I feel your pain. I always carry a backup key but not a backup battery. I setup like you did and took out my rig and discovered I had not pack a battery. Thanks for sharing your POTA pain. Hope you're feeling better from COVID.

I feel your pain! That happened to me as well. I forget what it was, but I definately remember packing up and going backhome. That will happen to all activators at least once.

Great video anyway. Forgetting happens to all of us, sometimes we are just not in the mode and sometimes we have too much on our mind. Thank you for sharing.

Some say one should have a 'checklist' before leaving. Others even say 'test out the setup before leaving'. I can't advise anyone because I am a strictly indoors operator, even for my LEO satellite work! 73 de Jon, VU2JO

My main "forget" for my HB-1B which is similar to your rig is the ear buds so I can hear it. The JBL speaker is a good idea. Hope you did not travel too far to the park and have to try again another time. Regards vk5cz ..

I have had a few things go wrong. During one activation, the wind picked up and blew my vertical antenna over, which broke the top section off. At least I can still use the antenna on higher frequencies. My battery once died on me after 8 contacts. Now, I make sure to charge it more often and/or have my second battery with me. My portable/POTA equipment bin is almost completely separate and self contained from the home base station and stays that way. I can grab the bin and throw it in the car in case I have an opportunity to to an activation on my way home from work, and not need to remember to pull anything out of the base station to set up a portable station.

@KQ3Q

Ай бұрын

I’m trying to have something similar… a grab and go bag! 🙏🏼

My battery died once in the middle of a QSO, and I didn't have an extra one. Fortunately, I had 12 contacts. Today, my cord for my key died. Fortunately, I had another one. But I forgot my rig expert.... usually it's some connector I don't have... Ah well. Live and learn.

@KQ3Q

20 күн бұрын

oh no! At least you were able to make the activation. It is always fun even with all the mishaps that may arise during an activation.

Forgetting equipment happens to the best of us, Lidi! 😉 Just take it as a sign that it was meant to be because it was too hot where you were…but another piece of equipment you might consider purchasing is a sportbrella or some kind of easy setup overhead cover. GL on the next activation. ~ AA4SB 😊

@KQ3Q

2 ай бұрын

I know…. I need a partner in crime to help me carry stuffs LOL

@infantrywife502

2 ай бұрын

@@KQ3Q if we lived closer, I would be your carrying buddy 😉 it would be too hot for Ed 😂

@dugbohamradio

2 ай бұрын

It happens to the best of us. I always carry 2 of everything for activations now . That is a cool bag at the end !!!

@redeagle45

2 ай бұрын

we’ve all been there. for me it was missing adapters. taking a cw keys with 1/4” when the rig wants 1/8 or UHF cables when the qrp rig uses bnc.

lol, rookie mistake, make a checklist... i think a "key" is pretty hard to forget.... right. Maybe the radio or antenna might have been even bigger mistake... hey , keep making videos, and never stop. IMO POTA , the greatest thing to happen to ham radio... I tried to buy that same paddle you use, but the guy was not willing to take any kind of payment other than paypal... I dont personally use paypal, because of their stand against Christianity, so I have went elsewhere to purchase a key. POTA on, NS9T!

@KQ3Q

2 ай бұрын

Yeah big time rookie mistake that can happen to anyone but taking out the key from the bag which I never do got me in trouble. 🤪😩😩😩😩😩😩

@radioman3229

2 ай бұрын

@@KQ3Q I do POTA, and I have made some real whoppers, thanks for all you videos... and I always learn the most from the ones about mistakes or problems... thanks again! NS9T 73