I have been having a lot of fun with Parks on the Air (POTA) activations this summer. As I’ve been operating, I’ve been jotting down some random thoughts. Here are a few of them:
- My operations are encouraging me to finally learn about antenna modeling. The reason for this is that I don’t think that I’m doing as well as I should on 20 meters. I’m thinking that’s because I’m using a 66-ft., i.e. a full-wave, doublet in an inverted-V configuration and that might have some weird antenna pattern. Perhaps if I modeled the antenna, and could get an idea of the pattern, I could orient it in some way that will give me better result. That, or just come up with some other 20-meter antenna.
- It occurred to me after working a few slower-speed ops on my last activation that POTA is encouraging new hams to take up CW. It’s a fixed format, so that makes the contact easier to make, most POTA contacts are relatively slow-speed contacts, and it’s overall a pretty laid-back kind of thing. I got some confirmation of this feeling this morning in the Long Island CW Club mailing list digest. In his email, Jim, N3JLN, wrote:
Made my first CW contact today! I was a POTA hunter. Thanks to activator N2VGA for putting up with my mistakes and ridiculously slow speed. With the POTA website I was able to predict what I should be hearing and eventually get to the point I could make out his callsign and the response I should be giving.
- This begs the question of what is the optimal speed for POTA contacts. I have been calling CQ at 17 or 18 wpm, then slowing down if need be. I think that works pretty well. Maybe I’ll try calling CQ slower from time to time to see if that gets more people to call me.
- I’m thinking of making up a list of frequently-worked callsigns and names. That way I could personalize the contact a little. Several ops already do this, so I don’t think i’m out in left field on this.
- I worked my first POTA DX a couple of activations ago. 15 meters was open to Europe, and I had an Italian and a Swede call me. Both had strong signals. I didn’t have quite so much luck on 15 meters last time, though.
- I had some weird RFI when operating 20 meters last Friday. Somehow, something was getting into the little external speaker that I plug into the KX-3. When I unplugged the speaker and plugged in my headphones, the noise went away.
- This last thought I’m not quite sure about. I’m thinking that one feature that the POTA folks might add to pota.app is messaging. It might be nice to message other folks that are logged into the website. As I say, I’m not 100% sure about this idea, though.
Please let me know what ideas you might have had while activating parks or hunting activators.
Alan W2AEW says
I too typically use 17-18 wpm when activating, and will slow for new or slower ops.
You will certainly begin to recognize the more active hunters. It’s nice to recognize then by name in your reply.
Vince d'Eon VE6LK says
There are so many nice comments that get put into the spots from hunters, it would be lovely if POTA could archive those, per activation, so that the activator gets a chance to see them especially if they are activating without internet. The comments are lost after the activator goes QRT which is sad.
As a CW newb I was perfectly content answering at 12WPM given the relatively fixed format exchange. I was also comfy activating at this speed until I was able to go a bit faster as most but not all hunters would slow down for me as seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85dRW23UMoc
ON5ZO says
I’ve gathered all the stuff for POTA and did one activation early June. I even had my local go-walk-the-dog park added as a reference. It’s also a castle and ONFF reference.
Then the WX turned south… Actually SW: rain and wind from the Atlantic. BUMMER! Summer here has been lousy. I’m anxiously waiting to try it again. My 11y old son is eager to join in.
POTA seems to be where the action is nowadays. Weekdday DXing looks down and out since the locust mode took over.
18WPM? Oh boy, anything under 28WPM is annoying to me. I cruise around 30-32WPM. Yes I’m one of the contest madman. Of course I slow down when needed, but my keying gets very sloppy when too slow ☺
My first activation was SSB only. I now have a lightweight set of paddles.
Come on WX! Work with us!
Dan KB6NU says
Well, all I can tell you is that you better practice sending slower, as I’m not sure you’ll be making many POTA contacts at 32 wpm.
Thomas (K4SWL) says
Great notes, Dan.
Yes, for sure, POTA is making CW so much more accessible and workable for those who haven’t ventured into the mode before.
I typically send around 18-20 WPM. To be honest, I don’t really notice or pay attention when I hop on a radio, but there have been times I realized I was sending around 22-23 WPM and slowed it down. As you say, if you’re sending quickly, you’ll likely work less POTA stations as both an activator and hunter.
Anytime I hear a slower op call me–if I notice it–I slow down to their speed or possibly even a bit slower. I simply add more spacing instead of adjusting the keyer speed (which isn’t always easy to do depending on the transceiver).
Cheers,
Thomas
Davey - KU9L says
Ditto. I traditionally did 2m)6m weak signal aurora cw that requires QRS to around 10 wom for best copy. Twenty years later it is taking a while to overcome arthritis of my wrist so sending is proving to be more of a challenge that receiving, however everyone has been great & slowly I have improved my sending speeds. Getting the Bamatech key had been my biggest help!.lol.
Del, N2NWK says
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