We Kicked POTA Butt On New Years Day 2024!!

[@TheREALJosephTurner]

Hey Mike, I really appreciate that you took the time to pull out my extremely weak signal (2-2) on 17 meters. In my defense, I don't even have an antenna for 17- I was using a homemade "double bazooka" dipole cut for 40, which "sorta" works on 17, and even worse on 15. Most people would have passed my signal by, especially when there were other stronger stations available- but you took the time. I really appreciate that. YOU ROCK!

[@hamradiotube]

Hey my pleasure. I actually did something I don't usually do and stopped and asked for QRP or Mobile Stations. Actually worked quite a few of them.

[@w4bkt]

The Wyoming comment had me laughing! I got in the log shortly after that one. Thanks for pulling the little guy out of the mud!! I need some more fine tuning on my setup and then I’ll start activating versus just hunting.

[@danielbeights6587]

I just got my first radio today, turned it on, and hit scan. It stopped on your conversation and you mentioned your channel to someone so I had to look you up. Hoping to pass the Technician test next week so I can finally key in and say hi.

[@hamradiotube]

Oh wow, how cool is that! Well thanks for stopping by and welcome to the hobby. Hit that PTT button when you get your callsign for sure! Ham radio is truly a wonderful hobby and there's so many wonderful people in it. I've made a lot of friends all over the world because of it.

[@BryanDaniel42]

sure looks like fun time! I enjoyed my POTA activation in Big Bend Ranch State Park that weekend!

[@Dusty_Ham]

Looks like a great time being had by all! Happy New Year!

[@robertjohnson2586]

Awesome I was just there few weeks ago doing a carnival cruise

[@hamradiotube]

That would been cool if you could do some maritime mobile operating from the ship!

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

I played pota this past Saturday with 3 guys I'd never met before..WD4DAN, W1RCP, and KO4NLL. All of us nuts and messed up crazy on the air. 4 guys sharing my new G90. Grand time and new friends!

[@hamradiotube]

Heck yeah man it's all about the fun and adventure!

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

Ga good ole boys and a double E geek.

[@TankRadio]

Whats going on here? YOU SHOOT VIDEO ON MY BIRTHDAY, on MY BRTHDAY ACTIVATIoN!!!🤣

[@hamradiotube]

Well the camera was right in front of you...

[@TankRadio]

@@hamradiotubeOMG THE TANK RADIO BIRD. I love it man. Rock on my Metal Brother

[@robertmeyer4744]

happy you had a great time. Jason still not build that DX commander ? LOL. The bird running on the beach saying Tank Radio. The bands hopping in NY as well. 10 meters really hot. lots of FT8 and JS8 call . even some RITTY and AM . got some SSTV pics from 10 meters . I made some pic's for SSTV POTA. now all I have to do is snap a pic of the park I am at. and add the park number. I got that GPS dongle from your link. I got same ferrite 240 core on my USB and power leads as well. love that Tank Radio 9:1 build . nice battery boxes ! 73's

[@hamradiotube]

He's never building that antenna. That bird scene was the highlight of the video for me though. I just randomly put that clip there and saw the little bird. He had just as much excitement as Frank, I just had too. I've not delved into SSTV yet but it looks pretty cool. I think there is software for Mac too. I really need to look into that. And that GPS dongle saved my activation when Ryan, KF8IV and I were at Big Bend National Park. No cell signal and my $60 Craptop is horrible at keeping time. Loaded that bugger in with BKT Time sync and got it all sorted so I could play FT8.

[@av3510]

Epic Frank Activation

[@hamradiotube]

Should we call it a "Franktivation"

[@TankRadio]

@av3510 @@hamradiotube Did someone say TANK RADIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@oz1iom]

happy new year to you all

[@FIL357]

Hi Mike, thank you for your video. Always informative and humorous. Followed you for some time. I am non-tecki so your info greatly valued. Best regards, phil - Suffolk. U.K.

[@Scout75PortableRadio]

Looks like a fun time had by fun people. Great stuff, my friend.

[@hamradiotube]

Any time playing radio is fun. It's even better when you're with your friends. Including Frank.

[@DellFargus]

Got Tank, Jason, and JoeBrett in my log. The bands went to crap when you and Scott were on. I heard you like 3/3, but there were like 700 people in the pileup. Tank was my first contact on my DX Commander that I got for Christmas.

[@hamradiotube]

The bands went to crap because Scott and I were on lol! Congrats on the DX Commander, it's a hell of an antenna. Sorry Frank had to be the one to christen it though.

[@DellFargus]

Nah, it wasn't because of you and Scott. I blame the 20m band. The weather here has been cold and damp since Christmas (wow...that's such a stereotypical ham statement, so I'll stop...sorry, drunk.) I gotta tune the foldbacks on the DX Commander - it is head and shoulder above my EFHW, but I've been cheating using a manual tuner to force it to work. I'm going to send Frank a QSL card AND a birthday card, because Frank is Frank.

[@ReedAB8AS]

Cool! Looks like you guys had a great time. Thanks Mike.

[@hamradiotube]

You only say that because you made it in the video lol!

[@ReedAB8AS]

@@hamradiotube 😂

[@MikeN2MAK]

A kickass start to the new year!

[@Ranaesix]

Great video of everyones setup!

[@hamradiotube]

It was only because of your (and maybe a little bit from Vern,) hospitality.

[@jmount1200]

My 10 Watts was no match for the pile-up you all had going on New Years Day. I had fun on my Summit without a Park 40 plus more QSO's in my log using the Rybakov with 2 counterpoise.

[@w5licanthony66]

We use that same spot for the club POTA

[@davidelkins571]

At least it wasn't foggy like last year

[@n2yqt]

I really like that name tag on the Big Geek 😉

[@Tommy-K4BWN]

Thanks!

[@hamradiotube]

Hey thank you so much!

[@kyoshivp]

I haven’t done a POTA since July due to other commitments, so you’re making me want together out there even more than I already do. 😂

[@hamradiotube]

Do or do not. There is no try. I hope you get a chance to go out soon though.

[@KC2BKM]

Thats summer time weather in Michigan! I think i Heard you guys couldnt make the connection. Always next time. When will we see some POTA HARD! stickers? -K2bkm

[@hamradiotube]

It gets a little hotter there, but that's why I moved. Me and cold do not play nice together. As the person who coined the phrase "Ham Harder", I don't think I'll do a POTA HARD sticker, but a Ham Harder sticker might be possible in the future. Who knows? It only took me how many years to make this first sticker lol?

[@prephampaul]

New Year's resolution.... Ham Harder!!💪

[@hamradiotube]

That's all I know how to do. Lest we forget, I did coin that term.

[@r2dtxradiobushcrafting]

HNY Mike.

[@LEEGOODRICH]

Thanks!

[@hamradiotube]

Hey thanks so much!

[@LifeAtTerminalVelocity]

Looks like a fun day if you ask me.

[@K5YVY]

Oooo Ham Radio Tube mentioned me🫶

[@hamradiotube]

You're KZbin famous now.

[@robwoodwe5495]

Fun watch !!

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks so much!

[@sdmay1980]

I activated there back in May and November. It's a really nice place.

[@hamradiotube]

Isn't it?

[@Jake_WY7JMS]

Your thumbnail almost looked like you had a 2x4 slung over your shoulder and it reminded me of Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

[@hamradiotube]

Who says I don't?

[@dougdaniels]

Mike's wearing a t-shirt and Tank has on a winter coat and wool hat!

[@hamradiotube]

I already apologized for Frank in the video. I'm not going to do it in the comments too lol!

[@hosgs14]

🔥

[@hamradiotube]

That says it all

[@stephanhersey1186]

Enjoyed the video but a little confused. Did you pull this out of the archives or did you make a typo? It's 2024. None the less it was a good video. Thanks, Steve, k7ofg

[@hamradiotube]

Lol good catch! It was 2024

[@stevegriffin9552]

Hey Mike really enjoyed the video. Looks like you guys had a lot of fun. Also what beautiful place to do pota. I know it’s late, but I want to say have a fantastic new year. And thanks for the videos. WD5ENH Steve

[@hamradiotube]

Happy New Year to you

[@truckinguy92]

I tried to get you, but the pileup was immense.

[@KI7JOM]

Mmmm! Steaks!

[@hamradiotube]

Oh, I see what you did there!

[@KI7JOM]

@@hamradiotube if you come up here and SOTA or POTA with me, there's a steak dinner in it for you!

[@hamradiotube]

@@KI7JOM That's a bit of a hike for me. It better not be a Hi Viz Yellow steak!

[@W7JSJHamRadioAndMore]

Mike I tried to get you I was @ a 5 pota park in Virginia

[@hamradiotube]

Oh man that would have been awesome! Thanks for trying.

[@Windmill97]

I tried to find you on WSJT-X (I saw you on the POTA site), but no luck. I hope to run into you at some point since I’m just up the road in Aggieland. 73’s!

[@hamradiotube]

I just drove through there the other day.

[@Windmill97]

If you can hit the repeater in Carlos maybe I’ll catch you there. It’s midway between Huntsville and CStat. Thanks for the vids. You helped me setup WSJT-X on my Mac when no one else could. Keep up the great work, bro!

[@hamradiotube]

@@Windmill97 I didn't even know about that repeater. I'm listening to the 145.470 repeater right now and it's loud and clear, full bars on the meter.

[@Windmill97]

Yeah, that’s the one. I’m listening right now. Some of the guys who frequent the South Coast Reflector are on there. Sounds like a net meeting. I’ll catch you some time this weekend, maybe. KI5QNR

[@Ammed_KN6STX]

Bold face Lie!!!😂

[@lewislebron4090]

No, he has a time machine!

[@Kickstar.]

Thanks for letting me crash your POTA party. KB0TBC

[@michaelkalter5149]

Great video! de W8CI

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks!