QRP Portable

After about 10 months of refinement, my portable SOTA/POTA station has reached a good balance between functionality and weight. It supports CW, FT8, and SSB. The setup weighs just over 1 pound when a tree is available for supporting an antenna; otherwise, it weighs a little over 2 pounds. QMX-HB + 40m       225g Battery(14500x3)        73g EFHW(40-10m)           58g Coax(2m)                  45g Lightening 2 USB-C 21g Paddle,Mic,Cable      23g Earbud                    14g Log+Pen                    24g -------------------------------                                   483g HRD 20ft mast        452g Two short ropes         14g ---------------...

 If you’re fit enough to hike 10+ miles in Yosemite, you’ll enjoy this SOTA summit. The trail is well-maintained for the first 5 miles. The last 1.7 miles are slightly overgrown, but the brush is mostly below knee level. Wearing long pants will keep you comfortable. The trail can be a bit confusing in a few spots, so it's a good idea to have it mapped out on your favorite app (I recommend CalTopo). I started feeling nauseous above 6,000 feet. I just slowed my pace to around 1 mph, took frequent breaks, and sipped water every 10 minutes. After spending about 30 minutes at the summit, I felt fully recovered. Altitude sickness is real, so plan your trip conservatively and listen to your body. There aren’t any trees tall enough to support an antenna, but I brought my own mast and set it up next to a large rock that also served as a windbreak. The summit offers an unforgettable panoramic view. Setup sota station QMX with truSDX as backup The camera cannot capture the magnitude of th...