Parks on the Air, commonly referred to as “POTA” (POH-tuh), is an international radio sport that encourages amateur radio operators to communicate with or from state and national parks, as well as a wide variety of other designated public lands such as wildlife management areas, national trails, and historic sites. Broadly speaking, there are two types of radio operators in POTA: activators and hunters. Activators operate in designated parks while hunters search for the parks and call them. Most hunters call the parks from a home station, but some are also activators in other parks. That’s a simple explanation of POTA. As with any activity that grows in popularity, the program can be more complicated than that.
Late Shift along the Colonial National Historic Parkway, US-9902.
Most online discussions seem to center around the activators. I suppose that’s logical since activators are at the center of the radio action, sometimes managing large pile-ups. Activators also are usually the ones who share photographs from their parks on social media sites. As with just about any facet of nearly any hobby, it doesn’t take long for a critic to opine about the “spirit” of POTA or the “right way” to do it. One position that I see regularly is “POTA wouldn’t exist without hunters” or “If it wasn’t for hunters, activators would not have anyone to talk to.” Both of those comments are true, but so is the reverse: Hunters would not have any “parks on the air” to hunt without an activator. I think I learned about POTA with my own left-handed logic, viewing it and learning about it from the hunter’s perspective since they make up the vast majority of POTA participants. When I’m questioned about POTA by someone who has no idea about the program, I describe it like this:
“I compare Parks on the Air to collecting stamps. Instead of collecting stamps, ham radio operators seek to collect calls (QSOs) with a variety of parks. Thousands of stations around the world hunt for parks to add to their collection. In order for a park to be found, a ham radio station has to be in the park. That’s what I’m doing.” I give them a “WTH Card“ if they’re interested in taking one. That’s about all I say to a stranger since the odds of them caring about any more information than that is very slim! 😀 But I’ll continue with my comparison here by saying that each QSO documented online at POTA.app serves as a “stamp.” Like stamp collectors, hams who collect park QSOs can collect what could be called a “series,” but we call them awards.
There are awards for bands operated, worked all states, the number of parks worked, and many other milestones. A park hunter operating at home is similar to a collector who receives their stamps at home: Just as a stamp collector cannot collect stamps without a seller, a hunter cannot collect POTA QSOs unless someone operates in the park. The parks are not all staffed with ham operators all day every day. So, it’s not as if a hunter can just turn on a radio and get the park that they want. With that in mind, I jumped straight into POTA as an activator with the idea that I’d provide a service to park hunters. I don’t know if that’s a common attitude, but am I wrong? And, yes, I recognize that there are activator-specific awards, too. So, being an activator isn’t completely selfless. 😉
Manatees in Blue Spring State Park, US-1842.
I’ve seen other arguments which suggest that I’m “doing it wrong.” One of my favorites goes something like this: “The whole point of activating a park is to get out and enjoy the park!” I suspect that’s usually directed at mobile operators who operate from inside their vehicle. I’m a mobile-only operator, though I’ll admit that no one has shared similar comments directly with me. In addition to activating a park as a service, I also do it to practice working pile-ups. Contest rovers can experience pile-ups during VHF contests and QSO parties since fixed stations seek the bonus points that are associated with working them. I don’t need to be outside “enjoying the park” in order to pursue my radio goals! Besides, I can’t make QSOs if I’m doing “park things” instead of “radio things.” With that said, I do explore the park if I find myself someplace interesting such as Blue Spring State Park, US-1842 (see the manatees above).
A “5-fer” location within Colonial National Historical Park, US-0016.
One benefit of a mobile installation during POTA is that everything is compact and fits within the small footprint of a parking space. There are no wires in trees, spikes in the ground, or any other way for anyone to have a legitimate claim that my activity is harming the park or worthy of a special permit. I’m just a visitor in a parking spot! The “5-fer” location shown here is isolated from most park visitors. People usually see my station as just another parked car in a designated parking area and go about their business. I try to not bring too much attention to myself, but sometimes my car is a little more conspicuous, as shown in the image below from White Sands National Park. That’s when I’m more likely to receive visitors, but the numbers are still limited since I operate away from crowded areas.
White Sands National Park, US-0970.
POTA-related YouTube videos and social media posts could convince you to believe that most activators make quite a spectacle of their activations. Some activators make an exhibition of POTA by setting up in populated areas of the park with flags, banners, pamphlets, and more. There’s nothing wrong with that, particularly for a group event. But I think most activators prefer to avoid the extra attention, especially solo activators such as myself or those who are looking for an in-and-out activation. Staying away from other park visitors minimizes the chance of someone interrupting my radio efforts or reporting me as a nuisance or “suspicious person.” I’m happy to talk with visitors to tell them about POTA and ham radio in general. Putting down the microphone during a pile-up is not my preference, but I will do it. Visitors always take priority over the radio!
VHF Contest from Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, US-0561.
Is my method “less POTA” than the more elaborate activator setups? I don’t think so! About 99% of park visitors just pass me by without a thought. I’m quite certain that the hunters who call to get into my log don’t care at all about any onsite signage that I might post. Some hunters look me up in QRZ and comment about my photos during the QSO. I appreciate their extra effort because it’s not common. But POTA banners onsite are not useful to me. They make great photos in social media posts, but add very little in person, in my opinion. With that said, here are a few tips for new activators that I’ll share before I close:
1) DO keep it simple, especially for your first few activations. Just be a ham in a park; that’s what POTA is about. You don’t need an elaborate display or setup to activate a park. That can come later, if it’s what you want.
Captain John Smith NHT, US-4567.
2) DO follow the rules of POTA. All elements of the station must be within the public boundary of the park. The park must be open; this is important to remember during Late Shift or Early Shift activations. It’s okay if the office is closed, but your choice of operating position must be legally open to the public. Parking outside of a closed gate or fence line is not cool! As a mobile-only operator, I recognize that I cannot activate a lot of parks because they do not allow vehicular access at all. That’s a consequence that I accept for my method of operating.
3) DO pay the park fee if one exists. I have both a lifetime pass for National Parks and an annual pass for Virginia state parks. I purchase annual passes in other states if I expect to activate more than one park during a trip. Support the park by paying the fee!
Watoga State Park, US-1827.
4) DO your homework regarding the hanging of antennas in trees or the staking of antenna parts in the ground. Some parks forbid both, either because of damage to trees, disturbance to tree-dwelling wildlife, or harm that may be done to underground ecosystems (real or perceived). This is especially true in wildlife management areas. It’s the primary reason why I appreciate the minimal footprint of my mobile setup.
5) DO park only in designated parking areas. Parking where you shouldn’t is a very quick way to get unwanted attention. The same can be said of driving on surfaces that are not designated for vehicular traffic such as grass or non-public service roads.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, US-0034.
6) DON’T litter! “Pack It In, Pack It Out” has become trite over the years, even to the point of being ignored by litterbugs, but it’s still a good rule. It’s bad enough that miscreants toss their trash everywhere at campsites and other public areas in our parks. But I think it’s even worse if any of that litter contains the words “POTA” or “Parks on the Air.” Park managers could remember that and target POTA operators if our litter is a regular problem. In fact, that’s a great reason to NOT pass out literature at your activations since there’s no way to know how or where someone else will dispose it.
7) DON’T ask permission. I’m sure that sounds counterintuitive, but your activation should be completely legal if you’re following the advice above. If you ask permission, then someone who’s ignorant about ham radio could suspect that you may need a permit, impact study, or other need that’s “too much work” for them to research. Some park employees don’t want to be bothered to figure out what it takes to get to “yes” if it’s much easier to just say “no.” Legally, you’re probably already at “yes” and don’t need to ask. Read any rules that may be published on the park’s website.
8) DON’T argue if directed to leave by proper authorities; “Karens” and “concerned citizens” don’t count. Politely ask questions about applicable regulations, get a name and badge number, and then LEAVE. Nothing will get solved in the moment, especially if an argument ensues with someone who may not know the applicable laws or regulations. Record the encounter on video if you can; it’s your legal right in most states, even without consent. There’s no legal expectation of privacy in public. Be a calm, positive ambassador for ham radio, which may include quietly leaving the park upon demand by proper authorities. Compliance to an unjust order is a better look for ham radio than an officer’s body-cam video of a foul-mouthed tirade or an argument that escalates to an arrest. Fight it later, legally and rationally, if it’s important to you.
Longhorn Cavern State Park, US-3034.
BONUS: Don’t dismiss the idea of operating from a mobile platform. My mobile station has everything I need, is fast and easy to set up and stow, provides shade in open areas (thanks to insulated reflective window coverings), and keeps me dry on rainy days. Plus, I can just start the car and drive away if I have an unpleasant encounter with a nuisance creature with either two or four legs. Nothing beats a mobile setup for flexibility and simplicity (says the ham with a complicated mobile setup). 😉 On a related note, it’s strangely satisfying to see a bunch of mosquitos or biting flies outside on the glass while I’m inside the car and eating lunch. 😀
What do you think? What tips would you add? I appreciate your visit and the time that you took to read this long entry.
POTA-on!
Scott
My “WTH Card”
