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 Random files - Parks on the Air |
305 viewsPOTA - Russell Cave - 7-19-2021
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432 viewsPOTA - GA QSO Party w/ Rambler Radio Club - 4-12-2021
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345 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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1 viewsThis Thursday Dec. 11 we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the main park site on top of the hill. The terrestrial and the space weather cooperated for a fun day of radio.
Danny AG4DW made 123 contacts, 81 SSB and 42 FT8 on 40 and 20 meters. He had 9 DX contacts 7 to Canada then Spain and Slovenia. He was using his elevated vertical, POTA Performer antenna.
Allen KN4FKS made 45 SSB contacts with 8 Park to Park contacts. He had 38 contacts on 15 meters and 7 on 12 meters. There were 11 DX contacts with 3 to Spain, # to Puerto Rico, 2 to Canada, and then Italy, France and St. Kitts-Nevis. Allen used his 17 foot vertical with 8 radials.
Dan K2DTS had 46 contacts on SSB. All were P2P contacts on pretty much all the bands from 10 to 40 meters. He had DX contacts in Chile, Ecuador, and 2 in Puerto Rico. Dan used his Rybakov vertical antenna. It is a 25 ft wire suspended off a 31 ft. SOTA Beam mast on a drive on support base, uses a 4-1 balun and a single 17 ft counterpoise radial. We found our new POTA antenna but no one had an N connector to UHF adaptor. The crank up tower is a bit rusty but looks promising for later.
John KB4QXI couldn't make it for the activation but texted us asking "How are band Conditions?" Danny texted back "There haven't been any decent bands since the 70's" Hi Hi.
On Tuesday Dec 9 Allen KN4FKS was running a shuttle for Karen his wife for a hike on several Pigeon Mountain Trails. While he waited for her at the Estelle Mine Road site he activated CPMWMA US-3742 he had 58 SSB contacts with 21 P2P contacts. He had 8 contacts on 20 meters, 3 on 40, 5 on 17, and the rest on 15. As usual from that location with the iron ore ground DX was coming in well. There were 4 to Canada, 2 to France, and Germany, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, England and a p2p to Portugal. He used the end fed wire sloper antenna.
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434 viewsChickamauga Battlefield Park - 09-19-2020
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374 viewsPOTA - 2022-08-18 - Today the crew activated two different parks. Peter KX4BE went North to Hiawassee Wildlife refuge TN K-7598 and had 60 contacts mostly CW 10 park to parks and 1 DX to Switzerland. The rest of the gang went to Crockford-Pigeon Mtn. WMA GA K-3742 at the South Brow road site. The bands were wonky today. Stations would go from a 5-9 signal to a 4-3 in 30 seconds then come back up. The noise floor varied from an s-2 or 3 all the way to s-8 at one point.
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POTA 2022-07-21, Desoto State Park K-1039 in Alabama367 viewsPOTA this week was to Desoto State Park K-1039 in Alabama. We set up in the recently renovated picnic area in the Desoto Falls portion of the park. The falls just below our operating position is right at 100 feet tall. This time of year the water flow is low but it is still impressive. We had many interested park visitors come by and Karen assisted one curious young man in making three contacts around the country. The 40 meter band was hopeless so we took turns on 20 meters.
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334 viewsThis Thursday Feb. 22 we activated the Zahnd WMA K-7903 which is in the middle of nowhere on the South end of Lookout Mountain. The small wildlife area consist of woodland, cliffs, and large sandstone boulders. The only public facility is a 10 car gravel parking lot just off the side of GA Hwy 157 south of Hwy 136.
Allen KN4FKS set up his station using an end fed half wave rigged as a sloper. on 20 meters and had 61 contacts, 11 P2P, and 3 DX. Ed KM6UTC set up his mag loop antenna and worked digital on 40 meters with 40 contacts, 4 P2P, and 14 DX. Ed was "slightly" delayed getting on the air searching for his cell phone which was hiding under his wallet in his back pocket. John KB4QXI set up his Ham Stick on top of the car and made 7 contacts on 40 meters and 25 on 20 meters with 12 P2P contacts. Danny AG4DW used the end fed rig to make 19 contacts with 3 contacts back to back from Spain, then 1 Mexico and 1 Canadian.
While there we had occasion to introduce two rock climbers and two hikers to Ham radio and POTA. Before we left Allen and Ed crossed the highway and walked a short distance to the top of the cliff line overlooking McLemore Cove and Pigeon Mountain to the East. The view is amazing even on an overcast day. Fun day once again.
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 Last additions - Parks on the Air |
1 viewsThis Thursday Dec. 11 we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the main park site on top of the hill. The terrestrial and the space weather cooperated for a fun day of radio.
Danny AG4DW made 123 contacts, 81 SSB and 42 FT8 on 40 and 20 meters. He had 9 DX contacts 7 to Canada then Spain and Slovenia. He was using his elevated vertical, POTA Performer antenna.
Allen KN4FKS made 45 SSB contacts with 8 Park to Park contacts. He had 38 contacts on 15 meters and 7 on 12 meters. There were 11 DX contacts with 3 to Spain, # to Puerto Rico, 2 to Canada, and then Italy, France and St. Kitts-Nevis. Allen used his 17 foot vertical with 8 radials.
Dan K2DTS had 46 contacts on SSB. All were P2P contacts on pretty much all the bands from 10 to 40 meters. He had DX contacts in Chile, Ecuador, and 2 in Puerto Rico. Dan used his Rybakov vertical antenna. It is a 25 ft wire suspended off a 31 ft. SOTA Beam mast on a drive on support base, uses a 4-1 balun and a single 17 ft counterpoise radial. We found our new POTA antenna but no one had an N connector to UHF adaptor. The crank up tower is a bit rusty but looks promising for later.
John KB4QXI couldn't make it for the activation but texted us asking "How are band Conditions?" Danny texted back "There haven't been any decent bands since the 70's" Hi Hi.
On Tuesday Dec 9 Allen KN4FKS was running a shuttle for Karen his wife for a hike on several Pigeon Mountain Trails. While he waited for her at the Estelle Mine Road site he activated CPMWMA US-3742 he had 58 SSB contacts with 21 P2P contacts. He had 8 contacts on 20 meters, 3 on 40, 5 on 17, and the rest on 15. As usual from that location with the iron ore ground DX was coming in well. There were 4 to Canada, 2 to France, and Germany, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, England and a p2p to Portugal. He used the end fed wire sloper antenna.Dec 12, 2025
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1 viewsThis Thursday Dec. 11 we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the main park site on top of the hill. The terrestrial and the space weather cooperated for a fun day of radio.
Danny AG4DW made 123 contacts, 81 SSB and 42 FT8 on 40 and 20 meters. He had 9 DX contacts 7 to Canada then Spain and Slovenia. He was using his elevated vertical, POTA Performer antenna.
Allen KN4FKS made 45 SSB contacts with 8 Park to Park contacts. He had 38 contacts on 15 meters and 7 on 12 meters. There were 11 DX contacts with 3 to Spain, # to Puerto Rico, 2 to Canada, and then Italy, France and St. Kitts-Nevis. Allen used his 17 foot vertical with 8 radials.
Dan K2DTS had 46 contacts on SSB. All were P2P contacts on pretty much all the bands from 10 to 40 meters. He had DX contacts in Chile, Ecuador, and 2 in Puerto Rico. Dan used his Rybakov vertical antenna. It is a 25 ft wire suspended off a 31 ft. SOTA Beam mast on a drive on support base, uses a 4-1 balun and a single 17 ft counterpoise radial. We found our new POTA antenna but no one had an N connector to UHF adaptor. The crank up tower is a bit rusty but looks promising for later.
John KB4QXI couldn't make it for the activation but texted us asking "How are band Conditions?" Danny texted back "There haven't been any decent bands since the 70's" Hi Hi.
On Tuesday Dec 9 Allen KN4FKS was running a shuttle for Karen his wife for a hike on several Pigeon Mountain Trails. While he waited for her at the Estelle Mine Road site he activated CPMWMA US-3742 he had 58 SSB contacts with 21 P2P contacts. He had 8 contacts on 20 meters, 3 on 40, 5 on 17, and the rest on 15. As usual from that location with the iron ore ground DX was coming in well. There were 4 to Canada, 2 to France, and Germany, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, England and a p2p to Portugal. He used the end fed wire sloper antenna.Dec 12, 2025
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0 viewsThis Thursday Dec. 11 we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the main park site on top of the hill. The terrestrial and the space weather cooperated for a fun day of radio.
Danny AG4DW made 123 contacts, 81 SSB and 42 FT8 on 40 and 20 meters. He had 9 DX contacts 7 to Canada then Spain and Slovenia. He was using his elevated vertical, POTA Performer antenna.
Allen KN4FKS made 45 SSB contacts with 8 Park to Park contacts. He had 38 contacts on 15 meters and 7 on 12 meters. There were 11 DX contacts with 3 to Spain, # to Puerto Rico, 2 to Canada, and then Italy, France and St. Kitts-Nevis. Allen used his 17 foot vertical with 8 radials.
Dan K2DTS had 46 contacts on SSB. All were P2P contacts on pretty much all the bands from 10 to 40 meters. He had DX contacts in Chile, Ecuador, and 2 in Puerto Rico. Dan used his Rybakov vertical antenna. It is a 25 ft wire suspended off a 31 ft. SOTA Beam mast on a drive on support base, uses a 4-1 balun and a single 17 ft counterpoise radial. We found our new POTA antenna but no one had an N connector to UHF adaptor. The crank up tower is a bit rusty but looks promising for later.
John KB4QXI couldn't make it for the activation but texted us asking "How are band Conditions?" Danny texted back "There haven't been any decent bands since the 70's" Hi Hi.
On Tuesday Dec 9 Allen KN4FKS was running a shuttle for Karen his wife for a hike on several Pigeon Mountain Trails. While he waited for her at the Estelle Mine Road site he activated CPMWMA US-3742 he had 58 SSB contacts with 21 P2P contacts. He had 8 contacts on 20 meters, 3 on 40, 5 on 17, and the rest on 15. As usual from that location with the iron ore ground DX was coming in well. There were 4 to Canada, 2 to France, and Germany, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, England and a p2p to Portugal. He used the end fed wire sloper antenna.Dec 12, 2025
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1 viewsThis Thursday Dec. 11 we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the main park site on top of the hill. The terrestrial and the space weather cooperated for a fun day of radio.
Danny AG4DW made 123 contacts, 81 SSB and 42 FT8 on 40 and 20 meters. He had 9 DX contacts 7 to Canada then Spain and Slovenia. He was using his elevated vertical, POTA Performer antenna.
Allen KN4FKS made 45 SSB contacts with 8 Park to Park contacts. He had 38 contacts on 15 meters and 7 on 12 meters. There were 11 DX contacts with 3 to Spain, # to Puerto Rico, 2 to Canada, and then Italy, France and St. Kitts-Nevis. Allen used his 17 foot vertical with 8 radials.
Dan K2DTS had 46 contacts on SSB. All were P2P contacts on pretty much all the bands from 10 to 40 meters. He had DX contacts in Chile, Ecuador, and 2 in Puerto Rico. Dan used his Rybakov vertical antenna. It is a 25 ft wire suspended off a 31 ft. SOTA Beam mast on a drive on support base, uses a 4-1 balun and a single 17 ft counterpoise radial. We found our new POTA antenna but no one had an N connector to UHF adaptor. The crank up tower is a bit rusty but looks promising for later.
John KB4QXI couldn't make it for the activation but texted us asking "How are band Conditions?" Danny texted back "There haven't been any decent bands since the 70's" Hi Hi.
On Tuesday Dec 9 Allen KN4FKS was running a shuttle for Karen his wife for a hike on several Pigeon Mountain Trails. While he waited for her at the Estelle Mine Road site he activated CPMWMA US-3742 he had 58 SSB contacts with 21 P2P contacts. He had 8 contacts on 20 meters, 3 on 40, 5 on 17, and the rest on 15. As usual from that location with the iron ore ground DX was coming in well. There were 4 to Canada, 2 to France, and Germany, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, England and a p2p to Portugal. He used the end fed wire sloper antenna.Dec 12, 2025
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0 views This Thursday Dec. 11 we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the main park site on top of the hill. The terrestrial and the space weather cooperated for a fun day of radio.
Danny AG4DW made 123 contacts, 81 SSB and 42 FT8 on 40 and 20 meters. He had 9 DX contacts 7 to Canada then Spain and Slovenia. He was using his elevated vertical, POTA Performer antenna.
Allen KN4FKS made 45 SSB contacts with 8 Park to Park contacts. He had 38 contacts on 15 meters and 7 on 12 meters. There were 11 DX contacts with 3 to Spain, # to Puerto Rico, 2 to Canada, and then Italy, France and St. Kitts-Nevis. Allen used his 17 foot vertical with 8 radials.
Dan K2DTS had 46 contacts on SSB. All were P2P contacts on pretty much all the bands from 10 to 40 meters. He had DX contacts in Chile, Ecuador, and 2 in Puerto Rico. Dan used his Rybakov vertical antenna. It is a 25 ft wire suspended off a 31 ft. SOTA Beam mast on a drive on support base, uses a 4-1 balun and a single 17 ft counterpoise radial. We found our new POTA antenna but no one had an N connector to UHF adaptor. The crank up tower is a bit rusty but looks promising for later.
John KB4QXI couldn't make it for the activation but texted us asking "How are band Conditions?" Danny texted back "There haven't been any decent bands since the 70's" Hi Hi.
On Tuesday Dec 9 Allen KN4FKS was running a shuttle for Karen his wife for a hike on several Pigeon Mountain Trails. While he waited for her at the Estelle Mine Road site he activated CPMWMA US-3742 he had 58 SSB contacts with 21 P2P contacts. He had 8 contacts on 20 meters, 3 on 40, 5 on 17, and the rest on 15. As usual from that location with the iron ore ground DX was coming in well. There were 4 to Canada, 2 to France, and Germany, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, England and a p2p to Portugal. He used the end fed wire sloper antenna.Dec 12, 2025
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2 viewsThis Thursday Dec. 11 we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the main park site on top of the hill. The terrestrial and the space weather cooperated for a fun day of radio.
Danny AG4DW made 123 contacts, 81 SSB and 42 FT8 on 40 and 20 meters. He had 9 DX contacts 7 to Canada then Spain and Slovenia. He was using his elevated vertical, POTA Performer antenna.
Allen KN4FKS made 45 SSB contacts with 8 Park to Park contacts. He had 38 contacts on 15 meters and 7 on 12 meters. There were 11 DX contacts with 3 to Spain, # to Puerto Rico, 2 to Canada, and then Italy, France and St. Kitts-Nevis. Allen used his 17 foot vertical with 8 radials.
Dan K2DTS had 46 contacts on SSB. All were P2P contacts on pretty much all the bands from 10 to 40 meters. He had DX contacts in Chile, Ecuador, and 2 in Puerto Rico. Dan used his Rybakov vertical antenna. It is a 25 ft wire suspended off a 31 ft. SOTA Beam mast on a drive on support base, uses a 4-1 balun and a single 17 ft counterpoise radial. We found our new POTA antenna but no one had an N connector to UHF adaptor. The crank up tower is a bit rusty but looks promising for later.
John KB4QXI couldn't make it for the activation but texted us asking "How are band Conditions?" Danny texted back "There haven't been any decent bands since the 70's" Hi Hi.
On Tuesday Dec 9 Allen KN4FKS was running a shuttle for Karen his wife for a hike on several Pigeon Mountain Trails. While he waited for her at the Estelle Mine Road site he activated CPMWMA US-3742 he had 58 SSB contacts with 21 P2P contacts. He had 8 contacts on 20 meters, 3 on 40, 5 on 17, and the rest on 15. As usual from that location with the iron ore ground DX was coming in well. There were 4 to Canada, 2 to France, and Germany, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, England and a p2p to Portugal. He used the end fed wire sloper antenna.Dec 12, 2025
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1 viewsThis Thursday Dec. 11 we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the main park site on top of the hill. The terrestrial and the space weather cooperated for a fun day of radio.
Danny AG4DW made 123 contacts, 81 SSB and 42 FT8 on 40 and 20 meters. He had 9 DX contacts 7 to Canada then Spain and Slovenia. He was using his elevated vertical, POTA Performer antenna.
Allen KN4FKS made 45 SSB contacts with 8 Park to Park contacts. He had 38 contacts on 15 meters and 7 on 12 meters. There were 11 DX contacts with 3 to Spain, # to Puerto Rico, 2 to Canada, and then Italy, France and St. Kitts-Nevis. Allen used his 17 foot vertical with 8 radials.
Dan K2DTS had 46 contacts on SSB. All were P2P contacts on pretty much all the bands from 10 to 40 meters. He had DX contacts in Chile, Ecuador, and 2 in Puerto Rico. Dan used his Rybakov vertical antenna. It is a 25 ft wire suspended off a 31 ft. SOTA Beam mast on a drive on support base, uses a 4-1 balun and a single 17 ft counterpoise radial. We found our new POTA antenna but no one had an N connector to UHF adaptor. The crank up tower is a bit rusty but looks promising for later.
John KB4QXI couldn't make it for the activation but texted us asking "How are band Conditions?" Danny texted back "There haven't been any decent bands since the 70's" Hi Hi.
On Tuesday Dec 9 Allen KN4FKS was running a shuttle for Karen his wife for a hike on several Pigeon Mountain Trails. While he waited for her at the Estelle Mine Road site he activated CPMWMA US-3742 he had 58 SSB contacts with 21 P2P contacts. He had 8 contacts on 20 meters, 3 on 40, 5 on 17, and the rest on 15. As usual from that location with the iron ore ground DX was coming in well. There were 4 to Canada, 2 to France, and Germany, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, England and a p2p to Portugal. He used the end fed wire sloper antenna.Dec 12, 2025
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0 viewsThis Thursday Dec 4 2025 we activated Summerville Fish Hatchery US-12771. This site was recently added by the POTA folks and is a difficult one to activate. First the signs are small and faded, two the paved public parking lot is small and there are overhead power lines everywhere. LOOK UP BEFORE YOU SET UP ! There is one small grassy area adjacent to the parking lot. On the good side the hatchery staff is friendly, knows about POTA and welcomes Ham visitors.
Allen KN4FKS set up a 17 ft vertical in the grassy area and made 63 SSB contacts 5 on 12 meters, 7 on 10 meters, and the rest on 20 meters. He had 13 Park to Park contacts, with DX to Brazil, Spain and the Netherlands.
Danny AG4DW set up his Pota Performer vertical on the other end of the small grassy spot and made 73 contacts, 37 on SSB and 36 FT8 on 40,20 and 17 meters. He had DX to Canada (2) France (2) and Spain (2).
John KB4QXI got there late as usual and set up next to the dumpster with his ham stick on top of the car. He had 56 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 15 P2P contacts with three P2P's with Canadian parks.
Dan K2DTS set up across the parking lot with his 17 ft whip mounted on the car. He had 24 contacts 7 SSB and 17 FT8 on 20, 17, and 15 meters. He had DX to Canada, Italy, Belgium, France, Ecuador, and the Canary Islands.
Apologies to Danny as I completely forgot to take his photo when I had the camera out even though I had him take my photo. Maybe next time.Dec 06, 2025
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