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 Most viewed - 2026 |
5 viewsThis week our POTA group met up at Russell Cave National Monument (US-0960), near Bridgeport, AL, on Thursday, October 8. The weather was perfect with an absolutely clear sky (I think pilots call it "severe clear") and the temps were more in keeping with fall weather! We met up about 30 minutes earlier than usual to allow ample time to make it back to the TSARC meeting but return traffic on I-24 East almost foiled us anyway! This is a really nice site with several picnic tables and more than a few shade trees. Nobody had cellular service, though!
Ed (KM6UTC) set up inside his Range Rover and used his ATAS antenna to make 45 FT8 contacts, mostly on 20 Meters but a few on 30 and 17 Meters, too! DX included; Canada, Ceuta & Melilla, Slovak Republic, Chile, Germany and France.
Micha (K3WGC) set up his painter's pole mast with a "drive-on" mast holder in a unique way. Instead of driving over it with his truck, he slightly lifted one end of the picnic table he was using at the park, slid the holder under the leg, and let the weight of the heavy-duty table hold it down. Then with his 20 Meter hamstick dipole on top he used his Xiegu G90, at 20 watts, and made at least 16 Park-to-park contacts!
Danny (AG4DW) set up his KJ6ER Performer antenna with elevated radials and started out on 40 Meters SSB and got a quick 27 contacts. Switching to 15 Meters and FT8 mode, he managed another 21 contacts. Finally, switching to 20 Meters, he hunted for another quick 5 contacts, including the Mother Ship (W1AW). Total of 54 contacts for the day, including 9 Park-to-park contacts. DX (14) included: Belize, Canada (4), Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Poland, Puerto Rico (2), Spain (2) and Switzerland. All on 15 Meters.
Having a need to stay a little closer to home this week, Dave (KQ4GLQ) and Maurice (KO4MPH) ran a two-operator activation at Cloudland Canyon State Park (US-2160) from the Nick-a-Jack Trailhead. Dave had a total of 87 contacts; 33 SSB on 40 Meters, 33 SSB on 20 Meters and 21 FT8 on 40 Meters. Maurice had 36 SSB contacts for the day.
Jim (N4WWE) activated Chattanooga and Chickamauga NMP (US-0716) and Trail of Tears (US-3791) with a 20 Meter hamstick and was QRP at 5 watts. After successfully hunting AG4DW, KQ4GLQ and KO4MPH at their respective parks, he went on to make a total of 18 contacts.
Earlier in the week:
Allen (KN4FKS) headed up to Otting WMA (US-7913), near Cloudland, GA, on Monday, October 5. Allen is getting closer to his Kilo at that park. On Monday he had 125 SSB contacts which leaves him only 93 more to go!
Danny (AG4DW) set up in Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park (US-0716) on Wednesday, October 7, at the recreation area behind Wilder's Tower. He had a total of 138 contacts on 40 and 20 Meters using both SSB and FT8.
And congratulations to Doug (W4LAW) who managed a total of 5 activations at Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park (US-0716) this past week and crushing through his 4th Kilo at this park! 421 total contacts in US-0716 just in the past week!
>>>>>> And don't forget to listen for Allen Padgett (KN4FKS) and John Law (KB4QXI) calling CQ this weekend. They are in Mentone, AL, at a Cave-In meeting, and will be playing radio in between activities, with probably some other operators thrown in. Maybe they will do some 40 Meter SSB so we can have a better chance of hearing them. Set them up in HamAlert and make contact!
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4 viewsThis Thursday July 23 we activated the Otting WMA US-7913. The weather cooperated and was not too hot and the bands were rather active and low noise.
John KB4QXI made 14 Park to Park SSB contacts on 20 meters using his end fed half wave wire rigged as a sloper.
Danny AG4DW used his elevated radial pota performer 17 ft. vertical antenna to make 57 total contacts. He had 55 FT8 and 9 SSB contacts on 40, 80, 17,and 12 meter bands, with dx to Brazil and Canada.
Ed KM6UTC set up his backseat shack and used his ATAS 120 A antenna to make 79 total FT8 contacts. He worked 40, 30, 17, 15 and 6 meter bands and had 13 contacts on 6 meters (and the 6m band was supposed to be dead) He had DX to Canada, Brazil, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Allen KN4FKS had 65 total SSB QSO's with 26 P2P contacts and DX to Canada (5) Puerto Rico, and the Cayman Islands. He used his 17 ft vertical with the faraday cloth radials
In other POTA news Ed got his POTA KILO award for making 1000 activator contacts from the Trail of Tears US-3791. Way to go Ed ! Danny AG4DW on his third try actually found the Dekalb County State Public Fishing Area US 13340 open for visitors. He made 32 contacts all SSB on 20 meters with 25 P2P. One P2P contact had two operators and was a "five fer" site as well He also had DX to France and Canada.
Just as a side note would you know what to do if on the way to a POTA activation site you came across an elderly man laying in the grass on the side of the road? Just such a similar thing occurred Tuesday evening. The Walker County Cave Cliff team was gathering for a training session on the South Brow Road on top of Pigeon Mountain. The first team member headed down the road came across the man in the grass. Stopping she rendered aid to him and was quickly joined by other team members, The 81 year old man had been reported missing Sunday evening in Lafayette. He had left home in a white Honda sedan. It was not anywhere near him. I quick call to Walker 911 got an officer to come and take him home. The elderly man advised his vehicle was stuck on a road somewhere. He did not know where. He was taken home and the family was glad to have him back. The vehicle was located by an equestrian group on a trail deep in the woods the next day. He had driven the sedan over a berm adjacent to the gate where we often set for POTA on South brow road. The DNR folks were able to get the vehicle out of the woods successfully. Would you have water, electrolyte drink with you to give someone in need? Would you know how to describe to the 911 dispatcher where you actually were located? The nearest address in their computer system was over 5 miles away. Could you decide whether an ambulance was needed? What if you had no cell service to call 911. Could you relay the needed information via Ham radio to the dispatcher? What if you were the Ham sitting at home and heard the emergency traffic call on the local repeater. Would you know who to call and what information is needed?
Stay safe POTA friends, remember look up before you set up. Hazards come in many shapes and sizes.
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4 viewsI think Danny AG4DW said it best " we had great weather till we didn't"
This Friday Aug. 7 we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the Nickajack trailhead. At about 1:30 pm we notice the air getting cooler, we hear thunder in the distance and over the treetops see a huge black cloud coming our way. Quickly we went into demobilization mode. It started a light rain as we finished packing up then the bottom fell out, It rained a lot. Oddly as we drove home we drove right out of the storm onto dry pavement. Our luck. However before the storm hit we all had a good day on the radio.
Danny AG4DW set up his 17 ft vertical with elevated radials and made 59 contacts, 44 SSB on 20 meters then 15 FT8 contacts on 17 meters. He had 15 Park to Park contacts as well. It was an odd twenty meter propagation day. The usual contacts weren't there but the entire west coast was there.
Allen KN4FKS set up his end fed wire half wave and made 36 contacts on 40 meters with 5 P2P contacts. After lunch he turned the rig over to Jonathon AA6H who cranked out 15 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 5 P2P contacts before the storm came.
David WK4DS set up his truck mounted 17 ft vertical and made 17 total contacts on 17,15, and 10 meters, 6 were CW and 11 were FT8 with 1 P2P.
Staying closer to home, Ed KM6UTC activated the Trail of Tears US-3791 at the Browns Ferry Tavern site. He had 60 FT8 QSO's on 6,17, and 20 meters. He had DX contacts in Cuba, France and Canada.
Just a heads up to put on your calendar. The 163rd anniversary of the battle that took place at the site in the Chickamauga Battlefield where we activate often will be on Saturday September 19 2026. We plan to activate that day from the picnic area site where on that day many years ago cannons roared, rifles fired and men died. It is a special hallowed place in our nations history. Plan to come join us on this special day.
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4 viewsIt has been a busy POTA week. On Monday Aug. 10 2026 Danny AG4DW and Allen KN4FKS met at the Estelle Mine Road site on Pigeon Mountain US-3742 for a ' Late Shift ' activation. The POTA day begins at 00:00 UTC so it's after 8 pm here.
Danny had two activations, He had 24 contacts before 8pm and 55 afterwards. He had 26 SSB contacts on 20 meters then 53 FT8 contacts on 30 meters. He had 8 Park to Parks and 11 DX contacts to Bahamas, Brazil, Germany (2) Puerto Rico (3) Canada (3) and Lebanon.
Allen had 117 SSB contacts after 8 pm. 58 on 20 meters and 59 on 40 meters, with 3 P2P and DX to Canada (3) and Alaska.
On Wednesday Aug. 12 Ed KM6UTC activated the Trail of Tears US-3791 from the Tavern site. He made 72 FT8 contacts with DX to Lithuania, Alaska, St. Vincent, Brazil, Cuba, Italy, The Netherlands, and Canada.
On Thursday we activated the Chickamauga National Battlefield US-0716 from the picnic area site on Brotherton rd.
Dave KQ4GLQ arrived early and got to meet the resident picnic area crazy guy. who was having breakfast there and taking a bath behind the nearby monument. After setting up his vertical Dave made 92 contacts 82 FT8 contacts on 20 meters with * DX contacts to Canada (5) France and Asiatic Russia (that's Siberia) Then he also made 21 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 19 P2P contacts and 4 DX to Canada.
Danny AG4DW set up his elevated radial vertical and made 44 contacts, 3 SSB each on 80 10 and 6 meters. He then made 35 FT8 contacts on 40 meters and 6 on 15 meters with 6 P2P contacts. Allen KN4FKS set up his 17 ft vertical with the faraday cloth radials and made 17 SSB contacts with 6 P2P and 1 DX to Puerto Rico. He had 2 contacts on 10 meters, 2 on 6 meters, and 2 on 80 meters. In just over an hour of calling CQ POTA on 17 meters made 11 contacts. Having a voice keyer built into the ICOM 7300 made it possible to take a nap between contacts while the keyer continued making the CQ calls. (see attached photo)
For an 'eyeball' QSO Steve KN4GZZ stopped by and visited for a while. The heat of the day resulted in the 'FUN meter' begging to bottom out. So everyone packed up and called it a day early.
Ed KM6UTC dropped by the Cravens House site on the Chickamauga Battlefield US-0716 for a quick activation also on Thursday. He had 48 FT8 contacts on 30,20, 17, and 15 meters. He gave 6 meters a go but it was dead. He had DX to Canada, Italy, and the Dominican Republic.
The weather was hot and the bands were warm but all had a fun POTA week.
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4 viewsThis Thursday September 10, 2026 we activated J.F. Sloppy Floyd State Park US-2187.
Danny AG4DW set up his elevated radial 17 ft vertical and made a total of 57 contacts. On 40 meters FT8 he made 17. On 30 meters FT8 he made 31 and on 15 meters he made 9 more. He had DX to Brazil, Canada (3) Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Honduras.
Allen KN4FKS set up his end fed wire sloper and Made a total of 78 SSB contacts. On 40 meters he had 73 contacts, 3 on 17 meters and one each on 12 and 15. He had no DX and 6 P2P contacts.
Micha K3WGC set up his mast mounted ham stick dipole and made 12 SSB contacts on 20 meters using his G90 at 20 watts. He had 11 P2P contacts, He had 2 DX to Canada.
In other activations Dan K2DTS was able to get away over to the Battlefield US-0716 on Wednesday during the solar storm arrival and scratched out 10 contacts using his magnet mount 17 ft whip. He had one rag chew contact to California which was amazing considering the band conditions.
Over the weekend Danny AG4DW was traveling and stopped by a few POTA parks and did quick activations. In Alabama on Friday he activated Fair Oak Mountain SP US-1049 with 16 contacts, then on Saturday activated Lamar State Fishing Lake US-13344 with 20 contacts and then at Armory State Recreation area US-7133 made 24 quick contacts.
POTA ON!
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4 viewsChickamauga National Battlefield US-0716 is a special place for Georgia POTA. 163 years ago today the bloody battle started. The picnic area where we activate was the frontline of the Union Army defense on Saturday September 19, 1863. The Ohio artillery was booming and the Indiana infantry was firing and people on both sides were dying. Today Sept. 19 2026 we made over 150 contacts with POTA folks from the park and explained POTA and ham radio to visitors using the picnic area with us. The two activators were Danny AG4DW and Allen KN4FKS. Dave KQ4GLQ and Dan W2DTS dropped by to provide adult supervision.
Allen KN4FKS set up his usual end fed wire and made 51 SSB contacts total with 20 on 20 meters and 31 on 40 meters. He had 22 Park to Park contacts with no DX contacts.
Danny AG4DW set up his usual elevated radial 17 ft vertical and made 103 contacts total. 31 were SSB on 40 meters and 72 were Ft8 contacts on 40,20, and 15 meters. He had 8 P2P and 8 DX contacts, 5 to Canada, 2 to Italy and 1 to the Czech Republic.
Earlier in the week Danny also activated the battlefield on Tuesday making 107 contacts with 28 P2P contacts. 39 were SSB on 40 and 20 meters and 68 Ft8 contacts on 40,20,17, and 15 meters. He had DX to Canada (7) France Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic. Then again on Thursday he activated the battlefield making 130 contacts with 26 P2P contacts. 63 were SSB on 40 and 20 meters. and 67 FT8 contacts on 40,20 and 15 meters. He had DX to Canada (9) Spain (2) and Cuba.
Allen on Thursday activated the Otting WMA US-7913 starting early to avoid the heat and made 118 SSB contacts with 11 P2P's. 107 were on 40 meters and 11 were on 20 meters with 6 DX contacts 5 to Canada and 1 to the Bahamas.
Since January of 2016 Chickamauga Battlefield US-0716 has been activated 734 times with a total of 25,974 contacts made. We keep doing our part to raise that number and have fun doing it.
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4 viewsChickamauga National Battlefield US-0716 is a special place for Georgia POTA. 163 years ago today the bloody battle started. The picnic area where we activate was the frontline of the Union Army defense on Saturday September 19, 1863. The Ohio artillery was booming and the Indiana infantry was firing and people on both sides were dying. Today Sept. 19 2026 we made over 150 contacts with POTA folks from the park and explained POTA and ham radio to visitors using the picnic area with us. The two activators were Danny AG4DW and Allen KN4FKS. Dave KQ4GLQ and Dan W2DTS dropped by to provide adult supervision.
Allen KN4FKS set up his usual end fed wire and made 51 SSB contacts total with 20 on 20 meters and 31 on 40 meters. He had 22 Park to Park contacts with no DX contacts.
Danny AG4DW set up his usual elevated radial 17 ft vertical and made 103 contacts total. 31 were SSB on 40 meters and 72 were Ft8 contacts on 40,20, and 15 meters. He had 8 P2P and 8 DX contacts, 5 to Canada, 2 to Italy and 1 to the Czech Republic.
Earlier in the week Danny also activated the battlefield on Tuesday making 107 contacts with 28 P2P contacts. 39 were SSB on 40 and 20 meters and 68 Ft8 contacts on 40,20,17, and 15 meters. He had DX to Canada (7) France Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic. Then again on Thursday he activated the battlefield making 130 contacts with 26 P2P contacts. 63 were SSB on 40 and 20 meters. and 67 FT8 contacts on 40,20 and 15 meters. He had DX to Canada (9) Spain (2) and Cuba.
Allen on Thursday activated the Otting WMA US-7913 starting early to avoid the heat and made 118 SSB contacts with 11 P2P's. 107 were on 40 meters and 11 were on 20 meters with 6 DX contacts 5 to Canada and 1 to the Bahamas.
Since January of 2016 Chickamauga Battlefield US-0716 has been activated 734 times with a total of 25,974 contacts made. We keep doing our part to raise that number and have fun doing it.
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4 viewsChickamauga National Battlefield US-0716 is a special place for Georgia POTA. 163 years ago today the bloody battle started. The picnic area where we activate was the frontline of the Union Army defense on Saturday September 19, 1863. The Ohio artillery was booming and the Indiana infantry was firing and people on both sides were dying. Today Sept. 19 2026 we made over 150 contacts with POTA folks from the park and explained POTA and ham radio to visitors using the picnic area with us. The two activators were Danny AG4DW and Allen KN4FKS. Dave KQ4GLQ and Dan W2DTS dropped by to provide adult supervision.
Allen KN4FKS set up his usual end fed wire and made 51 SSB contacts total with 20 on 20 meters and 31 on 40 meters. He had 22 Park to Park contacts with no DX contacts.
Danny AG4DW set up his usual elevated radial 17 ft vertical and made 103 contacts total. 31 were SSB on 40 meters and 72 were Ft8 contacts on 40,20, and 15 meters. He had 8 P2P and 8 DX contacts, 5 to Canada, 2 to Italy and 1 to the Czech Republic.
Earlier in the week Danny also activated the battlefield on Tuesday making 107 contacts with 28 P2P contacts. 39 were SSB on 40 and 20 meters and 68 Ft8 contacts on 40,20,17, and 15 meters. He had DX to Canada (7) France Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic. Then again on Thursday he activated the battlefield making 130 contacts with 26 P2P contacts. 63 were SSB on 40 and 20 meters. and 67 FT8 contacts on 40,20 and 15 meters. He had DX to Canada (9) Spain (2) and Cuba.
Allen on Thursday activated the Otting WMA US-7913 starting early to avoid the heat and made 118 SSB contacts with 11 P2P's. 107 were on 40 meters and 11 were on 20 meters with 6 DX contacts 5 to Canada and 1 to the Bahamas.
Since January of 2016 Chickamauga Battlefield US-0716 has been activated 734 times with a total of 25,974 contacts made. We keep doing our part to raise that number and have fun doing it.
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4 viewsThis week our POTA group met up at Russell Cave National Monument (US-0960), near Bridgeport, AL, on Thursday, October 8. The weather was perfect with an absolutely clear sky (I think pilots call it "severe clear") and the temps were more in keeping with fall weather! We met up about 30 minutes earlier than usual to allow ample time to make it back to the TSARC meeting but return traffic on I-24 East almost foiled us anyway! This is a really nice site with several picnic tables and more than a few shade trees. Nobody had cellular service, though!
Ed (KM6UTC) set up inside his Range Rover and used his ATAS antenna to make 45 FT8 contacts, mostly on 20 Meters but a few on 30 and 17 Meters, too! DX included; Canada, Ceuta & Melilla, Slovak Republic, Chile, Germany and France.
Micha (K3WGC) set up his painter's pole mast with a "drive-on" mast holder in a unique way. Instead of driving over it with his truck, he slightly lifted one end of the picnic table he was using at the park, slid the holder under the leg, and let the weight of the heavy-duty table hold it down. Then with his 20 Meter hamstick dipole on top he used his Xiegu G90, at 20 watts, and made at least 16 Park-to-park contacts!
Danny (AG4DW) set up his KJ6ER Performer antenna with elevated radials and started out on 40 Meters SSB and got a quick 27 contacts. Switching to 15 Meters and FT8 mode, he managed another 21 contacts. Finally, switching to 20 Meters, he hunted for another quick 5 contacts, including the Mother Ship (W1AW). Total of 54 contacts for the day, including 9 Park-to-park contacts. DX (14) included: Belize, Canada (4), Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Poland, Puerto Rico (2), Spain (2) and Switzerland. All on 15 Meters.
Having a need to stay a little closer to home this week, Dave (KQ4GLQ) and Maurice (KO4MPH) ran a two-operator activation at Cloudland Canyon State Park (US-2160) from the Nick-a-Jack Trailhead. Dave had a total of 87 contacts; 33 SSB on 40 Meters, 33 SSB on 20 Meters and 21 FT8 on 40 Meters. Maurice had 36 SSB contacts for the day.
Jim (N4WWE) activated Chattanooga and Chickamauga NMP (US-0716) and Trail of Tears (US-3791) with a 20 Meter hamstick and was QRP at 5 watts. After successfully hunting AG4DW, KQ4GLQ and KO4MPH at their respective parks, he went on to make a total of 18 contacts.
Earlier in the week:
Allen (KN4FKS) headed up to Otting WMA (US-7913), near Cloudland, GA, on Monday, October 5. Allen is getting closer to his Kilo at that park. On Monday he had 125 SSB contacts which leaves him only 93 more to go!
Danny (AG4DW) set up in Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park (US-0716) on Wednesday, October 7, at the recreation area behind Wilder's Tower. He had a total of 138 contacts on 40 and 20 Meters using both SSB and FT8.
And congratulations to Doug (W4LAW) who managed a total of 5 activations at Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park (US-0716) this past week and crushing through his 4th Kilo at this park! 421 total contacts in US-0716 just in the past week!
>>>>>> And don't forget to listen for Allen Padgett (KN4FKS) and John Law (KB4QXI) calling CQ this weekend. They are in Mentone, AL, at a Cave-In meeting, and will be playing radio in between activities, with probably some other operators thrown in. Maybe they will do some 40 Meter SSB so we can have a better chance of hearing them. Set them up in HamAlert and make contact!
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4 viewsThursday was POTA day. I had not been out in a while and it was good to get back on the bands in the big woods. We activated a three-fer, Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499, Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3791 and Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955, The three POTA intidities come together at one small trailhead / picnic area on the huge forest.
Ed KM6UTC used his back seat shack and the ATAS auto adjust antenna and Made 34 FT8 contacts on 20 meters, 27 FT8 contacts on 30 meters 16 FT8 contacts on 17 meters and 17 FT8 contacts on 12 meters. For Ed jumping around the bands is easy with the Yaesu ATAS system. He had DX contacts to Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, El Salvador, Azores, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Venezuela.
Danny AG4DW had 140 total contacts using his elevated radial vertical antenna system. On 40 meters he had 27 SSB contacts and 4 FT8 contacts. On 20 meters he had 75 SSB contacts and 18 FT8 contacts. He finished up on 15 meters with 16 FT8 contacts. He had 18 DX contacts with 13 Canadian contacts then 2 Itilians, Cuba, Spain and Luxembourg.
Allen KN4FKS Had 54 total SSB contacts using his end fed wire antenna. He had 41 contacts on 40 meters and 13 contacts on 20 meters. He had 22 Park to Park contacts and an unusual contacts with Big Foot. A special event station W8I was Big Foot on the radio!. Also of note was a Park to Park from Dom NC4XL in costal North Carolina. Dom has 1077 activations and an absolutely astonishing activator contact total of 262435. That's two hundred sixty two thousand plus contacts. WOW !!!
Barry W4LKT came by with his wife and set up his 20 watt Radioddity radio into a trunk lip mounted mobile antenna. !0 meters was just not happening for him or anyone else for that matter. Motivation to get that General upgrade and bring some other bands and some power into the POTA game.
Micha KO4MPH avoided the RF crash of the trail head and set up a short distance away down the road using his G-90 and his drive over mast with a ham stick dipole. He made 20 SSB contacts with 19 Park to Park contacts. One contact was a Seven-fer. On the National Mall in Washington DC there is one place where this is actually possible.
It was a wonderful day in the big woods with several hikers using the trailhead taking a moment to see what we were doing with our strange radio stuff. Handed out several POTA brochures and TSARC fact sheets.
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