POTA Pileups on 20 meters! Pairing the Penntek TR-35 & Chelegance MC-750 at Table Rock Fish Hatchery

[@alvarogaitan2529]

Another Great video Thomas thanks 73 from kb2uew

[@PendejoRyan]

I love my TR-35. Such a great little radio!

[@WB0RLJ]

What a pleasure to listen to the audio from that rig! A perfect background CW sound track! Nice Italy contact I4RHP!

[@jackryan1944]

Nice video Thomas. That's me at about 41 minutes into the video. You were just barely above the noise here is west Tennessee until about 10 seconds before I called you and then jumped to a good S7 instantly. I was running 5 watts with my IC705 to a vertical. Thanks for the contact! After getting into POTA in September 2022, I've worked 633 unique parks, all of them at 5 watts. This is really fun . . .72 and GL...Jim, K4HPP

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Amazing work as a hunter, Jim! Yes, QSB was pretty pronounced that day (it is many days!). Thank you for hunting me, OM! Great to get you in the logs!

[@lycosa2000]

I now own the TR-35 thanks to your videos. It just seems to fit the bill as a really nice compact field radio. Everything is right on the outside and the receive is pretty outstanding for it's size. No menus to dive through, no surprises. It's even smaller in person than I imagined. Perfect for a small bag/case and with a few items, I'm ready to go. I have the ZM-2 tuner from emtech and I just love that tuner as well. Of course it's not as fast as an ATU, but it doesn't require power either. After watching your video on Tuftln's random wire antenna, I decided to get that too. I haven't got that in the mail yet, but I think it'll pair well with the radio and tuner. You should really consider affiliate links for some of this stuff. I bought the Weaver weight and arborist's throw-line bag, and line after watching your videos. I'm sure I'm not the only one and if it sends a couple bucks your way, all the better. I like the fact that you don't edit your videos and I think that really helps people decide on whether something might be for them or not. I think everyone wants something that's quick to deploy and when we can watch you do these things in real time, it really does help me and I'm sure others make buying decisions. Anyway, before I start writing a novel here, just wanted to stop in and say thanks for making these videos. They're enjoyable to watch and help me practice head copy. Hoping soon to try my first activation. 72's! (Wouldn't mind seeing a video on a Super-Antenna or Wolf River Coils antenna if those ever happen to cross your path. I'm looking for a no-tree option).

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Noted! Thanks so much for the kind comments!

[@pcfreak1992]

Honestly, the mono audio thing is not a bug it's a feature! If I set my computer to mono, I hear just you and nature in the back, basically like sitting next to you, but not wearing the same earphones. If I turn it back to stereo I hear exactly what you heard. So it's almost like there are two different audio tracks, like on a DVD 😄

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I love it!

[@fisherman477]

Great video, Thomas- thanks for sharing! Saw your review of the TR-45L recently, so pulled the trigger on a TR-35 kit, built it & put it on the air last week and BOOM, worked K4SWL… doesn’t get much better than that! 73, tu again- Ken W8SOO

[@ThomasK4SWL]

An honor to be one of your first TR-35 contacts! You'll love that radio!

[@KU9L]

I was looking for a case for POTA and this will do my TR-35 very nicely, thanks, Thomas! Dave - KU9L

[@ThomasK4SWL]

It's a tight fit, but not too tight!

[@KU9L]

@@ThomasK4SWL I bought the little flip-down feet that make the TR-35 sit at the perfect operating angle. It is so cool to share all of these cool enhancements! In gratitude, Dave - KU9L

[@joeym6730]

The dog is sitting there watching you and probably thinking "who is this guy talking to?"

[@rodneylamay5926]

Hi Thomas thanks for the great reviews we all love them . Wich tranceiver do you like better the mt4b Or the penntek rt35. I can only afford 1 thanks for all you do for ameture radio. Thanks ki6pxv rod.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

That's a tough call. Me, personally? I would go for the TR-35 since it has 17 meters. It also has an AF, RF controls and an encoder. I so very rarely need 80 meters in the field, I find I don't use that on the MTR-4B. That said, both are excellent radios.

[@Pa11en]

My goal is to decrease the 5 second spacing I need to process code. While I can not get your code yet, I still enjoy your videos. I made a spreadsheet comparing low power CW radios and I have to say, cost vs usability, I am liking the TR-35. Paul K7VIQ, LICW #266.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

All the best on your CW journey. You've got this! Keep up the work and you will progress and meet your goals!

[@W4EMB]

Thomas, Ed W4EMB here..... So because of your TR-45L video , I got that radio. Because of your MC-750 videos, I got that too.... Now that fancy MFJ watt/SWR meter and the zoom 1..... Thomas, you are costing me lots of money....... But by gosh it has been worth it. It's been so rewarding! Now I'm on the hunt for a good travel key. I like straight keys best. Any suggestions? Thanks Thomas for sharing and the time it takes to do so. ~Ed W4EMB

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Ha ha! Sorry I'm costing you so much money, OM! I really like this CW Morse Micro Key:cwmorse.us/products/micro-morse-code-keys?ref=pHGSYqNC It's very small, has a stable action and really does the trick. I need to take mine to the field soon. Way overdue to do a straight key activation!

[@UnderTheBigOak]

I believe i was trying to work you that day, the pile ups for you were insane so i moved on. lol. Good work!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Next time, though! :)

[@UnderTheBigOak]

@@ThomasK4SWL One can hope!

[@ai5dd]

I'm looking at two radios now, the TR-35 and the (tr)uSDX, god help me. I need Jim's sticky note for my monitor. 72/73 de AI5DD - awesome I made the log! Do I hear windchimes? Also, that brown dog is awesome.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Both of those doggies are amazing. That brown dog will absolutely do nothing unless the little brown/white dog is with him. They are real buds! And I'm afraid I'm the wrong guy to ask about holding off on buying radios! :) Jim's method seems to be working for him but, of course, it's early days!

[@ukrainehamradio]

I have the same recorder and it is really good. I must have missed, how did you make it possible to hear your voice and the sound from the radio at the same time on the video?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I have to mix them in post production (via Final Cut Pro). It requires manually synchronizing them and combining the audio.

[@TI2GBB]

What happened with the Dogs at the end!?? Hahaha 73s I hope work your station soon, I'm still learning txing on Cw. TI2GBB GREG 🇨🇷

[@ThomasK4SWL]

They wanted to come home with me! :)

[@ve2zdx]

Nice little case! It just does the job beautifully. Do you know the radioset-go kx2 box? They are beautiful, super expensive but beautiful. I’m to record a video to send you about my dirty cheap go box, but it’s hard to have some seconds of silence at home. My daughter is just born so things are noisy here hehe 73

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Looking forward to posting your video! You should get a Nanuk discount as they're made in Québec! :) They've loads of cases in their catalog.

[@ve2zdx]

@@ThomasK4SWL yes, I’ve contacted them regarding technical specs. Their boxes are made so you can place a panel and there are many companies that cut the panel to you, you just need to draw stuff in their software. This is what the owner of radioset-go does, if you’re good putting together all the cabling together you can build pretty good boxes. When I built mine one thing I had to consider is that I don’t have the tools needed, so I had to come up with something that just requires a drill hehe 73

[@the_mad_swimbaiter455]

I'm not sure what did it, but even with my bluetooth earbuds I had to have both activated and in ear to hear the cw. I understand you had issues this go round with mono vs stereo. I'm so used to one ear bud and listening to you all the time, sadly if this is the new norm I can't watch as often. Can't wear 2 buds all day, bummer. Hopefully this isn't the new norm? 😬

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I don't do these types of videos often where I have to record the audio separately. It's really annoying what KZbin does to phase out the CW audio--it's fully-rendered in the video file in post-production. Send me an email (I'm good in QRZ) and I would like you to see if the Vimeo video has the same issue. I'll send you a link to it!

[@the_mad_swimbaiter455]

@Thomas (K4SWL) my apologies Thomas, it wasn't a dig on you. Thanks for going above and beyond with your response. I used 2 ear buds, you already do so much for us bro! And Branson is one of my favorite spots to vacation

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

What is your confuserator?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Confuserator? :)

[@N2AKJ]

I didn't hear any code just the clicking of the key

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yes, this is an issue with KZbin and CW. You need to listen with stereo speakers or earphones. For some reason, KZbin phases out the CW audio even though I've fully rendered it in post production.

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Oh Woe is me! missed you again To-Mas! I keep looking. but just keep missing you. great activaton over 30 contacts I see you worked another great activator Chris Kd2YDN he does a lot of sota activations he's another one that I am having trouble catching on the air. I check the sota pota sites almost hourly and yet I keep missing you guys. But will keep trying thanks for sharing. de Ellis WA1RKS

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I suspect we'll work each other before long! :)