POTA is the acronym for Parks On The Air. It’s a relative of Islands On The Air, (IOTA), Summits On The Air, (SOTA), and even World Lighthouse On The Air, (WLOTA).

From the Parks On The Air website, they say POTA is …international portable amateur radio operations that promote emergency awareness and communications from national/federal and state/provincial level parks.

Any properly licensed ham can participate and earn awards. You must register with this all-volunteer organization to reap the full benefits of the POTA community, but you can give it a test drive without registering. You’ll probably register once you find out how fun it is.

For the full year of 2016 the ARRL did a parks on the air thing commemorating the Centennial of the National Park Service to Promote the capabilities of Amateur Radio to the general public through operations at eligible NPS Administrative Units, according to the ARRL. It was called National Parks on the Air.

It was such a huge success that a group of volunteers took the ball and ran with it giving us POTA as we know it today.

Operators can participate in POTA from home as a Hunter or afield as an Activator. Two Activators can contact one another for a “Park to Park” contact which is another recognized award category. POTA is also a good place to practice your low power, (QRP), skills. Phone, check. CW, check. Digital, check. Want to activate multiple parks in one day? Oh yah, there are awards for that too. There is something for everyone.

One nice feature of POTA is that you can self-spot through their website, which means that you advertise what frequency and at which park you are operating. Hunters can find you with ease on a computer or smartphone. After making a QSO, most hunters will re-spot you which is then updated on the website. As an activator you’ll have your ten contacts in no time. As a Hunter, you’ll be able to pile up those QSOs.

After you listen for a while you’ll notice there are many couples who do POTA. It’s also quite common to hear, “Stand by for a second, (or third or even fourth), operator”.

My suggestion would be to visit POTA and check out the great info there. While you’re there you might as well register.

Soon I’ll discuss how POTA can make you a better ham radio operator. Believe me, it really will.

Seven Tree