Ham Radio on Mt. St. Helens Summit

**UPDATE** I took this antenna to the summit of Mt. Adams (12,281ft) and was able to check into a net through a repeater in Pullman, WA (which was 211 miles away) using only 5 watts.

When I climbed to the summit of Mt. St. Helens, I brought with me my IC-T7H and a lightweight 2m yagi antenna that I had built. I then proceded to see which repeaters I could hit from the summit. I then decided to try my luck with 146.52 (the national calling frequency). To my surprise, after calling CQ only once, I immediately was flooded with several people returning my call.

To see how to build the antenna visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPGmad2MMWM

This is a lightweight antenna designed by KD5IVP that I found the plans to online. It's simple to build and lightweight. It is for use on the 2 meter band. This video is my explanation on how to build it. Further details on the design and a slightly different way of constructing it can be found at:

http://www.backpacking.net/makegear/yagi-antenna/index.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• ham
• amateur
• radio
• national
• calling
• frequency
• mount
• mt
• st
• saint
• helens
• 146.52
• 146.520
• ic-t7h
• kd7mni
• meter
• backpacking
• yagi
• vhf
• portable
• qrp

[wheelin79cj]

Built this antenna a few days ago with another buddy. Works like a champ. According to my meter it was BARELY moving the needle off of 1:1 SWR. Seemed to work pretty good at ground level here in FL. (No mountains around here.) Ended up using electric fence wire because the music wire we found wasn't stiff enough. Thanks for the idea!

[soccerkicker266]

@wheelin79cj Glad everything worked out for you.

[juleshoehn]

Hey! great vid. Our radio club just had an antenna build night. we built these and threw them on a very nice analyzer. We were getting a SWR of 1:1.04! and we discovered that the antenna is great on 2m and 70cm! has anyone tried to work satellites with this thing yet? thanks for the great vid and helping us find a great project for our club to build! -kf7gre

[soccerkicker266]

@juleshoehn I tried listening to the ISS once because it has a 2-meter downlink but it doesn't work out too well since this antenna is really meant to only be used with a vertical polarization or else the elements droop too mich. But I'm glad you got such a great SWR!

[solobackpacking]

Over 200 miles with a tiny handheld Yagi and a 5 watt handy talky! Amazing

bring a tripod and you wont have to hold the Yagi.

[soccerkicker266]

I was pretty impressed too.

A tripod would be handy but carrying the weight of crampons, ice axe, radio and batteries, along with all my other gear, I'm pretty limited to additional weight. However, when I'm at home talking to local repeaters, I do use a tripod and it does make things much easier.

[clipdan]

thanks for sharing!

[soccerkicker266]

@740371 It has a reflector and a deflector element so it has gain in a particular direction. There wasn't reliable cell phone coverage up there. The antenna's primary purpose is to assist in emergency communication while I am mountaineering. Although I've played around with it on top of summits, I don't lug up my HT and the antenna for that purpose, though it's an ancillary benefit. I figure I might as well have the stuff with me in-case myself or other climbers need a way to talk out.

[rodspencer2000]

lol, I know the guy Tom, n1bec that you talked too. I talk to him on a reg basis. that looks like a really good spot to have a vhf qso party. anyway, just to let you know, i am mobile every day for atleast 11 hrs a day, and tend to be solely on 146.52. I run QRO though, so I tend to shake a lot of people out of the bushes, but not like elevation like that can do. 73. ke7utp

[KJ4UNR]

Do you use echo link I want to speak to you some day

73,

Matthew

KJ4UNR

[KJ6GCN]

Nice, I have been looking for a light Yagi for my hiking trips.

73

KJ6GCN