WK4DS Amateur Radio Blog
Alafia River POTA: How 12 Meters Delivered 72% DX While Everyone Else Fought on 20m
Everyone defaults to 20 meters for POTA. It's crowded, competitive, and honestly…boring at this point. So at Alafia River State Park (US-1829), I did something different: I skipped 20 meters entirely and focused on 12 and 15 meters instead. The result? A 72% DX rate on 12 meters, contacts to 10 different countries in under an hour, and some of the best propagation I've experienced from a Florida state park. All at 10 watts.
Everyone defaults to 20 meters for POTA. It's crowded, competitive, and honestly…boring at this point. So at Alafia River State Park (US-1829), I did something different: I skipped 20 meters entirely and focused on 12 and 15 meters instead. The result? A 72% DX rate on 12 meters, contacts to 10 different countries in under an hour, and some of the best propagation I've experienced from a Florida state park. All at 10 watts.
Let me show you why 12 meters is the band everyone's ignoring while they pile up on 20m.
Why I Skipped 20 Meters Entirely
Look, I get it. 20 meters is the default POTA band. It's where everyone goes, it's where the hunters expect you to be, and it's reliable. But reliable also means crowded, and crowded means QRM, pile-ups, and fighting for frequency space with a dozen other activators doing the same thing.
We're near solar cycle maximum right now, which means the higher bands (10m, 12m, and 15m) are performing like 20m used to during previous cycles. But most POTA activators haven't adapted their band strategy yet. They're still automatically going to 14.061 MHz CW or 20m SSB without even checking what's happening higher up in frequency.
So today at Alafia River State Park with Chas (who was also activating), I made a conscious decision: skip 20 meters completely. Start with 12 meters, see what happens, then move to 15 meters. If those bands produced nothing, I could always drop to 20m as a backup. But I had a feeling 12m was going to surprise me.
Spoiler: it absolutely did.
The Alafia River State Park Setup
Alafia River State Park is designated US-1829 for POTA and it's located in Lithia, Florida, just southeast of Tampa. The park has a really nice covered pavilion with picnic tables, bathrooms, and RV camping area with good tree coverage. Spanish moss everywhere, typical Florida scrub vegetation, and plenty of tall trees for wire antennas.
The covered pavilion where we set up for the activation. Clean facilities, picnic tables, and good tree coverage for wire antennas.
Chas and I both set up under the pavilion, him at one table, me at another about 20 feet away. This gave us enough separation to avoid too much RF interference between our stations, though we still had to coordinate who was transmitting when to avoid stepping on each other.
My antenna setup was a 65 foot random wire thrown up into one of the larger trees near the pavilion. I'm guessing it got maybe 30-35 feet up into the branches, which isn't spectacular but it's what I could reach with the available trees. The radiator came down to the tuner that is tied up high on the corner column of the pavilion. I also used a larger set of radials so the antenna would be more likely to work on 40 meters. But that didn’t seem to matter as I would come to find out…
This is the tree branch I had my wire antenna ran out to, if you look close, you can see the wire antenna in the photo.
Now here's where I need to be honest about the equipment struggles today... I am not immune to making common, simple mistakes and here are a couple from today that I actually did. I started out on 40 meters and wanted to work some stations there since it was supposed to be about 9:30 when I would be starting the activation. Well, that isnt how it went at all. I started out usng the Elecraft T1 antenna tuner with the sBitx. This turns out to be a problem though, you see JJ and the team added a high SWR protection script in the new code and if the SWR goes over 3 to 1 then it automatically turns the output power all the way down to prevent it from killing the finals. Well, it seems that as the Elecraft T1 goes through the tune process, the SWR will rise above 3:1 and this shuts off the RF from the radio and the tuner cant finish the tune…
Elecraft T1 Antenna Tuner with wire antenna and ground radials tied to pavilion column.
But before I figured this out, there is another small detail… The sbitx tune feature is simple, hit a button and it will “dead key” the radio and hold that for a time. Both the level of power and the time are adjustable in the menu so I set it to 20 seconds and the level to about 5 watts as the T1 is a QRP tuner. The Elecraft T1 can tune about anything you want to use for an antenna to a usable SWR so I was confident in the little tuner. Soooo, I would hit the tune button on the sBitx then sprint over to the tuner and hit the button on it to activate the tune feature on the tuner. The tune timer on the sBitx would finish right as I would get back to the radio. I would check it with a Morse code key in CW mode and the radio would and SWR of 5 or 6 to 1 and the output power would be turned all the way down… I would turn the power back up to 5 watts and then try again. I performed this comedy act a few more times before seeing the “SPLIT” button was on and that the B VFO was on 15 meters!
Armed with this knowledge, I confidently turned off split and immediately found myself back to the HIGH SWR alarm on the sBitx… No matter what I did, as soon as the Elecraft T1 would start the tune cycle, it would trip the radio SWR protection feature and this would turn off the transmitter in the radio and by extension, also shut down the tuner mid-tune… Frustrated by this revelation, I found myself getting the Penntek TR-35 out of the bag and using it a couple of times to find out it was doing the same thing! After spending 30 minutes doing this, I finally threw in the towel and just went out to the truck and got my MFJ941 manual tuner and the nanoVNA and connected it in place of the Elecraft unit.
But the fun doesn’t stop here! I could not get this one to tune either! What was going on here!!! Well, it turns out that I had at some point switched the MFJ’s antenna selector from wire to the next antenna port and didn’t check it so I was effectively tuning the SO239 connector on the back of the tuner to 40 meters!!! Good grief, this has been a mess! Once I figured this out and set the tuner to the correct antenna, it tuned up almost instantly. This whole debacle took over an hour to sort out, so if you think you are not very good at POTA setup and breakdown because you see these “old pros” doing it effortlessly, just know we are not immune to errors and odd problems either…haha.
Back to the rest of the activation report…
Radio-wise, I was running the sBitx v3 at 10 watts maximum. For those not familiar with QRP POTA operations, 10 watts is pretty normal power level, it is about 1/10th of what most people run. But it's what the sBitx puts out reliably on all bands and that is well within the Elecraft T1 tuner’s power handling capability (remember, I had started with this tuner), and honestly, with propagation conditions this good, power isn't the limiting factor anyway.
I had my Dell laptop for logging contacts in HAMRS (the POTA logging software), a foldable keyboard because typing on a laptop in bright sunlight is annoying, a CW paddle, and the usual field gear—water bottle, clipboard with paper log backup, etc. Pretty standard POTA kit.
12 Meters: The Band Everyone's Ignoring
I fired up the sBitx on 12 meters around 1600 UTC (11:00 AM local time) and started calling CQ on FT8 at 24.915 MHz. Within seconds, I was getting responses. And not just USA stations, I'm talking Greece, France, Netherlands, Spain.
The station: sBitx v3 running 10 watts, MFJ-941 manual antenna tuner, Dell laptop for logging, Begali Traveler CW paddle, and field keyboard. This setup delivered 72% DX on 12 meters today!!!
The first contact was PB2A in the Netherlands at 1620 UTC. Signal report was strong both directions. Okay, that's promising! 12m is open to Europe!
Next contact: EA5KB in Spain at 1622 UTC. Also solid copy.
Then SV1GYN in Greece at 1626 UTC, followed by SV8EFJ (also Greece) at 1631 UTC.
This is when I realized 12 meters wasn't just "open" to Europe it was absolutely on fire! In the next hour, I worked:
Three stations in Greece (SV1GYN, SV8EFJ, SV7FDA)
Two stations in France (F4IFO, F6BIA)
Spain (EA5KB)
Netherlands (PB2A)
Portugal (CT1FIU)
Czech Republic (OK1DTC)
Poland (SP2GCJ)
Plus Brazil, Dominican Republic, and Canada as bonus DX
That's 10 different countries in less than an hour on 12 meters. With 10 watts. From Florida. To put this in perspective: of the 18 contacts I made on 12m, 13 were DX (non-USA). That's a 72% DX rate.
When was the last time you heard anyone report a 72% DX rate from a POTA activation? This is why solar cycle maximum matters, and this is why you should check 12 meters before defaulting to 20m.
The propagation held solid from about 1606 UTC until around 1657 UTC when it started to fade. That's nearly an hour of wide-open conditions to Europe from a Florida state park with a wire antenna and 10 watts. Just... chef's kiss (I saw someone else use this term and it absolutely applies here, lol). This is what amateur radio is supposed to be.
15 Meters: The Reality Check
After 12 meters started fading around 1700 UTC, I switched to 15 meters to see if the party was still going. Spoiler: it was not.
15 meters wasn't dead as I made 10 contacts between 1738 and 1748 UTC but the DX had evaporated. Out of those 10 contacts:
8 were USA stations (domestic)
2 were Germany (the only DX and were way down in the noise)
That's a 20% DX rate on 15m compared to 72% on 12m. The contrast was striking and immediate. As soon as I moved from 24 MHz to 21 MHz, I went from European pile-ups to mostly USA stations.
This isn't a knock on 15 meters, it's just propagation and we all know how the sky likes to mess with out brains…. By late afternoon (1730-1800 UTC), 15m was transitioning from long-skip DX to shorter-distance USA contacts. Which is fine if you need domestic QSOs to reach your 10-contact activation threshold, but if you're chasing DX, 12m was clearly the better choice earlier in the day.
The lesson here: timing matters just as much as band selection. 12m was the star of the show from 1600-1700 UTC. 15m was better for domestic contacts after 1730 UTC. If I'd started on 15m at 1600, I probably would've missed the entire European opening on 12m.
The 40m and 10m Bookends
I also made a few contacts on 40 meters and 10 meters to round out the activation, mostly just to see what those bands were doing.
40 meters (4 contacts): Mostly short-skip USA stations. Nothing surprising here as 40m in the afternoon is for regional contacts. It works, it's reliable, but it's not going to give you Greece with 10 watts and a random wire thrown over a tree branch.
10 meters (4 contacts): Had a brief opening but nothing like 12m. A couple of USA stations and some Caribbean/Central America. 10m can be spectacular during solar max, but today it was just "okay." You could just watch the stations fade in and out on the band here on the waterfall…
Final tally for the activation:
Total: 36 QSOs
12m: 18 QSOs (50% of total) - 72% DX rate
15m: 10 QSOs (28% of total) - 20% DX rate
40m: 4 QSOs (11%)
10m: 4 QSOs (11%)
Modes: 50% CW, 50% FT8
Twelve meters did half the work and delivered nearly all the DX. That's the story.
Operating With Chas: Multi-Operator Coordination
Chas (NA2B) at his operating position with me in the background. Multi-operator POTA setup at Alafia River State Park—he's about 20 feet away to minimize RF interference.
Chas was set up about 20 feet away at another picnic table under the same pavilion, also activating US-1829. We coordinated our operating so we weren't transmitting on top of each other. He started on 30 meters since I was on 40 and after I finished on 40, I jumped all the way to 12 meters so he could move slowly up the band through 20 then 17 and even 15 before he got his 60 and called it a day. He runs 50 watts currently and has great success with it, but the QRP bug has bitten him and he is going to be turning down the power dial soon… or so he says… haha
This coordination is important for multi-operator POTA setups. You can absolutely operate two stations simultaneously from the same park, but you need enough physical separation to avoid RF interference (20-30 feet minimum), and you need to pay attention to who's transmitting when. If both operators key up at the same time on different bands, you'll hear it immediately as front-end overload or mixing products.
It actually works out pretty well though, you have someone to talk to between contacts, you can share band information ("hey, 12m is wide open to Europe right now"), and if one operator needs help with something technical, the other person is right there. Plus it makes the drive more enjoyable when you're carpooling to the activation site (which we didn’t do this time, but this point is still valid). All of this and it is just plain fun to hand out with a like minded person for a while and just have the fellowship.
Chas and I have done several multi-op activations now and we've got the coordination pretty well figured out. As long as you're mindful of the RF environment and don't step on each other's transmissions, it's actually a really fun way to do POTA.
Lessons for Other POTA Activators
If you take away one thing from this activation, let it be this: check 12 meters before you default to 20 meters.
Most POTA guides and YouTube videos focus on 20m and 40m because those bands are "reliable." And they are! You can almost always make contacts on 20m or 40m during a POTA activation. But reliable isn't the same as optimal…or fun..
We're at solar cycle maximum right now (or very close to it), which means the higher bands—10m, 12m, and 15m—are performing better than they have in a decade. But those bands are only open during certain times of day, and you have to actually check them to know.
Here's my recommended POTA band strategy for 2025-2026:
1. Start with 12 meters during daylight hours (1500-1900 UTC / 10 AM - 2 PM local) Check FT8 on 24.915 MHz or CW around 24.900-24.910 MHz. If you see European or South American stations, stay there. Don't move until the band fades.
2. If 12m is dead, try 15 meters next Same time window. 15m opens a bit earlier and stays open a bit later than 12m.
3. If both higher bands are quiet, then drop to 20 or 17 meters You haven't lost anything by checking 12m and 15m first, it only takes 5 minutes to scan FT8 and see if there's activity. But if you skip straight to 20m, you might miss the entire European opening on 12m.
4. Add 40 meters in the evening or early morning 40m is your regional workhorse. Use it to fill in USA contacts if you need to reach your 10-QSO activation threshold.
5. Keep an eye on 10 meters during solar max 10m can be absolutely bonkers during cycle peaks. Sometimes it's dead, sometimes it's a highway to Japan. Worth checking.
Key point: Solar cycle conditions change everything. The band strategy that worked in 2019 (solar minimum) doesn't apply in 2025 (solar maximum). Adapt your approach, check the higher bands first, and you'll be rewarded with DX that most POTA activators never experience because they're stuck in the 20m/40m routine.
The "Skip 20m" Strategy: Does It Always Work?
Okay, let's be realistic here. Will 12 meters always deliver 72% DX rates? No, of course not. Propagation is fickle, solar conditions vary day to day, and sometimes the higher bands are just dead. The sun giveth and the sun taketh away.. lol.
But here's the thing: you don't know until you check. And checking takes 5 minutes to tune to 24.915 MHz on FT8, watch the waterfall for 1 minute, and see if you're decoding any DX stations. If it is a yes, start calling. If no, move down to 20m like you were going to do anyway.
The worst-case scenario is that you "waste" 5 minutes checking a dead band and then go to 20m as your backup. The best case scenario is that you find a wide open band to Europe with zero QRM and work 10 countries in an hour with 10 watts.
I'll take that bet every time.
Also worth noting: 12 meters is way less crowded than 20m. On 20 meters during a weekend, you're competing with dozens of other POTA activators, contest stations, and regular QSOs. On 12 meters? Most of the band is empty. You can call CQ on an open frequency without worrying about stepping on someone else, and when DX stations hear you, you're often the only POTA station they can work on that band.
Less QRM, better propagation, higher DX percentage, what's not to love?
Alafia River State Park: Worth Activating?
As for US-1829 specifically: yeah, it's a nice park. The covered pavilion makes POTA operations comfortable even in Florida weather (sun, rain, whatever), the facilities are clean and modern, there's RV camping if you want to stay overnight, and the trees provide decent antenna support.
It's about 30 minutes southeast of Tampa, so it's accessible if you're in the area. Not a destination park like some of the big state parks, but definitely worth activating if you're looking for a Florida POTA location that isn't mobbed with tourists.
The tree I used for the 65-foot random wire was a large pine tree of some variety with good height and thick branches for support. Spanish moss everywhere, typical Florida landscape. Got the wire up to maybe 30-35 feet, which is serviceable if not spectacular.
One note: there were RVs parked in the camping area about 100 feet from the pavilion, so we weren't completely isolated. Nobody bothered us though, and one RV owner came over to chat about amateur radio for a few minutes. Friendly folks just out camping.
Best time to activate: Late morning to early afternoon (local time) if you want to catch the 12m European opening. Earlier in the day if you want 40m to be productive for longer distance USA contacts.
Facilities: Bathrooms, covered pavilion with tables, RV camping, paved parking. Bring your own food/water.
Antenna options: Plenty of trees for wire antennas. A vertical would work too if you prefer.
Final Stats and Conclusion
Let's wrap this up with the numbers:
Total QSOs: 36
12 meters: 18 QSOs (50% of total) - 72% DX rate
15 meters: 10 QSOs (28%) - 20% DX rate
40 meters: 4 QSOs (11%)
10 meters: 4 QSOs (11%)
DX Worked: 12 different countries
Greece (3 QSOs)
France (2)
Germany (2)
Brazil (2)
Plus Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland, Canada, Dominican Republic, US Virgin Islands
Modes: 50% CW, 50% FT8 Power: 10 watts QRP Antenna: 65-foot random wire at about 30-35 feet
The takeaway: 12 meters is the secret weapon for POTA DX during solar cycle maximum. While everyone else is fighting on 20 meters, you can have an entire band nearly to yourself with better propagation, less QRM, and DX rates that would make any contester jealous.
So next time you're setting up for a POTA activation, do me a favor: check 12 meters first. You might be surprised what you find.
Thanks and get your radio out!
Have you worked DX on 12 meters during POTA activations? What bands are you checking during solar max? Drop a comment! I'd love to hear what's working for you.
You can help support this website by using these Amazon Affiliate Links:
QRP/Portable Radios:
Antennas & Tuning:
CW Equipment:
Power & Accessories:
Organization & Transport:
BONUS ITEMS
73, David / WK4DS
Ten watts to Spain. Ten watts to Germany. Ten watts to Austria. The EFHW at 35 feet made all the difference.
Activating Hillsborough River State Park (US-1878) with a friend is one thing—making over 100 contacts in a single afternoon using QRP power and a homemade wire antenna is another. That's exactly what Chas and I accomplished using a 65-foot EFHW antenna strung 35 feet up in the Florida pines, a ground mounted vertical, his FT891, a Penntek TR-35, and my sBitx v3 running just 10 watts (Chas was running 50 watts today though). This wasn't just a Parks on the Air activation—it was a field test of how well minimalist gear performs in a multi-operator setup, complete with lessons learned about antenna placement, front-end overload, and working around the Florida sun.
Activating Hillsborough River State Park (US-1878) with a friend is one thing, making over 100 contacts in a single afternoon using QRP power and a homemade wire antenna is another. That's exactly what Chas (NA2B) and I accomplished using a 65-foot EFHW antenna strung 35 feet up in the Florida pines, a ground mounted vertical, his FT891, a Penntek TR-35, and my sBitx v3 running just 10 watts (Chas was running 50 watts today though). This wasn't just a Parks on the Air activation, it was a field test of how well minimalist gear performs in a multi-operator setup, complete with lessons learned about antenna placement, front-end overload, and working around the Florida sun.
Hillsborough River State Park entrance designated K-1488 for Parks on the Air activations.
Hillsborough River State Park: Location and Access
Hillsborough River State Park sits about 12 miles north of Tampa and makes for an excellent POTA location. When you arrive at the entrance, the first thing you're greeted with is a ranger station where you pay your four dollar entrance fee. Yes, you read that right—four dollars for the whole day. This is a really nice park with extensive hiking trails, a large loop perfect for biking, and the Hillsborough River running through it where visitors can enjoy boating and fishing.
There's plenty of infrastructure here for families… playgrounds, picnic areas with covered pavilions, and well-maintained facilities. For POTA activators, the key feature is the abundance of tall trees throughout the park, making it ideal for wire antennas. The main loop road has several pull-off areas with picnic tables that work perfectly as operating positions. Cell phone coverage is good throughout the park, which helps for spotting yourself on the POTA network and coordinating with other operators.
After paying the entrance fee, I drove around the loop a couple of times while talking to Chas on the phone, trying to figure out where he'd set up. Here's the kicker, though, he decided to drive over to my location so we could operate together from adjacent tables. This gave us the multi-operator experience but also taught us some valuable lessons about antenna placement and RF interference, which I'll get into later.
The 65-foot EFHW antenna strung into the tree canopy (highlighted in yellow) getting the wire 35 feet high made a dramatic difference in propagation. The wire itself is nearly invisible against the tree background.
The Antenna Setup: 65-Foot EFHW in the Trees
Today saw the use of a 65-foot long wire antenna, an End-Fed Half-Wave from Reliance Antennas. This antenna isn't rated for high power, so I held all of my transmit power to 10 watts or less throughout the day to prevent potential damage to the matching transformer. We deployed it using throw lines to get it about 35 feet up into a large oak tree, then Chas loaned me his 10-foot push-up pole and stand to support the feed point end of the antenna and get it a little higher off the ground as well.
I believe this additional height aided propagation dramatically. Getting the whole 40-meter EFHW that high off the ground, with the far end even higher in the tree, made a noticeable difference compared to previous activations where I'd run antennas lower. I made many contacts all over the United States, into Mexico, and even worked some European stations on the higher bands with just 10 watts. That's the magic of getting a wire antenna up high… height matters more than power in many cases.
The EFHW is resonant on 40m, 20m, 15m, and 10m without needing an antenna tuner, which keeps the station setup simple. I specifically avoided the WARC bands (30m, 17m, 12m) during this activation because the antenna isn't cut for those frequencies and I didn't want to deploy a tuner. Sometimes keeping things simple is the better approach, especially when you're testing equipment and learning how gear performs in the field.
The ranger station where you pay the $4 entrance fee to access the park for POTA activations.
Radio Gear: Penntek TR-35 and sBitx v3 Performance
Once I had the antenna set up and tested, I decided to use the Penntek TR-35 transceiver first. I really enjoy using this tiny little radio, the CW break-in is phenomenal, and the keying from the internal keyer circuit works flawlessly. It's a true QRP radio putting out 5 watts maximum, and I've made some additional accessories for it to turn it into a more complete field station. But even as it sits stock, it's a wonderful little radio that's almost impossible to damage from bad antennas or other field mishaps. Plus, it just works really well at making contacts.
I started on 40 meters and after working through a good run of stations, I decided to move up to 20 meters where activity was heating up. Chas started on 30 meters and worked his way through the WARC bands, eventually ending up on 10 meters where we made a park-to-park contact with each other from 30 feet apart. That was pretty funny, logging a P2P (park-to-park) contact when we could literally see each other across the operating area. I turned my output power all the way down, it showed literally zero output and I was still booming into Chas’ radio!!! Haha!
After finishing my run on 20 meters with the Penntek TR-35, I swapped it out for my sBitx v3. I throttled the output power on the sBitx for two reasons: first, to prevent damage to the antenna which isn't rated for high power, and second, to keep from running down my battery too quickly. I'd brought an 8 amp-hour LiFePO4 battery, and if I'd run the sBitx at full output power I could have easily depleted that battery in an hour or so, especially running FT8 on the lower bands which requires more transmit time. As it turned out, limiting power to 10 watts kept the battery happy all day and I still had plenty of capacity left when we packed up.
Initial station setup with the Penntek TR-35, Dell laptop for logging, clipboard with paper log, and CW paddle ready to make contacts.
The first thing I did with the sBitx was get on 15 m and attempt to make contacts there on FT8. This went pretty well and I made several contacts on 15 m before moving to 10 m to see what I could make on that band. The reason I skipped the WARC bands today was because this antenna is not resonant on any bands other than 40, 20, 15, and 10 m. So I stayed on those bands as I did not want to try and deploy an antenna tuner as well.
The sBitx v3 with improvised sunshade, Florida sun glare was a constant challenge throughout the activation. Notice the notebook to keep my arm off that rough concrete!
Contact Statistics:
Between Chas and me, we logged 118 total QSOs during the activation! 66 in my log and 52 in Chas's log(I did operate a little longer than him and we were not in a race either). Here's my detailed breakdown:
David's Stats (WK4DS):
40 meters: 5 QSOs (all CW)
20 meters: 50 QSOs (all CW)
15 meters: 1 QSO (CW)
10 meters: 10 QSOs (8 FT8, 2 CW)
Total: 66 QSOs
CW: 58 contacts
FT8: 8 contacts
Geographic Breakdown:
Domestic (USA): 56 QSOs across the continental United States
DX (International): 10 QSOs reaching six countries:
Spain: 2 contacts (EA4T, EA5BCO)
Germany: 2 contacts (DL4JCP, DJ9HX)
Mexico: 2 contacts (XE2BCS, XE2IF)
Austria: 1 contact (OE2IGP)
Canada: 1 contact (VE1ZZ)
Poland: 1 contact (SQ9JS)
Czech Republic: 1 contact (OL26WRTC - special event station)
NA2B Chas's Stats: Chas logged 52 QSOs throughout the day, primarily working 30m, 17m, and 10m (he might have done more but that is all I know of) while I focused on 40m, 20m, 15m & 10m. This band coordination helped us avoid stepping on each other while maximizing total contacts for the activation.
Combined Performance: For QRP power (my 10 watts maximum and Chas running 50 watts) and simple antennas, 118 total contacts in one afternoon represents excellent POTA performance. The 10 DX contacts on 10 meters with just 10 watts and the EFHW antenna particularly stand out, working Spain and Germany on FT8, then switching to CW for additional European contacts, demonstrates what's possible when propagation cooperates and you get your antenna up high.
Twenty meters was the workhorse band, delivering 50 contacts in my log alone. The concentration of activity on 20m CW (14.061 MHz) is typical for POTA activations, as this is where most hunters are listening for parks. The handful of 40m contacts at the start of the activation caught the tail end of daytime propagation before that band shifted to primarily short-skip domestic contacts.
Operating Challenges - Sun and Glare
Both Chas and I learned pretty quickly that the Florida sun was not our friend today, even though the temperature was pleasant. The glare from the sun continuously made us struggle to see our displays and adjust settings. I think Chas literally just toughed it out and lived with squinting at his screen. I, on the other hand, kept deploying improvised sunshades and repositioning my station to create shade for my equipment as the day wore on, as you can see in the photos. This is something to think about when planning a POTA activation, a simple popup canopy or umbrella can make the difference between comfortable operating and constantly fighting the sun. Add that to my growing list of field operation lessons learned.
sBitx v3 CW Keying: Improvements and Remaining Issues
The CW keying in the sBitx has been dramatically improved as the software revisions continue. The developers keep optimizing the scan time of the Raspberry Pi processor and how the program executes, making the keyer more responsive with each update. It's almost like using a regular radio now, though there are still quirks you need to work around.
I've learned that I have to pay very close attention to my sending cadence when working CW with the sBitx. The keyer isn't as forgiving as a traditional Curtis-style keyer circuit, and it will send errors if you're not careful with your timing. Knowing this limitation, I work much harder to stay at one speed setting throughout a contact when possible. It's easier to develop muscle memory and consistent sending rhythm at one speed rather than constantly adjusting the keyer speed up and down as I might do with other radios.
With a traditional Curtis keyer, minor variations in your paddle timing get smoothed out by the keyer circuitry and everything sends cleanly. The sBitx will occasionally miss characters if you vary your speed too much, if you slow down suddenly, you can actually outrun the radio's keyer circuit and it won't register that you asked for a "dit," so it leaves it out. This isn't a deal breaker, but it does mean the sBitx requires more disciplined sending technique than most modern transceivers.
I do tend to make more mistakes with the sBitx than I do with other more traditional Morse code radios, and I think all of this traces back to the timing limitations from the Raspberry Pi's scan cycle. But it's getting better with each software update, and for a radio that does CW, SSB, and all digital modes in a package this small and affordable, I'm willing to work around the keyer quirks.
Chas operating his Yaesu rig from the adjacent picnic table. His vertical antenna is behind me and to my right. My wire antenna is behind him.
My operating position in the foreground with Chas visible about 30 feet away in the background—close enough for a park-to-park contact but creating some RF interference challenges.
20-Meter Band Issues: IRF520 vs IRF510 Amplifier Problems and Receiver Front End Overload"
The final two photos show a couple issues I've been wrestling with on my sBitx. The first image shows my sBitx operating on 10 meters with lots of noise lines visible in the waterfall display. These noise lines are coming from Chas transmitting Morse code on a different band, his signal is getting into my receiver and creating visible interference. I don't remember exactly what band he was on, but the important lesson here is that antenna placement matters tremendously when you're running multi-station setups like this one.
sBitx running FT8 on 10 meters (28.074 MHz) showing the noise spikes from Chas transmitting on a different band nearby 9in the waterfall) this is what front-end overload looks like in a multi-op field setup. The vertical lines in the waterfall are RF bleed-through from his station 30 feet away.
Be mindful of where you place antennas if you're operating a multi-operator event. We were only 30 feet apart, which is far too close for optimal isolation. I was still able to work many contacts even with this persistent noise coming through, though. This is something you learn to work around if you're going to be an amateur radio operator in a multi-operator event of any kind…think Field Day here. It's just part of the game, so you expect it and adapt. We could have used bandpass filters to eliminate most of this interference, but I didn't bring mine to the park.
The next photo shows my sBitx on 20 meters, and on 20 meters my radio has a persistent issue that I'm still troubleshooting. I'm beginning to believe it has to do with the IRF520 MOSFET transistors that I used in the power amplifier section when I built this radio. These IRF520 transistors have significantly more internal capacitance than the IRF510 transistors that Farhan originally specified in the revised amplifier design. I think this extra capacitance is causing the amplifier to oscillate, and that oscillation is what you're seeing as the noise signal in the photo.
sBitx on 20 meters CW mode (14.061 MHz) showing the noise from what I am suspecting is from oscillating mosfets.
Here's the interesting part: as the radio warms up during operation, this spurious noise signal moves down in frequency within the 20-meter band. If I want to push it out of the way temporarily, I'll switch to 40 meters or 80 meters and run FT8 for a few minutes. You generate more output power on those lower bands, which heats up the amplifier section faster. Usually, if I just run FT8 first thing when setting up, it warms up the transmitter enough to push the oscillation down to below where I normally work CW on 20 meters anyway, giving me a temporary workaround.
This isn't a permanent solution, obviously. I'm convinced I'm going to have to address this capacitance issue when I get back home, probably by swapping out the IRF520s for the specified IRF510s or adding additional filtering to the amplifier circuit. But for now, knowing the workaround lets me keep the sBitx operational in the field for POTA activations, which is what matters most.
Multi-Operator Challenges: RF Interference and Antenna Placement
Operating two stations in close proximity taught us several valuable lessons about multi-operator setups. The biggest challenge was RF interference between our stations. With antennas only 30 feet apart, we experienced significant front-end overload, when Chas was transmitting on his station, I could see his signal bleeding through into my receiver on completely different bands.
The sBitx has a somewhat easy-to-overload front end compared to more expensive commercial receivers, which made this problem more pronounced. But even with a better radio, operating this close together without bandpass filters or careful band coordination is asking for trouble. The solution for future multi-op activations is simple: either space antennas much farther apart (100+ feet minimum if possible), or operate on bands that are far enough apart in frequency that filter roll-off provides natural isolation.
The position of your antennas matters just as much as the distance between them. If we'd oriented our antennas at right angles to each other instead of parallel, we might have achieved better isolation through pattern nulls. These are the kinds of things you learn by doing, and they apply equally to Field Day operations where you might have multiple stations running simultaneously.
Despite the interference challenges, we still made excellent contact numbers. Multi-operator POTA activations are worthwhile because you can cover more bands simultaneously, operate different modes at the same time, and keep the activation going continuously while one operator takes a break. Just be prepared to work around the RF challenges that come with the territory.
Who Should Activate This Park?
Hillsborough River State Park is an excellent choice for both first-time and experienced POTA activators. Here's why:
For beginners: The $4 entrance fee is minimal, facilities are excellent with clean restrooms and covered picnic areas, and the tree coverage makes wire antenna deployment easy. You don't need to hike to reach good operating locations…everything is accessible by car right off the main loop road.
For experienced activators: The park's location north of Tampa puts you in a good spot for both domestic and DX contacts. The tall pines support wire antennas at significant heights, and there's plenty of space to spread out if you're running a multi-operator activation.
Best practices for K-1488:
Arrive early morning (8-10 AM) or late afternoon (3-5 PM) to avoid midday heat and sun glare
Bring sunshade or canopy, there's limited natural shade at the picnic tables
Plan for 2-3 hours of operating to get a good contact count
Cell coverage is good for self-spotting on the POTA network
Spring and fall offer the best weather conditions
If you're in the Tampa Bay area and looking for an easy, productive POTA park with good facilities, Hillsborough River State Park should be on your list.
Activating Hillsborough River State Park proved to be a highly productive POTA outing. Between Chas and me, we logged well over 100 contacts using QRP power and simple wire antennas…proof that you don't need high power or expensive gear to have success in Parks on the Air. The 65-foot EFHW at 35 feet worked exceptionally well, the Penntek TR-35 remains one of my favorite field radios for CW, and the sBitx v3 continues to impress despite some remaining amplifier quirks on 20 meters.
Key lessons learned: antenna height matters more than output power, multi-operator setups require thoughtful antenna placement to avoid interference, and limiting transmit power to 10 watts keeps your batteries happy all day. If you're looking for a beginner-friendly POTA park in Florida with good tree support and easy access, Hillsborough River State Park (K-1488) is an excellent choice.
Have you activated K-1488 or other Florida state parks? Share your experiences in the comments below, I'd love to hear about your favorite POTA locations and antenna setups.
Want more POTA activation reports and technical amateur radio content? Check out my other WK4DS blog posts for detailed equipment reviews, antenna builds, and field operation tips.
Frequently Asked Questions About POTA Activations
What is Parks on the Air (POTA)?
Parks on the Air is an amateur radio operating activity where hams set up portable stations in state and national parks to make contacts. Activators (operators in parks) try to make at least 10 contacts to qualify the activation, while hunters (operators at home) try to contact as many parks as possible. It's similar to Field Day but focused on public parks and conservation areas. POTA encourages hams to get outdoors, test portable equipment, and promote amateur radio to park visitors. The program started in 2016 and has grown to include thousands of parks across the United States and internationally.
How do you activate Hillsborough River State Park for POTA?
To activate Hillsborough River State Park (K-1488), you need to set up your amateur radio station within the park boundaries and make at least 10 contacts. Pay the $4 entrance fee at the ranger station when you arrive, then find a suitable operating location with trees for antenna support. Most activators set up at picnic tables near the main loop. Operate from battery power or a generator, no AC mains allowed for POTA activations. Log your contacts using a smartphone app like HAMRS or POTA Logger, then upload your log to the POTA website within a few days. The park has excellent tree coverage for wire antennas and is open from 8 AM to sundown year-round.
What is an EFHW antenna and why use it for POTA?
An End-Fed Half-Wave (EFHW) antenna is a wire antenna that's fed at one end through a matching transformer (typically a 49:1 unun), making it incredibly easy to deploy in the field. For POTA activations, EFHWs are popular because they require no ground radials, work on multiple bands without a tuner if cut for harmonically-related bands, and can be thrown into trees using a throw line and weight. My 65-foot EFHW works on 40m, 20m, 15m, and 10m, covering the most productive POTA bands. Getting it 35 feet high significantly improved propagation compared to running the same antenna closer to the ground. A properly deployed EFHW antenna at height will often outperform a vertical antenna at ground level for DX contacts.
Can you run two stations at the same POTA activation?
Yes! Running multiple operators at the same park location is allowed and encouraged in POTA. Each operator logs their own contacts and submits their own activation log. Chas and I each operated our own stations about 30 feet apart, which let us cover different bands simultaneously and maximize the total contact count. However, you need to be mindful of RF interference between stations. With our antennas so close together, I experienced front-end overload on my sBitx when Chas was transmitting on nearby bands. Solutions include better antenna separation (100+ feet apart if possible), using bandpass filters on receivers, or coordinating to operate on widely separated bands like 40m and 10m simultaneously.
What's the best QRP radio for POTA activations?
For CW-only POTA activations, the Penntek TR-35 is exceptional. It's lightweight (under a pound), battery-efficient, has outstanding CW break-in, and is nearly indestructible, perfect for field operations. For multi-mode operation covering CW, SSB, and digital modes, the sBitx v3 offers incredible value and capability in a portable package, though the CW keying requires careful technique and practice. Other popular POTA QRP rigs include the Elecraft KX2/KX3 (premium price but premium performance and battery efficiency), QRP Labs QCX-mini (CW-only, ultra-portable and inexpensive), and the Xiegu G90 (good SSB performance, acceptable CW, built-in tuner). Choose based on your preferred modes, budget, and how much weight you want to carry into the field.
How many contacts should you expect from a POTA activation?
Contact numbers vary widely based on propagation conditions, time of day, your operating skill, and whether you're spotted on the POTA network. A successful activation requires at least 10 contacts to count, but most activations yield 20-40 QSOs in an hour or two of operating. Our 100+ contacts in one afternoon between two operators was excellent, partly because we covered multiple bands and modes (CW, FT8) and had good propagation to Europe on the higher bands. If you're new to POTA, expect 15-30 contacts on your first few activations. Using CW typically yields more contacts than SSB due to pile-ups from hunters chasing parks, and FT8 can be productive when propagation is marginal or when SSB isn't getting through.
My 66 contacts plus Chas's 52 gave us 118 total QSOs from K-1488 on February 17, 2026. Ten of mine reached six countries across two continents, all at 10 watts or less.
You can help support this channel by using these Amazon Affiliate Links as well:
QRP/Portable Radios:
Antennas & Tuning:
CW Equipment:
Power & Accessories:
Organization & Transport:
BONUS ITEMS
73
David / WK4DS
Overall, today we had a wonderful day and made many contacts and was able to test antennas and enjoy ourselves in the warm Florida sun far from home where all the cold weather and dreariness is at. So until next time, get your radio out and go power it up and make a contact on it. That’s why you bought it after all.
Chas grabbing a photo from his perspective for posterity! HaHa! Look at all that stuff I brought!
Ten-Tec Scout 555 POTA Activation: 26 Contacts in 15 Minutes CW & SSB Setup Guide
Looking for a reliable POTA activation setup? Here's my complete guide to activating parks using the Ten-Tec Scout 555 transceiver. In this activation, I made 26 SSB contacts in just 15 minutes, plus worked several stations on CW using ham stick antennas and portable power. Whether you're new to Parks on the Air or looking for equipment ideas, this post covers my portable ham radio setup, antenna tuning tips, and real-world activation results.
Looking for a reliable POTA activation setup? Here's my complete guide to activating parks using the Ten-Tec Scout 555 transceiver. In this activation, I made 26 SSB contacts in just 15 minutes, plus worked several stations on CW using ham stick antennas and portable power. Whether you're new to Parks on the Air or looking for equipment ideas, this post covers my portable ham radio setup, antenna tuning tips, and real-world activation results.
My Ten-Tec Scout 555 POTA Equipment Setup
My setup process has gotten pretty streamlined over the years. I pull into the parking spot, grab the Scout case and antenna bag from the truck bed, and I'm usually on the air within 15 minutes. First thing I do is get the hamsticks mounted and run the radials - usually just two per antenna is enough for POTA work. While those are getting situated, I'll set up the radio in the truck cab, connect power, and do a quick SWR check with the nanoVNA. If the SWR is under 2:1 I'm happy enough to start making contacts. The key is keeping it simple - I've learned the hard way that complicated setups mean more things that can go wrong in the field. Harbor Freight cases have been a game changer for organizing everything too. Everything has a place and I can just grab the case and go.
Today saw me use the Ten Tec Scout again to great effect. Below is the case I carry it in showing the full compliment of band modules (I keep one in the radio and today that is the 20 meter module). Under the radio is the power cable in a pocket just for it and next is the spot for the microphone in a more permanent role. You can see the impression from where it sits in the case currently. This Ten-Tec Scout 555 POTA activation demonstrates why this radio is popular for portable ham radio operations.
These hard cases come from Harbor Freight and make wonderful travel cases for my POTA radios to be quite honest about it. I need to get two more and kit out my Ten Tec Argonaut 5 and my Penntek TR-35 and the set will be complete. The Argonaut has a nice hard case, but it is really large and kinda hard to maneuver with. I thought it would be a great kit for POTA and it does work, but I would really like something different… As an aside, I store the owners manual to each radio behind the lid foam on all of these. That way I have a instruction book should I forget how to do something obscure that I dont use all that often.
My Ten-Tec Scout 555 travel case showing all band modules for POTA activations
Scout 555 band modules - simple to swap for different frequencies during activation
I have not dismantled a band module to see what all is inside it but there is a good bit of stuff going on in each one. They are about 3” long and the circuit board goes all the way to the front. So there is plenty of widgets inside them to make the magic happen.
Today, I only used the 15 and 20 meter modules as I was being a little lazy and only put out radials for these two ham sticks. A quick SWR check with the nanoVNA and I was off to the races.
N3ZN straight key with Picokeyer adding memory functions for CW POTA activations
POTA CW Equipment: N3ZN Key and Picokeyer Setup
The above shows my CW key and keyer. The key is made by N3ZN and if you have not tried one then I highly recommend them. It works beautifully for me. The keyer is a Picokeyer from Hamgadgets.com and works way better than it should for what it costs. Since Ten Tec radios traditionally dont have memories for the CW keyers, this is the way to have those memories really easily. For Parks on the Air activations, having a portable CW key with and a electronic keyer with memory functions is essential (at least to me it is…).
Operating SSB on POTA: Hand Mic and Voice Contacts
The next thing I did that was out of my usual character is to get the hand mic out and work some SSB today as well. It worked OK, but there were times when the audio was odd and I would get little hints to something being wrong but all in all it worked fine.
Hand mic for SSB operation - made 26 contacts in 15 minutes with this setup
Quick SWR check with nanoVNA before starting the POTA activation
Choosing a POTA Activation Location
When I scout out parks for POTA activations, I'm looking for a few key things. First, low RF noise is critical - no nearby power lines, businesses with switching power supplies, or heavy traffic. This park checked all those boxes and then some. The parking lot being empty is a huge bonus as it means no ignition noise from cars starting up or idling nearby. I also look for parks that allow me to set up antennas without disturbing other visitors. Some parks get really busy on weekends, so I'll often activate during weekdays or early mornings. Having good cell coverage helps too, though it's not required - I like being able to spot myself on POTA.app without relying solely on the Reverse Beacon Network. This particular spot has become one of my go-to locations because it's quiet, accessible, and the park staff are friendly to hams.
As per my usual outings, I had the place to myself today with only a couple of cars rolling by during the entirety of my activation. I like it like this though as there is no ignition noise to deal with or inverters making RF hash, just the peace and quiet of the park and my radio chattering in the truck. During this time of day, the sun will beam into my door if I roll down the window beside me so I usually just roll down the other three and the one beside me just a little so the air still moves through the truck taking away the heat from the radio and making it nice and pleasant.
Just look at that parking lot all for me! HaHa! That never gets old! There is just something magical about the peace and quiet of a park like this.
Perfect POTA location - empty park means no ignition noise or RF interference
Ten-Tec Scout 555 CW Operation Tips and Side Tone Settings
A few operating tips I've picked up over my POTA activations - start on CW if you can work it, as the Reverse Beacon Network will auto-spot you and save you from needing cell service. Once you've got 10 contacts in the log, switch modes or bands to see what else is happening. Don't be afraid to QSY (change frequency) if things go quiet. During this activation, moving from 15 meters to 20 meters made all the difference - 15 was fading out but 20 was on fire. When you get a pile-up like I did on SSB, just work them as fast as you can log them. Don't worry about being perfect, just get the call sign and signal report down. You can clean up the log later if needed. And always, always bring spare coax and adapters. Murphy's Law is real in the field!
Something I learned today that is different between the Argonaut 5 and the Scout is that I have to use the key jack to make this radio transmit a side tone in CW. I can key the transmitter with the “mic jack cable” that I made for the Argonaut 5 but it wont produce a side tone with the Scout for some reason. So I instead used this port on the back of the radio to get it to work right (see photo below). Another special thing about this radio to me is that it has a Curtis keyer chip in it and you can plug a set of paddles directly into it and it will work as you would expect, but it is in a different port… Go figure. All these options are hot all the time too. Plug a straight key into it and key it to send CW then you could (theoretically) just pick up the microphone and talk to someone on SSB without changing anything else on the radio. It appears that it is in SSB mode all the time and CW is just the side tone being transmitted instead of the audio from the microphone. This does cause one little issue that a user will notice pretty quickly. The zero beat is the display frequency plus or minus (depending on band) the side tone frequency. The filter is simply a bandpass knob that adjust the filter bandwidth and that is it. A very simple radio that just works.
An example of the side tone offset in CW can been seen in the photo above where I am tuned up on 15 meters. It displays 21.0523mhz but the radio is actually operating on 21.053mhz when transmitting. So if you are near the band edges on say 40 meters CW, just keep this in mind so you are not transmitting out of band. The owners manual even mentions this to make sure you stay compliant with FCC regulations.
CW key jack on Scout 555 back panel - required for proper side tone in CW mode
First page of activation log - starting on 15 meters CW and SSB
20 meter SSB pile-up - 26 contacts in just 15 minutes!
Final page showing all contacts from the activation
POTA Activation Results: 26 Contacts in 15 Minutes
As you can see from the log above, I started out on 15 meters CW and worked several stations there before moving to 15 meters SSB till the band essentially faded out. At that point I decided to see what would happen if I went down to 20 meters SSB and called CQ… Well the log speaks for itself. I made 26 contacts in 15 minutes! This has to be some sort of world record!!! LOL…for me that is… It was wild how big the pile up was and how quick it happened! The people were super nice and courteous and really helpful so I thank all of you that called me this day and I really appreciate you stopping by to say hello! This POTA activation shows what's possible with a simple portable ham radio setup."
Frequently Asked Questions About POTA Activations
What equipment do I need for a POTA activation?
For a basic POTA activation, you need a portable ham radio transceiver (like the Ten-Tec Scout 555, Icom IC705, or the like), an antenna (ham sticks work great for portable use), a power source (battery or vehicle power), some interconnect cabling such as coax and things like that, and a way to log contacts. Optional but very helpful equipment includes: a CW key for Morse code operation, a portable table or chair for comfort, an antenna analyzer like the nanoVNA for precise tuning, and a keyer with memory functions for repetitive CW exchanges. The beauty of POTA is you can start simple and add equipment as you learn what works for your operating style.
How many contacts do you need for a valid POTA activation?
You need a minimum of 10 QSOs (contacts) for a valid Parks on the Air activation. These contacts can be made on any amateur radio band and any mode - CW (Morse code), SSB (voice), or digital modes like PSK31 or FT8. Park-to-park contacts (when you work another station who is also activating a park) count double for hunters, but still count as just one contact toward your activation total of 10. Remember VHF and UHF contacts count too as long as they are simplex only.
What is the best radio for POTA activations?
The "best" POTA radio depends on your operating style and preferences. The Ten-Tec Scout 555 is excellent for CW operation thanks to its clean receiver, simple design, and reliable performance. Other popular choices among POTA activators include the Yaesu FT-891 for 100-watt capability, the Elecraft KX2 or KX3 for QRP portable operation, and the Icom IC-705 for all-mode including VHF/UHF. Choose based on your preferred operating modes, power requirements, portability needs, and budget.
How do you tune a ham stick antenna for POTA?
The easiest way to tune a ham stick antenna is with an antenna analyzer like the nanoVNA, or you can use your radio's built-in SWR meter. Start by adjusting the length of the whip section - make it longer to lower the frequency, shorter to raise it. Make small adjustments (just a fractions of an inch at a time) and recheck your SWR reading. For POTA activations, an SWR under 2:1 is generally acceptable and will work fine, though under 1.5:1 is ideal for maximum power transfer. Anything under 2:1 will not damage your radio though so don’t stress too much over this part.
Can you operate POTA from inside your vehicle?
Yes! Parks on the Air rules allow operation from inside your vehicle, which is different from SOTA (Summits on the Air) that requires outdoor setup away from vehicles. Operating from inside your car or truck is actually quite common during POTA activations, especially in bad weather, extreme temperatures, or when dealing with insects. As long as you and your entire station are physically located within the park boundaries, you're good to go. Just make sure you're parked in an authorized area.
What is the best band for POTA activations?
20 meters is often the most productive band for POTA activations because it provides a good mix of both local and DX (long distance) contacts throughout the day. 40 meters works exceptionally well for regional and NVIS contacts, especially in the early morning and evening. 15 and 10 meters can produce excellent DX contacts when conditions are right and solar activity is favorable. Many experienced POTA activators work multiple bands during a single activation to maximize their contact count and variety. In my activation with the Scout 555, 20 meters SSB produced 26 contacts in just 15 minutes - that's the power of picking the right band at the right time!
Whether you're new to Parks on the Air or an experienced POTA activator, the Scout 555 makes for an excellent field radio.
Have you tried POTA with a Ten-Tec Scout? Share your activation stories in the comments below! If you're planning your first Parks on the Air activation and have questions about equipment setup, feel free to ask.
Want more POTA content?Subscribe to my ham radio blog for more activation reports, equipment reviews, and portable operating tips.
---
## POTA Activation Summary
Equipment Used:
- Radio: Ten-Tec Scout 555 (50 watts)
- Antenna: Ham sticks on 15m and 20m with tuned radials
- Power: Vehicle electrical system
- CW Key: N3ZN paddle key with Picokeyer
- Microphone: Ten-Tec hand mic
- Accessories: NanoVNA for antenna tuning, Harbor Freight case
Operating Details:
- Bands Worked: 15 meters and 20 meters
- Modes Used: CW and SSB
- Total Contacts: 30+ QSOs
- Best Run: 26 contacts in 15 minutes on 20m SSB (that was wild!)
- Setup Time: Approximately 15 minutes from arrival to first contact
- Activation Duration: About 90 minutes total
Key Takeaways:
The Scout 555 continues to prove itself as a solid POTA radio. Simple, reliable, and the receiver is clean even with nearby RFI sources. The band module system makes it easy to swap bands, though it's not as fast as just turning a knob. The big lesson today was remembering which key jack to use for proper CW sidetone - small details like that can save you troubleshooting time in the field. Also, 20 meters SSB was absolutely on fire today - sometimes you just catch the band at the right time and everything clicks.
---
You can help support this website by using these Amazon Affiliate Links:
QRP/Portable Radios:
Antennas & Tuning:
CW Equipment:
Power & Accessories:
Organization & Transport:
BONUS ITEMS
73, WK4DS - David
Rainy day CW POTA is the best...for me.
When I set out to activate a park today, I didn’t know where, but rather, only how I wanted to do it. I have been using FT8 so much lately that I got to missing my little CW only radios.
When I set out to activate a park today, I didn’t know where, but rather, only how I wanted to do it. I have been using FT8 so much lately that I got to missing my little CW only radios.
The Penntek TR-35 CW QRP radio is perfect for POTA
Today saw the re-emergence of the Penntek TR-35 and all the little widgets I made to go with it. I really love this little radio and now I have built an actual travel kit around it so if I wanted to take it somewhere on a plane, the kit will fit in my carry on baggage.
The travel kit doesn’t include the s-meter module or power pack/speaker, but those are “luxuries” anyway. The kit does have everything needed to get the radio on the air and making contacts and that is all that it has. Anyway, let’s get to today!
Pictured above is the radio and the “S meter” I built to go along with it. This meter works really well and makes using the radio just a little more fun for me. Is it needed? No, not at all, but that isn’t the point. This needle bouncing around while I copy code somehow is soothing for some reason and I can see how strong the signal is visually as well. I wrote about how I built in in this blog post.
Another thing of note is that this tiny little N6ARA key works REALLY well. Way better than something this simple should work… It actually works so well that it is worth using as a regular key. It is that good. Now to be fair, I dont know what the life of the key would be as it is PC board material so the contact thickness isn’t that much, but these keys do work really well. It takes a while to get it dialed in (read that as adjusted to your sending feel and style) but once you do, it is amazing how well it works. I should have gotten the larger variant, but I had this silly idea about minimalism and because of this, I got the little one.
Getting the key adjusted correctly and then some practice using it and this thing is amazing. Take it from me, if your not super concerned with every gram of weight, then get the bigger unit. It gives you so much more to hold onto that it isn’t even a option for me now. I still have the small one, but I do plan at some point to get the larger case for it.
Getting a spot on the POTA website
I posted this screen shot, of my spot on the POTA website, because I wanted to thank David- WA2OTC for going to the trouble of spotting me on the website while I was at the park without good cellular signal. He even came back to me and let me know that he had gotten the spot on there before moving on with his hunt. Thank you David!
It was really nice to not have to worry about getting on the website and getting myself spotted. You are probably thinking, then how did you get the screen shot? Well, I didn’t have a total black out, but just weak signal, so I simply loaded up the website and waited the 5 minutes or so for it to populate (seriously, I thought it would never load) so I could grab a screen shot for the blog. It would update EVER SO SLOWLY if I left it on the page. This location is a geographical oddity, it is close to the city but in a particular spot where there is terrible cellular coverage for some reason.
Welcome to fall and winter in the south. I have realized over the years that we get most of our water in the winter and I have planned accordingly. Things like the tape on the coax connector below to keep the rain out during an activation… Don’t forget to keep a roll of electrical tape in your car. Another trick I learned in working electrical maintenance over the years is that if you wrap the tape inside out (sticky side to the outside) then it wont leave residue on the cable and it works just as well for this purpose. We used it on factory motor connections so the rubber insulating tape would not stick to the connectors and it make changing the motors so much easier.
This exact weather event is what drove me to build the truck-tenna mount and figure out a power source for inside the truck cab to start with. POTA in the rain can still be fun as long as you plan for it.
The Inside-Out Electrical Tape Trick (From 20 Years of Electrical Maintenance)
I learned this trick working electrical maintenance over the years and it's perfect for POTA rain operations. The standard method that most people use is wrapping electrical tape with the sticky side to the connector, and this works fine for permanent installations where you're never going to take it apart again. But here's the problem for POTA: it leaves sticky residue when you remove it, it attracts dirt and moisture over time, and it's a pain to clean off in the field when you're trying to pack up and get home!
The inside-out method is way better for portable operations. You wrap the tape sticky side OUT, which sounds completely backwards but hear me out! The first wrap still sticks to itself even though it's reversed. It forms a perfect… well, close enough… waterproof barrier just like normal tape would. But here's the magic: when you peel it off after the activation, there's no residue on your connector! You can do this multiple times without any sticky buildup.
So how did I learn this? We used it on factory motor connections in industrial settings so the rubber insulating tape would not stick to the connectors and it made changing the motors so much easier. Motors would run for years in dusty, dirty environments and when it came time to replace them, the tape would peel right off without leaving any mess behind. The connectors underneath would be clean and ready to reconnect immediately.
For ham radio applications, I wrap coax connectors sticky-side-out, cover BNC connections between the radio and coax, and protect any exposed metal from rain. It works perfectly! Here's the actual process: Connect your coax normally first. Start the tape wrap with the sticky side facing OUT (this feels weird at first!). Wrap it around the connector 2-3 times, overlapping each wrap by about half. Press the tape to itself as you go so it forms a good seal. And that's it! You're done and it's completely waterproof…for a little while (long enough to complete the activation).
After the activation when you're packing up, peel off the tape and toss it in the trash.
Just like the tape on the coax connector below to keep the rain out during an activation... Don't forget to keep a roll of electrical tape in your car! This simple trick has saved countless activations from rain-related failures. I'm serious about always having a roll in the truck because you never know when weather is going to change on you!
Another thing that has happened at this location is that someone has cleaned it up… I am guessing the park service since there were chainsaws used…a lot. The cut all of the dead trees out as well as cleaned up all the dead-fall and then mowed the entire site! This is the first time I have seen this happen since doing POTA! The photo below was take just a month or so back.
The Joy of CW-Only Operations
There's something special about CW-only rigs like the Penntek TR-35 that's hard to explain until you've actually used one for a while.
The first thing you notice is there's no mode confusion. It's CW and that's it! You don't sit there thinking "should I try SSB instead?" or "maybe FT8 would work better in these conditions?" You just do CW all the time and you stop second-guessing yourself. That simplification is actually really freeing!
This leads to simplified operating in general. There are fewer controls to fiddle with. There's no mic gain to adjust, no audio levels to mess with(other then the obvious AF Gain knob for your headphones), no VOX settings or anything like that. It's just frequency and volume and you're done. You send code, you receive code, and that's the entire operating experience. No menus, no submenus, no functions buried three levels deep in software!
Here's something I didn't expect when I first started using CW-only radios: it actually forces you to improve! You can't fall back on voice modes if CW is hard. You actually have to learn the code better. You have to build your speed and confidence because there's no other option. And you know what? This makes you a better CW operator! When you go back to radios that have multiple modes, your CW skills are way better than they were before.
There's also this Zen quality to CW that's hard to describe. The rhythmic sending and receiving, the meditative quality of copying code, the direct brain-to-brain communication without any voice involved... it's pure information transfer! No misunderstood words, no voice characteristics, just the message itself getting through. I know that sounds kind of woo-woo but it's real!
After using FT8 (which is great!), phone modes (also great!), and other digital modes (all great!), sometimes I just want the simplicity of CW. One mode, one band (20 meters on the TR-35 is a good safe bet), one purpose which is to make contacts! No computer required, no sound card interface, no USB cables, no software updates. Just the radio, the key, and propagation.
This is exactly why today's activation was so satisfying for me. No menus to navigate, no mode switching to think about, no computer to set up and troubleshoot. Just me, the key, the radio, and the other operators on the other end. Simple! And after almost an hour of non-stop contacts, I realized this is what I really love about ham radio. The simplicity and the direct connection to other people through Morse code. I really love this little radio!
So after getting the radio setup and checked for SWR, I hopped on 20 meters right away. I wanted to be sure to get the activation fairly quickly as I didn’t a long time to stay and I also was using my Penntek TR-35 radio which is QRP power too. This gives me the best possible chances at activating…well, I underestimated the capability of the radio a little as you can see from the log. LOL. I first hunted AC4BT to just see if I could get through, this is because lot’s of activators today use 100 watt radios so just listening to the other stations no longer gives you an idea of how strong your signal will be. I make my point with the signal reaport I got back. He was booming into my radio and I was a 339 to him. 339 is workable so I moved to a clear spot, called QRL a few times, then called CQ and that is when things took off!
For almost the next hour, the bands were on fire! The only time there was a significant time between contacts was when I tried to reply to KM3STU and couldn’t get him. He came in strong and then vanished. Shoot, at one point I worked Germany! He was closer to the noise than the other stations but I was able to dig his call out after a minute. It is ALWAYS awesome to work another continent with a QRP radio!!! Alas, after about 45 minutes of non-stop contacts, the band just fell silent for me and after calling CQ for a few minutes, I called QRT and shut down the station as I needed to pack up anyway. This was a great POTA activation for me and one where I look back fondly at how much fun a tiny little radio can be.
I will say it again, if you have thought about activating a park, just do it. If you have hunted, then you know the exchange. Just write the park number at the top of the page for when you work another activator and the want to exchange park numbers with you. You can see that I paper log in the field then enter it into a computer when I get home to submit it to the POTA site so the hunters get credit. I will be honest here, if the hunters didn’t get credit for the contacts as well, I wouldn’t bother uploading the logs at all. For me it is about the experience and not the awards, this is why I have never submitted anything for awards from any organization. I just like operating on the air. So those logs upload are for you, not me… you see, without the hunter, this would not be a huge hobby like it is today, so I want them to get the credit they deserve. Anyway I will stop rambling and until next time, get your radio out and talk to someone on it!
Frequently Asked Questions About CW POTA and QRP Operations
Can you do POTA activations in the rain?
Absolutely! POTA in the rain can still be fun as long as you plan for it. This is exactly what drove me to build the truck-tenna mount and figure out a power source for inside the truck cab to start with. Here's what you need:
Waterproofing:
Electrical tape on coax connectors (keeps rain out!)
Pro tip: Wrap the tape inside out (sticky side to the outside) so it won't leave residue on the cable and it works just as well
Keep a roll of electrical tape in your car at all times
I learned this trick working electrical maintenance over the years
Operating from the vehicle:
Truck-tenna (receiver hitch) mount lets you operate from inside
Power source in the cab (battery or power supply)
Stay dry and comfortable
Still counts as a valid POTA activation as the whole station is inside the park boundry.
Welcome to fall and winter in the south! We get most of our water in the winter, so I've planned accordingly. Don't let weather stop you from activating parks!
What is QRP and why do you use it for POTA?
QRP means low power operation, typically 5 watts or less. My Penntek TR-35 is a QRP radio, and honestly? I love using it for POTA! Here's why:
Why QRP is awesome:
Small, lightweight radios (easy to carry)
Lower power consumption (batteries last longer)
Challenge and satisfaction (you worked them with 5 watts!)
Proves propagation is good (if you can get through at QRP, conditions are solid)
Fun factor (there's something special about making DX contacts on 5 watts!)
Reality check: The signal report I got from AC4BT was 339 (readable but weak). But you know what? It's workable! I hunted him first just to see if I could get through, because lots of activators today use 100-watt radios so just listening to other stations no longer gives you an idea of how strong your signal will be. At one point I worked Germany with this little radio! It is ALWAYS awesome to work another continent with a QRP radio!!!
QRP isn't for everyone, but if you enjoy the challenge and the simplicity of small radios, it's incredibly rewarding!
What's the advantage of CW over voice or digital modes for POTA?
CW (Morse code) has some real advantages for POTA activations:
Narrow bandwidth:
Gets through noise better than voice
Can copy weak signals that would be unreadable on SSB
Works in poor conditions
Lower power required:
QRP CW is more effective than QRP voice
5 watts CW = 20+ watts SSB in terms of effectiveness
Better battery life
Faster exchanges:
CW POTA exchange can be quick and efficient
Less time per contact = more contacts per activation
Usually people can make clean contacts in poor operating conditions with CW where voice would fail or require many repeats.
Personal preference: I have been using FT8 so much lately that I got to missing my little CW only radios! There's something meditative about copying code and sending with a straight key. The rhythm, the simplicity, the direct connection to the other operator. It's just fun!
That said, use whatever mode you enjoy! POTA is about getting on the air and having fun, whether that's CW, SSB, FT8, or anything else.
How do you activate a POTA park without good cellular signal?
This is a real challenge! At this particular location (a geographical oddity), I'm close to the city but in a spot where there's terrible cellular coverage for some reason. Here's how to handle it:
Before you leave:
Download offline maps of the park
Have your POTA park number written down
Know the exchange you'll use
Pre-plan your frequency and mode and schedule them on the POTA website ahead of time
At the park:
Self-spot if you can get any signal at all (even slow!)
Ask another station to spot you (like WA2OTC did for me!)
Just start calling CQ and hunters will find you eventually
The WA2OTC story: I wanted to thank David WA2OTC for going to the trouble of spotting me on the website while I was at the park without good cellular signal. He even came back to me and let me know that he had gotten the spot on there before moving on with his hunt. Thank you David! It was really nice to not have to worry about getting on the website and getting myself spotted.
Getting screenshots with weak signal: I didn't have a total blackout, but just weak signal, so I simply loaded up the website and waited the 5 minutes or so for it to populate (seriously, I thought it would never load) so I could grab a screenshot for the blog. It would update EVER SO SLOWLY if I left it on the page.
The ham radio community is great about helping activators get spotted. If you can't self-spot, just ask on frequency!
What is the Penntek TR-35 and why do you like it?
The Penntek TR-35 is a tiny QRP CW-only transceiver for 20 meters. It puts out about 5 watts and is incredibly simple. I really love this little radio! Here's why:
What makes it special:
CW only (no distractions, just Morse code)
20 meter monoband (one band, done well)
QRP power (5 watts, battery-friendly)
Small and portable (travel kit friendly)
Simple to operate (no menus, just tune and send)
My travel kit: Now I have built an actual travel kit around it so if I wanted to take it somewhere on a plane, the kit will fit in my carry-on baggage. The travel kit doesn't include the S-meter module or power pack/speaker, but those are "luxuries" anyway. The kit does have everything needed to get the radio on the air and making contacts and that is all that it has!
Real-world performance: For almost the next hour after I started calling CQ, the bands were on fire! I worked Germany! The only time there was significant time between contacts was when I tried to reply to KM3STU and couldn't get him. After about 45 minutes of non-stop contacts, the band just fell silent for me.
This was a great POTA activation and one where I look back fondly at how much fun a tiny little radio can be!
What is the N6ARA key and how well does it work?
The N6ARA key is a tiny straight key designed for portable operations. I have the small version, and honestly? This tiny little N6ARA key works REALLY well. Way better than something this simple should work!
Why it works:
Simple PCB construction (printed circuit board material)
Adjustable contacts and “spring” tension
Compact size (fits in tiny kits)
Surprisingly good feel when dialed in
The adjustment process: It takes a while to get it dialed in (read that as adjusted to your sending feel and style), but once you do, it is amazing how well it works! Getting the key adjusted correctly and then some practice using it and this thing is amazing.
My regret: I should have gotten the larger variant, but I had this silly idea about minimalism and because of this, I got the little one. Take it from me, if you're not super concerned with every gram of weight, then get the bigger unit. It gives you so much more to hold onto that it isn't even an option for me now. I still have the small one, but I do plan at some point to get the larger case for it.
Longevity question: To be fair, I don't know what the life of the key would be as it is PC board material so the contact thickness isn't that much, but these keys do work really well. It actually works so well that it is worth using as a regular key. It is that good!
Why did you build an S-meter for the Penntek TR-35?
The Penntek TR-35 doesn't come with an S-meter, and I wanted one! I built a simple S-meter module that works really well and makes using the radio just a little more fun for me. I wrote about how I built it in this blog post.
Is it needed? No, not at all, but that isn't the point! This needle bouncing around while I copy code somehow is soothing for some reason and I can see how strong the signal is visually as well.
Why I like it:
Visual feedback (see signal strength)
Satisfying to watch (needle bouncing with code)
Helps tune in weak signals
Just makes operating more enjoyable
It's one of those "luxuries" that isn't necessary but adds to the fun factor. And isn't that what ham radio is all about?
Should you upload your POTA logs even if you don't care about awards?
Yes! I will be honest here, if the hunters didn't get credit for the contacts as well, I wouldn't bother uploading the logs at all. For me it's about the experience and not the awards. This is why I have never submitted anything for awards from any organization. I just like operating on the air.
Why upload logs:
Hunters get credit for their contacts
Without the hunter, this wouldn't be a huge hobby like it is today
Those log uploads are for you, not me
It's the right thing to do for the community
My logging process: I paper log in the field then enter it into a computer when I get home to submit it to the POTA site so the hunters get credit. You can see my paper log in the photos!
I want hunters to get the credit they deserve. Without them, POTA wouldn't be what it is today!
What should a beginner know before attempting their first POTA activation?
Just do it! If you have thought about activating a park, just do it. Here's what you need to know:
If you've hunted, you already know the exchange:
Your callsign
Signal report
Park number (write it at the top of your log page)
If working another activator, exchange park numbers
Start simple:
Pick a mode you're comfortable with (CW, SSB, FT8, whatever!)
Bring a paper log (you can log electronically later)
Start on 20 meters (most activity)
Call CQ and see what happens!
Don't overthink it: I underestimated the capability of the radio a little as you can see from the log, LOL. I first hunted AC4BT just to see if I could get through, then moved to a clear spot, called QRL a few times, then called CQ and that is when things took off!
The hardest part is just getting started. Once you make that first contact, you'll realize it's not scary at all. It's fun!
What power source do you use for in-vehicle POTA operations?
I figured out a power source for inside the truck cab specifically for rainy day operations. Options include:
Battery options:
Bioenno LiFePO4 batteries (lightweight, efficient)
Sealed lead acid (cheaper but heavier)
Cigarette lighter adapter (if your vehicle supports it)
QRP advantage: Since the Penntek TR-35 only uses 5 watts, battery consumption is minimal. You can operate for hours on a small battery!
Rain operations: Having power inside the vehicle means you can operate comfortably in any weather. The truck-tenna mount lets me set up the antenna outside while I stay dry inside. POTA in the rain can still be fun as long as you plan for it!
BONUS QUESTION: What's your favorite part about POTA activations?
The experience! For me it's about the experience and not the awards. There's something special about:
Taking radios to beautiful parks
Making contacts from random locations
The challenge of QRP and CW
Meeting other operators on the air
Just being outside with radio gear
Today was a great POTA activation for me and one where I look back fondly at how much fun a tiny little radio can be. The bands were on fire, I worked Germany on 5 watts, and I spent almost an hour making contacts in the rain from my truck!
That's what ham radio should be: fun, challenging, and rewarding. So get your radio out and talk to someone on it!