Signals in the Wilderness: A Practical Guide to Portable HF Operation (POTA/SOTA)

The alarm goes off before the sun, but on these mornings, there’s no resistance. It’s not the reluctant groan of a weekday, but a quiet thrum of anticipation. A quick check of the weather, a final glance at the Parks on the Air (POTA) map, and then the familiar ritual begins: assembling the gear. Each component, from the transceiver to the last carabiner, represents a piece of a puzzle that, when solved, will allow me to cast a signal into the ether from a picnic table miles from anywhere.

That feeling of pulling a faint signal from halfway across the country while sitting under a canopy of trees doesn’t happen by accident. It’s born from a carefully curated collection of gear I call my “Go-Kit”—my portable shack in a bag.

Part 1: The Go-Kit — Your Portable Shack in a Bag

Creating a go-kit is an art of balancing capability, weight, and endurance. You want enough power and performance to be effective, but not so much that you need a Sherpa to carry it. Here’s how I approach building my portable station.

The Brains: The Transceiver

For portable work, your radio needs to be compact, power-efficient, and—above all—field-friendly. While almost any HF radio can be taken outdoors, modern portable SDR transceivers like the Xiegu G90 or Icom IC-705 have fundamentally changed the game. The two biggest reasons are their SDR-based waterfall display and the built-in Automatic Antenna Tuner (ATU).

In the field, the waterfall lets me see the entire band at a glance, instantly spotting a clear frequency or the pile-up of “hunters” (other hams trying to contact park activators) calling a station. The built-in ATU is pure gold, allowing me to get a nearly perfect match on my often-compromised field antennas in seconds, across multiple bands.

The Lungs: The Antenna

Your antenna is arguably the most critical part of any portable station. My personal go-to is an End-Fed Half-Wave (EFHW) antenna. It’s incredibly lightweight, multi-band with a single connection point, and can be deployed in minutes as a sloper, using a single telescoping mast or a handy tree branch. A linked dipole is another fantastic option, renowned for its efficiency, though it requires more setup time. The key is to have something effective that you have practiced setting up and taking down quickly and reliably.

The Heart: The Power Source

Your station is only as good as its battery. The undisputed standard for portable operations today is the LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery. They are significantly lighter than older sealed lead-acid batteries, safer than LiPo, and maintain a stable voltage under load. I typically use a 9Ah or 12Ah battery, which is plenty for several hours of casual operating. Remember, a radio rated for 20 watts at 13.8V will produce less power as the battery voltage sags, so a stable power source is key.

To ensure I never forget a critical component, I live by a checklist.

[Actionable Asset] The Ultimate POTA/SOTA Go-Kit Checklist

Core Equipment * [ ] HF Transceiver (e.g., Xiegu G90, Icom IC-705) * [ ] LiFePO4 Battery (fully charged) * [ ] Antenna System (e.g., EFHW on a winder) * [ ] Coaxial Cable (25-50 ft / 7-15m, good quality) * [ ] Telescoping Mast (e.g., fiberglass pole) or Throw Line/Weight

Accessories & Tools * [ ] Microphone and/or CW Key/Paddles * [ ] Headphones (essential for noisy environments) * [ ] Notebook & Pens for logging (or smartphone/tablet) * [ ] Smartphone/Tablet with logging apps (HAMRS) and spotting apps (POTA.app) * [ ] Small Toolkit (multitool, electrical tape, spare connectors) * [ ] Velcro Straps, Bungee Cords, Tent Stakes for securing mast/wires

Personal & Safety Items * [ ] Water and Snacks * [ ] Weather-appropriate Clothing (layers are key) * [ ] Sunscreen and Insect Repellent * [ ] Small First-Aid Kit * [ ] Portable Chair & Table (your back will thank you) * [ ] Headlamp (if operating near dusk)

Part 2: On the Air — From Setup to QSO

With the bag packed and the checklist double-checked, the real adventure begins. Arriving at the park, the air crisp and cool, the first task is to transform this pile of gear into a functional gateway to the world.

Site Selection and Safety: I find a spot away from power lines and heavy foot traffic. Before raising any mast, I look up to check for overhead hazards like dead branches. Safety first, always.

Deployment: I extend my fiberglass mast and attach the far end of my EFHW antenna. Up it goes, with the wire sloping down to the matching unit near my operating position. I connect the coax, the battery, and the microphone. Power on. The radio’s screen flickers to life, a small beacon of technology in the middle of nature.

The Magic of Modern Tech: Here’s where the preparation pays off. I tune to the 20-meter band, and instantly, the SDR waterfall gives me a complete intelligence report: I can see the rhythmic dashes of FT8 at the bottom of the band, the wider shapes of SSB conversations, and—most importantly—a quiet, empty space to call my own.

I decide to check the 40-meter band. My antenna isn’t perfectly resonant here. No problem. I press and hold the ‘TUNE’ button. The radio emits a series of clicks as internal relays fire, and within three seconds, the SWR display drops to a flat 1.1:1. It’s a moment of quiet magic every single time.

I find a clear frequency, ask if it’s in use, and then make the call: “CQ Parks on the Air, this is…” Almost immediately, the hunters, who watch the POTA spotting network online, begin to call back. The logbook starts to fill up.

Conclusion: More Than Just a Radio

An hour and dozens of contacts later, I start to pack up, leaving no trace. Each QSO was a brief but real connection—a voice from Florida, a signal from California, a greeting from Canada. None of them see the park, the trees, or the simple wire antenna. They only hear a voice, carried on a 20-watt signal powered by a small battery.

Portable HF operation is more than a technical challenge. It’s a reason to get outside, a way to blend a love for technology with an appreciation for the natural world. And with modern tools that make the process more intuitive and forgiving, it’s an adventure that’s more accessible than ever. It’s about sending signals from the wilderness and, in doing so, feeling a little more connected to the world.