All Time New One (ATNO) #315. South Orkney Islands

This DXpedition took place between late February and early March 2020 just before the pandemic hit with full force.  Because of the pandemic, the major DXpeditions have been cancelled.  The one going to Midway was one I was looking forward to but became victim to the pandemic.   The last major one I was able to work was VP8PJ and I was able to make contact on 30m CW.  Between the sunspot minimum and the effects of the pandemic - I will likely be stuck on #315 for a long while.

My latest activation videos

My new backpacking set-up for SOTA Activations

 For backpacking where minimalism is important to me, my go to radio is the LNR MTR3B Mountain Topper.   The radio itself weighs 174 grams.  WG0AT has repackaged his into a clear lid tin that only weighs 120g.   With the battery and the key made GM0EUL, the whole set up weighs less than a pound.

I used a small camera case which has the earbud.

For an antenna, I use a 40-30-20 link dipole.  There is a separable link for 30m.  Separating this link makes it an EFHW on 30m.  With the link connected - it is a full wave on 20m and a half wave on 40m.  The winder is a home made UHMW PE plastic.  The line is spearfishing line and the wire is from SOTABeams.  The weight includes the weight of the line thrower.   

The entire set-up including antenna, radio, etc weighs about 1.5 pounds including the waterproof dry bag from Sea-to-Summit.