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175 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?
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155 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,
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154 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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153 viewsThis Friday March 6 we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the Ascalon Trailhead.
Danny AG4DW set up his 'POTA Performer vertical and made a total of 121 contacts. 83 were SSB on 40-15-20 meters. He then made 38 FT8 contacts on 15 meters. DX was hopping as there is a DX contest this weekend. He made contacts in Bermuda, Brazil, Canada (4) Canary Islands, England, Germany (2) France (2) Spain (2) Switzerland, Venezuela.
Allen KN4FKS set up his end fed half wave wire antenna rigged as a sloper. He made 108 SSB contacts, 39 were Park to Park contacts. 100 on 20 meters, 8 on 10 meters. Ten was open long and he made DX contacts to Hawaii, Spain, Brazil, Canada and Puerto Rico.
John KB4QXI came late and set up his ham stick and made one P2P contact and his 891 radio had a crazy menu fit and refused to work any further. Tony WA4TW knows the fix and will assist John in solving the issue.
On Thursday Dan K2DTS activated the Chickamauga Battlefield US-0716 on 20 meters and made 74 contacts in quick order, 21 were hunted P2P contacts then 42 set and call 'CQ POTA' he then capped it off with 11 FT8 contacts.
On Tuesday Allen KN4FKS ran over to Pigeon Mountain US-3742 and made a quick 140 SSB contacts in two hours on 20 meters using the 25 ft. vertical and the Faraday cloth radials. He had 20 Park to Park contacts and the only DX was two contacts in Canada. This days effort sent Allen's total number of POTA activation contacts to over 15,000. Time flies when you are having fun.
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152 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,
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148 viewsThis Friday March 6 we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the Ascalon Trailhead.
Danny AG4DW set up his 'POTA Performer vertical and made a total of 121 contacts. 83 were SSB on 40-15-20 meters. He then made 38 FT8 contacts on 15 meters. DX was hopping as there is a DX contest this weekend. He made contacts in Bermuda, Brazil, Canada (4) Canary Islands, England, Germany (2) France (2) Spain (2) Switzerland, Venezuela.
Allen KN4FKS set up his end fed half wave wire antenna rigged as a sloper. He made 108 SSB contacts, 39 were Park to Park contacts. 100 on 20 meters, 8 on 10 meters. Ten was open long and he made DX contacts to Hawaii, Spain, Brazil, Canada and Puerto Rico.
John KB4QXI came late and set up his ham stick and made one P2P contact and his 891 radio had a crazy menu fit and refused to work any further. Tony WA4TW knows the fix and will assist John in solving the issue.
On Thursday Dan K2DTS activated the Chickamauga Battlefield US-0716 on 20 meters and made 74 contacts in quick order, 21 were hunted P2P contacts then 42 set and call 'CQ POTA' he then capped it off with 11 FT8 contacts.
On Tuesday Allen KN4FKS ran over to Pigeon Mountain US-3742 and made a quick 140 SSB contacts in two hours on 20 meters using the 25 ft. vertical and the Faraday cloth radials. He had 20 Park to Park contacts and the only DX was two contacts in Canada. This days effort sent Allen's total number of POTA activation contacts to over 15,000. Time flies when you are having fun.
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135 viewsThis Friday March 6 we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the Ascalon Trailhead.
Danny AG4DW set up his 'POTA Performer vertical and made a total of 121 contacts. 83 were SSB on 40-15-20 meters. He then made 38 FT8 contacts on 15 meters. DX was hopping as there is a DX contest this weekend. He made contacts in Bermuda, Brazil, Canada (4) Canary Islands, England, Germany (2) France (2) Spain (2) Switzerland, Venezuela.
Allen KN4FKS set up his end fed half wave wire antenna rigged as a sloper. He made 108 SSB contacts, 39 were Park to Park contacts. 100 on 20 meters, 8 on 10 meters. Ten was open long and he made DX contacts to Hawaii, Spain, Brazil, Canada and Puerto Rico.
John KB4QXI came late and set up his ham stick and made one P2P contact and his 891 radio had a crazy menu fit and refused to work any further. Tony WA4TW knows the fix and will assist John in solving the issue.
On Thursday Dan K2DTS activated the Chickamauga Battlefield US-0716 on 20 meters and made 74 contacts in quick order, 21 were hunted P2P contacts then 42 set and call 'CQ POTA' he then capped it off with 11 FT8 contacts.
On Tuesday Allen KN4FKS ran over to Pigeon Mountain US-3742 and made a quick 140 SSB contacts in two hours on 20 meters using the 25 ft. vertical and the Faraday cloth radials. He had 20 Park to Park contacts and the only DX was two contacts in Canada. This days effort sent Allen's total number of POTA activation contacts to over 15,000. Time flies when you are having fun.
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126 viewsThis Friday March 6 we activated Cloudland Canyon State Park US-2169 from the Ascalon Trailhead.
Danny AG4DW set up his 'POTA Performer vertical and made a total of 121 contacts. 83 were SSB on 40-15-20 meters. He then made 38 FT8 contacts on 15 meters. DX was hopping as there is a DX contest this weekend. He made contacts in Bermuda, Brazil, Canada (4) Canary Islands, England, Germany (2) France (2) Spain (2) Switzerland, Venezuela.
Allen KN4FKS set up his end fed half wave wire antenna rigged as a sloper. He made 108 SSB contacts, 39 were Park to Park contacts. 100 on 20 meters, 8 on 10 meters. Ten was open long and he made DX contacts to Hawaii, Spain, Brazil, Canada and Puerto Rico.
John KB4QXI came late and set up his ham stick and made one P2P contact and his 891 radio had a crazy menu fit and refused to work any further. Tony WA4TW knows the fix and will assist John in solving the issue.
On Thursday Dan K2DTS activated the Chickamauga Battlefield US-0716 on 20 meters and made 74 contacts in quick order, 21 were hunted P2P contacts then 42 set and call 'CQ POTA' he then capped it off with 11 FT8 contacts.
On Tuesday Allen KN4FKS ran over to Pigeon Mountain US-3742 and made a quick 140 SSB contacts in two hours on 20 meters using the 25 ft. vertical and the Faraday cloth radials. He had 20 Park to Park contacts and the only DX was two contacts in Canada. This days effort sent Allen's total number of POTA activation contacts to over 15,000. Time flies when you are having fun.
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94 viewsIt's been a busy POTA week. On Wednesday March 25 two separate sites were activated.
Allen KN4FKS and John KB4QXI activated Pigeon Mountain WMA US-3742 from the Sawmill Lake site where they started doing POTA activations SIX years ago. A fun anniversary date but it was also Allen's 300th POTA activation. Allen made 40 SSB contacts, 10 on 20 meters, 11 on 15 meters and 19 on 40 meters with 19 P2P contacts. He had DX to Alaska, Honduras, and Belgium. John had 29 SSB contacts on 20 meters 20 P2P contacts with 2 contacts in Canada.
Danny AG4DW and Dan K2DTS journeyed up a steep mountain road to the Mill Creek Overlook to activate the Cohutta WMA US-7446. Tough to get to but an amazing view toward the West. Danny made 52 contacts with 9 SSB contacts on 40 meter SSB, with 5 P2P contacts to include Park to Parks with the crew on Pigeon Mountain. He moved to 20 meters and made 24 SSB contacts with 11 more P2P contacts. Switching to FT* mode he mad 14 FT8 contacts with two Canadians being the only DX. Dan was also on the air at Cohutta but I don't know his totals.
Ed KM6UTC didn't read the email correctly and showed up at the Sawmill Lake site on Pigeon Mountain on the usual Thursday missing the anniversary activation the day before. The day was most eventful for him. First the GA DNR folks were conducting two very large controlled burns and Ed drove through the smoke to get to the site. Then the DNR helicopter arrived to assist with the burn and landed in the same field where Ed was set up. Then just to add to the fun across the road a timber harvesting operation cranked up for the day with several pieces of heavy equipment and log hauling trucks. The burn went well and according to plan the smoke lifted well so Chattanooga didn't get a thousand acres of smoke. Ed made 31 FT8 contacts on 20 meters with 3 DX , Spain, Canada and the Dominican Republic.
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90 viewsIt's been a busy week for POTA. This Thursday March 12 we activated a triple park location. The three parks were: Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area US-3971, Prentice Cooper State Forest US-5499 and Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park US-2955. Luckily the rain had quit but it was in the mid thirties with a strong wind so everyone elected to set up inside their vehicles.
Allen KN4FKS put up his end fed wire sloper and made 88 SSB contacts, 58 on 20 meters and 30 on 40 meters. He had 14 Park to Park contacts and DX to Dominican Republic and Canada.
Danny AG4DW set up his POTA Performer vertical and made a total of 74 QSO's, He had 46 SSB contacts on 40 meters then 28 digital FT8 contacts on 40,17, and 15 meters. He had DX to Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, and Norway.
Ed KM6UTC used his ATAS mobile antenna and made 49 contacts, he had DX contacts to Brazil, Austria, Germany, Poland, Spain, Slovenia, France and Canada.
Also this week there were several other activations.
Peter KX4BE activated Palm Bluff Conservation Area in Florida US-8366 and made 43 CW contacts on 20 and 15 meters with 12 DX contacts. He said it was 88 degrees there on Wednesday.
Ed KM6UTC activated Moccasin Bend area On Friday March 6 with 44 QSO's with 3 DX contacts on 20 meters.
On Monday Tony WA4TW along with Danny AG4DW activated Pigeon Mountain US-3742 from the Estelle Mine Road site.
Tony used his 17 ft. vertical and made 34 SSB contacts on 20 meters with Allen KN4FKS logging for him. He had 10 P2P contacts and DX to Curacao and Canada.
Danny AG4DW made 53 Contacts, 26 SSB and 27 FT8 on 40 and 15 meters. He grabbed an opening on 15 meters and worked DX to Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Russia, Jersey (a rare one) Lithuania, Slovenia and Spain.
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