My QTH is the city of Enterprise, in Wallowa County, Oregon, population of about 2000, with Wallowa County having a population of about 7000. Sometimes called the Oregon Alps which surround the Eaglecap Wilderness and Lakes Basin at the foot of the Wallowa Mountains. Beautiful country. My QTH elevation is about 4000 feet. And yes, it can get very cold in the winter.
Primary interest is SSB QRP and can usually be found on twenty meters and seventeen meter bands. When not operating, i'm listening in the background for QRP stations at 14.342.5 calling frequency and 18.157.5. I discovered 6 meters and am having a great time working it during the openings.
My other radio interests include, backpacking and camping with HF QRP gear around Wallowa County, and of course, Field Day.
HF equipment is: A new Elecraft KX-3 Oct 24th, 2012 ! very nice primary radio, 2nd is the Icom 703+ (5 watts), Yaesu 817 (5 watts) and a Yaesu 897 (100 watts) - - -
Antennas : 75 meter OCF full wave wire direct feed with 72 ohm coax, M2 3 element 6 meter beam, Elk 144/440 Log Per.
Favorite Radio: Was the Icom 703+ (awesome, small, easy to use, great built-in tuner, large display and enough bells and whistles, but not to many.) However the Elecraft at 1.5 pounds has won my heart for SOTA, and slowly taking over the shack as my primary radio.
Favorite HF Antennas: Loops, even for backpacking, attached to a Jackite pole. Recently loaded up a 31 foot Jackite pole with 33 feet of #18 wire for an end feed half wave antenna on 20 M and a homebrew Unun I built for attaching to the bottom. Works like a charmed antenna. The Unun attaches either directly on to the back of my 703+ or with 52 ohm coax and works very well on 20, 17, 15, 10 meters. Total weight of the antenna, about 4.5 lbs.
Latest Project: Putting up a 44 foot freestanding tower with Mosley TA33 Jr. by the end of this summer. The Unun balun and end fed wires that are a half wave length. So far, they are very very simple, quick to put up, don't need a ground system, and are Very good at getting RF out to where it belongs. Other project is remodeling a new/old homestead out here in NE Oregon which will take me forever.
Favorite VHF Antenna: Elk 144/440 Log beam. Excellent antenna and light. Can be backpacked for mountain topping. Also good for a small simple home antenna. No tuning across both bands.
Please QSL direct.
Look for you on 7.185, 14.342.5 and 18.155 Mhz.
SOTA (Summits On The Air), Eaglecap Wilderness in Eastern Oregon, about 8,800 feet with an 817 working a station on 40 meters using a short 5 foot Miarcle Whip antenna. Loads of Fun !
November 4th, first activation using the Elecraft KX-3, QRP. What a day, beautiful wx, three operators and two KX-3's. About two dozen contacts on 20M, 40,M and 17M - lots of smiles all around from W7-NE-115. Tnx to all the 'Chasers'. Hope to work you on the next activation next weekend.
An easy SOTA summit, 4960 feet, a two pointer. Carried in a tiny table, light weight chair and hot coffee. Antenna is a 31 foot Jackite with 34 feet of vertical wire to a 9:1 unun directly into the KX-3. What a beautiful cold SOTA day !
