AmateurRadio.com

Over the weekend, I decided to grab a copy of the iOS application ‘SOTA Goat’ written by WW1X. I’d seen some nice reviews and I thought it would be fun to take a closer look at some of the SOTA activity.

The application allows you to look at SOTA summits, worldwide, on a map – search for it by name and so on.

You can also look at SOTA related spots from the DX Cluster as well as upcoming alerts of activity from the SOTAWatch website.

It’s nicely put together and particularly at the weekend, it was fun to look at the activity and have a little listen to see what could be heard.

This *might* be where I rethink getting rid of the FT1000MP! The HF antenna was on the FT847 and I was looking for one of the SOTA portables on 14MHz. On the FT847 there was a great deal of noise – I swapped the antenna over onto the FT1000MP and it was clear as a – clear thing! I do have a CW filter in the FT847 too.

I was hoping to hear Richard G3CWI of SOTABeams fame, last weekend operating as GW3CWI/P, but things weren’t quite right on 7 and 14MHz for us.

I like the SOTAGoat app. It’s not free, but it’s well put together and informative. I sense I will enjoy looking out for the SOTA stations. And on the iPhone, it looks a nice way of alerting people, if you’re out portable on a SOTA summit.

Not many summits like the one above close to me! But the screenshot gives you a good idea of the information available about each summit.

Tim Kirby, G4VXE, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Oxfordshire, England. Contact him at [email protected].

I occasionally use the Yaesu FT-817nd on my SOTA expeditions if I want to use higher bands on the activation or for some odd reason want to operate SSB:-). I actually prefer it to the KX3 simply because it is less bulky and it performs well in the field. One of the concerns I have with taking the 817 is; should I take an external power supply since the internal, rechargable, battery can have a relatively short life span. This is due to the power required to operate the 817 versus smaller, CW only radios. I was looking for a higher capacity battery made for the 817 and came across an interesting offering on EBay. The link is http://www.ebay.com/itm/3000mAh-Polymer-Lithium-Battery-pack-back-door-holder-Yaesu-FT-817-ND-radio-/331093734430?pt=US_Radio_Comm_Antennas&hash=item4d16b9741e#ht_4797wt_706

  The product is a 3000mAh LiPo battery that fits the 817, a replacement for the battery door that allows the battery to be charged by an external charger (included) and a nice stand for the radio. (The battery that comes with the 817 is 1400mAh) All this for $89. Now, it is a product made in China, so it is tough to determine quality, (that's also true for certain US producers as well). I ordered the package and will test it to see if it is as advertised. W4RT offers a similar product but it's priced at $150.00 and the battery is a NiMH.

I have no commercial interest in this product, but it seems worth the money if it delivers as advertised.
Mike Crownover, AD5A, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Texas, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

Well I've finally done it..

I have ordered my first proper 'rig' It is a Yaesu FT-857D a nice small, portable/mobile unit that will give me access to the HF and 6m/2m/70cm bands in all-modes. It has took a while since I first identified it as potential purchase but thanks to some generous Christmas presents I now have the sufficient funds and following several recommendations have decided to take the plunge and ordered it from Waters and Stanton

She is a beauty!

I have a decent 7A PSU, purchased last year which I am sure would have sufficed for 10W maximum operation however I decided to also purchase a MAAS SPS-30-II 30A(35A peak) PSU. It was a good price from Radiozing and offers plenty of power for anything I am likely to run in the foreseeable future, and from the pictures and reviews seems to be built like the proverbial brick out-house. As well as the main connectors on the back it has spring clip terminals on the front as well as a cigar lighter type connector. Dual meters showing V/A and can be used in variable mode from 9-15V or fixed at 13.8V 

This is the beast!

I have also ordered one of M0CVO Antennas highly rated HW-20HP off centre fed dipoles as a starting point for HF. The antenna works in 6 bands (20, 17, 15, 12, 10 & 6m) without needing an Antenna Tuning Unit (ATU) which is one thing I haven't purchased, however Nigel(M0CVO) Chairman of SKARS (South Kestevan Amateur Radio Society) and owner of M0CVO Antennas has kindly offered to loan me an ATU in the short term.

Delivery should be later this week and I suspect I have a large learning curve ahead of me as I hit the airwaves! If you should hear me please be gentle..
Andrew Garratt, MØNRD, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from East Midlands, England. Contact him at [email protected].

I was shocked and saddened to discover through Facebook, that fellow QRPer and Amateur Radio blogger, Ron Bowman W8VZM became a Silent Key today. From the information that appeared on his timeline, it was revealed that Ron was involved in a fatal car crash.

I had worked Ron a few times on the air and we kept in touch through Facebook, commenting on each other’s posts. Ron was a QRPer, a CW and an HW-8 fan, and was an all around good person, admired by his friends and coworkers.

My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his surviving family, as they go through this time of mourning and loss.

73, Ron. It was my pleasure to have made your acquaintance and to have known you.

Eternal rest, grant unto him, Lord
And may perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.

72 de Larry W2LJ
Take time to let your family and friends know how much you love them. Our time on this Earth is way too short. And to all my Catholic friends out there – as Fr. Z. says …. go to Confession. You never know when you’ll be called Home.

Larry Makoski, W2LJ, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Jersey, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

An update from Chris G0FDZ on the GB3VHF service page shows that the beacon came back on air this morning.

There will be a temporary interruption to service at some point when the electricity supply is moved back to the mains from the generator – but the timing of this is not known.

Thanks Chris for sorting it out.

Tim Kirby, G4VXE, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Oxfordshire, England. Contact him at [email protected].

I enjoyed the drive to see the K-3 station of Art Ellis (W8PBO) in Ravenswood WV. I also enjoyed talking to Eric (AC8LJ) as we drove up the Interstate to Arts home. It was a very enjoyable trip and I was pleasantly surprised with the entire days events.

Art uses the latest Elecraft K-3 K Line gear at this home. A brief demonstration had me hooked with the first note coming from the speakers. I’m very impressed with the “graph” feature on this radio. Being able to visually “see” the signal on the band, and automatically “tuning” the radio to this frequency is VERY useful. With the accompanying “signal strength” displayed on the screen, it would be easy to spot “QRP” signals.

Every new day I spend on the CW portion of the bands makes me appreciate the development of Morse Code equipment. We’ve certainly advanced from the original “straight key” days of early radio.

I’m looking forward to another visit to Art’s radio shack. I had no idea there was such a fine display of both a good CW station and a collection of great keys in West Virginia. I’m overjoyed to find the small Code Mite key and Eric came home with a “Sideswiper” which has a very distinctive sound.

Art will be at the Dayton Hamfest in March; I’ll be looking forward to seeing him there.

Art and his wife were perfect hosts to our visit. His wife served us coffee, tea, and cookies before we left for home. They were both teachers before retirement. You won’t find finer folks anywhere in this state. They were both a real joy to meet.

John Smithson, Jr., N8ZYA, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from West Virginia, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

QRPp with WSPR is the new trend. A lot of my fellow bloggers doing the same thing. Here my results this morning on 40 meter with 50mW.

And 10 meter yesterday with 50mW for a short while.

Paul Stam, PC4T, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from the Netherlands. Contact him at [email protected].