Share your SOTA-specific inventory of radio gear (Part 1)

[MM0EFI]

@MM0FMF

I realise the up and out antenna is new to some people but the design dates back to the 1920s

Indeed. I don’t claim to have invented it and when writing about it, either on here or on youtube comments, I often mention that being on a hill at 0600 and a high SFI had a big part to play in any contacts I made.

I like it because it’s different, easy/quick to set up, cheap and very light. Oh, and it’s a 1/4 vertical on a short mast.

As for my kit:

HF Radios
KX2 or FT-857d
Batteries: 4200 or 8400mAh LiFePO4’s or 3s LiPo for the KX2
HF antennae
40/20 linked inverted V, W3EDP, 40,20,15,10 EFHW, 41’ random wire, 20m Up and outer
HF Poles
7m Spiderbeams, sotabeams carbon6

VHF/UHF Radios
Yaesu FT-3D and spare battery, or the Ft-857d (battery as above)
Antennae
Diamond telescoping whip, homebrew 2m beam, Spectrum Communications slim-J, homebrew flowerpot
VHF Pole
2m fibreglass for the beam, with sotabeams rotating guy ring

Accessories
LiPo storage bag
3 Long guys and ring, 3 short guys and ring, long single guy for nice wx days
6 alloy pegs
Plastic sleeve for jamming mast in rocks
Sit pad cut from thin camping mat
Chinese 40W HF amp
Raspberry pi, miniproSC for digi-modes
5m coax, 1:49 auto-transformer, 1:9 unun, 5m hardline for 2m, common mode chokes for 2m, HF.

Minimum carry for fast and light is:
KX2 with internal battery, K6ARK 1:9 unun, 41’ wire, 17’ counterpoise, carbon6 pole, single guy, 3 pegs, waterproof notepad, VK Porta-log if WX is ok.

[IX1IHR]

This is my base equipment (CW only):

1. FT817ND (in transit an SW-3B CW trx)

2. Tuner Z817 + coax & data cable

3. Two LiPOs (4 & 8 Ah)

4. Un-Un 9:1 HM

5. 2-paddles Key (+ HM replace) with magnetic base (to fix on top of radio)

6. Ear buds

7. 5m RG 174

8. Inv. L LW 16.2m with 5m cord

9. Fiberglass pole 4m

10. Two ski poles (I join them to make a pole of 2,5m as support for fiberglass, so the mast is abt. 6m)

11. Screwdriver (to pull out the grips)

12. 2 Pencils, Log, watch

[AJ2I]

HF Radios
KX2 or 818 or 891. Depending on the goal/hike distance.

Batteries: Internal Elecraft Lion (KX2), 2700mah NiMh Eneloop Pro Pack (818) 10ah Dakota Lithium LiFePO4 (891),

HF antennae
NY4G 40M EFHW, 10/15/17/20 49:1 Par EFHW Transformer. Elecraft AX2 <20M,40M> (Backup)

HF Poles
6m Sotabeams tactical Mini, 10m Tenkara Fishing Rod

VHF/UHF Radios
Kenwood D-74 and spare battery, or the Yaesu 817 (battery as above), Yaesu FT60r (Occasionally)

Antennae
MFJ Long Ranger telescoping 2M whip, Arrow 3 EL 2m beam, Roll-up J Pole.

Accessories
Sit pad cut from Garden Mat
3L Water (Camelback)
Headlamp
Coax
Protein Bar
Trail Mix
Sometimes a Chilled Sandwich Bag
PC headset for KX2/817
Sony Voice Recorder (Cables to go with)

[G1ZAR]

The items below have all been up a SOTA summit.
Most of it is used on my local G/CE-004 throughout the summer evenings for contesting.
I don’t have any antennas at home, so all of my operating is /P.

Radios :
Icom IC-7100 – IC-705 – IC-T81E h/held (6/2/70/23 FM)
Yaesu 2x FT-817 & FT-1D h/held for digital voice.

Batteries:
Usually 10,000mAh LiPo sometimes an additional 4200mAh LiFePO4 for mast head equipment. Plus the radios internal batteries (eneloop pro in the 817’s).

Transverters:
SG-lab for 23cm, 13cm & 9cm. Kuhne for 3cm (Kuhne 6cm not yet reached a summit)

Antennas:
6m 5 element yagi (sometimes used as 4 ele).
4m 5 element yagi (sometimes used as 4 ele) or 5/8λ vertical
2m 9 element Tonna portable yagi or roll-up collinear
70cm 15 element short spaced yagi or 23 element wide spaced yagi or roll-up collinear.
23cm PCB antenna or 16 element I0JXX or 28 element Yagi or 44 element yagi
13cm PCB antenna or 17 element yagi or 40 element yagi
9cm PCB antenna or 23dB panel antenna
3cm 20 dB horn

Poles / supports
6m pole (Decathlon), 2.5m telescopic aluminium pole (Ikea) 2.5m painters pole.

Accessories
Coax is 10m of LMR240 for masthead equipment and 10m LMR400 for everything else.
MS surface go for contest logging.
Pen(cil) & paper for relaxed logging.
Silva compass (for antenna pointing)

[GW4BML]

Here’s my list of SOTA equipment @G8CPZ Andy. Obviously not all taken at the same time, but I try and vary what I use on summits except for the FT-65e, that comes everywhere with me!

Radio’s:
Yaesu FT-65e x 1
Yaesu FT-1900 x 1
Yaesu FT5D x 1
Yaesu FT-817 x 1
Yaesu FT-857 x 1
Xiego X6100 x 1

Antenna’s:
2m Slim-g x 10
Homemade linked dipole (20/40/60m) x 3
Diamond X200 & X7000 for close summit activating

Poles:
4m SOTAbeams pole x 2
6m SOTAbeams pole x 1
7m SOTAbeams pole x 1
7m DX Commander pole x 1
3m Painters pole for X200 & X7000

Batteries:
SUNPADOW 14.8v Li-Po 6000mAh x 1
Spare hand-held batteries for FT-65e x 2

Accessories:
Pencil x 3
Pencil sharpener x 1
Waterproof pad x 1
Dry bag to put everything in if raining x 1
Deuter rucksack 38L for winter x 1
Deuter Lite rucksack 12L for summer
Guide ropes x 3
Pole support bracket x 2

SOTA dog:
Mr Brown
Sniffy

I’m currently using my Iphone for GPS, but am looking to purchase a dedicated GPS for SOTA. So, if anyone has any recommendations, please send them my way! It needs to be very robust and have good battery life. Hope my input helps!

73, GW4BML. Ben

[MM0EFI]

@GW4BML

SOTA dog:
Mr Brown
Sniffy

You win Ben!

[GW4BML]

[M5RJC]

Off topic ?

Just for interest I modelled the up and out and indeed it has a distinct directionality based on the “out” direction.

Rick

[2M0OSB]

Radio
Discovery TX-500
Tuner
Elecraft T1
Aerials
SOTAbeams Bandhopper 4 bands, Bandspringer midi, Elecraft AX+T 1
Supports
SOTAbeams compact lightweight 10m, SOTAbeams carbon 6 ultra lightweight, 10m carbon fishing pole.
Power
I have a compact zippy LiFe 8400 looking to get a 4200 as the TX-500 doesn’t appear to use much power.

I have just bought a new lightweight rucksack Exped Lightning 45 all the rest I had for outdoors camping etc.

[MM0EFI]

@M5RJC

I modelled the up and out

I did too Rick, but mine didn’t look as good as yours! I’m a bit of an amateur with EZNEC though.

Cheers, Fraser

[G4VFL]

Rigs:-

Wouxun 980PL + PL259 to BNC – main rig
VX6 – backup rig and 13cm driver/IF

One of the below:-
13cm Xverter, 14v LiIon batt and antenna (integrated)
23cm Xverter, 14v LiIon batt and antenna (integrated)

2m Flower pot
4m Flower pot

4S 5AH LiPo plus dropper diode (good for 2 summits often 3 if not too many contacts on a summit)
Spare batt for VX6

Cables for VX6 to BNC

Fishing pole (4m when extended)

Paper log and pencils (plus “write in the rain” as backup)

Sock for microphone to reduce wind noise

Magnetic Compass + General map
A4 copy of the route to summit map at 1:25000 (annotated with Summit / Maidenhead / location to major city) in plastic bag.

e-trex 10 GPS with summits database and UTC clock

Bungee cords (3)
Stanley knife
Screwdriver
Summit mat to sit on

And finally the SOTA flag

73 de
Andrew G4VFL

[M0XPO]

Hi all,

Very interesting thread! At the beginning of my ‘SOTA life’, I think I took way too much gear out with me. Now, I normally only go out in dry weather - I don’t mind the cold but, at worst, I will go out in light drizzle if it’s due to stop! So, my kit has been paired back and now only consists of:

Radio: FT817 w/SotaBeams speech compressor; Baofeng UV-5R (for monitoring 2m on way to summit)
Antennas: Homebrew 20m EFHW; Watson 2/70 whip; Nelson Antennas 2/70 Slim Jim
ATU: LDG Z817 inc cables
Ext Batteries: 1 x Homebrew 4cell Li-on; 1 x Zippy 8.4AHr LiFePo4
Poles: Spirit of Air 4m & 10m
Analyser: Nano VNA
Misc items: iPhone w/OSMaps; Ear buds; Guy strings/Pegs (x3); Bungees (x4); Pad/Pen; Swiss army knife; Electrical tape; Zip ties; Licence and a Snickers Duo.

All this, apart from poles + water (or hot tea), fits into a 10L Molle cross-body bag weighing in at 4.23kgs. This bag is always ready to go!

73, Lea M0XPO

[K1RID]

Yes! Forgot to add my SOTA flag to my list

[M0VAZ]

Currently
FT-857 in a camera pouch/bag that fits in a small rucksack
2 x 4000mAh batteries
Baofeng UV5R

2m Ladder line antenna & length of RG58 with BNC
6m Decathlon fishing pole.

Pad and pen + spare pencil
Multitool
A couple of hivis buckle straps for securing the mast to the Trig point or a tree or what ever.
Bungee cord with hooks at either end

Mobile phone & tablet each with the routes on & off line OS maps (Memory map and MMTracker)
Small 1st aid kit
Water/snack if required.

Waterproof coat & trousers if required
Rockfall boots with composite toe caps (same ones I use for recovery & rescue duties)

[DL6GCA]

Sometimes I wish I had a sherpa…

Backpack: ACT Trail 32

Only for the radio:

Extra quiver with:
DX-Wire Mast Mini approx. 10m
Ring for guy ropes, ropes and harness rings, Stretch Velcro, trash bag to carry trash from Summit.
Antenna: HB9TVK/1 (file:///https://hb9sota.ch/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wspr_gurten_hb9sota_20170702.pdf) with 4m RG 174 (incl.current balun) … works with the KX2 tuner from 10 - 60 m

Lowepro CS 80 bag with:
KX2, microphone, Bamakey III, Palmkey; old Walkman headphones, XT Power Powerbank, various cables and cords, writing material

In addition:
Icom IC V 80E, Ant RH 770
Leatherman Wave
Endfed 40, 20, 15, 10 with 1:49 balun in plastic photo can (works with the KX2 tuner from 10 - 80 m)
Seat pads
…

In the winter gladly still down jacket, snow shoes,…

No kidding: This is my standard equipment. For occasional VHF activions I will add 2m antennas (2 x 3 Elt.) and a transverter (maybe even a 2m PA with power supply)… and for S2S parties I will add a small PA with power supply.

I have not yet dared to weigh it all. Anyway - It’s part of my fitness program that balances out the good food and wine.

Sometimes I make it easy and take my 3 QCX Mini (17 - 30 - 60m) with the endfed adapted for the three bands.

73 Armin

[HB9BCB]

@DL6GCA

DX-Wire Mast Mini approx. 10m
Antenna: HB9TVK/1 (file:///https://hb9sota.ch/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wspr_gurten_hb9sota_20170702.pdf) with 4m RG 174 (incl.current balun) … works with the KX2 tuner from 10 - 60 m

I’m not sure that Peter really understood this antenna as a multi-band antenna at the time, because on the 15, 12 and 10 m bands, which are interesting for dx, there is an extremely steep radiation with only a low antenna gain (“cloud warmer”).
The reason for this is that the main radiation on these bands is generated by the two radials lying on the ground, which are unfavorable in length in relation to the radiator length (5.1 m wire and 4 m coaxial braided screen).

[DM3FAM]

Hello all. A nice thread. Interesting to read who is qrv with which equipment.

During my SOTA activations I use a Frilufts backpack. In it a few bon bons, some chocolate, cereal bars, handkerchiefs, small torch, writing pad and pen, small seat mat, rubbish bags, SOTA flag, Hiking poles and a small tool pen for quick and small repairs. On one side a fibreglass mast (6m), umbrella and on the other side a handheld radio (Yaesu FT1XD) with additional antenna and spare battery. There is a rain cover on the bottom and a small compartment with a medipack on the top.

Everything is then in a Lock&Lock box. Rig Yaesu FT-817, Elecraft T1 tuner and cable, wire antenna, microphone and compressor, headphones, small paddle. The battery is separate, a LiFePo with 4.5 Ah.

A drinking bottle is added shortly before the start. Depending on the weather, one or two other things are added. For me, everything you need is there. Sometimes a bit much, especially for quick activations. The backpack is so often in the car and you can quickly and spontaneously start one or the other activation.

73 Marcel DM3FAM

[KT5X]

op KT5X, use the calls W5YA or WS0TA when on SOTA peaks. 900+ peaks as of this writing.

rig: MTR3 (or MTR5, or rain-proofed ATS4, or rarely KX2, too big and heavy)
Battery: 300 mAH LiFePO
Ant: 20/30/40 EFHW trapped (or 12/15/17/20/30/40/60 trapped, or 20/40 half-square)
match: home made, in dental floss case
key: touch paddle, built in, totals six grams

runner’s pack, weighs seven ounces

Dat’s eet. Total station weight half KG.

[2E0BIA]

Here is mine. Obviously not all used at the same time.
My usual setup is one HF rig, Yeasu FT70d for 2m. Linked dipole /SlimG / RH770

Radios
Xiegu G90 (shorter walks)
Xiegu X6100 (longer walks)
(tr)uSDX (just acquired)
Yeasu FD70d
Baofeng UV5R
Sotabeams band pass filter

2 x 5000mAh 3s Lipo Batteries

Antennas
20/40 Linked Dipole
20/40 Trapped Dipole
20/10 Linked Vertical
SotaBeams Bandspringer
Super Antenna MP1 (useful as it covers multiple bands)
RH770
Viper 2m
Slim G 2m
Arrow Yagi 2/70cm

Sotabeams 6m pole
Decathlon 6m pole (lighter).
Decathlon 4m pole for Yagi

I log on an Android phone using OutdLog

Other kit includes:
2x3m tarp Kathmandu
3 x 3m tarp Alton
Terra Nova 2 person Bothy
Ear buds

73s Martin

[W9SSN]

Radios: KX3, KX2, KX1 (3-band with ATU), KX1 (4-band, no ATU), K1 (20/40 with aTU), MTR3B (LED), MTR3B (LCD), 2 x truSDX (kits on the way), NorCal 20, FT1XDR, TH-d72a, VX-3R and FT-60R with custom 3-d printed 18650 battery pack (a MUST for anyone with this radio!)

Antennas: 3x SOTABeams Dipoles (20/40/60, 20/40, 40/80), SOTABeams Bandspringer, K6ARK EFHW, K6ARK Dipole, 2x AX-1 w/ 40m coil, Ed Fong Roll-up J-Pole, and many HT whips

Keys: Te Ne Key, N0SA SOTA paddle, VK3IR Pressure paddle, K6ARK Capacitive Touch Key, KX2PD

Misc: Elecraft T-1 tuner, SOTABeams TacMini Mast, ~6m Ali Express fiberglass pole, 3.5 A-hr LifePo, MANY 18650 cells in various configurations (recycled from old e-bike batteries), 2x 8 A-Hr Headway LifePo batteries, Ali Express 2m Band Pass Filter, SOTABeams Kite