Although I discovered SOTA only in 2017, I’ve been doing /P for 35 years from Scottish Central Lowlands hills and elsewhere with a succession of QRP monobanders (FT290, MFJ HF CW, etc) then QRP multi-banders (HB1, FT817) and finally (QRO=10W) KX2.
I have many radio kit configurations and antennas for different types of activation, e.g.
- VHF FM only (2m HT, RH770)
- VHF CW/SSB (FT817, 2m 4-el Yagi, pole)
- 6m CW/SSB (FT817, 6m flowerpot, pole)
- HF CW/SSB (KX2, paddles, mic, etc with appropriate antenna: 80/60m LD, 60/40/30/20m LD, 40/30/20m or 40/20/10m EFHW, or Cha MPAS Lite 40-10m vertical.
I usually carry the KX2 [in homemade bubble-wrap pouch] & battery, paddles, etc inside a large transparent toilet bag. If I didn’t take a tarp and it rains unexpectedly, the toilet bag (laying on its side) also serves as a rig shelter whilst I’m QRV.
… more details here
https://reflector.sota.org.uk/t/share-your-tips-for-activating-in-the-rain/34083/49?u=g8cpz
https://reflector.sota.org.uk/t/hf-naive-kit-update-part-1/36577/34?u=g8cpz
I occasionally do a minimalist HF configuration, which is described in detail here …
You don’t need something until you need it. Some of us feel more comfortable with more redundancy in our kit, others less so. I’ve rarely had a failed activation due to missing or defective kit [Once I left my packed rucksack at home and didn’t discover that until parked for the walk]. Over the years I’ve honed my redundancy to:-
- separate radios for VHF (FT1D 2m/70cm FM HT) and HF (KX2) in case no VHF take-off (G/LD has a few) or a solar flare/SID kills HF
- external & internal KX2 batteries
- external (Palm Pico) and attached KX2 twin paddles
- spare pencil
I’ve got all the configuration weights in an Excel spreadsheet [which I use to see where the weight is coming from, and what if anything to swap out],
Part of the spreadsheet - NB: KX2 bag & contents on R.H.S., wt. 1.3kg
I’m not quoting equipment weights here as I always have extra things like 1-3 plastic winders on the wire antennas for speed of deployment, padding & ‘SOTAbeams’ coloured bags [for easy ID in the long grass] or extra padding or different size / coloured dry bags for different items [for easy ID and wx protection], so the true carry weight is always more than the weight of the bare equipment on my kitchen scales.