1010 pts (207 bonus) 175 activations (11 this year) 126 unique summits 3,718 QSOs 10 associations 12y 7m

Log

96 entries

Helena Area Drive Up SOTA Summits
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Helena Area Drive Up SOTA Summits

Think SOTA requires a grueling hike? Drive-up summits make Summits on the Air more accessible than ever—no backpacking or blisters required. Just bring your gear, step away from the vehicle, and enjoy portable ham radio from a mountaintop. It’s a fun way to sharpen your skills and maybe even spark a new radio obsession.

Haystack Mountain (W7M/HB-038) SOTA Activation, Third Try's A Charm
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Haystack Mountain (W7M/HB-038) SOTA Activation, Third Try's A Charm

After two winter strikeouts, I finally tackled Haystack Mountain just south of Helena—and this time, summer conditions were on my side. A rugged 4WD approach, boulder-strewn trail, whortleberry-scented air, and fire tower remnants made for an unforgettable hike and radio activation. With 32 contacts logged and views stretching for 100 miles, it was well worth the wait.

Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Double SOTA Summits
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Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Double SOTA Summits

What started as “just a couple summits along a ridge” turned into a 13.5-mile SOTA adventure through Montana’s stunning Gates of the Mountains Wilderness. Two peaks, dozens of contacts (including DX), game trails, and a sockful of burrs later—I earned the points and the memories.

Elkhorn Endurance Run, Ham Radio in the Wilderness
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Elkhorn Endurance Run, Ham Radio in the Wilderness

Ham Radio in the Elkhorns: Endurance, Elevation & Emergency Comms Every August, the Elkhorn Endurance Run puts runners—and radio operators—to the test. Hosted by the Helena Ultra Runners League (HURL), this backcountry race winds through remote terrain with little to no cell coverage. That’s where we come in. For the another year, my sons and I hiked into the hard-to-reach Elk Park aid station to support the event with the Capital City Amateur Radio Club. With antennas deployed, radios checked, and thunderstorms narrowly avoided, we helped ensure 100% accountability of runners across a grueling 50-mile course with 13,000 feet of elevation change. It’s always inspiring to see what these athletes push through—and rewarding to know ham radio plays a vital role in keeping everyone safe.

20,000 Contacts Out at Sea, Wake Island Milestone
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20,000 Contacts Out at Sea, Wake Island Milestone

20,000 Contacts from Wake Island: Milestone Met, Coconuts Cracked It’s not quite 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, but logging 20,000 radio contacts from a remote speck in the Pacific does feel a bit adrift—in the best way. Thanks to a surge in June, I hit the goal before heading off on vacation, logging over 2,100 QSOs across SSB, CW, and FT8. Wake Island even slipped a few spots on the Club Log Most Wanted list, down to #35. Life here has been busy enough that blog posts fell behind (a sure sign I’ve been overbooked). Still, I’ve managed to stay active—disc golf in the long summer evenings, daily gym sessions, and steamy 85°F (30°C) trail runs through the trees. And yes, I now open coconuts with a machete. Hydration, island-style.

FT8 and Compound Calls
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FT8 and Compound Calls

KH7AL shares lessons learned from operating FT8 in Fox/Hound mode, including tips for call sign issues in WSJT-X and a recap of a successful 20m session with over 380 contacts.

 An Ode to the Dynamic Dipole
general ham sota wake island

 An Ode to the Dynamic Dipole

Build your own dipole antenna with scrap parts! Discover tips, formulas, and hands-on guidance for making simple, effective ham radio antennas—including metric and imperial measurements.

general ham wake island

Machete Mishap, Wasps, and CW on Wake Island

A week of a machete mishap, bee stings, CW activations, and unexpected rescues on Wake Island—all part of one radio operator’s not-so-average downtime

general ham wake island

1,900+ FT8 Contacts from Wake Island in 24 Hours

A night and day of FT8 marathons on Wake Island turns into nearly two-thousand-contact triumph. From WSJT-X quirks to DeltaFlex improvisation, here's how it all unfolded on the bands.

general ham wake island

Struck Out on FT8: My Wake Island Ham Radio Attempt

After a taxing week and a comedy of connector-related errors, I tried to salvage a ham radio session from Wake Island using FT8. Spoiler: it didn’t go well. Between forgotten adapters, SWR headaches, and an avalanche of digital replies I couldn’t quite wrangle, this was one for the blooper reel. Thirty-eight QSOs later, I waved the white flag—but not before learning a thing or two about fox/hound mode, my IC-7300, and my own stubbornness. FT8 might not be my mode of choice, but I’m not ready to give up just yet

general ham wake island

FT8, a Visit to Peale Island, and New Videos Available

From first FT8 contacts on Wake Island to kayaking into overgrown WWII ruins on Peale, this week was full of radio waves, hermit crabs, and hidden history. Plus, I finally launched my YouTube channel to share the ham radio and historical gems of this remote Pacific outpost.

Tiny Dogs, Big Mountain: A SOTA Misadventure
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Tiny Dogs, Big Mountain: A SOTA Misadventure

What do you get when you mix two tiny house dogs, an off-trail SOTA summit, ticks, cacti, and a lost handheld radio? One very memorable misadventure in Montana.