Getting an antenna to tune is one thing, but being able to make contacts on 10 different bands is another thing. 🚨Spoiler Alert🚨 I’m very impressed with the N9SAB 80-6m OCFD. #POTA
https://youtu.be/lm7KCk7XlQk

@kr1st I’ll definitely be out on 6m FT8 for the contest in Jan. I usually do a SOTA/POTA during the contests, so I’ve got some elevation to help. Thanks for checking out the video!

Is this antenna too short for 40m? Will it even work with the ICOM 7300 internal tuner? What's 6m FT8 like in an aurora? I decided to mess around and find out during a late shift #POTA activation. https://youtu.be/AVy14qk9IU8

@UT3UMS @tsherrygeo I use the MFJ-1910 telescoping mast, which is 33 feet long. https://mfjenterprises.com/products/mfj-1910

@kr1st Yup! I do a lot of POTA, but usually try to go to one of the SOTA locations or one with some elevation during the VHF contests. I've got an ICOM 705 and dual band Elk log periodic that I bring, along with a roll-up J-pole for 1.25m. I started coordinating and joined the RVHFG too. I actually had the QSO on the HT after the RVHFG 2m SSB Net, LOL. I'll be looking into a transverter at some point too.

@sp6mr that is what I thought. Since many countries do not have 1.25m, there is little incentive for manufactures to make radios and antennas. It's too bad.

What do you think of the 1.25m band? Last night, I had a 13-mile FM simplex QSO on 223.500MHz. I was testing out a new-to-me monoband HT. I like to use 1.25m for POTA & SOTA during the VHF contests when there’s activity. I wish it were more active and there were more options for radios though.

@UT3UMS @tsherrygeo I have a 29-foot EFRW that I use with a 33-foot portable mast. I set it up as a vertical and it works well. I have longer EFRW (35.5' and 71') that I use as slopers or inverted V's.

@tsherrygeo I need to look into a trapped EFHW. EFRW are great with tuners though.

@hb9iah I have the Wolf River Coils 213" telescoping whip and it's amazing on 6-20m. I have their Sporty Forty coil to use it on 40m (30m too) and it works well too. It's so easy to put those on a mag mount and operate from inside the car. 40m is a compromise, but it still gets out just fine.

@Geojoek I have a linked dipole for 40m, 20m and 10m. It's great! It is just a pain to change bands if it's raining or cold and snowing outside.

@m0rpk great points. I like my linked dipole, but I'm not going to use it as much this winter, since I'm not gong to want to go out of the car or shelter to adjust it. EFRW are easy to switch bands a deploy too, but putting a 1/4-wave or loaded vertical on a mag mount is super easy.

What's your favorite multi-band antenna for portable #HamRadio, like #POTA or #SOTA?

I didn't take as many photos as I should have at Hamvention, but here's a short video with some of my highlights. https://youtu.be/-bNoAEVHmgY

Mess around and find out! Experimenting is an important part of ham radio. Here's how it performed and what I uncovered the second time I took K4OGO Coastal 20 Antenna out for a #POTA activation. https://youtu.be/62BsswRxLXA

40 meters, sure. But 60m and 80m too? With just 10w, the Linked Rybakov antenna was great for a Late Shift #POTA activation.
https://youtu.be/1aJT0bY5suQ

Just in time for #WinlinkWednesday and #APRSThursday. Here's how you can use an inexpensive Baofeng, or just about any HT, to do #Winlink, #APRS, and even send a text message using the new @Mobilinkd TNC4 with the RadioMail and APRS.fi apps. https://youtu.be/dHeYQ9krf9E

6 bands and 5 antennas! Am I crazy for doing this? Here's how I got a jump start on Winter Field Day. I did a SOTA & POTA activation during the VHF contest to test some new equipment and try different bands. https://youtu.be/akpm320_xNM

@W0ABE Thanks!

I did a #POTA activation today to test some new gear, including the mAT-705 Plus antenna tuner for the ICOM IC-705. I made a brief YouTube video of the fun. It's one of the first "real" YouTube videos I've made. https://youtu.be/MrLET82E5DQ