The Story Behind the KJ6ER PERformer Antenna

by | May 9, 2025 | Activation Log | 0 comments

I love origin stories. Stories that detail all the thinking and hard work that goes into a successful product. I always feel that this glimpse into the creative mind and how the process evolves tells us more about the person and product and gives us those deep insights into its use and function.

Greg Mihran’s, KJ6ER, PERformer antenna is no exception to this. For this week’s video I sat down with Greg and we had quite a discussion about his antennas, how he came out creating an efficient, easy to deploy HF vertical antenna, and what other projects he’s working on. It was enlightening, and I had a truely difficult time editing this video down to the time allotted as there was so much good stuff in it.

You can watch this week’s video: The TRUE STORY behind the KJ6ER (POTA) PERformer Antenna here: https://youtu.be/cClmWBYzNaE

For those wanting more, patrons have access to the full uncut interview. It’s 50 minutes long and filled with additional details, anecdotes, and stories that just didn’t fit into the final cut. You’ll find that post here:

Hamvention Time

Amateur radio’s annual homecoming, Hamvention, is fast upon us. I am looking forward to getting on the road and attending the event. This is my third Hamvention in the 26 years of being an amateur radio operator. While I’m not an expert on what all goes on at the Greene county fairgrounds, I have garnered a few insights that I find as useful.

  1. You can’t do it all. There is a lot to see at Hamvention and honestly you can’t do it all. Between the forums, exhibitor space, and flea market, you will run yourself ragged trying catch everything. The ARRL has a handy app that you can download that puts the schedules and exhibitor locations in the palm of your hand. Use that to be pick and choose what’s important to you, and focus on those items.
  2. Take your time. You don’t have to rush, slow down and pace yourself. Like any big event with a lot of walking (I guarantee you will walk a lot), look for opportunities to take a break and relax. Strategically pick a forum you are interested in so you can sit in air conditioned comfort for an hour. Grab a spot on one of the benches and people watch while you enjoy a snack or a cool drink of water. Remember, this is a three day show, so you are not expected to do it all in one day.
  1. Enjoy the food. The food vendors at Hamvention are amazing. My favorites are the fried tenderloin sandwich and the bourbon chicken. Christine like the corn dogs and fried pickles. Get those items early in the day if you want to avoid the line.
  2. Take care of yourself. Need I say any more? Stay hydrated, bring a water bottle and use it. There are spots on the grounds were you can refill it without having to purchase water on site. There isn’t much shade on the grounds, so wear a hat. It’s May, but still can be sunny and warm. I prefer a lightweight long sleeve shirt so I can regulate how much sun I am getting. You know your own body best, so listen to those signals that you are overdoing it.

If you are going to Hamvention and want to meet up, the best chance to run into me are as follows: I like to hit the flea market hard on Friday. It will be 70% flea market and 30% indoor exhibits that day. On Saturday things are reversed, I’ll spend more time indoors and catch a few outside vendors I may have missed. Saturday at 11:30am I am planning to attend the forum titled Parks on the Air: The Road Ahead. That’s in room 2. I am not speaking this year, but if you run into me there, don’t be afraid to say hi.

Outside of the hamvention grounds, we are staying at Caesar Creek State Park. If you see us hanging around the little red teardrop camper, stop by and say hi! I always welcome visitors.

Finally, if you won’t be heading down to Dayton this year, you can still follow along. I’m planning on Parks on the Air activations as we travel and while at Caesar Creek. Watch the spotting page for activations.

Finishing Up

Coming up next week is an antenna review. It must be getting close to summer as I’m inundated with products to review. I think you’ll enjoy this one.

I hope to catch you on the air soon

Michael