[TenTec] : Re: A Fun Day with Ham Radio, and a Question about Portable Operating

[M. WIJK]

Adding some pictures to that SOTA experience, see my friends foto's at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29326558@N06/with/2739561020/#photo_2739561020

73 Mark, PA5MW


Op 04/16/13, "M. WIJK"  <pa5mw at home.nl> schreef:
> Hello Jack,
> 
> We have been doing SOTA in HB0 (Liechtenstein) for a few years now.
> Let me share some of our experiences:
> 
> Weight:
> We were restricted to carrying 1 backpack per person and split the TRX, CW key, antenna setup and 12V battery (not forgetting food, hot water &coffee) between 4 climbers.
> It does not matter if you take a tiny Elecraft K1/FT817 or a larger K2/FT857 and the like. It's the battery weight which counts.
> If you travel up the mountain by car, things are different.
> 
> Available time:
> As the climbing trip takes 3-4 hrs on average, building the rig&antenna setup, making coffee, eat something and start making QSO's, you will notice that time flies. Quickly that is.
> Since we had to face a return trip in the afternoon, our average operating time lasted from 30-60min max. per visited summit.
> 
> Available QSO partners:
> Turning up non-preannounced at a summit creates a pile-up within 10 minutes. It takes about 2-5 CQ's to get things going.
> With any 1 day up front announcement we enjoyed pileups already after the 1st CQ.
> At least that is wat happens in Europe. Cannot speak for the audience in the USA.
> 
> Summit climb vs overnight(s) stay on summit with lots of gear moved by car etc.:
> We have been camping in a mountain lodge for 10yrs and enjoyed many, many QSO's. But at some days, no make that also many, bands were closed and/or we enjoyed heavy rain or snow. Even in august. But it is nice if you can travel up the mountain and have more antennas/rigs available.
> Summit climbing is a different animal. A walk to any summit in the area be it 1 hour or many hours climbing, offers a great satisfaction! Cannot explain how it feels if you, being died tired, hear the result on your first CQ's. 
> All in all, you should certainly try both :)
> 
> What rig to use:
> Your actual question.
> For summit climbing we used an Elecraft K1 and with its puny QRP output to any half decent vertical/inverted vee/piece of wire hanging somewhere, delivered us many contacts.
> Small Tentec rigs are not very common in Europe(yet). But I 've heard from others that the TT Eagle is a golden rig, both at home as on the mountains. 
> I think ANY rig you can take with you is OK. It is all about the battery weight. And remember; you won't need it any longer than 60minutes because you're out of time (and energy).
> 
> At the mountain(top) lodge we have used both small and the largest possible rigs. I guess it boils down to what user interface you enjoy the most vs what eight/size you are able/willing to carry.
> There's no golden egg here; any small rig vs a vintage dinosaurus will do just fine. As long as the dino survives the rough travel by car/ski-lift/cabin etc..
> 
> Kind regards,
> Mark, PA5MW
> 
> 
> Op 04/16/13, Jack Emerson <w4tje at wiredog.com> schreef:
> > 
> > I still haven't decided on what radio to buy for this SOTA activity. 
> > 73 de Jack W4TJE
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
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