Canyons on the Air! I’m with ya, brother! I reached out 2400 miles on the 20-meter band when activating US-0030 from the banks of the Colorado River. The antenna was a 40-meter EFHW sloping from 3 to 12 feet high.
Great video. When I activate in a valley, I have found two tricks to help me get out of the valley. One is to replace the four ground-mounted radials with a single elevated counterpoise, about a quarter wavelength long, but the length is not critical if you are using a tuner. The single elevated counterpoise fills in the null that is directly over a vertical that has a symmetrical ground. It has helped to get a good NVIS takeoff and put a solid signal out to about 500 miles on 40m and 30m during the day. The other is to use a wire with at least part of it running horizontally. For activations out of cell range, I have recently started using SOTAmat to initiate a CW spot on the POTA page, and it works perfectly. You can simply hold the mic of your G90 up to your cell phone and it will work fine. I use it with my QMX and cell phone. Makes a big difference to get that first spot up on the board. 73 N9OHW
I will have to try that. I have been removing to pre spot before I go out just in case. I will try this new antenna setup. Thanks for the tips. Thanks for watching. 73s
Thanks for your service! I'm retired army, satcom, etc. Vertical antennas have worked for me in the past! Still working on my CW, maybe I'll catch you on the air soon!
Thank you for your service also. Start hunting CW pota to help your cw copy it is a set QSO. Hope to catch you on the air sometime. Thanks for watching. 73s
@@MyHamRadioJourney Solid advice! I've been doing just that! I'll add your callsign to Hamalert and I'll get a notification that you are xmitting. Be safe.
Raccoon Creek State Park. Gosh, I haven't been there in decades and it's just a short piece south of here. I've chasing POTA activations for a few months. I've been thinking about doing an activation. Presque Isle may be a good place to try. See if I can get up over the rigid to the south. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for the content and good topic indeed. I like Raccoon.. and there are some pretty decent high spots (which I’m sure you know well). I do like being by water, bc it’s very pleasant, but does tend to put you in a hole.
I normally activate on top at the second pull off from 18. I still want to activate from the other side no tables but I have a plan. Thanks for watching. 73s
What kind of emergency activation is going to require you to communicate more than NVIS distance away? We're talking asteroids and nuclear war if its that bad, right?
Not at all. Maybe a natural disaster or any time a entire grid goes off line. One time there were people who had no cell service and they wanted to get in touch with loved ones to tell them they were okay. Thanks for watching. 73s
Canyons on the Air! I’m with ya, brother! I reached out 2400 miles on the 20-meter band when activating US-0030 from the banks of the Colorado River. The antenna was a 40-meter EFHW sloping from 3 to 12 feet high.
It sounds like that was a great setup. I always say it is all about choosing the correct antenna. Thanks for watching.73s
Great video. When I activate in a valley, I have found two tricks to help me get out of the valley. One is to replace the four ground-mounted radials with a single elevated counterpoise, about a quarter wavelength long, but the length is not critical if you are using a tuner. The single elevated counterpoise fills in the null that is directly over a vertical that has a symmetrical ground. It has helped to get a good NVIS takeoff and put a solid signal out to about 500 miles on 40m and 30m during the day. The other is to use a wire with at least part of it running horizontally. For activations out of cell range, I have recently started using SOTAmat to initiate a CW spot on the POTA page, and it works perfectly. You can simply hold the mic of your G90 up to your cell phone and it will work fine. I use it with my QMX and cell phone. Makes a big difference to get that first spot up on the board. 73 N9OHW
Stellar comment. Very good tips here, and matches my experience that running at least partially horizontal is beneficial in those instances.
I will have to try that. I have been removing to pre spot before I go out just in case. I will try this new antenna setup. Thanks for the tips. Thanks for watching. 73s
Thanks for your service! I'm retired army, satcom, etc. Vertical antennas have worked for me in the past! Still working on my CW, maybe I'll catch you on the air soon!
Thank you for your service also. Start hunting CW pota to help your cw copy it is a set QSO. Hope to catch you on the air sometime. Thanks for watching. 73s
@@MyHamRadioJourney Solid advice! I've been doing just that! I'll add your callsign to Hamalert and I'll get a notification that you are xmitting. Be safe.
Raccoon Creek State Park. Gosh, I haven't been there in decades and it's just a short piece south of here. I've chasing POTA activations for a few months. I've been thinking about doing an activation. Presque Isle may be a good place to try. See if I can get up over the rigid to the south. Thanks for the video.
You will need to get out and activate. I also do a lot of hunting. I love both sides of the game. Thanks for watching. 73s
Thanks for the content and good topic indeed. I like Raccoon.. and there are some pretty decent high spots (which I’m sure you know well). I do like being by water, bc it’s very pleasant, but does tend to put you in a hole.
I normally activate on top at the second pull off from 18. I still want to activate from the other side no tables but I have a plan. Thanks for watching. 73s
Did you happen to operate a TSC-15 in the military? I was a repairman...
Our RATT rig was a AN/GRC-46. it was half duplex. I remember burning the tape after sending. Thanks for watching. 73s
What kind of emergency activation is going to require you to communicate more than NVIS distance away? We're talking asteroids and nuclear war if its that bad, right?
Not at all. Maybe a natural disaster or any time a entire grid goes off line. One time there were people who had no cell service and they wanted to get in touch with loved ones to tell them they were okay. Thanks for watching. 73s
05B? 05C? IUP? Indians State University Pennsylvania?
Sounds like you are familiar with my college? Thanks for watching. 73s
@@MyHamRadioJourney my family is from that area.
NVIS
Thanks. And thanks for watching. 73s