I learned after my first SOTA. "Go light, or its gonna mess you up!"

@K6UDA

5 жыл бұрын

My pack with food, water, cameras, radio gear was just under 30 pounds.

@HamRadioCrashCourse

5 жыл бұрын

I think mine is under 20 with a drone, 15 without. I made a videos about it a month or so ago.

Great video. Brutishly honest about the hike and the activation. I could tell from the heavy breathing that it might have been a tuff day. Great views and not doubt on the way home probably glad you did it.

Bob, congratulations on your survival - and for producing a very entertaining video! I kept laughing at your dilemma on the hike up - only because I've had those same exact reactions too many times before on too many hikes. (We used to live in the Smoky Mountains. On more than one hike on the Appalachian Trail, my wife and I would both swear that it was uphill BOTH ways!) 73 my friend de Robert K3RRR

Killer hike, last time I was up there I drove all the way to the bottom of the stairs. Signal Peak is calling :)

Bob, You have to get acclimatized to the altitude. Unless you have done high altittude SOTA activations before, you should not expect good results. I was up in Colorado and Wyoming recently in some places over 10k in altitude. The lack of oxygen can really screw with your physical and mental processes if you are not accustomed to it.

I love the beautiful outdoors. I could sit and watch videos about it all day long.

I feel your pain buddy..lol..but I want to see you do it again next year. Crawl, walk, run-not a new concept and it was great to see you out and away from Radio Station K6UDA (Ham Shack).

Bob, you did a great job buddy!!

that hiking music almost killed me. Thanks for the review.

NICE!!! Good work!

Well done that Bob!!!!

My first overnight hike I made the mistake of not taking the altitude into consideration Big Mistake Live and learn. Go as light as possible. I’m almost ready to pul the plug and get this little rig I wish I could afford the kx2. Nice review keep it up. I’m in Sacramento so I know the area you were in very well

I have the X5105, it's a great little radio. I use it with a hyendcompany.nl mini 4 band 100 watt EFHW and it works extremely well with the 5 watts, it's resonant on 40-20-15-10 meters. The whole lot packs up really compact, if anyone is familiar with the Tecsun PL-660 ? the X5105 fits in the Tecsun pouch so it's really compact given it's fantastic internal battery and tuner. It's a lot of radio for the money. I'm not sure I could justify the cost of an Elecraft which is very expensive in the E.U, you're talking 1,131 USD for just the Kx2, no battery, no tuner. The X5105 bought from Sinotel will cost 643 USD with fantastic battery , tuner and antenna analyser. I took the X5105 to Germany in July and headed off one afternoon and used the radio for 5 hrs and it was still working when I finished, I had a blast. Great fun. The Elecraft may have a better receiver but for 491 USD more but I haven't used a KX2 to know if it's better. Check out the Xiegu G90, another great radio which is SDR with waterfall and is supposed to have a really good quiet receiver. Just a glimpse here of the panadapter coming out for the X5105 and G90 kzread.info/dash/bejne/p4WVvMGxdcvIcs4.html

Looks a beautiful part of the states. If I ever travel over to that neck of woods I’m heading there and get my hiking boots on. Maybe it’s just me but Dennis looks a little like Chuck Norris!? :) Well done to the team though. Good effort getting to the top and operating.

Looks like a great little radio. Great review. A 1/4" phone jack in place of the BNC would work. You'd be surprised - they make great RF connectors if you use high quality ones. Then make a dongle... phone plug to whatever. The jack would be recessed. I wouldn't pay $100 for the radio. Seriously. Because of The Deal Breaker: no rotary volume control. I I'm not punching buttons non-stop

Me and my brothers go backpacking up that way. We start our hike at upper salmon lake; pretty close to sardine lake.

loved the review and the music.

@K6UDA

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks.

@ham98226

5 жыл бұрын

What is the song on the trip up?

@ham98226

5 жыл бұрын

Saw it at the end. Great song and trip. 73 N7UAP

Would have tried this in my backyard Screw this.....lol...hilarious

Love the sense of humour - VU2CH

Dude....... You are better than I am. There was a time when I would have gone with you but, toooooooooo Damned old for that stuff now.

It is a pity that there is no photo of antennas. But it is good and fun summit anyway!

Hey Nice QRP cession :)

It's about the same price as a FT891 down under and only 500gr lighter... The only viable option would be the kx2 but that's really expensive! hmm can't find the right compromise hehe, thanks for that video!

@AlpineWarren

5 жыл бұрын

Yaesu FT-818 - My x5105 has had an issue on two SOTA's and glad I took the Yaesu along. Sometimes simple wins.

@loctite222ms

5 жыл бұрын

How heavy would the battery that you have lug around to power it? I don't see the point of comparing a 100w mobile rig to a portable qrp rig. It looks like a neat choice for a mobile rig, but not something to take on a hike.

@AlpineWarren

5 жыл бұрын

loctite222ms FT-818 is a 5 watt QRP rig with a built in battery.

@JonathanAdami

5 жыл бұрын

the point is: you spend money and there's a limited amount of this. the ft891 isn't limited to one purpose. With a zippy 8400 it's 2.8kg (you can save 400gr with the 4200) , it's defo manageable! A man pack could be all together less than 10kg including antennas, pole, water, hiking gears and all... AND If I end up hiking more, I'll probably lose 10kg myself so here! hahaha

Have you done enough operating to have an opinion on how warn the X5105 gets? That's one negative I've heard a few times.

@K6UDA

5 жыл бұрын

It gets warm, but it wasn't hot like my D74 after a QSO at 5 watts.

do you do digital if so can you do a video on the set up. I enjoy your video and they teach me alot

@K6UDA

5 жыл бұрын

I haven't don't digital on a portable radio. I did an FT8 video not long ago.

Are you kidding me, that is a pristine road compared to where I have gone when hunting. Hope you didn't get the car to dirty.. :)

@K6UDA

5 жыл бұрын

Hey, not my car, not my circus.

You might want to consider an ATV. Perfect for this type of adventure and has many other uses. Nice video though.

@K6UDA

5 жыл бұрын

I have a RZR 800s. Although it would be a fun ride up the mountain, getting it there, transporting three guys and all the gear would be impractical. We may take my jeep next time.

didnt take the thinner air into account either lol

Hey man, hit me up next time you want to do SOTA. I can provide some easier cool places to go, and possibly even an experienced SOTA person to go with. 73, Rex KE6MT (California SOTA Association Manager)

@K6UDA

5 жыл бұрын

Sweet, Thanks. We have another one in the works before snow covers the mountain.

Looks like Sierra Buttes at 39.593551° -120.647261° and about 8500 feet elevation.

Hey Bob, great video. Is it possible to drive up to the stairs that go up to the lookout? 73's Chuck

@K6UDA

5 жыл бұрын

Chuck KK6USY I think the closest you could get a 4x4 in is about 1/2 mile down the mountain.

@chuck4050

5 жыл бұрын

That seems a lot closer than you guys started from LOL, Thanks

A very ambitious endeavor. What was Dennis using for his CW contacts?

@K6UDA

5 жыл бұрын

his KX3.

@gfrerking

5 жыл бұрын

KX3

3:20 is where we thought you were going to call your wife to come pick you up!

@K6UDA

5 жыл бұрын

Trust me I thought about it.

Then a group of young folks go running past you...😄

You are right. The KX3 is a nice rig, I would like to have one but I'm not willing to pay that price. It's way overpriced. The X5105 is much more reasonable.

@K6UDA

5 жыл бұрын

It's like the difference between a Ford Pickup and a Ferrari. If you can afford the extra cost for the extra performance then its worth it.

I think I would have driven further so I wouldn't have had to hike as far but thats me. That said I would also worry about mountain lions and bears being in California.

@K6UDA

5 жыл бұрын

Thats why we go during the day and armed to the teeth.

Sorry, I would have drove up the jeep trail. KG5RadioAmerica.

Its' hard to carry on a SOTA activation, review equipment, and try to film, especially when you are over a mile high. Believe me I know. :)

I don't recommend killing ones self its not that fun LOL plus we wouldn't get to see these great videos from you if you did :)

hmm. I thought ham people can't walk not to mention hike.

IM 73 dont use the word massive undertaking kg6mn

@K6UDA

5 жыл бұрын

Too late. I already did.

The 5th thing working against you was that you were apparently unaware of sotawatch.org. You can spot yourself on this website (similar to the DX Cluster) indicating what mode/frequency you are on using a cell phone or APRS. SOTA chasers would have come out in droves to work your weak 5W compromised antenna station.

Dennis, get a job!!

SORRY---followed up till the CUSSING....REALLY SAD...Guess ill find info on the X5105 someplace else