POTA Report – Natural Tunnel State Park – April 23, 2022

Report

This month, we held our Parks on the Air (POTA) activation at Natural Tunnel State Park in Virginia. We set up two different rigs and antennas and operated from the Picnic Table area while operating primarily from 20m and 40m. Despite only having a couple activators, we made well over 100 contacts, including a few DX contacts into Canada. The W4TRC Radio Club was also hosting a SOTA activation, and we made contact with one of the SOTA operators as well as W4GAJ while he operated in a “threefer” park.

General Information

Date: Saturday, April 23rd, 2022

Time: 15:18Z - 18:11Z (11:18 - 14:11 EST)

Location: Natural Tunnel State Park

Activation Type: Parks on the Air

Park Number: K-1309

Operator(s) Present: N4JHC, KO4TDK

Equipment Used:
N4JHC: ICOM 7300, Wolf River Coils TIA Mega Pod Antenna, 100W Output
KO4TDK: Yaesu FT-991A, Buddistick Pro Antenna, 100W Output

Contacts Made: 136 Contacts with 116 Distinct Stations. Farthest Contact: KJ7FPD in California by N4JHC

Photos

Activation Map

Activation Log

Operator	Frequency	Time (Zulu)	Station	Signal Report Sent	Signal Report Received
KO4TDK	7.220	1518	N4EE	59	55
N4JHC	14.335	1520	KK1TLS	58	58
KO4TDK	7.219	1522	KG4WXU	59	59
KO4TDK	7.219	1522	AB4KN	59	59
KO4TDK	7.219	1523	KC3QCW	59	59
KO4TDK	7.219	1525	AD0BC	59	32
KO4TDK	7.219	1525	KD8ILV	59	58
KO4TDK	7.219	1526	K9ICP	59	57
KO4TDK	7.219	1527	KC3GUU	53	57
N4JHC	14.272	1527	W9NWY	59	59
KO4TDK	7.219	1528	W5LMY	59	57
KO4TDK	7.219	1529	KK4ADQ	59	59
KO4TDK	7.219	1529	N3RCW	59	59
KO4TDK	7.219	1530	WJ8L	59	59
KO4TDK	7.219	1530	NO3K	59	59
N4JHC	14.272	1530	AA3C	55	55
KO4TDK	7.219	1531	WB8JAY	59	44
KO4TDK	7.219	1532	KB5AG	59	57
KO4TDK	7.219	1533	KB9JQU	59	53
KO4TDK	7.219	1534	W4BOC	59	59
KO4TDK	7.219	1534	WG8X	59	59
N4JHC	14.272	1534	WD5RP	59	58
KO4TDK	7.219	1535	KO4SXH	59	59
KO4TDK	7.219	1536	KE8UFS	59	55
N4JHC	14.272	1536	KI5PPY	53	57
KO4TDK	7.219	1537	KK4BSA	59	59
KO4TDK	7.219	1538	W4BAX	59	59
KO4TDK	7.219	1538	N9DPR	59	59
N4JHC	14.272	1538	AE4LH	59	57
KO4TDK	7.178	1550	KB8DX	59	59
N4JHC	14.340	1551	WX1S	55	55
KO4TDK	7.225	1554	WC8VOA	59	59
N4JHC	14.344	1555	VE2MXU	59	55
KO4TDK	7.225	1556	KE8PZN	59	59
N4JHC	14.344	1558	VE3DZG	44	45
KO4TDK	7.266	1559	KK4DAS	59	54
N4JHC	14.344	1559	W4BUS	59	57
N4JHC	14.344	1601	KZ9W	57	57
KO4TDK	7.268	1602	AD0WN	55	55
N4JHC	14.344	1602	KJ7NXV	42	46
N4JHC	14.344	1602	WS8O	59	59
N4JHC	14.344	1603	K1CWB	57	57
KO4TDK	7.277	1604	KU8V	55	33
N4JHC	14.344	1605	KO4TYM	31	59
N4JHC	14.344	1605	AJ4EO	44	59
N4JHC	14.344	1606	KC9YDV	59	56
N4JHC	14.344	1607	KI5DYI	59	59
KO4TDK	7.182	1608	K3FH	55	55
N4JHC	14.344	1608	KG5LBC	44	31
N4JHC	14.344	1609	KW7E	33	55
N4JHC	14.344	1610	KE5TC	59	57
N4JHC	14.344	1611	KI5JWS	57	58
KO4TDK	7.215	1615	K3PPP	59	59
KO4TDK	7.215	1615	KC3PPL	59	59
KO4TDK	7.248	1647	N9TTK	59	59
KO4TDK	7.178	1650	W3ALG	59	44
KO4TDK	7.204	1700	KC3WJM	59	59
KO4TDK	7.198	1705	K3SLH	59	53
N4JHC	14.220	1706	W4GAJ	42	54
N4JHC	14.220	1706	W4GAJ	42	54
N4JHC	14.220	1706	W4GAJ	42	54
KO4TDK	14.220	1707	W4GAJ	42	54
KO4TDK	14.220	1707	W4GAJ	42	54
KO4TDK	14.220	1707	W4GAJ	42	54
KO4TDK	7.231	1710	NM9L	55	59
KO4TDK	7.227	1713	KY4IZ	59	59
KO4TDK	7.227	1713	W8LXJ	59	59
KO4TDK	7.227	1713	N3XLS	55	33
KO4TDK	7.227	1714	KD4BVG	59	59
KO4TDK	7.227	1715	KB0SOX	59	59
KO4TDK	7.227	1715	WO4ROG	59	59
N4JHC	14.289	1715	W5LST	57	58
N4JHC	14.289	1715	W5LST	57	58
N4JHC	14.289	1715	W5LST	57	58
N4JHC	14.289	1715	W5LST	57	58
N4JHC	14.289	1715	W5LST	57	58
KO4TDK	7.227	1716	KN4XJ	59	59
KO4TDK	7.227	1716	WV8RKL	59	59
N4JHC	14.289	1716	KI5BMT	57	58
N4JHC	14.289	1716	KI5BMT	57	58
N4JHC	14.289	1716	KI5BMT	57	58
N4JHC	14.289	1716	KI5BMT	57	58
N4JHC	14.289	1716	KI5BMT	57	58
KO4TDK	7.227	1718	W4CCH	59	53
KO4TDK	7.227	1718	W4NDK	59	55
KO4TDK	7.227	1719	NE4TN	59	57
KO4TDK	7.227	1720	W3NRH	59	59
KO4TDK	7.227	1720	KN4GUS	59	59
KO4TDK	7.227	1721	W3JTB	59	59
N4JHC	5.357	1722	KO4DCD	44	58
KO4TDK	5.357	1724	KO4DCD	59	59
KO4TDK	7.225	1726	KE8ONI	59	59
KO4TDK	7.225	1727	KT8EMA	59	59
N4JHC	14.222	1729	N1ET	44	57
N4JHC	14.343	1734	WE4DX	59	59
N4JHC	14.348	1735	AB2SG	42	57
KO4TDK	7.199	1736	KC3MSE	53	53
N4JHC	14.256	1743	KF0HCN	59	59
N4JHC	14.256	1744	AA1F	59	59
N4JHC	7.199	1748	KC3MSE	42	55
N4JHC	7.268	1751	AD0WN	55	55
KO4TDK	14.233	1752	VA3QV	59	59
KO4TDK	14.233	1754	KO4FHS	59	59
KO4TDK	14.233	1754	N0SPN	59	58
KO4TDK	14.233	1755	NI0P	59	55
KO4TDK	14.233	1755	KJ7DT	59	53
KO4TDK	14.233	1756	AA3C	59	55
N4JHC	7.224	1756	W8ZX	31	59
KO4TDK	14.233	1757	KE0RIZ	59	58
KO4TDK	14.233	1757	WA0RIM	59	59
KO4TDK	14.233	1758	VE1EW	59	55
KO4TDK	14.233	1758	W5BCA	59	57
KO4TDK	14.233	1759	WA3RHW/4	59	56
KO4TDK	14.233	1800	AJ5C	59	57
KO4TDK	14.233	1800	K1RO	59	59
KO4TDK	14.233	1801	WM4P	59	59
KO4TDK	14.233	1801	N0YO	59	59
KO4TDK	14.233	1802	VE3PYJ	59	59
KO4TDK	14.233	1802	KG5OIB	59	55
KO4TDK	14.233	1803	KC1BDJ	59	58
KO4TDK	14.233	1803	W5OZP	59	59
KO4TDK	14.233	1804	WB2MSB	59	59
KO4TDK	14.233	1805	N1XH	59	59
KO4TDK	14.233	1805	N2NFI	59	59
N4JHC	7.274	1805	WA2SLH	57	55
N4JHC	7.274	1805	WJ8Y	57	55
KO4TDK	14.233	1806	KI4HIT	59	59
KO4TDK	14.233	1807	KG5ZQ	59	58
KO4TDK	14.233	1807	N5ANY	59	59
N4JHC	7.274	1808	AD8FL	43	45
N4JHC	7.274	1808	W4NDK	59	59
KO4TDK	14.233	1809	N5WSG	55	59
KO4TDK	14.233	1810	N0SPN	59	58
KO4TDK	14.233	1811	N1SRD	59	47
N4JHC	18.127	1818	KJ7FPD	42	55
N4JHC	18.127	1818	KJ7FPD	42	55

After Action Report

Overall, we had a great activation, especially considering we only had 2 different radio operators. One of the critical things to include are the bandpass filters that N4JHC was able to bring - this allowed simultaneous transmission between two different radios.

Strengths:

The bandpass filters really help enable operating multiple rigs at once

Meeting up for breakfast was a great way to meet folks and ensure everyone was on the same page for heading over to the Park

When operating two different rigs, it’s helpful to “swap” bands during the activation. After a simple swap from each rig from 20m to 10m, we were able to make an additional number of contacts when calling CQ.

Trying out different bands (Ie: 60m) was a useful way to try and reach additional contacts

Improvement Opportunities:

Be sure to do some research on required access to the area (Ie: we didn’t discover that we had to have cash for the parking until we arrived. Luckily, one of our activators brought some cash)

Try to obtain RSVP information ahead of time to determine who might be able to attend as an activator ahead of time.

Be sure to bring phone chargers, power packs, etc. to keep communication devices ready to go

Be clear about the method of communication for folks who may join later on. There may be limited opportunities to access the repeater (we were unable to access the repeater from Natural Tunnel, even with a direction antenna and 50W rig)

Report

General Information

Photos

Activation Map

Activation Log

After Action Report

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