The only time I was approached by a park official was back in July when I activated US-1933 Alum Creek State Park in Ohio. I got 12 contacts in the log and called it quits as POTA wasn't the main focus for that trip. As I was packing up one of the park officials came up to ask questions. He told me that he had his Tech license and I told him if he got his General license he could do the same thing I was doing. When I have parked at trailheads to set up my antenna most of the other people just walked past without giving it a second thought. I have had a few people who ended up parking next to me ask me what I was doing, but since I don't put up any banners those walking past don't approach me. The only time I have mentioned my intentions of doing POTA to a park official without them approaching me was when I went to get my lifetime US military veteran America The Beautiful Pass. I stopped at one of the national forest offices that are on my way to the deer camp cabin and was making small talk with the employee behind the counter while they processed the paperwork for the pass. I agree with keeping a small footprint and not calling attention to yourself. When I am at a park for an activation I am there to make as many contacts as I can while I am at the park. I will stop and answer questions if someone approaches me, but I won't set up a banner to call attention to myself. Since I use wire dipoles I figure that would be enough to call attention. Depending on if I have room I will set up on a folding camp table that stays in my truck or I will set up on my tailgate if the weather is decent.

I started hunting parks in Aug 2022 after I got my HF radio. I started activating parks this year. I have done road trips just to activate parks. I have also included POTA in other road trips. One goal I have is to activate all the POTA parks in Michigan. I would like to activate all 50 states as well, but that is definitely going to be a long term goal. Travel is definitely something that will be considered to achieve my goal of activating all parks in Michigan. Several will definitely be included in trips to other areas of the state. Grouping parks close together when making POTA specific will have to be considered. One park requires either a 6 hour boat ride after a 9 hour drive or a 3.5 hour boat ride after a 10 hour drive. Some of the island parks don't have any ferry service to them and will require more planning to access.

I’ve run into some nets that are wanting to start on the frequency I am operating on a few times. If they ask nicely, I’ll probably move, unless it’s a really busy day and the bands are jam packed. But if someone comes at me sideways and rude, then I won’t move. I’ve only had this happen once. I was operating at Great Sand Dunes National Park and someone, without identifying who he was at first, came on the air telling me in a very rude and obnoxious tone that I had to move because they’ve been running this net on the frequency for decades. I asked him for his call sign, then he continued with the attitude. I told him no, i was not going to move and increased the power on my radio to the full 100watts (i normally run 50) and continued to do my POTA activation. I even stayed longer out of spite. I had several people who were hunting tell the guy that the net doesn’t own the frequency and they’ll have to find a different one. Another guy from the net came on and tried to get me to move but I told him no, the first guy was an ass and so I’m not moving. You can always refer them to Part 97.101.(B) that says “no frequency will be assigned for the exclusive use of any station.” And (d) “No amateur operator shall willfully or maliciously interfere with or cause interference to any radio communication or signal.” Print that out and keep it with you for reference if you get any net ninjas in the future.

I spot myself and identify as a POTA activator. I've also been QRMed and recommend just ignoring them. My favorite is "the whistler." Some guy that whistles on your frequency and you can hear his dentures rattling around in his mouth on the air. Total dweeb that I don't let get to me. I'd also recommend looking up the ARRL Considerate Operator's Guide. It's one page, print it out and take it with you in the field. I think we as POTA activators absolutely do have a responsibility to, for instance, stay away from the AM calling frequencies and their associated bandwidth on the HF bands. Stay off the SSTV frequencies, you know? If we're calling CQ POTA there that's kind of a bad look on us and the program. That document will help you pick an appropriate spot. Otherwise, ask me nicely to move for a net and I'll oblige.

I really appreciate you sharing all of your experience. 👍👍

When you don’t use POTA on CW people want to rag chew. Ham have to realize these special programs have saved ham radio. We don’t have many of these issues on CW. Thanks for the videos. 73s

I have been squeezed out by nets. Forty meters has alot of unofficial nets. Had that experience as well where the net tried to push me off but my pileup forced them to qsy. I don't mind moving if asked to. Somtimes I'll join nets if they seem organized but many times its just yokles drinking, shooting the breeze on 40. Its one of the resons I work on 10m, lots of bandwidth. W4OMX

It was about 0900am local and I had a guy on 20m a few months back , and told me there’s a net starting at 1000am and I told him I was already calling “ last call” and I’d be QRT by then , and then he continues and tells me that the net controller doesn’t like people on “his frequency “ and he’ll probably come up here after I tell him. …… Well , I stayed there an extra half hour and oh yeah he came up and said it was his frequency and I’d have to leave. That didn’t work out too well for him, my pile up pounded him big time and it was only 0930. I didn’t even have to say a thing. He left. Funny thing, I’ve never heard them on later days with their “ daily net” there.

It was good to work you in the winter contest used our club call ve7na

Sir, Thank you for your videos. In this video number 10 code of conduct you seem to be associating some US call sign numbers with geographic regions. While this is generally how initial call signs are assigned it does not mean that the current sign number is from a particular region. An operator could move to a different region, they may apply for and get a "Vanity call sign" where the number is not indicative of where the operator resides. I am from region 1 and had a 1 in my initial call sign. I applied for a vanity call sign and now have a 6. I am still in the northeast region 1 for location. Best of luck with your videos and your DXing. Regards, Richard

Oh man that's a bummer of a thought... I upgraded to general specifically because of POTA. My first CQ on HF was POTA and the main reason (well one of the main reasons) I wanted to get into HF. I guess the main-main reason is I like to go to the national forests for solo overland-type-trips and thought radio might be something to do when I got there (and also a backup communications capability). I'm lucky in that I have 2 parks US-10635 and US-1189 that are only 25 minutes from the house so pretty easy to get to. I only started this last April so I’m fairly new and “early” into the program (and achievements/certificates). So there are more “milestones” I still have to achieve. I imagine if it was $100 in gas just to get to a park and back that could get old (and expensive). Honestly if I got bored with POTA then I probably wouldn’t even turn on a radio. My home is NOT a good RF environment for radio with the noise so I don’t even have a station setup. I just keep everything in my truck. You definitely brought up an interesting question and I hadn’t even considering “what if I get bored with this”. KN6YOJ

I’m in a club and few members get on the scheduled chats because of chewers who are depressing and never stop talking to hear others. Kudos too all members because we all care nothing for the popular media nonsense.

What camera do you use? Nice resolution, but it has intermittent blank or jumpy spots. Edits and production is excellent!!! You speak well and I like what you’re talking about.

The crap I got when I first went on FT8. "That's not Ham Radio" but I logged more "59 bye bye" contacts in the first year than my previous 50 years on the air. And logged with LoTW QSLs.

I loved it Stu! 10 years ago I played in a band with a fellow who was big into the HAM thing. It was fascinating listening to him talk about it. He was really into it. What part of Canada? Ahh ok New Brunswick! I think his call sign was VE3RKO maybe?

Look up the life expectancy of those that interact with people and those that don’t…….

I don't have time to activate with my work schedule especially during the winter so I mostly hunt. I'm also learning cw so I would like to activate a park with CW once I get more comfortable That said I think the net bullies discourage people to activate

POTA is still fun, but they need to expand the gamut of parks that have POTA numbers.... We have several large city and county parks that are not in POTA and should be. Contesting in general outside of POTA I find boring after a while. We need to keep pioneering new and fresh things to do.

I’m not interested in organized competition or other jumping through hoops activities. I’d rather talk a little and burn solder a lot. Thinking about getting some old tube equipment and cleaning and repairing it .

I agree with being boring....does not interest me at all...That is the great thing about our hobby, something for everyone...

I just started in June of 2023, but still really enjoying POTA. I have done over 170 Activations in the year & 1/2. For me, to help keep my interest, I am always trying new things, new antennas, new ways to deploy the antenna, etc. I have a small KZbin channel where I focus on Portable Ops, which adds to my interest. I have only Activated 10 parks, but that is OK, where I am not getting bored visiting the same parks. I am #1 at one park & #2 at another, along with being top 5 in a few others. That’s another challenge keeping my position at the park which helps keep me motivated. But most of all, just getting out with nature & trying my luck with just a radio, battery, antenna & coax is motivating to me. I find that I do better with POTA than in my home shack with better antennas & and amp. I’m not ready to quit yet!

Maybe because the whole. **OTA thing was a fad, and like all fads, people got tired of it and moved on to whatever the "next big thing" is?

What gets me is that when I contacted the POTA gods about activating a wild burro area here in Nevada, it was refused because the guy (who lived somewhere back east!) said there were "private property issues" with the area. Not so. We've been ATV'ing and side-by-siding in that area for years. There IS a ghost town nearby, with about 10 people living there. You just leave them alone. Simple. Meantime, there are more burro management areas here in NV with no problems. Just seems like there are a lot more activation possibilities that are overlooked or just plain refused - for reasons I don't understand. I DO understand "private property" issues, however.

I use an exercise app called Strava and the app has monthly challenges you can do for awards. I think once you get the base awards in POTA it can get boring. They ought to have monthly challenges to help keep people active

There are three things I see impacting POTA negatively right now: 1) Lack of growth in activatable parks. I get that in the states focusing on federal and state entities is a good start, but local jurisdictions may not play nice with these rules. For example, some cities/counties have 100/200/300+ acre parks (with camping) that are not included in the program. And, even with the rules today there are many preserves and other facilities not included. 2) Lack of local clubs using the program to regularly (sometime more than once a month) getting together. This is a great elmer opportunity, but old leadership fails to see benefit. 3) QRM or intentional jamming of activators. This is becoming a real problem where "old guys" use their 1500W to stomp out a 20W activator using their G90. This is societal issue and one that cannot be fixed here. Shoot, one of the parks I regularly activate becomes a problem because yahoos choose to park next to the one occupied picnic shelter and blast music limiting my ability to use SSB. I don't know if there is a solution, but I see why people slip away. For me, it tends to be an added activity, not the primary purpose for being at an activatable park. It may be hiking, picnicking, camping, or visiting the local museum, but rarely the primary purpose.

I'm not that familiar with the rules, but are city parks on the list of possible activations? Do they count? There are a lot of city parks that would definitely add to the totals.

I struggle with relatively new hams telling me i need to spend more money on things like coax, or going on and on about grounding. Radio club meetings can get like that. Fortnite i have teached an age where i am now considered irrelevant, or I am fading into the background.

I'm not bored yet at all, and still like doing parks I've already done. Today, I'm doing a 2 hour drive going west and will be activating 5 parks clustered together that I've not done yet. You are definitely correct that finding new parks for me is now at a minimum of 2 hours of drive time. I've done all of them close by. I've been doing this a year now and I have over 200 activations and over 100 unique parks. Hopefully, the pure fun will be here a year from now!

I've been doing activations since 2021 with 2023 being my most active. I've been running out of parks within a reasonable drive from me but recently some more references have been added in NM where I live. I have been using FT8 almost exclusively since 2022 so I cannot speak to the pileup burnout that you talked about. This year, because of time constraints and distances, I have had fewer activations. I don't think I would just quit doing POTA altogether, but my focus would change. I have recently bought a tiny QRP radio and I want to use my ebike to carry me and my gear to a closer reference for more activations. Maybe try some CW too. What has dropped more for me is my POTA hunting from home. Still loving my activation activity though. 73 de K5MGK

I've been a radio ham since the 1980s it's still very much part of me but unfortunately at the moment I'm qrt 73s G0HDA

I was on FM radio and was happy to do my show, but once it was done I was home, I might see a movie with a friend or go out with my Parents, but apart from dog walking, that was it.

My closest new park is over 3 hours away now in georgia

I don't think people decide to quite. Rather the novelty wears off, and other things come along. Sometimes they are readio related. Sometimes not.

I personally don’t plan on quitting POTA. Yes the gas prices are restricting my travel to local parks and I’m not going more than an hour out from home now. I’ll rotate between the parks on occasion now. If I’m heading somewhere for a reason, I’ll take my gear with me to notch up another new park to get it in the book.

The biggest problem for me is POTA’s approach to parks. Any assistance from local authorities renders a park ineligible. Many state parks in Alabama are state-local partnerships so the parks around me will never be POTA parks. My proximity to state parks is limited to Florida and Georgia, which requires time off from work and driving (gas, etc as you mentioned). I mostly hunt as that’s the only real way for me to participate.

I quit because of the weather. It's cold outside, and a lot of parks are inaccessible.

It's totally understandable why you would stop doing POTA. Being in Nova Scotia I get it. I don't get out portable very much, I won't go somewhere far away just to do an activation. I like to set up and do portable activations in close places just to get out sometimes. I like to do a couple places on the university campus I work on here in Halifax, and I have done a park here in town where I live in Windsor NS. I don't specifically do POTA yet just portable activations so I don't have to meet a "quota" 😉 If I make one or two contacts I'm happy having set up and listened around the band I set up for.

To anyone out there whenever I hear someone calling from a park I always try and make a contact.

For me, it's just the time commitment. As I'm still a working-stiff, I have to fit activations in between the job, family, church, chores, etc. Usually, there isn't time for me to head out, and do multiple activations in a week. I'm lucky to do one every 2-3 months. Even then, I usually have to take time off of work to do it. Maybe when I retire, it might be different. But, I'm an infrequent activator.

As I understood it most of the continental United States is DX for Canadians but it's basically Garden variety DX. This is Victor Echo 1 Echo x-ray

Amateur radio covers a very large area of interest, any part of it can be boring for any individual at any time, often interest will just change over time and new horizons will call. This is just human nature and applies to most things in life. The nice thing about our hobby/service is how broad it is and no reason to give up your ticket and leave totally, look into other aspects. I have migrated around for over 50 years within it's boundaries and tried many things, from QRO, Qrp, HF, VHF and dedicated DXing to even Satellite communications and even SSTV. There are all kinds of new digital modes to explore these days as well as even turning back the clock to the glory days of yester year and nostalgia operations, even learning CW and actually rag chewing and exploring more than just quick contest type QSOs. Many things to explore, whatever might get your new interest may just be a You Tube video away or something shown at your local ham club or even a swap meet. Bottom line, look for what drives your interest, I think finding challenges can really help especially with the push button instant gratification world we see today in many aspects of our modern lives. I love just about everything in ham radio to some extent, find enjoyment where you can and please also respect the interest of your fellow hams, We are all in this together. Hope everyone has a great new year. 73 J

Tnx for contact by IU1RZX 🎉❤

I definitely slow down anytime there's a bunch of yahoos out in the woods with rifles looking to shoot deer. Not the best time to be out in these places. There's also something about activating in winter, it's not the cold but I hate working with coax and the struggle to keep the connectors dry and free of moisture when there's snow on the ground. It also gets stiff after sitting out in the cold. Radials are just not fun to deal with in these conditions either. When it warms up, same deal- got my gold activator by activating the 30 closest parks to me and it's going to take a serious drive to go to a new place. I'll still get out but not as much as I once did. I got semi competent at CW and that breathed new life into my POTA as it got me out there doing a new skill but that novelty wore off eventually as well. Spare time and money aren't things I have in abundance. POTA would be fun in retirement, if that ever happens.

POTA is getting very popular, with this comes undesirable users that take the fun out of it. There are days that a POTA activation borders on CB radio of the past. Wait for the activator to call CQ, say your call sign one time, and don’t jump on top of a QSO. These are a few things we can all do to keep it becoming chaotic and keep the fun in it. I believe activators can get burned out trying to juggle poor hunters. Stay safe.

Lives change, hobbies come-and-go, POTA shine diminishes, boredom, etc. If you truly enjoy POTA, the cost of fuel would generally not be the determining factor. I LOVE road cycling and I purchase a new $20K bike every 2 or 3 years. My wife would have to kill me in order to stop this insanity. If I loved POTA as much, I'd buy a new car every few years if I needed to. Thank you for your videos!

As a new operator, it looks boring to me but I haven't done it yet so maybe I'm wrong. Then again I don't do repetitive tasks very well without losing interest.

I made a concerted effort to do more activations this year. So far I have 60’ish for 2024. I am still under 100 total I think. However, I’m only out for an hour or so. 20 - 35 contacts (cw) is good enough for me. I only operate outside away from my truck because I feel like that aspect is pertinent to the program. I rarely look at my POTA page, so I have no idea what my stats look like. I don’t want it to turn into a sport/competition for me. I just want to have fun. So I keep it simple and fun. Who knows? Maybe someday I will get tired of it, but I feel like that might be a long time from now if ever.

Haven't quit - only started in '23, but I've had to pause for a while because we're both taking care of parents.

I get where you are coming from. I'm 40 and have come to despise people for the same reasons, except sooner because I work in social services. I consider myself a misanthrope at this point. The reason I have my tickets is really for emcomm (not the ARES or RACES type) and I like a few technical aspects of it. I love digital modes like JS8Call and FT8 for this reason. The only time I do voice is for the few nets I participate in (always in-and-out, no comment) really just to make sure my system is working, and on events like Field Day. Otherwise, no voice, straight digital. Also, I don't want to hear about people's bowel issues, their latest prostate exam, and how ham radio is ruined because X reason. Substitute X for CW no longer being required, young people, preppers, non-tinkerers, digital mode operators, non-ragchewers, etc.

I think it happens when activating becomes a means to an end. In other words, when they activate to get the awards or numbers rather than activating because it's enjoyable to be outside and enjoyable to be on the air. There are also various external factors... work, family, health, etc.