Hey everyone, welcome back to the Ham Radio Lab!
In my last post, I broke down the basics of the Parks on the Air (POTA) program, how it works, why it’s taking the ham world by storm, and how you can get involved as a “hunter” or an “activator”. If you missed that one, definitely go check out my previous post.
Today, I’m shifting gears from theory to practice. I finally got out from behind the shack desk and completed my very first official POTA activation!
Here is how it went down, what we used, and how I managed to kick a sudden case of “mic fright” to pass the 20-contact mark in under an hour.
The Setup: US-3005 with a Twist
The destination was Eisenhower State Park (US-3005) right here in North Texas. The timing couldn’t have been better; our local ham club was hosting a potluck at the park later that afternoon, so a few of us decided to show up early to get some airtime.
I teamed up with my friend John, KC5JMD, who is a seasoned pro at this. Because I’m still relatively new to the hobby and never activated a park before we decided to use John’s portable gear. This included:
- The Rig: Yaesu FT-991A (a fantastic all-mode field powerhouse).
- Multi-Band Vertical Antenna
- The Secret Weapon: A custom “buddy-box.”
What’s a Buddy-Box?
It’s a nifty interface device that allowed both John and me to plug in our own separate microphones and headphones. Either one of us could key the radio instantly without having to constantly awkwardly pass a single mic back and forth.
The “Two-for-One” Bonus for Hunters
Operating this way created a massive perk for the POTA hunters out there. Because John and I were operating as two distinct stations/operators from the same park sequentially, hunters who caught both of us got two distinct activation credits for making what was essentially just one consecutive contact. As you can imagine, the pileups loved it!
Facing the “Mic Fright”
I’ll admit it: despite my years in the tech sector dealing with complex systems, sitting down to actually call CQ POTA for the first time gave me a sudden wave of mic fright.
What if I mess up the exchange? What if a massive pileup hits me and I can't copy the callsigns? What if I break some unwritten rule?
John took the lead first, letting me listen in via the buddy-box to get a feel for the rhythm of the pileup. When it was my turn to flip the switch and call, “CQ Parks on the Air, this is K5CTW from US-3005,” my heart was definitely thumping.
But here is the absolute best thing about the ham radio community, especially the POTA crowd: everyone is incredibly accommodating.
POTA calling is beautifully simple. You don’t need a long, drawn-out conversation. It’s a quick exchange of your signal report and your park number. If you miss a callsign, the hunters will happily repeat it for you. Within three contacts, the nerves completely vanished, replaced by the sheer adrenaline of working the pileup.
The Results: 22 Contacts in under an Hour!
Once I found my groove, the contacts just started rolling in. In a little under an hour, I managed to log 22 contacts! For my very first time out on the air in a park setting, I was absolutely thrilled with that run.
Shortly after packing up the gear, we headed over to the club pavilion for some well-deserved potluck food and swapped stories with the rest of the crew.
Your Turn: Get Out There!
If you are a new General or Technician licensee sitting on the fence, or if you’ve been strictly an HF “hunter” from your home QTH, this is your sign to go activate a park.
You don’t need a massive, expensive setup. Partner up with a friend from your local club, piggyback on an upcoming club event, and just get out there. The community has your back, the pileups are waiting for you, and I promise you’ll be hooked from your very first contact.
Have you done your first POTA activation yet, or are you planning one soon? Let me know what park you’re eyeing in the comments below!
73,
Chris - K5CTW The Ham Radio Lab