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 Random files - Parks on the Air |
371 viewsChickamauga Battlefield Park - 09-19-2020
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343 viewsWhat an adventure. After a rendezvous in Scottsboro AL the POTA crew headed out in four vehicles to the Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge K-0140. After a few highway miles we turned onto a county paved road and went to its end where we came to the first of four locked gates. Thanks to the Southeast Cave Conservancy Inc. for giving us permission to access their property which adjoins the NWR property. The road is 3.8 miles to our activation site and gets worse the further along we get. There are mudholes, rocky ledges, and gooey slick mud. Luckily no one got stuck or broke anything. Arriving at the end of the road we get turned around and begin unloading our gear. We walk a few steps and cross onto the NWR property where we set up four stations.
We made a total of 129 contacts. When we first got on the air we all were making contacts quickly then it was like you turned out the lights. Till we took a break for lunch getting contacts got harder and harder. The solar storm had hit hard. So then at lunch we start hearing thunder in the distance, A quick look at the weather radar reveals we are in the path of a line of thunderstorms. Radio gear and the 4x4 road we must take out do not react well to heavy rain. After we enjoyed Karen's blueberry "POTA PIE" we pack up everything and head out back to pavement, opening and closing all the gates as we go. Back on the pavement the vehicles are muddy to the windows and mud falls off the undercarriages. Luckily we outran the storms all the way home. The radar images later showed this big red blob passed directly over where we were activating. At a similar cave road location about 20 miles north a group found their access road flooded and several of their vehicles will have to be left on high ground for days till it quits raining. The vehicles that did get out had water over their headlights. The road we used only floods and traps vehicles after multiple heavy rains flood the valley. It has happened in the past but not for us this time.
Fern Cave NWR K-0140 was first activated by our crew in Nov. 2020. There have been 4 other small activations since then then our recent activation. Our group in two activations is responsible for 80% of the 487 total contacts made from this site. The other activators have accessed via canoe down the Paint Rock River. The 190 acre refuge is totally landlocked with no public access point. It is simply there to protect a cave where endangered bats live.
A mini DXpedition it was, with problems to be overcome, logistics to be planned and permissions obtained. This crew of experienced POTA operators had a successful POTA activation.
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361 viewsWe activated J. 'Sloppy' Floyd State Park US-2187 on Thursday Jan. 30 2025 from the lower lake site. The terrestrial weather was mild with mostly cloudy skies and only about 10 drops of rain at one time. The space weather cooperated as well and we all had a good day.
Allen KN4FKS rigged the end fed wire as a sloper and used the trusty old ICOM 706 MKIIG to run 100 watts. 20 meters SSB was active as usual and 71 contacts were made in short order. !5 P2P contacts and one Canadian contact. During the almost constant pile up I heard a partial of KC3 so came back with 'KC3go ahead' had another pile. To my amazement I had FOUR folks with prefix of KC3 calling me. Never had that happen before. John KB4QXI had a logging computer issue and had to work through that. Once he got set up with his Hamstick and YAESU 891 he went to work on 20 meters SSB making 87 contacts with 18 P2P and 3 Canadians. Danny AG4DW worked 15 meters and had 9 SSB contacts and 30 FT8 contacts. He had 15 DX contacts.to Canada, EH9 Ceuta & Melilla (a part of Spain in N. Africa) Columbia, Germany, France, Hawaii, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Also in other POTA news this week on Wednesday John KB4QXI went to Pigeon Mtn. US-3742 and made his 3,000th contact as an activator on that area. A TRIPPLE KILO ! Also as a POTA 'hunter' Allen KN4FKS has now contacted 2,000 distinct parks. So now he has a DOUBLE KILO as a hunter.
Hunting from the home shack or activating from a nearby park POTA has Ham radio fun for everyone.
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324 viewsOn Tuesday May 27 Danny AG4DW and Allen KN4FKS headed towards Cartersville to activate three parks they had never activated before. A day moving from multiple parks is called a "Rove".
The plan was to start at Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site US-3715. After an early drive they arrived at the park at 10 am and set up two stations. Allen set up his end fed sloper wire and made 20 contacts on 20 meters. 6 were Park to Park contacts. Danny had started on 40 meters and it was not producing contacts. He made a few FT8 Contacts then moved to 20 meters when Allen was clear. He had 14 contacts with 9 SSB and 5 FT8 contacts. It was a new experience to set up, make a few contacts then take everything down and prepare to move to the next park. It just didn't feel right. But that was the plan.
Next was Allatoona Pass Battlefield State Historic Site US-7471. This Civil War site is a very small site with a small parking lot next to a busy road, and very noisy powerlines. We set Danny's vertical up on top of the adjacent berm with Lake Allatoona on the other side. Using Danny's rig we worked through the noise, shared the radio and Allen made 17 contacts, with 7 P2P contacts on 20 meters. Danny made 14 contacts on SSB. Handing the microphone back and forth saying 'standby for a second operator' was another new experience and again it just didn't feel right. But it worked and we both got an activation. At this site we had a lot of interaction with people walking by. We would take a moment to explain what we were doing "It's not CB" Many had a relative or friend who was into Ham radio. The 'Parks ON The Air' concept was interesting and exciting to all of them. We packed up the gear, then spent a few minutes walking past the monuments and interpretive signage to explore the battlefield site.
Then it was on to Red Top Mountain State Park US-2194. We used the large empty parking lot at group shelter 2 as our base. After a quick lunch we used Danny's radio and Allen's end fed wire antenna. to set up on 20 meters. Again sharing the radio Allen made 12 contacts with 11 P2P. and Danny made a quick 10 contacts. We could hear the static crashes on the radio and the sky was getting darker. A few drops fell so Danny deployed his "sun shade' umbrella to cover the tail gate where we had the rig set up. About the time we both had the 10 contacts required for a successful activation the rain was beginning to fall. As we quickly began to take everything down it began to rain harder, About the time we jumped in the truck it began to pour.
The drive up the interstate from Cartersville to Resaca was exciting to say the least. The rain was hard and at one place the fast lane was not draining and had about a foot of standing water. This was causing cars to spin out into the median, bang into each other and drown out their engines Several state troopers were on the shoulder working fender benders. Somehow Danny was able to safely get us through the mayhem and on up the road.
It was a fun day, very different and challenging at times. We each added three new parks to our list of sites we have activated. Maybe one day we'll both qualify for some obscure POTA certificate :-)
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283 viewsWe activated the Chief Van House State Historical Site US-7457 on Thursday April 4 2024.
The solar wind kept the bands noisy and the terrestrial wind kept the activators chilly. When the clouds came in and covered the sunshine it got downright cold sitting out on a park bench.
Dan K2DTS made 13 SSB contacts on 20 meters, John KB4QXI made 17 contacts on 40 meters with 3 P2P contacts. Allen KN4FKS made 50 contacts on 20 meters with 8 P2P and one DX contact. The DX contact was from the Amazon river basin in the south side of Columbia, truly a ham in the middle of nowhere on the radio.
The Van House has an amazing history and is a very Ham friendly place to activate. The Park manager is a licensed Ham. Do take time to visit the museum and tour the House and outbuildings. If you plan on visiting be aware they are only open Thursday - Saturday 9-5 and Sundays 1-5
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354 viewsPOTA - 20021027 - What a great activation! Ham radio, picnic, friends, and sunset, nothing better.
Allen KN4FKS was on 17 meters SSB and had 36 contacts with 4P2P, and 4DX. John KB4QXI had quite a run on 40 meters with 102 contacts and 8 P2P. He was still busy when he went QRT for supper. Peter KX4BE was on 20 meters CW and had 68 contacts, 4 P2P, and 3 DX. Karen KX4KM had 31 contacts on 20 meter SSB with 8 P2P. Ed KM6UTC worked digital QRP on 30 meters and had 19 contacts with 1 P2P and 1 DX
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385 viewsPOTA, Nick A Jack Trailhead - Cloudland Canyon - 12-17-2020. KN4FKS, KB4QXI
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304 viewsPOTA - Russell Cave - 7-19-2021
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 Last additions - Parks on the Air |
78 viewsYesterday Nov. 6, 2025 we activated three Tennessee parks at once: The Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3971, the Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499, and the Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955.
We set up in a small trailhead parking lot deep in the big woods. It was an absolutely gorgeous day with the sun shining, the leaves turning colors and moderate temperatures. The space weather also cooperated as the solar storm did not hit till later in the afternoon after we were finished. Also enjoying the day were numerous hikers who came and went all day so we had lots of contact with folks about ham radio and what we were doing.
On the radio it was a great day, Allen KN4FKS had 107 SSB contacts for the day. The first 19 were on 15 meters then switching to 20 meters made 88 more. Of those 30 were Park to Park contacts. A few were Canadians and one was from Spain.
Danny AG4DW had 65 contacts total with 31 SSB on 40 meters, 34 FT8 on 17 meters. He had 3 DX contacts all to Canada.
Ed KM6UTC made 49 total contacts as he explored the bands, He had contacts on 6,10,15, 20, and 40 meters. A few were SSB but most were FT8.
Dan K2DTS had 15 P2P on 20 meters SSB then 9 FT8 contacts on 15 meters. He had DX contacts with Cuba and a DXpedition in Burundi Africa.
The day could not have been better , great friends, great weather, great fall color and great band conditions. And peanut butter sandwiches ! Nov 09, 2025
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61 viewsYesterday Nov. 6, 2025 we activated three Tennessee parks at once: The Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3971, the Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499, and the Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955.
We set up in a small trailhead parking lot deep in the big woods. It was an absolutely gorgeous day with the sun shining, the leaves turning colors and moderate temperatures. The space weather also cooperated as the solar storm did not hit till later in the afternoon after we were finished. Also enjoying the day were numerous hikers who came and went all day so we had lots of contact with folks about ham radio and what we were doing.
On the radio it was a great day, Allen KN4FKS had 107 SSB contacts for the day. The first 19 were on 15 meters then switching to 20 meters made 88 more. Of those 30 were Park to Park contacts. A few were Canadians and one was from Spain.
Danny AG4DW had 65 contacts total with 31 SSB on 40 meters, 34 FT8 on 17 meters. He had 3 DX contacts all to Canada.
Ed KM6UTC made 49 total contacts as he explored the bands, He had contacts on 6,10,15, 20, and 40 meters. A few were SSB but most were FT8.
Dan K2DTS had 15 P2P on 20 meters SSB then 9 FT8 contacts on 15 meters. He had DX contacts with Cuba and a DXpedition in Burundi Africa.
The day could not have been better , great friends, great weather, great fall color and great band conditions. And peanut butter sandwiches ! Nov 09, 2025
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71 viewsYesterday Nov. 6, 2025 we activated three Tennessee parks at once: The Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3971, the Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499, and the Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955.
We set up in a small trailhead parking lot deep in the big woods. It was an absolutely gorgeous day with the sun shining, the leaves turning colors and moderate temperatures. The space weather also cooperated as the solar storm did not hit till later in the afternoon after we were finished. Also enjoying the day were numerous hikers who came and went all day so we had lots of contact with folks about ham radio and what we were doing.
On the radio it was a great day, Allen KN4FKS had 107 SSB contacts for the day. The first 19 were on 15 meters then switching to 20 meters made 88 more. Of those 30 were Park to Park contacts. A few were Canadians and one was from Spain.
Danny AG4DW had 65 contacts total with 31 SSB on 40 meters, 34 FT8 on 17 meters. He had 3 DX contacts all to Canada.
Ed KM6UTC made 49 total contacts as he explored the bands, He had contacts on 6,10,15, 20, and 40 meters. A few were SSB but most were FT8.
Dan K2DTS had 15 P2P on 20 meters SSB then 9 FT8 contacts on 15 meters. He had DX contacts with Cuba and a DXpedition in Burundi Africa.
The day could not have been better , great friends, great weather, great fall color and great band conditions. And peanut butter sandwiches ! Nov 09, 2025
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88 viewsYesterday Nov. 6, 2025 we activated three Tennessee parks at once: The Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3971, the Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499, and the Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955.
We set up in a small trailhead parking lot deep in the big woods. It was an absolutely gorgeous day with the sun shining, the leaves turning colors and moderate temperatures. The space weather also cooperated as the solar storm did not hit till later in the afternoon after we were finished. Also enjoying the day were numerous hikers who came and went all day so we had lots of contact with folks about ham radio and what we were doing.
On the radio it was a great day, Allen KN4FKS had 107 SSB contacts for the day. The first 19 were on 15 meters then switching to 20 meters made 88 more. Of those 30 were Park to Park contacts. A few were Canadians and one was from Spain.
Danny AG4DW had 65 contacts total with 31 SSB on 40 meters, 34 FT8 on 17 meters. He had 3 DX contacts all to Canada.
Ed KM6UTC made 49 total contacts as he explored the bands, He had contacts on 6,10,15, 20, and 40 meters. A few were SSB but most were FT8.
Dan K2DTS had 15 P2P on 20 meters SSB then 9 FT8 contacts on 15 meters. He had DX contacts with Cuba and a DXpedition in Burundi Africa.
The day could not have been better , great friends, great weather, great fall color and great band conditions. And peanut butter sandwiches ! Nov 09, 2025
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83 viewsWe activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 at the Ascalon Trailhead this Thursday Oct. 30 2025. The space weather was great and the bands were open. However the terrestrial weather was less than ideal. It was occasionally drizzily, foggy windy and cold. That damp cold that chills your bones.
Danny AG4DW set up in his truck out of the weather but Allen KN4FKS did not have enough sense to come in out of the cold. He set up under the picnic shed. Not smart. David KQ4GLQ was on call for work so he set up at the Nickajack Trailhead.
Danny had a total of 126 QSO's, with 79 SSB contacts on 20 meters, 18 SSB on 40 meters and 29 FT8 on 15 meters. He had 11 DX contacts, Canada (4) Germany (3) Spain (2) Bulgaria and France. David had 112 QSO's with 9 Park to Park contacts. He had 52 SSB contacts on 20 meters, 45 FT8 on 20 meters and 15 FT8 on 17 meters.
Allen had 49 QSO's with 28 Park to Park contacts all on 20 meters SSB. Trying 15 meters SSB, he called CQ for 15 minutes and got one QSO DX to Poland a solid 5-9 both ways.
Getting colder by the minute, the fun had run out so Allen pulled the plug early and escaped to a warm car on the drive home finally getting some semblance of warm. More clothes next time or set up in the car, lesson learned.Nov 03, 2025
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85 viewsWe activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 at the Ascalon Trailhead this Thursday Oct. 30 2025. The space weather was great and the bands were open. However the terrestrial weather was less than ideal. It was occasionally drizzily, foggy windy and cold. That damp cold that chills your bones.
Danny AG4DW set up in his truck out of the weather but Allen KN4FKS did not have enough sense to come in out of the cold. He set up under the picnic shed. Not smart. David KQ4GLQ was on call for work so he set up at the Nickajack Trailhead.
Danny had a total of 126 QSO's, with 79 SSB contacts on 20 meters, 18 SSB on 40 meters and 29 FT8 on 15 meters. He had 11 DX contacts, Canada (4) Germany (3) Spain (2) Bulgaria and France. David had 112 QSO's with 9 Park to Park contacts. He had 52 SSB contacts on 20 meters, 45 FT8 on 20 meters and 15 FT8 on 17 meters.
Allen had 49 QSO's with 28 Park to Park contacts all on 20 meters SSB. Trying 15 meters SSB, he called CQ for 15 minutes and got one QSO DX to Poland a solid 5-9 both ways.
Getting colder by the minute, the fun had run out so Allen pulled the plug early and escaped to a warm car on the drive home finally getting some semblance of warm. More clothes next time or set up in the car, lesson learned.Nov 03, 2025
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77 viewsWe activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 at the Ascalon Trailhead this Thursday Oct. 30 2025. The space weather was great and the bands were open. However the terrestrial weather was less than ideal. It was occasionally drizzily, foggy windy and cold. That damp cold that chills your bones.
Danny AG4DW set up in his truck out of the weather but Allen KN4FKS did not have enough sense to come in out of the cold. He set up under the picnic shed. Not smart. David KQ4GLQ was on call for work so he set up at the Nickajack Trailhead.
Danny had a total of 126 QSO's, with 79 SSB contacts on 20 meters, 18 SSB on 40 meters and 29 FT8 on 15 meters. He had 11 DX contacts, Canada (4) Germany (3) Spain (2) Bulgaria and France. David had 112 QSO's with 9 Park to Park contacts. He had 52 SSB contacts on 20 meters, 45 FT8 on 20 meters and 15 FT8 on 17 meters.
Allen had 49 QSO's with 28 Park to Park contacts all on 20 meters SSB. Trying 15 meters SSB, he called CQ for 15 minutes and got one QSO DX to Poland a solid 5-9 both ways.
Getting colder by the minute, the fun had run out so Allen pulled the plug early and escaped to a warm car on the drive home finally getting some semblance of warm. More clothes next time or set up in the car, lesson learned.Nov 03, 2025
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87 viewsWe activated Johns Mountain WMA US-3758 this Thursday October 9, 2025. The terrestrial weather was breezy and the space weather was great. The forest road up the mountain is getting worse but everyone made it in one piece.
Danny AG4DW set up his vertical and worked 10 meters, He made 2 SSB contacts and 60 FT8 contacts. The band was open and he made 31 DX contacts! Brazil, Dominican Republic (2) Germany (4) France (2) Haiti, Hungary, Italy (8) Kuwait, Netherlands (3) Reunion Island, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, Venezuela. Yes 10 meters was open.
Allen KN4FKS set up his end fed wire and made 50 SSB contacts, 25 on 20 meters, 25 on 15 meters He had 8 Park to Park contacts and 5 DX contacts, Sweden (2) Grenada, Canada, and Slovenia.
John KB4QXI had 43 SSB QSO's on 20 meters using his roof mounted Hamstick. . He had 20 P2P contacts with 4 DX contacts, Canada (3) and Sweden. His contact SM3NRY did the heavy lifting on the QSO to Sweden. Check out his antenna farm on his QRZ page.
Dan K2DTS set up his tripod vertical and made 28 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 28 P2P. After that he made 9 FT8 contacts and like everyone else made a DX contact to Sweden.
We had several visitors at the overlook, first two large C-130 cargo plans practicing low level flying came directly over us. You almost wanted to duck they were so low. Later Jeff N2YYP showed up on horseback with several of his horseman friends and we enjoyed talking to them about POTA and the NW Georgia mountains. Then some tourists from NE Georgia came by. They had come over on a trip to see the waterfalls of the area. Finding out they are all DRY they changed plans to visiting vistas that brought them to Johns Mtn. For waterfalls we advised them to come back next spring. They were interested in our POTA radios and how far we had talked from the overlook.
It was a fun day of radios, peanut butter sandwiches and now a staple Danny's salty roasted peanuts. Oct 14, 2025
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