Introduction. When the weather was nice and pleasant, I decided to do an impromptu pota activation at the Pisgah National Forest and the Pisgah Play Sites (K-4510 and K-6937). The two locations are the closest to my accommodation, only a 15 minute drive away (in fact, I can even hike to the same trail from the backyard). The purpose of this activation is to evaluate the excellent pairing of the ICOM IC-705 with the Elecraft T1 and CW Morse Pocket Paddles in an outdoor environment.
Activation process
I took the IC-705, Hazel (my dog companion) and a folding three-legged stool and walked to my destination. The site I chose was relatively flat, with tall trees and few other hikers' tracks. This provided me with an ideal testing ground to test the IC-705's performance more fully in a "backpack" setup.
Deployment of ICOM IC-705
After arriving at my destination, I quickly deployed the EFT-MTR antenna and used horticultural throwing wires for positioning. To better adapt to the outdoors, I installed the IC-705 above the front pocket of my RED OXX C-RUCK backpack. This deployment works so well that I can comfortably sit on a stool in front of my backpack and hold an oscillator on my simple notepad and clipboard.
Number of signal propagations and contacts
Although the chosen location was very convenient for me, its location deep in the valley and surrounded by high ridgelines felt that had some effect on my signal propagation. In CW mode, it took me almost 50 minutes to complete 12 contacts. Since there is no cell service at this location, I didn't try SSB** mode, so I can't automatically report my location on the POTA network. However, accumulating 12 connections with 5 watts and one antenna made me quite satisfied with the performance of the IC-705.
Performance of the Elecraft T1 auto-tuning unit
After having some issues with the MAT-705, I decided to try pairing the IC-705 with other ATUs. I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the Elecraft T1 ATU, and I was able to re-experience its superiority with its simple yet effective tuning function. Although the EFT-MTR resonates on and 20 m bands, switching to the 30 m band requires some manual work. However, by pressing the tuning button on the T1, I was able to easily match the 30-meter band, eliminating the tedious manual adjustment process.
Experience with CW Morse Pocket Paddles
I highly praised the "pocket oscillator" sent by CW Morse. Not only are they flexible and adjustable in operation, but they also offer excellent durability. The base of the oscillator has a built-in hex wrench, but its machining screws are still very easy to tighten by hand. Their ruggedness and reliability convinced me that the pocket oscillator would be a permanent partner for my IC-705.
Summary
In this POTA activation, I am satisfied with the pairing of the ICOM IC-705 with the Elecraft T1 and CW Morse Pocket Paddles. This experience not only provided a good outdoor operating environment, but also gave me a deeper understanding of the portability and performance of the IC-705. The excellent performance of the Elecraft T1 and CW Morse Pocket Paddles further enriches my outdoor experience, and I look forward to putting them into future events as a fixture."