In late December, I obtained a much-anticipated package deal from LnR Precision: my new MTR-3B V4 “Currahee.”
Life has been hectic, so I didn’t get the chance to take it to the sector till Thursday, January 9, 2025, once I carved out a while in my schedule.
It was a cold morning, with temperatures hovering round 20°F (-7°C). Nonetheless, I needed the complete area transportable expertise with the brand new Currahee, so I bundled up in my winter gear and headed out.
Relatively than doing one other activation on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I checked the Pisgah Nationwide Forest web site and was pleasantly stunned to search out that the Lake Powhatan leisure space was open.
After I arrived, the park worker on the entrance gate knowledgeable me that I used to be the one visitor that morning. And what a morning it was! Regardless of the chilly, the clear skies and full sunshine made it a wonderful day.
The perfect half? No competitors for picnic tables! Woo hoo! (We should embrace the positives, proper?)
About 10 minutes earlier than leaving the home, I rapidly put collectively a fast area package for the Currahee in my Pelican Micro M50 waterproof case.
This was a trial run to see how I’d manage a totally self-contained package for the Currahee, just like what I’ve carried out for my different MTR-3B radios. Whereas I didn’t have time to finalize all of the package elements, I needed to gauge the house obtainable and decide what antenna, throw line, and different equipment would match greatest.
Joshua (N5FY), a superb pal, despatched me a package deal over the vacations containing a few of his newest Tufteln protecting radio covers. To make clear, these have been items; I didn’t pay for them. Among the many covers was a brand-new design particularly for the Currahee.
Like all of his covers (you’ve most likely seen those I exploit for my KX2, KX1, CFT1, QMX, and others), this one matches brilliantly. In actual fact, it may be my favourite! The Currahee cowl offers a sturdy, low-profile answer that enhances the radio completely. Makes it a really sturdy little package deal.
Within the close to future, I plan to create a extra in-depth video concerning the Currahee, however my purpose for this outing was to get it on the air and provides it a strong break-in.
Though the Currahee options built-in capacitive contact paddles, they require contact with naked pores and skin. I wasn’t eager on exposing my fingers to the chilly, so I opted to make use of my trusty TP-III paddles as an alternative. By the tip of the activation, my fingers have been nonetheless getting sluggish, however I managed to log loads of QSOs.
For audio, I paired the Currahee with my Anker Soundcore Mini speaker and linked it to a 40-meter Finish-Fed Half-Wave antenna. This antenna is a perfect match for the Currahee since all three of its bands—40, 20, and 15 meters—are resonant. Kudos to LnR and Steve for these wonderful band decisions!
For energy, I used my 9V Bioenno battery. Whereas the Currahee can deal with over 13VDC (making it appropriate with a “12V” LiFePO4 battery), I favor working my Mountain Toppers with 9V, which yields about three watts of output energy.
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Radio
Key and Equipment
Antenna, Throw Line, and Cable Meeting
Battery
Case and Pack
Logging
Digital camera, Mics, Speaker, Gloves and Different Equipment
I began the activation on 20 meters, which turned out to be a unbelievable alternative.
Whether or not it was the shortage of area activators that morning, favorable propagation, or each, I skilled a gentle pileup.
In simply 29 minutes, I logged 32 hunters. I didn’t even get an opportunity to QSY to different bands earlier than working out of time, because the pileup was nonetheless going robust once I signed off.
This was a correct trial-by-fire for the Currahee, and it carried out admirably!
Right here’s what this three-watt activation regarded like when plotted out on a QSO Map (Word that Paul WA1VEI was not in California because the map implies.):
Right here’s my real-time, real-life video of your entire activation. As with all of my movies, I don’t edit out any elements of the on-air activation time. As well as, I’ve monetization turned off on YouTube, though that doesn’t cease them from inserting advertisements earlier than and after my movies.
Word that Patreon supporters can watch and even obtain this video 100% ad-free via Vimeo on my Patreon web page:
Click on right here to view on YouTube.
I’m thrilled with the Currahee! At first blush, its audio and receiver efficiency are on par with earlier Mountain Topper fashions, which is a excessive praise.
Subsequent time I take it to the sector, I hope it’s heat sufficient to check out the built-in capacitive contact paddles. They might streamline my area package by eliminating the necessity for an exterior key. This could particularly be welcome for my SOTA excursions!
After the activation, I handled myself to a Café Latte at Dynamite Roasting, utilizing a few of your beneficiant Patreon and Espresso Fund contributions. It was the right solution to heat up!
Thanks for becoming a member of me on this activation! I hope you loved the sector report and video as a lot as I loved creating them.
A particular due to everybody who helps the location and channel via Patreon, and the Espresso Fund.
Your generosity is deeply appreciated, although by no means a requirement—my content material will at all times stay free.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. Have a unbelievable weekend!
Cheers & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL)
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