One Activation Over Two UTC Days with Two Antennas! Testing New Chameleon Carbon Fiber Tripod.

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**GEAR**
Note: All Amazon, CW Morse, ABR, Chelegance, eBay, and Radioddity links are affiliate links that support QRPer.com at no cost to you.
-- Elecraft KX2 with Windcamp X2 Side Rails (ebay.us/JSO4Ph)
-- Tufteln KX2 Protective Cover (tufteln.com/)
-- Elecraft KXBT2 Li-Ion Battery Pack (elecraft.com/products/kxbt2-l...)
-- LowePro CS60 Hard Side Case (amzn.to/3UiuOyD)
-- Chameleon CHA MPAS Lite (qrper.com/2020/10/cha-mpas-li...)
-- Chameleon Carbon Fiber Tripod (chameleonantenna.com/shop-her...)
-- MM0OPX QRP EFHW (Contact Colin for Availability www.qrz.com/db/MM0OPX)
-- ABR Industries 25’ RG-316 cable assembly with three in-line ferrites (Use Coupon Code ABR10QRPER for 10% Discount!): abrind.com/shop/qrp-pota-port...
-- High Visibility Jacket ABR240-UF with PL-259s and 5 Ferrites (Use Coupon Code ABR10QRPER for 10% Discount!): abrind.com/shop/qrp-pota-port...
-- KM4CFT 3D-Printed Paddles (Thanks, Jonathan!)
-- Key cable: Cable Matters 2-Pack Gold-Plated Retractable Aux Cable - 2.5 Feet: amzn.to/3OUUNri
-- Weaver arborist throw line/weight (amzn.to/3e6xKb3) and storage bag (amzn.to/3ggKO0q)
-- GraphGear 0.9mm 1000 Automatic Drafting Pencil (amzn.to/3Ntf1pV)
-- Rite In The Rain Top Spiral Notebook (amzn.to/42O5fa4)
-- My fingerless gloves (amzn.to/3qExvvx)
-- Camera: DJI OSMO 4 action camera (amzn.to/3Tf89TH) with Sensyne Phone Tripod (amzn.to/3Zbuz7A)
-- Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Camping Lantern (amzn.to/3QBNWnu)
-- Fenix HM65R-T Headlamp (amzn.to/3P0sMQn)
**CAMPING STOVE AND GEAR**
-- Snow Peak Giga Power 2.0 Stove (www.rei.com/product/114799/sn...)
-- Snow Peak GigaPower 110 Gold Fuel Canister - 110g (www.rei.com/product/643061/sn...)
-- TOAKS 750ml pot (amzn.to/48VRNEG)
-- Solo Stove Alcohol Burner (which saved the day!): amzn.to/3SM3IfO
-- HEET Gas-Line Antifreeze And Water Remover (this is the actual alcohol fuel for the stove): amzn.to/3SYklom
-- TOAKS Titanium Windscreen (a necessity if there’s even a breeze): amzn.to/3T8uBud
-- Lite My Fire Ti Spork: amzn.to/3VruYEP
Thanks for watching!
72,
Thomas
K4SWL
Chapters
Intro: 0:00:00
MM0OPX Antenna Deployment: 0:07:00
MPAS Lite Antenna Deployment: 0:19:18
Radio Setup: 0:27:14
20M Activation Feb 09 UTC: 0:34:34
QRT for Dinner: 1:01:10
Intermission - Soup: 1:04:46
40M Activation Feb 10 UTC: 1:07:55
QRT & Summary: 1:48:30

[@birdhouserocket]

After watching Thomas for years now, I just noticed that Thomas only has 13.6k subs. He should be over 30k easily. I don't believe I every heard him ask for us to like and subscribe. Thomas and Gil, Radio Prepper are the reasons I use CW. That was back in the day when he sent slower, now he can be quite the speed demon. Absolutely one of the best teachers in the business. No ego at all and the heart of a teacher. Thank you Thomas. Thomas, you need to remind us to subscribe.--------- Oh no, I just gave free advice.------- Ha.

[@InvestigationsDepartment]

As a subscriber I'd just like to mention some of us are too dum for cw but enjoy the relaxing calm style of Thomas' videos. God bless.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you so much. :) I really should think to ask to "like and subscribe"--I've always avoided this, but hey. :) Again, thank you for the kind comment.

[@KC2BKM]

Love the longer videos, Its therapy for me as well. I always pick up a new tip or trick, and you motivate me to keep on learning CW. Old cowboy trick. Cans of soup, anything wrapped in foil heats up nicely on the exhaust manifold of your car/truck. Just remember to poke a small hole in the top of soup cans or it makes a real mess lol. Best video yet!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

That's some ingenuity! Thanks!

[@williamcarter_CPA_CGMA]

I absolutely love the unedited videos and commentary. An opportunity to learn so much, and huge motivation for me and everyone else. Relaxing, Peaceful, Outdoors, it just makes you want to get outside and play radio. Thanks Bill KG4FXG.

[@Madchyle]

I don't even know cw I like your videos because they're just relaxing your videos are just a guy going to a park to do something he loves to do and the happiness it brings you is pretty infectious

[@ThomasK4SWL]

That is an amazing compliment. Thank you!

[@CharlesTersteeg]

some may watch these for the cw, the antenna setup is what i come for. antennas have always facinated me.

[@allenshirley1077]

@KC2BKM 😂😂😂 Made me remember my first Boy Scout car camping trip!. Read where you could put a can to the side of your campfire to warm while cooking but missed the hole part! Put it in the coals but in my young boy excitement forgot it was there. Sixty plus years but can still picture all the scrambling for cover when it exploded!!! N4NN

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Those are wonderful memories!

[@EvanK2EJT]

Man, that pileup got rowdy! Thanks for getting me in the log again

[@W4EMB]

Evan is a Tom stalker hihi

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Ha ha! I try hunting him when he's out there, too! :)

[@DXJungle]

Thank you Thomas. 🤝

[@barrywendon5168]

TNX Thomas I do like the night activations. Your video's help me with CW still learning 73 for now de G6JMX

[@RCVinyl]

The long video format is fantastic! Do you know how many miles you've helped me pass the time with on my treadmill? Keep it up and 73!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Oh man! That's an honor to help both with physical and CW health! Ha ha!

[@KU9L]

In 1979 when my Novice ticket came to my rural Elizabeth, IL home we did not have YT. Back then we had to send smoke signals, lol. Cheers, Davey & Sheila -- KU9L & KB9YYI

[@ThomasK4SWL]

🤣

[@makskk6spm275]

I love your videos with the lantern. Thank you! 73 p.s. The tripod after your advertising is out of stock! Sold out!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Oh no! Noted. Hopefully, they'll replenish them soon.

[@pkvalsvik]

Really love these long videos 🌞

[@philcummings9557]

Enjoyed the video. I like the patch on your bag, hopefully you have a connection with / to Canada

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I do indeed! Our family loves Canada and will often spend a couple moths there each year.

[@luisfigueroa3300]

Have you thought of bringing your coffee and soup in individual thermoses? No mess and no worry about having a fire near your gear. I received a ham alert you were working both 20 and 40 meters here in CA but the band conditions were not on my side. I heard some of the hunters but no Thomas. 😊😊

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I have done this before, but I just like making coffee and dinner on a small stove outdoors. But you're 100% correct--much easier, less mess!

[@user-so2jd8io5e]

I’m having a craving for hot soup…. Great, fun, activation video.

[@leathermech]

I call the hanging throw weight method a pinata.

[@allenshirley1077]

0:50 to ? Anybody else see the illusion of the bear?

[@qrplife]

The “dead air” while you’re pulling up the antenna gives me time to think. edit: I love the long form videos, I get to spend more time hanging out with K4SWL, putting up antennas and talking QRP outdoor radio.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you so much, OM. :)

[@DXJungle]

Great video. I heard a girl screaming in the background. Was that from the camp next to yours?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yes it was.

[@RandomStranger69]

If I have a IC 705 and an AX1 antenna and use an antenna tuner to tune the radio am I able to take off the tuner and place the antenna back onto radio after tuning and use ? Or do you have to keep antenna tuner connected ?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

With the IC-705, if you combine it with the AX1 directly (no ATU), then you'll need some device (like a capacity hat) to get an acceptable SWR. Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jojGgYuomdSJeNU

[@billcosgrave6232]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@SoulStarLA]

I just do not understand the attraction of POTA or most SOTA activities. What is the purpose of going to some beautiful park to just sit there most of the day or night when you have all that wonderful nature around you? I can understand SOME SOTA activities, such as if you actually were to climb up a challenging mountain and broadcast from there, but I just cannot understand what’s so interesting about POTA or most SOTA. Serious question and perhaps I’m missing something here.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

For me? POTA only gives me more excuses to enjoy our public lands. I'm very much an outdoor guy and while our family loves to visit parks, the amount of time we spend at parks has increased exponentially since POTA gave us an extra excuse! Also, we've visited parks we might not have ever thought to check out had it not been for the temptation to add another POTA park to the list as we travel the US and beyond. For SOTA? Again, it gives me an objective outdoors to hike to new summits regularly. It also makes my radio time much more challenging--building my field skills and ability to operate portable from pretty much anywhere. I love the planning, the hikes, the beauty and views, the wildlife, and the radio time. I do both of these programs because I prefer playing radio in all that wonderful nature. :) Thomas

[@SoulStarLA]

@@ThomasK4SWL Thanks for the reply. That definitely cleared things up for me. I can see that if someone enjoys the parks so much then if you happen to be there anyways that could be a fun activity with nature walks, hiking, and camping as the main activities. It may actually be a good way for me to get my wife to a park while she does knitting and other things (she’s not an outdoor person or camper at all) and I can do some radio along with hiking, etc.

[@MadGoat]

That key is freaking noisy. Sounds like plastic clacking.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

That has more to do with how effectively my new camera picks up those high frequency sounds.

[@3Swillems]

Hey Thomas. You. Inspired me to learn morse code back in 2021 during all the covid lockdowns. I remember well in the begining i couldnt understand anything you send or received. Now, i do my own wwff activations and ragchew occasionally with fellow cw operators. Now i understand everything you send and receive. I even notice when you make the occasional mistake 😅. I cant count the days i went to sleep with a random k4swl activation playing in the background😂 Btw; i wouldn’t mind you monetizing your videos at all. You will get way more views by doing this as well. More people should be lured into the witherspoon dits and dats universe! Anyway; next coffee is on me! 72, de ON5DRI

[@ThomasK4SWL]

So kind of you to say, OM. And...wow..amazing progress with your CW skills! I'm truly honored to have even played a small role in your journey. Frankly, it's why I bother making videos at all. Thank you for being such a long-term subscriber and supporter! 72! Thomas

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

We just keep passing like two ships in the night. I look for you all day. nada, then go out to do few chores and come back and there you were! and gone. that has happened so many times. but we'll keep on huntin! tnx fee sharing To-Mas! de Ellis WA1RKS

[@ThomasK4SWL]

We'll log each other soon, OM!