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 Random files - Parks on the Air |
567 viewsPOTA - Red Clay State Historic Park - 11-19-2021
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630 viewsPOTA - Chief Vann House State Historical Site - 10-01-2021
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604 viewsWe headed south on Thursday November 16 to JF 'Sloppy' Floyd State Park K-2187 just below Summerville GA. This quiet park offers several excellent places to set up radios and antennas for POTA.
We activated near the dam of the lower park lake at the end of the road. We set up the ICOM 706 MK II G 100 watt radio and used an end fed half wave wire rigged as a sloper. Allen, KN4FKS, talked and Danny AG4DW handled logging duties.
We were chasing parks and making several contacts when we heard a helicopter getting near. It kept getting closer, passed over us about 50 feet above the trees and proceeded to land on the dam of the lake in front of us. We kinda stopped playing radio and went to chat with the crew after they had shut down completely and were ok with us approaching. They were a US Forest Service contract fire suppression crew standing by for possible call to two nearby forest fires on National Forest land. Their support crew , their fuel tanker and a Forest Service official joined them on the dam.
We went back to our radio after all the excitement. Allen made 36 contacts 18 park to parks with 6 DX stations 1 Canadian, 2 from Spain and 2 from Italy. After lunch Danny AG4DW took over the mic and made 24 contacts all park to park. John KB4QXI showed up after lunch and used his Yaesu 891 and a Hamstick to make 62 contacts 14 park to park and 6 Canadian contacts.
Another fun day in the woods.
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891 viewsPOTA - Cloudland Canyon - 1-23-2021, W4TDH, W4LWC
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515 viewsThe Rambler Radio Club W4LMS activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 today from the park interpretive center.
We set up two stations, one on 40 meters and one on 20 meters. Band conditions were tough with a solar storm arriving this morning. In spite of everything the 40 meter station made 36 contacts with 20 P2P and no DX with kids as operators and Danny AG4DW as the Elmer. The 20 meter station made ??? contacts with ??? P2P and ??? DX.
With Jody W4LWC as Elmer. Allen KN4FKS acted as the visitor welcoming person answering questions and handing out HAM radio information. The park was very busy today and the parking lot stayed full all day with a steady stream of folks coming into the interpretive center. Several licensed hams dropped in and several prospective Hams were helped along the way.
Matt AF4MH came by as did John KB4QXI. John visited a bit then went up the hill to our usual POTA site and made 21 Contacts on 20 meters with 15 P2P and 2 Canadian parks contacted.
The bear wanted to work some DX but we were trying to make P2P contacts so he just stood quietly in the corner.
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516 viewsIt's been a busy week. This Thursday June 12 we gathered at Chickamauga Battlefield US-0716 over on the west side of the park at the 'recreation field' parking lot.
Danny AG4DW set up on the west end at the picnic tables. Jody W4LWC assisted him with logging duties. Danny made 91 total contacts. 74 SSB contacts and 7 FT8 contacts on 20 meters, then went to 15 meters FT8 and made 10 more including one DX to Spain. Allen KN4FKS set up on the east end of the parking lot under the shade trees. He had 29 SSB contacts, 26 on 40 meters and 3 on 20 meters with a total of 9 Park to Park contacts. Max N4NWD completed his first activation the hard way. He used his ICOM-705 QRP rig and was using 5 watts. He made 1 SSB contact on 40 meters and 9 on 20 meters for a successful POTA activation. Welcome to the 'dark side' Max. POTA has now claimed a new believer. John KB4QXI set up around the corner at the Wilder tower parking lot to avoid the heavy RF with us. He ran SSB on 20 meters for ?? contacts. We even got a Park to Park with him.
Dan K2DTS came by and we fixed his 'leak' He moved over across the park to activate for a bit before leaving to have lunch with his wife. He had ?? contacts on the day. Ed KM6UTC set up on the Battlefield as well but he was at the Cravens House site. He had 70 total FT8 contacts 6 DX contacts to the East. The the magic band opened up and he had 4 contacts on 6 meters.
Three of us were able to make a special POTA Park to Park contact today. Dom NC4XL was activating and passed the 200,000 POTA contacts milestone. He started this personal quest in April of 2021 and in 836 activations is now passing the 200K contact mark. An amazing ride and an amazing old man. You can see his YouTube video here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZurxQY6oQvs (just for contrast I started POTA a year before Dom and I have 247 activations with 12,471 contacts)
Earlier in the week several folks were POTA active as well. Allen KN4FKS activated Cloudland Canyon SP US-2169 from the Ascalon Trail Head site on Saturday June 7. He made 50 SSB contacts with 26 Park to Park contacts. John KB4QXI was a bit further afield over near Helen GA where he activated Hartman Farm State Historic Park US-3718 on Friday June 6 and made 24 SSB contacts with 8 P2P contacts. Then on Saturday he activated Unicoi SP US-2204 with 11 SSB contacts with 6 P2P contacts.
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579 viewsWe activated Johns Mountain WMA US-3758 Thursday afternoon and the sun was out. However the wind was howling and the temperature was dropping fast. Setting up antennas got everyone chilled then it got worse.
We had an old friend Dean Harris KK4BE join us for the activation and he set up outside on a table. John KB4QXI and Allen KN4FKS set up inside their vehicles to escape the wind. Dean quickly realized sitting outside was just too cold. While he was moving into his truck cab the wind blew over his folding chair.
John KB4QXI operated on 20 meters SSB using his Hamstick on top of his car. He made 105 contacts with 11 Park to Park contacts and 4 Canadian DX contacts. Dean KK4EB used his end fed sloper and made 22 contacts on 10 meters. two were P2P and 4 DX to Germany, Brazil, Argentina, and Wales. Allen KN4FKS used his vertical with the single long counterpoise to make 31 contacts on 15 meter SSB with 3 P2P and 6 DX contacts to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and 3 Canadians.
It was a fun day but challenging due to the weather but we POTA'd on!
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617 viewsPOTA, Nick A Jack Trailhead - Cloudland Canyon - 12-17-2020. N9MJH
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 Last additions - Parks on the Air |
3 viewsThis Thursday June 4 we activated Chickamauga Battlefield US=0716 from the Brotherton Road picnic area.
Danny AG4DW arrived early, set up his 'PotaPerformer' vertical and made 47 quick SSB contacts. He had 13 on 40 meters and 34 on 20 meters with 6 park to parks and 1 DX to Canada. Jody W4LWC arrived and operated Danny's rig on 20 meters SSB. He cranked out 101 QSO's with 25 P2P and no DX. Dan K2DTS dropped by for a quick 'eye ball' QSO and had to leave soon.
John KB4QXI brought his new computer by so that Allen KN4FKS could set up the N3FJP logging software for most efficient use on POTA activations. As is typical when Allen is faced with technology issues the one critical step/ menu / tab is forgotten and things do not go well. Ugly words were spoken to the computer.
Taking a break Allen KN4FKS got on 17 meters and made 4 contacts, then went to 20 meters and made 9 more for a total of 13 QSO's with 9 P2P contacts. Then it was back to the computer this time trying to watch the You Tube video on how to set everything up on John's cell phone. Once again a fail so Allen took the computer home and sat down and soon had the 'Ah Ha' moment and remembered the one critical step to get everything working. Success finally! John is now set to go.
Earlier in the week on Wednesday Danny AG4DW headed out to a newly listed park in Alabama hoping to be the first activation at the new one. After quite a drive he arrived at the park to find a sign on the gate "Closed Wednesdays" POTA rules state the park has to be 'open' so defeated but not broken he headed over to Hinds Road Forever Wild site US-12740 and made 42 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 17 P2P. Then packing up and moving to nearby Indian Mountain Conservation Area US-11027 he made 35 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 11 P2P's. Also on Wednesday Allen KN4FKS headed out to Otting WMA US-7913 (it was actually open on Wednesday) and made 106 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 36 P2P and 3 DX all to Canada.
Jun 06, 2026
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2 viewsThis Thursday June 4 we activated Chickamauga Battlefield US=0716 from the Brotherton Road picnic area.
Danny AG4DW arrived early, set up his 'PotaPerformer' vertical and made 47 quick SSB contacts. He had 13 on 40 meters and 34 on 20 meters with 6 park to parks and 1 DX to Canada. Jody W4LWC arrived and operated Danny's rig on 20 meters SSB. He cranked out 101 QSO's with 25 P2P and no DX. Dan K2DTS dropped by for a quick 'eye ball' QSO and had to leave soon.
John KB4QXI brought his new computer by so that Allen KN4FKS could set up the N3FJP logging software for most efficient use on POTA activations. As is typical when Allen is faced with technology issues the one critical step/ menu / tab is forgotten and things do not go well. Ugly words were spoken to the computer.
Taking a break Allen KN4FKS got on 17 meters and made 4 contacts, then went to 20 meters and made 9 more for a total of 13 QSO's with 9 P2P contacts. Then it was back to the computer this time trying to watch the You Tube video on how to set everything up on John's cell phone. Once again a fail so Allen took the computer home and sat down and soon had the 'Ah Ha' moment and remembered the one critical step to get everything working. Success finally! John is now set to go.
Earlier in the week on Wednesday Danny AG4DW headed out to a newly listed park in Alabama hoping to be the first activation at the new one. After quite a drive he arrived at the park to find a sign on the gate "Closed Wednesdays" POTA rules state the park has to be 'open' so defeated but not broken he headed over to Hinds Road Forever Wild site US-12740 and made 42 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 17 P2P. Then packing up and moving to nearby Indian Mountain Conservation Area US-11027 he made 35 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 11 P2P's. Also on Wednesday Allen KN4FKS headed out to Otting WMA US-7913 (it was actually open on Wednesday) and made 106 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 36 P2P and 3 DX all to Canada.
Jun 06, 2026
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1 viewsThis Thursday June 4 we activated Chickamauga Battlefield US=0716 from the Brotherton Road picnic area.
Danny AG4DW arrived early, set up his 'PotaPerformer' vertical and made 47 quick SSB contacts. He had 13 on 40 meters and 34 on 20 meters with 6 park to parks and 1 DX to Canada. Jody W4LWC arrived and operated Danny's rig on 20 meters SSB. He cranked out 101 QSO's with 25 P2P and no DX. Dan K2DTS dropped by for a quick 'eye ball' QSO and had to leave soon.
John KB4QXI brought his new computer by so that Allen KN4FKS could set up the N3FJP logging software for most efficient use on POTA activations. As is typical when Allen is faced with technology issues the one critical step/ menu / tab is forgotten and things do not go well. Ugly words were spoken to the computer.
Taking a break Allen KN4FKS got on 17 meters and made 4 contacts, then went to 20 meters and made 9 more for a total of 13 QSO's with 9 P2P contacts. Then it was back to the computer this time trying to watch the You Tube video on how to set everything up on John's cell phone. Once again a fail so Allen took the computer home and sat down and soon had the 'Ah Ha' moment and remembered the one critical step to get everything working. Success finally! John is now set to go.
Earlier in the week on Wednesday Danny AG4DW headed out to a newly listed park in Alabama hoping to be the first activation at the new one. After quite a drive he arrived at the park to find a sign on the gate "Closed Wednesdays" POTA rules state the park has to be 'open' so defeated but not broken he headed over to Hinds Road Forever Wild site US-12740 and made 42 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 17 P2P. Then packing up and moving to nearby Indian Mountain Conservation Area US-11027 he made 35 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 11 P2P's. Also on Wednesday Allen KN4FKS headed out to Otting WMA US-7913 (it was actually open on Wednesday) and made 106 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 36 P2P and 3 DX all to Canada.
Jun 06, 2026
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5 viewsThis Thursday June 4 we activated Chickamauga Battlefield US=0716 from the Brotherton Road picnic area.
Danny AG4DW arrived early, set up his 'PotaPerformer' vertical and made 47 quick SSB contacts. He had 13 on 40 meters and 34 on 20 meters with 6 park to parks and 1 DX to Canada. Jody W4LWC arrived and operated Danny's rig on 20 meters SSB. He cranked out 101 QSO's with 25 P2P and no DX. Dan K2DTS dropped by for a quick 'eye ball' QSO and had to leave soon.
John KB4QXI brought his new computer by so that Allen KN4FKS could set up the N3FJP logging software for most efficient use on POTA activations. As is typical when Allen is faced with technology issues the one critical step/ menu / tab is forgotten and things do not go well. Ugly words were spoken to the computer.
Taking a break Allen KN4FKS got on 17 meters and made 4 contacts, then went to 20 meters and made 9 more for a total of 13 QSO's with 9 P2P contacts. Then it was back to the computer this time trying to watch the You Tube video on how to set everything up on John's cell phone. Once again a fail so Allen took the computer home and sat down and soon had the 'Ah Ha' moment and remembered the one critical step to get everything working. Success finally! John is now set to go.
Earlier in the week on Wednesday Danny AG4DW headed out to a newly listed park in Alabama hoping to be the first activation at the new one. After quite a drive he arrived at the park to find a sign on the gate "Closed Wednesdays" POTA rules state the park has to be 'open' so defeated but not broken he headed over to Hinds Road Forever Wild site US-12740 and made 42 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 17 P2P. Then packing up and moving to nearby Indian Mountain Conservation Area US-11027 he made 35 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 11 P2P's. Also on Wednesday Allen KN4FKS headed out to Otting WMA US-7913 (it was actually open on Wednesday) and made 106 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 36 P2P and 3 DX all to Canada.
Jun 06, 2026
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2 viewsThis week we activated 'Sloppy' Floyd State Park US-2187 on Thursday May 28th. We used the site on the park up by the bathrooms on top of the hill in the covered Picnic shelter.
Allen KN4FKS set his end fed half wave wire as a sloper into one of the tall pine trees nearby. With 100 watts power made 53 SSB contacts on 20 meters with les to get a replacements than ideal band conditions to be kind to the propagation gods. He had 20 Park To Park contacts and 2 DX contacts (both P2P) to Canada and Puerto Rico.
Matt AH4MH used Allen's set up and made 13 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 5 P2P contacts Band conditions were such that you had to work for every contact and hope you didn't loose contact mid QSO.
John KB4QXI set up his roof mounted Hamstick on 40 meters then realized his logging computer just went toes up. He headed off to Wal-Mart to get a replacement. Now the fun begins getting the logging software set up to handle POTA. It should be easy but there is always some new wrinkle that doesn't quite match the how to You Tube video. We'll get it up and running this week so he can POTA on. Jun 01, 2026
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3 viewsThis week saw folks in far flung places and right here at home.
On Wednesday May 20 Dan K2DTS activated the Battlefield US-0716 from the Brotherton Rd. Picnic area. He made 15 SSB contacts with 13 P2P contacts and then made one CW contact. He commented:
"Conditions were poor with a smothering noise floor and persistent signal fading. Even with those conditions, it was a good day. In many ways, it is more fun to have to work for every contact. And it was satisfying to make the CW contact, although I am sure the station on the other end was not impressed by my many sending mistakes." Small beginnings of a great CW operator !
On Thursday May 21 Allen KN4FKS activated Pigeon Mountain US-3742 from the check station site. It is nice to have friends who help you stay warm and dry while doing POTA on a rainy day Using 100 watts and the end fed half wave wire rigged as a sloper he made 61 contacts (29 on 20 meters and 32 on 40 meters) with 33 P2P contacts and 2 DX (Canada and St. Lucia )
On Friday May 22 John KB4QXI activated Sandhills State Park US-2351 near Hutchinson Kansas. John is out there attending a huge Geocaching convention so he and several other ham geocachers all headed out to the nearby state park. John made ??? contacts.
On Saturday afternoon May 23 KN4FKS Allen headed up top of Pigeon Mountain US-3742 to the Sawmill lake site to play with a different antenna configuration. Using the old faithful have wave end fed wire he rigged it as an NVIS antenna. Using three plastic electric fence post he rigged the wire horizontally waist high. He then deployed a slightly longer counterpoise wire along the ground directly under the antenna wire. A quick check with the antenna analyzer showed resonance on 40 and 20 meters. The bands were slow and he made a total of 16 contacts with 13 contacts in the first hour of calling CQ on 40 meters. They were mainly clustered around South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. At the end he went up to 20 meters and made 3 contacts there in Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio. So the NVIS concept works and now to see the next test might be to rig it about 8 feet off the ground using the horse hitching poles in the camp area. Might have this worked out in time for Field Day so we can contact those close in stations.
Danny AG4DW is across the pond in Ireland bemoaning the fact that he has no radio gear with him this trip. The POTA map even showed never activated parks along the route his tour is taking. Painful for POTA but beautiful country for touring..
Jun 01, 2026
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1 viewsThis week saw folks in far flung places and right here at home.
On Wednesday May 20 Dan K2DTS activated the Battlefield US-0716 from the Brotherton Rd. Picnic area. He made 15 SSB contacts with 13 P2P contacts and then made one CW contact. He commented:
"Conditions were poor with a smothering noise floor and persistent signal fading. Even with those conditions, it was a good day. In many ways, it is more fun to have to work for every contact. And it was satisfying to make the CW contact, although I am sure the station on the other end was not impressed by my many sending mistakes." Small beginnings of a great CW operator !
On Thursday May 21 Allen KN4FKS activated Pigeon Mountain US-3742 from the check station site. It is nice to have friends who help you stay warm and dry while doing POTA on a rainy day Using 100 watts and the end fed half wave wire rigged as a sloper he made 61 contacts (29 on 20 meters and 32 on 40 meters) with 33 P2P contacts and 2 DX (Canada and St. Lucia )
On Friday May 22 John KB4QXI activated Sandhills State Park US-2351 near Hutchinson Kansas. John is out there attending a huge Geocaching convention so he and several other ham geocachers all headed out to the nearby state park. John made ??? contacts.
On Saturday afternoon May 23 KN4FKS Allen headed up top of Pigeon Mountain US-3742 to the Sawmill lake site to play with a different antenna configuration. Using the old faithful have wave end fed wire he rigged it as an NVIS antenna. Using three plastic electric fence post he rigged the wire horizontally waist high. He then deployed a slightly longer counterpoise wire along the ground directly under the antenna wire. A quick check with the antenna analyzer showed resonance on 40 and 20 meters. The bands were slow and he made a total of 16 contacts with 13 contacts in the first hour of calling CQ on 40 meters. They were mainly clustered around South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. At the end he went up to 20 meters and made 3 contacts there in Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio. So the NVIS concept works and now to see the next test might be to rig it about 8 feet off the ground using the horse hitching poles in the camp area. Might have this worked out in time for Field Day so we can contact those close in stations.
Danny AG4DW is across the pond in Ireland bemoaning the fact that he has no radio gear with him this trip. The POTA map even showed never activated parks along the route his tour is taking. Painful for POTA but beautiful country for touring..
Jun 01, 2026
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2 viewsThis week saw folks in far flung places and right here at home.
On Wednesday May 20 Dan K2DTS activated the Battlefield US-0716 from the Brotherton Rd. Picnic area. He made 15 SSB contacts with 13 P2P contacts and then made one CW contact. He commented:
"Conditions were poor with a smothering noise floor and persistent signal fading. Even with those conditions, it was a good day. In many ways, it is more fun to have to work for every contact. And it was satisfying to make the CW contact, although I am sure the station on the other end was not impressed by my many sending mistakes." Small beginnings of a great CW operator !
On Thursday May 21 Allen KN4FKS activated Pigeon Mountain US-3742 from the check station site. It is nice to have friends who help you stay warm and dry while doing POTA on a rainy day Using 100 watts and the end fed half wave wire rigged as a sloper he made 61 contacts (29 on 20 meters and 32 on 40 meters) with 33 P2P contacts and 2 DX (Canada and St. Lucia )
On Friday May 22 John KB4QXI activated Sandhills State Park US-2351 near Hutchinson Kansas. John is out there attending a huge Geocaching convention so he and several other ham geocachers all headed out to the nearby state park. John made ??? contacts.
On Saturday afternoon May 23 KN4FKS Allen headed up top of Pigeon Mountain US-3742 to the Sawmill lake site to play with a different antenna configuration. Using the old faithful have wave end fed wire he rigged it as an NVIS antenna. Using three plastic electric fence post he rigged the wire horizontally waist high. He then deployed a slightly longer counterpoise wire along the ground directly under the antenna wire. A quick check with the antenna analyzer showed resonance on 40 and 20 meters. The bands were slow and he made a total of 16 contacts with 13 contacts in the first hour of calling CQ on 40 meters. They were mainly clustered around South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. At the end he went up to 20 meters and made 3 contacts there in Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio. So the NVIS concept works and now to see the next test might be to rig it about 8 feet off the ground using the horse hitching poles in the camp area. Might have this worked out in time for Field Day so we can contact those close in stations.
Danny AG4DW is across the pond in Ireland bemoaning the fact that he has no radio gear with him this trip. The POTA map even showed never activated parks along the route his tour is taking. Painful for POTA but beautiful country for touring..
Jun 01, 2026
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