Chickamauga National Battlefield US-0716 is a special place for Georgia POTA. 163 years ago today the bloody battle started. The picnic area where we activate was the frontline of the Union Army defense on Saturday September 19, 1863. The Ohio artillery was booming and the Indiana infantry was firing and people on both sides were dying. Today Sept. 19 2026 we made over 150 contacts with POTA folks from the park and explained POTA and ham radio to visitors using the picnic area with us. The two activators were Danny AG4DW and Allen KN4FKS. Dave KQ4GLQ and Dan W2DTS dropped by to provide adult supervision.
Allen KN4FKS set up his usual end fed wire and made 51 SSB contacts total with 20 on 20 meters and 31 on 40 meters. He had 22 Park to Park contacts with no DX contacts.
Danny AG4DW set up his usual elevated radial 17 ft vertical and made 103 contacts total. 31 were SSB on 40 meters and 72 were Ft8 contacts on 40,20, and 15 meters. He had 8 P2P and 8 DX contacts, 5 to Canada, 2 to Italy and 1 to the Czech Republic.
Earlier in the week Danny also activated the battlefield on Tuesday making 107 contacts with 28 P2P contacts. 39 were SSB on 40 and 20 meters and 68 Ft8 contacts on 40,20,17, and 15 meters. He had DX to Canada (7) France Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic. Then again on Thursday he activated the battlefield making 130 contacts with 26 P2P contacts. 63 were SSB on 40 and 20 meters. and 67 FT8 contacts on 40,20 and 15 meters. He had DX to Canada (9) Spain (2) and Cuba.
Allen on Thursday activated the Otting WMA US-7913 starting early to avoid the heat and made 118 SSB contacts with 11 P2P's. 107 were on 40 meters and 11 were on 20 meters with 6 DX contacts 5 to Canada and 1 to the Bahamas.
Since January of 2016 Chickamauga Battlefield US-0716 has been activated 734 times with a total of 25,974 contacts made. We keep doing our part to raise that number and have fun doing it.
