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Parks on the Air (POTA) is an incredibly popular international amateur (ham) radio program where operators leave their home stations to set up portable radio equipment inside public parks. The goal is to successfully make radio contacts with other hams around the world, merging a love for technology and emergency communications practice with the great outdoors.How POTA Works: The Two Roles
Participants in POTA generally fall into one of two categories:
• The Activator: The ham who travels to a state, federal, or international park on the official POTA Park List. They set up a temporary station—often using portable high-frequency (HF) radios powered by batteries and wire antennas strung up in trees. To secure a successful, official "activation," the operator must make a minimum of 10 confirmed contacts during a single UTC day.
• The Hunter (or Chaser): The ham who stays at home (or anywhere else) and intentionally tunes their radio to contact the activators out in the parks.
Why is it so popular?
Originally inspired by a 2016 national park anniversary event hosted by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), POTA became its own permanent nonprofit entity in 2018 and has grown exponentially.
• No Property Restrictions: It allows hams who live in neighborhoods with strict Homeowners Association (HOA) rules—where outdoor antennas are banned—to go to a park and legally operate with large, efficient antennas.
• Gamification & Awards: While not a strict competition with fixed time limits, the Official POTA Website tracks statistics and leaderboard metrics. Hams earn certificates, digital badges, and awards for milestones like activating unique parks or hunting thousands of different stations.
• Inclusivity: POTA accommodates any amateur license level and any mode of communication, including voice, Morse code (CW), and digital modes like FT8.
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