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 Random files - Parks on the Air |
455 viewsOn late Monday afternoon (Oct 23, 2023) we gathered at the Johns Mountain WMA (K-3758) overlook to activate the park, cook a hotdog and watch the sunset. All three objectives were met. We set up three stations and played radio! Danny AG4DW made 43 SSB contacts with 3 P2P, 2 Alaska and one Venezuela mostly on 15 meters. John KB4QXI made 61 contacts with 9 P2P, 5 Canadian contacts plus one North Africa and one Venezuela mostly on 20 meters. Peter KX4BE made 20 contacts on CW with one FM contact for DX he had 2 Japan and one Chile. Allen KN4FKS had 12 contacts with 5 FM contacts on 70 cm. The other 7 were on 40 meters.
As it got close to sundown at about 7 pm we took a break for supper and to watch the sunset from the overlook. We had hotdogs with the fixins cooked over charcoal, chips, macaroni salad, and smores for desert. There was supposed to be another desert cooked over the fire but someone (Karen KX4KM) forgot the essential ingredient, butter. We were assisted by our mascot dog I4ZZY.
The sunset was spectacular and the company was the best. Thanks to all the hunters who make our fun possible.
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60 viewsIt was cold outside, but we were warm and toasty inside. This Thursday Jan.15 2026 we activated the Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area US-3742 from the check station site on Rocky Lane. It sure is nice to have friends in high places that let us use the check station to do POTA. However setting up antennas was a bit frosty in the 23 degree F air with a 20 Mph wind.
Allen KN4FKS set his end fed half wave wire in a nearby tree and Danny AG4DW set his Pota Performer elevated radial vertical in the side yard. We used some foam pipe insulation pieces to block the wind where we pulled the coax through the slightly open windows. It kept the heat in and the cold wind out.
Allen started on 40 meters and was busy from the start. Later he went to 20 meters and was also busy For the day he had 76 contacts with 15 Park to Park contacts and no DX.
Danny started on 20 meters and made 1 SSB contact then switched to FT8 He made 69 more contacts. He worked digital on 20, 15, and 10 meters. He had 24 DX contacts from all over Europe, the Caribbean, and South America.
We had a few visitors curious about what we were doing so we explained Ham radio and POTA then answered their questions about the area. We always take time away from pileups to meet visitors. Part of the job as POTA ambassadors.
Fun day, great peanut butter and jelly, stayed warm and had great company for the day.
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459 viewsPOTA - 2022-09-01 - Today we went to Cohutta Wildlife Management Area K-7446 over East of Chatsworth GA. We set up two stations each using an end fed half wave wire rigged as a sloper fed from the bottom. Battery power ran the 100 watt transceivers. Peter KX4BE worked CW on 20 meters and had 42 contacts with 1 P2P and 1 DX contact. Allen KN4FKS worked SSB on 40 meters and had 34 contacts with 4 P2P. Tony got on 20 meters SSB and made 15 contacts with 6 P2P and 1 DX to Alaska. Another great day doing POTA !
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464 viewsPOTA - 2022-08-04 -Our POTA activation today was at J. Floyd State Park near Summerville GA. John KB4QXI made 79 contacts on 40 meters. Tony WA4TW made 27 contacts with 7 P2P on 20 meters. Peter KX4BE made 53 contacts with 1 P2P on 30 meters CW. The assistant Park Manager Hope Cates came by and was very interested in our activation and visited for a while. Her father was a ham years ago so she remembered ham radio fondly. We had to quit early today as a thunderstorm came up from the south.
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544 viewsPOTA, Nick A Jack Trailhead - Cloudland Canyon - 12-17-2020. W4TDH, N9MJH, N9ZEN
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521 viewsOn Saturday, while a few were invited to spend time with the Ramblers, another crew of POTA operators went off to the Cherokee National Forest to activate.
This was made possible by a very cordial invitation by the Cleveland Ham Radio group and coordinated by Larry Wallace KN4JUU. Their club has a repeater at the top of Oswald Dome at an elevation of 3000’.
The drive up took us into the clouds/dense fog, where the taillights of the vehicle ahead were barely visible. My Land Rover has rear end fog lights from the factory I thought I’d never use… well they got turned on for this.
The road itself was not as in a poor condition as some may remember when heading to the Bat Cave . But it most certainly was much longer.
We arrived and set up with a variety of different radios and antennas. From that elevation even some 2m DX was easily possible.
The highlight of the day was lunch being cooked by our own Chef Boy R Jeff N2YYP. He had made up some Deer burgers the day before. Dangerous stuff! So good a person wanted to just keep eating them. Fortunately self control managed to prevail. Jeff I believe has been elected as the ‘official cook/chef’ for future adventures. I should mention there were dogs and sausages for those who didn’t want any Bambi. And also , Jeff brought some of his award winning Chow Chow. Stuff goes good on just about everything imo
Anyway, I digress. Activations went very well. What a wonderful locale to activate. Afterwards the fog had burned off, and the trip back down was simply Gorgeous! Vistas popped as we traveled down that were picture card perfect.
If the Cleveland crew ever offer the opportunity to go to their site again, I’d strongly encourage folk to take them up on it
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462 viewsThis Wednesday May 1 we activated J. Floyd State Park US-2187. It was a beautiful sunny day down by the lake. However the solar weather was not exactly cooperating and the bands were "wonky". Danny AG4DW had a total of 25 contacts, 15 DX (Panama, Puerto Rico, Columbia, Venezuela, Cuba, Denmark Russia, Jamacia, Germany, Belgium, England and Canada). 5 were SSB, 4 were FM VHF/UHF and 16 FT8 digital. John KB4QXI had 12 contacts on 40 and 20 meters. His mobile mount antenna on his truck was not working very well. Allen KN4FKS had 43 contacts on 20 and 40 meters, 17 Park to Park, and 6 DX ( France Puerto Rico, and 4 Canadians. Dan K2DTS had issues with his digital set up and never got it working.
We had visitors, Several park hikers stopped by and were curious about what we were doing. They were impressed by the distance of the contacts using the simple equipment. We also had some local hams drop by Lonnie KK4VDE and Dewayne W4FDT. They both were very experienced POTA operators and have activated many of the parks we often go to. Dewayne also shared with us his experiences on a POTA trip to Alaska a few years ago. Fun bucket list type trip. Great fellowship.
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474 viewsWe activated Johns Mtn. WMA K-3758 today from the Johns Mtn. overlook. On his way up the gravel mountain road Tony looks into the woods and sees a large black bear ambling along. Tony had 15 contacts with 7 P2P. One park to park was in Canada and another was in Italy. The bands were open and he had 7 DX contacts: Cuba, Italy, Slovenia, Guadeloupe Czech Republic, and Canada. Ed
KM6UTC showed up, set up his magnetic loop and worked digital on 20 and 30 meters.
In the meantime an Army fellow (Special Forces) showed up and set up his military radio. He was operating in military frequencies just above our 20 meter band. He was also a ham but he just played on the mil frequencies.Â
The occasional hikers came by today They stopped and were all amazed by just how far away we were communicating with our simple little rig.Â
Allen Got on 10 meters. Contacts were W1AW/7 in Arizona and the second was RW1A in Russia. The total for the day was 28 contacts with 4 P2P and 5 DX, European Russia, two in Italy, Canada, Canary Islands and Australia! Yes I nearly fell out of my chair when I heard VK4NH come back to my CQ. That was a first for our POTA contacts distance wise.Â
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 Last additions - Parks on the Air |
0 viewsThis week the space weather was clear but the terrestrial weather was less than ideal even though it was 70 degrees in February. This Thursday we activated the Chickamauga Battlefield from the usual picnic area on Alexanders Bridge road.
It was a warm day Thursday and Allen KN4FKS set up at one of the picnic tables. He set his 17 ft. vertical with the Chameleon Faraday cloth radials and started on 15 meters SSB. As usual it was slow but open for DX. Slovenia, Canada, Spain, and a booming signal into Sweden. He also had a Park to Park to the Bahamas. Moving to 20 meters he had 11 more Park to park contacts. The total was 21 contacts for the day. In the middle of the morning a dark cloud came over and it began to sprinkle rain. A handy poncho quickly covered the gear but not quite fast enough. Computer touch pads do not like to get wet. Solution: dry it off best you can and break out the paper log! It was fine later. Luckily the shower quickly ended but dark clouds kept threatening all day.
Danny AG4DW was better prepared with his big blue umbrella mounted off his trailer hitch. Using his POTA Performer antenna, Danny Made 36 SSB contacts on 40 and 17 meters SSB then Made 24 FT8 contacts on 17 meters for a total of 60 contacts with DX to Italy, Poland and Canada.
Ed KM6UTC set up in his back seat ham shack and made 42 contacts on 20 meters all US contacts. Thanks for the official POTA timepiece.
Dan K2DTS couldn't make it Thursday so he came on Friday and made 83 contacts on 20 meters, 72 SSB and 11 FT8. He reports he is becoming more comfortable handling the POTA pileups. It is fun when you can just roll and the other operators cooperate. Dan is also closing in on that KILO for the Battlefield so Friday helped him get closer.
By the way in the DX world the Bouvet Island DXpedition 3YOK is getting closer to arrival. This uninhabited island in the extreme south Atlantic is #10 on the all time DX list. Costing $1.5 million dollars to attempt it should be epic. They will always be operating 'split' and the pileups will be unbelievable, listen in and later during their stay as the big guns have all worked them there is a chance of actually getting through on one of the bands. Their website is https://3y0k.com/#bouvet-island after they arrive they will post their bandplan and give frequencies to be on the lookout for. Keep and eye on the DX spot pages as well. Good DX,
Feb 22, 2026
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3 viewsThis week the space weather was clear but the terrestrial weather was less than ideal even though it was 70 degrees in February. This Thursday we activated the Chickamauga Battlefield from the usual picnic area on Alexanders Bridge road.
It was a warm day Thursday and Allen KN4FKS set up at one of the picnic tables. He set his 17 ft. vertical with the Chameleon Faraday cloth radials and started on 15 meters SSB. As usual it was slow but open for DX. Slovenia, Canada, Spain, and a booming signal into Sweden. He also had a Park to Park to the Bahamas. Moving to 20 meters he had 11 more Park to park contacts. The total was 21 contacts for the day. In the middle of the morning a dark cloud came over and it began to sprinkle rain. A handy poncho quickly covered the gear but not quite fast enough. Computer touch pads do not like to get wet. Solution: dry it off best you can and break out the paper log! It was fine later. Luckily the shower quickly ended but dark clouds kept threatening all day.
Danny AG4DW was better prepared with his big blue umbrella mounted off his trailer hitch. Using his POTA Performer antenna, Danny Made 36 SSB contacts on 40 and 17 meters SSB then Made 24 FT8 contacts on 17 meters for a total of 60 contacts with DX to Italy, Poland and Canada.
Ed KM6UTC set up in his back seat ham shack and made 42 contacts on 20 meters all US contacts. Thanks for the official POTA timepiece.
Dan K2DTS couldn't make it Thursday so he came on Friday and made 83 contacts on 20 meters, 72 SSB and 11 FT8. He reports he is becoming more comfortable handling the POTA pileups. It is fun when you can just roll and the other operators cooperate. Dan is also closing in on that KILO for the Battlefield so Friday helped him get closer.
By the way in the DX world the Bouvet Island DXpedition 3YOK is getting closer to arrival. This uninhabited island in the extreme south Atlantic is #10 on the all time DX list. Costing $1.5 million dollars to attempt it should be epic. They will always be operating 'split' and the pileups will be unbelievable, listen in and later during their stay as the big guns have all worked them there is a chance of actually getting through on one of the bands. Their website is https://3y0k.com/#bouvet-island after they arrive they will post their bandplan and give frequencies to be on the lookout for. Keep and eye on the DX spot pages as well. Good DX,
Feb 22, 2026
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0 viewsThis week the space weather was clear but the terrestrial weather was less than ideal even though it was 70 degrees in February. This Thursday we activated the Chickamauga Battlefield from the usual picnic area on Alexanders Bridge road.
It was a warm day Thursday and Allen KN4FKS set up at one of the picnic tables. He set his 17 ft. vertical with the Chameleon Faraday cloth radials and started on 15 meters SSB. As usual it was slow but open for DX. Slovenia, Canada, Spain, and a booming signal into Sweden. He also had a Park to Park to the Bahamas. Moving to 20 meters he had 11 more Park to park contacts. The total was 21 contacts for the day. In the middle of the morning a dark cloud came over and it began to sprinkle rain. A handy poncho quickly covered the gear but not quite fast enough. Computer touch pads do not like to get wet. Solution: dry it off best you can and break out the paper log! It was fine later. Luckily the shower quickly ended but dark clouds kept threatening all day.
Danny AG4DW was better prepared with his big blue umbrella mounted off his trailer hitch. Using his POTA Performer antenna, Danny Made 36 SSB contacts on 40 and 17 meters SSB then Made 24 FT8 contacts on 17 meters for a total of 60 contacts with DX to Italy, Poland and Canada.
Ed KM6UTC set up in his back seat ham shack and made 42 contacts on 20 meters all US contacts. Thanks for the official POTA timepiece.
Dan K2DTS couldn't make it Thursday so he came on Friday and made 83 contacts on 20 meters, 72 SSB and 11 FT8. He reports he is becoming more comfortable handling the POTA pileups. It is fun when you can just roll and the other operators cooperate. Dan is also closing in on that KILO for the Battlefield so Friday helped him get closer.
By the way in the DX world the Bouvet Island DXpedition 3YOK is getting closer to arrival. This uninhabited island in the extreme south Atlantic is #10 on the all time DX list. Costing $1.5 million dollars to attempt it should be epic. They will always be operating 'split' and the pileups will be unbelievable, listen in and later during their stay as the big guns have all worked them there is a chance of actually getting through on one of the bands. Their website is https://3y0k.com/#bouvet-island after they arrive they will post their bandplan and give frequencies to be on the lookout for. Keep and eye on the DX spot pages as well. Good DX,
Feb 22, 2026
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54 viewsWe activated two parks at once this Thursday Jan 22. Chickamauga Battlefield US-0716 and the Trail of Tears US-3791. The old Lafayette Road which runs through the middle of the Battlefield is a designated part of the National Trail of Tears network. To activate a "trail" the rules are you have to be within 100 feet of the trail and on public land. There are a few places along the Lafayette road where you can park and be within 100 feet of the roadway/trail. To make this work the three of us set up at three different places along the road.
Danny AG4DW set up with his Hamstrick on top of his truck. He made 146 contacts, 74 SSB and 72 FT8 with 11 Park to Park and 11 contacts to Canada.
Allen KN4FKS set up north of Danny using his 17 ft vertical with the 6 foot extender in place. Working on 20 meters SSB he made 116 contacts with 17 park to park and 2 Canadians.
Dan K2DTS set up south of Danny and chased parks on 20 and 40 meters. making 25 P2P contacts and oddly on 20 meters made several contacts under the first skip zone to GA, NC, VA, SC.
Just after Allen set up the National Park enforcement rangers stopped by. They had seen the yellow coax coming out of the truck window and decided to investigate. They did not see the vertical antenna until they got out of their truck. They immediately realized I was doing POTA and commented you folks normally are over at the picnic area. I explained about the Trail of Tears thing and they were ok with it all. Probably thinking what a bunch of crazy old men. Nice fellows, protecting a special place.
Fun day with excellent band conditions for lots of contacts. Jan 26, 2026
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85 viewsWe activated two parks at once this Thursday Jan 22. Chickamauga Battlefield US-0716 and the Trail of Tears US-3791. The old Lafayette Road which runs through the middle of the Battlefield is a designated part of the National Trail of Tears network. To activate a "trail" the rules are you have to be within 100 feet of the trail and on public land. There are a few places along the Lafayette road where you can park and be within 100 feet of the roadway/trail. To make this work the three of us set up at three different places along the road.
Danny AG4DW set up with his Hamstrick on top of his truck. He made 146 contacts, 74 SSB and 72 FT8 with 11 Park to Park and 11 contacts to Canada.
Allen KN4FKS set up north of Danny using his 17 ft vertical with the 6 foot extender in place. Working on 20 meters SSB he made 116 contacts with 17 park to park and 2 Canadians.
Dan K2DTS set up south of Danny and chased parks on 20 and 40 meters. making 25 P2P contacts and oddly on 20 meters made several contacts under the first skip zone to GA, NC, VA, SC.
Just after Allen set up the National Park enforcement rangers stopped by. They had seen the yellow coax coming out of the truck window and decided to investigate. They did not see the vertical antenna until they got out of their truck. They immediately realized I was doing POTA and commented you folks normally are over at the picnic area. I explained about the Trail of Tears thing and they were ok with it all. Probably thinking what a bunch of crazy old men. Nice fellows, protecting a special place.
Fun day with excellent band conditions for lots of contacts. Jan 26, 2026
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54 viewsWe activated two parks at once this Thursday Jan 22. Chickamauga Battlefield US-0716 and the Trail of Tears US-3791. The old Lafayette Road which runs through the middle of the Battlefield is a designated part of the National Trail of Tears network. To activate a "trail" the rules are you have to be within 100 feet of the trail and on public land. There are a few places along the Lafayette road where you can park and be within 100 feet of the roadway/trail. To make this work the three of us set up at three different places along the road.
Danny AG4DW set up with his Hamstrick on top of his truck. He made 146 contacts, 74 SSB and 72 FT8 with 11 Park to Park and 11 contacts to Canada.
Allen KN4FKS set up north of Danny using his 17 ft vertical with the 6 foot extender in place. Working on 20 meters SSB he made 116 contacts with 17 park to park and 2 Canadians.
Dan K2DTS set up south of Danny and chased parks on 20 and 40 meters. making 25 P2P contacts and oddly on 20 meters made several contacts under the first skip zone to GA, NC, VA, SC.
Just after Allen set up the National Park enforcement rangers stopped by. They had seen the yellow coax coming out of the truck window and decided to investigate. They did not see the vertical antenna until they got out of their truck. They immediately realized I was doing POTA and commented you folks normally are over at the picnic area. I explained about the Trail of Tears thing and they were ok with it all. Probably thinking what a bunch of crazy old men. Nice fellows, protecting a special place.
Fun day with excellent band conditions for lots of contacts. Jan 26, 2026
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36 viewsIt was cold outside, but we were warm and toasty inside. This Thursday Jan.15 2026 we activated the Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area US-3742 from the check station site on Rocky Lane. It sure is nice to have friends in high places that let us use the check station to do POTA. However setting up antennas was a bit frosty in the 23 degree F air with a 20 Mph wind.
Allen KN4FKS set his end fed half wave wire in a nearby tree and Danny AG4DW set his Pota Performer elevated radial vertical in the side yard. We used some foam pipe insulation pieces to block the wind where we pulled the coax through the slightly open windows. It kept the heat in and the cold wind out.
Allen started on 40 meters and was busy from the start. Later he went to 20 meters and was also busy For the day he had 76 contacts with 15 Park to Park contacts and no DX.
Danny started on 20 meters and made 1 SSB contact then switched to FT8 He made 69 more contacts. He worked digital on 20, 15, and 10 meters. He had 24 DX contacts from all over Europe, the Caribbean, and South America.
We had a few visitors curious about what we were doing so we explained Ham radio and POTA then answered their questions about the area. We always take time away from pileups to meet visitors. Part of the job as POTA ambassadors.
Fun day, great peanut butter and jelly, stayed warm and had great company for the day. Jan 16, 2026
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60 viewsIt was cold outside, but we were warm and toasty inside. This Thursday Jan.15 2026 we activated the Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area US-3742 from the check station site on Rocky Lane. It sure is nice to have friends in high places that let us use the check station to do POTA. However setting up antennas was a bit frosty in the 23 degree F air with a 20 Mph wind.
Allen KN4FKS set his end fed half wave wire in a nearby tree and Danny AG4DW set his Pota Performer elevated radial vertical in the side yard. We used some foam pipe insulation pieces to block the wind where we pulled the coax through the slightly open windows. It kept the heat in and the cold wind out.
Allen started on 40 meters and was busy from the start. Later he went to 20 meters and was also busy For the day he had 76 contacts with 15 Park to Park contacts and no DX.
Danny started on 20 meters and made 1 SSB contact then switched to FT8 He made 69 more contacts. He worked digital on 20, 15, and 10 meters. He had 24 DX contacts from all over Europe, the Caribbean, and South America.
We had a few visitors curious about what we were doing so we explained Ham radio and POTA then answered their questions about the area. We always take time away from pileups to meet visitors. Part of the job as POTA ambassadors.
Fun day, great peanut butter and jelly, stayed warm and had great company for the day. Jan 16, 2026
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