Find here the equipment (and tricks) used by some experienced portable activators.
Please contact BOS ! if you want to add yours.
ON4VT aka OT4V Danny
Keep it simple !
Activations : ONFF BCA BLHA SOTA
Transceivers : Yaesu FT450D with Bencher BY1 paddle – For SOTA and bike mobile : FT857D with Palm mini Paddle
Common power used : 75w
Antennas : Homebrew linked dipole (link : LINKED DIPOLE) from 6 to 80 meters (Tip : Sota beams lightweight antenna wire) . Fishing rod (Tip : Decathlon Lakeside-1 Travel 600) RG58 coax line. SWR of the linked dipole is flat on all bands, NO tuner needed.
Power source : 100 Ah car battery – For SOTA and bike mobile Lifepo batteries
Logging : QW Lizzard on a mini laptop. LIVE logging on GMA if internet connection
Extra equipment : Fisher-umbrella, small picknick table and chair
Transport : Car – Bike – The RuXXac Cross
Tricks : Never be in a hurry when going out and “Keep it simple !”
ON/Z35M Vlado
Guerilla QRP Portable
Activations : ONFF BCA BOTA (=Beaches on the Air)
Transceivers : Elecraft KX2 with internal ATU and battery, attached paddle
Common power used : 5w QRP
Antennas : Ground or bench mounted MFJ-1979, 5,2m telescopic vertical, 2.5m of RG-58 coax; Homebrew 40/30/20m tree wire verticals with 3 random lenght ground radials, directly conected to KX2.
Power source : KX2’s internal Li-Ion 2,6Ah battery
Logging : Small paper LOG
Extra equipment : Small gardener’s pad and 0.5sq m nylon cover for seating on a ground or on a bench
Transport : Mostly by bicycle or walking, sometimes by car (long distances or bad WX)
Tricks : Guerilla QRP Portable – ultra-light portable set up for more agility and flexibility. Non motorized access, fast deployment (5 min), less comfort devices, more frequent short activations (1-1.5h).
ON6UU Frank
The early bird catches the worm
Activations : SOTA GMA
Transceivers : KX-2, MTR-3B, IC-703 all with homebrew paddle made out of an relay
Common power used : 5w QRP
Antennas : Homebrew linked dipole (link : LINKED DIPOLE) with fishing rod, HF-1B, Alexloop
Power source : KX-2 internal battery, MTR-3B with 9V battery or 12AH gel battery, IC-703 with 17AH gel battery or 12V car battery
Logging : Paper log
Extra equipment : Spare paddle, umbrella, small tent, 2 little foldable camping chairs
Transport : By car since all summits are far to go to
Tricks : The early bird catches the worm. Start early especially when you go far so to be able to work our Belgian chasers on 80
OT6V René
The early bird catches the worm
Activations : SOTA ONFF
Transceivers : Icom 706 mk2 or Yaesu ft 897 +at 89
Common power used : 40w
Antennas : Homebrew linked dipoles (link : LINKED DIPOLE) for 20/40m,homebrew dipole for 80m, fishing rod 10m high
Power source : 18Ah battery for Sota activations,For onff activations 40Ah and 64Ah batteries,if the distance is not so far
Logging : Paper log
Extra equipment : Little chair (alu), little table (alu) and by bad weather an umbrella
