Three Watts and a Wire: Seizing a Last-Minute POTA Opportunity with the Elecraft KX1!

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@BikingHikingRadio 9 ай бұрын

Wow that worked out great with the 30 meter EFHW vertical in the tree. You had a great signal up here. And, I do recall smiling to myself when you were returning my call. Those senior moments happen. Last weekend I did an activation and the station I was working was QRP. I replied FB sig with QR - and I couldn't for the life of me remember the P....yeah it happens. Glad to get a P2P with you Thomas and good to get you in the log as always. Tonight I'm going to do a short activation with my new FX-4CR. That's a very nice radio and I can't wait to use it more once the weather gets nicer up here. 73 Scott. KN3A.

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

Brilliant, Scott! It's always a pleasure working you, OM.

@BobBroeking 9 ай бұрын

Nice job Thomas!

@billcosgrave6232 9 ай бұрын

I agree that Elecraft makes very durable and reliable equipment. They remind me of high-end stereo equipment from years ago. industrial, functional designs.

@EvanK2EJT 9 ай бұрын

I have to agree, there's something about the KX1 that makes it special. I love mine!

@lstavenhagen 6 ай бұрын

I've built 2 K2's and a K3 (which I don't have anymore unfortunately) - worked perfectly first time even tho it was me - all thumbs - who built them, and I still have a K3S. It was a factory built 10watt version and it's a superb radio. The only issue with Elecraft nowadays is you can't get the KX2 or 3 or most anything in a timely manner anymore - Covid was really tough for their supply chains and it's taking them a long time to dig out. But I agree they're a great outfit and I hope they stick around!

@jamescoffey5225 9 ай бұрын

I own a KX1 and love it! I didn't build it. I bought it on ebay when one just "popped up" suddenly, or so it would seem. Finding the KX1 available on ebay was merely a matter of good timing, so I bought it outright and declined to bid on it. It is now I suppose a vintage transeiver, but it always will be "new" to me. Wonderful audio and a decent auto ATU for 40-30-20m. I haven't yet tried the ATU on 80m. If the wire is more or less resident, then I think that the otherwise compromised auto ATU might work well. If not, then I can use my T1 or my manual Z-match ATU. Another great and informative/educational video. Thanks. 72 de AE5ZX

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

The KX1 is a keeper! Glad you have one!

@KS4YX 9 ай бұрын

Love Sycamore Flats. Lots of great memories there. I need to sneak up there and add a new park to my cradentials.

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

Indeed you do!

@southDutchMan 9 ай бұрын

Good luck and much health to your father in law. Really enjoying the video's!

@thedamned6248 9 ай бұрын

I am buying recycled stone notebooks. I never knew they had such a thing, but they are great. Durable and water and tear resistant. Good stuff. Expensive but good.

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

I will look into this!

@TridentMissileTech 9 ай бұрын

Love elecraft. My only fault with them is the expense. Wish they would move out of California and come to NC. Fayetteville would love to have them. Wish they would produce KX1 again. Also love QRP-Labs. Love QMX.

@prh8068 9 ай бұрын

I always enjoy your activation videos and it was fun to hear my QSO with you. BTW, I was in Michigan not Ohio. 73, N8XMS

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

Ooops! :) Must have been pure muscle memory logging MI. :) Thank you for the contact, OM.

@ae4xo 9 ай бұрын

did you get the DJI mics? I like them. I think you be pleased with the range and the audio quality

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

Yes I did and I LOVE them!

@billcosgrave6232 9 ай бұрын

Its been a good month for me: I am expecting the new KH1 any day now; I recently had a very kind ham radio operator gift me his K2 which is an awesome radio; and we are having an early spring here in the Midwest. 73 de KD9SOK.

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

Oh WOW! I hope your KH1 has arrived by now and I also hope you have a lot of fun with the K2. Both are excellent rigs!

@JustMe-dv5ix 9 ай бұрын

As always I enjoy watching your outings. Seems you are addicted to POTA, and I can understand why. I would like for you to challenge yourself by just going out into a park or anywhere away from home and see how many contacts you cam make in an hours time without calling POTA or spotting, just a regular Ham operator calling CQ and also answering CQ's. A real world contact moment. I think you will have fun doing so, kind of spicing it up a bit. Are you up for it.

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

Oh yeah, 100%! Indeed, I do this at least a couple times a month when I'm just testing radios at home or I'm out and about but not at a park. The problem is, so many people have me in Ham Alert and assume I'm in a park, that I end up doing short exchanges anyway. The RBN catches me, then Ham Alert notifies the hunters even though I'm not on the POTA spots page. The trick is to not call CQ and simply answer other CQ calls. That way the RBN doesn't grab me. :)

@JustMe-dv5ix 8 ай бұрын

@@ThomasK4SWL Yes I can see thet being an issue, ya just answer CQ's, that makes sense.

@peterhardy5071 9 ай бұрын

I'm a big fan of using a dollar bill to clean contacts. If I want them really clean I use a five dollar bill, lol.

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

Oh man...and I had a $20 bill in my pocket! 😆

@brianve7jyd943 9 ай бұрын

match book cover works good 73

@KC2BKM 9 ай бұрын

Man its such a beautiful area even in winter. Just started book four of William R Forstchen's dystopian fiction series thats starts with "One second After' Which takes place in and around Montreat/Black Mountain NC. I have wanted to see the area ever since the first book. (Bonus: Theres Ham radio in the book)

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

Yes, I had lunch with Bill shortly after he published his second book. He's a super nice fellow and, yes, we talked a lot of radio. This is a reminder that I need to catch up with him again! Thanks!

@KC2BKM 8 ай бұрын

@@ThomasK4SWL Cool that you know him. The problem with books these days is it would be weird to ask him to sign my kindle. Good writer. I’ll bet he’s a good conversation as well. Tell him you have a fan who’s a fan, which is unusual as I am not fan type of guy. To have two people I am a fan of know each other ……it may be time to head to the closest bunker lol.

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

@@KC2BKM I think even Bill would tell you that his first book was difficult to write because it's such a bleak outlook on life when infrastructure fails. That bit about the protagonist's daughter was very difficult for me to read. He is indeed a great conversationalist and a wonderful fellow. Next time I see him I'l mention this! :)

@KC2BKM 8 ай бұрын

@@ThomasK4SWL It was down right scary and heartbreaking. Given that the story is based on real world numbers if such an event ever occurred.

@darrellmortensen9805 9 ай бұрын

Who of your friends that 3D print items for you. Do they or would they print an item for hire? I am looking to get a couple of cases for the W8BH Morse Tutor. Great work you do with your KZbin. Condolences for the loss of your Mother 😢.

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

You might ask Joshua at Tufteln. He is a very busy guy, but maybe could help you. That said, if you belong to a ham radio club, you should ask club members. I would be willing to bet that someone int he club could print it for you. I doubt it's a complicated print.

@KC2BKM 9 ай бұрын

Is there a video of you using N6ARA's tiny paddle?

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

Yes there is. Check out this field report and video. I think the first time I used it: qrper.com/2021/12/pota-field-report-activating-south-mountains-with-the-new-n6ara-tinypaddle/?swcfpc=1

@KC2BKM 8 ай бұрын

@@ThomasK4SWL cool thanks. Your library of videos is getting large hard to find a particular item. Oh I see I didn’t think to go to the Qrp site.

@N2AKJ 9 ай бұрын

Dollar bill works I have a sp4 I don't know which version of the sp4 you have I have the updated version

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

I have a very early version. Thanks for the tip!

@N2AKJ 8 ай бұрын

@ThomasK4SWL if you reach out to cwmorse and tell him you have the early version of the sp4 he'll most likely send you the updated version and have you send yours to him

@KeepEvery1Guessing 9 ай бұрын

I wonder if a dollar bill would work for contact cleaning.

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

It will. And I even had one in my wallet at the time, but it never crossed my mind. :)

@nickkendall3764 9 ай бұрын

The audio sounds very different to me "the crunch of the leaves" the "clips on the case for the radio" and such sound brighter and more live maybe my ears are broken or something but the audio sounds different did you do anything different audio wise and also I wonder if anyone else heard it or am I imagining it which is entirely possible lol

@ThomasK4SWL 8 ай бұрын

I think I was using my new OSMO 4 camera in this video. That probably accounts for it.

@N2AKJ 9 ай бұрын

Gm Tom hope all is well n2akj&w2smf will be at Harriman state pk k-2069 today and on the air by probably 12:30 latest ssb only I'd do cw but he doesn't want me messing with his radio settings so ssb only look for us on the pota spotting page 73's de n2akj..