Pairing the Elecraft KX2 and AX1 with a little QRP Coffee for some proper portable POTA fun!

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Thanks for watching!
73,
Thomas
K4SWL
Chapters:
Intro: 0:00:00
Making Coffee: 0:03:41
Setting up the KX2: 0:09:15
Setting up the AX1: 0:10:17
Setting up Logs: 0:15:41
Tuning the AX1: 0:22:47
Start of Activation 20 meters: 0:23:36
QSY to 17 meters: 0:41:47
QRT: 0:58: 10
Thoughts about the AX1: 1:00:18
Packing up the AX1: 1:01:29
Packing up the KX2: 1:03:18
Summary: 1:05:16

[@tommcmichael8679]

You must have been a teacher bc you seem very natural at helping us learn and understand. I continue to gain help from this. Thanks!

[@vaamorais]

Hey Thomas, greetings from the UK. Radio, hot fresh coffee and the park shelter just to yourself what more can we wish for. Thanks for sharing

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you, sir!

[@davidtrotter7488]

I watch the whole thing Thomas, great stuff. 🙂 Regards, Dave

[@brian-k3es680]

POTA and coffee on a K4SWL video is a perfect way to enjoy a day with sub-zero (Fahrenheit) temperatures, 40 mph winds, and blowing snow. Merry Christmas and Best 73 de Brian - K3ES

[@brianve7jyd943]

thanks good video - fyi - if you take pledge furniture spray wax - put a coat on the plexiglass let it sit a minute then polish off - it will fill the scratches and lasts for a while then redo -- use it on aircraft windshields to cut down sun glare thru the windscreen scratches - 73

[@ThomasK4SWL]

That's a great pro tip! Thanks!

[@dovetomarc]

Thomas, You do great work. Much appreciated. One comment I hope you find helpful. When it comes time to douse the Alcohol Stove Flame instead of using the screw on lid use the simmer ring. There are two reasons for this. First, the screw on lid has a rubber O ring designed to keep fuel from leaking while transporting. The O Ring is critical for that to function and if you continue to throw it on top of the flame and heat it will damage the O Ring. The recommended way to douse the flame is with the simmer ring. In addition your simmer ring has an “extension handle” that makes it easy to accurately place on the burner without the need for pliers. Hope you find this helpful. Thanks for all you do. 73

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Noted! Sound advice! I'll do that moving forward. Thank you!

[@markanderson8066]

Always love the videos! Thanks for the ask today while was at K6532 / K8071. See you again!

[@randalltom9750]

Merry Christmas Thomas! As for field coffee (aka ‘black plasma’), I agree, a good instant makes the most sense. I’m enjoying a mug of Medagalia D’Oro, a touch of heavy cream, and this video. ‘Shug’, KZbinr, outdoor adventurer, and retired Circus Clown (literally) always brings the ‘MDO’ on his winter hikes in Minnesota. Frigid as it may be, he hangs a hammock & tarp, and top & underquilts. MDO, is his happy cup. You should check out his antics… Merry Christmas. And thanks for the videos!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I've got some Medagalia D’Oro here and will load some into my coffee kit! :) I'll check out Shug! Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@qrplife]

👍 on the unedited coffee deployment content.

[@qrplife]

Thomas, you inspired me to get out and activate K-1196 today. Thanks for the videos.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

My pleasure and I hope you had fun at K-1196! :)

[@doesstuffoutside]

This is rapidly becoming my favorite KZbin channel. Your CW is faster than I can copy for the most part, but it helps me to try, and the setup/teardown stuff and explanations of thought process are helpful and enjoyable.

[@thequarantinecatholic]

Me too!!!!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you. :)

[@dovetomarc]

Me too!

[@Relayer1974]

Me to my roommate: "New Thomas just dropped" My roommate: "Hellooooo" Happy Festivus, Thomas!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Happy Festivus! The Holiday for the rest of us! Ha ha!

[@KU9L]

This is great code practice Thomas, it is all coming back to me now! Growing up in the farm in Illinois you never got anything new, it all came from farm auctions & estate sales. I got all of my early tube ham equipment that way until I could mow enough lawns to buy my first TenTec Century 21. I splurged & got the 500Hz CW & 2.3Khz SSB filter plus the 28.50Mhz Modules despite it being a CW only rig. I worked the world on that 20 watts, lol. Unfortunately as a semi-retired RVer I mow those lawns just to eat instead of being able to buy a new radio off the shelf. But I am keeping my eye on FB market place & eBay for a K1, KX1, Or even a Venus SW-3B as you rarely see them these days, so you know people want them! 72, Dave - KU9L

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you! Yes, you can find great deals online from time to time. I find, though, that hamfests are an even better place to find deals. My buddy Zach picked up a fully-functioning MountainTopper MTR-5B for $20 at a hamfest recently. Insane! :)

[@Derrick6162]

Enjoyed the activation, Thanks for sharing...Merry Christmas to you and your family. 🎄

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you and here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@stevekj5t]

Really enjoy your videos. Lots of ideas. I do find the KX2/AX1 is a great combo for quick POTA activations. Working on my first level activators award and so far 4 activations have been with just the AX1. 73 de KJ5T

[@ThomasK4SWL]

For POTA and SOTA? The AX1 is a very effective antenna, in my opinion.

[@emin9788]

I always enjoi your video tutorials,your documentaries.Very educational and helpful, too.More power to you,for everything you do for us.Thank you very much.

[@KU9L]

Hey Thomas, that balloon was for your 50ga EFHW antenna, LOL. Cheers, Dave - KU9L

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Ha ha!

[@billcosgrave6232]

Merry Christmas!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Same to you!

[@StuartM0TTQAmateurRadio]

Back in the summer I was at my usual park and I had a hunter on 20m SSB using 10W and AX1 from a 7th floor hotel balcony in Florida bursting through the higher-powered callers! Thanks for the 15m CW a few days ago as well.

[@ShoesOnTheTrail]

Ha. I have that same alcohol stove and titanium grid for it. Love that thing. Works great. Thanks for sharing your adventures! Happy Holidays, OM de N4AAJ

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@martinmassie3843]

Je suis très étonné par les performance de cette antenne, même sous un toit de métal c’est extraordinaire. Personnellement j’utilise toujours un dipôle, mais après avoir vu ta vidéo je suis vraiment épaté. Merci pour tes vidéos, ça remonte le moral au travail.... 73 de VE2QR :)

[@ThomasK4SWL]

C'est vraiment une antenne incroyable et utile pour POTA et SOTA. Lorsque t'es le "DX", les petites antennes comme celles-ci sont pratiques, faciles à déployer et peuvent être utilisées dans les parcs où les grandes antennes ne le peuvent pas. Je l'ai utilisé au moins trois fois au Québec cet été! Voici une playlist avec plus d'AX1 : kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaPSoWp8ZpyFqac 72! Thomas (K4SWL / VY2SW)

[@mikemiles3068]

Good video and Merry Christmas from Texas 73 KV5P

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Here's wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@davidryeburn6446]

I looked at the equipment list on your web page and $2 for just 12 oz of low-energy alcohol for the stove is not a bargain. I prefer an old-fashioned white gas stove; cheaper fuel, more energy per unit volume or mass, and hotter and therefore a lot faster than alcohol. The drawback is that gasoline-powered stoves are heavier but for POTA rather than SOTA that should not matter. White gas stoves work well in extremely cold weather too, something you can't say for alcohol or butane. You mentioned begin able to set up the AX1 antenna while sitting down, except for the counterpoise. If you stick with the shorter 13 ft counterpoise you should be able to set it up while seated. Just put a weight (rock?) on the end of the counterpoise wire, arrange the wire in a non-snarling configuration, and throw the weight onto the ground aiming at a spot about 13 ft away. Won't work with the longer 31 ft counterpoise unless your arm is a lot stronger than mine though, and it would probably break the counterpoise wire if you tried. David VE7EZM and AF7BZ

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I actually have an MSR white gas stove and love it. Even though it's designed for hikers, it's much, much bulkier and heavier than my alcohol stove. Set up and break down takes longer, too. The alcohol stove is a compromise, much like the AX1, but it has never failed to make me a nice cuppa Joe in the field. :) It's small enough, it's always in my pack, too. I don't mind the higher fuel costs for the times I use it. The cost of the stove itself is also quite cheap--in fact, I've even built one from aluminum drink cans. I could always figure out a way to deploy the counterpoise from my seat, but I don't mind getting up. :) It also gives me a chance to deploy the counterpoise in a way that it won't become a trip hazard. Ha ha! Have a Merry Christmas!

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Well missed you on this one too! I don't know why I can't find you anymore.? I check the Pota/sota page several times a day and yet I can't seem to catch you on? Must be Murphy again. anyway will keep looking and trying! thanks for sharing. de Ellis WA1RKS

[@JonathanKayne]

Might be worth getting the HamAlert app so that you get a notification when the RBN or POTA network spots him. That's how I was able to work him (though that happened the day before this video was recorded)

[@ThomasK4SWL]

No worries, Ellis, when I look into my crystal ball, I see many contacts in 2023! :)

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

I have a friend that is married to a cousin who has that exact same radio and has done the RSGB exams so he could get his callsign.

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

If you were to carry a bag of ice cubes you could turn a few into water to make coffee.

[@w4mkh]

Merry Christmas Thomas. What water bottle is that and how much does it hold? I'm still trying to decide on a soft water bottle or a metal one.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

That is a 24oz Hydro Flask that is insulated. I also now use a HydraPak Seeker 2L Collapsible Water Container for hiking/SOTA. I got it on sale at the REI in Biltmore Park (not far away from you!). I also like Kleen Canteen stainless bottles. I never buy cheap no-brand stainless bottles because I always question if they're truly food grade stainless. :)

[@tcort]

Are you on a first name basis with the rangers at Tuttle? I see on the POTA site that you've activated there 29 times.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Ha ha! You could say that. They certainly recognize me and I recognize them. I've met all of them over the past two years. :)

[@jwag869]

My case of glass brain makes learning cw difficult to accomplish.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I used to feel that way, too. Frankly, I learned CW at 5WPM initially just to get my Novice license. I wish I would have used a method with 20WPM characters spaced at 5WPM. I felt like I was stuck at 12-13WPM forever. I can confirm, though, that the more you practice and, especially, just getting on the air at slow speeed helps tremendously. Also, get a Long Island CW Club membership--it's an amazing community. You can do it! :)

[@AlpineWarren]

You don't need to log a signal report for POTA? Also what paddle? Thanks!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Signal reports are not submitted with POTA logs (well, they're often submitted with the electronic file, but are not used in the POTA system. These are the SP4 paddles--I highly recommend them: cwmorse.us/products/sp4-sota-pota-cw-morse-magnetic-paddle-by-n0sa?ref=pHGSYqNC

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

How do you like the new N0SA paddles?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

LOVE them!

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Would a 16:1 UNUN work better than that antenna you are using.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

A large aperture wire or resonant antenna would definitely perform better. But if your goal is to activate a park or summit? The AX1 is just as good if not better in some regards!

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Why hasn't someone not created a coil/Tuning Capacitor pack that goes around the tree and connects to you transceiver and uses the tree as your antenna i.e W5JGV Treetanna.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

That is an innovative antenna design, but there are a few reasons I wouldn't use it for POTA/SOTA: - That particular style of antenna was used for W5JGV to receive 600 Meters which is way down in the Lower part of the bands. Typically, the lowest band we ever use for POTA is 80 or maybe 160 meters. - I believe an antenna like this that wraps around a tree would not win favor with park rangers who prefer us having no visible impact on trees (many parks won't even allow temporary wire antennas in trees. - This design is not terribly portable. At the end of the day--assuming an effective tree antenna can be made for the higher bands--the second point likely overrides everything else. Even though this antenna would likely have little impact on a tree, it would have visual impact while you're operating. In my opinion, most park rangers would worry that it's harming one of their trees. A wire antenna is more simple and higher gain.

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

@@ThomasK4SWL It would clip round but can be easily removed by releasing the catches on that hold the thing together and it would come apart into two halves to be put back into your rucksack with your Elecraft transceiver.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

@@DAVIDGREGORYKERR But is that antenna really designed for HF (40-10M), or just the super low bands? I know that it would still attract negative attention from park staff if they see something wrapped around one of their trees.

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

I will let you go 73's and 88's bye.

[@qrptedmac]

Nah I watch beginning to end. de AD8EV BTW One of the QRP’er readers put those adhesive computer stands on I think the 705. I ended up putting one on the bottom of my KX2 and one on the Mtn topper 4b.

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

No Worries Tom just didn't want you to think we gave or give up on you. still in there lookin! tnx fer the reply es 72 CUDTL OM! de Ellis WA1RKS

[@HL1KKC]

I enjoyed watching it. de HL1KKC