Radio in the Wild: Deploying Antennas for SOTA & POTA

Presenters:  Jonathan Sarge, W4UYE

Jonathan Sarge is a Public Safety Director with Emory Healthcare and a U.S. Army veteran, with a background in emergency management, law enforcement, and military operations. A Hurricane Helene responder in East Tennessee, Jonathan is an accomplished overlander and outdoorsman, with a focus on portable radio operations in austere and remote environments. He is a founding member of the Southern Appalachian Summit QRPers (SASQ), a SOTA Mountain Goat, and an amateur radio operator (W4UYE).

Assistant Presenters:  Wes Shultz, KE4SJM, and John Hathcock, WE4AUB

Licensed in 1994, Wes Shultz is an avid outdoorsman specializing in HF portable operations and antenna construction.  He is a regular Summits On The Air (SOTA) activator since 2020 and an active member of both the North Fulton Amateur Radio League (NFARL) and Southern Appalachian Summit QRPers (SASQ).

John Hathcock is an avid HF portable operator and proficient CW operator.  John Hathcock is a Summits On The Air (SOTA) Mountain Goat.  He is an active member of the Southern Appalachian Summit QRPers (SASQ) and a dedicated member of the North Fulton Amateur Radio League (NFARL)
 
Forum Description:  Explore the practical side of portable antenna deployment for SOTA, POTA, and remote field operations by experienced operators.  This immersive forum will examine a variety of portable antenna systems, deployment techniques, and real-world effectiveness across all bands and modes.

Attendees will see and compare numerous antenna designs while discussing the strengths, limitations, and trade-offs with each system.  The forum will also cover practical solutions for operating in national parks and other restricted environments where traditional antenna supports or installations may not be possible.

The forum will address both QRP and QRO operations, with a focus on portability, efficiency, reliability, and getting on the air when conditions and terrain work against you.
 

Return to Forums

 

All you ever need to know about the HamFest