You should use your FT-891 for SOTA (Plus, POTA saves the activation)
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2024
- Summits on the Air does not need to be synonymous with QRP! If the hike to the summit is short enough and you don't have to bring overnight gear, then use that weight savings to bring more radio! The FT-891 is the perfect QRO SOTA rig as it's only a few pounds heavier than most QRP radios, has a ton of features, and can run at full 100 watts of output power on a 12 AH lfp battery. Here's an overview of my experience with it on Wind Mountain. Also, Parks on the Air saved this activation as I wasn't getting responses from Summits on the Air chasers.
I use an FT-891 when I do SOTA and POTA, I love it and it was my first big kid radio. I love EFHWs they were my first antenna and I got DXCC using them but I really like using linked dipoles when I'm out in the field. Great video and great content!
I think everyone should play radio how they like to ignoring what others think. I usually hate when people comment "you should be doing x!". But as an FT-891 owner and a x6100, the x6100 setup is always the on I'll be taking on SOTA. Not to say what you did was wrong in any way. But QRP is almost always lighter and more compact than hiking an FT-891 with a giant battery , an antenna capable of using the full power, and then limiting yourself to an antenna only resonant on a few frequencies. My x6100, a 60W amplifier, battery and antenna alone take about as much space as your battery. (Given it's only 4.5 amp hours). But QRP radios always are designed to pull less. The FT-8891 draws 1 amp of receive which is crazy high and will demand a big battery for longer activations. I've become the person I hate by making this comment. But I've used both for activations at this point and thought maybe it was valuable. In the end, use whatever you like, and what ever you're willing to hike with or compromise on. We all play radio different;y and that's okay.
My linked EFHW and linked dipole are resonant on all the bands between 40 and 10. I also have a 50 watt amp for my IC-705 that I use sometimes. Sometimes I like keeping it light and just carrying the 705 and a wire. Sometimes I carry the 705 and the amp with a 3 ah battery. It all just depends on what I’m doing and what kind of mood I’m in.
@@KD7QOW-np9gd What amp are you running with your 705 ?
What amp are you running with your X6100?
@@jolebole-yt I was using the Micro PA 50. I blew the finals, though. I don’t recommend it anyway. It wasn’t worth the hassle.
My friends have the Hard Rock 50 and they like it. (I have a JAMA and was given a RM Italy, but they are not 50W models.). I recommend the Hard Rock for 50W based on my friend's opinion on it.
You are spot on with your assessment. I struggle with 5 or 10W and a linked dipole when activating summits or parks in Australia, and it doesn't help that we have a relatively small ham radio community. I am always pleased to make my 4 contacts for SOTA and usually need three or four activations to make 44 contacts for WWFF. I am now seriously considering buying an FT891 after viewing some of your videos.
Grant VK4JAZ
I hadn't even thought of the added complexity of operating from Australia. Seems like an 891 might be a good strategy, especially on 10 and 15 meters. I can occasionally get New Zealand or Australia from out here on the West coast of the USA, but it takes more than QRP to cross the Pacific most days. Given that an 891 is half the price of most QRP radios, I say you should pick one up! BTW, a 6 AH lfp will comfortably run the 891 with 100 watts ssb and it saves a lot of weight.
FB and good call on spotting for POTA to get those extra QSOs.
Use every arrow in the quiver!
I like SOTA, POTA, own an 891, and don't mind carrying extra weight for activations. I am reasonably fit for my age, but I am lazy, so I need every chance I can get to push myself physically. Your argument was sound. I really enjoyed the video. Subscription added. Thanks. 73 JS6UAK
Thanks for subscribing! I think there’s also a good argument for for accessibility here as the FT-891 is half as expensive as the popular QRP radios. The 891 gives a beginner with less free cash a way into SOTA with just a small change in mindset.
@@KD7QOW-np9gd FT891 is a great radio for someone starting out for sure!
A great presentation. Good luck with your new UA-cam channel.
Thank You!
The majic of spotting is amazing.
If I didn't have two FT-857D radios, I would probably by an FT-891.
I do portable ops, mostly QRP, because I practice ECOM. For ECOM a 100W shack-in-a-box HF +2m is an essential, if you are portable ECOM.
Go ops!
I'm a pretty new ham. What is ECOM?
It seem"s that i'm your subscriber #100. :-)
So congratiulation for your first 100 subs! May many hundrets and thausends follow!
73, Christian DC8CB from Munich (Germany)
Thanks for subscribing!
I had very little luck doing SOTA 2 times from 5000ft elevation with my FT-818 6W and EFHW on 20m. I had no replies to my CQs. I managed to get only one contact 450miles away but my signal report was too weak. So now I got a FT-891. Hopefully I will get better results :).
Band conditions can make a big difference there, but generally SSB is challenging with 6 watts. Even bumping up to 10 watts helps a lot in my experience.
But 100 watts seems to be where the magic happens. I think a lot of activators are just getting wise to the fact that portable, lightweight power is now cheap and readily available.
I think you’re going to like activating with your 891!
@@KD7QOW-np9gd Band conditions is where the magic happens with low power it seems. It could be very exciting at times or the totally opposite. Its something we don't control unlike the power of our rigs.I got my General in June of this year and Im still diving in all the aspects of HF. Low power, base stations, different antenna types. Its never ending fun. :). HF is a totally different world then a VHF/UHF.
What mode (s) were you using that you couldn't get contacts? At 6W, CW, PSK31, or FT8 can do very well, but SSB voice is harder, depending on band condition a lot . Also, how high and at what shape was your EFHW, as the elevation and shape will determine ground loss, take off angle etc.
I think that 20w is a minimum to have a decent signal on 40m. When I switched to an inverted V linked antenna (7-10 & 14Mhz) on a 7 -10m fibermast my Sota/Pota activations became more interesting. I don't struggle anymore on 40m. The FT-891 is a plus of course.
What gorgeous Place 💯👌🙋♂
love using the 891. tnx for the video.
Nicely done Josef! Great video and good thinking firing-up that backup plan. 👍📻⚡Cheers buddy! Tom - WA7FLY
Thanks! 😀
As a chaser, I think one problem is that the SOTA spot website is far more inferior when compared to the POTA website. When I want to do some chasing, I normally fire up the POTA site because it is way more user-friendly.
Yeah, there’s that, too. Often times I never even claim my chaser points for SOTA because it’s a pain, whereas POTA has figured out that it’s redundant to have chasers submit logs. Overall, the POTA experience seems to be much more inclusive and welcoming.
I use hamalert to chase,works great for SOTA
Good point n short hikes and QRO. Subscribed to your channel. 73,WG7D
Awesome! Thanks for subscribing!
great thanks 73
You had me confused when you said you were at Gifford Pinchot national forest. Here in Pennsylvania there is a Gifford Pinchot state park. So I guess he has 2 things named after him. Great video too.
You’re not the first to be confused! I’ve worked a few folks from PA who were surprised to be hearing me on 20 meters until they figured out I was on the other side of the continent. One of these days I want to try to coordinate a “Gifford to Gifford” park to park qso. It seems like the bands are open between Washington and Pennsylvania pretty frequently.
terrific job
Thank You!
Nice video, thanks for sharing. I'm all pota for now. But looking forward to doing some easy sota in the future. I'm not a young as i used to be but enjoy being out any chance i get. Is that a homebrew antenna? I use 22 and 26 gauge wire...i just find the heavier gauge wire doesnt buy me any more than the smaller lighter wire for my activations. Good use of the backup plan. I find spotting myself is always helpful. Also, i love my ft-891 and have nothing but praise for it as a portable rig. However i never use more than 80watts. Typically im using 50 or so. I dont feel anything over 80 watts with the ft-891 gets you more s-units, but the battery saving will be noticeable. I also carry a LDG z100 tuner. Small and capable but it needs power too. I used to be a xiegu guy - i have a g90 and the x6100 and will be selling them. Just a much better overall experience with the Yaesu. Im waiting for the FX-4CR that i purchased 2months ago. And I'll probably buy an Icom ic705 just because. Anyway, hope to get you in the log someday. Cheers and 73! De W3LAM
The antenna is a homebrew I made with an FT 140-43 core ziptied to a kite winder. I had an X-6100 but after I bought the FT-891 it made me realize what a terrible radio the 6100 was and I returned it to Amazon. I also own an IC-705 and it’s a great little radio! I’ve thought about taking my Z-100 plus with me and then using a random wire or a doublet, but I just haven’t wanted to carry the extra weight! It would be nice for quick band changes, though. I’ve never used anything larger than 24 gauge for any of my antennas.
I have a 891, G90 and X6100 and other models. They are all different. Xiegu products are cheaper and so it's unfair to compare them to much more expensive and refined designs. Elecraft snobs would say the same about Yaesu in the same way.
Howdy all, Is a 12 Ah enough juice for a 100 watt radio? Light for hiking, I'm sure. I use a 40 Ah for a X6100 and occasional 100 watt amp. I'm not hiking with it unless Sherpa assisted. I hike over the picnic table, set up a Delta Loop and then have to rest with a portable margarita. TOA, Tequila on the Air.
I use a 6 AH battery for 100 watt SSB and have not had an issue. It saves a lot of weight doing it that way. I always have plenty of juice left at the end of the activation.
@@KD7QOW-np9gdthanks that's helpful. How much does the 6ah battery weigh?
There was a time when I would agree with this idea, however I've learned that you will get the same chasers when running QRP. However, if you're trying to do a S2S the extra power can mean success or not.
I think its antenna not a radio which does the QSO. I believe your antenna touched branches in one or two places, also it looks like it touched the rocks. If you lifted you end at about 3ft and ensure that wire is not touching branches 10W SSB would be sufficient. I would say that when you compare weight you need to include battery. FT818 + PA + 5Ah battery will weight less that FT891 + 15-20Ah battery. FT891 draws 1.2A just on RX. My QRP rig draws 1.5A on TX. So it all depends what hill are you activating. I carried once IC7000 and 15Ah to the hill where I had 800mtr ascent did not enjoyed this at all.
It can be very tricky to get the antenna away from tree branches on some activations. In general, my most successful activations are ones where I can get the antenna high up with the ends off the ground free and clear of obstructions. That is often easier said than done. But one of the reasons I wanted to point out that the 891 CAN be used for SOTA is that it's literally HALF the price of most radios folks are acting like you MUST have to participate in this hobby and it has the added bonus that it can do double duty as your base station rig. So, it brings some versatility and affordability to a discipline where that's sorely needed.
@@KD7QOW-np9gdI don’t think the branches were very conductive at all and they had marginal impact on the signal. I suspect the biggest factor was the height above ground, particularly for 40 meters. And who knows what ionosphere conditions were. Did you have a counterpoise on the end fed? I rarely use end feds but understand a counterpoise makes a difference.
@@piecetrain9767 I had a counterpoise. We’d had a CME earlier that day and band conditions were challenging for everyone. I’ve had enough different antennae set up in enough different configurations with varying power levels to decisively conclude at this point that band conditions are the main deciding factor.
@@KD7QOW-np9gd no doubt solar conditions were by far the predominant factor. I got skunked during a flare before. I’m going out next week after more than a year hiatus for various reasons and hope the conditions are good. I will have an FT-857 part of the time.
Nice video. I've used my FT891 on most of my SOTA activations. The POTA back up plan is great. Another backup plan I've been using lately is FT8 with the FT8CN android app. All of it lots of fun though. What camera are you using?
Thanks! I’ve got the SDR Control app for my IC-705 that lets me run FT-8 when I bring that radio. Camera is a GoPro Hero 11.
Great work! I plan to do some SOTA with my ft-891 that's in the mail now. That battery has a BMS that says it limits the current to 12a but you were able to use it to power the ft-891 at full power?
Glad to hear you’ve got an 891 on its way! The battery runs the radio at full power no problem. I also have the 6 AH version and it runs a full 100 watts SSB without complaint.
I like my 891.
Good job
Thanks!
Recently I prefer the 891 over my 817, it's a big more heavy, needs heavier battery but finally about 2kg difference which is bearable in most situations. Only prefer the 817 when traveling by plane.
I kind of think in many ways the 891 is the replacement for the dearly departed 817. Not completely, but it’s backpackable and it’s affordable.
@@KD7QOW-np9gd there is no replacement that the 891 has taken, but if you must, then it's the FT-857(D), and not the 817. 817 is QRP and 857 and 891 are QRO, so which one do you think is closer? Does 817 have a removable front panel?
(Owner of 891 and 818 here)
I drifted back into the hobby after a 25-year hiatus, and find that nothing bugs me more than hearing "QSL" being used on voice. This never used to happen. We were always taught that using Q-signals on phone is bad form because they were created as shortcuts for CW. What happened to roger, copy? and over.....?
I had no idea that convention ever existed. Nevertheless, it seems pretty harmless. Also, some folks say “QSO” while others say “QSL” so the whole thing is a little messy. I’ll use roger, how copy, and over on my next activation and see how it goes. I don’t really care either way.
@@KD7QOW-np9gd Yes, I've been licensed since 1970 and feel that I've earned the title of "grumpy old ham."
@@KD7QOW-np9gdQSO and QSL mean two different things, regardless of who utters which and how often.
QSO means a radio exchange, e.g. "yesterday I had a very nice QSO with a long lost friend on the air."
QSL means a reception confirmation, or asked as a question if it's confirmed as a good copy of the traffic. E.g. "if you send me a QSL card, I will reciprocate." .
I agree with the OP as I am old school as well, that Q codes are meant to be used in digital modes such as CW, RTTY, PSK31, Etc and not voice. However, people like jargons and "inside language", and thus they think it's cool to use them, feeling it's being "special".
I watched a series of POTA videos lately, all from one channel (not this one), and the female operator kept using QSL in every single exchange!
The procedural way for voice should be "I copied xxx yyy zzz". But hey, if 90% of the people are doing it, (using Q codes in voice) they must be right.
Thank you to the OP for pointing this out . I would be too afraid to say this myself if you didn't point it out first .
Thanks for the video. What padded case are you using for the 891? VA3KS
The case I was using in this video was just a camera case. I've since added rails to my radio and am using a Domke lens wrap.
great video thanks 73 from kb2uew
Most of the fun using QRP is trying to make contacts using very little power. It's not for everyone, but saying that a 100W transceiver is more capable of making contacts is kind of obvious....but that's not why QRP operators do what they do. This setup might be better for your individual use case, but not for everyone.
Of course! I'm not trying to make a case for or against QRP in general, but there are a lot of folks who behave as if SOTA is a QRP only activity, and I'm trying to point out that it doesn't have to be. Folks often just assume that they couldn't possibly carry 100 watts to a summit and I'm trying to highlight that it's actually quite feasible.
@@KD7QOW-np9gd I think that the main problem is not the power. For me, 20w is quite enough most of the time. On 40m the inverted V is the way to go. On the higher bands try a full size ground plane with elevated radials, or even a lightweight wire Moxon on 10m. On 40m, a short vertical close to the ground with a coil at the base is a waste of time. By the way, I've never been very lucky with EFHW antennas, but I know it works for some people.
Excellent position. What is the mass and capacity of such a battery?
Can you not activate both? Call CQ park and give the ref for sota as well? I hear a few people doing this, same with iota or wwff/pota. Or is there rules in SOTA I don't know about?
I started out calling SOTA and the n switched to POTA. I still logged both as SOTA and POTA. It’s just faster not to call out for both. It’s painful for hunters chasing a weak station to listen to long CQ’s.
@@KD7QOW-np9gd aha! Ok good to know!
Are you using any antenna tuner?
In this video I was not using a tuner. I have resonant links in my EFHW for each band. I've since experienced a summit where for unknown reasons I could not get my resonant antenna to tune up so now I always carry a tuner. It's a little extra weight but also good insurance. I use an LDG Z-100 Plus powered off lithium AA batteries to save some weight.
Where did you get that carbon mast?
Sotabeams.uk
I am free of agonizing about how to activate SOTA, since I live in Ohio. 😀
Problem solved!!! 😂
🥰👍
This is great after activation analysis :) thank you
@@wild-radio7373 Thank you!
Life is to short for qrp ! I have Yaesu FT-891 and it's a great compact size radio and has a great reicver and tranmiter. Plus 100 watts out . 73 AE4OY WILLIE PEACOCK 🦚 EM-81UF Blackshear, Georgia (OLDYELLA)😂
I kind of agree with that statement but what is the maximum elevation gain for the hike that you are willing to carry all the associated gear?
I’d say my max would be around 3500 feet if I’m on foot. But I also ski and mountain bike, and for those activities, the FT-891 is just a wee bit too heavy to take with me and still have fun on the descent.
It’s a great radio. It should be everyone’s first rig!
@@KD7QOW-np9gd thanks! I'm also wanting to take a rig on ski touring outings so that's useful info 🙏
Great video! de W2CSI