My first POTA Activation – N1DCH

I activated K-2424 Callahan State Park on 04 April 2023 15:05 EST. This was my first park activation attempt.  I set up a table and chair just off the parking area and deployed my QRP Boys 40-meter End Fed Halfwave antenna.  Using an arborist throw bag and line to put the antenna in a tree, I got it about 30 feet up and configured the antenna as an inverted-v.  The radio was a Xiegu X-6100 with an external battery giving me 10 watts SSB. I did not need a lot of power, QRP worked just fine.

Equipment used:

• Xiegu X-6100 HF transceiver
• QRP Boys EFHW antenna with 66’ of DX Engineering high visibility wire
• Arborists throw bag and line in a storage cube
• Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
• USB GPS Unit
• Anytone AT-878UV HT
• Phone for internet access
• Portable table and chair
• POTA Sign
• Clipboard with scratch paper, backup paper log, US Band Plan, copy of license

I spotted myself on the POTA.App website and started off on 20 meters SSB.  My first CQ call was answered by WN8SCI a mobile station. Unfortunately, I was unable to make any further SSB contacts and since it was late in the day, I switched to FT-8 (8 watts).  I was able to make nine additional contacts on 20 meters and one on 17 meters using FT-8.  Two of the contacts were Park to Park, and one was DX (Latvia).  I had one SSB contact and 10 FT-8 contacts, 11 contacts, a pretty good first activation.

Lessons learned:

• Develop a workflow for an activation:
  • Before activation (scheduling, make sure batteries are charged, and your go bag is ready)
  • During (equipment setup, logging configuration, internet access, spotting)
  • After (site cleanup, log submission, charging batteries)
• Make sure you have everything you need (and you can find it in your bag).  I couldn’t find my USB hub, so I was unable to connect both the radio and the GPS to the computer.  I had synced the time earlier that day and it wasn’t a problem  
• Try to set up your station so the sun is not on your back, I had trouble with both the computer and radio screens being washed out by the sun
• Bring and use insect repellent (Tick and Mosquitoes) and sunscreen (no foliage protection in springtime)

I had a lot of fun with this deployment!

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