Solar Flare! QRP SOTA Activation of The Pinnacle with the Chameleon MPAS Lite and Elecraft KX2

Click here to read full details about this activation, including all equipment links, at QRPer.com:
qrper.com/2021/04/activating-...
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Thanks for watching!
73,
Thomas
K4SWL

[@1911bladeguy]

It is the best when I can see you write the call down on paper and I am copying with you. As always you are my top channel for many reasons. Great teaching aid for those of us who are learning code. Thanks Thomas. Steve W1IT

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you, Steve!

[@talloccyclist]

Glad you got me in the log, Jess / W6LEN

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Always good to log you! :)

[@rightpedaldown9346]

Hi! I enjoy watching your videos. I just purchased my first HF , the X5105, and am getting the rest of my gear together to do some POTA as well as other outdoor activities. I wanted to add that I ran across your BLOG QRPR. I really enjoy it! Your doing a great job with that as well! I would encourage the almost 3,000 subscribers to have a look at it. Sometime its nice to get away from video and have a good read. Please continue to inspire , Sir!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you so much for the kind compliments. I do love writing field reports and articles for QRPer.com. A total labor of love! I'm way overdue checking out the X5105. When I catch up on reviews this year, I'll reach out to Radioddity and see if they'll send me a loaner unit. Cheers, Thomas

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

Ants in your pants and a pile up! Great Job. HI HI.

[@gravestonemyth]

I activated K-1024 today on 20 and was absolutely pummeled. North, south, both coasts, and Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. Wild ride on the bands today.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Excellent!

[@gravestonemyth]

@@ThomasK4SWL thanks for hunting me today! De K9NUD

[@stephenw8dbc882]

That was a wild one! A lot of DX on 20 and 17 meters today, well yesterday now. I was thinking, he should just pull out a pair of earbuds and get that last one while we watch. Brilliant! I also ordered a Baile BL-520A 2.0mm mechanical pencil off Ebay a few weeks ago after watching you break the lead and sharpen with the end, great design feature. I used to be a mechanical draftsman so I'm a real nerd when it comes to those things. Stay safe out there. 73, Stephen W8DBC

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Stephen, my wife and I are both pencil nerds. :) I took drafting classes in high school and I'll admit that part of the appeal was all of those amazing drafting tools. I was never the same after that. Cheers, Thomas K4SWL

[@TheFossilChannel]

good to see you out and about thomas, i just got a kx2 from my brother and im currently building a ssb kit for it.

[@ai5dd]

Good morning, beautiful view.

[@tommcmichael8679]

Nice activations!

[@SteveSmith-fs8dn]

Very nice, as usual, Thomas! It was fun hearing my signal from K-8152 in Pickens County, SC. It seemed too far at 80 miles to be groundwave at our power levels, but as you say, it was a weird day for 20m! Steve, KC5F

[@ThomasK4SWL]

K8RAT mentioned that you were activating at the same time in SC and suggested I try a P2P. I was absolutely floored we made contact on 20M, but now knowing there was a flare involved, that explains it. Those flares can really make the higher bands come alive for both local and DX. Always great to work you, OM! Cheers, Thomas K4SWL

[@n97223]

Another awesome activation! Congrats on all contracts you got! I started to laugh when you switched to 17m and ended up in a pileup! Thanks again for sharing, I am all geared up to get going with POTA and getting better with CW with daily practice. Thanks for all the inspiration! 73 de N1ONE Bill

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you so much, Bill! :)

[@AllSySt3msG0]

I've been working on learning morse because of you :D I'm currently able to copy 25-30WPM characters at an effective speed of 8 WPM, I have an antenna in the mail, I 3d printed a iambic key and I'll be on the air very soon. Thanks for the videos!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

You'll be on the air before you know it! Very well done on your code speed--your brain will take over soon and speed will just happen on its own. I look forward to working you on the air!

[@alvarogaitan2529]

thanks Thomas another fantastic video 73 from kb2uew

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Many thanks! de K4SWL

[@W4RIN]

I think you can call those ants QRA hihi. 73 es tnx fer the video!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

QRA! I like that! :) Yes indeed, the QRA was horrible, but they were a bit annoying! :)

[@JayN4GO]

Holy crap man! That’s a fantastic activation. I thought you were going to get WAS sota qrp. Haha. I would love to chase sota but I can’t figure out how to get alerts when you guys are active. Can you do a vid on that? Gosh I want a kx2. Yes for sure on permithren. I got Lymes a few years ago in the Daniel Boone nat Forrest. I pulled 38 deer ticks in one night. Obviously one got in my groin area. I buy pure at the feed store and dilute it myself. I get about 40 bottles for 10$. Hihi. I let my close air dry after spraying es it lasts a very long time. Even after washing. Anyway. Fb on this all. That antenna must really work well. I haven’t gone to the paddles yet as I’m at 15wpm on the sk. I really want to transition over now. Thanks for helping

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Hi, Jay, So I've been using the SOTA Goat app as my main interface with SOTA spots. I haven't tried to set up SOTA alerts as a hunter because I typically just check spots when I have time during the day at home. And--wow--38 deer ticks? It must have taken ages just to pull them off! Wow. Cheers, Thomas

[@NSNorfolk]

Those using hand keys really ought to practice with them more often to get the weight and spacings correct. That seems to be 80% of your call sign challenge.

[@qrptedmac]

Just read the QRP'r as I always try to do first. This was an epic activation. I'm assuming 5W. PS: Ok you said 5w. Propagation is wild. I worked KH7Y in Hawaii from NW OHIO on the KX3 using 5w last week. I can’t figure it out.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

WOW! I've only worked Hawaii once and I think I was running something north of 20 watts SSB. Well done!

[@mikej-38qso22]

As always a great experience, I was curious about your comment regarding contacts form UT and TN. I found an app in the Play store That helps my place my inverted V radials so I can maximize my radiating pattern, ( Its simply a Compass but It can zoom out across the United Sates on the map). for example if I'm in Las Vegas and want to face Tallahassee Florida - the compass will draw a straight line and while zooming out I turn the phone in the direction I would like to go. It gives the miles and degrees as well, however I wonder if it would be useful with an Ended Fed Haft Wave antenna out in the field. I'm almost at the point I can get myself out and start making contacts in code. Thank you for sharing your adventures. To my surprise I have learned Just because you face west doesn't mean your facing the eastern states you think your facing.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

So during this particular activation, the active solar flare opened up 20 meters to not only long-path contact, but also local/regional ones. It essentially energized 20 meters for everyone which was great fun. I like the idea of this compass app you mention. That could be a huge help when setting up a sloper, dipole, loop or other directional antenna!

[@potatoslim2332]

Is it weird to say that I like your handwriting? And the pencil you use in these videos? Is that something I could find on amazon?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Ha ha! My wife makes fun of my handwriting. I'll show her your comment as proof it's not all that bad! :) The pencil is from this set--I had to find it in our past Amazon orders: amzn.to/2S7k4oN I really like them--the leads never break and you can sharpen the end in the cap!

[@joeblow8593]

Perhaps E-Skip was responsible for the shorter contacts. How far were the Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Tennessee stations?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

So I have a full report of the activation including a map on QRPer.com. Here's the link: qrper.com/2021/04/activating-the-pinnacle-amazing-sota-pota-fun-with-the-elecraft-kx2-and-chameleon-mpas-lite/

[@n4bc852]

Wow! that was a wild ride, eh? Good workout! 73 de Dick N4BC

[@ThomasK4SWL]

It was incredible fun. :)

[@trevmitchell4526]

Hi I've watched a lot of your videos and really like them. Like W1IT on another comment it helps to keep up the code. I am curious about your accent could you enlighten me please. I look forward to your next vid by the way I'm a subscriber 73 Trevor G1JZY Manchester UK

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thanks so much, Trevor! So my accent? It's North Carolinian if you hear me speaking to another North Carolinian, or I've had a few pints. :) I lived in France for a year, Germany for nearly a year, and in Surrey (Shere) for many years--and a year in London at the LSE. All those travels had an impact on my accent for sure--and definitely my word choice. 73, Thomas K4SWL / M0CYI

[@philippehaake6123]

sorry but you move your camera to quick... tnx for your video 73 qro HB9GUR