N5FFN and POTA and HF rover

02/07/2023

https://youtu.be/UN8mb9No6eg

POTA hunters vs activators. No need to fuss!!!!

02/06/2023

This is not for the 99.9% of fantastic operators in the POTA program but for the .01%.... There's been a recent dumpster fire on the FB groups and I'm noticing it on the air from time to time about multi operator activations... Please keep in mind that I wanna work all of you if I can BUT my activations are not all done with the same goals in mind. When I'm working with another operator I'm helping to train them to soon do their own activations... Activating on the middle of 20m on a weekday afternoon is not always easy even for seasoned operators... If you've never QRZ'd and had 19 or 20 stations reply to you at once you oughta try it sometime! By working with me a new operator gets the opportunity to practice picking out call signs and copying phonetics while entering them into a logging software without feeling so overwhelmed until he or she feels ready to do it on their own. When I'm working with a second operator my main goal is to get him or her some airtime and contacts at a bit slower pace. If you don't wanna work this way I totally understand. Most of the parks where I do this are my multi kilo parks so I will be back. YOU CAN JUST TURN THE DIAL AND WAIT FOR ANOTHER TIME....BUT DO NOT WORK ME AND THEN LEAVE MY SECOND OPERATOR HANGING! From now on if you do this I will consider the contact INCOMPLETE and I will NOT log the contact. It takes another 20 seconds out of your life to work my second op and I don't feel that's too much to ask. If you're a new op who's wanting to try POTA but needs a little help and you're in my area email me I'll be glad to help. TNX N5FFN

01/29/2023

Gordon West told us that the antenna was most important in amateur radio. I can't disagree... Bob Heil focuses on quality audio. That can make a huge difference also.... but what I've learned is that both pale in comparison to keeping your ass in the seat and trying!

12/18/2022

There was a time when I'd rather have had my ass kicked by a gorilla than call CQ on a week night... You never know what you're gonna get! Might be someone just looking to make a quick contact, might be someone needing you for their log, might be someone who is wanting to make adjustments, might be some lonely OM just want someone to talk to.... But as I've forced myself to do it I'm realizing THAT'S THE BEATY OF IT!

12/09/2022

Part of today's activation... Battery died I didn't get much...

https://youtu.be/CONtVpqoswQ

12/06/2022

Might be another great 10 meter day!

12/05/2022

As a new ham or even a seasoned one calling CQ can be nerve racking but I encourage you to do it anyway. Doesn't have to be a contest, you don't have to be in a park... Get on there and make some noise! You might be pleasantly surprised... What's the worse that can happen? Nobody replies? Today I decided to just call and see what I got for a minute... Got Canada, Jamaica and a couple of stateside contacts all within about ten minutes...

12/04/2022

As some may know recently I've been activating parks with the goal of getting 100 or more contacts. Sometimes it's not easy but it's caused me to be more aggressive in hanging on to a frequency and given me incentive to try other bands. I'm getting to know many of the hunters by their voice and really growing as an operator. No matter what you do in radio set your own goals and challenge yourself. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish!

12/03/2022

I love working all these interesting and creative minimalist stations! Long live QRP! "CW rules"? NOT HARDLY!!!!

12/02/2022

SWL qsl card. My very first one. I've heard about them but never got one. It's neat to think that someone outside of ham radio was listening and thought enough of what they heard to send a card to my little station.... and a reminder that others are listening and we should ALWAYS strive to be good ambassadors to our hobby and our country.

11/30/2022

I often hear new hams being discouraged from buying QRP radios.... and maybe it's good advice. I don't know...
I know they require some patience, they aren't for everyone....
But what if it's all the guy can afford?
I don't know... But I do know this. I WORK A HELL OF A LOT OF EM...

11/26/2022

The POTA thing....
To be honest I thought it was kinda dumb. What's the big deal about working someone sitting in a park?.... BUT I noticed about a year ago that it was getting really popular and I thought it might be a good opportunity to get some contacts for my WAS award... I had an old 817 and brick amp setup that I used to do 1B FD and there was a POTA entity right across the street so...why not? I set up one afternoon and got this HUGE pileup... It was the most exhausting, overwhelming thing I'd ever done on radio... Got 40 contacts in 30 minutes before I had to say UNCLE! I was hooked for life!

11/22/2022

Here's the plan...and I'm not good at planning, we've already been pushed back a day... Tomorrow morning we'll be going up Scenic 7 Byway State trail K-8316 starting north of hot springs.... Should be hitting several parks along the way and will continue as long as time permits... Gonna be short "hit em and quit em" type activations so will be mostly on 20m and possibly 15.. but watch the spots you never know what we'll end up doing.

11/06/2022

Brenda's been busy! I was looking pretty pitiful working CQww with my radio and amp on an old sewing table and the notebook on the deep freezer so she built me a bench. I'm finally getting the hang of N1MM so y'all better look out! 🤣

11/03/2022

Just keep calling CQ and it'll all work out.

10/30/2022

10 meters is fantastic today. My amplifier is not set up for the band and my antenna is ground mounted and in between metal outbuildings but I've been able to work most of Europe on low power! If you're a technician get on. I think 10 watts and a wet string will get you DX today!!!!