Once upon a time I was paid to write software. It was momentous. I was being paid real money far in excess of what I
Category: SOTA
Terror on Trafton
SOTA summit: Trafton Mountain https://sotl.as/map/coordinates/37.851320,-118.567070/14.0?popup=1 Activation Date: October 4, 2025 Unique: Yes, peak number 317 Call sign used: W6PNG Portable operation: Yes Radios: Elecraft KX2 Antennas: LNR EndFed Band/Modes used: 20m, 30m 40m
Clay Cups and Rickshaws
We almost feel like old hands. Days have turned into weeks, and we’ve covered two or three thousand miles by train. It’s slow going—maybe ten
Asturias and Picos de Europa, Spain
SOTA summit: Cabeza de Mesa https://sotl.as/summits/EA1/AT-052 Activation Date: July 11, 2023 Unique: Yes, peak number 276 Call sign used: EA/M0SNA/P Portable operation: Yes Radios: Yeasu 857D Antennas: SOTABeams 20/40 bandhopper Band/Modes used: 20m and
What’s in your WAS circle?
I never thought of myself as an award chaser. Maybe like many kids, the endless pressure to achieve a scholastic level as measured by an
Activating an Atlantic Squall
SOTA summit: Hestetinden https://sotl.as/summits/LA/SF-555 Activation Date: May 24, 2023 Unique: Yes, peak number 200 and something Call sign used: LA/M0SNA/P Portable operation: Yes Radios: Elecraft KX2 Antennas: LNR End Fed 40/20/10 Band/Modes used: 20m
Node-Red Calling Summit to Summit
In the arcane and niche world that is the intersection of peak bagging and ham radio, aka SOTA, the participants fall into two broad groups;
Paint by numbers radio kit
The arc of radio kits is waning. Easy to work with parts are going out of production in deference to tiny, minuscule equivalents that are
Blind Faith
SOTA summit: Blind Spring https://sotl.as/summits/W6/ND-067 Activation Date: December 26th, 2023 Unique: Yes, peak number 280 Call sign used: W6PNG Portable operation: Yes Radios: Elecraft KX2 Antennas: SOTABeams Bandhopper 60/40/20 Band/Modes used: Morse (CW)
2024 SOTA 10m Challenge – Activation #1
SOTA summit: Temple Hills W6/SC-369 Activation Date: January 1, 2024 Unique: No Call sign used: W6PNG Portable operation: Yes Radios: Yaesu FT-857 Antennas: Buddipole dipole Band/Modes used: 10m SSB (voice) and FT8 Operating highlights: Pack
Best views ever?
SOTA summit: Sotekollen Activation Date: May 23, 2023 Unique: 260th Call sign used: LA/M0SNA/P Portable operation: Yes Radios: Elecraft KX2 Antennas: LNR 40/20/10 Trail friendly end fed Band/Modes used: 20m SSB (voice)
Into a Viking Wonderland
SOTA summit: Haugjelsvarten https://www.sotadata.org.uk/en/summit/LA/HL-017 Activation Date: May 18, 2023 Unique: 254th Call sign used: LA/M0SNA/P Portable operation: Yes Radios: Elecraft KX2 and Yaesu VX 8G Antennas: LNR 40/20/10 Trail friendly end fed