My New-to-Me mcHF: Building a Full Field Kit & First POTA Activation!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Monday, September 7, 2026—Labor Day—I got up early and headed out to William B. Umstead...
Category: Videos
Bug Fist Practice: Pairing the Bug Emulator and Begali Traveler for a Morning POTA Session!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On the morning of Sunday, September 6, 2026, I was in Raleigh, and our family, of...
Extraordinary SOTA on Vetter Mountain with N6ARA, KD7DTS, and K6ARK
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Saturday, August 22, 2026, I found myself waking up in California, preparing to do something...
A Hike by the Lakes at Banff’s Sunshine Meadows
As always, there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things!...
The Chickadee Double Tap’s Maiden POTA Voyage & My New TR-25 Peanuts Pencil Case Field Kit!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Thursday, September 3, 2026, I left my house pretty early for a one-and-a-half-hour drive to...
Does a cross-border contact count as DX?
As always, there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things!...
The Xiegu X6200 Returns to the Field: QRP CW from William B. Umstead State Park (US-2755)
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Saturday, August 15th, 2026, I had a full day ahead with family—most notably, moving a...
Morning POTA at Umstead: Low Battery Forces One-Watt CW with Poor Bands
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Friday, August 14th, 2026, I was in Raleigh, North Carolina with my family, preparing both...
One Planted Mast, Two Countries: A Unique POTA Rove Across the Scotland–England Border
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Sunday, July 12, 2026, I woke up knowing exactly the type of POTA activation I...
SOTA, POTA, and Pepper-Assisted Rapid Antenna Removal at Leith Hill
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Saturday, July 18, 2026, my friend Nick (M5NCW), his sweet dog Pepper, and I jumped...
A Much Lighter Backpack: Activating Dirrington Great Law (GM/SS-225)
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Friday, July 10, 2026, I woke up fairly early, had breakfast, and packed my Savotta...
From Alnwick to the Airwaves: Activating Ros Castle (G/SB-009) with the KH1!
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, my family visited one of our favorite places in Northumberland: Alnwick....
A Brilliant Morning of QRP with Gavin (GM0WDD) at John Muir Country Park near Dunbar, Scotland
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Monday, July 6, 2026, I left our cottage that morning and drove to John Muir...
Travelogue: Gusty Winds, Fickle Bands, and Stunning Views in Tay Forest Park
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Thursday, July 2, 2026, my family and I set off on an overnight trip that...
St Abb’s Head Travelogue: A Five-Watt Pedestrian-Mobile POTA Activation
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, I woke up pretty early to fit in an activation along...
QRP Along the River: A POTA Activation along the Tweed Estuary
by Thomas (K4SWL) I woke up relatively early on the morning of Wednesday, July 1, 2026, with a mission...
A Basic Elecraft KX2 Setup & Orientation Video
by Thomas (K4SWL) This is a little different from my usual videos: I made a basic Elecraft KX2 setup...
Meeting Friends on the Summit: A Special SOTA Activation at North Berwick Law
by Thomas (K4SWL) Tuesday, June 30th, 2026, was a very special day during our trip to the UK. Before...
Hunting Fossils and POTA Contacts on Cocklawburn Beach in Beautiful Northumberland
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Monday, June 29, 2026, my family and I decided to spend the afternoon out on...
Travelogue: Walking the England-Scotland Border for a QRP POTA Activation
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Saturday, June 27, 2026, I woke up knowing we had a full day planned. My...
Roman History, a Family Day Out, and a CW ATNO: A Travelogue & POTA Activation in Melrose, Scotland
by Thomas (K4SWL) One of the greatest joys of spending an extended period of time in southeastern Scotland this...
The best-laid plans *do* work out, after you pivot a few times
As always, there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things!...
Along the East Lothian Coast: A Barns Ness POTA Adventure & Travelogue
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, after completing an activation at Berwick Castle and Castle Vale Historic...
The best laid plans don’t always work out
As always, there are lots of links within the article. Click one! Click them all! Learn all the things!...
Park Bench POTA with the Elecraft AX4: A Beautiful Morning at Castle Vale Historic Site
by Thomas (K4SWL) On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, my family and I planned to spend the day exploring the...