Subj : Anybody here?
To   : dotslash
From : Brian Murrey
Date : Tue Mar 01 2022 06:38 pm

//Hello dotslash,//

on *01.03.22* at *23:08:34* You wrote in area *FSX_HAM*
to *Brian Murrey* about *"Re: Anybody here?"*.

 BM>> What have you been up to ham radio wise?

 d> Not really much apart from playing with a few experimental antennas and a
 d> new QRP radio - I bought myself the new (somewhat controversial) Xiegu
 d> X6100. Well, what an interesting toy. Not prime-time ready due to the fact
 d> that it's firmware is still pretty much in an Alpha state, but nonetheless
 d> I'm having fun hacking around with it. The last few firmware updates
 d> brought some useful improvements, so I can now consider taking it out
 d> POTA. I'll still back it up with my Xiegu G90 (rock solid) and/or Yaesu
 d> FT-817ND in case it has a bad-hair-day.

 d> I suppose what I'm "officially" trying to do is to assemble an HF go-bag
 d> that doesn't fill up my backpack too much, still leaving enough room for
 d> things like water, snacks and maye something to sit on. Of course I don't
 d> know what I'm doing, which helps! :-D Oh, and I'm also trying out a bunch
 d> of paddles and straight keys with a view to somehow get active on CW in
 d> the near future (I have to atone for my FT8 activities somehow).

 d> What are you playing with these days?

Well I am not doing SOTA. I live in Indiana, and we're not the home of any SOTA locations that I know of. The north of Indiana is flat as a board, the southern half is where the glaciers came to die so we have som ereally nice rolling hills and the like but nothing with a real peak or summit. The highest point in the state is 383 meters. 

However we have 139 POTA approved locations, so I like to do POTA all I can when the weather is decent.  I made it out to a close by park yesterday and had some great fun.  I wrote it up on my website if you want to see the details and a few pictures.  https://kb9bvn.blogspot.com 

My go-kit is a Elecraft K2, LDG autotuner, paddles, and my antenna is a Eagle One vertical that mounts to the hitch receiver on my SUV (2006 Trailblazer from Chevy...old ugly and paid for).  I also carry about a 4x2 foot folding table and a steel folding chair.  That about covers it.  Typically I run 10w or a little less and I have 14 successful activations out of 14 attempts.

WX here to day was partly cloudy, temp hit 64F, going down to the 20's tonight, high tomorrow is supposed to be 68F but won't be able to POTA as we are engaged in some family gathering of some sort. I hear there will be food, so I'll be there with my shirt tucked in.    


Regards,
Brian 
--- WinPoint 400.2
 * Origin: 73 de KB9BVN (21:4/106.25)

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