My goal for this summer is to do more backpacked day-trip POTA activations while I’m still physically able to. This is my 4th backpacked-in activation this past week or so. And a thank you to Thomas K4SWL for letting me share my adventures from the Canadian out-back. Today’s goal is to activate Trout Creek Ecological … Continue reading Uncharted Trek into Trout Creek Ecological Reserve, CA-4221 →

Good Morning, Friends, If you haven’t read my previous posts, here’s the situation in a nutshell: we live in a rural mountain community in Swannanoa, NC, where the bridge connecting us to the outside world was swept away during the 1 in 1,000-year flood event caused by Tropical Storm Helene. We’ve also confirmed that a tornado swept through … Continue reading Helene Aftermath Update: Solar Power (Wednesday, October 9, 2024) →

Many thanks to Tom (VA2NW) for this report on Chillycon, aka Chilicon – Vince. Canada’s capital, Ottawa, is the home of the Ottawa Valley QRP Society. The group holds an annual weekend camp-out at the Rideau River Provincial Park (POTA CA-0365) in early fall and it’s affectionately called Chillycon (also known as Chillicon). This year’s … Continue reading VA2NW at Chillycon →

by Teri KO4WFP After striking out at Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, it was time for this POTA Babe to get back on track with my goal of 60 new valid park activations for 2024. As much as I enjoyed the historic sites and the refuge I recently visited, I needed to return to activating … Continue reading Two in One Day for the POTA Babe →

Good Morning, Friends, If you haven’t read my previous posts, here’s the situation in a nutshell: we live in a rural mountain community in Swannanoa, NC, where the bridge connecting us to the outside world was swept away during the 1 in 1,000-year flood event caused by Tropical Storm Helene. We’ve also confirmed that a … Continue reading Helene Aftermath Update: Community, Coordination, and Misinformation (Monday, October 7, 2024) →

Many thanks to Malen (VE6VID) – Canada’s first SOTA Double Mountain Goat – who shares the following article about his trip in Alberta, British Columbia, Washington and Montana. Malen and I work together and I can read this in his voice – including his laid-back “Oh well…” – Vince. As a SOTA activator I challenge … Continue reading Seven Summit road trip with Canada’s first Double Goat →

Good Morning, Friends, If you haven’t read my previous posts, here’s the situation in a nutshell: we live in a rural mountain community in Swannanoa, NC, where the bridge connecting us to the outside world was swept away during the 1,000-year flood event caused by Tropical Storm Helene. We’ve also confirmed that a tornado swept … Continue reading Helene Aftermath Update: Egress, FEMA, Resource Organization, and the National Guard (Saturday October 5, 2024) →

As always there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things! ? by Vince (VE6LK) In August and September 2024 I was travelling around Southern Ontario for some family matters and naturally I brought my radio kit with me to squeeze in some radio therapy stops along … Continue reading Sailboats at a lakeside activation →

Good Morning, Friends, Today, I’m taking most of the day to focus on organizing, administrative tasks (FEMA applications, insurance, etc.), and some much-needed cleanup around the house. After several days of intense labor, we all need some time to recuperate. Basically, we all smell like sweat and chainsaw exhaust. If you haven’t read my previous … Continue reading Helene Aftermath Update: Aid, Community Resilience, and Egress/Ingress (Thursday, October 3, 2024) →

Hello All, Our friend Thomas and his family are doing well as can be expected in the face of a 500 year flood, washed out roads and bazillions of trees downed around them. He has expressed a desire to post in the evenings after he’s done assisting others in his neighbourhood. I know he is … Continue reading QRPer marches along →

Editor note – Please enjoy this guest post from Jeff Bourgeois VE7EFF. Today, September 6, I hope to POTA activate Inonoaklin Provincial Park CA-3626 in Southern BC, Canada, located on the shores of the Lower Arrow Lakes. On this activation, I will be using my novel experimental homebrewed Coaxial-Sleeve Dipole. The results were surprising! We … Continue reading Experimental Antenna Reins-in Surprising Results →

Hello, Friends, On Saturday morning, I shared an update regarding the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene on our community here in western North Carolina. I’ve received an overwhelming outpouring of kindness, support, and well-wishes… in the best possible way. Thank you. In the two days since that update, I’ve had more time to survey the … Continue reading Helene Aftermath: Long Update, Monday September, 30 2024 →

Good Morning, Friends, As some of you may know, my area of western North Carolina (Swannanoa) was hit hard by record-setting flooding and high winds from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. We live in a rural, somewhat remote part of Buncombe County, and while we were prepared for power outages, downed trees, and general disruptions, … Continue reading Aftermath… →

As always there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things! by Vince (VE6LK) In August and September 2024, I was travelling around Southern Ontario for some family matters and naturally I brought my radio kit with me to squeeze in some radio therapy stops along the … Continue reading Big ships and 78GHz by chance! →

by Matt (W6CSN) The Mountaintopper MTR-3B is a popular QRP portable HF transceiver that has a bit of “cult-ish” mystique about it. The radio seems to hit the sweet spot of size, weight, performance and capability desired by so many portable operators. While I have operated the MTR-4B, and quite like it, I have yet … Continue reading New Mountain Topper MTR-3B Details →

On Monday, September 2, 2024, my good friend Vlado (N3CZ) and I spent Labor Day morning playing POTA. Our first activation was at Lake James State Park, using the new CFT1 QRP transceiver. It was a lot of fun–you can read the field report and watch the video by clicking here. For the second activation, … Continue reading QRP POTA: Pairing N3CZ’s Homebrew Transceiver with the TennTennas 49:1 EFHW! →

Many thanks to Jeff (VE7EFF) who shares the following guest post: 2.5 km Trek into Wrinkly Face Provincial Park, BC, CA-4307 by Jeff (VE7EFF) My goal this summer is to do more backpacked-in POTA activations. This is my 3rd POTA outing over the past week.  Being in Canada, I don’t have much time left this season to … Continue reading Trekking into POTA Heaven: Wrinkly Face Provincial Park Activation →

Many thanks to Bob (K4RLC) & Alanna (K4AAC) for the following field report: Cabot Trail Activations on Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia  – August 2024  By Bob K4RLC & Alanna K4AAC In August 2024, K4AAC, my YL Alanna and I took a trip to magical Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada. It was Alanna’s suggestion to … Continue reading Bob and Alanna’s POTA Adventures Along the Cabot Trail! →

by Teri KO4WFP Friday, September 13th, I headed to Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge (US-0265) for a POTA activation and was without Daisy as dogs are not allowed at this refuge. Pinckney Island is a 4,000+ acre wildlife refuge off Highway US 278 on the way to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The refuge consists … Continue reading The POTA Babe Spreads Her Wings at Pinckney Island →