Parks on the Air (POTA): A Quick Start Guide ~ Portable Ham Radio

[@W8MJL]

Fantastic instruction, I've been wanting to do POTA but could wrap my head around all the info, now i understand perfectly. Thank you so much for the video, I hope to be on the air as soon as i finish my field kit build. de W8MJL

[@danvezda1184]

Thank you very much for this simple yet very useful video, I'm 15 years old and just got my licence, and I'm looking into parks on the air since I started investigating ham radio. This has helped my overall understanding of POTA, Thanks very much - VE3FCT

[@tommycheshire5508]

You just, in three sentences, taught me that a random wire is better than all those expensive whips and vertical antennas. Bless you my son. You are the best. N4KBM

[@hamradiocq]

Kind of makes sense though doesn't it? Longer wire will catch more waves?

[@georgebunce749]

Great video! You are quickly becoming my favorite HAM KZbinr. I've been studying for my General & Extra ticket for a few weeks now and watch a few videos in between for reference on certain topics. You and Comms Prepper explain things in a simple, easy to understand manner. A lot of Elmers explain things with a way that assumes that you've heard of the topic before. I like how you are humble and don't act "holier than thou" about amatuer radio. Keep the great videos coming. 73's KC3IGO

[@brianve7jyd943]

Hey Pard - ive been looking for good instructions on pota and sota and you Sir did it - easy to understand rather than getting lost in all the pota site garble - thankyou again

[@davidsradioroom9678]

An EXCELLENT introduction to Parks on the Air. I intend to get out to a state park as soon as I can. Your POTA videos have been an inspiration to me. Thanks! :)

[@hamradiocq]

Thank you I forgot to put in how to load your logs into the site though.

[@alzeNL]

Just getting into PoTA and am soon to give a presentation myself to our local club members - I found this video really great in the key details that I need to share with my club members.

[@davidsradioroom9678]

I am determined to do POTA, despite the heat and humidity. This is the second time I watched this video. It gives me inspiration!

[@Ron_C]

Thanks for the shoutout, brother. At least you got outside and made the attempt!

[@hamradiocq]

Yeah, that was last weekend, 60+ degrees. Now I can skate on my pool.

[@Ron_C]

@@hamradiocq Saw this on FB, there are actually 11 seasons: Winter, Fool’s Spring, Second Winter, Spring of Deception, Third Winter, Mud Season, Actual Spring, Summer, False Fall, Second Summer, Actual Fall

[@hamradiocq]

Omg, that's hilarious. In Chicago they said they have 2 seasons. Winter and Road Construction

[@Ron_C]

@@hamradiocq haha! That's funny too!

[@michaelmullins9874]

WAY, WAY more informative than the website. Thanks you for making this video. I feel much better about an upcoming POTA outing. Thanks again.

[@hamradiocq]

Great comment. Hope it helps.

[@Beowulfsurvival]

Taking my general test in 2 weeks can’t wait to get into POTA.

[@hamradiocq]

Love it amigo

[@kencarnley7101]

Thank you for starting from beginning and explaining spotter process. I plan to set up at a State Park in GA this July.

[@hamradiocq]

Glad it was helpful!

[@KD2GIY]

Please make a part 2 on how to summit the log. thank you so far This is great stuff here. ty

[@hamradiocq]

Yes, I should have done that, will do asap.

[@KD2GIY]

@@ae4xo that comment was 3 years ago. A lot has changed since then. 73

[@ae4xo]

@@KD2GIY oops

[@hencal71]

awesome !! I'm excited for POTA, just got my tech permit. thanks

[@hamradiocq]

Nice!!

[@davidshermanlittle919]

Thanks for helping to get this started. And explaining what POTA is all about. Your experience is valuable to me and others. Totally agree with you about 10 Q’s may be too many sometimes.

[@hamradiocq]

You are so welcome!

[@n4bc852]

Good intro, Tom! Like some of the others stated, I'm waiting for the "spring thaw" to get back into outdoor ops. 73 de Dick

[@KX4UL]

Good video Tom! I have become very interested in POTA. Due to my HOA I am running very compromised antennas. There are several parks in my immediate area that will enable me to actually get an antenna up quite high in the very tall pine trees we have here in Florida. Plus some of these parks have picnic shelters with power. 73!

[@hamradiocq]

Yes, that's also a big reason why I like to leave my house to operate. Evil HOA

[@susans527]

Excellent introduction. Enjoy seeing snippets of Mo., my home state. Are there any caveats to uploading your contacts?

[@mrbulldog12345]

I'll let N9YO make a video about uploading contacts; however, as a chaser and new to activating, I would encourage all activators to upload their logs to both the POTA and WWFF programs. I know it is redundant, and the programs are similar...to the point most parks have the same park reference number for both programs...it allows chasers who do participate in WWFF to get credit as well. During POTA activations you will often hear the term "44". It is used similar to and interchangeable to that of "73"...it is a WWFF slogan which supposedly means "greetings from those preserving nature". First 4 stands for North, South, East, West and the second four stands for Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. Many activators also upload their contacts to LOTW, QRZ, and eQSL. -KM6GTZ

[@MCCRITTERS]

Thanks Tom for sharing this. It's still a bit cold for my bones here in Southern Ohio. But you inspired me to go out and activate me some POTA! Hahah ( As soon as it gets above 45!) 73's K9MFJ

[@JulietNovember9]

This is a really great video. I send this to everyone to whom I try to explain the fun of HAM. POTA is like Pokemon for radio. HA! Thank you! 73

[@hamradiocq]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Puma25528]

Your explanation was so simple. Can’t wait to start doing this.

[@hamradiocq]

Thanks for the nice comment, Joe. Let me know how it goes for you.

[@Ronbob59]

Thanks Tom. I’m now the newest member of POTA. See you on the air. Ron KA5HZV

[@josephmarkwhaley6164]

Awesome video! Very helpful!

[@Ratchet2]

Very good introduction to POTA, I watched this video and signed up just now.

[@hamradiocq]

Great, thanks for the comment.

[@1958johndeere620]

I heard a sota station on 2 meters when I first got licensed. I was about to answer him " I like soda too." Ha, I thought he was saying soda. Had no idea what sota was, had never heard the term before. I have worked several SOTA stations on 2 meters. There is a national park near me with a high mountain. I can work guys that go on the mountain with a ht.

[@hamradiocq]

I wish I lived near a mountain! So cool line of sight. Soda! HA

[@MoTown44240]

Some history Tom. And this all started with OSPOTA (Ohio State Parks on the Air originated by PCARS and submitted to ARRL as an official contest). Followed by ISPOTA (Indiana State Parks on the Air). Then a few years later ARRL started POTA (Parks On the Air).

[@Bob814u]

And all this time I thought it was started because the WWFF program started kicking people out that didn't agree with the directors.

[@hamradiocq]

Yeah, I originally didn't mean to provide a history lesson, more of the way I saw things. I got excited about SOTA, realized it was not possible (for most people) and quickly said, screw that. Found POTA and said, hey I can participate! That's for me!

[@Ron_C]

@@Bob814u Me too.

[@MoTown44240]

@@Bob814uTwo different programs.

[@T-Hogie]

The sun has gone to bed and now so must I. 😁

[@hamradiocq]

I totally agree.

[@hunt555fish]

Thanks Tom for the info.I want to get setup to do parks on the air.Thanks for all the work you do to bring us great amateur radio videos.Hope I get to work you soon.Ron NB3W

[@hamradiocq]

Thanks for the nice comment! CU on the air! 73

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Thanks for sharing this. I just signed up for POTA and hope to activate a park that I am near here in WV soon. Of course I will most likely be operating QRP using a uBitx or maybe even my BItx40. Again thanks for sharing this information and showing us your setup. 73 Juddie WD8WV

[@Airman451]

just getting into qrp purchased the yaesu ft818nd been making a lot contacts hoping to try parks on the air

[@hamradiocq]

Sounds great, Frank!

[@w6dfmp242]

This is a great prep to POTA, thanks fluting it up. I was wondering if you still submit a log when you come up short if the ten? If you do does this help the chasers get the points?

[@hamradiocq]

Yes still do the log I think it can help others.

[@frankgirello6809]

Good Video, thanks for the info

[@MrDixieD]

I love activating parks on the air. There is no better feeling of accomplishment when you make a park to Park QSO. The Facebook page is useful but a little depressing when you are at work or otherwise away from your radio and you can’t chase. There is always something going on. It’s been raining here so I’ve been making plans for a bunch of first time activations in California once the weather improves.

[@hamradiocq]

Yeah! I understand depressing cause you know people are out there, yet we are stuck at work! Good luck with the CA activations!

[@LEXPIX]

Great stuff. Looks like fun. Been thinking of getting into ham radios and this is a great primer.

[@hamradiocq]

Good luck LEX

[@0wiseone]

Awesome content. I really enjoy all of your videos although sometimes you lose me on CW (not my forte). This video hit the spot so much so that I watched it twice, back to back

[@hamradiocq]

Oh man! Thank you so much

[@mikecase2638]

Thanks for the nice video! Hope to get you in the log!.. de W8MSC

[@Aussat]

Thanks for the video yet again Tom, I really keen to do this however in ZL POTA isn't here but they say it's coming so I'm crossing fingers. 73 ZL1MY

[@hamradiocq]

Yes, I understand. Well, the people at POTA are all just volunteers with day jobs. I worked with them a little bit. It's actually pretty difficult to define a park and organize the whole information system thing. It's not that we are ethnocentric, it's just a matter of sorting out the park information which is very different. I don't think it's possible, but there's nothing I'd like more than a NZ contact! 73 friend!

[@Aussat]

@@hamradiocq it sure is possible Tom, many years ago I used to have weekly scheds with both the states and a mate from Denmark. I should brush up my CW which you have inspired me to do along with purchasing a camera. 73 from this Kiwi!

[@jrasche]

Is it possible to do POTA on 2m? Only a tech and interested but it doesn't seem like anyone is talking about 2m. All I have is a 2m/70cm mobile radio and my homemade ground plane antenna masted about 20feet to use. Would I be wasting my time?

[@hamradiocq]

Hey, I think technically you can do 2m POTA there's no rule against it. Honestly you can just go to a park and not worry about POTA rules and just make contacts.

[@MyTube4Utoo]

Very informative. Thanks.

[@tangle70]

So you can activate parks that have already been activated? Should you try to do it in a different spot in the park? Thanks for the video.

[@hamradiocq]

Yes you can!

[@klrscout]

Thanks very much for this. I think using my phone would be super slow. If I use a notebook, is there a link with what pertinent info I would need to log?

[@hamradiocq]

Google POTA parks on the air for full info. I think it's changed since this video.

[@ronjones4069]

You mistakenly indicated that SOTA is not still around...it is massively popular with people from all over the world activating locations.

[@hamradiocq]

That video is old now, but I believe it's inaccessible for a lot of us due to lack of Summits.

[@Stuff_happens]

Can more than one person activate a park?

[@hamradiocq]

Yes. Its unlimited.

[@1958johndeere620]

Any signal report could be correct. I have worked several 5 and 0 qso's. If the noise floor is zero you can hear signals with no s units. If the noise floor is high you could have a 1 and 9.

[@hamradiocq]

Ok, tnx for that, I never heard a 49 before even though I sent it. :)

[@tallmike6598]

Does anyone use 2m for POTA ? I am starting to get active in the hobby again, basically starting over its been so long, this looks like fun..

[@hamradiocq]

That's a good question. I think you can technically, but I don't think anyone does.

[@magwhyte]

Tom, It seems you experience little to no hash from your battery pack. Is that correct?

[@hamradiocq]

By hash, I think you mean interference, and no I don't notice any at all from my Bioenno power.

[@magwhyte]

@@hamradiocq Thank you. Inverters have typically been very disappointing. Good to know your set-up clearly works.

[@jstrunck]

Are Corp of Engineers lake/park activations allowed?

[@kybollweevil7540]

Not Yet

[@Bob814u]

I found that you have to KNOW the park number before you go to it. I have gone to parks expecting to have WIFI and found no WIFI to find out the number. Trying to get contacts to give you the number is sorta showing that you aren't prepared. Great video!! 73 de KE5ES. PS: There are some people using radios (can't even call them hams) that will crank their power up and "steal" your frequency.

[@hamradiocq]

Yeah, I learn that you need to be spotted somehow before you go. Last time I was at that park I had zero wifi, or mobile cell service. So I couldn't even text or email my friend to spot me. I don't like trying to schedule myself in advance because I never quite know when I'll get some free time to head out and what obstacles will hit me on the way...let alone what frequency is free when I get there!

[@T-Hogie]

How do you get the schedule to come up in spreadsheet format. I seem to only get like a card view that is two cards wide by however many tall. The format I get is almost completely unusable.

[@hamradiocq]

This video was taken a long time ago, I'm not sure now. Tnx for watching.

[@mossycup6974]

I see info for phone and FT8 at the POTA site. Are CW activations welcome as well? Cant find much info. Good work Tom! 73, W9YAP

[@mossycup6974]

Actually, after doing more research I found some pretty clear info at the POTA site. Thanks again Tom!

[@hamradiocq]

Thank you

[@G1WHP]

Good information 👍

[@R2AUK]

Long wires are effective indeed, but also noisy. You might be interested in trying trap dipoles. Typically they give noise level by 2 or 3 lower, thus you may hear weaker signals. Also a trap dipole doesn't require a tuner to change the frequency. I made a 20-40-80m bands trap dipole, which also resonates (SWR 1.8-2) on all other amateur radio HF bands except 30 and 160 meters. I followed the articles by Steve Hunt, G3TXQ www.karinya.net/g3txq/chokes/ and John DeGood, NU3E degood.org/coaxtrap/ For the balun I used a FT240-31 toroid with 8 turns of RG58 in W1JR winding. The total length of the antenna is 27.5 meters, it works pretty well with a balun raised up by 6-7 meters. 73 de R2AUK.

[@gregmalonewa3gm680]

What size weight and line do you use

[@hamradiocq]

Thin cord for like blinds and 9oz.

[@hcy0]

This is very cool, I'm just wondering why it only exists in the USA. There are beautiful parks all over the world so it should be international like SOTA.

[@hamradiocq]

I think I know why. It has to do with "official park listings" The people that do this stuff are volunteers so they use their free time to organize POTAs. They start off with a list of all parks in the USA, which are 1000's of types of parks with different names and types, Municipal, recreation, state, conservation etc etc. It makes for an information organization mess. Then the parks have to exist in the same way for other countries. It's just hard to organize that's all. What you can do, is just go to a park and just treat it as a POTA. Don't worry about official rules and stuff. Just have fun.

[@kevinjones2145]

Very helpful

[@hamradiocq]

Glad to hear that

[@michaelsharp8229]

I don’t know if I’ll ever do contesting, but you have a lot of useful information in this video. I will say, you have piqued my interest in POTA. 73 KD9MED

[@hamradiocq]

Awesome, my goal was to get newbies out there on the air and if I got you interested that's awesome!

[@shawjw247]

hello YOU TUBER Star, what kid of video camera do you us for yt?

[@hamradiocq]

Sony Action Cam 4k and Sony A7iii with nice lenses.

[@WH6FQE]

Novice at 14.225? There is no novice class anymore, and Technician Class does not have privileges on the 20 meter band, so that would be General Class.

[@VK2YK]

Great intro to POTA very similar to WWFF (wwff.co/) with a few differences. Before I head out portable I have a look at propagation predictions to figure out which bands are most likely to be open to areas where there a high population radio operators. Cheers, Adam VK2YK

[@John_Henry83]

How about a video on how to research or get permission from the various state and federal park authorities. I can just image going to a park, getting all set up and ready and some nosy Ken or Karen comes over and says "You can not do that here"

[@hamradiocq]

My theory is just go find a place that's quiet and do it. You will get Karens in some places, but I'm usually pretty far away from Karen safe places that I don't see them. If you live in California or something it will probably be much harder than say here in the midwest.

[@NWMinnesota]

Thanks for the POTA info, but I disagree with your SOTA comments. SOTA is not a "used to be" operation, it is going strong as ever right now. It is organized much like POTA, with activators and chasers, and it does not depend on you having a mountain near your front door. Chasing peaks can be done from anywhere. The difference is that SOTA activation is understood to be meant for people who are able to backpack a rig and antenna up a hill or mountain, while POTA folks can merely drive over to the park and set up. Both outfits have internet spotting and you are not stuck with calling CQ endlessly with a QRP signal. I myself have activated Minnesota's highest point, Eagle Mountain in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. That was several miles of a very rough, rock and root surfaced trail to get up there and the same to get back out. On top I used my KX3 and a 30 foot fiberglass pole on which we strung up a 20 meter ground plane antenna and then a 40 meter dipole. We made about 30 contacts on SSB and a couple on CW, until approaching sunset made us tear down and skedaddle. The next day we did a different peak and had over 70 contacts on SSB from the KX3. Great fun.

[@hamradiocq]

Wait are you saying that any hill or peak is an official sota activation? Because last time I checked it had to be a certain elevation and it was so high that the nearest peak to me was many many hours drive away. Which means its useless to me.

[@NWMinnesota]

No, just like POTA which has official recognized parks that count, SOTA peaks are registered in a database of peaks and only those peaks count. So I understand that for your purpose, which is to be an activator and not a chaser, SOTA is not for you. Agreed. Here in MN, I have to go on an extended drive to get to any official peaks, so most of my SOTA contacts are as a chaser. I was only pointing out the general case, that SOTA is not a dead issue and anyone interested has SOTA as well as POTA opportunities.

[@KentWilliams]

Well done. Very useful. Enjoyed it. Thank you. 72 KJ6EBJ

[@hamradiocq]

Thanks for great comment!

[@ncphotos]

Great video! de W2CSI

[@hamradiocq]

Thank you so much for the comment friend!