POTA

25 FT8 contacts. I knew there was a super small chance of rain. I had a canopy, didn’t think anything of it. It started a nice light rain, then all of a sudden, downpour! Couldn’t get the radio & computer in the truck fast enough because the canopy leaks! After it quit raining, I did get everything back up & running.

Equipment: Yaesu FTDX10, Chameleon MPAS2 System (FYI, the system comes with the coax), ABR Industries Coax, laptop (for FT8), iPad to log SSB contacts using HAMRS & a generator for power.

13 contacts – 1 SSB & 12 FT8

I made a total of 29 contacts! 4 SSB & 25 FT8. Sad to say, POTA only recognized 28 contacts. I was thrilled that my FIRST contact was with known POTA Activator Greg Mihran – KJ6ER (Mr Whooo Hooo) who was also activating a park (Park 2 Park). It was a ton of fun!

Equipment: Yaesu FTDX10, Chameleon MPAS2 System (FYI, the system comes with the coax), ABR Industries Coax, laptop (for FT8) & iPad to log SSB contacts using HAMRS… And yes, that is a generator (I didn’t do enough research & purchased a smaller battery then I need to run 100 watts on FT8) in the back of the truck.

The next day I taught a small class on “How To POTA”. We didn’t make any contacts that day, but participants said they learned a lot & they looked forward to POTAing in the future.

I say attempt because my home station a few days before had a direct lighting strike. I lost all my radios… but one… I thought. Hindsight, I did loose everything except an HT.

Equipment: Icom 705, Chameleon MPAS2 System (FYI, the system comes with the coax), ABR Industries Coax, Bioenno Power Battery, laptop (for FT8) & iPad to log SSB contacts using HAMRS.