My SOTA Equipment

Here’s my present SOTA equipment list:

Transceivers

  • KX3

P1000340 - KX3 closeup

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • KN-Q7A 40m SSB transceiver from CR Kits. I’ve modified this to add a DDS and a 20W PA (to improve the IMD performance and add 3dB signal).KN-Q7A modified with the N3ZI DDS and a 20W amplifier (to improve IMD performance and increase power 3dB). The red LED on top of the case is a RF current indicator to check that power is going to the antenna.
  • Wouxun KG-UVD1P VHF/UHF HT                                       Clipboard01
  • Mountain Topper Radio (MTR) – 20/30/40m CW
Mountain Topper Radio with 500mAh LiPo, power cable and earbuds

Mountain Topper Radio with 500mAh LiPo, power cable and earbuds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antennas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miscellaneous

  • Various 3S LiPo batteries with voltage monitor
  • GoLite Jamm 50l pack (then sold as Backpack Lite 50l by My Trail Co, which has now closed down too)

20131201_130249

  • Aarn Liquid Agility 30l backpack (+15l pockets)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Write-in-the-rain notebook
  • Garmin Oregon 450 GPS
  • KTi PLB emergency beacon
  • Bothy bag if it might be wet or cold (in my case it’s a Terra Nova Bothy 2 from Backpacking Light)

2014-08-09 13.38.44

The Gatewood Cape - a tent, a poncho and a pack cover in one.

The Gatewood Cape – a tent, a poncho and a pack cover in one.

  • Tarptent Notch 1-person tent if it’s definitely wet2014-03-15 12.42.20
  • Closed cell foam pads for snowOperating position and antenna on the snow plain at MT Hotham
  • Topographic map printed from Forest Explorer to cover region needed and compass
  • Samsung Galaxy S6+ with VK port-a-log for spotting and logging
  • First aid kit
  • Food and water bladder or Nalgene bottle
  • Helinox Causeway DL145 walking poles
  • Helinox ultralight camp chair and table (if I’m going to be in one place for a long time)

My operating position on VK3/VE-024 - the chair and table make for comfortable pileup management!

4 thoughts on “My SOTA Equipment

    • Hi Paul,

      The Oregon GPS has proven a good unit and is still going strong after several years use. It’s certainly proven useful in navigation, but I try not to rely on it and always have a paper map and compass too. It’s particularly useful in densely wooded areas where it’s hard to get bearings. I haven’t looked at GPS units recently, but I think something similar would be my choice. Needs to be strong, waterproof and easy to read in sunlight.

      Regards,

      David.

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