SEORAT logo Who are the SEORATs?

The Southeast Ohio Radio Adventure Team is a small group of ham radio operators with ties to southeastern Ohio who enjoy operating their radios outdoors and when away from home.
Meet the SEORATs: K8RAT | N8XWO | W8MHV | WD8RIF | K8PAW | K4SWL
Mike Hansgen, K8RAT, participating in the 2010 QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party
Mike Hansgen, K8RAT

Mike Hansgen, K8RAT (formerly AA8EB), has left the hills of southeastern Ohio for the glaciated plains of north-central Ohio but still participates in SEORAT field operations as his schedule permits.

Mike is a fan of directional field-portable antennas and has built a 330' vee-beam for field use; he is also a fan of large competition-grade radios and has taken a Yaesu FT-920 to SEORAT field events.

Mike has many HF rigs, including an Elecraft K2, a Ten-Tec Argonaut 515, a Ten-Tec Scout, a Ten-Tec Omni D, a Yaesu FT-102, a Heathkit HW-8, a Heathkit HW-9, and a Heathkit HW-16/HG-10B.

Mike is fascinated by historic means of generating CW and has developed an excellent fist with a cootie/sideswiper fashioned from a kitchen knife, a c-clamp, and a pair of vise-grips (photo).

John McCutcheon, N8XWO, participating in the 2005 Adventure Radio Society 'Flight of the Bumblebees'
John McCutcheon, N8XWO

John McCutcheon, N8XWO, frequenty travels with his pop-up camper and greatly enjoys combining these trips with amateur radio.

John enjoys outdoor operating events such as the ARRL Field Day and the PCARS Ohio State Parks on the Air.

John has several rigs, modern and vintage, including an ICOM IC-7410 and a Kenwood TS-140S, both of which he uses in the field.

Within the team, John is the guru on weak-signal VHF operations.

Drew McDaniel, W8MHV, participating in the 2004 Arizona ScQRPions 'Freeze Your B___ Off'
Drew McDaniel, W8MHV

Drew McDaniel, W8MHV (formerly 9M2MC), might be considered the "spiritual leader" of the team. Drew regularly travels to exotic lands for his employer and often makes ham radio an important part of his travels.

Drew has far too many rigs to list, but in his stable of rigs can be found an Elecraft K1, a three-band Elecraft KX1, an Elecraft K2, an Elecraft K2/100, a single-receiver Elecraft K3/100, an Elecraft KX3, a Ten-Tec/YouKits HB-1B, a YouKits TJ6A Pro, a Yaesu FT-817, an ICOM IC-781, an ICOM IC-7000, an ICOM IC-7800, a Ten-Tec Argonaut 515, a Ten-Tec Argonaut II, an Index Labs Improved QRP Plus, and several homebrew rigs.

Drew is a fan of vintage equipment and has a very impressive collection of "heavy metal".

Drew's home station, with the exception of the vintage equipment, is powered by sunlight.

Visit Drew's Amateur Radio and Asia Travels web sites.

Eric McFadden, WD8RIF, participating in the 2010 Adventure Radio Society 'Flight of the Bumblebees'
Eric McFadden, WD8RIF

Eric McFadden, WD8RIF, somehow ends up doing much of the logistical work leading up to SEORAT expeditions.

Eric's collection of HF rigs includes a four-band Elecraft KX1, an Elecraft K2, a Heathkit HW-7, a Heathkit HW-8, a Heathkit HW-9, and an ICOM IC-735. Eric's favorite rig is his Elecraft K2 which is the heart of his K2 Travel Kit.

Eric is perfecting his KX1 Mini Travel Kit which he hopes will encourage him to engage more frequently in impromptu human-powered-transport (bike/hike/canoe) field operations.

Eric has developed a serious case of lust for an Elecraft KX3.

Visit Eric's Amateur Radio web site.

Pete Wickman, K8PAW, participates in the 2012 Arizona ScQRPions 'Freeze Your B___ Off'
Pete Wickman, K8PAW

Pete Wickman, K8PAW (formerly KD8MZA), is recently-licensed but is an enthusiastic HF operator.

Pete has antenna restrictions at his apartment QTH and erects a stealthy Buddipole System on his deck when he wants to operate HF. Pete enjoys operating portable with his Buddipole System.

Pete has a Yaesu FT-450D for home and field use.

Tom Witherspoon, K4SWL, participates in the 2005 Adventure Radio Society 'Flight of the Bumblebees'
Tom Witherspoon,
K4SWL / M0CYI

Tom Witherspoon, K4SWL / M0CYI (formerly KC8GLI & KF4TZK), a native of North Caroline, has left the hills of southeastern Ohio to return to the mountains of western North Carolina (by way of Germany and England) but still participates in SEORAT events when he is able.

Tom has a four-band Elecraft KX1, an Elecraft KX3, and a Ten-Tec Omni VI Plus.

Tom is experimenting with field antennas using a 31' Jackite telescoping fiberglass pole.

One of Tom's favorite activities is hiking with his KX1, his "little travel buddy".

Tom and his wife, Heather, recently finished building a passive-solar house with an off-the-grid hamshack. Tom is looking forward to erecting several very significant antennas on the new property.

Visit Tom's Ears to Our World, QRPer.com, and SWLing.com websites.


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