Episode 9: From Parks to Peaks: How SOTA Differs from POTA

Published: September 4, 2025

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-sPQA8zqgk

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438895/episodes/17760784

Summary

What happens when you combine hiking, mountaineering, and ham radio? The crew steps beyond their usual POTA territory to explore Summits on the Air with Pacific Northwest experts Matt W7MDN and Tim N7KOM, both Mountain Goat Award holders with 1,000 activation points earned from mountain summits. From ultralight QRP gear to safety planning and CW tips, this is the SOTA primer every POTA operator needs.

In This Episode

• SOTA vs. POTA: activation zones, equipment rules, and philosophy

• Ultralight gear: LNR MTR3B, Elecraft KX2, Elecraft KH1, and wire antennas

• The Mountain Goat Award and what 1,000 activator points takes

• Meticulous planning, safety, and property access considerations

• Matt's Mountain Goat qualification on a January snowshoe expedition

• Tim's sunrise celebration atop Mount McLaughlin, ceremonial goat horns included

• Summit-to-summit contacts and the Oregon SOTA Campout

• Learning CW for summit operations

Chapters

• 0:10 Introducing SOTA and Our Guests

• 8:30 Getting Started with Ham Radio

• 16:15 Ultralight Equipment for SOTA

• 26:45 SOTA Basics and Activation Rules

• 36:20 Points, Mountain Goats, and Logging

• 43:15 Favorite SOTA Adventures

• 51:10 Learning CW and Equipment Tips

Guests

• Matt W7MDN: pilot from Spokane combining trail running and snowshoeing with radio. QRZ: https://www.qrz.com/db/W7MDN

• Tim N7KOM: mountaineer and YouTube creator from Bend known for ultralight setups. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@N7KOM

Mentioned in This Episode

• SOTA (Summits on the Air): https://www.sota.org.uk/

• SOTA Atlas: https://sotl.as/map

• Tim's Getting Started Guide: https://n7kom.com/SOTA.html

• LNR MTR3B, Elecraft KX2, and Elecraft KH1 QRP radios

• LCWO CW training: https://lcwo.net/

• Parks on the Air: https://parksontheair.com