Pony Express Re-ride I had the opportunity to see the 2023 Pony Express Re-ride. This was the first year I heard of it, but it is an annual event each June. The 1,966 mile, eight state event is conducted 24 hours a day for 10 days until the mail is delivered to its destination. The ride starts in Sacramento California and end at St. Joseph Missouri. It goes through the following eight states: – California – Nevada – Utah – Wyoming – Nebraska – Colorado – Kansas – Missouri They actual take mail on the re-ride and do exchanges. They change horses and transfer the mail bags to the new horse. Le ..read more

I started this video a couple of years ago and decided to complete it.  It helps me remember the settings I need to do FT8 with my ICOM IC-7100. In this video I will show you the correct settings you need on your ICOM IC-7100 to use its internal sound card.  You need to make sure you have the DATA MOD OFF setting correct to use the internal sound card. Next I show you how to use my ICOM IC-7100 with WSJT-X software using FT8 to make some QSOs. I share some advice on where you should be in the band to be heard and avoid other stations interfering with you.  Using these setting ..read more

List of Best POTA HF Antennas I love doing POTA – Parks on the Air activations. I love the challenge of making ham radio contacts all over the world and visiting national parks, state parks and other POTA entities while doing it. I have had the chance to see a lot of beautiful scenery in the United States. The other reason I love doing POTA activations is because I can’t do any ham radio operations from my home. I live in a condo with no way to put up a ham radio HF antenna and there is so much RF noise I can’t hear anyone. So, what are the best portable ham radio HF antenna I use for my POTA ..read more

For 2022 Winter Field Day I decided to also do a Parks on the Air Activation. I decided on a place where I could do a POTA 2fer.  I went to K-5998 Horseshoe Springs Wildlife Management Area and K-4566 California National Historic Trail. I decided to go there because it was in the desert and there would be less snow.  I was not disappointed.  No snow and temperature in the low 50s with clear sunny skies. Before the start of Winter Field Day I did a Parks on the Air Activation and made 44 QSOs with one P2P all on 15 meters SSB in just 28 minutes. This included two DX contacts o ..read more