naturegirl
New member
Rainy day commentary?
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/11/ham_hiking_north_american_sota_acti.html
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/11/ham_hiking_north_american_sota_acti.html
Ham on the summit?
- Thread starter naturegirl
- Start date
Help Support vftt.org:
I thought you meant the kind of ham in put in my summit sandwich 
DougPaul
Well-known member
Hams (amateur radio operators) on summits? Sure, why not?
Hams hold a yearly contest (electronic gathering, in VFTT terms) in late June called Field Day. The goal is to take a portable radio station out somewhere (such as a mountain top) and see how many contacts one can make. It also serves as a test of and preparation for providing communications during emergencies (eg hurricanes, other natural disasters). http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/ Mount Washington and a number of other NE summits generally have Field Day stations.
I've done it. A friend and I took 2-meter SSB rigs, batteries and antennas up Big Squaw Mtn (by the S end of Moosehead Lake, ME) and set up on the helicopter pad near the summit.
Sometimes hams carry a rig up some random summit on a random day to see how many contacts they can make. (One guy used to climb Moosilauke every now and then for the purpose, stay and play for a few hours, and head down.)
FWIW, there are a number of hams on this BBS. Some of them/us sometimes/often carry HTs (HandiTalkie=WalkieTalkie) when hiking. 2M (2 meters, a ham frequency band) HTs are often a better bet for emergency communications in the backwood Whites than cellphones.
Doug
WB2QJE
Hams hold a yearly contest (electronic gathering, in VFTT terms) in late June called Field Day. The goal is to take a portable radio station out somewhere (such as a mountain top) and see how many contacts one can make. It also serves as a test of and preparation for providing communications during emergencies (eg hurricanes, other natural disasters). http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/ Mount Washington and a number of other NE summits generally have Field Day stations.
I've done it. A friend and I took 2-meter SSB rigs, batteries and antennas up Big Squaw Mtn (by the S end of Moosehead Lake, ME) and set up on the helicopter pad near the summit.
Sometimes hams carry a rig up some random summit on a random day to see how many contacts they can make. (One guy used to climb Moosilauke every now and then for the purpose, stay and play for a few hours, and head down.)
FWIW, there are a number of hams on this BBS. Some of them/us sometimes/often carry HTs (HandiTalkie=WalkieTalkie) when hiking. 2M (2 meters, a ham frequency band) HTs are often a better bet for emergency communications in the backwood Whites than cellphones.
Doug
WB2QJE
Last edited:
REK
Member
Hilltopping is fun. You take your radio up to a peak and see who you can talk to. The best for me so far was to talk to commuters on Rt 495 in Mass from the top of Chocorua using the repeater in Chester, NH. My handheld transceiver (HT) uses 5 watts which isn't much power at all. The downside was that after I disassembled the radio I forgot the antenna on top. In a reverse move I carried on a conversation with another ham in Bridgeton ME via the repeater on Mt Washington. I was in Epping, NH at the time. (Different radio, more power)
I always take my handheld hiking. It doesn't weigh much and would be useful in an emergency. I try not to be too obvious in my hilltopping because I don't want to be intrusive to folks enjoying the peace and quiet.
Bob
I always take my handheld hiking. It doesn't weigh much and would be useful in an emergency. I try not to be too obvious in my hilltopping because I don't want to be intrusive to folks enjoying the peace and quiet.
Bob
Craig
New member
dentonfabrics
New member
Respectfully, isn't a ham on a summit a little obtrusive?
Craig
New member
Personally, I have a pretty high tolerance level of others wants, needs and desires understanding the multitude of religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of the folks that use our public lands.
After all, our National Forests are the “Land of Many Uses”
Just don't put no stink'n wind turbines on em.
After all, our National Forests are the “Land of Many Uses”
Just don't put no stink'n wind turbines on em.
David Metsky
Well-known member
They've got goats up there; the ham radio is a bit of an afterthought, don't you think?
Seriously, you could say the same thing about Flags on the 48 (and maybe you do). It's a temporary thing, it's fun, and it's just another way to enjoy the outdoors.
werdigo49
New member
Thanks for this post, Doug. I'm K3GHH. So far, anyway, I've chosen to keep my amateur radio and hiking hobbies separate... but, who knows... one of these days I'll pick up a little low-powered short-wave (HF) morse-code (CW) transceiver, toss a wire over a tree branch, and see what I can do from (near) a summit...
J.Dub
Active member
I did a handful of Field Days back in high-school when I was a much more active ham. Nowadays, I usually only take my HT with me when winter hiking (when benighting/accidents can be a bit more serious). Thinking about getting a new, smaller one, though. Mine is an old ICOM dual-bander that is pretty heavy for its size. So much so that I'm scared to weigh it!
If you're into the QRP (i.e., low-power) thing, do a Google search for "Altoid box transceiver" to see some pretty cool small, lightweight, DIY opportunities which wouldn't take up much room/weight in a pack...
73,
K2RE
If you're into the QRP (i.e., low-power) thing, do a Google search for "Altoid box transceiver" to see some pretty cool small, lightweight, DIY opportunities which wouldn't take up much room/weight in a pack...
73,
K2RE
DougPaul
Well-known member
You might take a look at the Kenwood TH-F6A, 144/222/430 MHz FM, 5W, general coverage receiver (.1-1300 MHz), WX presets, weather resistant, 8.8oz. I have one, and IMO it is a good rig for the purpose. http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Communications/Amateur_Radio/Portables/TH-F6AI did a handful of Field Days back in high-school when I was a much more active ham. Nowadays, I usually only take my HT with me when winter hiking (when benighting/accidents can be a bit more serious). Thinking about getting a new, smaller one, though. Mine is an old ICOM dual-bander that is pretty heavy for its size. So much so that I'm scared to weigh it!
(You can download the manual and brochure from the link.)
There are about 5 repeaters in/near the Whites.
I also carry a 2M twinlead J-pole antenna for weak signal areas. SAR-EMT40 has more experience than I using the above in the Whites and will probably chime in...
Here are some past threads that have some relevant info:
http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5937
http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=17789
http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5937
#include <std caveat>
I have no connection with Kenwood--just an owner and user of a TH-F6A.
Doug
peakbagger
In Rembrance , July 2024
Awhile back there was a thread on whiteblaze about a thru hiker that had a ultralight rig that he was going to carry use the length of the trail. I think it was strictly a morse code rig.
DougPaul
Well-known member
J.Dub
Active member
That's not surprising, as a CW xceiver would be much smaller/lighter/simpler than one for SSB. Having passed the 20wpm test for my Extra ticket, I was disappointed to learn that the FCC waived the code requirement for amateur licenses recently.
Thanks for the Kenwood rec, Doug. Will check it out.
Paradox
New member
- Joined
- May 29, 2006
- Messages
- 2,268
- Reaction score
- 314
alpino
Member
A couple of years ago I saw a guy on the summit of Monadnock with a ham radio. I don't know what he was doing with it, but he was nice enough to get us the score of the Patriots game.
Tobit
Active member
My call sign is N1ESE and I've operated in the woods in the past. CW-only rigs can be built to weigh almost nothing these days, even with a battery, and, as others have stated, an HT is much more effective in the woods and on a peak than a cell phone for emergency contacts.
It's great fun operating CW from your tent at night on 80 or 40 meters with nothing more than a wire tossed into a tree.
It's great fun operating CW from your tent at night on 80 or 40 meters with nothing more than a wire tossed into a tree.
TenPeaks
New member
When I saw the title Ham on the summit I thought you might be talking about this...
Ham on the trail
Ahhh... to be young and foolish and willing to carry another pound of weight, again!
Ham on the trail
Ahhh... to be young and foolish and willing to carry another pound of weight, again!
earlylite
New member
Ham radio operators were the first, widely distributed social network. Forget twitter.
Right in the White Mountain Back Yard
By one of our own...this design is by a brilliant guy and former RMC caretaker. The ATS-3B is an incredible little rig that is a backpackers dream..fits in an altoid tin and can contact the world...believe me I've used it!!!!!
http://kd1jv.qrpradio.com/ATS3B/ats3b.HTM
Ann
K1QO
SOTA is big even more so in Europe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summits_on_the_Air
By one of our own...this design is by a brilliant guy and former RMC caretaker. The ATS-3B is an incredible little rig that is a backpackers dream..fits in an altoid tin and can contact the world...believe me I've used it!!!!!
http://kd1jv.qrpradio.com/ATS3B/ats3b.HTM
Ann
K1QO
SOTA is big even more so in Europe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summits_on_the_Air
Last edited:
Similar threads
