Bryce and Joe’s Triple-State POTA Activation

by Bryce Bookwalter (KD9YEY) and Joe Ladwig (W9NVY)

It’s lastly winter right here in Southern Indiana, which, for a lot of, brings a time of cozy indoor actions and quiet radio time within the consolation of a heat shack. For Joe and me, nevertheless, this implies it’s winter POTA time!

I’ve at all times most well-liked mountaineering within the winter—there are fewer bugs, much less humidity, and sometimes significantly better views for the reason that leaves aren’t in the best way. It is sensible that my ardour for out of doors radio additionally will increase within the colder months. With work and college (Joe is a instructor) slowing down for the yr, we determined it could be a superb time to slot in one other POTA journey.

During the last two years, now we have been checking states off our “activated” checklist, and currently, now we have needed to journey farther and farther away to discover a state we haven’t activated. Joe had the lofty aim of touring to the Minnesota (MN), North Dakota (ND), South Dakota (SD) tri-corner and catching Iowa (IA) on the best way, however as soon as we appeared on the complete journey time (27 hours!), we determined there may be different alternatives which are nearer and fewer liable to winter mayhem.

Now we have set our sights on the nook of Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. One of many perks of being in “the crossroads of America” is that there are numerous locations inside a day’s drive. This intersection of three states isn’t any exception. With a mere 6.5-hour drive, we will activate three states in sooner or later. We plan to in a single day in Wheeling, WV, after which begin our triple-state POTA journey the following day.

Our first vacation spot is US-0704 Fort Necessity Nationwide Battlefield in PA. With 68 activations already on file right here, it looks like it is going to be an incredible place to activate. I’ve at all times loved historical past, so this website is one which I’m significantly excited to see. Activating at Nationwide Parks can have its challenges, so we are going to make sure to plan our tools accordingly.

Our journey continues into Maryland, the place we are going to attempt to activate at US-6400 Youghiogheny Wild River State Pure Space. This space is a part of the Mississippi watershed that stretches from the western slope of the Appalachian Mountains within the east to the Rockies within the west. Based mostly on the topography I see on the map, this spot has the potential for some lovely views. This website has 46 reported activations, with 45 of them being profitable, so we anticipate victory!

Our closing state to activate today may have us touring again into West Virginia. We’ll keep one other night time in Wheeling earlier than heading dwelling the following day, and US-5585 Coopers Rock State Forest is conveniently on the best way. Coopers Rock is one other website with some wonderful topography, a minimum of in accordance with the map, and I’m very excited to see it! In keeping with the web site, “Coopers Rock State Forest boasts a number of the most iconic views in Nearly Heaven.” I’ve been to West Virginia a number of occasions, and the views by no means disappoint.

With our locations chosen, the following step is to choose the correct gear. With a visit of this scale, and this removed from our ham shacks, it’s essential to plan rigorously. I at all times wish to have backups after I go to activate, however on this case, I believe having a number of further can be a good suggestion. Since this can be a journey for POTA, we actually have all the car to pack gear into, so why not deliver all of the toys?! One other essential consideration is the parks now we have chosen. Considered one of them is a historic battlefield and a Nationwide Park… I can’t think about throwing heavy strains into timber and hoisting antennas into the air can be tolerated, so having an antenna system that doesn’t require that can be an essential consideration.

With these components in thoughts, now we have chosen the next gear:

Radios

• • Yaesu FT-891 w/ tuner: This workhorse at all times delivers distinctive efficiency and I’m not saying something new to talk of its POTA capabilities. Resulting from its dimension (particularly with tuner) and weight, this isn’t a primary selection for me as a backpacking radio. However with a automotive to hold it, and never having to hold a full tenting loadout together with it, this radio is a go-to for our POTA escapades.
  • Xiegu G90: For those who’ve watched any of my YouTube movies that that is my typical POTA rig. It comparatively light-weight, has an inner tuner, and isn’t an enormous battery draw with it’s 20W max output. I sometimes run it at 10W to offer myself the QRP problem and it constantly performs very effectively.
  • QRP Labs QMX: This little magnificence is my backpacking radio of selection. It’s extremely light-weight and versatile. Presently, so far as I’m conscious, it nonetheless solely runs CW and Digital modes. Finally it should have the potential to run SSB and I’m very excited for when that day comes. Till then, I exploit it for FT8 within the area and it does an incredible job. I’m nonetheless studying CW so I haven’t used it to make contacts that means but, however I’ll quickly!
  • Yaesu FT-60: That is my HT of selection, which I at all times wish to have with me after I journey. Earlier than I go away, I’ll have the native repeaters programmed into it and it is going to be enjoyable to attempt to attain a 2m/70cm contact by way of simplex whereas on the parks as effectively.
  • Yaesu VX-6: That is Joe’s HT of selection and one other nice radio from Yaesu. With it we will additionally attempt to get a 1.25m simplex contact…if band operators are on the market.

Antennas

• • PackTenna!: The very first thing going into my equipment is the PackTenna! This antenna has confirmed itself to be extremely succesful and tremendous simple to make use of. I’ve the 40m extension that goes with it as effectively and between its efficiency and the load…it has shortly develop into my favourite antenna.
  • SOTABeams Bandhopper 3: This antenna is a 20m, 30m, and 40m dipole and works splendidly, particularly when paired with the Tactical Mast from SOTABeams. The one disadvantage to utilizing this antenna is that to vary bands, it’s essential to decrease the antenna to the bottom and join or disconnect the alligator clips alongside the wire. Aside from that, this antenna does nice work.
  • K9EI Antennas: Joe and I each use K9EI antennas they usually work nice. Not solely is K9EI an area in our space however he additionally makes nice merchandise. The 20m EFHW is at all times in my equipment as a dependable backup and has saved my activation on quite a few events. Joe has a 40mEFHW that’s extremely helpful and has a singular design. With its rugged building and flexibility, it’s Joe’s antenna of selection for POTA.
  • Wolf River Coil SOTA Particular: Sure, sure, sure…one other antenna. This vertical antenna has been enjoyable to experiment with. It’s the one vertical I personal, or have used for that matter, and it’s carried out the job every time. I used it for my first ever SOTA, which you’ll be able to see on my YouTube channel. A lot of these antennas are nice to have together with you when you’re not sure of the realm you are attempting to activate in. If there aren’t timber, or should you aren’t allowed to make the most of timber, or put stakes within the floor for man strains, these verticals are a low-impact resolution that may often get the job carried out. I picked this one up at Hamvention 2024 and it’s been an incredible addition to the fleet.

Masts

Masts are an incredible resolution for wires-in-the-air with out having strains in timber. I’ve two masts and can be bringing each.

• • • The SOTABeams Tactical 7000H has been an incredible addition to my equipment and has served me effectively for a pair years now. It’s a bit on the heavy facet, nevertheless it stands tall and robust in lots of configurations and has completed each job I’ve requested of it.
    • The POTA20 is my latest addition which I picked up on the Huntsville Hamfest. This light-weight mast is my backpacking mast of selection. It’s tremendous flexible and may have hassle holding up a ton of weight, nevertheless it stays extremely helpful and one I keep it up all my POTA journeys.

Different Gear

Since now we have the posh of a car, and never every part having to enter a backpack, we will deliver alongside all of the consolation objects.

• • • Desk
    • Chairs
    • Laptop computer (although I nonetheless wish to log with pen and paper)
    • Digital camera gear (for filming YouTube movies)
    • Bag of connectors, adapters, fuses, wire, alligator clips, instruments, and so on. (Very Vital)

For sure, we’re each wanting ahead to this journey very a lot. The parks talked about above are the parks we are going to for certain be going to, however there are additionally different parks within the space and if time permits, we are going to attempt to add extra to our checklist.

You can too see a video of our journey at @backpackingbooky on YouTube. You can too seek for Bryce Bookwalter / KD9YEY on YouTube to seek out the channel.

Thanks for studying and thanks to Thomas for sharing his platform and I’ll see you down path!

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