Is 2m worth it?

That does not has to be! If you are willing to learn CW, you can cover the entire world with a full HF station that is easily less than 1 kg including pole and antenna.

See this link:

My current station is

  • A MTR 3 B in a “TinySOTA” enclosure including battery for >2h operation, SWR meter, USB charger, etc. - less than 350 g including earphones and rugged case.
  • An endfed or vertical wire antenna - 100 - 200 g
  • A carbon-fiber mast 5 - 6m, starting with less than 200g.

Here are pictures of the station:

Of course, you do not have take the effort of building a similar station - an MTR as off-the-shelf from LNR will go a long way. And SOTA DX contacts are well possible even at this point of the solar cycle.

73 de Martin, DK3IT

Edit: One more thing: 5 W QRP is really plenty for SOTA HF. No need to carry a 100W beast up on the summit.

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