Parks On The Air - My First Ever Activation - CQ POTA

What a blast! I have to thank Dave, G8XDD who pointed out to me that my regular (ish) portable location is in fact within a local national park!
I had to try POTA and I’m glad I did.
POTA website is here:
parksontheair.com/
73!

[@LB0FI]

Happy to have you in the POTA family! Looks like you had a blast!

[@timg5tm941]

It was great Mort!

[@k6kwi]

And now you understand !! LoL Isn't it an absolute rush!? Glad you had so much fun & thanks for posting the video.

[@timg5tm941]

It was great fun!

[@thehamjazz]

Wooohoooo Tim! That’s awesome buddy - the giddy feeling you showed at the end, never stops when you have crazy fun activations like that. POTA ON BUDDY! 🎉

[@timg5tm941]

Same back at you Simon! 73

[@maddogshamradio3407]

Hi Tim, what a fantastic QSO count. In Australia we just don’t have the concentration of hams to get those numbers. I’ve done over 300 parks but usually average around 20-30 contacts per activation. What I witnessed in your first activation was amazing. 73, Marty VK4KC

[@timg5tm941]

Hey Marty it was a blast!

[@ll-bc7ou]

Nice Tim, thank you for sharing 150 contacts mobile with a simple wire antenna amazing. 73's watching in nyc.

[@timg5tm941]

No problem it was great fun!

[@m7trsradio]

Wow I need a rest and a drink after watching that. Fantastic work Tim 👏🏽 73

[@timg5tm941]

Thank you sir!

[@G7LJL-Steve_Murton]

Just joined POTA . I’ll give it a go the next time I’m up on wye downs conservation area. Great new opportunity. Thanks Tim. Ps my nearest park is 500m from my QTH Conningbrook Lakes Country Park G-0377. What a fantastic opportunity. And there’s me thinking pota was just US. It’s world wide. Thanks again Tim. ❤ PPS just looked on the POTA map at the lakes and it’s had 0 activations I’ll have to activate that one asap . My daughter lives on the new conningbrook lakes estate. The lakes are old aggregate extractions an old Brett stone and gravel site. Regards

[@timg5tm941]

Go for it Steve!!! 73

[@G7LJL-Steve_Murton]

Hi Tim, activated my local park today (Saturday) on 40m, G-0377 Conningbrook lakes country park. It’s the first Activation for the park. Got the bug now. Thanks again Tim.

[@theoldhobbit3640]

Excellent effort Tim, really good fun just watching 😅. I quite fancy a bit of POTA having just bought an FT991a and very interested to see how my 25w will do. Great vlog and thanks for sharing. M6KVK

[@timg5tm941]

Thanks Gary! Great fun!

[@spython1553]

I see you decided to ease your way into POTA! 😅 In all seriousness, that was a pretty great job in handling that pile up. Well done! 👏

[@timg5tm941]

Thank you! It was great fun

[@KI5DDO]

Your reaction at the end sums it up perfectly! I’ve been there with POTA and almost need a minute just to reorient what just happened 😂. 73! Hope to work ya one day!

[@timg5tm941]

Really enjoyed it! I’ll watch out for you!

[@Dap8998]

What a great time you had!!! Well done. 73

[@timg5tm941]

Thanks I had a blast!

[@ZL1BQDRoly]

Welcome to the wonderful world of POTA Activation....Cheers

[@timg5tm941]

Cheers Roly!

[@StevenHailstone]

Great job, Tim! "Being the DX" as the hunted activator gives you quite the buzz. At the most I run 50 watts, but at this point in the sun cycle I am content with QRP, and am quite surprised at the results. No Japan, though, so far. 73, K3SLH

[@timg5tm941]

Glad you enjoy it too!

[@ianchapman2647]

Glad you had a blast Tim. It’s a lot of fun 👍🏼

[@timg5tm941]

Sure is!!

[@willian.direction6740]

Well done Tim that was a work out. I did a first time activated park on a Saturday morning one time. Got the VKFF 44 QSO's in 28 minutes all on SSB man it was busy.

[@timg5tm941]

Great stuff!

[@DK5ONV]

Tim you just rock...💯💥👊

[@timg5tm941]

Ha! Thank you sir!

[@kennethblackwell1137]

Well done Tim.

[@timg5tm941]

Thanks!

[@David-km8in]

Hi Tim. Congratulations on your first Pota. Big smiles. David M0DUU

[@timg5tm941]

Thank you David!

[@adyg6ad73]

EFHW rocks and so do you! Great activation 👍

[@timg5tm941]

Cheers buddy!

[@ve7ajk]

Good on ya Tim!

[@timg5tm941]

Thank you!

[@MikeN2MAK]

Looks like you had a little fun there. Hope to get you in the log park-to-park sometime. I've used a 20m EFHW vertical too and it kicks butt for portable ops.

[@timg5tm941]

One day Mike!

[@N2NWK]

Congratulations and Welcome to POTA. Hope to work you one day. 73 de N2NWK in Washington DC

[@timg5tm941]

Thank you!

[@ea5jn]

Nice Job Tim, Congrat 73 ea5jn.

[@timg5tm941]

Thank you!

[@m1sdh]

Well that pile up knackered you out 😆 Can see why it's easy to catch the POTA bug 😉 Great contact into Japan as well 👍 73

[@timg5tm941]

Thanks! I was totally shattered LOL

[@alzag6hpr553]

Well done Tim, excellent work. I must try and get on HF sometime and have ago. Cheers Tim 73👍

[@timg5tm941]

You should!

[@wblue74]

Keep meaning to try POTA and SOTA. I swear I will get around to it when I fathom out how to join.

[@timg5tm941]

Go for it!

[@wblue74]

@@timg5tm941 I would do Tim, but SOTA must be the crappest website ever invented. They say on the reflector site they have a problem with people "forgetting passwords and resetting". It looks exactly the same as the main site. I have so many passwords for them, my Mac doesn't know which is which anymore and neither do I. Maybe the problem is actually theirs for poor design, if it happens so often. All I would like to see on their site is an Idiot's Guide for folk like me and the other fools who get locked out, showing how to register and not lose passwords, and submit logs.

[@G7LJL-Steve_Murton]

It’s easy to join. All of 5 mins.

[@wblue74]

@@G7LJL-Steve_Murton Everything is easy when you know how. These days, KZbin is THE place to post walkthroughs and how-to guides.

[@brian.7966]

well done Tim.

[@timg5tm941]

Thanks Brian

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Really well done Tim, you were almost speechless at the end! I'm surprised it was you first POTA and what a baptism! I would be glad of your advice. I'm planning to make a drive on mast mount and was thinking of a DX Commander or similar pole. What length would you suggest, I guess somewhere between 7 and 10 metres? 😃 👍

[@timg5tm941]

10m pole works for me!

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

@@timg5tm941 Thanks Tim, I appreciate you giving it some thought and confirmation, buying the wrong pole would make the wallet wince a little! I did consider 12m but am not sure if will make much practical difference.

[@Andyg7sqw]

Thanks Tim great to get you in the log. Enjoy your activations. Andy G7SQW

[@timg5tm941]

Likewise Andy!

[@Clark-N1NVK]

Welcome to the POTA club.

[@timg5tm941]

Thank you!

[@labcat73]

😂 It's quite an experience if you are suddenly a super super popular callsign... (Not that you ever had problems getting contacts.) I am still recovering mentally from my last ssb activation as an introvert. And that were less contacts. It's hard work, but so much fun. 73 Tobias

[@timg5tm941]

Absolutely Tobias!

[@ORMO1993]

Thank you Tim, i was literally watching your video before i heard you on POTA ! :D 73, SP7EZG :)

[@timg5tm941]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@FIL357]

Great stuff Tim. I’ll have to try that! Inspired me 👍😀73. Phil, Suffolk.

[@timg5tm941]

Thanks Phil!

[@LB4FH]

Glad to see you had fun out portable 👍🏻

[@timg5tm941]

Yes it was great fun!

[@robertabbott7770]

Whoosh !!! and breathe again - well done Tim . Rob 2E0GQL

[@timg5tm941]

Cheers Rob!

[@donz7992]

Congratulations, Tim! First I worked you on the air Friday and now got to see your first POTA experience. Hope to get you in the log on a P2P some day! 73 de KC0DWZ

[@timg5tm941]

Fab stuff!

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

I need a beer and a cigarette after watching that and I don’t even smoke hahaha that was great!

[@timg5tm941]

Ha ha!!

[@M0RSF]

Well done Tim. The smile on your face at the end said it all. 73 Chris M0RSF

[@timg5tm941]

Thanks Chris - hope all is well!

[@JosephVE3GKT]

Around 7:30 it sounded like a JA saying "arigato", and your response sounded like "a bientot". Too many Qs with France in the extended solar minimum, eh? ;) Sounds like you had a great time! POTA is a blast! 73 VE3GKT

[@timg5tm941]

I need to write that down for JA stations!! 73

[@corsavic1]

wow you did a great job, might try it one day

[@timg5tm941]

Thanks, I recommend it!

[@brianfields4479]

well done, thought our hobby was relaxing hi hi, thats what it was like for me on 20m ssb last night.

[@timg5tm941]

Great fun Brian!

[@StuM0OVG]

Nice one Tim, I hope to work you sometime as a Park 2 Park soon.

[@timg5tm941]

Cheers Stuart, hope all is well?

[@garyh8315]

😂😂😂 That was fantastic. Nearly around the world in 30 minutes.😂 Where was Manuel tho, EA2DT. A WWff, POTA or SOTA doesn't sound the same without him. Well done Tim, thanks for sharing

[@timg5tm941]

I think he was in my log!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Great Thumbnail!

[@timg5tm941]

Yeah I know 😉

[@AndrewElias-2W0DSP]

Well done mate, nice to get a pile up like that lol, 73s bachgen

[@timg5tm941]

Diolch Andrew!

[@daron2428]

Pota is great hopefully I'll get a park 2 park with you. One-day

[@timg5tm941]

Fingers crossed!

[@alzeNL]

Awesome Tim ! Looking forward to making some P2P :)

[@timg5tm941]

Absolutely!!

[@vk4foo]

You're a little speed 😈 on the Park On The Air. FOO listening😊

[@davidlucas6837]

Glad you enjoyed it Tim, G8XDD

[@timg5tm941]

Thanks for the heads up Dave!

[@pulponair]

welcome to my world :) cute blush in your face :)

[@theradiorover]

😂😂😂 class!

[@timg5tm941]

Thanks Fraser!

[@Wayde-VA3NCA]

Welcome to the POTA obsess^H^H^H^H^H^HFamily! Enjoy😁

[@timg5tm941]

Ha!! Thanks!

[@paulwynneroberts1731]

Ardderchog Tim. Gobeithio trio POTA fy hyn yn yr haf. Diolch Tim. 2W0IEP 73

[@timg5tm941]

dylech roi cynnig arni! diolch am ddweud helo. 73

[@2E0UDX]

Well done Tim great watch pal 73 2e0udx

[@timg5tm941]

Thank you sir!

[@mickeyred]

Great to get you for a P2P activation. Mick G1BCP

[@timg5tm941]

Likewise Mick!

[@jensvoigt3376]

Wohoo, what a pile up, but you've mastered it excellent. Congrats, es vy 73s de DG1VJ

[@timg5tm941]

Thank you!