POTA (Page 4 of 7)
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Originally Posted By Mauser556:.., My CW is getting better, but I still want to do better. Â If it wasn't for the spotting on the app, I'd have a hard time getting the callsigns, especially at "speed". Â Still learning the protocols for the CW POTA contacts. Â I send PTP for Part-To-Park. Â Is that what is suppose to the right way? Anyways, rocking it with the J45. Â My thigh is too big that it starts cutting off circulation, even with me stretching the clamp open. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54925873307_aa80d2ec71_b.jpg That's awesome.  If you're hunting CW activators off the spotter, I am 95% sure, you can simply work them with a quick exchange, and the POTA system will tag it as a "park to park" . . . no need to send "PTP US-####" Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong. I would velcro that key to your center console |
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Originally Posted By Colt653: That's awesome. If you're hunting CW activators off the spotter, I am 95% sure, you can simply work them with a quick exchange, and the POTA system will tag it as a "park to park" Â . . . no need to send "PTP US-####" Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong. I would velcro that key to your center console I'll probably get another key to do that. I've had I know of one QSO that was suppose to be a park-to-park that hasn't been confirmed on the other operators side. POTA shows I made the contact on my end and hunted them, but no hunter or P2P confirmation on theirs. Sent a QRZ request to see if he got my callsign or what not wrong (which could be the case if I didn't send it right). Plus, I do a copy of the station on HAMRs and I think the program has been getting park numbers wrong, or the spotting was off. |
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@Mauser556 Askede POTA rep, here's the reply copy / pasted : Hey Derek, When it comes to park numbers, so long as it is a single park to a single park, you shouldn't have to exchange park numbers. The system will automatically match them as long as your times are +/- 15 minutes and the band and mode are the same. Here's the fine print: This does not work if either you or the other operator are in multiple parks. The system will only match 1 for 1. Also, without that sig_info (other park number) filled, you're trusting the system will do something that it's not necessarily advertised to do. That's why matching the sign_info exists. So the short answer is yes you can forgo it and 90% of the time, the system will match it. |
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I have been hunting POTA for about 6 months, with over 800 hunted parks, but no activations. Until today. I was on my way back from the Washington DC area today, and stopped in the Shenandoah National Park (US-0064) and Appalachian Trail (US-4556) parks. I didn't have anything to properly support the above ground radials for my POTA Performer vertical, so I threw the radials onto some bushes. It seemed to work. I made 34 contacts on 40M in about 38 minutes. I was cold, and had 5 more hours to drive, so when the hunters faded, I didn't hang around, packed up and left. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By Prolix: what logging software are you using? I've tried one activation using World Radio League and it wouldn't work for me when it came to anything beyond logging in. Looking for other options. I spotted myself with POTA.app (web page), since I haven't figure out how to spot with WRL. |
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There are probably a dozen parks within a 5mi radius of me and it's safe to say that most have never been activated. Roughly half are good candidates, having decent elevation. I need to get a better battery setup for my IC-703+. Have a go bag with lots of accessories and a Dell tablet with keyboard battery for logging or digital modes. That was used this past April to put Mohican SP on the air. We started going to Findley, about 35min west of me. The favorite campsite has a number of 100ft pines nearby. Perfect for an inverted vee or L. A camper is in the cards at some point and that gets a 6BTV plus permanent operating position. May get a G90 or something similar for that. |
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Originally Posted By AnalogKid: There are probably a dozen parks within a 5mi radius of me and it's safe to say that most have never been activated. Roughly half are good candidates, having decent elevation. Every park in OH has been activated at least 14 times. |
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Originally Posted By AnalogKid: There are probably a dozen parks within a 5mi radius of me and it's safe to say that most have never been activated. Roughly half are good candidates, having decent elevation. I need to get a better battery setup for my IC-703+. Have a go bag with lots of accessories and a Dell tablet with keyboard battery for logging or digital modes. That was used this past April to put Mohican SP on the air. We started going to Findley, about 35min west of me. The favorite campsite has a number of 100ft pines nearby. Perfect for an inverted vee or L. A camper is in the cards at some point and that gets a 6BTV plus permanent operating position. May get a G90 or something similar for that. You can get a G90 with a power supply, a stand, and the old ce19 interface for 449 dollars at radioddity. It will last long enough for a decent activation with a 6-10ah battery. |
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Originally Posted By lorazepam: You can get a G90 with a power supply, a stand, and the old ce19 interface for 449 dollars at radioddity. It will last long enough for a decent activation with a 6-10ah battery. |
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Just had my possible first failed POTA activation due to a shortcoming on my part. Battery went out and I had one contact left to go. I didn't bring a back-up. My last contact I made was a French operator who thanked me for a different park. Got it confirmed on QRZ. I'm just waiting on my hunting log to get updated before I send my log to POTA incase I did in fact make a CW contact that I didn't log in due to lack of RST. I did hear them send my callsign back to me, though. If I did, it will be activated. We shall see. I need to get a more robust vertical antenna than this MFJ bigstick with the coil shorter. |
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Originally Posted By Mauser556: I need to get a more robust vertical antenna than this MFJ bigstick with the coil shorter. REZ antennas come with four 33 foot ground radials. I made up 24 8.5 foot radials and use them instead. It works better with the 24 shorter radials plus I don't need as big of an area to set the antenna up in. |
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Buy a cheap tripod, make an adapter like shown by @WillieTangoFox in the project forum. Buy a 17' whip, and make a 40m coil yourself. You can put weight on the legs if it is windy, and no ground spike to drive in the ground. It will get you 40m to 6m. Attached File |
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Apparently Virginia Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and State Fishing Parks are closed to POTA. VA has determined that ham radio is considered outside the intended purpose of these areas. The VA Mapping coordinator for VA attempted a Special Use Permit (SUP) for an activation and was denied. Apparently some activators have been told they need a SUP, while others haven't needed one, but given his rejection, POTA has closed all WMAs and State Fishing Lakes to activations. Facebook link to post |
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Originally Posted By TVille: Apparently Virginia Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and State Fishing Parks are closed to POTA. VA has determined that ham radio is considered outside the intended purpose of these areas. The VA Mapping coordinator for VA attempted a Special Use Permit (SUP) for an activation and was denied. Apparently some activators have been told they need a SUP, while others haven't needed one, but given his rejection, POTA has closed all WMAs and State Fishing Lakes to activations. Facebook link to post WTF! 
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Originally Posted By Emoto: WTF! Originally Posted By Emoto: Originally Posted By TVille: Apparently Virginia Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and State Fishing Parks are closed to POTA. VA has determined that ham radio is considered outside the intended purpose of these areas. The VA Mapping coordinator for VA attempted a Special Use Permit (SUP) for an activation and was denied. Apparently some activators have been told they need a SUP, while others haven't needed one, but given his rejection, POTA has closed all WMAs and State Fishing Lakes to activations. Facebook link to post WTF! Frickin fish cops. In every encounter I have ever had with a fish cop, it has never been a positive one. Florida FWC have always been the worst. Minnesota DNR and Michigan DNR are a close second. |
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Originally Posted By TVille: Apparently Virginia Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and State Fishing Parks are closed to POTA. VA has determined that ham radio is considered outside the intended purpose of these areas. The VA Mapping coordinator for VA attempted a Special Use Permit (SUP) for an activation and was denied. Apparently some activators have been told they need a SUP, while others haven't needed one, but given his rejection, POTA has closed all WMAs and State Fishing Lakes to activations. Facebook link to post I saw that posted yesterday in the main POTA Facebook group. It really sucks that being outdoors with a radio is not considered recreation. |
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Originally Posted By Colt653: I don't have a facebook account what does it state ? Originally Posted By Colt653: I don't have a facebook account what does it state ? Hey POTA folks your friendly Virginia Map Guy checking in. Unfortunately, I'm here with some disappointing news. As of today, all Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and State Fishing Lakes in Virginia have been set to inactive in pota.app. These locations are no longer valid for activation. This decision was not taken lightly, nor was it made by me alone. Why this happened Over the past year, there has been a growing pattern of activators being approached by conservation officers at several WMAs and nearly every State Fishing Lake and told to leave due to not having a required Special Use Permit (SUP). After personally looking into the SUP process and attempting to obtain one for my own planned activation, the request was denied. The reason: amateur radio activity is considered outside the intended purpose of these areas. Further conversations confirmed that future SUP requests for amateur radio would also be denied, making it clear that there was no viable path forward to keep these parks active. With no workable compromise and no indication this restriction will be temporary, the decision was made to deactivate them statewide. |
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Just perused the Va DWR website for permitting info. It makes no mention that I could see of amateur radio activities. I see no reason why a ham would be enjoined from a POTA activation conducted in his lawfully parked vehicle at a designated parking area at a WMA. Of course, little point in the exercise if POTA has delisted the WMA's. As a counterpoint, if two way radio operations are deemed disruptive or incompatible with wildlife-related uses of the WMA, I would suggest that the fish cops need to post signage notifying all would be CB, FRS, GMRS and cellular phone operators that use of their device to contact other persons via radio are prohibited within the WMA. Their website should say the same. Failing this, officials in their official capacity should explain in the public record why amateur radio communications are single out for prohibition. |
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Originally Posted By Prolix: Just perused the Va DWR website for permitting info. It makes no mention that I could see of amateur radio activities. I see no reason why a ham would be enjoined from a POTA activation conducted in his lawfully parked vehicle at a designated parking area at a WMA. Of course, little point in the exercise if POTA has delisted the WMA's. As a counterpoint, if two way radio operations are deemed disruptive or incompatible with wildlife-related uses of the WMA, I would suggest that the fish cops need to post signage notifying all would be CB, FRS, GMRS and cellular phone operators that use of their device to contact other persons via radio are prohibited within the WMA. Their website should say the same. Failing this, officials in their official capacity should explain in the public record why amateur radio communications are single out for prohibition. 
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If they don't have a hunting/fishing license all they should need to do is get a daily use permit for $4. Per DWR just sitting there viewing wildlife is a perfectly legal use of the land. Their own site says "Bird watching, wildflower viewing, hiking, and picnics are examples of those types of activities." So unless a certain activity is not permitted at a specific site have at it. https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/WMA-Recreational-Opportunities.pdf Operating a radio is just a secondary activity. Shouldn't need a SUA at all. |
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speaking of permits... I had to get a permit to activate US-0023 Dry Tortugas National Park, it wasn't hard to do, but it cost about $100, iirc.  ETA: Looking further into this issue for some upcoming activations at a NPS park... I may not have necessarily been required to get one for the DT.... It would be nice for an MOU for Amateur Radio / POTA operations from the .gov for operations on public land (if there isn't one already) Special Use Permits A Special Use Permit (SUP) is required for all activities for which regulations at 36CFR Parts 1-7 and Part 14 specify that a permit is required. SUPs are required for weddings, public assemblies, special events, First Amendment rallies, filming, telecommunications, and right-of-way permits for utilities and roads, as well as for other non-visitor activities occurring on park land. A special park use is defined as a short-term activity that takes place in a park area, and that:
SUP applications should be submitted well in advance. To contact us with questions regarding permits of any kind, please use this e-mail form. (I added the hot link to the appropriate CFR as a convenience) |
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Originally Posted By CashOnlyLargeBills: Frickin fish cops. In every encounter I have ever had with a fish cop, it has never been a positive one. Florida FWC have always been the worst. Minnesota DNR and Michigan DNR are a close second. NH F&G too. I don't know what it is about the fish cop job that attracts such assholes. |
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Originally Posted By Jodan1776: NH F&G too. I don't know what it is about the fish cop job that attracts such assholes. I have not had any bad experiences with the wardens local to me. The Mo. Dept. of Conservation agents in rural counties are pretty laid back and friendly. The department does allow us to apply for special use permits online and I always get approved within 24 hours. I have had conversations with the local agents that cover two counties about POTA and they have never said anything negative about it. One agent showed up on our last POTA and checked some deer hunters (archery season) and only waved to us before leaving. |
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Originally Posted By USMC2671: If they don't have a hunting/fishing license all they should need to do is get a daily use permit for $4. Â Â Per DWR just sitting there viewing wildlife is a perfectly legal use of the land. Their own site says "Bird watching, wildflower viewing, hiking, and picnics are examples of those types of activities." So unless a certain activity is not permitted at a specific site have at it. https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/WMA-Recreational-Opportunities.pdf Operating a radio is just a secondary activity. Shouldn't need a SUA at all. I'm sure the ARRL will be all over this and soon VA will change its mind. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Sorry. Maybe they will actually do something. 
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 Big congrates. I'm one different park away from hitting 10. 120 parks hunted with 108 Park-To-Parks. I'm just happy I've got 20 CW contacts through this, with one from DC. Keep at it. Maybe we might get a QSO one day. 73s. POTA on. |
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neat POTA map websites https://newparks.m0trt.radio/ http://map.pota.ninja/ |
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Originally Posted By JoeDevola: Alot of POTA calls on 20m over last few days. |
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I've had some time off so I've been doing some activation to hit my kilo... getting close. some observations / lessons learned this month.... 1. if you're not 'spotted' things don't go so well (I hate not having cell coverage to see current/self spots)2. DXcommander works, but not very good without ground radials   3. I really like the active spots on HAMRS app.. but you need interwebs for it to work If you're not familiar with this, it shows current spots in the app, and if you're using FLRIG, you can automatically tune to your choice of the SPOT and it populates the log entry data (when you click on one of the spots)... you'll only need to click on the enter/save button to log it. 4. matY200 tuner doesn't work well in 'auto', have to constantly cycle it on my FT-891 5. HAMRS will talk to WSJT-X* so you can log in one place, instead of having to merge two different adif files together (1x SSB, 1xFT8), but still some massaging of app required. (I use ADIF Master) (still need to massage the file to get all the fields populated correctly) 6. seems like the number of people not logging contacts correctly (other activators) is increasing, I am seeing an increase in the number of stations reporting the wrong time and/or mode. 7. make a cheat-sheet for your computer with the list of devices and what their description is, to facilitate quicker troubleshooting (use Device Manager if using windoze) when things start acting up. 8. a USB GPS receiver can help your setup, if you don't have one already (particularly handy for FT8) 9. * WSJT-X with HAMRS isn't terrible, just really quiet if you're used to using GridTracker(2). I haven't been able to get the three of them working together, only WSJT-X and HAMRS. 10. something weird happened to HAMRS this week, I started getting error messages that the QRZ (lookup)settings were not working correctly.. (I had to reenter my QRZ credentials) 11. I had 3x FT-8 QSO's that wouldn't generate a LOG QSO window when it should have, so I had to enter them manually. more strange behaviour. FWIW, all my apps are up to date (confirmed yesterday). Radio is FT-891. some of my contacts are /m (ATAS-120A), but most are /p (DXcommander Expedition) with a solar-battery operation |
MIA: M/SGT James W. Holt USSF 2-7-68 SVN
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
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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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"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
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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. I'll assume 20m, post what time of day you'll start & freq and I'll try to get in on the pile-up! |
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I'll try and be on the air by 11 EST and yes, 20m is the preferred band.. typically good propagation and participation. If I don't get any traction, or I think that's about all I can get, 10m will be my next band. Time permitting I'll hit everything between 10 and 20. I typically set up, and take a tour through the band looking to do park-to-parks, and then find a place to park and call CQ. Past couple of times I've been "lucky" on a very crowded 20m and ended up being the last QSO for a particular activator, and then I just hold the freq and call CQ. Being spotted on-line and being able to see spots is a game changer. The particular location I'll be at tomorrow basically doesn't have cell coverage, so I'm at the mercy of others spotting me and finding other parks on my own. IF you have the opportunity to spot/re-spot someone, please do so 
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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
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Originally Posted By USMC2671: Every park in OH has been activated at least 14 times. Originally Posted By USMC2671: Originally Posted By AnalogKid: There are probably a dozen parks within a 5mi radius of me and it's safe to say that most have never been activated. Roughly half are good candidates, having decent elevation. Every park in OH has been activated at least 14 times. Seriously? The few I'm thinking about which are relatively close aren't really on anyone's beaten path. They're also pretty small. |
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Originally Posted By USMC2671: Yeah, now 15+ activations for every park. https://i.imgur.com/S0qLpFW.jpg Originally Posted By USMC2671: Originally Posted By AnalogKid: Seriously? The few I'm thinking about which are relatively close aren't really on anyone's beaten path. They're also pretty small. Yeah, now 15+ activations for every park. https://i.imgur.com/S0qLpFW.jpg Where are you getting that data, and what is the constraint applied (national, state, county, city)? |