One of the challenges in operating stationary mobile when doing POTA activations is that you have limited space but you need something for logging contacts. Most operators will use a notebook paper log, a phone/tablet or maybe even a wireless keyboard, for computer logging. Rather than trying to balance things on your legs, a more stable solution is to use a legal-sized clipboard (15.5" x 9") as an inexpensive lap desk. If you have a trail friendly (controls on top) QRP radio then a legal-sized clipboard is big enough to put your whole station in your lap, as I often do when POTA activating from the car in bad weather. Legal-sized clipboards are readily available at office supply stores such as Staples. If you find yourself needing something even bigger, you can get sketching clipboards (15.5" x 11.75") from Amazon.

Cheers Michael VE3WMB

Appears in: Rambler February 2025