit as the designators are different for SOTA vs POTA. Keep at it...SOTA is awesome!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks for the much needed suggestion. I found out the next day that the designators were different between parks and summits. It looks like I was actually in a park myself with a designator. Could I have double dipped and activated both from the same summit? Yes, SOTA is awesome. I have a couple of peaks that are bit of a hike, but never activated before. It’s time to plan for a multi day overnight trip.

[@lasantiagoa]

@@TheTechPrepper awesome work and yes, you can do a double activation. For simplicity sake just do a normal CQ Call and then when you exchange your entity designators let them you're both in a summit and a park and give them the entities. Double the fun for the same amount of work.

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@lasantiagoa Thanks for the confirmation. 2 for the price of 1. I like it!

[@digitalanaloguehamradio]

Great work. Very interesting video 👍

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thank you. It was a lot of fun to make for you and all the viewers. It’s time to invest in some better filming gear. I don’t think my iPhone 6 is cutting it for these videos. It’s only capturing a portion of these incredible scenes. Stay tuned for a gear dump video and after action report.

[@Brendan8440]

The Tech Prepper nah, your footage looks great on my iPod. Most of us are viewing on small screens. Thanks for the cool video!

[@Brendan8440]

Thanks for sharing. Hopefully I’ll have my first activation soon. Been chasing for a while. Someone already mentioned using a spotter. If you have no coverage a chaser will be happy to spot you. Just ask. I like the idea about dry runs. Makes sense. Learned something.

[@TheTechPrepper]

It’s my pleasure, Kevin. I think you’ll really enjoy activating a peak. It’s great that you already have experience chasing. You’re already ahead. This channel is all about learning and sharing. I hope you’ll stick around. 73 de KT1RUN

[@woodsocial]

first activation! up in New Hampshire for 1 point.

[@granitebuilt5836]

Interested in seeing how you got the mast set up. I'm currently trying to find the best way to get a 40' mast up and run a sloping endfed as it looks like you are running in this video.

[@TheTechPrepper]

There will be a video on this as I learned a few tricks in the short time that I've had this mast. I was able to erect it with just one $0.99 camping stake as a support in the middle. I purchased an inexpensive MJF guy ring, but did not need it as the stake worked just fine. I am nearly positive this setup will NOT work for masts made of other materials and those that are larger size. In my limited experience, the SOTABEAMS Carbon 6 has an unfair advantage compared to most masts. 1) It's made of carbon fiber and weighs next to nothing; 2) it's only 6 meters in its fully deployed state. I will still bring the guy kit I put together as the single stake approach I took will likely have issues in high winds. Stay tuned for the video! Good luck with your 40" mast! Let me know what challenges you run into. I am really enjoying EFHW antennas in a slopper configuration and will be getting a semi permanent one for 40 meters for home use. Which brand and model are you using?

[@granitebuilt5836]

@@TheTechPrepper I picked up the 12m version of the Spiderpole by Spiderbeam. I also picked up a 5-band EFHW from the Hyendfed company. My intent is to use info from a youtube video I saw by VE3TWM, (channel "Outdoors On The Air") where he uses a section of PVC and cargo straps to create a quick anchoring system wherever you may not have anything to tie the mast to. I will see how that goes.

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@granitebuilt5836 Good luck with that approach. Tracy has a great channel with great tips. You've also selected a really quality EFHW antenna. I've heard great things about Hyendfed products and would like to try their gear at some point. Keep us updated! 73

[@alvarogaitan2529]

terrific job Gaston 73 from kb2uew

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks! Stay tuned for more SOTA activation videos. There are a couple of peaks that have never been activated in this same area. They are a bit farther out and higher elevation. 73

[@tjs2909]

Nice video! Now you’ve been bitten by the Sota bug! Being able to self spot is key. Alerts help as well. As far as exchanges go, if you’ve spotted, most of the chasers know where you are. So that helps a bit with weak signal exchanges. Just call sign and signal reports. If you have cell service, check the spots for potential S2S’s. Another guy on KZbin to look for that does phone is KG6HQD. Good luck! Hope to work you sometime!

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thank you. Compared to every thing that bites in the desert, it was great to get bitten by this bug. Thanks for the pointer to HG6HQD. I typically have good luck with APRS out here, so I’ll try spotting with APRS2SOTA next time. I appreciate the advice. Thanks for the comment and view!

[@564Fire]

Cool video! Next time spot yourself. You will do a lot better! 😀 I use SOTAGoat app or you can use APRS as well. The contacts come much easier. Best of luck! 73, K6SUD

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks. It was a complete dead zone up there for cell coverage. I had my APRS gear (Mobilinkd) but didn’t think to use it. Thanks for the tips. I’ll check out SOTAGoat. 73.

[@bthemedia]

The Tech Prepper I’m curious how all this SOTA + spotters works out... I think you can announce a planned SOTA activation time in the future, for whomever is subscribed to the local grids?

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@bthemedia Me, too. I'm going to try the APRS spotting approach next time and will share the results. I was wondering the same thing regarding announcing a future planned activation. However, the challenge is that you don't know which frequency you will be on for HF. For VHF, it's easier to commit to a frequency up front (i.e. 2m nationwide calling frequency).

[@ChrisKeller]

Good deal, SOTA is on my bucket list! Still need to assemble a QRP station, I don't think I'd want to haul my IC-718 up a hill. 🙂

[@TheTechPrepper]

Maybe it’s time for the IC-705? If you like the outdoors, you’re going to love QRP. Personally, I’m hooked.

[@ChrisKeller]

@@TheTechPrepper I'm waiting on a Lab599 TX-500 to show up! It's definitely a risk going with an unknown manufacturer, but I love the idea of the TX-500's indestructible build. HRO initially thought they'd be out in mid-September, but 2020...

[@rodgermckeon]

Nicely done! Quick question: how long is your RG-316 patch cable?

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks. It’s 10 feet.

[@вечная_мерзлота]

QRP powder? Man I thought you knew something I didn’t 😩😂

[@jpuddlejump]

Thanks for the fun video! If you don't already know morse code, SOTA is a great excuse for learning it. QRP works so well with morse. CW really knows how to take advantage of those 5 watts. And if you don't have a cel signal for self spotting you can post an alert for your activation prior to going on the summit and when you send CQ SOTA Callsign on CW you will probably be auto-spotted. Being spotted makes all the difference in the world. You can call CQ till you're blue in the face but as soon as you're spotted, your little QRP station will be working a pileup.

[@TheTechPrepper]

CW is absolutely in the plan. I was able to spot myself on the second activation using APRS (APRS2SOTA) there was a pile up within 30 seconds. Thanks for the suggestions!

[@andrewmcgaha9629]

Break...break...break...

[@TheTechPrepper]

Only if I a break a leg ;-)

[@donalfinn4205]

Real radio doesn’t start until 12:00.

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks for the pointer. I should start adding a timestamp slide are the beginning or in the comments. 73.

[@scottchapman4025]

Great video - thanks for posting it! Appreciate all the details about the track in. Unfortunately I was out of breath before you even got to the actual summit. Good chance you're already familiar with him, but for SOTA how-to, check out videos from kzbin.infovideos ... he makes it look easy and has it down to an art. Amazing how he casually works through both 2m & HF contacts w/ just the equipment carried in. Beautiful scenery you have in that area; look forward to more travels! -Scott, K4KDR

[@TheTechPrepper]

Thanks for the comment. Actually, I was not familiar with his channel. I just subscribed. It looks like there’s a wealth of information there. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. The physical portion wasn’t nearly as tiring as trying to work stations on 5 watts during the SKYWARN contest. I may try QRO with FT-891 on one of the next activations ;-)