As much as I love my new home setup with the FT-DX10, there’s a side of this hobby that has been calling my name lately. If you’ve spent any time on the HF bands, you’ve likely heard someone rapid-firing their callsign followed by “Park to Park” or “CQ POTA, CQ POTA, CQ POTA.”
They are part of Parks on the Air (POTA), and this week, I’m trading my desk chair for a folding chair as I prepare for my very first official activation.
What is POTA?
POTA is a global program designed to encourage hams to get out of their houses and into the great outdoors. It’s essentially a giant, friendly game of “hide and seek” across state and national parks. There are two ways to play:
- Activators: These are the folks who pack up their gear, head to a designated park, and set up a station.
- Hunters: These are the hams (often sitting comfortably at home) who try to contact the activators.
- Park to Park: These are activators in a park hunting other park activators, you can do both at the same time!
The goal for an activator is simple but challenging: Get 10 contacts. Once you hit 10, that park is officially “activated” for you for that day.
Getting Started: The Game Plan
Being a tech guy, the first thing I did was head over to Parks on the Air (POTA). This is the nervous system of the program. Here’s how I’m prepping for my first outing:
Registration: I signed up and linked my callsign. The interface is incredibly clean—you can track every park you’ve hunted and every award you’ve earned.
Finding a Spot: I used the POTA map to find a park near me. Since I’m still a General Class operator and somewhat new to portable setups, I’m looking for a park with a picnic table and a clear space for an antenna.
The UTC Clock: This is a big one for beginners. POTA follows UTC time. If I’m out at the park and the clock strikes 24:00 UTC, the “day” resets. If I only had 8 contacts before the flip, I have to start my count of 10 all over again for the new UTC day!
Spotting: The magic of POTA happens on the “Spots” page. When I get to the park, I’ll post my frequency on the site so hunters know exactly where to find me.
Why Go Portable?
You might wonder why I’d leave a perfectly good shack with a high-end receiver to go sit in the heat with a portable rig. For me, it’s about the challenge.
Operating POTA forces you to think about power management, antenna resonance, and how to deal with changing weather. It’s the ultimate “What If?” scenario training. Plus, there is a unique thrill in knowing that when you call “CQ POTA,” a dozen people are waiting to jump in and help you reach that 10-contact goal.
Next Stop: The Park
I’ve got my portable kit packed, my batteries charged, and my park selected. In my next post, I’ll be sharing the raw, unedited experience of my first activation—the successes, the inevitable technical “hiccups,” and hopefully, a log filled with 10 (or more!) contacts.
If you’ve been thinking about trying POTA, head over to the website and just start “hunting” from home first. It’s the best way to learn the rhythm before you head out into the field.
Are you a POTA veteran or a total newbie? Tell me your favorite park to activate in the comments!
73,
Chris - K5CTW The Ham Radio Lab