I frequently receive comments from viewers that are on the cusp of going out and doing their first Parks on the Air activation, but for whatever reason are hesitant. It may be they are working towards acquiring equipment, or aren’t quite ready to get on the air and run a pile-up. For the latter, I get it. Pile-ups can be anxiety inducing and not everyone may be ready for that level of stress. But there is an easier way to get out in a park, get on the air, and make the necessary 10 contacts for an activation.
That’s the subject of this week’s video, Your first POTA ACTIVATION can be this EASY! Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/FkcZlZqjg1o
There are usually plenty of other activators on the air that you can cruise the bands and just pick up park to park contacts. Being in a park yourself, you can typically break a pile-up by saying “Park to Park” and getting out, setting up, and operating moves you one step closer to running your own pile-up.
Resources and items mentioned in the video:
Logging with SmartLogger: https://smartlogger.app
Yaesu FT-891: www.dxengineering.pxf.io/Z6ZKJ1
ECO-WORTHY 12V 20Ah Lithium Battery: https://amzn.to/4r45KJI
Feather Flag Base: https://amzn.to/3MdepHE
Chameleon 17 foot whip: https://chameleonantenna.com/h6vsvh
42×108 inch Faraday Fabric: https://amzn.to/3Vt1m9R
Jaw Mount Antenna Clamp: https://amzn.to/3VL5Ir6
SO-239 stud mount for jaw clamp: https://amzn.to/3VT1KwG
On forgetting things
We’ve all done it. You head out to a park, all ready to activate, and as you set up you realize that you’ve forgotten an item. Sometimes its something insignificant, and can be easily overcome. Other times it’s a major piece of gear and totally prevents you from getting on the air. Over my years of countless activations, I think I’ve forgotten just about every piece of gear at least once.
The little things are easy to overcome, I’ve forgotten my logging computer and had to revert to paper to log. Not a big deal. Another time I misplaced the power cable that goes from the battery to the rig. Still not a show stopper, since my FT-891 has the power pole mod, I was able to direct connect a battery to it. Once I forget my microphone. Fortunately I had my data cable and just operated FT8 for the activation session.
In those cases, carrying spare items or having contingencies easily available can still get you on the air. Celebrity chef Alton Brown is famous for saying no to uni-taskers in your kitchen. That is, tools that only serve one purpose. Not only do they take up space, often the task they perform isn’t that good.
Instead, think of how your gear can function if a component is missing. If I forget my logging computer, do I have paper? If my headset was forgotten, is the hand mic still in the bag. What happens if the power cable goes missing? Know how you will adapt before you get into the field.
The second, and more difficult items to overcome is forgetting the big things. When that happens there isn’t much you can do, other than to commiserate in your pain as one of those stories for the ages.
Last summer I managed to forget my antenna. Chris and I were going to do a Sunday drive and work a couple of parks. I threw my gear: radio bag, battery, computer, and tripod into her car. We drove about an hour and got to the park. As I was setting up, I realized I forgot one important component: the 17 foot whip. Since the antenna wasn’t going to go up without the whip, I was dead in the water. In hindsight, maybe carrying a second antenna system would have helped. We still had a very nice drive in the countryside that day.
My biggest faux paw was last week. Chris and I again were going to head to a park. This time in my vehicle, so I knew all my gear would be in it. I packed my camera gear and grabbed the computer (which I frequently forget). We get to the park and I start unpacking. I get the antenna set up and shoot a bit of video. I am all ready to get on the air when I realize that I forgot my battery. Both my small 12ah and larger 20ah were sitting at home on the charger. I contemplated my options. I could connect to the vehicle battery and operate, but I would then have to run the engine to keep it charged. My booster pack was in the other car and I didn’t want to risk draining the starter battery. So I packed up and we had a nice hike that afternoon.
Solving those issues is a challenge. Using a checklist when moving gear from one vehicle to the next would solve my lack of antenna. Better organization, that is, having things properly boxed, cased, and labeled would reduce the chance of leaving a part behind.
As for the lack of a battery, keeping a spare with you in the vehicle is a good idea. Then when one battery is removed to be put on the charger, a replacement is in its place. Again, better organization is key in that situation.
How do you overcome leaving something behind? Has it scuttled your activation, or were you able to recover? Leave your worst horror story and/or best practices below.
Finishing up
Looking ahead to next week’s video, I am planning my annual ham radio holiday gift list. I’ve been making these lists for a long time and this is my 10th annual gift guide. I’ve got a list of my favorite picks for this year, but I would love to hear yours. If you have a ham radio gift idea you want to share, leave it in the comments below. I’d love to hear your ideas.
Here in Wisconsin, the annual gun deer season starts this Saturday and runs the next ten days. That means park activations are going to be a little more challenging. If you are going out during hunting season, know the rules, give the hunters space in the parking areas, and most importantly, wear blaze orange. Your life could depend on it.
I hope to get you in the log
Michael
KB9VBR
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