Welcome to my radio shack! That’s Charlie the Cat at the operating position. We have 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. That’s an Icom IC-9700 for UHF/VHF driving a Comet CX-333.
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
Los Griegos
Looking like something Van Gogh painted, these sunflowers are either Mule’s Ears (Wyethia arizonica) or Arrow Leaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) – both obviously in the sunflower family, but hard to tell apart. 20 JUNE 2026 W5N/SE-012 Elevation: 10,118′ Route: 4WD track and good use trail Hike Distance: 4.0 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 930′ (includes…
Peralta Ridge
Looking north across the amazing Valles Grande – the 8,000′ high center of the Valles Grande Caldera to Chicoma Mountain. 6 JUNE 2026 W5N/SE-015 Elevation: 9,941′ Route: Cross country Hike Distance: .66 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 125′ Navigation: Easy Steepness: Gentle Vehicle: Passenger car* Road: Good dirt road* Cell Coverage: Excellent Verizon *The road…
Summit 9,420′
Hard to find a view through the trees on this one. Looking west to Chicoma Mountain and the Valles Caldera. 31 MAY 2026 W5N/PW-020 Elevation: 9,420′ Route: Good trail Hike Distance: 2.25 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 700′ Navigation: Easy Steepness: Moderate Vehicle: Passenger car* Road: Paved highway Cell Coverage: Excellent Verizon $10 day use…
Saint Peter’s Dome
New Mexico Locust (Robinia neomexicana) on the way up to the fire lookout tower in the background.. 24 MAY 2026 W5N/SE-035 Elevation: 8,465′ Route: Fire road Hike Distance: 2 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 375′ Navigation: Easy* Steepness: Gentle Vehicle: High clearance suggested Road: Dirt road Cell Coverage: Excellent Verizon *navigating the forest service roads…
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