N5DUX's Guide to Parks On The Air

Parks on the Air is a fun, not-a-contest challenge for amateur radio operators to make radio contacts. I've likened POTA to Geocaching. There's no point to it other than personal challenge and enjoyment. It can provide reason for you to get out an explore an area you might not otherwise visit. (again, like Geocaching!)
Every national park, state park, state historic site, national forest, wildlife management area, wildlife refuge, etc. has received a unique identifer from the Parks On The Air project. Radio operators will venture to these "parks" from which to make radio contact. Those who go to the park iare known as activators. After making a minimum of 10 radio contacts, they are said to have "activated" that park.
Those who listen for activators and make radio contact with them are known as hunters.

There are challenges for activators to try to activate as many parks as possible and there are challenges for huntes to work as many activators as possible. There are challenges to talk to all 50 states, to talk to foreign countries (what we call "DX" in ham radio lingo), and even to make as many park-to-park contacts as possible. A Park-to-Park is when an activator in one park makes radio contact with an activator in another park.
With most "parks" not having regular radio equipment at the ready (some do - like museum ships!), the challenge for activators is to operate with portable equipment which usually implies (though not always!) lower power. When I activate, I'm usually transmitting 5W or 10W. At home, I can transmit with up to 600W. The other equipment challenge is the antenna. Most activators are using simple wire antennas which do not offer much in the way of directionality or "gain" in a particular direction.

My KX2 gear bag as of April 2024

The Exchange

The typical POTA exchange goes something like this.

For SSB:

CQ POTA, CQ POTA this is N5DUX. Listening...

listen and call on whatever callsign you can hear

W1AW N5JNN WB6NOA W8BI

W1AW you are 59 into US 4422

Thank you for the 59. You are 59 into Connecticut. Over

I copy the 59, Connecticut. Thanks and 73. QRZ...

For CW: (it's pretty much the same just abbreviated)

CQ POTA DE N5DUX

KI6DS KB4DSF AE5P N8MS

KI6DS 5NN 5NN US 4422 BK

BK TU 5NN 5NN CA BK

BK R R TU 73 N5DUX QRZ

Note the use of BK. This is a CW shortcut, or prosign, meaning "over" or "back to you". Also used here is CQ meaning "seek you" or "calling anyone anywhere", TU for "thank you", and 73 for "best wishes".

Radios

Choosing the right radio is part of the challenge of operating POTA (and the fun of amateur radio!). To determine which radio is best for you, you must determine which bands, modes, and power levels you plan to operate. There are some cheaper QRP (5W) radios which can save some $ up front, but might create additional challenges when contacting other stations either as a hunter or activator.
I won't make any promises about the following radios being the best choice for you, but these seem to suit my needs quite well.

Elecraft KX2 - This is my go-to field radio. I'm not alone in this. Many hams love their KX2 because it packs so much into such a small package. If utilizing the internal battery, the rig is limited in how much power out it can provide. If I plan to operate 10W SSB, I'll bring an external battery. If I'm just going for a quick activation at my nearby park, I can use the internal battery pack and operate at a lower output. The tuner in this and the KX3 is phenomenal. They can tune most any form of antenna you throw at it. The KX2 really is a "shack in a box".
Elecraft KX3 - This is the "full-feature" form of the KX2. While the KX3 pre-dates the KX2 they are extremely similar in terms of performance. The KX3 is capable of 12W out (compared to the 10W on the KX2) and it provides easier access to various features (more buttons rather than menus).
LNR Precision MTR3b - No longer produced by LNR, the venerable MTR3b is a marvel of compact, power-efficient design. This radio is by far my smallest and most minimalist radio. It operates CW only on 20m, 30m, and 40m @ 2W with a 9V supply and a "full" 5W with a 12V supply. There is no built-in tuner for this little rig, so you must use a resonant antenna or a tuner. For this setup, I prefer to use an EFHW with a tunable match to get as close of a match as I can while not having to lug around anything larger than the radio itself. (Which, by the way, is about the size of a deck of cards!)
QRP Labs QMX - My newest rig, this little radio is similar in size and output as the MTR, but it has a full display, Morse decoder, and operates on 80, 60, 40, 30, and 20m. I built mine from a kit that was both challenging and rewarding. A fun little radio for sure!
Icom IC-706mkIIg - Old Reliable. I've had this radio for ages. I traded a ham my then-primary radio of a Yaseu FT-897D and have rarely second guessed that trade. The 897 is a fine rig, but the display on the 706 is a bit larger. I really have only ever used this radio when operating from my SUV or our pop-up camper. When I want to operate with 100W in the field, this is my go-to rig.

My modest setup at a local playground park.
Not a POTA site, but fun nevertheless!

Keys

For operating CW (which I'm attempting to do more often than I have done), I use the following iambic paddles.

Elecraft KXPD3 - I have these paddles on my KX3. I purchased this years ago when they were not quite as expensive as they are now. I enjoy their small size and ability to mount directly onto the front of the radio. The action is a-okay. I have had issued with the electrical connection with this model paddle and was told Elecraft only offered a one year warranty even though my issue arose from a design shortcoming. (no ground wire to the center post on the paddles) I managed to rig a solution, but for the price one might think they would provide a little more backing to the paddles.
Elecraft KXPD2 - I have these paddles on my KX2. Like my KXPD3, I bought these with the radio years ago and they were not as expensive as they are now. For a simple sping-return design, the price is a little offputting. The model KXPD2 I have is of an earlier plastic/nylon design. Current models are machined aluminum.
Palm Pico Paddles - I have these famed, portable paddles in my kit with my MTR3b. These paddles are very well-made and extremely rugged. The designer and merchant is now SK so these paddles are hard to lay hands on these days. If you find some for sale, snap them up!
KK5PY Micro TeNeKe - a small-batch, hand-made absolutely tiny set of paddles I keep in my MTR3b bag.

As with any ham, I'm constantly looking at other paddles. I come close to purchaing others by rationalizing my lack of more CW operation is because of the lack of "perfect" paddles. Reason saves me when I realize I think about operating CW more than I actually operate CW. Maybe one day I'll finally pull the trigger on some magnetic-return keys like the Begali Traveler or some other fancy set.

My fishing pole supported EFHW tuned for 20/40m

Antennas

The following is my current selection of portable, take-to-the-field antennas I've used for POTA operations:

Chelegance MC-750 Vertical antenna - I love this antenna so much. It is well made, has laser-etched markings for various bands on the steel vertical whip so you know how long to make it, comes with a very nice padded carrying case and winder for the radials. I was so, so surprised with the quality of this antenna and it really can get out. Rated at 100W, it's rapidly becoming my go-to antenna.
K6ARK End-Fed Halfwave, or EFHW - one tuned for 10m/20m/40m and another with N7KOM 20m/30m traps for operation on 20m/30m/40m. It's a toss-up to which I prefer.
Elecraft AX1 - This is my minimalist antenna when I may not have long to operate for an activation. I really have only ever tried running 5W CW into the antenna. It is supposed to handle up to 30W, but I've never attempted it. This is possibly the most compromising compromise antenna I own. If there's a way to hang a wire, I will. If there's no time or if it would be too conspicuous, I'll use the AX1 instead. It's so compact through, it stays in my kit "just in case".
Buddistick Pro Deluxe - I use this when there's no trees nearby, I don't feel like using my fishing pole for a vertical support, or I intend to run more than QRP power.
Mini-Buddipole and mast - this is the same as a full-size Buddipole but it collapses smaller and fits into a bag the same size as the Buddistick Pro.
My kite-held EFHW - this setup is a lot of fun to operate. I've used it to great effect when on the beach (where there's enough wind to keep it airborne). I highly recommend giving it a go!
450cm fishing pole and holder

I also have a couple fiber glass telescoping fishing poles I got online for cheap. My most often used is a 450 cm pole (pictured). Not pictured (and less used) is a much larger 720 cm fishing pole. My main issue with it at the moment is finding a way to hold it upright in the field.
To hold my smaller poles I use a spiral rod holder I got from Walmart for ~$2. They can also be bought online but are surprisingly going for more than $2.

Bags

For keeping all my gear somewhat organized, I use a few different bags that I've collected over the years.

Puma zippered lunchbag - there really is nothing all that special about this bag. I found it on clearance at Target years ago and it has served me well. (I think it was ~$10 when I got it!) I appreciate the "lid" of the bag has a mesh zipper punch where I can keep loose odds and ends I don't need regularly.
Elecraft ES60 - This is a very popular bag among Elecraft owners/users and is an Elecraft-branded LowePro CS60 bag. This bag is a little smaller than my Puma bag and it doesn't have room for my Bioenno battery, but it's well made and provides various storage options.
Perhaps one of my more oddball bags is a zipper pounch I received from American Airlines when my bag was lost. (They later got my bag to me, but the zipper pounch holds my QRP rigs quite well.)

Batteries

Bioenno 12V 9h battery - This has been my go-to battery for many operations. It's provided hours of operation with little complaint. I do wonder if it's actually too much battery. Can I go smaller?
Bioenno 12V 4.5Ah battery - This is my newer battery. I haven't had enough time with it to really run it down from extended activations. I do appreciate that Bioenno ships with PowerPoles already in place.
Talentcell 3Ah Rechargable Lithium battery pack - I use this 12V pack with my QMX and MTR radios because they must operate no more than 12V. This pack puts out no more than 12V.
9V battery - My little MTR3b runs just fine on a 9V battery. This has made some work trips very fun indeed. If needed, I can usually source a 9V battery very easily and with the MTR it can provide plenty of run time for low power contacts. I really enjoy having the standard 9V as an option with that radio.

Miscellanea - ...but wait, there's more!

Water, trail mix, insect repellent
NECESSITIES!

A complete field kit usually contains a few additional odds and ends and mine are no different. Included in my kits are the following:

Rite in the Rain writing tablets - great for copying notes, logging QSOs, etc.
Bic Automatic pencils - I prefer to use pencils in the field for a couple of reasons. First off, I can erase/correct. Secondly, the "ink" doesn't try out, get weird, etc.
Kite string and a weight - I keep a spool of kite string and a small throwing weight for stringing a support line over a tree branch or stretching out an antenna to some support. Some might use 550 cord, but I kinda prefer the small diameter string for the size wire I'm hoisting.
My throwing weight is made of a 1/2" zinc bolt with a couple nuts threaded on. This gives enough mass to zing it over a tree branch without worrying about taking along too much weight. I also have a ~10oz fishing weight if I think I need it - but I rarely do.
Auto 12V to PowerPole adapter - I made mine myself, so mine is significantly smaller. If I'm going on the road and think I'll be activating from the car, I'll bring a cigarette lighter adapter for my PowerPoles. If my battery pack dies, I can use the car's electrical system to run my radio. (Just gotta keep the power low so I don't pull too much current on TX!)
Earbuds - I actually keep a couple pair of earbuds in my kits. I used to use 3.5mm headphones that came with my phone, but here lately I've actually enjoyed using the free earbuds I get at the gym at some hotels! They're free (I'm cheap!), functional, foam padded, individually bagged so they don't get tangled on anything while stored.
3.5mm audio cables and TRRS/iPhone adapter to connect my iPhone to my radio for running FT8 from my phone to my radio. I've had one successful QSO from a nearby playground park. I'll share more if I get more success with it!
Shallwe Ultralight Packable Camp Chair - If I think I might be going to a park with no picnic tables or nice place to sit, I might lug my camp chair with me. I like this particular one because it has a couple pockets on the side for holding snacks, my mic, my pencil, my winder, etc.

More pictures

Working some POTA from the rental car. I ran my EFHW out the car window into some trees at this historic home in Kansas, (US-9183) Red Rocks State Historic Site	National World War 1 Museum & Memorial in Kansas City, MO (US-4591) I was able to activate this location one morning on the tail end of a work trip to the area.	Entry sign to Tallgrass Prairie Preserve National Conservation Area (US-3673) I activated this park with idyllic solitude while working in nearby Emporia, Kansas.	Looking southeast from my operating position at US-3673, Tallgrass Prairie Preserve National Conservation Area The weather wasn't the best, but it was a great outing!	Entry sign to US-11268, Neches River National Wildlife Refuge Hot and muggy, just as East Texas is most of the year!
The nearby W.G.Jones State Forest (US-4422) I can activate easily. About 1 mi from home.	Love oeprating beachside QRP doing POTA at Galveston Island State Park (US-3013)!	A quick activation of Huntsville State Park in TX (US-3019) was a pleasant weekday activation.	My Elecraft AX1 antenna gets out if I don't have time for a full size antenna setup. This was for the Spring '24 "Support Your Parks" Event at US-4422. A rainstorm was coming, so I didn't have long!	A little picnic table portable near playground (while my son plays)