Station

Welcome to my radio shack! My operating position has moved from Topanga, California to Nambé, New Mexico. My main HF radio is an Elecraft K4D loading up a multi-band doublet that is resonate on 80m. It is up about 40 feet in the cottonwood trees around the 100 year old adobe casita. For the digital modes I run Digital Master 780 and WSJT-X on a Geekom A6 mini computer running Windows 11.

The SOTA station incorporates an Elecraft KX2 with a Bioenno 3AH external battery. My main SOTA antenna is a home brew 20 AWG zip cord doublet that is resonate on 40m. I also carry a PackTenna end-fed random wire antenna for quick deployment in tough conditions. For 2m and 70cm I use a Kenwood TH-F6a and a roll-up Slim Jim. Recently I’ve added a Yaesu FT5DR and APRS capability. The antennas are supported with a Goture 20′ carbon fiber fishing pole, a Jackite 30′ and a Jackite 20′ fiberglass masts. Also pictured is the first radio I ever owned after I got my license in 2002 — an ICOM IC-T7H. I used this radio exclusively on my first few activations

I gave up pencil and paper logging in favor of an iPad and external keyboard. It’s a bit more awkward for me to use in the field, but, man, it is so much easier when I get home to upload.

Lastly I use a Garmin InReach Mini for safety and posting spots when the mobile phone and APRS fail. Plus KG6MZR likes to see where I am when I am wandering about in the hinterlands.

Latest Posts