[AK-VHF] POTA Tomorrow

[Brandon Clark]

Hello group,

Don't forget that tomorrow is our first club Parks on the Air activation.
I'll be transmitting at 1030 from Glen Alps trailhead on FT8. Once the
digital activity dies down I'll be switching over to SSB on 50.125. All
activity will be with a horizontally-polarized transmitting antenna
(dipole).

Remember, a lot of tuners will match an HF antenna for 6 M use in a pinch.
The gain pattern is unpredictable (unless you model your specific
installation in the computer), but usually you get a bunch of minor lobes
going off in random-ish directions broadside to the antenna. Odds are good
that you will be able to pick up the portable station directly, and it's
free, so don't be afraid to try.

FT8 functions very well with weak signal level, so don't worry about
needing a dedicated antenna this time around. During an HF SOTA activation
on FT8 last April I was able to reach Outside with only 5 watts. Fun stuff!
We will be on 6 meters tomorrow instead of HF, but the distances are very
short and I'll have a lot more than 5 watts to work with.
73,
Brandon