Between Christmas and New Years typically affords us a bit of down time and this video is our third annual holiday POTA rove. Putting a string of new parks together is getting a bit more difficult as we’ve pretty much done everything within an hours drive of Wausau. So Joe and I set our sites a little further out and explored a few parks around the Baraboo Range near Portage and Baraboo Wisconsin.
The result is this entertaining romp in and around the area and the result of this week’s video titled: POTA Activation GONE WRONG? Five park rove with Joe https://youtu.be/d-bFMKVkPZY
So what really went wrong? If you are going to be doing frequent setups and teardowns and spending the time and effort to drive from park to park, eventually something is going to break. For us, it was the extension cable I use on my microphone so I don’t have to take the face plate off my FT-891 to switch between the microphone and the headset. I’ve had these extension cables break before, so it isn’t unexpected. Carry a spare, or be ready to adapt, and the latter is what we ended up doing in the video.
Links and Resources from the video
RJ45 network extension cable: https://amzn.to/4pNdIFq
Canals in Wisconsin: https://americancanalsociety.org/canals-of-wisconsin/
Learn More about the Badger Ordinance Works: https://badgerhistorygroup.org/
KJ6ER Challenger Off Center Fed Vertical Antenna: https://bit.ly/KJ6ERChallenger
Chameleon SS25 25 foot whip: https://chameleonantenna.com/keyro0
Chameleon Insulator: https://chameleonantenna.com/axXN3W
LDG 4:1 Transformer: https://dxengineering.pxf.io/gO2eor
Bogen (Manfrotto) 3001 Tripod legs: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.htmlnkw=bogen+3001&sacat=0from=R40&trksid=p2323012.m570.l1313
Konsait Black Camera 323 Quick Release Plate fpr Manfrotto 323: https://amzn.to/47nzjyf
SANDBAG Sand Bag SADDLEBAG Design Weight Bags: https://amzn.to/49wTPOf
Female Hex Thread Adapter 18-8 Stainless Steel, 1/4″-20 to 3/8″-24 Thread Size: https://www.mcmaster.com/91072A124/
Staying Warm this Winter Field Day
This year’s Winter Field Day looks to be one of the coldest we’ve had in years. Much of the country is forecast to either experience large amounts of snow and ice or will be in the cross hairs of a polar vortex. For us in Wisconsin, it’s the vortex that has our name. Friday’s high is to be -12 degrees Fahrenheit and Saturday will be -2. This is air temperature, wind chills could hit 40 below zero. Suffice to say, this winter weather will affect planning.
Fortunately our group is operating in the cozy lakeside cottage in Adam’s County, WI. So only setup and teardown will be affected. We can stay sequestered indoors and enjoy the fire. For those that may not be accustomed to severe winter weather, I do have some tips to make your Winter Field Day experience more comfortable.
First off, dress for the weather. A wise Scandinavian once said, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. Dress in layers. Multiple thin layers are better than one or two bulky layers. The trapped air between the layers acts as insulation, keeping you warm. Plus if you are outside working, you can open up a layer two to regulate your body so you don’t get overheating and sweaty. Which brings me to my next point.
Cotton kills. Modern synthetics are amazing. They will keep you warm and wick moisture away from your skin. In brutal cold weather, keeping your base layer dry is critical as moisture will rapidly lower your body temperature. When cotton gets wet, it just sucks. It’s uncomfortable and will chill you to the bone.
My favorite winter gear to wear is wool fibers. Wool is natural: it wicks moisture and resists odors. Plus it looks amazing. Merino wool socks and base layer will keep moisture away from your skin. Synthetic blend mid layers are comfortable, and a wool jacket and hat are stylish and scream that Northwoods vibe.
Protect your extremities. Insulated boots, good gloves or mittens, and a knit hat top off the look. You lose a significant amount of heat through your head, so keep it covered. Protect your ears, fingers, and toes. Those are the first to be affected by frostbite. If your extremities are getting numb, take the time to go inside and warm up. If I am working with antennas, setting them up or tearing them down, I will put those chemical hand warmer packs in my gloves to keep my fingers warm. They work wonders! Place the packs on the top of your hands, not the palms, your veins are close to the skin and this will warm the fingers.
Stay warm and dry this Winter Field Day, I hope to hear you on the air.
Finishing Up
Winter Field Day is January 24-25, 2026 and I am ready for it. We’ve got the location set, the meals planned, and the antennas mostly figured out. The cold may limit what I actually put on the air, but I’m pretty sure I will still put out a big signal.
Our group: Dave, Joe, and I will be using club call N9CNF. Expect us on Phone, CW, and Data (RTTY or PSK). My focus will be on 20 meter phone. While the cabin has Internet, I’m not planning to do a livestream this year. But instead I’ll throw some shorts/reels out there so you can see what we are up to.
I hope to get you in the log
MichaelKB9VBR
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