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556 viewsPOTA - with the Rambler Radio Club - 5-15-2021
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556 viewsPOTA - 2022-09-23 - We met at Atwood Point on Pigeon Mtn. this past Thursday. It is as far back in the woods as you can get on the mountain. John KB4QXI set up and we decided he would take 40 meters, Tony WA4TW set up and would take 20 meters. John had quite a day, 102 contacts with 7 P2P contacts.
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556 viewsOn late Monday afternoon (Oct 23, 2023) we gathered at the Johns Mountain WMA (K-3758) overlook to activate the park, cook a hotdog and watch the sunset. All three objectives were met. We set up three stations and played radio! Danny AG4DW made 43 SSB contacts with 3 P2P, 2 Alaska and one Venezuela mostly on 15 meters. John KB4QXI made 61 contacts with 9 P2P, 5 Canadian contacts plus one North Africa and one Venezuela mostly on 20 meters. Peter KX4BE made 20 contacts on CW with one FM contact for DX he had 2 Japan and one Chile. Allen KN4FKS had 12 contacts with 5 FM contacts on 70 cm. The other 7 were on 40 meters.

As it got close to sundown at about 7 pm we took a break for supper and to watch the sunset from the overlook. We had hotdogs with the fixins cooked over charcoal, chips, macaroni salad, and smores for desert. There was supposed to be another desert cooked over the fire but someone (Karen KX4KM) forgot the essential ingredient, butter. We were assisted by our mascot dog I4ZZY.

The sunset was spectacular and the company was the best. Thanks to all the hunters who make our fun possible.
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556 viewsWe activated Cloudland Canyon State Park K-2169 today Thursday Jan 25 2024 from the main park site up on top of the hill at the big picnic shed. Luckily the shed roof kept us mostly dry but the mist that occurred between the rains blew through the open shelter and got everything a bit damp. Hopefully everything will dry out and still function. The terrestrial weather was ok with wet and rain but definitely warmer weather than last week. The space weather cooperated with no serious problems.

Ed KM6UTC set up his digital rig using the magnetic loop antenna and made quite a few contacts. Don't have numbers at this point. He also got Jeff N2YYP on digital as well and they had fun making contacts. Danny AG4DW set up his rig and used the vertical whip with tuned coil on 10 and 15 meters SSB. He made 17 contacts with 4 P2P and 5 DX contacts. One from the Netherlands was a park to park contact. He also contacted Italy, France and Canada. Allen KN4FKS then got on Danny's rig and made 25 contacts on 15 meters mostly with 3 P2P and 1 DX to Germany.

Then we changed operators again and Jeff N2YYP working 15 meters SSB made 23 contacts, with 6 DX contacts Spain, France and 4 Canadians. John KB4QXI worked on 40 meters through the static crashes and made 16 contacts. Fun day in the clouds at Cloudland.

POTA on!
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556 viewsThis Thursday we activated Pigeon Mountain US-3742 from inside the check station. With rain showers all around and the hot muggy weather it was certainly nice to have air conditioning and a roof over our heads.

We set two stations and shared radios and bands. Allen, KN4FKS, started out on 20 meters with 14 contacts, 12 P2P and no DX. Peter, KX4BE, broke out the key and worked 20 meter CW and made 13 contacts with all 13 being P2P. Then John KB4QXI made 18 contacts on 20 meters. Danny, AG4DW, set up his digital rig on 15 meters and made 28 contacts on FT8. He had 4 DX contacts to: Columbia, Belize, and 2 Canadians.

Thanks to the GA DNR folks who let us use the check station to avoid the heat and rain!
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556 viewsToday we activated the Otting Wildlife Management Area US-7913 down on the south end of Lookout Mountain. This 700 acre site is not often activated and usually then only by folks trying to activate as many GA parks as possible. They make 12-15 contacts then move on to the next park on their list. Today between the three of us we made 177 contacts. That's the most from anyone since we were last there in February last year.

For today Danny AG4DW made 56 contacts on 10 bands (Yes ten bands) he also made 18 Park to Park contacts which gives him his 'KILO' for P2P contacts. 23 of his contacts were DX today with 33 from the US. Allen KN4FKS made 60 contacts mostly on 20 meters SSB with 21 P2P and four Canadian contacts. John KB4QXI stayed on 40 meters and made 61 contacts with 3 P2p contacts.

Danny helped out some rock climber folks who had somehow wound up at the wrong WMA on GA Hwy 157. He set them straight and on their way to the Zahnd WMA further north on 157. Zahnd is a popular rock climbing site.

The cool thing about the OTTING WMA is some unique ancient artwork. In a rock outcrop on the area are several areas with faint but recognizable petroglyphs created by early native Americans about 1000 years ago. Before the Cherokee, Before the Creeks, before the Coosa. I have attached a photo of one scorpion drawing found here. There is also a video which shows many of the petroglyphs. link here,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-n0rR6fy0

It is amazing the treasures that abound in these "parks" we visit and play radio in.
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555 viewsPOTA, Nick A Jack Trailhead - Cloudland Canyon - 12-17-2020. W4TDH, N9MJH
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555 viewsPOTA - Russell Cave - 7-19-2021
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555 viewsPOTA - Red Clay State Historic Park - 11-19-2021
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555 viewsPOTA - 2022-09-16 - With the crew scattered to the winds this week there was still POTA activity to be done.
Allen activated Chattahoochee WMA K-7447 and Hardman Farm SP K-3718. Peter activated Fort Mtn. SP K-2176, John activated Berry College WMA K-3734 and Tony activated Pigeon Mtn. WMA K-3742.
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555 viewsWe activated Johns Mtn. WMA K-3758 today from the Johns Mtn. overlook. On his way up the gravel mountain road Tony looks into the woods and sees a large black bear ambling along. Tony had 15 contacts with 7 P2P. One park to park was in Canada and another was in Italy. The bands were open and he had 7 DX contacts: Cuba, Italy, Slovenia, Guadeloupe Czech Republic, and Canada. Ed

KM6UTC showed up, set up his magnetic loop and worked digital on 20 and 30 meters.

In the meantime an Army fellow (Special Forces) showed up and set up his military radio. He was operating in military frequencies just above our 20 meter band. He was also a ham but he just played on the mil frequencies. 

The occasional hikers came by today They stopped and were all amazed by just how far away we were communicating with our simple little rig. 

Allen Got on 10 meters. Contacts were W1AW/7 in Arizona and the second was RW1A in Russia. The total for the day was 28 contacts with 4 P2P and 5 DX, European Russia, two in Italy, Canada, Canary Islands and Australia! Yes I nearly fell out of my chair when I heard VK4NH come back to my CQ. That was a first for our POTA contacts distance wise. 
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