technology

  • 4010 Sloper Cheat Sheet

    A 4010 End Fed Half Wave, EFHW, antenna in a slope is hands-down my go to field antenna.  It works, pretty much anyway you can get it up.  I didn’t figure this out with a modeling software, I figured it… Continue reading

    4010 Sloper Cheat Sheet
  • NEW POTA Map!!

    If you’re adventurous, if you POTA on the go, there’s a new park-planning map for you. https://potamap.us The brain child of N9FZ, Cainan Whelchel, it’s an online map tool that gives us another look at the yellow dots on the pota.app… Continue reading

    NEW POTA Map!!
  • Just Choke it! – Using the NanoVNA

    W5DRT and I bought NanoVNAs and I don’t know about Dave, but I’ve been testing everything that doesn’t bite or slap.   So playing with this little gadget, I’ve profiled SRW through several transformer into a known resistive load.  More fun, I’ve… Continue reading

    Just Choke it! – Using the NanoVNA
  • Overcoming Injuries: A POTA Day at US-0548

    What an absolutely beautiful day at US-0548 Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge.  About 45 degrees.  While an overcast sky looked like dirty dish water and the air carried moisture just marginally on the dry side of mist, it was a stunning… Continue reading

    Overcoming Injuries: A POTA Day at US-0548
  • New Rig! CFT1 at US-0548 Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge

    It’s not a review!  I picked up a new QRP rig, took it to US-0548 Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, and ran it through some paces.  I’m in no way qualified for product reviews, but am willing to share my experience. … Continue reading

    New Rig!  CFT1 at US-0548 Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge
  • Radio Jedi

    I used to shoot a little pistol competition and once saw a sticker on a gun box that said revolver shooters are the Jedi of action pistol competition.  It made me chuckle and still does. Is a revolver easier to… Continue reading

    Radio Jedi
  • Spread The Word!

    I’ve watched a ton of YouTube videos while learning CW.  Most every night, I fire up my Kindle or phone and copy along to someone else’s POTA activation.  There’s several CW operators filming and posting their POTA activations to YouTube… Continue reading

    Spread The Word!
  • POTA The Destroyer

    I happened across a live stream by Walt, Coastal Waves & Wire posing the topic of what POTA will mean to the solar minimum.  The talked slipped into is POTA a contest and should it be allowed on the non-contesting… Continue reading

    POTA The Destroyer
  • Wires and Antenna Models

    I’ve been playing at modeling antennas.  It’s an on-and-off again thing where every time I play with the software I get a little closer to understanding it.  I use MMANA-GAL to model.  It’s free.  It’s also fairly simple if you… Continue reading

    Wires and Antenna Models
  • The best table at Bonham SP

    I found a cool morning at US-2991 Bonham State Park.  Not cool-neato, but cool-brrr.  It was high 50’s when I  arrived at 08:00 and dropped four or five degrees while I was there.  The activation was a breeze, pun intended.… Continue reading

    The best table at Bonham SP