POTA

POTA description

• Go to an offical state or national park, as recognized by POTA
• Set up a radio and make at least 10 contacts
• Have fun

There is a convenient map and list of all the parks that qualify

We (K4UCF) have a profile on it as well.

POTA equipment list

• radio
  • ic706?
  • K3?
  • mobile VHF/UHF rig or HT?
• Antenna
  • Steve's Super Antenna
  • Eagle?
  • (unbuilt) double bazooka + bean bags
  • roll up J-pole?
• food / water
• bug spray
• table / chair ??
• gps?

Scaling

Heavy POTA

• Set up near parking
• POTA cart
• large battery
• multiple radios
• Eagle antenna and other large antennas

POTA lite

• one radio or one station per person?
  • small battery
  • light / small radio
  • light / small antenna -- wire antennas and super antenna only?
  • minimal coax -- RG8x if possible
• All equipment to fit in a backpack
• Fast setup and tear down (easy evacuation if necessary)

POTA safety

• RF safety
• Heat exhaustion, sunblock
• insects, pests, wildlife (FL: bears hogs alligators)
• Poison ivy, pollen
• weather awareness

General park rules

• Leave no trace etc
• some parks have rules about making structures, hanging things from trees, and using spikes in the ground

POTA qualification rules

• Follow DX code of conduct
• Activators must:
  • Leave no trace
  • Follow any instructions from park rangers you encounter
  • Be courteous of the public space you are using
  • You must have an account registered
  • You and all your equipment must be within the boundaries of the park(s)
  • You must submit an ADIF log after your activation is complete.
  • Follow the Rules detailed here
  • Clubs (Like K4UCF) must follow these

Specific parks

Lake Pickett POTA

Park number US-8345 Main page Map Google maps trail head

Rules:

• 24/7
• suggests wearing safety orange as there are hunters
• Some general rules

Little Big Econ:

Park number US-4630 covered pavilion possibly with electricity. drive up parking. (is not a twofer)

more rules about park use

Little Big Econ twofer with trail:

Econ is park number US-4630 Trail is park number US-4559

Barr st. entrance, need to be on park property while also less than 100ft from trail. this looks possible from the corner of the field

GIS map of the trail for all of Florida