Activation Report for Capulin Mtn. W5N/SG-009
What a fun SOTA summit!? Weather conditions were ideal.? We (Matt/KF0RIG, Steve/WG0AT, and myself/KD8EQA) had a beautiful, sunny, crisp, winter day with clear skies and impressive views.? All the roads to the National Monument, and up to the parking area were paved, clear, and dry.? The paved trail to the summit had a few patches of snow that were packed down by visitors.? We didn't need any traction.? We were the only vehicle in the parking lot when we arrived, and we only encountered 2 other people during the day.? RF noise was nil, and we easily filled up our logs with contacts, including a couple to Europe, and a S2S with Carey/KX0R in Colorado.? Fred/KT5X... you were right... nothing on 2m.? We also enjoyed a contact with Nick/KI5MFF, and the Valencia County Middle School ARC/KJ5DZQ, south of Albuquerque.? It seems this SOTA peak is a good choice for winter activations... easy access, easy hike, no crowds, and bonus point eligible.? It think it would also be a good peak for a first-time SOTA activator (as long as they can activate on HF bands).
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The picture is the view from the parking lot of the summit above and the caldera below.
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73, Ray / KD8EQA
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Roads up to W5N/MG-033, Gray Hill, were in good
shape. Subaru friendly.? Very little snow.
This was a noisy summit for the lower bands but fairly quite on
the higher ones. No problem making a lot of contacts. The Boothy
Tim let me use kept me quite warm despite the cold temps. see pics
for fun
Nice drive up summit but not to many trees to support a mast.
Great views.
73 all WB5USB Geo..
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Re: W5N Alert for Capulin Mountain
We will look for you Ray..GL WB5USB George
On 1/14/2025 12:18, Raymond Gierlach
wrote:
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Hi All,
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Matt/KF0RIG, Steve/WG0AT, and I are planning to activate
Capulin Mountain, W5N/SG-009, tomorrow, Wednesday, the 15th.?
It's supposed to be sunny with a light breeze.? We don't
anticipate any serious issues with snow getting to the trailhead
or summit.? We expect to arrive at the trailhead/parking about
10:30am local.? We'll be on 2m and 40m during part of our
activation, and hope to work as many of you as possible... and
look forward to a possible S2S with K5DEZ, KG5ISG, and WB5USB.
?
73, Ray / KD8EQA
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Re: Alert for Capulin Mountain
Have a great time!? ? You may not be able to reach anyone on 2M.? If you do, please report such contact(s) here after you get back! ? (I have a dentist app’t Wednesday, so will probably miss you) ? Best to Ole Buddy, Steve! ? 73? fred kt5x ?
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W5N Alert for Capulin Mountain
Hi All,
?
Matt/KF0RIG, Steve/WG0AT, and I are planning to activate Capulin Mountain, W5N/SG-009, tomorrow, Wednesday, the 15th.? It's supposed to be sunny with a light breeze.? We don't anticipate any serious issues with snow getting to the trailhead or summit.? We expect to arrive at the trailhead/parking about 10:30am local.? We'll be on 2m and 40m during part of our activation, and hope to work as many of you as possible... and look forward to a possible S2S with K5DEZ, KG5ISG, and WB5USB.
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73, Ray / KD8EQA
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Action Plan: Wednesday January 15, 2025? W5N/MG-033
Gray Hill
We will depart my QTH by 0800 en-route to summit parking. QRV
should be by 1800 UTC. Drive time about 2 hrs 11 min?? Weather
will be sunny with temps around 40 degrees and light wind (4 mph)
Nice summit with great views of the VLA. RF wise it is a little
noisy right on top next to the com towers but, if you walk just
over the ridge to the north east, conditions are not to bad. Road
up to com site is SUBARU capable but the last .5 mile where I
intend to park is not. 4WD and high clearance along with low range
and lockers helpful. 73 all enjoy the previous pics WB5USB Geo...
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The cell-phone gloves arrived today.? I chose the cheapest I could find, $6.29.? The sizing chart was exact, select a size that proves to be snug, and that is good. ? Two fingers and thumb use conductive thread.? Works perfectly with capacitive touch paddles in my MTR3 and MTR5.? The palm has silicon nubs that help holding the radio with the left hand secure.? I can also hold the writing pen well enough to log.? The snug fitting gloves go inside my wind-proof lightly insulated mittens making this warm combination. ? I will report if the conductivity disappears as Alan has experienced, but I don’t plan to use them for anything but a mid-winter SOTA activation so they likely will persevere. ? 73,? fred
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George Yoakum via groups.io writes:
Cold day as Don, Tim and I headed down to W5N/BA-008 La Cebolla.
Wow. La Cebolla is out there in no man's land. Great activation. Almost
due east of me at foot of Polvadera Peak. But was in ABQ retrieving my
wife from the hospital. An ambitious trip out there for sure.
Stopped by the Owl Cafe on the way back for lunch.
Try Mannie's Buckhorn across the street next time. They have yummy green
chile burgers also.
Sorry I missed you. We could have used blinking light :-)
72, Paul NA5N
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Cold day as Don, Tim and I headed down to W5N/BA-008
La Cebolla.
Roads were in good shape snow wise with little or no accumulation.
However, the last few miles is rocky, steep, and rutted in a few
places. Nice to have high clearance.? Once on top Tim and I set up
ops with Boothy's which kept up nice and toasty. see pics As usual
I made a nice contact with Fred on 30 meters along with some nice
DX. Weather was sunny, cold, and windy.
Stopped by the Owl Cafe on the way back for lunch.
Nice summit with some good views. 73 all enjoy the pics WB5USB
Geo..
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TNX warning, Alan.? The back-up would be to take the gloves off, hi hi.? In fact, since I don’t have gloves yet, did you try yours with a capacitive touch paddle??? ? When mine arrive will test with the capacitive paddles.? I noticed in the ad for them, they said, the amount of conductive yarn had been doubled from previously, so the experience you had, Alan, may well have caused that change.? Guess we shall see, will report. ? Meanwhile, KH1 paddles adjusted after placing in the freezer, working fine in the cold. ? K6ARK pressure paddle work fine in the cold.? And speaking of those pressure paddles, I took the pressure plates off then returned them tilted.? I was able to use them with gloves just fine.? First photo, as they were made, second photo, after I put a tilt to them, then used successfully with gloves. ? fred ? ? ? ? ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Alan Shapiro via groups.io
Sent: Friday, January 10, 2025 5:11 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [W5N-SOTA] who knew?? Hi Fred!
Be warned that those "cell-phone gloves" will indeed work, but only for a very short time. I've purchased 2 different pairs and the material or coating on the fingertips wears off quite quickly. It doesn't visually appear to wear off, but it stops working.
Alan
On 1/10/2025 2:03 PM, Fred Maas via groups.io wrote: Perhaps some of you, like me, have capacitive touch paddles. I have such on my MTR3 and MTR5 XCVR’s.? Obviously, this is not the best in winter, as in frostbite fingers.? I used my MTR3 yesterday because it is so small I could simply put the radio in my pocket, no pack, short hike.? The metal touch posts were, shall we say, chilly, at fifteen degrees. ? But wait! ? I had no idea, but my wonderful wife, sitting in the sun, knitting, says, “quit complaining and look up cell-phone gloves.”? With that she goes back to knitting. ? What will “they” think of next?? Winter gloves made to operate touch screens.? The finger tips have conductive yarn! ? Here is just one of many:? ? fred ? ? ? ?
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Hi Fred!
Be warned that those "cell-phone gloves" will indeed work, but only
for a very short time. I've purchased 2 different pairs and the
material or coating on the fingertips wears off quite quickly. It
doesn't visually appear to wear off, but it stops working.
Alan
On 1/10/2025 2:03 PM, Fred Maas via
groups.io wrote:
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Perhaps some of you, like me, have capacitive
touch paddles. I have such on my MTR3 and MTR5 XCVR’s.?
Obviously, this is not the best in winter, as in frostbite
fingers.? I used my MTR3 yesterday because it is so small I
could simply put the radio in my pocket, no pack, short hike.?
The metal touch posts were, shall we say, chilly, at fifteen
degrees.
?
But wait!
?
I had no idea, but my wonderful wife,
sitting in the sun, knitting, says, “quit complaining and look
up cell-phone gloves.”? With that she goes back to knitting.
?
What will “they” think of next?? Winter
gloves made to operate touch screens.? The finger tips have
conductive yarn!
?
Here is just one of many:?
?
fred
?
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Perhaps some of you, like me, have capacitive touch paddles. I have such on my MTR3 and MTR5 XCVR’s.? Obviously, this is not the best in winter, as in frostbite fingers.? I used my MTR3 yesterday because it is so small I could simply put the radio in my pocket, no pack, short hike.? The metal touch posts were, shall we say, chilly, at fifteen degrees. ? But wait! ? I had no idea, but my wonderful wife, sitting in the sun, knitting, says, “quit complaining and look up cell-phone gloves.”? With that she goes back to knitting. ? What will “they” think of next?? Winter gloves made to operate touch screens.? The finger tips have conductive yarn! ? Here is just one of many:? ? fred ? ? ? ?
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FW: PNW SOTA Newsletter --- Jan-Feb-Mar 2025
Many may find contents from ATN’s newsletter interesting! ? ?
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From: Etienne Scott <climb2ski@...>
Sent: Thursday, January 9, 2025 3:56 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: PNW SOTA Newsletter --- Jan-Feb-Mar 2025? Here is the latest Pacific Northwest SOTA?Newsletter for January-February-March 2025:?
Thanks to the folks that contributed many articles to this edition - it is much appreciated.
73, Etienne-K7ATN
(You can change your newsletter preferences in - or let me know if you want off this notification list.)
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Weather in Santa Fe continues to be cold and dry, today overcast, and forecast for the next several weeks is more of the same.? ? The upper trail route to 9420 is very steep with loose gravel at the beginning.? Otherwise, it is easy and there is no snow.? I think it was about 15 degrees during my activation this morning.? There has been a lot more forest thinning work done with three out of every four trees having been cut and the wood stacked.? The trailhead is parking for the Big Tesuque Trail, but few takers.? No snow, so no XC skiers or snowshoers.? ? Conditions were OK, one European contact, US stations were loud.? AZ and CO were loud on 20M so short skip.? I caused RBN spots on 30 and 40 but no answers.? 30 QSO’s on 20M.? Used the MTR3 with touch-paddle because of the smaller size.? I went up just putting the radio gear in my pockets, no pack. ? 73,? fred ? ?
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Several of us in Colorado just climb in a Bothy bag when activating the high peaks, particularly in the shoulder seasons and winter when the temps drop below zero with blowing snow.? It's amazing how quickly you warm up and need to remove gloves and jackets!? The worse part is getting out of the bag after activating for an hour or two ;-).?
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HNY and 73, Brad
WA6MM
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Proposed Activation: W5N/BA-008 La Cebolla Saturday
January 11, 2025
We will depart my QTH around 0800 in route to summit parking. see
GPX Drive.? QRV around 1830.
Weather will be sunny but cool with temps in the high 30's to low
40's with winds around 6 mph. Boothie weather for Tim. There is a
possibility of some light snow. Best guess is about .5 inche or
less. Not enough to worry about but I will check the day before we
go. Could be gone by then.
Nice summit with lots of room on top. see previous pics
73 all WB5USB Geo..
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pressure paddle for winter ?
| I prefer tactile feedback from a paddle, but I am willing to forego that in
the field.? I have been using capacitive touch paddles on my MTR radios
for years.? These have functioned flawlessly in all temperatures.? They
have no adjustments to get out of whack, no contacts to get dirty in
the field, but the metal touch points are f-r-o-s-t-y in winter. ? Some of you have built the pressure paddle from the VK3IL.? I have
one, and while it functions well, I don’t like the pressure sensors on either
side of the circuit board being so close together.
The KH1 paddle needs to be cold-tested for winter.? If the settings are “too
close,” sub-freezing temperatures can cause the paddle to lock up closed.?
I put mine in the freezer, then adjusted it as needed to handle zero degree
temperatures.? That adjustment is fine for me in warm weather as well, so I
just leave it that way.? The pads are a bit small to use with gloves. ? I have a pressure paddle by K6ARK.? Perhaps some of you do, too?? He doesn’t
seem to be offering it for sale at this moment.? It has a lot to like for a field paddle.?
No contacts to get dirty, no adjustments to get out of whack in the field, warm
(not warmed) to the touch for cold weather.? Still, I find it uncomfortable to use.
The pressure sensors must be pressed in the middle to operate.? I find that my
fingers tend to stop short of the middle because they brush the leading edge of
the pads first.? So I modified it.
There are two soldered connections along the leading edge.? After desoldering
those, I discovered there are three tiny soldered joints along the lower edge
which simply stabilize the pad in place.? I just pried on them, and they broke.? ? I remounted the pressure pads such that they present an angle to the operator’s
fingers.? In this way the fingers are guided to the central area of the pad which is
the sweet spot.? The pressure pads respond fine to fingers with gloves on as well. ? 73? Fred kt5x ? | | | 
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Had such good luck with DX when I started activating
around 1630 last time I decided to pick up Don early, around 0730
local, then took the 15 min drive to trail head parking. Was a
cool start with the sun just peaking over the mountains. Trails
all clear and in good condition. Once on top we were in sunshine
and the temps were quite pleasant. No wind at all. Made a couple
of nice DX contacts. Enjoy the pics 73 all WB5USB Geo
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? Fred- I assumed a mass of 5 grams with 6 square inches to be heated (2- paddles, 1.5 sq in per paddle side, 2 sides per paddle because heat is transferred off both open faces of the paddles). ?Assumed paddle's heat capacity and conductivity equivalent to Polyethylene. Assumed the temp rise required was 25F. ?The power draw would drain a AA LiIon 1.5 volt in about an hour. ? ? <<<? Not even close to that kind of power could come from the little radios like the MTR or the KH1 by simply tapping into a 5 volt circuit… ? <<<? Personally, I wouldn’t want the ergonomics of a situation that I envision could be workable, but someone else might, especially someone who is not hiking particularly far. ? what I think could work is if one is using a clipboard for logging and to which is attached a paddle… and a mounting for a lithium battery.? This wouldn’t threaten any circuits in the radio.? The nichrome wire plus a dropping resistor or potentiometer as needed to get the desired wattage… something like this could work.? I don’t have a suitable paddle to play with the notion. ? fred
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Fred- I assumed a mass of 5 grams with 6 square inches to be heated (2- paddles, 1.5 sq in per paddle side, 2 sides per paddle because heat is transferred off both open faces of the paddles). ?Assumed paddle's heat capacity and conductivity equivalent to Polyethylene. Assumed the temp rise required was 25F. ?The power draw would drain a AA LiIon 1.5 volt in about an hour. ?
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On Jan 5, 2025, at 16:41, John K1JD via groups.io <johnk1jd@...> wrote:
? I also have a pair heated gloves, they run off of C cells. When my hands are warm to start, I can tolerate cold fingers pretty well for the duration of a CW activation unless it’s very windy. That said, heated paddle finger pieces would be a neat trick!
73, John?
On Jan 5, 2025, at 5:22?PM, Fred Maas via groups.io <just.one.hill@...> wrote:
? Wow, Tom, your calculations are very telling.? Thank you for taking the time to do it. ? Remember there are two surfaces to be heated.? What your calculations indicate is that much too much current is needed to significantly warm for this to be feasible using borrowed power from these little radios. ? !!!? fred ? Fred, I have several meters of Nichrome 60 and Nichrome 80; 28 and 18 gauge. Can send up, or bring to you.? ? ?Did some estimates- looks like you will need 2 watts to warm paddles 25-40F above ambient. That would take about 8 cm of wire at 1.5V at a max discharge of 1.5-2 amps. ?Could refine estimate with more detailed data about the key, ?but the ?estimate shows it might be feasible-experimental verification on a surrogate set of paddles would be mandatory before assembling.? That much wire could be wound into a 1-5 -2 cm dia circular spiral or 1.5-2cm wide square spiral that would lay on back of paddles held by epoxy or Silicone RTV. ?Would probably want a potentiometer in there to adjust power to wire.?
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Brad - WA6MM
