How To Work PILE-UPs on a POTA Activation | HF Ham Radio

Activating a Park for POTA can be the closest way to get to experience pile-ups inside of the USA - "being the DX" is something that you normally only experience outside of the USA when on a DXpedition or vacation trip. So how do you work all of those stations that are coming back to you, all at once? Today I show how I work pile-ups and what I have learned along the way of activating POTA.
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Thanks for watching!
#Hamradio #kc5hwb #parksontheair

[@user-lc7tc5zq2u]

Hi Jason. You have made me a local celebrity by posting this video! :-) Thank you for finding me in the pileup and thank you for all of your videos. I have watched quite a few of them! 73s VE3MXG Matt

[@aa3konthego]

One key thing to remember, when you are running the pile-up you are in control. Don't yield control to those calling you. It will be bedlam and fewer stations will get in the log.

[@kevingaukel4950]

I had a rough time last night from Gambrill State Park, but I had pile ups comparable to W8S on 20m - I couldn't hear any calls or even letter phonetics.

[@k6usy]

@@kevingaukel4950that’s when you start calling for 0 calls, then 1 calls, then 3 calls and so on. Split up the group.

[@davidsradioroom9678]

Hoping to go POTA. It is on my bucket list. I will go when I am able.

[@DominicMazoch]

Something I did during Museum Ships Weekend one year. I ran it like a net Did a cycle. Emergency and Priority Traffic. DX outside VE and XE. VE and XE. Then US calls. Did 0, then 1, 2, 3.....9. Cycled back. Some people did not like it TOUGH. You wanted the ELISSA QSL card, you had to play by MY rules. Within FCC regs, of course But I was getting very good run rates Just a thought. TC

[@WD4DAN]

make qrz the last thing you say pleeeeease lol. If you "QRZ from " you'll get covered up a lot of the time. If you're pile is big, many folks fire off right when they hear QRZ, especially when you're taking the first you hear

[@HamRadio2]

Most of the time that's exactly what I do, but I've heard just as many people complain that people activating don't give their call signs often enough. Also what I said about listening applies if people aren't waiting until I am finished calling

[@WD4DAN]

@HamRadio2 true, listen listen listen. You're very consistent with the qrz calls so it's easy to figure out when to call. Some activators are all over the place and make it pretty difficult

[@AnglinTexas]

I try to use “..… 73, this is KI5UUA QRZ” But as long as the activator is consistent I don’t mind either, I’ve heard some switch back and forth and it can really confuse things.

[@BLACKHEAT1028]

I am a POTA Hunter and I have had activators ask to spread them out and he makes a list, also had where they run down the numbers in your call sign. Any one with a 1 in your call sign come now, etc. I just try and listen to how the activator is running it then I key up.

[@KS0JD]

Listen Listen Listen! That is a great rule. Kind of similar to the old rule keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. Great POTA video Jason! 73

[@RandallRash]

Thanks for the informative tidbits on how YOU like to POTA. Tools everyone can add to their own toolbox.

[@dadsrcworkbench1322]

Great video. Thanks for pausing and walking through each scenario.

[@k9eihamradio]

On CW the pileup is much more difficult because of zero beating. You get one tone. It pays to wait until someone jumps in during a slight pause. Then I generally call for a character that I can make out of the melee and keep calling for it until everyone else stops calling.

[@N3PEM]

Another helpful thing I do is pause in some interval and ask for p2p, dx, and qrp stations. It also has a added benifit of giving you a break. Also Costa Rica sounds awesome. I should be doing some pota in Guatamala this winter

[@WillShattuck]

What I’ve learned with pileups is pick the clear ones first and work them or the first one. If I hear VE3 but not the rest I will say “VE3 station”. Thanks Jason for the good video.

[@MikeN2MAK]

Good video and lessons. Looked like a fun activation too!

[@ricksshop]

Nice video. Whenever I jump into a pileup, I'll try to discern the station running the pileup's callsign, verify it on QRZ, know where the station is transmitting from and their signal strength before keying the mic, all in an effort to not waste the caller's time.

[@StealthGTI]

Very nice! I made a similar video a few months ago. Coincidentally, I'm presenting the video, which is presented as an exercise, at my local club's monthly meeting next week. I had a similar segment in my video that addresses being nice and addressing rude behavior. I wound up removing it since my video was getting long. I think I'll mention examples at the meeting since the setting is more intimate. 73! -Scott, KE4WMF

[@nimroddiaries_]

Agree with you Jason. You said multiple ops is cool... 🤔 nah. 😂 I find it annoying as heck but, as you said, I am polite and work them.. Lol we all have our thoughts and things that bug us. But be polite and courteous. Be a good human. 73

[@BryanDaniel42]

i'd love to go to Costa Rica for a DXpedition

[@davidcampbell206]

Listen listen and listen some more, get the rhythm of the call flow. Try to be polite and listen, listen, listen PR to ME is fantastic. I like Portables, P2P, and QRP having precedence. This really helps me as a hunter to have patience and know I'll get worked. M&P is the only coax I use for portable ops, and soon it will be the only Coax in my shack. Thanks great video

[@SeedyKidd]

Random question if anyone sees 👀 Any method to measure my homebrewed openwire (ladder line type) feedline? It should be 600ohm but dont know how to test!

[@petewenk]

One of the best things to do if you’ve got big pileups is to call for Whiskeys, Novembers, Alphas, etc. Also for geographical areas, QRP, mobiles, that sort of thing. If you ask for “4” calls, it narrows it down and breaks the pileups.

[@zappatx]

You ever go to Possum Kingdom Lake?? Nice place but with the rocky ground it may be tougher w/ groundplain..

[@HamRadio2]

Yes I have activated there before

[@robertmeyer4744]

like Jason style hear. works great. what I do different if I hear 2 stations I can make out. I tell one please stand buy give their call and work the outher one when done call that station stand buy. when I hear park to park I normally go back to them right away as well. some times working a pileup I will call only DX station or GRP station only. that can change with the band . love that M & P coax. that POTAFLEX 7 is very flexible and that winder is super nice. love the videos on the coax. the ABR coax as well. have them both. 73's

[@mauriceaustin3442]

awesome video. Thank you for making it. Some day I will get the guts activate a park here in Western Montana. Also, dig the hat flag/callsign. Ordered 3 patches. Appreciate you. N7NHS

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

I usually grab the call sign that sticks in my head, which most of the time is the first station I hear. 73.

[@scottpohlenz142]

I tend to call the one I hear the best. At times I can’t gather anything and have to call QRZed again

[@robertallbright]

Excellent video thanks 73 Rob G3RCE

[@mgkaragas]

Jason, are you using hamrs logger? Just curious how other POTA activators log in a busy activation. 73 K5MGK Mark

[@TravelinHam]

If you want an aggressive pile up, find a park with low total QSOs. If I find a rare park with fewer than 200 QSOs I know I’m getting mobbed.

[@DominicMazoch]

Also, working HF split would work.

[@HamAround23]

It annoys me as well when someone blindly starts calling and then has to ask for your call sign because they have no clue what's going on

[@k6usy]

All you have to do is wait, get the call sign, THEN call the station.

[@rudyackerman5747]

I would be open to do a team DXpedition trip. KF5QYG.

[@jamesrandazzo6427]

a lot of us ham do not like pota

[@bobkopf227]

I’m sorry but I don’t understand your comment. I can understand you not liking pota but if that’s the case why would you watch Jason’s video about pota and then feel it’s necessary to make this comment???

[@HamAround23]

So don't participate in pota then? No one is forcing you to