Sooooo – welcome to the FUN.

YES – for best use the SETUP screen (control-S) should be set up correctly for each location you operate from.? However, there are a few notes to help you make better sense of it and avoid a couple of pit-falls.

#1 – the Latitude and Longitude location doesn’t need 10-digit precision.? The only thing that this is used for is to give you a general beam heading if you are using a directional antenna.? So for portable work, LAT/LON probably doesn’t matter unless you are using a directional antenna.

#2 – state does matter.? There are some POTA entities that cross state lines.? If your log contains the proper ADIF tag for state, when you upload to POTA the log uploader will pull the state from your log.

#3 – county might not matter.? POTA doesn’t care about county.? But if you will be uploading your log to LoTW or QRZ as well, please do include the correct ADIF tag for county.

#4 – grid does not matter for POTA.? But again, if you will be uploading your log to LoTW or QRZ as well, please do include the correct ADIF tag for grid.? NOTE:? If you set up a location in LoTW with a 6-digit grid, and in setup you include a 4-digit grid or an 8-digit grid you will get an upload failure notice.? Pick a standard and stick with it; most use a 6-digit grid.

Just so you know……… you do not need to start a separate new log for each part.? I personally run three log files.? One here at home is my MASTER LOG.? I also run a PORTABLE USA log, and a PORTABLE EUROPE log.? Each contains thousands of contacts.?

When I go out to activate, I just chose the log (USA or Europe), pre-set the SETUP form for the location I’ll be in, then log as I go in the park.? When I get home I just RIGHT-CLICK on the last contact I made, scroll down to the first contact from the park and press SHIFT-RIGHT-CLICK on that, selecting all the contacts from that park.? Then click FILE – EXPORT ADIF – SELECTED CONTACTS.? I name the exported file CALLSIGN@... and save it.? BTW – the xxxx is the park number and ST is the two-letter STATE abbreviation.? And YYYYMMDD should be obviously 4-digit YEAR, 2-digit MONTH and 2-digit DAY.

I hope this helps.

BTW – a “classic” duffle-bag as I knew them in the army might not protect your gear well.? This is how I do it.? Drag this from the JEEP to a picnic table and bring along a drink and we are good to go.? This kit allows me to use all-modes 160m – 6m, plus 2m and 70cm.? I also carry 1.25m and 23cm FM-only.



Any other questions, ask away.? Feel free to contact me direct if you like.

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Vy73 ?– ?Mike ?– ?KD5KC – WRFF851 – ?El Paso – Texas ?– ?DM61rt. ?

SOTA W5T-Texas Association Manager.

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The canyons are calling, colorful and deep. ?But I have promises to keep.

And miles to go still in my Jeep...? ?And miles to go still in my Jeep...

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ADVENTURE: ?The respectful pursuit of trouble.? ?

An EXIT is really an ENTRANCE to someplace new. ?

It isn’t an ADVENTURE until something goes wrong!

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