John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf) header
John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf) profile picture

John KH6RF/KL7

@kh6rf

POTA & SOTA in Hawaii, Alaska & more. Ham since 1966. Almost 100% portable ops. Prefer CW but work all modes. Ham radio only. I regularly purge B0TS. 73/44!

Joined November 2021
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Photo by John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)Photo by John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)Photo by John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)Photo by John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)Photo by John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)Photo by John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)Photo by John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)Photo by John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)Photo by John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)Photo by John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)
I attempted an interesting activation of US-4447 today. Took the Alaska Railroad to Spencer Glacier whistle stop and hiked a bit over a mile to the glacier. Only made 6 CW contacts in the hour I had available before having to hike back to the train. What a location! 73/44! #POTA
Image from John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)
Image from John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)
Image from John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)
Image from John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)
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What a great way to end my Spanish radio adventure! Sergio, EA1FVT, teamed up to activate ES-0067, Cabo de Piñas. I did CW. Sergio did SSB, then we passed the mic (if the other OP agreed). My Spanish is limited. Sergio’s English the same, but we both spoke ham. Gracias todos 73!
dos radioaficianados de #POTA

ALT dos radioaficianados de #POTA

Sergio calls CQ #POTA

ALT Sergio calls CQ #POTA

The OM grabs a mic!

ALT The OM grabs a mic!

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Came north to Gijón today, where Sergio, EA1FVT, suggested I activate ES-1389, Carbayera de El Tragamón. Very nice park! Made an easy 16 CW contacts in 1 hour. Hope to meet some of the local hams tomorrow & do one final activation. Then, I’m off to visit friends in Salamanca. 73!
Xiegu G90 on a picnic bench. Bamakey TP-III. EFRW.

ALT Xiegu G90 on a picnic bench. Bamakey TP-III. EFRW.

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Change of plans due to the Red Fire Alert. Instead of hiking up a peak, I decided to activate alongside a road. The surroundings were still beautiful! Made 15 cw contacts in #POTA ref. 0498, LIC Montaña Central De León. Could’ve done more but I needed a break from SSB. Tnx!73/44!
Image from John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)
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I was activating SOTA peak Cueto Rosales, EA1/LE-171, today when two men came up and asked what I was doing. Turns out they were radio people for the firefighting agency. They were concerned I might interfere with their communications & asked me to stop transmitting. I did. CONT.
Stone tower on top of Cueto Rosales.

ALT Stone tower on top of Cueto Rosales.

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That’s why I dissapeared. I then packed up my gear & they went inside the stone tower. As I left, they waived & said goodby, very friendly. I drove to another location inside the park & finished the activation with 47 SSB contacts. #POTA ES-0493 & ES-2057. Tnx hunters! 73/44
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With extreme temp warnings I decided to head out early and go high: Puerto de La Cubilla, elev. 1,683m-5,522ft. I found a tree next to a cliff that was just tall enough for my EFHW. Made 18 contacts from inside ES-2065 & ES-0071, Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Park & Reserve. 73 & 44! #POTA
Image from John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)
Image from John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)
Image from John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)
Image from John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)
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Yesterday, I found a spot in the shade near Llamas de Rueda and activated LIC Rebollares Del Cea, ES-0492. Turns out my pressure paddles don’t work with my G90, so I dug deep into my bag & found a microphone!!! Had a big SSB pileup that ended quickly with 32 contacts. 73 & 44!
Image from John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)
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Today’s goal was to climb 659 ft up Alto de la Peña, #SOTA ref EA1/LE-186, near the village of Llombera. The peak is also in #POTA ref ES-2055, Biosfera Alto Bernesga. Made 11 contacts before my tuner failed. Hopefully it’s just a loose BNC connector. Sorry to leave you hanging!
View of Llombera from the top of the peak.

ALT View of Llombera from the top of the peak.

Steep drop-off on one side of the mountain.

ALT Steep drop-off on one side of the mountain.

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The many active wildfires in the provinces of Zamora & Leòn made for a smokey #SOTA activation on Cuerno de la Mora, EA1/LE-160, yesterday. Also activated Biosfera Valle de Laciana, ES-2047 & LIC Alto Sil, ES-0486. Prayers & good wishes for the people who’ve been evacuated. #POTA
Smoke obscuring view from the mountain

ALT Smoke obscuring view from the mountain

My main set-up: a CFT1 QRP CW transceiver, 40m EFHW with an ILERTENNA adjustable tuner & a VE6LK/VE6RD pressure paddle.

ALT My main set-up: a CFT1 QRP CW transceiver, 40m EFHW with an ILERTENNA adjustable tuner & a VE6LK/VE6RD pressure paddle.

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What a great day! Hiked into the mountains with my new ham friends: Jorge, EA1FWI, Miguel, EB1Y, & Alex, EA1AXX. Jorge completed his 1st #POTA activation! 🏆 He had a pileup on 40 SSB and even tried some CW. Afterwards, we celebrated with a caña at the village bar. #parksontheair
Hiking from Valpoquero del Toro to Collado de Rason.

ALT Hiking from Valpoquero del Toro to Collado de Rason.

Jorge tries his hand at CW using the CFt1.

ALT Jorge tries his hand at CW using the CFt1.

4 hams at the sart the hike

ALT 4 hams at the sart the hike

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A mini-POTA expedition going on right now with Jorge, EA1FWI, Miguel, EB1Y & Alex, EA1AXX and myself at ES-0488, Hoces De Vegacervera and ES-2056, Biosfera Los Argüellos. I’m CW on 40 & 20. We are also on FM sats and SSB on 40 & 20.
Image from John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)
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Drove to the trailhead early and activated Alto de Caborro Cineiro, EA1/AT-140 + Muniellos Biosphere Reserve. All ATNOs. 44+ contacts with the CFT1 & 40m EFHW. Tnx for the suggestion Mikel/EA2CW! Also logged a contact with SOTA blogger EA1AER. 35c/95f on the way down! #SOTA #POTA
CFT1, VK3IL/VE6LK pressure paddle & ILERTENNA tuner from EA3GCY.

ALT CFT1, VK3IL/VE6LK pressure paddle & ILERTENNA tuner from EA3GCY.

View of Fondos de Vega & Degaña in the valley below.

ALT View of Fondos de Vega & Degaña in the valley below.

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Amazing views from today’s activation at Mirador de Princípe near La Peral, Asturias. With a Kp of 4.5, it took almost 2 hrs to make 14 CW contacts using my CFT1 & an EFRW. ES-2041 Somiedo Biosphere Reserve & ES-0060, Someido Natural Park. Tnx hunters! #QRP #POTA #parksontheair
Image from John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)
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Had problems with ocnl S9 QRN (internal?) during my activation of Biosfera Babia / Babia y Luna Park, ES-2051 &  ES-0112 yesterday. I’m afraid the heat (35C, 95F) may have damaged my G90. Today will be QRP CW with my CFT1 at Somiedo Park & Biosphere Reserve. #POTA #parksontheair
An abandoned roadway in Babia y Luna.. Mountains in the distance.

ALT An abandoned roadway in Babia y Luna.. Mountains in the distance.

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John KH6RF/KL7 retweeted
Óscar L. (@ea1dr) profile picture
Óscar L.@ea1dr8 Aug 2025
From a POTA in Spain, @kh6rf proves that ham radio is an extreme sport… 💪 …with the risk of melting! ☀️📡 Hope you found a good shade spot, John! We’re in the middle of a brutal heatwave here 🔥 #POTA #HamRadioFun DX4ever♥️
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Leaving tonight for a big ham radio adventure!! August 8-19, hanging out in the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain, hoping to activate at least one reference per day. Mostly CW, some SSB & digital. Rigs: CFT1 & G90. EFHW & EFRW. 5-20w. EA1/KH6RF/P #SOTA #POTA #parksontheair
Image from John KH6RF/KL7 (@kh6rf)
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Haven’t thought much about that. Too busy packing. I originally planned SOTA activations everyday but I tweaked my knee and will probably do only 2 or 3 easy ones.
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Finally activated all 24 #POTA parks on the Big Island. (I’m not counting the one that is currently closed to the public.) Finished with a raucous pileup at US-0037, Hawaii Volcanoes Nat’l Park. 58 CW contacts in 1hr 17min. 🤣 Thanks hunters! 73/44 #parksontheair
Map showing all POTA references on Hawaii Island. US-0117, Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, is currently closed to the public except for birdwatching tours conducted by permitted guide companies.

ALT Map showing all POTA references on Hawaii Island. US-0117, Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, is currently closed to the public except for birdwatching tours conducted by permitted guide companies.

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Even when you tune across the CW portion of the band and hear absolutely nothing, it pays to call CQ. Managed 54 CW contacts in an hour-and-a-half at Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area, US-12062. Thanks hunters! 73/44. #POTA #parksontheair #potacorgi
The POTA-Cruz at Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area. Beautiful sunshine & palm trees. Near-vertical linked EFHW supported by truck-mounted fiberglass mast…and Remi the Corgi.

ALT The POTA-Cruz at Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area. Beautiful sunshine & palm trees. Near-vertical linked EFHW supported by truck-mounted fiberglass mast…and Remi the Corgi.

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