The following is a message from Open HamClock Backend contributor Chris Smith (G1FEF), with light editing by K4HCK:
Open Hamclock Backend is now fully independent of the original source and does not proxy any data from the Clear Sky Institute server. When the original backend server goes offline in June, anyone using OHB will find their HamClock will continue to work. We’ve also made some improvements over the original, especially in terms of CPU and memory use. It is now more efficient, so anyone hosting it on their own hardware will see instant improvements.
We have two more items of exciting news to share:
We now have a publicly available OHB server which anyone using HamClock is welcome to use. Just point your HamClock to: ohb.hamclock.app:80
This server is dedicated hardware hosted in a commercial datacenter and is free for all HamClock users to enjoy.
We also now have a website where you can keep track of the latest releases, find instructions on how to use OHB, see who is behind the initiative, as well as how to contact us to provide feedback and ask for assistance:
Operating until April 18th, Darren, VK4MAP (ex-3D2RAT, A31DJ, T2X, KH8/VK4MAP, T32K, H44DX, H40DA + other calls) is active from Liquica District, on the outskirts of Dili, Timor-Leste as 4W6DA. He also plans to QRV from Atauro Islad, OC-232 as 4W6DA/P during his stay. Operating mainly on 10m SSB, he will also try 80-40-20-15-12m using wire […]
One of the amateur radio operators selected by NASA to help track the Artemis II mission via RF is posting regular updates to Bluesky. Back in January, NASA announced the volunteers selected to help track the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II mission and one of those volunteers was Scott Tilley (VE7TIL) who is also working with the University of New Brunswick in Canada which was also selected by NASA.
The data will help NASA “identify ways to augment future moon and Mars mission support,” according to an agency statement. Or, as Tilley puts it, it’s a way to see if smaller stations that use technology such as his could be used on future moon missions, so they don’t have to task the larger, more costly primary systems.
Tilley tracked the Artemis I mission, Mars probes from both China and NASA, and many other satellites. You can follow his current progress with Artemis II on Bluesky and learn more about his current focus on a new method of Doppler extraction.
Every year around this time, DX / DXpedition news is slower than usual, so what better time to publish this excellent footage on VK0/H (Heard Island & McDonald Islands), courtesy of the Australian Antarctic Program. Heard Island is currently #19 on Club Log most wanted list. Last DXpedition in 2016 by team VK0EK. Excellent footage: […]
Previously active from Vieques Island, NA-249 in February 2022, team KP3RE (Radio Operadores del Este) plan a new activity from the same island in February 2027. Full details will be announced at a future date. Promo video below.
From 13 to 17 April 2026, the Verona DX Team will be active from Giglio Island, EU-028 as IQ3VO/IA5. Operators are: I3JRF Flavio, IK3JBP Ampelio, IK3SCB Mauro, IU3BXI Luca, IU3QFU Massimo, IU3VHR Antonio. QRV with two stations on 40-17M; CW, SSB & FT8. Plus activity on 144MHz FT8. QSL via IQ3VO.
On April 8th (one day activity) look for Scott, KK6IK to be active from Longyearbyen, Svalbard (QTH: JW5E) as JW/KK6IK. He plans to be active from 0800-1700 local time (UTC +2) on 40-30-20-17 & 15m; mainly CW (QRP). QSL via LoTW only.
Kasimir DL2SBY informs DX-World that he will again be active from Liechtenstein as HB0/DL2SBY during May 25-31, 2026. QRV on HF bands with a focus on 6m (using a 5el yagi). This activity is intended to test and fine-tune all my devices, laptops, and antennas for my activities from Zanzibar and the Seychelles. QSL via […]
Let’s talk about assembling a POTA station on a budget. This won’t be an article about how to assemble a station using old computer parts or twigs and berries. Rather, it’s about assessing what’s actually needed to get you started in portable operations without breaking the bank.
It’s true that a trip to DX Engineering can be therapeutic, but that’s not always possible. So, we need to work with what we have available. As I’ve said in previous articles, the best POTA station is sometimes that station you already have. But what if you don’t have a station that can work in the field? Well, let’s assemble one.
The Transceiver
Since the rig is what you’re going to spend the bulk of your money on, let’s start there. The Yaesu FT-891 is a popular rig for POTA. At just under $700 new, it’s within the budget of most amateurs. You can save further by searching for one on the used market. My most recent one came from a local ham for $400. I consider the FT-891 to be a perfect rig for POTA, and I found myself returning to it for most activations even after using another good rig. One feature I love is the voice and CW memory, which is a real plus when calling CQ.
Yaesu FT-891 HF/50MHz All Mode Mobile Transceiver. (Image/Yaesu)
If you’d like to jump into QRP (5-10W) exclusively, a Google search will help you find options that will get you on the air on a budget.
There’s an extensive number of older used solid-state radios out there at $300 or less. Check with your local club members, hamfests, or swap and shops. For instance, a couple of Kenwood TS-140S’s sold recently for $150 each here in northeast Ohio. Over the last 40 years, there have been a lot of solid-state rigs produced which would be a great choice for anyone looking to hit the field. These radios usually don’t have computer control or DSP, but they’re still good portable rigs. If you operate CW, you may want to find one with the CW filter installed. This was an add-on feature for a lot of the older rigs.
A lot of these older rigs are heavier as well. Take the Kenwood TS-140S, which weighs around 13.5 lbs. Compare it to the FT-891 at just over 4 lbs., or the Xiegu G90, which is a bit lighter at 3.6 lbs. This will be relevant if you are planning to backpack on an activation.
The Kenwood TS-140S is one of many options when shopping for used rigs. (Image/Kenwood)
Power
Having the rig for an activation is great, but you need a way to power it. In the long term, some source of 12-volt power is a must-have. LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries are the perfect power source for POTA activations. One of my go-to batteries is a Bioenno Power 12Ah. It supplies plenty of power for my adventures and is light and long-lasting. If it doesn’t fit in your budget, that battery you’ve “borrowed” from your lawn tractor will get you going in the short term.
The Bioenno Power 12Ah is a good LiFePo4 battery for POTA activations. Find many more options from Bioenno Power here. (Image/Bioenno Power)
Feedline
Feedline is a part of your station you really shouldn’t scrimp on, but there are ways to save money. Most experienced activators will tell you that DXE 400MAX (which is a popular feedline for the home station) is an overkill for stations in the field. RG-8X feedline is an excellent option in those scenarios; it’s small and relatively low loss.
Taking it a step further, I’ve been playing recently with DX Engineering’s Hi-Viz Orange RG-174 feedline. It’s cheaper and more flexible. The loss is higher than RG-8X, but this shouldn’t be an issue for most POTA operations. Our activations normally use shorter runs of cable, so the loss is negligible. My feedline length is normally under 40 feet if I’m operating picnic-table portable and less than 20 feet if I’m operating from the cab of my truck. RG-174 will handle 100 watts at up to 150 megahertz. Since I rarely exceed 30W, this is perfect for my style of operating.
Antennas are where you can really save some money when assembling your POTA station. There are a lot of antennas out there with prices into the hundreds of dollars, and I’ve heard that they work well. But assembling a station on a budget doesn’t mean taking out a loan. Let’s look at some lower-cost options; some are homebrew, some aren’t. My recommendations for budget-friendly POTA antennas are some sort of dipole or end-fed half-wave (EFHW) antenna.
The EFHW antenna is simple, works well, and fits easily in your go bag. Whether you want to build one or get to activating right out of the box, there are plenty of options out there.
I’m going to start off with a couple dipoles that I’ve recently written articles on: the linked dipole and the simple dipole. Either antenna can be built for well under $40 and will get you on the air in an afternoon.
One in particular that I plan to try soon is the Spooltenna EFHW4010. It handles 100W SSB and 50W CW/Digital. Michael, KB9VBR, did a YouTube review on this one—it looks interesting; simple to deploy and easy to stow.
The Spooltenna 40-10M EFHW antenna features a spool design for rapid deployment and teardown. (Image/Spooltenna)
There are also a few miscellaneous accessories I wouldn’t want to do without:
For Yaesu radios I highly recommend the Yaesu FH-2 Remote Control Keypad. It’s available new, but there are also some third-party options on the internet that are a little more budget friendly. The FH-2 accesses your CW and voice memories. It does a bit more as well, but for POTA, I enjoy being able to call CQ with the touch of a button.
The Yaesu FH-2 Remote Control Keypad provides control of the CW and voice memories on the FT-891 and other rigs. (Image/Yaesu)
DX Engineering Winder and Tie Wrap Combo. (Image/DX Engineering)
Rope: Whatever type you choose, keep enough extra in your go box. You’ll never know when you may need that extra length of paracord. Again, bring more than you think you’ll need.
Throw-Weight: Every POTA activator should have a throw-weight. They are super handy for hoisting lines over trees. Mine is a 14-ounce arborist weight. Not all parks will allow you to hoist antennas into trees, so make sure to check with park officials about your plans.
A throw-weight should be a part of each ham’s go kit. (Image/WG8X)
Remember, don’t wait for the perfect gear; that’ll keep you stuck at home. Just get out there, put that station on the air, and go activate something.
[INFO] – Kasimir, DL2SBY will again be active from the Seychelles as S79/DL2SBY during September 11-21, 2026. He mentions the QTH is on the north side of Mahé Island, about 100m from the saltwater, with a clear view from northeast to northwest. Activity on 80-6m; CW, SSB, FT8 (MSHV). Equipment as follows: 2x ICOM IC7300. […]
