Team K0M is back and we are on the road for the Minnesota QSO Party! Will we beat last year’s score? Can we hit our stretch goal? Watch now in this rapid pace adventure. Team K0M is Michael KB9VBR and Dave KZ9V. This is our third year as mobile operators in the Minnesota QSO party. If you made contact with K0M during the QSO party and would like a card, please QSL via KB9VBR. As they say, I’m good in the book. Minnesota QSO Party: https://www.w0aa.org/mn-qso-party/ Things that helped us immensly: ARRL EFHW antenna: http://www.arrl.org/end-fed-half-wave-antenna-kit SOTAbeams mast: https://www ..read more

Joe and I head out to the off-grid cabin for Winter Field Day. Barker and Williamson Tactical Folded Dipole Antenna: https://www.bwantennas.com/bwdi.html Chameleon LEFS-8010 End Fed Half Wave Antenna: https://chameleonantenna.com/shop-here/ols/products/cha-lefs-8010 N3FJP Ham Radio Contest Log: https://www.n3fjp.com/ Heil Ham Radio BM-17 Dual headset: https://heilhamradio.com/product/bm-17-2/ How I record my contact audio: https://youtu.be/tOqzZPphE7k My headset trigger switch: https://youtu.be/b5Wu8BlrSF0 As a bonus, patrons can view the unedited phone contacts for the first hour of Winter F ..read more

I made over 1000 contacts and spent a month working with the Chameleon PRV or Portable Resonant Vertical Antenna kit. The core of the PRV is the Multi Configuration Coil or MCC. This adjustable coil, when paired with an appropriate length whip, will operate on any frequency between 6 and 80 meters. The PRV kit is well suited for outdoor and portable operations such as SOTA, Summits on the Air or POTA, Parks on the Air. Chameleon PRV (Portable Resonant Vertical Kit): https://chameleonantenna.com/shop-here/ols/products/cha-mcc A Chameleon PRV POTA Kit was provided in exchange for this video. PR ..read more

Watch me, in real time, as I deploy an end fed half wave antenna, set up my station on a picnic table, and do a QRP (5 watt) POTA activation on the 15 meter band. Products seen in this video: Weaver Leather Products 12 ounce throw weight: https://amzn.to/47jxpeS Atwood Rope MFG 275 Tactical Paracord 100 Feet 4-Strand: https://amzn.to/4aIPi9w Rode Wireless GO II 2-Person Compact Wireless Mic: https://amzn.to/48CEHLx Talentcell 12V LiFePO4 Battery Pack LF120A1: https://amzn.to/3voW3gU Coffee and Ham Radio Apollo EFHW antenna: https://coffee-and-ham-radios.square.site/product/cahrtenna-apollo-en ..read more

Our Ham Radio holiday adventure takes us to Wisconsin’s scenic Door County peninsula on the shores of Lake Michigan. We activate to Parks on the Air parks: Potawatomie State Park (POTA K-1472) and Newport State Park (POTA K-1468). Plus, we explore a Door County Christkindlmarkt, have dinner in a historic Wisconsin Supper Club, and top off the evening playing classic arcade games. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas. Links and resources: Stormy Kromer wool cap: https://amzn.to/3tp1nQB Gabil GRA-7350tc vertical antenna: https://amzn.to/3teH1tq Gabil GRA-ULT01 MK3 Antenna base: https://amzn.to/47 ..read more

I head out to Dewey Marsh State Wildlife Area (POTA K-9840) with my QRP Yaesu FT-817ND to give the Chameleon OCF 40 Off Center Fed dipole antenna a test. The CHA OCF40 is a very lightweight and backpackable medium power antenna — intended for extreme portable use, such as: Parks On the Air (POTA), Summits On the Air (SOTA), and other outdoor QRP radio adventures where an effective antenna is required. Chameleon OCF 40 Off Center Fed Dipole Antenna: https://chameleonantenna.com/shop-here/ols/products/cha-ocf-40/v/CHA-OCF-40-ORANGE Minus33 Merino Wool Fingerless Glove: https://amzn.to/47TZj1E M ..read more

(February 14, 2024) In the social forums, I often see the question posed by a newer POTA enthusiast asking if anyone does any Parks on the Air activations on the 80 meter band. This is a great question, as 80 meters is excellent for getting those local and regional contacts and it often is a band that is needed if you are interested in your N1CC award. But there are certain challenges with that band and they are multiplied when you go portable. Being at the top of the solar cycle, 80 meters is relegated to being a night time band. During the day the noise floor is just too high for the weaker ..read more

These are the two things you need to do to a new piece of coax cable before you start using it. Links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not affect the price you pay. Like what you see? You can leave me a tip: https://www.paypal.me/kb9vbr Become a patron! Unlock exclusive content at: https://www.patreon.com/kb9vbrantennas Support Ham Radio Q&A by shopping at Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kO6LH7 The post Do This! These Two Things Help Your Coax Last Longer appeared first on KB9VBR Antennas ..read more

I head to Council Grounds State Park (POTA K-1447) to test the new Chameleon LEFS 4010 end fed half wave antenna system. The LEFS or Light Weight Antenna System is a versatile EFHW HF antenna with tuner-free operation on 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters and can be used with a tuner on 60, 30, 17, and 12 meters. This lightweight antenna is specially good for low power, or QRP, operation and is small enough to be carried in your pack for portable POTA and SOTA adventures. Chameleon LEFS 4010 Lightweight End Fed Sloper Antenna: https://chameleonantenna.com/shop-here/ols/products/cha-lefs-4010/v/CHA-LEF ..read more

We take the Gabil GRA-7350TC portable whip antenna and lightweight tripod up north with us to Madeline Island on the shore of Lake Superior (Big Bay State Park K-1439) to give it a test and see if this really is the ultimate in portable, packable, HF vertical antennas. Read my updated thoughts on the Gabil antenna: https://www.jpole-antenna.com/2023/11/28/activation-log-the-gabil-antenna-maybe-its-not-so-bad/ Gabil GRA-7350TC 3/8×24 Portable HF antenna: https://amzn.to/4638Sd5 Gabil GRA-ULT01 MK3 Lightweight portable antenna tripod: https://amzn.to/472QXVh Links may be affiliate links. As an ..read more