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 Random files - Parks on the Air |
395 viewsPOTA, Fern Cave 11-18-2020 - N9MJH
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370 viewsWe had a two site activation on this past Thursday.
In the Morning several folks activated Pigeon Mountain US 37-42 from the Estelle mine road site. Then later another group activated Johns Mountain US-3758 from the overlook site. At the Estelle site Tony WA4TW set up his elevated delta loop antenna and had quite a morning working DX with 17 total contacts with 11 Park to Park contacts. His DX was Ukraine, Norway, Israel, Belarus, and Alaska. Dave KQ4GLQ also worked 10 meters but I don't know his contacts nor did Jeff N2YYP report in his totals.
In the afternoon we activated from the Johns Mtn Overlook. Peter KX4BE set up his absolutely tiny QRP rig. He operated CW and made 11 contacts total with 10 being CW and one SSB . See the photos of this micro rig. He packs it easily into his box on the back of his motorcycle. Allen KN4FKS made 31 SSB contacts with 11 P2P and 3 DX to Romania, Poland and Canada. Tont WA4TW came over to the overlook and worked the spot page for Allen.
The leaves were beautiful, the weather was wonderful and the bands were in great shape. A fun day.
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315 viewsWe activated Pigeon Mountain US 3742 this Thursday at the South Brow Road site. There was abundant shade and a cooling breeze all day so it was a wise choice for a hot summer day.
Jeff N2YYP set up his rig way down an old roadbed away from the parking area. Something about sausages and gas. He made 41 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 7 P2P and 6 DX contacts.
Allen KN4FKS worked 15 meters SSB and made 33 contacts 4 P2P and 6 DX. Germany, Hungary, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico and 2 Canadians.
Ed KM6UTC worked FT8 on 10 and 20 meters with 89 contacts and 12 DX.
John KB4QXI worked 40 meters SSB off his hamstick and made 12 contacts with 3 P2P.
Peter had tweaked his back so he didn't brave the pothole filled road but made the trip up to Grundy Forest Natural Area in Tracy City where he used CW to make 8 QRP contacts and 11 non QRP contacts for a total of 19 contacts.
A fun day was had by all.
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390 viewsPOTA, Johns Mountain Overlook 5-21-2020
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366 viewsPOTA - Berry College Wildlife Mgt Area - 10-01-2020, John KB4QXI
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336 viewsPOTA - Pigeon Mountain - 4-24-2021
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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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363 viewsPOTA - Crockford-Pigeon Mtn. at Atwood Point - 09-23-2021
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 Last additions - Parks on the Air |
79 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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62 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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72 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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89 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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84 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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86 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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78 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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