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 Most viewed - 2026 |
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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3 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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3 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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2 viewsOur plan worked for once. This week we activated Pigeon Mountain US-3742 from the South Brow site. It was nice and shady, a light breeze blew and it never really got that hot. The bands also cooperated enough to make it a fun day.
Allen KN4FKS set up his end fed wire as a sloper and worked 40 meters SSB. He made 47 contacts with one Park to Park and no DX. A useful accessory for POTA this time of year is a small clamp on 12 volt fan.
Danny AG4DW set up his POTA Performer 17 ft vertical and made 69 total contacts. 21 SSB contacts on 20 meters, then 41 FT8 contacts also on 20 meters. Then he made 7 FT8 contacts on 15 meters. He had 4 P2P contacts and DX to Canada (5) Cuba, France, and the Netherlands.
Jim K4WWE set up his Horizon Antennas Vertical Dipole and made 11 contacts for a successful activation.
Doug W4LAW came by to check on us and provide some adult supervision.
It was a fun day proving you can actually successfully activate a park in the summer heat if you pick your spot carefully.
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2 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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2 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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2 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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2 viewsThis Thursday we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the main park site.It was a beautiful fall day and the space weather also cooperated.
Just to prove what you can do as a Technician ham Barry W4LKT used his privileges on 10 meter SSB with help of a vertical antenna on loan from Danny AG4DW. His first contact was to South Africa and then followed by 10 more contacts for a quick successful activation.
Danny AG4DW had a total of 45 contacts with 3 Park to Park contacts 15 on 20 and 10 meters then he moved to 30 meters FT8 and made 30 contacts with DX to Canada and Puerto Rico.
Ed KM6UTC cranked out 86 total contacts on 40 meter FT8. He had DX to the Netherlands, France, Canada, Cuba, and Switzerland.
Mica K3WGC had 15 SSB contacts with 14 P2P contacts using his usual drive on 20 ft. mast supporting a twin Hamstick dipole. He had a contact with one of hamdoms YouTube Hams. "The Southern Ham" so maybe Mica will be famous now?
Allen KN4FKS set up his 25 ft vertical with the Faraday Cloth radials He made 46 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 15 P2P contacts. No DX
Earlier in the week on Tuesday Allen KN4FKS went to the Otting WMA US-7913 to scratch an itch. When a POTA activator gets close to having 1000 contacts from a particular park it becomes an obsession. Tuesday brought Allen within 91 contacts of that POTA KILO award. Success was had by starting on 40 meters then moving to 20 meters. The total was 106 SSB contacts with 24 P2P and 2 DX to Canada. The grand total is now 1013 for Otting contacts. Itch scratched!
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2 viewsThis Thursday we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the main park site.It was a beautiful fall day and the space weather also cooperated.
Just to prove what you can do as a Technician ham Barry W4LKT used his privileges on 10 meter SSB with help of a vertical antenna on loan from Danny AG4DW. His first contact was to South Africa and then followed by 10 more contacts for a quick successful activation.
Danny AG4DW had a total of 45 contacts with 3 Park to Park contacts 15 on 20 and 10 meters then he moved to 30 meters FT8 and made 30 contacts with DX to Canada and Puerto Rico.
Ed KM6UTC cranked out 86 total contacts on 40 meter FT8. He had DX to the Netherlands, France, Canada, Cuba, and Switzerland.
Mica K3WGC had 15 SSB contacts with 14 P2P contacts using his usual drive on 20 ft. mast supporting a twin Hamstick dipole. He had a contact with one of hamdoms YouTube Hams. "The Southern Ham" so maybe Mica will be famous now?
Allen KN4FKS set up his 25 ft vertical with the Faraday Cloth radials He made 46 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 15 P2P contacts. No DX
Earlier in the week on Tuesday Allen KN4FKS went to the Otting WMA US-7913 to scratch an itch. When a POTA activator gets close to having 1000 contacts from a particular park it becomes an obsession. Tuesday brought Allen within 91 contacts of that POTA KILO award. Success was had by starting on 40 meters then moving to 20 meters. The total was 106 SSB contacts with 24 P2P and 2 DX to Canada. The grand total is now 1013 for Otting contacts. Itch scratched!
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1 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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1 viewsThis Thursday we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the main park site.It was a beautiful fall day and the space weather also cooperated.
Just to prove what you can do as a Technician ham Barry W4LKT used his privileges on 10 meter SSB with help of a vertical antenna on loan from Danny AG4DW. His first contact was to South Africa and then followed by 10 more contacts for a quick successful activation.
Danny AG4DW had a total of 45 contacts with 3 Park to Park contacts 15 on 20 and 10 meters then he moved to 30 meters FT8 and made 30 contacts with DX to Canada and Puerto Rico.
Ed KM6UTC cranked out 86 total contacts on 40 meter FT8. He had DX to the Netherlands, France, Canada, Cuba, and Switzerland.
Mica K3WGC had 15 SSB contacts with 14 P2P contacts using his usual drive on 20 ft. mast supporting a twin Hamstick dipole. He had a contact with one of hamdoms YouTube Hams. "The Southern Ham" so maybe Mica will be famous now?
Allen KN4FKS set up his 25 ft vertical with the Faraday Cloth radials He made 46 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 15 P2P contacts. No DX
Earlier in the week on Tuesday Allen KN4FKS went to the Otting WMA US-7913 to scratch an itch. When a POTA activator gets close to having 1000 contacts from a particular park it becomes an obsession. Tuesday brought Allen within 91 contacts of that POTA KILO award. Success was had by starting on 40 meters then moving to 20 meters. The total was 106 SSB contacts with 24 P2P and 2 DX to Canada. The grand total is now 1013 for Otting contacts. Itch scratched!
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1 viewsThis Thursday we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the main park site.It was a beautiful fall day and the space weather also cooperated.
Just to prove what you can do as a Technician ham Barry W4LKT used his privileges on 10 meter SSB with help of a vertical antenna on loan from Danny AG4DW. His first contact was to South Africa and then followed by 10 more contacts for a quick successful activation.
Danny AG4DW had a total of 45 contacts with 3 Park to Park contacts 15 on 20 and 10 meters then he moved to 30 meters FT8 and made 30 contacts with DX to Canada and Puerto Rico.
Ed KM6UTC cranked out 86 total contacts on 40 meter FT8. He had DX to the Netherlands, France, Canada, Cuba, and Switzerland.
Mica K3WGC had 15 SSB contacts with 14 P2P contacts using his usual drive on 20 ft. mast supporting a twin Hamstick dipole. He had a contact with one of hamdoms YouTube Hams. "The Southern Ham" so maybe Mica will be famous now?
Allen KN4FKS set up his 25 ft vertical with the Faraday Cloth radials He made 46 SSB contacts on 20 meters with 15 P2P contacts. No DX
Earlier in the week on Tuesday Allen KN4FKS went to the Otting WMA US-7913 to scratch an itch. When a POTA activator gets close to having 1000 contacts from a particular park it becomes an obsession. Tuesday brought Allen within 91 contacts of that POTA KILO award. Success was had by starting on 40 meters then moving to 20 meters. The total was 106 SSB contacts with 24 P2P and 2 DX to Canada. The grand total is now 1013 for Otting contacts. Itch scratched!
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