POTA at K-1012 with the Yaesu FT-991a and Buddistick Pro

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Twitter: / wq9f_ham_radio
Discord: kwduffy02
Thankful for summer and nice weather to be around despite the weather be in the 60s with on and off drizzle. Was able to get out to Moraine Hills State Park in McHenry, Illinois, K-1012, and do a Parks on the Air activation with my current go to POTA setup, the Yaesu FT-991a and the Buddistick Pro antenna.
Working SSB on 20 meters with 100 watts out I was able to make 21 SSB contacts in about 30 minutes despite rough band conditions. Thanks to all the hunters out there! 73, Kevin WQ9F.
Current POTA Gear:
Radio: Yaesu FT-991a - tinyurl.com/ykrc84jx
Antenna: Buddipole Buddistick Pro - www.buddipole.com/budepa.html
Battery: Bioenno 12v 20ah LiFePo4 Battery - tinyurl.com/3puccftu
Antenna Analyzer: Rigexpert Stick Pro - tinyurl.com/4yy37ued
Laptop: Lenovo Thinkpad P14s - tinyurl.com/cx9e4prn
Camera: GoPro Hero 11 Black - tinyurl.com/mpmyukjw

[@SteveH-TN]

Thanks for sharing this video and your thoughts & insights. Interesting about your Apple 🍎 watch. I just ordered one from GigaParts planning to become active with POTA in the near future. Your recording these QSOs has helped me to get ready operating again. I especially liked the mini pileup. Practicing logging. 73 Steve AA4SH

[@allenfontenot7832]

Hello,Allen here, I was your first contact KD5OZJ. Thanks for the video.

[@WQ9FHamRadio]

Allen glad to work you from K-1012 hope to work you again soon. Thanks for watching 73, Kevin

[@bob.kd9idd]

Great to see the videos coming out again Kevin. Keep up the great work. One day we might just cross paths on activating this park. Hopefully we will catch each other on the air or at the Belvidere Hamfest.

[@WQ9FHamRadio]

Glad to be making videos again, and I will definitely be at Belvidere it is always one of my favorites. 73, Kevin

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

Hey Kevin! Nice to see a new POTA video from you! Hope to catch you on the air soon! 73!

[@WQ9FHamRadio]

Thanks Jeff, good to be uploading videos again. I've got 3 more videos uploaded and scheduled to go to live in the coming weeks already. 73, Kevin

[@MikeN2MAK]

Good stuff! Looking forward to more.

[@srqutube]

Thanks for the video. Just bought a 991a and want to use it for POTA. What size battery do you use and what kind of POTA talk time do you get from that battery? Thanks. 73

[@janiceemery2008]

Hi Kevin, great video. May I asked where did you get the rails for your FT-991A. I have this same radio and would like to get some rails for it. Thank you for the video. KO4UWU

[@WQ9FHamRadio]

I got them from Portable Zero. They aren't cheap but they are very well made and look great on the radio. tinyurl.com/5fak7a57 73, Kevin

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Hey look at the leaderboard, get off my turf

[@WQ9FHamRadio]

Hey I'm coming for ya! Lol

[@janiceemery2008]

Hey Kevin, love the video. I have been looking for rails for my FT-991A and I see below that I am not the only one. Thank you for providing that link for the rails. The other question for you is, I would like to take my FT-991A portable but, I am not sure how to hook the battery up to the radio. Right now, my power cord for my FT-991A has ring terminals for my power station. I would like to keep those so that when I use my radio as a base I can hook it back up that way. I am thinking I need to buy another power cord for my FT-991A and turn one end into anderson poles. I don't know if it is that easy but, what are your thoughts and how do you have your power cord setup for connection to the battery. Thank you Kevin for sharing. KO4UWU

[@WQ9FHamRadio]

Thanks for watching! I really like the rails on my 991a and was glad to pick them up, they are a good addition to the radio. I have 2 power cables for my 991, so I don't have to disconnect everything at home if I want to take it portable. If you're looking to just purchase an off the shelf solution, I know Ham Radio Outlet has premade cables with the 4 pin connector to power pole on the other end. 73! -Kevin

[@mcdonald1743]

I have a 991a. Haven't got the rails yet. Really love the 991a

[@janiceemery2008]

@@mcdonald1743 Yes, I need to get the rails for mine and get it back up and running. My antenna got struck by lightning so it has been a process.

[@mcdonald1743]

@@janiceemery2008 that sucks. I always disconnect my coax and run it outside because I've heard of stories like yours. How much does it cost to fix it?

[@janiceemery2008]

@@mcdonald1743 The antenna wire was shredded and the antenna box did an explosion. I haven't been able to get my radio completely up and running but, it still responded to power, it came on. I should have done what you mentioned unplugged everything from the window pass through. Next time I will know better. Probably should have had an arrestor on it.

[@HL3LMS]

[@barrykery1175]

Save your voice. Use your digital voice recorder. Hi Hi Nice radio, nice video. Barry, KU3X