Parks on the Air (POTA) Event Brings Ham Radio Enthusiasts Together

Parks on the Air (POTA), an amateur radio activity launched in 2010, encourages ham radio operators to set up stations in national and state parks worldwide. The simplicity of its rules has contributed to its popularity. In 2016, the ARRL sponsored NPOTA to commemorate the National Parks System’s 100th anniversary. Since then, POTA has become a staple in the amateur radio community, with a non-profit organization established in 2018.

The Dominion DX Group, K4VAC, recognized POTA’s potential and organized an event at Pocohontas State Park (US-1312) in Chesterfield County, Virginia. As Virginia’s largest state park, with 7,919 acres, it offers various activities, including swimming, fishing, camping, and mountain biking. The park’s ham radio-friendly environment made it an ideal location.

A Successful Club Activation

On October 19, 2024, the club held its first POTA activation, coinciding with “Support Your Parks Weekend.” Ten members and 10 guests attended, enjoying food, drinks, and camaraderie. The event boasted five stations operating on 40M, 20M, 15M, and 10M bands. Throughout the day, operators logged 178 QSOs, including 14 DX stations and 46 Park-2-Park contacts.

Notable achievements
Will Jackson, KR4CE, with 85 QSOs.
Adam Humphrey, KQ4OTH, with six DX QSOs.
Gene Damon, K4GNE, completed his first successful activation.

A Trial Run for Future Events

This POTA event marked the club’s first run with POTA. With its success, the club plans to expand invitations to other local clubs and promote DX chasing. The next “Support Your Parks Weekend” is approaching, offering another opportunity for ham radio enthusiasts to connect.

Key Takeaways
POTA encourages amateur radio operations in national and state parks.
The Dominion DX Group successfully activated Pocohontas State Park.
The event fostered camaraderie and achieved notable QSOs.
Future events will aim to involve more clubs and promote DX chasing.

Special thanks to Adam Humphrey, KQ4OTH, for contributing this recap of a great day for the club!

This is it. DDXG members and guests will be heading to Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield, Virginia, this Saturday, October 19, 2024, for a Parks on the Air (POTA) event. Beginning at 10 AM EST multiple stations will be operating allowing licensed hams to get on the air and participate. Guests are welcome. And DDXG members will be available to chat about our hobby and our club. More information about POTA is available here.

If you’d like to join us, the address for Pocahontas State Park is 10301 State Park Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832-6355. Parking is $10.00 (weekend rate). Once you enter the park follow signs to Picnic Shelter 2 and look for the club banner. We hope to see you there!

Parks on the Air (POTA) is about amateur radio operators visiting parks and making contacts from within the parks with other amateur radio operators at any location. DDXG will host a POTA event on Saturday, October 19th, at Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County. Beginning at 10 AM EST multiple stations will be operating allowing licensed hams to get on the air and participate. Guests are welcome. And DDXG members will be available to chat about our hobby and our club.

If you’d like to join us, the address for Pocahontas State Park is 10301 State Park Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832-6355. Parking is $10.00 (weekend rate). Once you enter the park follow signs to Picnic Shelter 2 and look for the club banner. There are two to three parking spots adjacent to the shelter including one handicap parking spot; the rest of the parking is about 200 feet away. Bathrooms are within 100 feet.

More information about Parks on the Air can be found at the POTA website. A presentation from our September club meeting is available to review here.