POTA Report – Bays Mountain Park – January 15, 2022

Report

On Saturday, January 15th, we had our first official Parks on the Air (POTA) activation of the KARC Amateur Radio Club. The activation was held at the upper parking lot of Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport, TN. While the weather was a little chili, we had a great time making contacts and were able to make approx. 50-80 contacts over the course of an hour or two.

General Information

Date: Saturday, January 16th, 2022

Time: 17:22Z - 18:47Z (12:22PM - 1:47PM EST)

Location: Bays Mountain State Park

Activation Type: Parks on the Air

Park Number: K-6234

Operator(s) Present: W4GAJ, N4JHC, N4CRS, KO4TDK

Equipment Used:
N4JHC & KO4TDK: ICOM 7300, Wolf River Coils TIA Mega Pod Antenna, 100W Output
W4GAJ: Yaesu FT-891 with Chameleon MPAS 2.0 in Vertical Config
N4CRS: Elecraft KX2 QRP

Contacts Made: 133 Contacts with 73 Distinct Stations. Farthest Contact: EA1AF in Palencia, Spain (4,047 Miles) by W4GAJ, N4JHC, AND KO4TDK.

Photos

Activation Map

Activation Log

Operator	Frequency	Time (Zulu)	Station	Signal Report Sent	Signal Report Received
W4GAJ	7.278	1710Z	KK4WX	59	59
W4GAJ	7.282	1719Z	KN4SWS	59	59
N4JHC	14.344	1721Z	N5SLY	59	57
KO4TDK	14.344	1722Z	N5SLY	59	57
N4JHC	14.31	1723Z	KC1ISI	55	56
W4GAJ	7.195	1723Z	W4G	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1724Z	KC1ISI	55	56
N4JHC	14.258	1728Z	KN4SWS	59	59
KO4TDK	14.258	1729Z	KN4SWS	59	59
W4GAJ	7.24	1736Z	W9AFB	54	59
N4JHC	14.245	1736Z	WB4UBK	59	55
KO4TDK	14.245	1737Z	WB4UBK	59	57
W4GAJ	7.24	1737Z	K1SJSJ	59	59
W4GAJ	7.24	1738Z	WB8UBR	57	59
W4GAJ	7.24	1738Z	KK4ADQ	59	59
W4GAJ	7.24	1739Z	WC3N	59	59
W4GAJ	7.24	1740Z	KE8ONI	44	58
W4GAJ	7.24	1741Z	KX4BI	55	55
W4GAJ	7.24	1741Z	KX4BI	55	55
W4GAJ	7.24	1742Z	WW4PM	59	59
W4GAJ	7.24	1742Z	AB8LL	57	59
W4GAJ	7.24	1743Z	W8JDE	55	57
KO4TDK	14.31	1743Z	CU3HY	59	33
W4GAJ	7.24	1743Z	KC3OP	57	59
N4JHC	14.31	1743Z	CU3HY	43	33
KO4TDK	14.31	1744Z	WB9FXQ	59	59
W4GAJ	7.24	1744Z	KN4DFO	57	59
N4JHC	14.31	1744Z	WB9FXQ	59	59
W4GAJ	7.24	1744Z	N3AZZ	55	57
KO4TDK	14.31	1745Z	KD4KZZ	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1745Z	KD4KZZ	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1746Z	WI9SSR	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1746Z	WI9SSR	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1747Z	N2TRX	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1747Z	KF5ZPL	56	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1747Z	KF5ZPL	56	59
W4GAJ	7.24	1747Z	W2SUZ	59	59
W4GAJ	7.24	1747Z	KD2UBZ	44	59
N4JHC	14.31	1748Z	N2TRX	59	59
W4GAJ	7.24	1748Z	KO4LMK	55	59
N4JHC	14.31	1749Z	K5KDE	57	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1749Z	K5KDE	57	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1751Z	CU3BL	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1751Z	CU3BL	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1751Z	NR1D	59	56
KO4TDK	14.31	1752Z	NR1D	59	56
N4JHC	14.31	1752Z	W9MSL	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1752Z	W9MSL	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1753Z	KA9GOU	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1753Z	KA9GOU	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1754Z	WY1U	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1754Z	WY1U	59	59
W4GAJ	7.187	1755Z	W3LOU	55	55
N4JHC	14.31	1755Z	W7RTA	33	43
KO4TDK	14.31	1756Z	W7RTA	33	43
KO4TDK	14.31	1756Z	W5URX	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1756Z	W5URX	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1757Z	WA2SCB	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1757Z	WA2SCB	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1758Z	K1YAN	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1758Z	K1YAN	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1759Z	W5JCC	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1759Z	W5JCC	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1800Z	KM7OH	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1800Z	KM7OH	59	57
N4JHC	14.31	1801Z	N4CPR	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1802Z	K1KL	59	55
N4JHC	14.31	1802Z	W5NXK	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1802Z	W5NXK	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1803Z	K1KL	59	55
KO4TDK	14.31	1804Z	EA1AF	57	53
N4JHC	14.31	1805Z	EA1AF	57	53
KO4TDK	14.31	1806Z	KE0EP	59	59
W4GAJ	14.31	1806Z	EA1AF	55	55
N4JHC	14.31	1806Z	W4BUS	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1806Z	W4BUS	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1807Z	KE0EP	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1808Z	KD0YSD	59	57
KO4TDK	14.31	1808Z	KD0YSD	59	57
KO4TDK	14.31	1809Z	N0RMC	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1809Z	W7WGC	55	54
N4JHC	14.31	1809Z	W7WGC	55	54
N4JHC	14.31	1810Z	N0RMC	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1811Z	K0KWH	55	53
KO4TDK	14.31	1811Z	K0KWH	55	53
KO4TDK	14.31	1812Z	N5ZQ	58	56
N4JHC	14.31	1812Z	N5ZQ	58	56
KO4TDK	14.31	1812Z	KB0MPV	59	55
N4JHC	14.31	1813Z	KD0HPC	55	53
N4JHC	14.31	1813Z	KB0MPV	59	55
KO4TDK	14.31	1813Z	KD0HPC	55	53
KO4TDK	14.31	1814Z	VE4QZ	57	57
N4JHC	14.31	1815Z	VE4QZ	57	57
KO4TDK	14.31	1816Z	VE1SK	59	54
N4JHC	14.31	1816Z	VE1SK	59	54
KO4TDK	14.31	1818Z	W5LIC	55	53
W4GAJ	14.31	1818Z	VE1SK	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1818Z	W5LIC	55	53
KO4TDK	14.31	1819Z	N5SLY	59	57
N4JHC	14.31	1820Z	KW7E	59	55
KO4TDK	14.31	1820Z	WD5ENH	59	55
KO4TDK	14.31	1820Z	KW7E	59	56
N4JHC	14.31	1821Z	WD5ENH	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1822Z	KB1OWO	55	45
N4JHC	14.31	1822Z	N0YO	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1822Z	N0YO	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1823Z	KB1OWO	55	45
W4GAJ	14.31	1823Z	KB1OWO	55	55
W4GAJ	14.31	1825Z	KI5QMH	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1825Z	KI5QMH	44	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1825Z	KI5QMH	44	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1826Z	N0RZ	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1826Z	N0RZ	59	59
W4GAJ	14.31	1827Z	N4VRZ	59	59
KO4TDK	14.31	1827Z	N4VRZ	59	57
KO4TDK	14.31	1827Z	AA5HH	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1827Z	N4VRZ	59	59
W4GAJ	14.31	1827Z	N0RZ	59	59
W4GAJ	14.31	1828Z	AA5HH	59	59
N4JHC	14.31	1828Z	AA5HH	59	59
N4JHC	14.246	1831Z	K8MRD	57	57
KO4TDK	14.246	1832Z	K8MRD	57	57
W4GAJ	14.246	1833Z	K8MRD	59	59
N4JHC	146.52	1838Z	KA4ICK	43	59
KO4TDK	146.52	1838Z	KA4ICK	43	59
KO4TDK	146.52	1839Z	WX4ET	57	59
N4JHC	146.52	1840Z	WX4ET	57	59
N4JHC	146.52	1841Z	K4AVT	59	59
KO4TDK	146.52	1841Z	K4AVT	57	59
N4JHC	146.52	1843Z	N4CSG	44	55
KO4TDK	146.52	1847Z	KW4AG	43	59
W4GAJ	14.31	2328Z	W7JSF	59	59

After Action Report

Overall, we had a very successful activation, especially considering this was our first "official" POTA/SOTA Activation for the KARC Radio Club for 2022. There are a couple minor improvement opportunities we can use to make our next activation even more successful.

Strengths:

Bringing multiple radios/rigs/antennas ensures there are plenty of backups available for the activation

Operating a single radio with multiple (two) operators was easy to execute and seemed to help drive traffic. Having each operator keep separate logs was also useful, since if someone steps away, additional log notes do not need to be added

Meeting up for breakfast beforehand was a good way to get everyone together and establish a plan before heading to the activation area

Leveraging the band-pass filters (such as those supplied by N4JHC) helped allow simultaneous operation of two bands (40m and 20m) without interference

Improvement Opportunities:

Trying to operate multiple rigs on a single band was difficult or impossible due to significant interference with antennas approx. 20 ft distant from one another

Take the time to ensure access to area is planned and established ahead of time

Be sure to bring additional non-radio items, including cold-weather gear (hats, gloves), folding chairs, folding tables, etc.

Put together game plan for who will operate what / on what frequencies / with who else before starting to make contacts / call CQ. It's difficult to make changes once a pileup is established.

Report

General Information

Photos

Activation Map

Activation Log

After Action Report

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