N1CLC: SOTA Info

Below are some SOTA, Summit on the Air, related links for those that are interested. I'll update this as needed.

SOTA Home page to find out more about SOTA, rules, etc

Join the San Diego SOTA Mailing List to hear about local SD SOTA events.

SOTA Reference Web Sites

SOTA Home
SOTA Map
Post an alert on SOTAwatch
Activate
How to activate
Summit Report
How To Improve Your Chances of Activating
SOTA Map
SOTA Atlas (SOTA map, spots, etec)
SoCal SOTA - W6-SOTA
NA SOTA Slack Group
How to use SMS to self-spot.
Note: To use Satellite trackers for SMS you MUST contact MM0MMF
How RBNHole works. If you can run CW, RBNHole will take an alert you post (while you are still in network range) and create a spot when you are picked up by the RBN Network. This is super handy if you won't have cell access from the summit and can run CW.
SOTA 360 Video Series. A how to for new SOTA operators (activators and chasers).
SOTA Stars stats page.
SOTA Safety
Improve your chances of activing using these self-spotting methods
How I do my logging

Mailing Lists

Some SOTA Radios

Yaesu 817ND (my favorite QRP rig)
LDG Z-817 auto tuner matched to 817 radio.
Elecraft KX2 (the most awesome SOTA rig in my opinion, worth the $$$)
Elecraft KX3 is used by a lot of operators, its more $$$ but nice radio system
Yaesu 891 (my 100 watt SOTA rig)
MFJ-939Y (auto tuner for 891)
Yaesu 857D is used by a lot of SOTA operators as a 100W rig. Shack in a box and goes from HF to UHF.
Yaesu 70D HT that I use as a backup in case I can't use the HF

Antennas & Gear

End Fed from Palomar-engineers which is what I use at home
AlexLoop
Packtenna (love this little guy) The packtenna dipole is easier to work with than the MFJ dipole and it has clip-on for 40M so I didn't ahve to make one.
MFJ-1910 33' mast for SOTA. It's light enough for hiking. I removed the first two elements as they are too weak to hold the dipople.
Easy Digi interface for iPhone allows me to send PSK31 from the iPad as well.
Wolphi-link for Droid
Portable Zero Field hardening for your equipment
Hardened Power Systems - juice systems for your gear. I prefer to make my own thogh)
Alpha verticle - Nice but they have a history of having their butts kicked by Chamilio
Chameleon verticle, dipole, end-fed combo. Research of multiple reviews shows this is mucho better than Alpha. A good compromise when you can't setup a dipole because of people or whatever. I want to do some testing with this from a mountain top. Not sure it is SOTA ready. Very well reviewed. Julian at OH8STN reviewed the Chameleon and Alpha and the CHA won hands down.
Super Antenna - Well reviewed vertical antenna with adjustable tuner at the antenna.
Buddipole - Portable, not sure the weight is good for SOTA but the later model has decent review from a guy in town. There is a person who doesn't like his older model.
Slim Jim antennas. Suposidly this guy is known for making the best ones. 2wayelectronix.com. I like the name :)
The LNR PAR EndFedz antennas are now sold by Vibroflex
Good SOTA Antenna article by WS0TA

Reference

W6 is the So. Cal. Association

W7A is USA - AZ Association

Planning

Navigation

EverNote for trip-planning

Weather Underground for weather planning

BLOGS & VLOGS

Steve wG0AT - the US grand dude of SOTA
OH8STN - A off-grid field radio operator. Julian's BLOG features other blogers as well and he is a leading guy in emergency comms prepping. He is serious about research, using the "LEGO BLOCK" approach, and seems to provide honest reviews.
Comms Prepper
N0PCL Radio Site (SOTA mountain goat)
KG6HAD Youtube SOTA blog
I learned a lot from Jerry, KG6HQD
The guy I call the "SOTA Yoda"
Ham Ninja Videos

Other reference info

-- Chris Claborne, N1CLC