POTA (Page 5 of 8)
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That's a neat way to look at different states - I'm amazed how much data you can view on the POTA webpage. I got there on a desktop by going to Park List from the right pull down Location - United States search - US-NY then clicking on successful activations to sort by number Most activated locations totally in NY is the Empire State Trail followed by The Adirondack State Park.Every site in NY has been activated at least once. |
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Originally Posted By RED_5: REMINDER: This weekend, being the 3rd full weekend of January (17/18 for 2026), is the POTA Winter Support Your Parks event Activator or Hunter awards need only one QSO to be earned I'll be activating a local 2fer, weather permitting, and it looks good so far.  
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I got both this weekend: hunter and activator. Mostly on FT8 with some SSB. CW was a bust. 4 different parks (1 a 2fer, so technically 5. And no, I missed the warthog by 1 hr, UTC). |
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I did a search for parks in Ohio. Looks like most are state or federal apportioned. I do not see any city or many county parks in the listing and I suspect at least two state parks aren't in there either. Which brings me back to my original comment. There are at a minimum 7 of what I'll term "bicycle parks" close to me. That is, ones which I can easily reach on a bicycle which is carrying everything needed for a two hour activation. This includes a tablet PC and other gear needed for FT8. The model I use has a separate keyboard accessory with spare battery and I get several hours from a charge. None of the parks I mentioned appear to have been activated - or even listed. I'll hopefully fix that this coming summer. |
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Originally Posted By AnalogKid: I did a search for parks in Ohio. Looks like most are state or federal apportioned. I do not see any city or many county parks in the listing and I suspect at least two state parks aren't in there either. Which brings me back to my original comment. There are at a minimum 7 of what I'll term "bicycle parks" close to me. That is, ones which I can easily reach on a bicycle which is carrying everything needed for a two hour activation. This includes a tablet PC and other gear needed for FT8. The model I use has a separate keyboard accessory with spare battery and I get several hours from a charge. None of the parks I mentioned appear to have been activated - or even listed. I'll hopefully fix that this coming summer. You just can't decide to add a park to the list, there are qualifiers to getting them added. I have a first activation for a park that is no longer on the list. |
World ain't what it seems, is it Gunny?
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Originally Posted By AnalogKid: I did a search for parks in Ohio. Looks like most are state or federal apportioned. I do not see any city or many county parks in the listing and I suspect at least two state parks aren't in there either. Being state or federal is one of the requirements. I don't know if there is anything similar in OH, but in VA the "Virginia Bird & Wildlife State Trail" is neither a trail nor a single park. It's comprised of a mix of local, state and federal locations. I have several non-state/fed locations near me that are part of the 'trail'. |
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Originally Posted By lorazepam: You just can't decide to add a park to the list, there are qualifiers to getting them added. I have a first activation for a park that is no longer on the list. Attached File Well ain't that some shit... |
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I woke up and decided to activate a local park to get out of the house... ... hugely unaware of the Winter Field Day... omg  so many people and so many of them that had no clue for the exchange, so you'd have to wait for someone to have it coaxed out of 'em  anyway, who here uses HAMRS ? do you have trouble spotting yourself in the app, or problems with the map showing your QSO's? that's happening more often now..... SO... if you have used it and decided to use something else, like N1MM, let me know and maybe talk up a few pro's and con's. |
MIA: M/SGT James W. Holt USSF 2-7-68 SVN
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
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Originally Posted By RED_5: anyway, who here uses HAMRS ? do you have trouble spotting yourself in the app, or problems with the map showing your QSO's? that's happening more often now..... . @RED_5 I am blessed with a wonderful wife who likes to come along a run the HAMRS logbook on my Tablet. HAMRS is not updating new POTA parks, so if it's a newer one I email the ADIF to my desktop afterwards and edit in "ADIF MASTER" then upload it to the POTA site. If HAMRS doesn't know your gridsquare, or theres, it doesn't post on the HAMRS map. I usually try to self spot on the POTA website, if we have cell coverage. MUNGO LIKE MAPS 
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Originally Posted By RED_5: SO... if you have used it and decided to use something else, like N1MM, let me know and maybe talk up a few pro's and con's. |
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Originally Posted By TVille: I tried HAMRS, and POLO and then World Radio League - WRL. I like WRL, it has its issues, but its what I use now. Polo decided to not export one of my log books so I moved on to WRL. Polo, even after talking to support, and waiting months, still won't export my logs. Oh well... Thanks for the recommendation to WRL.. when they get a desktop app released, I'll check it out... most of the places I go I don't have interwebs and not interested in using my phone at this time. |
MIA: M/SGT James W. Holt USSF 2-7-68 SVN
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
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Originally Posted By AnalogKid: I did a search for parks in Ohio. Looks like most are state or federal apportioned. I do not see any city or many county parks in the listing and I suspect at least two state parks aren't in there either. Which brings me back to my original comment. There are at a minimum 7 of what I'll term "bicycle parks" close to me. That is, ones which I can easily reach on a bicycle which is carrying everything needed for a two hour activation. This includes a tablet PC and other gear needed for FT8. The model I use has a separate keyboard accessory with spare battery and I get several hours from a charge. None of the parks I mentioned appear to have been activated - or even listed. I'll hopefully fix that this coming summer. Our club did a little contest a few years ago to try to activate all the County's metro parks. Half of them qualified for POTA being within/adjacent to the CVNP. Being on the POTA list shouldn't stop you, activate anywhere you can think of. |
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Originally Posted By RED_5: I woke up and decided to activate a local park to get out of the house... ... hugely unaware of the Winter Field Day... omg so many people and so many of them that had no clue for the exchange, so you'd have to wait for someone to have it coaxed out of 'em anyway, who here uses HAMRS ? I listened for maybe five minutes and decided right then and there not to bother with it. I thought WARC bands at first. But that would require a change to my antenna system to which I was averse, as that would cut into my precious operating time. As it was, I was already late to the activity. I found the gates closed and locked at my original activation site choice on state conservation land that day. In the end, I settled on for an extended stay on wsjtx & never went back to voice which resulted in my first ever digital activation. As a new user, I had more fun doing FT4/8 portable than I ever thought I would. I've used HAMRS Pro several times now because ham portable logger doesn't run on all my laptops. Would recommend. More features than the original version, and I think it runs smoother and has a better interface. |
"We must take sides. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."
Proud Member of GeorgiaCarry.Org
Proud Member of GeorgiaCarry.Org
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https://k4fmh.com/2026/01/26/a-snapshot-of-u-s-pota-sites-activators-and-activations/ Here's a fairly interesting blog post about park on the air activators & the parks that are typically chosen to activate. Also, terrific photos Tyrex13 thx for sharing! |
"We must take sides. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."
Proud Member of GeorgiaCarry.Org
Proud Member of GeorgiaCarry.Org
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Originally Posted By Moga: https://k4fmh.com/2026/01/26/a-snapshot-of-u-s-pota-sites-activators-and-activations/ His analysis is really flawed. Without having access to every log, he can only use the location of activations based on the grid listed in the park details. It's not mentioned and probably not considered that there many parks without a singular defined border. On the last map image it showns the large circles for most-activated parks. The top activation locations are the 'trails'. #1 Trail of Tears National Historic Trail EM66gu Spans nine states, but all activations are being lumped under one location. #2 Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail FM18lv Spans from DC to NY and passes through many other primary activation sites #4Appalachian Trail EM74vp Spans 14 states. My activations were in VA, WV and ME, never GA. #3 VA Bird & Wildlife Trail Only FM18cc is considered. It is comprised of hundreds of locations across the state, including state and national parks. Most locations would be N-fers with another park. I've activated it many times, usually secondary, as it's locations include Great Falls NP and Manassas National Battlefield. |
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Originally Posted By Moga: I knew that WFD was ongoing, but was not prepared for the absolute mayhem I observed on HF voice. I listened for maybe five minutes and decided right then and there not to bother with it. I thought WARC bands at first. But that would require a change to my antenna system to which I was averse, as that would cut into my precious operating time. As it was, I was already late to the activity. I found the gates closed and locked at my original activation site choice on state conservation land that day. In the end, I settled on for an extended stay on wsjtx & never went back to voice which resulted in my first ever digital activation. As a new user, I had more fun doing FT4/8 portable than I ever thought I would. I've used HAMRS Pro several times now because ham portable logger doesn't run on all my laptops. Would recommend. More features than the original version, and I think it runs smoother and has a better interface. I like how it links up with my FT8 rig and logs the contact with I did my first few digital activations a few weeks back. Only issue I had is GridTracker didn't work when I ran HAMRs, and all programs slowed my laptop down. In fact, even without HAMRs, my laptop would slow while transmitting. Maybe its time for a beefer laptop. |
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Originally Posted By RED_5: Thanks for the recommendation to WRL.. when they get a desktop app released, I'll check it out... most of the places I go I don't have interwebs and not interested in using my phone at this time. Originally Posted By RED_5: Originally Posted By TVille: I tried HAMRS, and POLO and then World Radio League - WRL. I like WRL, it has its issues, but its what I use now. Polo decided to not export one of my log books so I moved on to WRL. Polo, even after talking to support, and waiting months, still won't export my logs. Oh well... Thanks for the recommendation to WRL.. when they get a desktop app released, I'll check it out... most of the places I go I don't have interwebs and not interested in using my phone at this time. In a bit of boredom at work, I put WRL on my iphone, so I plan on giving it a test run here this week, weather and time permitting. It just might be 'the thing' for impromptu activations while mobile. |
MIA: M/SGT James W. Holt USSF 2-7-68 SVN
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
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Originally Posted By RED_5: In a bit of boredom at work, I put WRL on my iphone, so I plan on giving it a test run here this week, weather and time permitting. It just might be 'the thing' for impromptu activations while mobile. |
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US-7201 probably start on 15 and then move to 10. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By tyrex13: US-7201 probably start on 15 and then move to 10. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/83116/IMG_5493_jpeg-3709257.JPG I saw you on both 10 & 15, but could only barely hear you on 15, and not at all on 10. East TN is a long shot from there! |
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Originally Posted By TVille: Beautiful! I saw you on both 10 & 15, but could only barely hear you on 15, and not at all on 10. East TN is a long shot from there! I had a good activation. 118 QSO's and all 4 corners of the US, including a couple of TN, FL, KY, NC and SC. Got NY, NH and DE too. Was pretty much a 30 minute pileup on 15m, then a break and then another 30m pileup on 10. I haven't been out a lot, I need to make more of an effort in the winter. Attached File |
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A random hunter in Georgia sent me this today, thought I’d share. https://youtube.com/shorts/4jIYt4QaVDE?si=V4Prizg8wHS1kgrE |
| I was first licensed in 2012 or so, then, like a lot of folks, kind of let it lapse. Last year I got back into radio, and have focused primarily on hunting POTA, with some DX thrown in. Today I crossed 1,000 different hunted parks. I'm still missing six states, but will work on those next. My shack is modest, a portable plastic box holds all my radio gear, and my antennas are various wires, primarily an EFHW and some vertical wires. |
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Originally Posted By TVille: I was first licensed in 2012 or so, then, like a lot of folks, kind of let it lapse. Last year I got back into radio, and have focused primarily on hunting POTA, with some DX thrown in. Today I crossed 1,000 different hunted parks. I'm still missing six states, but will work on those next. My shack is modest, a portable plastic box holds all my radio gear, and my antennas are various wires, primarily an EFHW and some vertical wires. Welcome back. |
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While sitting up here in the attic loft gathering my tax info for the CPA, I decided to spin the dial and see what was out there in POTA-land. Worked a station in Arkansas on 15m SSB who gave me a 5-8 report on my 80m EFHW. I had the G90 dialed back to 3 watts, just for giggles. This afternoon I'll try out a Rybakov vertical and begin experimenting with different combinations of unun ratios, radiator lengths, counterpoise length and height above ground... I love ham radio. It beats doing tax prep by a significant SNR. |
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I found Salty Walt's (K4OGO) YT page and some of his projects pretty interesting, so I bought his book. I built one of his 20m Vertical EFHW antenna's and the first time out I was quite impressed. I was able to use my MatY-200 tuner on everything above and, iirc, 30m also; but know pretty much that the patterns are quite different.. fun to play around with though. I use my spare (repaired~) 10m DX Commander expedition mast and some pvc tube to get the extended height I need with a TennTennas balun. I use tape to secure the wire to the mast, but am exploring other options to speed up the process, which is still faster than a DX Commander expedition, but not by much. The Rybakov and Bobtail Curtain are on my list to try out as well. |
MIA: M/SGT James W. Holt USSF 2-7-68 SVN
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
Two thirds of the way to being fat, dumb, and lazy
Joined:
Oct 2008
Posts:
7945
EE: 100% (17)
MS, USA
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What coax cable are y'all using for POTA. I would like to use one that has a smaller diameter than RG8x due to my setup-- running a coax from the transformer (outside) thru the front door (with it closed). |
The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. --Eleanor Roosevelt
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Having just returned from a ham cation where I tried to shut the back door on RG-8X, I now own (but won't try until tomorrow) a 25' length of RG-316 with PL-259's already attached. My guess is most doors will close over it without a struggle. It's like thick spaghetti. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CS322H4N |
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Originally Posted By bags533: What coax cable are y'all using for POTA. I would like to use one that has a smaller diameter than RG8x due to my setup-- running a coax from the transformer (outside) thru the front door (with it closed). I will use RG174, RG316, RG58, RG8X depending on what I want to do, and how much power. If I am not hanging anything from a pole like a dipole, RG8x or RG58. |
World ain't what it seems, is it Gunny?
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Originally Posted By bags533: What coax cable are y'all using for POTA. ..... I've got 25' and 53' runs of M17/60-RG142 (the price was right... free from work) the 25' loss is 0.32dB on 20m 53' loss is 0.73dB measured with my VNA not as great as 8x (?), but it is better than RG-58. I do have a run of LMR-400UF (again, free from work), and I really should use this, but the 142 packs up easier in my POTA/go-box. |
MIA: M/SGT James W. Holt USSF 2-7-68 SVN
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
Two thirds of the way to being fat, dumb, and lazy
Joined:
Oct 2008
Posts:
7946
EE: 100% (17)
MS, USA
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Thanks for the replies. I should have mentioned this is for ft8 using an EFHW antenna. |
The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. --Eleanor Roosevelt
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Originally Posted By bags533: Thanks for the replies. I should have mentioned this is for ft8 using an EFHW antenna. You can use what you like with an efhw if you have the 49:1 close to the ground. I use the small coax mainly when using fiberglass poles to reduce the sag on the pole and reduce the chances it will break. I will say that RG316 will kink if you even look at it funny. RG174 is tiny but easier to work with. |
World ain't what it seems, is it Gunny?
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Originally Posted By Extorris: Had my best day activating so far yesterday. https://i.imgur.com/4JWRGvnl.jpg Nice What map is that ? |
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Originally Posted By Colt653: interesting how does it compare to HAMRS ? Originally Posted By Colt653: Originally Posted By Extorris: Smart Logger. interesting how does it compare to HAMRS ? I've haven't used HAMRS. (ETA: I have it but haven't tried it out yet) I like Smart Logger due to it's simple layout. |
Extorris, because he's a heartless cunt. The purity of his apathy is laboratory grade, and I sleep well knowing that he's out there somewhere,
not giving a shit about anyone or anything.
not giving a shit about anyone or anything.
| Today I got US-12937, in Montana, which makes hunted state #48, leaving only AK and HI. Now if he will just post the log!. When I got Nevada, it took that activator 2 weeks, *after* he sent me a QRZ log request, to get it on POTA. I also got KI4SDC at a park in Florida. Funny because KI4SDC is the club call for the South Dade GMRS club.... |
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Originally Posted By no_1: Ha... Just worked a Hawaiian park on 20 meter SSB. I saw the spot and figured WTF, stumbled down into the freezing cold basement and sure enough a legit 44 signal. I figured I'd have that one empty box on the WAS graphic forever  I saw a couple of spots last night for HI on 20M, but was picnic table portable, and couldn't hear anything. Figured it wasn't worth it to trek to the barn to try them on the better antennas. I've gotten a couple of contacts into AK, but no parks, yet, so I still have two open slots on POTA WAS. |
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Originally Posted By no_1: Ha... Just worked a Hawaiian park on 20 meter SSB. I saw the spot and figured WTF, stumbled down into the freezing cold basement and sure enough a legit 44 signal. I figured I'd have that one empty box on the WAS graphic forever I was activating a park last week and got a guy in Hong Kong on 20. Still haven't got AK or HI though. |
Extorris, because he's a heartless cunt. The purity of his apathy is laboratory grade, and I sleep well knowing that he's out there somewhere,
not giving a shit about anyone or anything.
not giving a shit about anyone or anything.
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weather is improving here.. so I should be able to activate again this weekend... while the weather is improving, the forecast calls for continuous gusting of winds up to 20mph 
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MIA: M/SGT James W. Holt USSF 2-7-68 SVN
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
|
Originally Posted By RED_5: weather is improving here.. so I should be able to activate again this weekend... while the weather is improving, the forecast calls for continuous gusting of winds up to 20mph Our weather has been the same, lots of wind, but temps are in the 40's. It sucks. |
World ain't what it seems, is it Gunny?
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New POTA tent. I’m getting old. Myself and a whole group of us will be on the air all weekend. Attached File Attached File |