Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Join me for a park activation along the remote Extraterrestrial Highway. We are operating ham radio near Area 51 in Nevada.
In this trip, I head into the Nevada desert to complete POTA activations at four rare parks. This video documents my portable radio operation setup and the unique challenges of camping in such a restricted area.
We spent the night camping near the perimeter of Area 51, where things got interesting. While setting up camp for the night, a black helicopter flew over in the in the cover of darkness with its lights off. You will see the reality of operating ham radio in the middle of nowhere and hear about our close encounter in the desert.
Subscribe for more amateur radio field reports and adventures, and let me know in the comments if you have ever operated from a remote location.
Support the Travelin' Ham here:
patreon.com/c/KE0VIMTravelinHam
buymeacoffee.com/thetravelinham
Also see affiliate links below. Click a link before any Amazon purchase and I get a commission even if it isn't a product I list. And it's no extra cost to you! Amazon makes more money if you don't!
Buy Travelin' Ham Merch at:
travelin-ham.printify.me
Map of all of my activation locations on MyMaps:
google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1iEKlKvNlrwZZO1Y1mjNuA0W_DeFu-Vk&usp=sharing
Set Up:
Yaesu FT-891
50 watts SSB
Chameleon 17-ft Whip on Wolf River Coils Tripod
Chameleon 17-ft Whip on MFJ Triple Mag-Mount
9ah Bioenno LiFePO4
15ah Bioenno LiFePO4
N3FJP logging software on 12-volt Gateway Laptop
AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS:
Radio Equipment:
Bioenno 9ah LiFePO4 - amzn.to/4lsyrww
Bioenno 15ah LiFePO4 - amzn.to/4kWqEqF
Sony ICD-PX470 Stereo Digital Voice Recorder - amzn.to/4mua8zk
Nanuk 909 Case - amzn.to/4jgwB03
Nanuk 910 Case - amzn.to/3Z3wFcl
Digirig DR-891 - amzn.to/4k8CuO1
Lido Suction Cup Mount for Yaesu Mobile Radios - amzn.to/4mwZ9VT
CW Morse Iambic Paddles - amzn.to/3FvcLQP
Arrow II 70cm/2m Yagi Antenna w/out duplexer - amzn.to/3Sl55Ub
MonTEK Monitor Wall Mount - amzn.to/4r4zhTe
Sandbags for antenna tripod - amzn.to/3HdwVzn
Vekkia Headlamp w/ redlight - amzn.to/43sLOFw
Rite in the Rain logbook - amzn.to/4kBAz4B
Heil Sound foot switch - amzn.to/45x5QkG
Nano VNA-H antenna analyzer - amzn.to/4jgVedf
InnoView 15.6 Inch FHD 1080P portable monitor - amzn.to/3Tk7yPf
Recording Equipment:
DJI Wireless Mic System (not what I have, but what I'd get today) - amzn.to/43xRsq3
NEEWER iPhone Cage - amzn.to/4i2OwbL
NEEWER Quick Release Handle - amzn.to/443vdZW
Other Items I Really Love:
National Park Map Coffee Mug - amzn.to/3FCEhMn
"Come to the Park Side" T-shirt - amzn.to/49FO1C4
Music:
"Hopscotch" - by Viewpoints
epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/c8d9f13f-2d8f-301b-b7fd-9b0685fa799f
"Subversive Obsession" - by Reynard Seidel
epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/61efb4b2-ed24-378b-a4a5-5caa1033b6ee
'Maleficus' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
"Rusty Nails" - by Got Happy
epidemicsound.com/track/OUORcm6mpd
Join me for a park activation along the remote Extraterrestrial Highway. We are operating ham radio near Area 51 in Nevada.
In this trip, I head into the Nevada desert to complete POTA activations at four rare parks. This video documents my portable radio operation setup and the unique challenges of camping in such a restricted area.
We spent the night camping near the perimeter of Area 51, where things got interesting. While setting up camp for the night, a black helicopter flew over in the in the cover of darkness with its lights off. You will see the reality of operating ham radio in the middle of nowhere and hear about our close encounter in the desert.
Subscribe for more amateur radio field reports and adventures, and let me know in the comments if you have ever operated from a remote location.
Support the Travelin' Ham here:
patreon.com/c/KE0VIMTravelinHam
buymeacoffee.com/thetravelinham
Also see affiliate links below. Click a link before any Amazon purchase and I get a commission even if it isn't a product I list. And it's no extra cost to you! Amazon makes more money if you don't!
Buy Travelin' Ham Merch at:
travelin-ham.printify.me
Map of all of my activation locations on MyMaps:
google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1iEKlKvNlrwZZO1Y1mjNuA0W_DeFu-Vk&usp=sharing
Set Up:
Yaesu FT-891
50 watts SSB
Chameleon 17-ft Whip on Wolf River Coils Tripod
Chameleon 17-ft Whip on MFJ Triple Mag-Mount
9ah Bioenno LiFePO4
15ah Bioenno LiFePO4
N3FJP logging software on 12-volt Gateway Laptop
AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS:
Radio Equipment:
Bioenno 9ah LiFePO4 - amzn.to/4lsyrww
Bioenno 15ah LiFePO4 - amzn.to/4kWqEqF
Sony ICD-PX470 Stereo Digital Voice Recorder - amzn.to/4mua8zk
Nanuk 909 Case - amzn.to/4jgwB03
Nanuk 910 Case - amzn.to/3Z3wFcl
Digirig DR-891 - amzn.to/4k8CuO1
Lido Suction Cup Mount for Yaesu Mobile Radios - amzn.to/4mwZ9VT
CW Morse Iambic Paddles - amzn.to/3FvcLQP
Arrow II 70cm/2m Yagi Antenna w/out duplexer - amzn.to/3Sl55Ub
MonTEK Monitor Wall Mount - amzn.to/4r4zhTe
Sandbags for antenna tripod - amzn.to/3HdwVzn
Vekkia Headlamp w/ redlight - amzn.to/43sLOFw
Rite in the Rain logbook - amzn.to/4kBAz4B
Heil Sound foot switch - amzn.to/45x5QkG
Nano VNA-H antenna analyzer - amzn.to/4jgVedf
InnoView 15.6 Inch FHD 1080P portable monitor - amzn.to/3Tk7yPf
Recording Equipment:
DJI Wireless Mic System (not what I have, but what I'd get today) - amzn.to/43xRsq3
NEEWER iPhone Cage - amzn.to/4i2OwbL
NEEWER Quick Release Handle - amzn.to/443vdZW
Other Items I Really Love:
National Park Map Coffee Mug - amzn.to/3FCEhMn
"Come to the Park Side" T-shirt - amzn.to/49FO1C4
Music:
"Hopscotch" - by Viewpoints
epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/c8d9f13f-2d8f-301b-b7fd-9b0685fa799f
"Subversive Obsession" - by Reynard Seidel
epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/61efb4b2-ed24-378b-a4a5-5caa1033b6ee
'Maleficus' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
"Rusty Nails" - by Got Happy
epidemicsound.com/track/OUORcm6mpd
