Great video! I use my Grand Cherokee as a ground plane for all of my POTA activations - except for when I'm not using it! But seriously - I even use the Jeep as a ground plane for activations on 160 meters, and yes, I still get out great!
That park is a fav! Using the big truck as the counterpoint is a great strategy. I’ve gotten thousands of QSOs doing just that. Thanks for taking me back to White Sands, Steve! 73!
Experimentation and improvisation is the spirit of Amateur Radio, and I’m enjoying all of these videos you’re doing. Keep being awesome and 73! ❤ - KF0QNM
I was just at White Sands 4 weeks ago!! So interesting to see how they maintain the roads just like plowing snow in northern climates. I recommend going to see the Carrizozo lava fields and visiting San Antonio, NM for a chile burger.
Damn nice truck! Suggestion: Try a 2nd mast, mounted to a footplate that you drive over. Keep the current mast setup on the rear. This will provide an "inverted L" setup for the wire and get the main lobe away from the truck which will absorb and shunt much of the RF in the current setup. Excellent setup Steve, just add a 2nd mast and I think you'll see great gains IMO. 73 OM
@@temporarilyoffline Actually what he did makes sense from a NVIS perspective.With that radiator angle he'll be sending a big lobe off into the sky that he could use to talk to aliens or just bounce it off the ionosphere.
Lol got to love the diesels that make the ticking through the radio i try and do 10 meter on the move and always seem to have one show up when i find a contact
You seem like the kind of guy that would enjoy hooking up to the discone antenna at the Titan 2 museum in Tucson... any chance you're swinging by there?
i do the same thing with my transit T350 LWB high deck work van. I have a flagpole mount for the tow hitch on the back stick a nice 30 ft pole in that and the antenna down to the front fender where the vhf mount is or heck even just run the wire down back to the hamstick mount on the back door
That a great idea . next time put a flag on top of mast . Nice to use battery box . I get RFI noise like that when I do parks as well. It varys a lot . some cars/trucks are real bad and some just a tad. I bet if you did FT8 with that setup it would do great . If you had the smartphone app for SSTV you can decode SSTV with the phone. Just hold phone buy speaker. Works with most radios and can sent SSTV threw threw MIC . No sound card or PC needed. We do it with RFS radios in the park. Even works on CB . I sent PIC to England from NY on SSB 11 meters. He sent pic back. The fun you can have with radio ! POTA is any mode as long as simplex ! I love that ! 73
@@temporarilyoffline I think I've activated from that same parking lot. I usually take I40 to Quartzfest, but a couple years ago I ran all the way down to I10 to avoid a storm and activated there.
Good video. I have been dealing with engine noise (i think its the injectors) on HF bands on my Ram 2500 (diesel). I've bonded most of the truck together including the exhaust pipe. The noise isn't so bad that its unusable but it is annoying. I have the exact same mount as you do on your truck so I figured I would ask. Did you ever have issues with noise and if so how did you correct it on your rig? Thanks!
WHITE SANDS , you see I like that years ago people called it as they saw it plain and simple , the sand is white we will call this place WHITE SAND , no guessing where you at there .. ( what’s your 20 , I’m in White Sand , 10-4 that’s over there where the sand is white, Roger 😂.,,, 😎👋
This guy thinks hes doing something new, when NGO aid workers have been doing this in white toyota SUVs for like the last 30 years in the highlands of Namibia.
![The Ultimate Guide to HF Quarter Wave Antennas [step by step]](/img/1.gif)
@2:36 You also know the croaking chorus from the “Frogs” of Aristophanes. Truly, sir, you are a renaissance ham.
Why thank you sir!
Great video! I use my Grand Cherokee as a ground plane for all of my POTA activations - except for when I'm not using it!
But seriously - I even use the Jeep as a ground plane for activations on 160 meters, and yes, I still get out great!
160 Meters is a challenge! Way to go!
That park is a fav! Using the big truck as the counterpoint is a great strategy. I’ve gotten thousands of QSOs doing just that. Thanks for taking me back to White Sands, Steve! 73!
Hey Mike! It's a great place!
Experimentation and improvisation is the spirit of Amateur Radio, and I’m enjoying all of these videos you’re doing. Keep being awesome and 73! ❤ - KF0QNM
Thanks for the kind words!
I was just at White Sands 4 weeks ago!! So interesting to see how they maintain the roads just like plowing snow in northern climates. I recommend going to see the Carrizozo lava fields and visiting San Antonio, NM for a chile burger.
I'll put them on the list of things to check out! Thanks for the tip!
Damn nice truck! Suggestion: Try a 2nd mast, mounted to a footplate that you drive over. Keep the current mast setup on the rear. This will provide an "inverted L" setup for the wire and get the main lobe away from the truck which will absorb and shunt much of the RF in the current setup. Excellent setup Steve, just add a 2nd mast and I think you'll see great gains IMO. 73 OM
I want to get a front mount hitch and then 2 hitch mount mast holders... but MONEY!!!
@@temporarilyoffline Actually what he did makes sense from a NVIS perspective.With that radiator angle he'll be sending a big lobe off into the sky that he could use to talk to aliens or just bounce it off the ionosphere.
I went to under grad not far from White Sands. Thanks for your content and for showing some of the park. 73, Bill.
Thanks for watching!
nice Steve... that is a great set-up
Fast and Cheerful!
Great looking day, free energy, good contacts, what more could ya ask for, cool video, tnx. man!
It was a great day!
Lol got to love the diesels that make the ticking through the radio i try and do 10 meter on the move and always seem to have one show up when i find a contact
My NB made that go away, does that work for you?
@ no mine isnt strong enough i leave mine on all the time and it barely helps
@@KQ4KXA you are driving a big truck though!
I hitch mounted a 12m pole. It rocks.
Gets it done and then some!
I really liked the radio sounds over scenic views. Thank you!
Nobody wants to watch me make contacts 😭😭😭
Ive got one of those tailgate handles on my f150, I never would've thought of that!!! Thanks for the idea😂
No problem! I'm too cheap for a hitch mount mast holder, so this is the way!
You seem like the kind of guy that would enjoy hooking up to the discone antenna at the Titan 2 museum in Tucson... any chance you're swinging by there?
I'm pretty close to Tuscon... might have to try that!
This is what HAM is all about. Love it.
It was a lot of fun!
i do the same thing with my transit T350 LWB high deck work van. I have a flagpole mount for the tow hitch on the back stick a nice 30 ft pole in that and the antenna down to the front fender where the vhf mount is or heck even just run the wire down back to the hamstick mount on the back door
Everything is an antenna!
@ even the 30ft extension ladder that is on the roof of the van has been used as one
@WX4CB I'd do that too!
Great job......that's how you HamHarder! 73s W1FYG
I TELL MY WIFE ALL THE TIME I’M GONNA DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT TODAY … YOU EVER NOTICED CHANGE IS HARD 😂🤷♂️☕️👋Good Morning.😎
I decided to make change normal... now normal is hard.
Check out Hatch, NM for some great 🌶️ and the quaint historic village of Mesilla outside of Las Cruces, NM.
Will do!
Was that red truck a diesel? Diesel alternators will do that, often hear it from the semis on the interstates.
I bet it was.
That's pretty slick.
Thanks, I always try to challenge myself to something new.
instead of zipties. velcro works better. and what works better then both are plant ties you can buy in a long roll.
I'll have to look up plant ties.
Sounded like an injector pulse on that red truck. Cool video.
It probably was!
That a great idea . next time put a flag on top of mast . Nice to use battery box . I get RFI noise like that when I do parks as well. It varys a lot . some cars/trucks are real bad and some just a tad. I bet if you did FT8 with that setup it would do great . If you had the smartphone app for SSTV you can decode SSTV with the phone. Just hold phone buy speaker. Works with most radios and can sent SSTV threw threw MIC . No sound card or PC needed. We do it with RFS radios in the park. Even works on CB . I sent PIC to England from NY on SSB 11 meters. He sent pic back. The fun you can have with radio ! POTA is any mode as long as simplex ! I love that ! 73
SSTV POTA Activation! I can see it now! (literally)
Now I got to explain to XYL why I bought a Super Duty dually! What ant used when mobile?
I use the Radioddity UV-711 - Check it out: www.radioddity.com/products/radioddity-uv711
COME TO CHAMIZAL NATIONAL PARK IN EL PASO
On the list!
Nice and it works thats cool.
It's amazing what you can do with steel.
Way to bring it!
Thanks Mike!
I was seeing a delta loop but it didn't happen 😢. That's ok 😅
Next time!
I've got a similar setup for my 40M "mobile" inverted L
Nice! I need a front hitch next!
@@temporarilyoffline I think I've activated from that same parking lot. I usually take I40 to Quartzfest, but a couple years ago I ran all the way down to I10 to avoid a storm and activated there.
@@dah_ditdit_dahdah My first attempt a year ago was on a trip from Tuscon airport to my then home in Wisconsin.
Good video. I have been dealing with engine noise (i think its the injectors) on HF bands on my Ram 2500 (diesel). I've bonded most of the truck together including the exhaust pipe. The noise isn't so bad that its unusable but it is annoying. I have the exact same mount as you do on your truck so I figured I would ask. Did you ever have issues with noise and if so how did you correct it on your rig? Thanks!
I haven't done HF mobile yet, but my NB takes out the noise pretty well. Does yours work well?
@temporarilyoffline I'm using the x6100 for my truck and it helps but still very noticeable
Good Stuff...
Glad you like it!
WELCOME TO MY PART OF TOWN LAS CRUCES/ELPASO
It's great here!
You are ready for Quartzfest
I am! See you there!
Weird things with antennas? The mast is not a stripper pole, Steve!
You didn't watch until the end of the video :-D
WHITE SANDS , you see I like that years ago people called it as they saw it plain and simple , the sand is white we will call this place WHITE SAND , no guessing where you at there .. ( what’s your 20 , I’m in White Sand , 10-4 that’s over there where the sand is white, Roger 😂.,,, 😎👋
I say that everytime I pass "Airport Road" ... Except for "Sweetwater Road" and the "Honey Wagon" that goes there ;-)
That’s one heavy antenna.
I couldn't lift it much
trucktenna
Ya got me!
Why is called a 4.5 Ton Antenna?
The truck is 4.5 tons.
@temporarilyoffline Oh. Good one!!
This guy thinks hes doing something new, when NGO aid workers have been doing this in white toyota SUVs for like the last 30 years in the highlands of Namibia.
There is very little new in ham radio
@@temporarilyoffline actually pretty cool, not gonna lie
Always have to try something new. Even if it doesn't work sometimes.