My SOTA UHF / VHF Antennas on Wasson Peak

Summits on the Air activation of Wasson Peak (W7A/PE-052) in the Saguaro National Park east of Tucson, AZ. On the summit I show you various UHF/VHF antennas that I have used on my SOTA activations over the years. The activation includes contacts on 2 meters and 23 centimeters. The longest VHF contact was 116 miles and the longest HF contact was 5,758 miles to Spain.
This is both a Summits on the Air and Parks on the Air activation.
Twitter: @NJ7V_
Instagram: RedSummitRF
Facebook: RedSummitRF
Full audio of the CW QSO's can be downloaded here: drive.google.com/drive/u/1/fo...
Antenna Links
MFJ-1713 Dual Band Antenna with BNC: amzn.to/2YNVJVh
BNC Female to SMA Male converter: amzn.to/3saa8IV
Diamond SRH77CA Antenna : amzn.to/2MUNc05
Diamond SRH789 Antenna: tinyurl.com/yy9wplft
N9TAX Roll-Up J-Pole: n9taxlabs.com/
1.2 GHz 10 Element Yagi: www.ebay.com/i/331361529667?c...
3-element Yagi - Homebrew by K7AJF - ask direct and I'll give you his contact info
(similar: www.arrowantennas.com/arrowii/...)
Open Stub J-Pole: www.arrowantennas.com/osj/j-po...
Nite Ize Gear Tie amzn.to/3s5tSgP
Mast - Black Widow Pole www.basspro.com/shop/en/bnm-b...

[@safetyshaver8806]

I just passed my technician test yesterday, and had ZERO desire to learn CW. You may have just changed that for me. Nice job sir.

[@RedSummitRF]

Hey hey that's fantastic and congrats!!! I'm honored that I might have at least made you consider CW. Thanks!

[@krital]

I really dig the way you present the morse code exchange. Probably the most intuitive way I've seen on KZbin so far. Neat activation!

[@RedSummitRF]

Awesome, thank you!

[@TheTechPrepper]

All right another Yaesu FT-60R user! I have the Diamond antenna, too. This is the second time I’ve seen a counterpoise for an HT. It looks like a really quick project. Thanks for sharing the activation and walkthrough of your VHF/UHF antennas.

[@RedSummitRF]

Haha I was just thinking the same thing when I recently heard you mention the FT-60R. I have two. I thought I left one on a summit so bought another. A few weeks later I found the one I thought I lost in my bag of crap. LOL

[@TheTechPrepper]

@@RedSummitRF Nice. I love solid gear like these old Yaesu. I have two myself. The desert is brutal on gear and these are perfect. Glad to hear you found your FT-60R. In the prepper community we like to say, "one is none, two is one."

[@RedSummitRF]

Lol right on

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Great demonstration of Hilltopping sota. or just plain old hilltopping for fun. to the fellow below who changed his mind about learning cw you will not regret it. over a 50 yr span. cw has saved me well over 800 qso's / contacts that started on fone but did not make it but when switching to cw they were made with no problems. the mode just simply rules . Thanks Charlie for another great video. and for sharing. de Ellis WA1RKS

[@RedSummitRF]

Thank Ellis - agreed about learning CW. It can be challenging but the rewards out way the pain.

[@kurtwolter3984]

New to your channel. Fantastic! Keep them coming.

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Kurt! Welcome and thank you for watching. 73 my friend.

[@AD6DMDennis]

Amazing reach in this one! Europe stations copying you QRP. 😲 and 60 total contacts? 😲😲😲 Excellent! 73

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks Dennis!

[@CT1HIXHam]

What a surprise to see my CW callsign in your video!!! TU Red CT1HIX Gomes

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Gomes! Oh yes! I always try to put up DX on KZbin anytime I am lucky enough. Thank you for chasing. I was excited to work you. Thank you for the comment.

[@baptiste6058]

Great place for a J-Pole ;-)

[@RedSummitRF]

Works very nicely. Thanks for watching. 73

[@Alex_Sexton]

Great video! I have been researching getting into SOTA and this was super helpful! What length pole are you using for your mast? I just ordered one of those slim Jim’s and I think that is a great way to deploy it and it should work really well with the setup I am looking to put together!

[@RedSummitRF]

This is a 20 foot pole but I don't use the last section so it's 17 feet up. This works with fiberglass poles, but you'll have problem with carbon fiber poles. They cause interference on 2 meters and 440 cm.

[@driverfilmsshortwavechannel]

the RH770 is half-wave, its an amazing antenna but it makes the radio a bit top heavy!

[@RedSummitRF]

Yes. The half-waves all seem to be a bit top-heavy but they are very effective. I've never used one of those RH770's but I see the price is really affordable on Amazon. I will probably order one and try it out. Thanks for watching Dom. I subscribed to your channel. Looks like some interesting videos. 73.

[@driverfilmsshortwavechannel]

@@RedSummitRF Thanks! I'll do a review on the Rh770 soon!

[@RedSummitRF]

@@driverfilmsshortwavechannel looking forward to it 👍

[@7wt]

Fine work! I am wanting to try a little SOTA once it cools down in a month or so around the Phoenix area. I assume you are not calling CQ on .52 correct? If not what freq are you using for the 2M work? Your video is really motivating. Thanks! Kb1LID

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Jerrett - thanks my friend. That's cool you are here in AZ. The Phoenix SOTA boys hang on 144.410. That's where I was calling. Consider joining the azsota.groups.io/g/main group to get to know all the SOTA guys in AZ. Thanks for watching.

[@kc3ppb]

Great video. Nice job! What mast did you use for the slim jim, and how was it anchored? Thanks.

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Mike - thank you for asking. I noticed I didn't have that info in the video description so I added them. I used a 20 foot fishing pole and some gear ties to bind it to a bush. Here are the links: Nite Ize Gear Tie amzn.to/3s5tSgP Mast - Black Widow Pole www.basspro.com/shop/en/bnm-black-widow-crappie-rod

[@kc3ppb]

@@RedSummitRF Thanks for the reply and links. I really enjoy your videos, keep them coming!

[@walshgeo]

Charlie, Great video. What make and model pole did you use in the video? Is it fiberglass or carbon fiber? Thanks 73 George KB3WAQ

[@RedSummitRF]

Thanks George! It's 100% fiberglass. It's the 20' version of this www.basspro.com/shop/en/bnm-black-widow-crappie-rod

[@walshgeo]

Red Summit RF thanks Charlie!

[@564Fire]

Hi, great video! Inspired me to try 23cm. I have a couple questions, what handheld do you use for 23cm? The Alinco? Also, how did you make the map that shows all the contacts? Thanks! K6SUD 73

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi 564 - thanks for watching. Yes the 23cm HT was the Alinco tri-band radio. Regarding how I made the map, I went to the SOTA map site here www.sotamaps.org/ and then clicked on the "mapping" dropdown. There is an option for the activations ampping page that takes you here www.sotamaps.org/activations. From there it's pretty straight forward. Just use the buttons to filter until you get the activation you want and click on it. Hope this helps.

[@564Fire]

@@RedSummitRF Awesome! Thank you for the reply and info. Stay safe out there!

[@564Fire]

One more question, what 23cm antenna is that? Thx!

[@RedSummitRF]

@@564Fire well, I purchased it from a friend so I'm not exactly sure. But it appears to be this one www.ebay.com/itm/331361529667 or something very similar

[@564Fire]

@@RedSummitRF Thank you! I am ordering the Alinco today and wanted to get the antenna as well. 73

[@AllanBProductions]

What are your thoughts on using a J-Pole (omnidirectional) vs a Yagi (directional) for SOTA?

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Allan - I have used both extensively and continue to use both to this day. They each have advantages. The N9TAX roll-up j-pole packs better, and is easier to take along. But the Yagi definitely performs better. I've used both on the same activation to compare them. I do move the Yagi antenna when calling CQ but not a lot because I kind of know the general direction where I'll be working folks and it still picks up sigs off the side and back. And I move it to hone in on where the chaser is calling from once I hear them.

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

P.S. come to think about it that just happened last night on 6m, cud not be hrd on fone. switched to cw and completed every thing RST etc. calls grids. first go around. agn Cw made the qso/day. 72 all!

[@RedSummitRF]

100% great example

[@timneely946]

What antenna did you use for the 60m CW contacts? tnx, de Tim KE6PMA

[@LevyCarneiro]

Which paddle are you using? Do you recommend a normal keyer or a double one? For a beginner. Thanks!

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Levy - sorry for the delay. I've been on vacation. I have been switching to a new portable paddle every month or so to test them out. In this video I was using the Pico Palm Radio Paddle which unfortunately isn't being made any more. I always suggest that you start with the paddle or keyer that you want to use long term. There are some very experienced, smart people who suggest you start with a straight key because they say it helps you learn CW better (physically forming each dit and dah). But I personally think you will be just fine with a paddle like those I use in my videos (two paddles), which is what most people use. Keep in mind that the paddles I am using are for portable radio and are smaller and light weight. I use this one from my home: tinyurl.com/2p8p7hfa and these in the field when portable tinyurl.com/5en9k9jp . Any of these would be good for a beginner depending on home use or field use. Charlie NJ7V

[@LevyCarneiro]

@@RedSummitRF very good insight, to learn the one I want to use long term. Good question hehe Thanks!

[@AllanBProductions]

Hi, why did you not need to give any identifier to your location during your QSOs?

[@RedSummitRF]

Hi Allen and thanks for watching - chasers usually already know the peak designator from the spot the activator puts out. On rare occasion I get somebody chasing me that didn't find me on the SOTA spotting system where that information is found. Those folks will usually ask for it if they don't know it and want it. Typically the only time a peak designator is exchanged is between Summit to Summit contacts or people who don't chase SOTA on a regular basis.

[@dandypoint]

What rig did you use on 60 meters?

[@RedSummitRF]

I use the Yaesu ft-817ND for all of my HF activations. It has 60 meters. In fact it is considered an "all band" transceiver because it covers all amateur bands from 70 cm to 160 meters. So I used the ft-817 for 60 meters on this activation.