[ADXA] 100th POTA activation, with help from K5UR

Fri Dec 29 13:51:43 EST 2023

I should do more of the CW Ops tests.  I  have only done one, maybe two.  I
was amazed at how the guys went so quickly, considering the long numbers
they had to exchange.  I had no trouble copying the exchange, but typing it
in slowed me down.  Then I realized that N1MM would auto-fill the number
for me if I imported the contest file!  Duh!   There would probably be a
new one occasionally that I had to type in, but otherwise I could go fast
if I didn’t have to type them all in.

There is a guy who does the CWT tests from parks - his name is Glenn and he
is a 0 but I don’t remember his call.  I’ve thought about trying that.

I’m going to try to make a few Q’s in the NRR this year with the Drake 2-B
and 2-NT, xtal controlled.    (J-38, of course, maybe some with a J-37).

On the BIC front, I’ve hit 12 and 17 meters a little since we got back from
MO, for about 15 new ones so far.

73 and all the best for 2024 to everybody,
Dennis/RZ

On Fri, Dec 29, 2023 at 11:22 AM David Norris <k5uz at icloud.com> wrote:

> Dennis,
>
> I’m glad you were able to pull that rare and extremely weak one out of the
> pile. Hi!
>
> Rick always manages to find me calling CQ VOTA and work me. Ubiquitous may
> be an understatement. TU for the points Rick.
>
> I’ve noticed the VOTA CW pile ups aren’t as bad as they were during the
> Centennial although the EU and NE pile I had going Wednesday morning on 10
> CW was close-  and it did howl at me.  W5SJ will appreciate that.
>
> Back on point, it’s great that you are working with new ops on CW Dennis.
> It’s good to slow down and work the new guy on CW. We all started there -
> some of us as Novices at 5wpm. Get them comfortable and get them smooth.
> When they get smooth they’ll get fast. I have noticed more new calls in the
> CW Ops CWT events and that bodes well. I slow down and work them. CW Ops
> also does a the SST - Slow Speed ‘Test. Get in there and work ‘em!
>
> For those who don’t, get on CW and give it a try! VOTA ends 00:00Z Jan 1
> and Straight Key Night begins- another opportunity for CW.
>
> BTW, I worked WB5JJJ and N5QS last night on 80m FT-8. I also nabbed WB5BHS
> earlier in the week.
>
> 73
>
> David A. Norris, K5UZ
> Director, Delta Division
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Dec 28, 2023, at 6:31 PM, Dennis Schaefer <dennisw5rz at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 
> Well….that’s not in one year, just the grand total since I started a
> couple of years ago.   POTA also has some secret weapons to up the count.
> A lot of trails count for POTA, and also things like Wildlife Management
> Areas and National Forests.  Sometimes you can be in more than one at a
> time.   For example, today I was in Lake Dardanelle State Park, Dardanelle
> WMA, and an official Trail of Tears National Historic site - all sitting in
> one place.  I had 97 at the beginning of the day and now I have 100.
>
> Based on these multiple counters, I’ve probably actually been out about 50
> times.
> That probably averages out to twice a month for the last couple of years.
> Just enough for fun, but not a big commitment!
>
> 73,
> Dennis
>
> On Thu, Dec 28, 2023 at 5:40 PM Bill Priakos <bill at priakos.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/10+Free+Ferry+Heights+%0D%0A+Fort+Smith,+AR+72903?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>
>> Great notes, Dennis.  I have activated about 10 POTA but I am not a
>> formal member…need to find out more.  BUT….YOU….WOW!  100 in a year.
>> Congratulations!
>>
>>
>>
>> 73, Bill
>>
>>
>>
>> *Bill Priakos – W5SJ*
>>
>> *10 Free Ferry Heights
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/10+Free+Ferry+Heights+%0D%0A+Fort+Smith,+AR+72903?entry=gmail&source=g>*
>>
>> *Fort Smith, AR 72903
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/10+Free+Ferry+Heights+%0D%0A+Fort+Smith,+AR+72903?entry=gmail&source=g>*
>>
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/10+Free+Ferry+Heights+%0D%0A+Fort+Smith,+AR+72903?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>
>> *479.461.8368*
>>
>> <image001.png>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> *On
>> Behalf Of *Dennis Schaefer
>> *Sent:* Thursday, December 28, 2023 3:06 PM
>> *To:* ADXA <ADXA at mailman.qth.net>
>> *Subject:* [ADXA] 100th POTA activation, with help from K5UR
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I have two main ham radio interests - DX’ing and portable operation.
>> I’ve done a lot of portable stuff in ARES/RACES, etc, and wouldn’t miss
>> Field Day.   POTA (Parks on the Air) is perfect for me when I want to get
>> out of the chair but still do some radio.   I talk about and promote POTA a
>> lot and set up a POTA booth at our hamfest in 2023.  People think I’m
>> really active, but my stats are dismal.  I decided I would try to get up to
>> 100 total park activations by the end of 2023.   This is still very modest,
>> because some people have thousands.
>>
>>
>>
>> I finished my 100th activation today at Lake Dardanelle State Park.
>> Almost all of my activations are 100% CW.   It can be slow, because there
>> are many POTA operators who are learning CW.  It’s the same at Field Day -
>> lots of people who don’t really do CW but aspire to be proficient.   It’s
>> hard to work more than one every minute - I worked 35 in about 25 minutes
>> today.  The main thing I keep telling myself is that it is wonderful that
>> all those people are actually doing it!  They take a deep breath and plunge
>> right in.  It does not matter if they are proficient yet.  If we encourage
>> them, they have a chance.
>>
>>
>>
>> Of course, many of the POTA callers are very proficient.  Today, I heard
>> a weak signal and finally pulled our K5UR!   I was running 40 watts to a
>> Hustler mobile antenna on the banks of Lake Dardanelle, but we completed
>> the 20M CW contact.  Thanks, Rick!
>>
>>
>>
>> This just proves what we have known - nothing gets by Rick.  He’s always
>> listening.
>>
>>
>>
>> I think POTA is good for ham radio in many ways, so I’ll continue to do
>> it.  I am glad to get to a nice round number of activations, though.  Now,
>> bring on the next round of DXpeditions.   The goal for the DeSoto Challenge
>> has been updated - 1500 by the end of 2024.
>>
>>
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Dennis/RZ
>>
>>
>>
>> <image002.jpg>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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