SOTA - Summits on the Air

All LiFePo batteries I own have a connection cable that comes out of the battery casing and ends in a pair of Powerpole connectors.

After prolonged use, the connection cable becomes increasingly “flexible,” meaning that more and more wires in the high-current strand break. As long as the break is close to the connector plug, this is not a problem and can be easily repaired. However, if the break is where the cable exits the battery casing, it becomes difficult to repair the damage.

Here you find a list of all my SOTA activations

 Our second SOTA activation for 2018 is done. Monika (DL6SCF) and I activated the "Michelsberg" DM/BW-855. Beautiful weather - very sunny but not too warm. The CONDX where horrible. Deep QSB from S0 up to S9 from Spain und into the UK - very frustrating.

 The first SOTA activation for 2018 is done. Monika (DL6SCF) and I activated the "Kaltes Feld" DM/BW-659. 

My current working conditions for SOTA are:

• ELECRAFT KX3. With its build in antenna tuner it does a quite remarkable job.
• For the power I use a LiFePO4 battery with 12V 6,6Ah with a build in BMS.
• Microphone for the SSB contacts is the stock-mike from ELECRAFT.
• For CW I use the Palm Pico Paddle.
• Antenna is a HYENDFED 3-band antenna.
• Flight-Deck for KX3
• A 10m fibre pole from DX-Wire - MINI
• Some velcro-straps

Inspired by the work of Richard G3CWI from SOTABEAMS and his flight decks for some QRP transceivers, I decided to build a matching one for my ELECRAFT KX3.

Starting point was a clipboard which can be found for some bucks at AMAZON. In the lower section, I can simply secure my log sheets with the strong clip.

My second SOTA activation is done. Monika (DL6SCF) and I made a short hiking trip on the Swabian Alps. On top of the Kornberg we made a stop and started the activation ... unfortunately we have to shut down operation due to a rising thunderstorm.

During a business trip, I took the chance to activate a mountain in the Bavarian low mountains - Kleiner Kulm.