Many because of Micah (N4MJL) who shares the next visitor submit:
by Micah (N4MJL)
Anyplace and anytime—that’s how I like to explain my Elecraft KH1. This radio goes all over the place I’m going. As an airline pilot, I bounce from coast to coast and all over the place in between virtually day by day. Since I’m consistently on the transfer, my radio gear must be small and compact.
I’m a third-generation ham radio CW operator. Anybody who’s heard me on the air is aware of I’m nonetheless fairly new to CW. I solely began working CW activations with POTA/SOTA within the spring of 2024. Right here’s the gear that’s been working properly for me, together with a couple of images from the places I’ve had the pleasure of activating.
I’ve discovered that the Pelican M50 micro case is the proper “shack in a field” for my KH1. This setup goes all over the place with me. Right here’s what matches completely within the M50:
- Packtenna 9:1 random wire
- 20 ft BNC coax
- Panasonic ErgoFit earbuds
- SP4 paddles from CW Morse
- KH1 (absolutely loaded with inner battery and tuner)
- 30 ft throw line
- Write-in-the-Rain pocket book
- Excessive Visibility Orange Cap-O-Matic Fisher House Pen (with lanyard)
- Desiccant silica gel pack
In pedestrian cellular configuration, the KH1 is a stable system. I’ve carried out a number of activations this manner. That stated, after 45 minutes of holding the KH1 on this setup, I’m able to wrap up! Having a transportable shack that lets me deploy a random wire that tunes 40-15m and a extra ergonomically designed key drastically improves my capabilities.
In lots of city environments the place I activate POTA, pedestrian cellular is crucial. Sadly, the safety in city parks might be unpredictable, and the KH1 permits me to function on the go and rapidly transfer if wanted.
A few of chances are you’ll be questioning what I did to the within of my M50 case. Nicely, in my protection, it’s my spouse’s fault. She left me unsupervised with a glue gun and a little bit of alcohol. When my KH1 arrived this spring, photo voltaic situations have been poor, so I had a couple of days to assume and determined to show the case right into a makeshift Faraday field. I used Polyken aluminum tape, cardboard, and a glue gun to line it. Now, I do know what you’re considering: there’s no electrical bonding between the lid and decrease field as a result of rubber seal, so will this actually work as a Faraday cage? Possibly, possibly not—nevertheless it certain appears to be like cool! What do you assume?
Along with the M50 case, I carry a help pouch (Magpul DAKA, measurement small). This heavy-duty, water resistant pouch accommodates:
- 31 ft counterpoise wire
- AXE1 40m antenna extender
- Bioenno battery 12V 3Ah (backup battery—“1 is none, and a couple of is 1” if you already know, you already know!)
- KH1 energy cable
- KH1 right-angle antenna mount
This stuff aren’t important however are good to have for longer activations.
Once I’m carried out flying and able to play radio, I pack all this gear into my Flash 22 day pack. This compact, minimalist pack takes up virtually no room in my flight bag and even has a built-in whistle on the chest strap, which is ideal for California!
When situations enable, I take pleasure in utilizing the total 5 watts of energy. My go-to antenna is the SOTAbeams Band Hopper III, which is a flexible half-wave linked dipole:
- Rated 125 watts
- Heart-fed with 33 ft RG174 coax
- Guying system included
- Resonant on 20m, 30m, and 40m (no tuner wanted, although the KH1 tuner may even tune up 17m and 15m)
- Constructed-in balun
- Weighs solely 14 oz
The wire/guying winders are glorious, and I’ve used this technique in every kind of environments, from sandy seashores to mountain tops above the treeline. I changed the aluminum tent pegs with plastic ones to maintain TSA happier.
The SOTAbeams Tactical Mini Mast matches diagonally in my 22″ curler board. I wrap heavy rubber-coated wire round it to safe it to posts or shrubs when wanted.
Together with this radio gear, I additionally handle to pack a change of garments—normally sufficient for a five-day journey. I usually fly three journeys a month, every lasting 4 to 5 days. My curler board carries me and my radio gear from airplane to airplane all week lengthy.
On a brief backpacking journey alongside the Appalachian Path (June 3, 2024), I activated SOTA summit W4V/BR-007 Three Ridges and the Three Ridges Wilderness space (POTA US-9959). The mountain within the distance is The Priest (W4V/BR-002), which I activated earlier this 12 months with my LNR Precision MTR4B.
The summit of Three Ridges is a densely wooded space, so I ended under the summit to benefit from the view, seize a fast snack, and play some radio. I snagged two POTA-only QSOs with W8WZ in Louisiana and KU8T in Indiana utilizing the KH1’s whip antenna. As soon as I reached the summit, I used the Packtenna 9:1 random wire for my activation.
A 2-inch binder clip is a vital piece of my equipment. I keep away from slicing and printing the Elecraft-provided log sheet as a result of all these unfastened items of paper would blow proper off a mountain! As an alternative, I clip sheets of Write-in-the-Rain paper to my log tray, as I are inclined to sweat loads, and common paper would find yourself as a soggy mess.
Don’t underestimate the KH1 whip antenna! On September 6, 2024, I activated Harkening Hill (W4V/RA-008) utilizing the whip in a 90-degree adapter, as proven within the image above. I’ve logged contacts with California (WB6POT) on two totally different Virginia summits utilizing simply the whip antenna. A couple of minutes after snapping this picture, EA7GV gave me a 339 report from Spain on 17m. I logged 11 contacts in 40 minutes—fairly a quick tempo given my stage of CW proficiency.
August 11, 2025 – Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah (W7U/SL-022, 7,500 ft MSL):
Within the image above, my SOTAbeams 3-band linked dipole is performing properly. Establishing a resonant, center-fed linked dipole isn’t at all times doable as a result of area, however after I can, the outcomes from the total 5 watts are spectacular! You may learn extra about this activation right here.
August 25, 2024 – Grandeur Peak, Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah (W7U/NU-065, 8,299 ft MSL):
Grandeur Peak has a small, busy activation zone the place pedestrian cellular was the one possible setup. I even managed to log my dad, AC0UT from Missouri, on this activation! You may learn extra about this SOTA journey within the Wasatch Vary right here.
In Spokane, Washington, the pedestrian cellular configuration wasn’t slicing it, so I deployed my Packtenna 9:1 random wire EFHW up in a pine tree to finish a two-fer POTA activation. The EFHW is fast to arrange with my throw line and has the added bonus of being low-profile, so it doesn’t appeal to an excessive amount of consideration from passersby. I ended up utilizing the inventory Elecraft key for this activation, as I forgot to repack my common paddles after a observe session at dwelling.
The Centennial Path (POTA US-3171) runs via downtown Spokane close to my lodge, however I walked six miles north on the path into Riverside State Park (POTA US-3257) to discover a quieter spot. Sure, that’s a 12-mile spherical journey, however I in all probability would have walked it even when I wasn’t doing an activation. Being a pilot means sitting loads, so POTA and SOTA activations are an ideal excuse for me to remain energetic!
Throughout an in a single day keep in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I pulled off a two-fer POTA activation. I extremely suggest Lakeshore State Park (US-1461). Proper in entrance of my picnic desk was the Hank Aaron State Path (US-9800). It was a nice morning on 40m, full with espresso, donuts, and enjoying radio—till the espresso kicked in and I needed to make a fast sprint for the restroom!
This was my first activation the place I reached ten contacts on 40m in a single session. It was additionally my first time utilizing the AEX1 40m coil antenna extender, which labored like a attraction. Right here, I used the KH1’s inventory key, as I’d forgotten to pack my most well-liked paddle key.
Dockweiler Seaside (US-3425) in Los Angeles has been a problem—I’ve didn’t get ten contacts right here on three separate makes an attempt! This seaside is adjoining to LAX, and the fixed jet noise from incoming and outgoing planes is hard to work round. I’d like to arrange my SOTAbeams Band Hopper III linked dipole within the sand, however I’m certain the lifeguards wouldn’t be too thrilled.
It took me three makes an attempt to efficiently activate Fort Level in San Francisco. On my first attempt, I spotted my radio’s battery was virtually lifeless as a result of an unintended power-on throughout my stroll to the park. I didn’t have a backup battery with me that day—a rookie mistake! On the subject of batteries, “1 is none, and a couple of is one.”
To forestall future mishaps, I now cowl the facility change with a small piece {of electrical} tape. I additionally change the KH1 into TX TEST mode earlier than shutting it down, permitting it to function a observe oscillator with out transmitting. I’ve assigned this perform to one of many programmable buttons for fast entry. You may examine my three-POTA San Francisco activation right here.
The Maritime Nationwide Historic Park (US-0757) in San Francisco was my very first activation try with the KH1, and I realized loads from it. Initially, I failed as a result of an operator error—I had unintentionally set the facility to low, so I used to be solely transmitting at 2.5 watts. I didn’t catch this error till I used to be again at my lodge and reviewed the handbook. On this primary try, I additionally tried attempting to find ten contacts as an alternative of calling CQ, as I wasn’t but snug calling CQ in CW.
Nevertheless, on November 4, 2024, I lastly activated US-0757. Sitting on the bleachers subsequent to a less-than-responsive fellow (in all probability simply sleeping), I had an S4 noise ground with occasional loud electrical snaps from hen deterrents close by. I logged 5 QSOs on 20m, 4 on 17m, and a couple of on 15m. Most notably, I labored EA1AF in Spain on 15m. Initially, I believed his callsign was a zero, however he heard me properly sufficient to appropriate my mistake regardless of my 539 sign.
The KH1 is an funding, for certain, however I feel it’s value it. Pedestrian cellular operation isn’t for everybody, nevertheless it’s handy to have a compact, light-weight, five-band CW radio that’s ultra-portable. Each time I take advantage of the KH1, I’m impressed!
Till subsequent time—73!
Micah (N4MJL)
