Triunfo Lookout 2

7 JANUARY 2021 W6/SC-219

It took several months, but my new Elecraft KX2 Finally arrived! I was so thrilled to finally have an HF radio, I decided to revisit Triunfo Lookout to try it out. I also purchased a Packtenna end-fed random wire to go with the KX2.

The Santa Ana winds had been blowing but I decided to give it a shot anyway. I was on the summit well before sunrise and the wind picked up quite a bit. Not the best conditions to deploy an HF antenna. As it was, the antenna blew down three times. In my excitement I had forgotten to pack my windbreaker or even a heavy pile jacket, so I was left shivering in a hoodie. I made 8 contacts on single sidband – one in France – and then beat a hasty retreat. The learning curve is pretty high on the KX2. It is a very different radio than my K3. I’ll need to spend some time with the rig. However, I am thrilled to finally be on HF on my SOTA adventures.

The end-fed Packtenna can be seen here on the edge of the old fire lookout’s foundation. I picked up quite a bit of common mode current with the coax running up to the feed point. Clearly I need to work on that.