|
 Most viewed |
68 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.
|
|
68 views
|
|
67 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.
|
|
66 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.
|
|
63 views
|
|
61 views
|
|
57 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.
|
|
53 viewsWe activated Berry College WMA US-3734 this Thursday Nov. 20, The grassy camping area was open and allowed us plenty of room to set up. The morning fog finally lifted and it turned into a wonderful day. The space weather cooperated as well with good band conditions from 40 to 10.
Allen KN4FKS made a total of 88 SSB contacts, 66 on 20 meters, 18 on 17 meters, and 5 on 12 meters with 27 Park to Park contacts. Just 2 DX to France and Bermuda.
John KB4QXI made 35 SSB contacts on 40 meters with 4 P2P and no DX.
Felton AF4DN joined us for the day and made 49 FT8 contacts, 10 on 10 meters, 9 on 17 meters, and 30 on 20 meters with 2 P2P contacts. He had DX to Germany, Poland, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Columbia, and the Balearic Islands. On the way home he stopped at Arrowhead WMA US-7897 to activate there as a new park for him. He made 22 FT8 contacts there.
Danny AG4DW was "challenged" for the day and decided to stop at Sloppy Floyd State Park US-2187 to be "close to a bathroom" In spite of that issue he had a successful day making a total of 212 Contacts, 61 FT8 and 151 SSB. Wow! On Tuesday Danny also activated Sloppy Floyd SP making 102 SSB contacts that day. I think he must be closing in on a KILO award for that park.
This coming week is Thanksgiving so our normal Thursday activation is on hold. I think if we played radio all that day there would be several new SK's. So see you in December.
|
|
26 viewsWell I waited for everyone to show up at 10:00 am but nobody came. Friday Dec. 26 I activated Everglades National Park US-0024 from the Long Pine Key picnic area.
I set up the 17 ft. vertical with a single long counterpoise, used the trusty old ICOM 706 MkIIG at 100 watts. On 20 meters SSB I made 31 contacts with 9 Park to Park contacts as well. There was not a lot of shade in the picnic area so it got hot fast Just after noon it was 81 degrees F.
This was the first time I had activated the Everglades and the first time I've had to worry about alligators. The picnic area is next to a small lake and gators are plentiful there. While having lunch 4 acrobatic airplanes put on a show to my east. Fun day in an amazing national park.
Anybody else been out recently?
|
|
26 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.
|
|
26 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.
|
|
25 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.
|
|
| 4018 files on 335 page(s) |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
334 |
|
|
|
|
