Activating SOTA on VHF/UHF - Radios, Antennas, & Tips

Interested in activating Summits on the Air using VHF/UHF frequencies? This quick overview is part of a series focused on those newer to SOTA, and please check out the playlist for additional videos. This video will cover activating tips, radios, filters, and various antenna options. Please see additional information & resource links below, and comment if I missed important tips that should be shared with others. Thank you!

Tips:
- Research the summit to see which bands it's been activated on (helpful if summit has been activated).
- Let chasers know you will be on a summit (Alert) and when you are there (Spot)
- Program repeaters into your radio for safety, and can be useful if struggling to make contacts...to ask if someone on the repeater can make a simplex contact with you.
- Have fun and try other bands (70cm, 1.25m, etc) or modes (digital, SSB)!

Radios:
- Hearing stations is the most important part of activating, and based on my experience (and others) recommend not using a Baofeng (or similar) radio. There are limited 5w radio options (in production) for 1.25 meter, and using a TYT or Baofeng may be the best low cost option for this band. 1.25m Band (220MHz) radio options below...and would love to hear other 220 options in production or your experiences with these radios.
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
TYT TH-350 Tri-Band Radio
https://amzn.to/3xhlQc6
BTECH UV-5X3 Tri-Band Radio
https://amzn.to/3VxUWoy
- Lower cost quality radios from Icom, Yaesu, Alinco could be a good option. I've had good experience with the Icom V86, and a few local activators have used the Yaesu FT-4X or FT-65. One activator bought the FT-4X due to light weight and increased filtering over Baofeng.
- More expensive radios will generally have superheterodyne receivers (vs direct conversion), and do "hear" a little better. Many activator use the Yaesu FT60 as lower cost radio that's been proven, and I purchased the FT70 when it was on sale (since newer radio & had digital C4FM). I upgraded to the FT3D after wanting dual independent receivers (to listen to 2 calling frequencies), and for APRS/GPS (including texting via APRS to family cellphones).
- A band pass filter is really helpful on some summits, and good tool to have!

Antennas:
- HT Extension antenna: The MFJ 2m Long Ranger is commonly used, but there are others quality ones from Diamond, Smiley, etc. I bought the RH770 antenna from Bigham Wireless after it was recommended as a dual band option, and will have to use in the future.
- Rollup Jpole or Slim-Jim: N9TAX & Nelson Antenna (no longer produced?) are the primary ones I've used, and have hung from a tree branch or from an extension fiberglass mast. Ed Fong or making your own could be another option. On wooded summits, I've had better experience hearing stations in the noise (vs. the MFG Long Ranger) likely due to it being a little higher in the air.
- Directional: I started using Arrow antennas and have activated using on 2m & 70cm. I've primarily switched to using the Elk Log Periodic dual band, since I like easily switching between 2m & 70cm. It is easy to assemble due to color coded elements (something I need to add to Arrow Yagi), and I like the pvc mounting options.

00:00 VHF/UHF Activating Intro
01:06 Tips: Research summit, Alerts & Spots, Repeaters
02:27 Tips: Calling Frequencies, other bands/modes
03:22 Radios & Batteries
05:19 Band Pass Filter
05:56 Antennas: Extension Whip, Rollup Jpole, Directional
09:15 Closing summary

KB1HQS is a great resource and this is his video on "Ultimate Arrow Antenna Modifications"
   • Ultimate Arrow Antenna Modifications  

K0NR has a great blog with various SOTA articles about activating on VHF (and higher). This one is focused on the antenna he has used and tested.
https://www.k0nr.com/wordpress/2021/0...

https://www.sota.org.uk/
https://www.sota.org.uk/Joining-In best place to start...includes rules, faq, etc.
https://sotawatch.sota.org.uk/en/ post or watch for Spots & Alerts
https://www.sotamaps.org/ mapping resources, find gps tracks, activation maps, much more
https://www.sotadata.org.uk/en/ submit activator/chaser logs, track progress, etc
https://reflector.sota.org.uk/ discussion for SOTA topics
https://summits.sota.org.uk/ summit information

https://sotl.as/
User friendly website to see summits on interactive map, summitinformation, post spots & alerts, etc.

http://www.pnwsota.org/ Resource for those in the Pacific NW
http://www.pnwsota.org/content/gettin...
http://www.pnwsota.org/content/sugges...
http://www.pnwsota.org/content/pacifi...

https://wa7jnj-radio.printify.me/prod...

Music by Bensound.com
"A Day to Remember"
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
"Reach Out"