POTA (Page 3 of 7)
Lots of qrm all around.
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Originally Posted By Emoto: Which spotting site are you using? Not seeing him on dxsummit.fi where I usually look. POTA SPOTTER https://pota.app/#/ |
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Oh! That makes sense. 
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I had to bounce around a bit. Being QRP I don’t think guys can hear me well, so got stepped on a lot. Bands seemed ok, but maybe not a lot of people on the air. I pulled into the campground which was totally empty and rented a site online. Nice to sit on a picnic table instead of the ground. Scratched out 10. Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Originally Posted By illini52: Question for the Alaska guys. Â Is a lower power activation (5-20w) doable during average September band conditions? Â I know the propagation is a little different up there and have a quick work trip to Anchorage. Â Might bring a rig there to try out. Depends on when in September, but 20w digital or CW no problem. 20w SSB will likely take awhile unless the bands are killer. No crap antennas either. If schedule works out we could go out together. I'm in Anchorage, would need to plan ahead. Time of day is also important here too. Much better in the evenings, but much after 6pm and the east coast guys are mostly in bed or off the air. |
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Originally Posted By tyrex13: Depends on when in September, but 20w digital or CW no problem. 20w SSB will likely take awhile unless the bands are killer. No crap antennas either. If schedule works out we could go out together. I'm in Anchorage, would need to plan ahead. Time of day is also important here too. Much better in the evenings, but much after 6pm and the east coast guys are mostly in bed or off the air. Thanks for the info. I'm going to leave the HF stuff at home this time; only have SSB capability with that setup. |
My last POTA at starved rock State Park near Ottawa Illinois. I also give a review on my favorite POTA antenna. IS THIS THE BEST POTA ANTENNA?? |
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Originally Posted By firemed13: My last POTA at starved rock State Park near Ottawa Illinois. I also give a review on my favorite POTA antenna.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yANaDcU1WrsThat antenna reminds me of the Eagle One antenna. Sort of a Rybakov, but a bit longer. Do you know the value of the unun they supply? |
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Originally Posted By tyrex13: That antenna reminds me of the Eagle One antenna. Sort of a Rybakov, but a bit longer. Do you know the value of the unun they supply? I am currently waiting for the LDG 4:1 unun which is backordered to try a Rybakov antenna. Not sure exactly of the value of the unun (or the IMD-105 as tn07 calls it). I was actually going to call Bob at TN07 I will ask him about that. I don't want to give anyone the wrong information. Going out tomorrow to try another TN07 antenna for POTA at park US 1009 Mathiessen state Park its the Go2 antenna and wrapping up another night vision video using my old Chameleon zepp wire antenna, it didn't go well but I like a challenge. |
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You can put resistors between the antenna connection and the ground side to get an idea. 50ohm with a 1:1 match is a 1:1, 100 ohm match to 1:1 is a 2:1 transformer. 250 ohms matched 1:1 would be a 5:1 transformer, etc. It's not perfect, but gives you an idea of the value. I do it with the cheap chinese stuff to see if it is as advertised. 
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Originally Posted By lorazepam: You can put resistors between the antenna connection and the ground side to get an idea. 50ohm with a 1:1 match is a 1:1, 100 ohm match to 1:1 is a 2:1 transformer. 250 ohms matched 1:1 would be a 5:1 transformer, etc. It's not perfect, but gives you an idea of the value. I do it with the cheap chinese stuff to see if it is as advertised. You want 200 ohms to test a 4:1 unun and 2450 ohms to test a 49:1 unun. It's easy to test an unun or balun. Put the correct amount of resistors across the ground and antenna wire terminals and connect an antenna analyzer to the input side of the unun. You should get a 1:1 SWR match on at least one band, but you won't get a perfect 1:1 SWR match across all of the bands. I tested my tiny QR{ 49:1 unun with 2450 ohms of resistance and I got 1:1 at 40m and anywhere from 1:2 - 1:4 on the higher bands. I wrapped the toroid for 40m as the lowest band. You can adjust the unun by the number of wraps on the toroid when building them. The instructions for the QRP unun stated 18-24 wraps depending on the lowest band and I ended up going with 17 wraps for 40m. |
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Originally Posted By TVille: @tyrex13 I heard you tonight POTAing on 20M, but you were just too far into to the noise. I'll improve my antennas and try to track you down again. I've only got a flat top EFHW up right now, I'll get the 40M full wave and a vertical up. Oh dang, that's too bad. Band was awesome last night. I wish I had the time to operate for an hour or two, but I got about 45 contacts in less than 30 minutes. I'll post pics when I have time. |
| I guess I need to start posting when I am going to do a POTA activation. I did one on Oct. 4th at Park US-12415 William Lowe Conservation Area in Mexico, Mo. I worked 30 stations on 20m in about 25 minutes that morning. I was using my Xiegu G90 and REZ Recon 40 antenna. I used 24 8.5 ft ground radials instead of the four 33 ft radials that came with the antenna. The 24 8.5 ft radials worked great. |
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Originally Posted By chumpmiester: I guess I need to start posting when I am going to do a POTA activation. I did one on Oct. 4th at Park US-12415 William Lowe Conservation Area in Mexico, Mo. I worked 30 stations on 20m in about 25 minutes that morning. I was using my Xiegu G90 and REZ Recon 40 antenna. I used 24 8.5 ft ground radials instead of the four 33 ft radials that came with the antenna. The 24 8.5 ft radials worked great. If you IM me your call sign, I'll add it to my HamAlert. Not that I'm by my radio all day, but you never know... For folks that don't know, HamAlert is an app that picks up spots and alerts you. It can do call signs, states, countries, lots of things. I have found it does run about 5 minutes behind the POTA spot page, kind of as you would expect. |
| Thanks. Yes 30 contacts in 25 minutes is great. I generally prefer to work POTA at a slower pace. But the park I worked has only been a listed POTA park for a few months now. I first tried working 17m to avoid any contests but only made one contact. I then moved to 20m and the pile up started once I found a clear frequency. I stopped at 30 contacts since I knew there was another POTA station looking for a clear frequency. I worked him park to park and then let him have the frequency. |
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Originally Posted By lorazepam: Even running qrp with a home made vertical antenna, it seems I get pileups if I try a pota activation. It's really stressful for me with my hearing, so I try to do park to park, or just hunt pota activations. The last few activations I've done I just do park to park and your absolutely right it is a lower level of stress. Actually my last POTA video I did was all P to P. |
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I have a unique question regarding a park that has two different units in two different grid squares. South of my is the Theodore Roosevelt NP, North Unit (Grid DN-86). The POTA designation is US-0065, with the mark located in Medora, which is the South Unit. The Noryh Unit is south of Watford City (Grid DN-87). If I were to do an activation at the North Unit, do I use the South's POTA designation? Consider that if you get your pass at the North Unit, its good for the South Unit as well. I sent an inquiry about this to the POTAs ND coordinator using the email address from QRZ a few days ago. Thus far, no response. I did ask if there is anyway to get a different designation for the North Unit with maybe a N or NU after US-0065. Also, there is a similar situation regarding the National Grasslands Forrest Park. There is a park that is way outside of the main part of the Grasslands called the Blue Buttes. Its roughly a hour apart in Keene. Do I do the same POTA designation as well. There is also an unactivated SOTA spot there. |
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Originally Posted By Mauser556: I have a unique question regarding a park that has two different units in two different grid squares. South of my is the Theodore Roosevelt NP, North Unit (Grid DN-86). The POTA designation is US-0065, with the mark located in Medora, which is the South Unit. The Noryh Unit is south of Watford City (Grid DN-87). If I were to do an activation at the North Unit, do I use the South's POTA designation? Consider that if you get your pass at the North Unit, its good for the South Unit as well. I sent an inquiry about this to the POTAs ND coordinator using the email address from QRZ a few days ago. Thus far, no response. I did ask if there is anyway to get a different designation for the North Unit with maybe a N or NU after US-0065. Also, there is a similar situation regarding the National Grasslands Forrest Park. There is a park that is way outside of the main part of the Grasslands called the Blue Buttes. Its roughly a hour apart in Keene. Do I do the same POTA designation as well. There is also an unactivated SOTA spot there. A brief review of this park shows three distinct park areas. *My* interpretation would be that anywhere in the three park areas would be considered in the park. From the POTA web site the link to the park goes to the federal web site. They have to select a location for the park on the POTA site, so they selected the south location, is my guess. |
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Originally Posted By TVille: It is my understanding that POTA does not define the park boundaries, they rely on the activators to: Â "Refer to official park websites and agencies to find the official boundaries." Â I think this leaves a lot of interpretation as some web sites and other information on parks I have looked at don't clearly show boundaries. Â A brief review of this park shows three distinct park areas. *My* interpretation would be that anywhere in the three park areas would be considered in the park. From the POTA web site the link to the park goes to the federal web site. They have to select a location for the park on the POTA site, so they selected the south location, is my guess. That is what my interpretation is as well. It just be more of a challenge to have a separate designation at least for the North Unit due to the distance, and maybe give some portable/SOTA hikers a challenge to hike, or travel to activate the separate unit. Anyways, did my first POTA hunting while waiting for the step-son's at his church activity. Made 4 contacts with my new G90. So far, I like it. The waterfall display is cheating. First time I have ever used one. |
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Originally Posted By K0UA: The waterfall display is cheating. First time I have ever used one. Once you understand how to make use of it, and work it into your everyday operation, you will never want another "blind" radio. |
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Originally Posted By TVille: For POTA, spotting is cheating more than the waterfall. The waterfall helps you understand radio, USB, LSB, etc. Although you can use it to find signals as well. My normal, and portable, rig is an IC-7300, so yes, I cheat!! Originally Posted By TVille: Originally Posted By K0UA: The waterfall display is cheating. Â First time I have ever used one. Once you understand how to make use of it, and work it into your everyday operation, you will never want another "blind" radio. Name another game people play where you can only use your ears and not your eyes. Well radio used to be that way. Then our eyes were opened with modern radios. I really don't think that is cheating. Example: you could play "horseshoes" with your eyes closed too, just listening for the "clink/ring" sound, but you can do a hell of a lot better with your eyes open. |
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Originally Posted By tyrex13: DX station on 235 here in AK. Can you do 12m? I'll try to shorten my Attn. I QSY to 14.264 ETA: Did 41 QSOs and activated the park. Once someone spotted me, it was pile-up after pile-up. I also made an Alaska call. @tyrex13, you by chance? This little Xeigu G90 at 20 watts is an amazing radio for what it is. |
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Originally Posted By Mauser556: I'll try to shorten my Attn. I QSY to 14.264 ETA: Did 41 QSOs and activated the park. Â Once someone spotted me, it was pile-up after pile-up. Â I also made an Alaska call. Â @tyrex13, you by chance? This little Xeigu G90 at 20 watts is an amazing radio for what it is. Lots of chyna radio hate from some folks, but Xiegu made a classic with the G90. |
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Originally Posted By lorazepam: Lots of chyna radio hate from some folks, but Xiegu made a classic with the G90. They have. Made an Italy and France call on 20M today. Weak on their side, but was able to make it. My MFJ bigstick is a heck of an antenna. Took the bike yesterday while it was still reasonably warm. Activated another park today. Lewis and Clark Wildlife Management Area, US-7697. This is fun.  
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Originally Posted By lorazepam: Lots of chyna radio hate from some folks, but Xiegu made a classic with the G90. I do need to try using my X6200 next time to see how I do with only 8 watts. |
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I started out doing Field Day and POTA with the G90 it really is a decent rig. I wanted to have something with "shoes" so I got a 2nd FT-891 for familiarity (1st one is in my truck) I've seen quite a few G90 vids on YT recently and was thinking of dusting off the G90 and dedicating it to FT8 |
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Originally Posted By RED_5: I started out doing Field Day and POTA with the G90 it really is a decent rig. I wanted to have something with "shoes" so I got a 2nd FT-891 for familiarity (1st one is in my truck) I've seen quite a few G90 vids on YT recently and was thinking of dusting off the G90 and dedicating it to FT8 Shoes? 
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Originally Posted By Emoto: Shoes? "barefoot" is often associated with QRP or "low power" which is 5w or less, maybe 10 depending on what circles you run in. so running 50w or better could be thought of as putting some shoes on those bare feet 
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Originally Posted By K0UA: Shoes or boots so he can romp and stomp. In other words something with some power: an amplifier in English. Originally Posted By RED_5: "barefoot" is often associated with QRP or "low power" which is 5w or less, maybe 10 depending on what circles you run in. so running 50w or better could be thought of as putting some shoes on those bare feet Ah!!! |
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Originally Posted By chumpmiester: I'm really loving my G90 for POTA. It pairs well with my REZ Antennas Recon 40. Â And the G90 doesn't use a whole lot of power so no need to lug a big 50 AH or 100 AH battery for it. I do need to try using my X6200 next time to see how I do with only 8 watts. FWIW, I run a 20ah batt with my manpack IC-706 setup @ 100w. I get tired of logging long before the batt gets tired. That being said, the G90 is a fantastic rig. Run all day and then some on a 20ah batt. |
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I managed to active two POTA site in MT that have never been activated before. Pretty cool. First one I just hunted other POTA sights, Park-To-Park, 5 with CW. The last I did a combination while answering CQ calls from the sweepstakes contest. Wish I had hunted on 10 Meters first. This G90 is something else. I and the MFJ whip shorted for 20M along with radials deployed, and it was still working on 10M with a good SWR from the G90's interface. I do want to get an external SWR meter just to confirm, however. Had the game warden check on me (apparently you have to have a Conservations License to hike or do other activties in Montana's recreations parks...and yes I got one before I got a visit). He raised a brow when I told him what I was doing, even going further in explanation as best as I could without nerding out. Saw him twice at the two different Wildlife spots. Yes, it is hunting season, so my ass is staying in the red Ford pick-up. My CW is getting better, but I still want to do better. If it wasn't for the spotting on the app, I'd have a hard time getting the callsigns, especially at "speed". Still learning the protocols for the CW POTA contacts. I send PTP for Part-To-Park. Is that what is suppose to the right way? Anyways, rocking it with the J45. My thigh is too big that it starts cutting off circulation, even with me stretching the clamp open. 
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Originally Posted By Ersatz_Naugahyde: FWIW, I run a 20ah batt with my manpack IC-706 setup @ 100w. I get tired of logging long before the batt gets tired. That being said, the G90 is a fantastic rig. Run all day and then some on a 20ah batt. I'll usually work about 20-30 minutes if I'm making a lot of contacts. I don't mind things being fast paced but prefer to take it slow at times too. The last activation I did was from a park that was just listed a few months ago so it has only been activated less than 10 times. I made 30 contacts in about 25 minutes. The G90 does very well especially with a tuned/resonant antenna. I can make as many if not more than guys running 100 watts and having to use an external tuner. On a different note. I tried my G90 in my 2010 F 150 yesterday and that was a NO GO as the truck produced way too much noise when running. The only band that was okay was 10m. 12m through 20m was totally useless with the engine running. I am going to try the IC-706 in the truck to see if it does any different. I have a constant and very loud ticking noise in the radio with the engine running. so I'm figuring it's the injectors, spark plugs or coil packs. And I don't know if I want to drive myself crazy chasing down the RFI issues. So I might just keep everything portable instead of installing an HF rig in the truck. |
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