w6csn’s outdoor amateur radio

Having a POTA reference close by provides a great way to relax and put some distance between yourself and the workday.

Occasionally the kit changes up but I keep some portable gear in a ready state solely for the purpose of heading out just as soon as that last meeting is done.

• QRP Labs QCX-Mini 20 meter CW transceiver
• 3 amp-hour 12v LiFePo, power lead for radio
• ZM-2 manual tuner
• CW Morse N0SA designed paddles
• Gabil tripod, GRA-7350T sliding coil, “manpack” folding whip
• 17 ft radial bundles, set of 2 (6 wires total)
• RG-316 coax cables (BNC connectors)
• Notepad, pencil, earbuds

This lightweight kit fits easily into a small backpack for transport by car or on foot and deploys quickly. Having the pack ready to go makes it easier to get out quickly for a little bit of CW POTA action to move the body and relax the mind at the end of the day.

P.S. on my last two activations with the manpack folding whip, I’ve had difficulty tuning and noticed my SWR jumping around a lot as the whip swayed in the breeze (it’s usually pretty windy where I activate). So tonight I started checking all the parts of the antenna system. Everything is solid up to the whip, whereupon I find a flakey connection between some of the folding segments! This would certainly explain the SWR jumping all over the place. FYI.