What's Driving Long Time POTA Activators to Quit in 2025?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- While Parks on the Air (POTA) remains popular among amateur radio enthusiasts, some long-time activators are stepping away from the program in 2025. This trend is influenced by various internal and external factors to POTA itself.
One primary reason for the decline in participation is the rising cost of fuel, which makes it increasingly expensive for activators to travel to different parks. This economic factor has led some operators to reduce their POTA activities or quit altogether.
Another contributing factor is the lack of new parks in familiar areas. Long-time activators who have exhausted the available parks in their region may find themselves less motivated to continue participating, especially if traveling to new locations is not feasible.
Life changes also play a significant role. As activators face new commitments in their personal or professional lives, they may find it challenging to dedicate time to POTA activities. Additionally, some operators may experience health-related challenges that limit their ability to participate in outdoor radio activities.
Boredom is another factor that can't be overlooked. After years of activating parks, some operators may feel they've exhausted the excitement and novelty of the program, leading them to seek new challenges in the amateur radio world.
To address these issues and make POTA more engaging in 2025, the organization could consider implementing several strategies:
Introduce new challenges and awards to keep long-time activators motivated and interested.
Encourage international participation, allowing activators to virtually experience new and diverse park environments.
Promote eco-friendly activations, such as bicycle or hiking, to combat the fuel cost issue and appeal to environmentally conscious operators.
Develop a mentorship program that pairs experienced activators with newcomers, fostering a sense of community and purpose.
Organize virtual POTA events that allow participation from home for those facing health or mobility challenges.
Collaborate with park authorities to create special POTA-only areas or events, enhancing the unique appeal of the program.
By implementing these changes, POTA can work to retain its loyal activators while also attracting new participants, ensuring the program remains vibrant and exciting in 2025 and beyond.
#POTA2025, #AmateurRadio, #HamRadio, #ParksOnTheAir, #POTAChallenges, #HamRadioFuture, #RadioActivation, #OutdoorRadio, #POTAActivators, #HamCommunity, #RadioHobby, #POTAStrategies, #HamRadioTrends, #RadioEnthusiasts, #POTAEngagement
I wouldn't care to speculate as to the reasons why long-time activators quit doing activations: there may be any number of reasons, including the one's mentioned in this video.
What I can offer is some insight into what keeps me going. Now, I don't have the hundreds or thousands of activations under my belt that some operators have earned: I have (as of time of writing) just under 50 unique parks activated and somewhere just north of 60 total activations.
One thing that keeps my interest in POTA is that, for me, POTA is not an end unto itself, but rather a means to an end. With the vast majority of my activations, there's usually hiking or camping or some adventure that I've taken on, and I include park activations in that adventure. What this does is change the context in which I'm performing the park activation. An example of this might be to combine a park activation with some already-scheduled event like a Field Day (ARRL or Winter), or a contest. Now, I'm not a contester, but I can certainly take advantage of the pool of operators participating in a contest, in order to activate a park in whatever mode the contest is running. Another example might be to combine an overnight backpacking camping trip with an activation, or to combine a loop trail hike with an activation. One event I *just* missed out on was to activate a park during peak fall foliage season -- I was a week or two late this past autumn.
The second thing that keeps my interest in POTA park activations is goal-setting. This could be the informal paper chase, or refining my POTA load-out -- just as examples. I had a little mini-project this past summer to activate all the POTA entities around Niagara Falls. This project saw me doing activations overlooking the river gorge, *in* the river gorge, and from just above the Falls themselves. I'm fortunate, for instance, to have a lengthy section of the North Country National Scenic Trail running through my state within a couple hours drive from my house; so one goal I've set is to perform an activation from as many lean-to's as I can that also lie within POTA entities. Creating these little challenges once again varies the context in which I'm performing the activations. Another challenge might be to activate all the POTA entities in a county. The county in which I reside doesn't, itself, have very many eligible parks, but one county over has many eligible entities and many are unbelievably scenic as well.
What may be holding some operators back from taking on challenges like this is their gear. I see a lot of UA-cam videos of people doing activations with their home shack equipment - something like an IC-7300. Not only are these radios very large and heavy, but they also require much larger batteries. The bulk and weight of taking one's shack rig out to the field may be ok for a one-off like ARRL Field Day, but few are terribly interested in lugging a 100Ah battery and a 18lb radio very far. By relying upon a shack rig, often operators limit where they can reasonably expect to activate. I'll be the first to admit, for instance, that I would have long ago lost interest in POTA if all I was doing was doing drive-up, picnic table activations in well-established State parks with shelters and amenities, because my gear wasn't truly portable. By refining my load-out over time with the goal of being smaller and lighter overall, this unlocks a whole world of potential POTA entities that would otherwise be a genuine struggle to get in to and activate.
The other thing that may limit some operator's activations is that perhaps they are not comfortable going into park entities that do not provide amenities or park services. Some folks may be rather uncomfortable, for instance, activating an entity that doesn't have cellular phone service. For other operators, used to operating "picnic table portable," may be hesitant to set up a station and operate "fallen log portable" --where the station is set up and they sit on a fallen log in the forest and do their activation from there.
So, that's just some of what keeps it fresh for me, as an operator. Constructive comments or questions always welcomed.
Thank you for sharing your insights! It's always refreshing to hear how others find joy in their activations. Your method of integrating POTA with other events and adventures is truly inspiring for both new and seasoned activators.
I just started activating this year so its still a blast for me. I have several parks within 30 minutes drive from home. I am just having fun being outdoors and testing new equipment. 73 from KM3STU
That was me a year ago. Activation #1, some 400 later looking for new challenges. One of the reasons I co-activate WWFF now and look at ways to work Australia and not Kentucky :-)
POTA is getting very popular, with this comes undesirable users that take the fun out of it. There are days that a POTA activation borders on CB radio of the past. Wait for the activator to call CQ, say your call sign one time, and don’t jump on top of a QSO. These are a few things we can all do to keep it becoming chaotic and keep the fun in it. I believe activators can get burned out trying to juggle poor hunters. Stay safe.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It’s great to see fellow POTA enthusiasts advocating for a positive experience. Let’s all do our part to support our activators and foster a fun environment.
I'm not bored yet at all, and still like doing parks I've already done. Today, I'm doing a 2 hour drive going west and will be activating 5 parks clustered together that I've not done yet. You are definitely correct that finding new parks for me is now at a minimum of 2 hours of drive time. I've done all of them close by. I've been doing this a year now and I have over 200 activations and over 100 unique parks. Hopefully, the pure fun will be here a year from now!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us! It's inspiring to see your enthusiasm and dedication to activating so many parks. Here's to many more successful activations!
Haven't quit but work and needing to get a hip replaced has slowed me down.
Health is also a major factor when some hunters and activators quit POTA and also the hobby all together
For me, it's just the time commitment. As I'm still a working-stiff, I have to fit activations in between the job, family, church, chores, etc. Usually, there isn't time for me to head out, and do multiple activations in a week. I'm lucky to do one every 2-3 months. Even then, I usually have to take time off of work to do it. Maybe when I retire, it might be different. But, I'm an infrequent activator.
Thank you for sharing your experience! It’s important to hear from those who juggle so many responsibilities. Your dedication to even fitting in those rare activations is truly inspiring!
Haven't quit - only started in '23, but I've had to pause for a while because we're both taking care of parents.
Thank you for sharing your journey! Family comes first, and I admire your commitment to caring for your parents. Looking forward to seeing you back in the POTA community when the time is right!
I just started in June of 2023, but still really enjoying POTA. I have done over 170 Activations in the year & 1/2. For me, to help keep my interest, I am always trying new things, new antennas, new ways to deploy the antenna, etc. I have a small UA-cam channel where I focus on Portable Ops, which adds to my interest. I have only Activated 10 parks, but that is OK, where I am not getting bored visiting the same parks. I am #1 at one park & #2 at another, along with being top 5 in a few others. That’s another challenge keeping my position at the park which helps keep me motivated. But most of all, just getting out with nature & trying my luck with just a radio, battery, antenna & coax is motivating to me. I find that I do better with POTA than in my home shack with better antennas & and amp. I’m not ready to quit yet!
Thank you for sharing your experience! It's inspiring to see someone so dedicated to POTA. Your enthusiasm and innovative approach are sure to motivate others in the community. Keep up the fantastic work!
I'm talking way out of school here, but just a general observation: MOST people move on from certain activities (e.g., POTA, pottery, puppetry, Parkour) once the marginal returns on enjoyment peter out. The duration is different for different people. There are a few who never stop getting good returns and keep up with the activity for a long time. The rest of us do it till we're not getting that charge anymore. Then we move on to the next thing (which as everyone knows is SOTA 😆).
Thank you for sharing your insights! It's always valuable to hear different viewpoints on why people shift their interests. Your observations are spot on!
I started hunting parks in Aug 2022 after I got my HF radio. I started activating parks this year. I have done road trips just to activate parks. I have also included POTA in other road trips. One goal I have is to activate all the POTA parks in Michigan. I would like to activate all 50 states as well, but that is definitely going to be a long term goal. Travel is definitely something that will be considered to achieve my goal of activating all parks in Michigan. Several will definitely be included in trips to other areas of the state. Grouping parks close together when making POTA specific will have to be considered. One park requires either a 6 hour boat ride after a 9 hour drive or a 3.5 hour boat ride after a 10 hour drive. Some of the island parks don't have any ferry service to them and will require more planning to access.
Thanks for sharing your POTA journey! It's exciting to hear about your goals and plans.
It’s easy for me to keep things fresh and new as I’m almost always activating new parks, or cool new places within a park. You hit the nail on the head, Stuart. Find ways to add variety. I’ll bet you end up spending some time away and then eventually come back to POTA on occasion. Just not at the frequency you do it now.
@@TravelinHam that is for sure, 2025 will focus on new places and new things. DX still drives the passion for POTA. Always gotta keep it fresh.
I think it happens when activating becomes a means to an end. In other words, when they activate to get the awards or numbers rather than activating because it's enjoyable to be outside and enjoyable to be on the air. There are also various external factors... work, family, health, etc.
My goal for 2025 is new parks that I can make a great video on and special events like the WWFF Winter Chill or Support Your Parks. No longer activating without a specific reason now.
I have plenty of parks, fuel is not a major issue, but the YF & I are well past 70. It's getting hard to feel up to it!. Saying this, I have invested into better mobile antennas, a couple of easily transported rigs, built magnetic loops for 80m through 6m and waiting on tyevwarmer WX to return . We run out of daylight here by 1715 local and have to break down & leave 30 minutes after sunset...
Anne is WB1GVL, but seldom operates, but she enjoys rjding along. No problem there. I am trying to convince her to try FT4/FT8 to get around her hearing problems. IDK... The boredom issue is a big thing. Try more bands/modes/??? Maybe an SSTV activation? Satellite?? Lots of possibilities out there...
73, Keith, WB2VUO in Amherst, NY
We are also in our 70's and would like to know more about your Magnetic loops? Is there a link you can share?
@@donmurphy3916: Not really. I built them from a number of sources, UA-cam, magazine articles, blog posts. I should gather the sources up & save them in a folder. I'll try to get something together soon... de WB2VUO
POTA is an excellent way to stay prepared for emergency communications. However, I would be more active if there was an entity in my county. I don’t get bored going to the same places but from my home the nearest park is 30 minutes away and not in a place I may be passing otherwise. Perhaps having at least one POTA entity in each county might help keep interest up and also be a help to county hunters.
Thanks for your comment. I don't get the emergency preparedness angle, well I do, but don't at the same time. Maybe because I am ex-military and this was life in the field. I like POTA for the practice for my contest skills and the radio spot side of the hobby...but too each their own. Happy to see WWFF with their 2025 WWFF Marathon.
I’ve been doing POTA for a couple of years. I recently finished activating all Delaware parks (88).
There are still some nearby parks in PA and ann to activate.
There are still many more bands to activate on in parks near me.
Overall, I enjoy being outdoors and in a park so i’m not quitting any time soon, though some recent surgery has slowed me down temporarily
Thank you for sharing your journey with us! It’s inspiring to see your dedication to POTA and the outdoors. Wishing you a speedy recovery, and may your future activations be as successful as your Delaware adventure!
I'm not that familiar with the rules, but are city parks on the list of possible activations? Do they count? There are a lot of city parks that would definitely add to the totals.
no they are not on the list, they do not count
@@marcinmichigan2772 Maybe they should be on the list then? That would keep the program going for awhile longer. I know Islands on the Air has this issue with hundreds of US islands not counting, making their program unnecessarily restrictive, so much so a US Islands Award was developed separate from IOTA. Sometimes we hams tend to be our own worst enemy.
POTA is a bureaucracy...you need to navigate it carefully. I see it every day in my local dealings. I don't know why they can't open it up wide to every park on public lands. Someone smarter than me has made that decision not too.
The biggest problem for me is POTA’s approach to parks. Any assistance from local authorities renders a park ineligible. Many state parks in Alabama are state-local partnerships so the parks around me will never be POTA parks. My proximity to state parks is limited to Florida and Georgia, which requires time off from work and driving (gas, etc as you mentioned). I mostly hunt as that’s the only real way for me to participate.
POTA need to loosen up and avoid the bureaucracy they claim doesn't exist, when it actually does. Why can't the park in my neighbourhood be a POTA park, what is stopping it. I don't get the restrictions on federal or provincial (state), doesn't make sense to me.
Oh man that's a bummer of a thought... I upgraded to general specifically because of POTA. My first CQ on HF was POTA and the main reason (well one of the main reasons) I wanted to get into HF. I guess the main-main reason is I like to go to the national forests for solo overland-type-trips and thought radio might be something to do when I got there (and also a backup communications capability). I'm lucky in that I have 2 parks US-10635 and US-1189 that are only 25 minutes from the house so pretty easy to get to. I only started this last April so I’m fairly new and “early” into the program (and achievements/certificates). So there are more “milestones” I still have to achieve. I imagine if it was $100 in gas just to get to a park and back that could get old (and expensive). Honestly if I got bored with POTA then I probably wouldn’t even turn on a radio. My home is NOT a good RF environment for radio with the noise so I don’t even have a station setup. I just keep everything in my truck. You definitely brought up an interesting question and I hadn’t even considering “what if I get bored with this”. KN6YOJ
Thank you for sharing your journey into POTA! It’s always inspiring to hear how new activators are getting involved and finding joy in this hobby. Your perspective adds a lot of value to the discussion!
Don't worry, POTA is alive and well! Congrats on upgrading, I hope to catch you in the log on a Park 2 Park soon. Take care
@@wildcatcomms@wildcatcomms That is Very accurate; the growth internationally is impressive to the point that during the day, I know hunt POTA activations outside of North America. However, there are a few long activators hanging it up in 2025 for a number of different reasons, health, finances, lifestyle changes, etc.
Boredom and burn-out, I think. I'm a top activator for US-0016. I'm in that park almost every day, but only average about 1-2 activations per month. It's more accurate to say that I go through spurts where I activate several days a week and then nothing at all. Before I know it, it's been months since my last activation. I don't activate over contest weekends since I don't like crowds and my mobile signal is not great for "competing" for signals. I do try to combine several park activations into my Virginia QSO Party efforts since I'm already trying to make QSOs. I try to activate new parks if I travel. 👍
Thanks for sharing
No need to travel great distances to activate a new to you POTA park. Chasers can work the same person at the same park (or a different park) over and over again and get credit. I have an award here for making 50 multiple, non-duplicate, QSOs with the same activator, Kent O'Sell K7CAR.
73 Paul AA1SU
Yep, for some, doing the same parks is not as much fun...but yes, you can do that if you wish.
I concur...there are only so many times I could put the same park on the air (don't use the word activate any longer, personal preference) before it gets boring. Kent, I believe is camping on BLM lands with larger, more structured antenna systems, so makes it more ideal for him to stay parked in a single location. I would do the same in the summer from a campground, and I have...camp for 5 days, put up more permanent antenna systems and work from that location for the week.
Your points are spot on. Hunters don’t mind if you go to a local park once in a while so we can say hi ! I hope to activate a few times next year. I want to test my portable setup. Hope to hear you.
I really appreciate your support! It’s encouraging to know that there are passionate activators like you out there. I hope your testing goes smoothly next year!
I made a concerted effort to do more activations this year. So far I have 60’ish for 2024. I am still under 100 total I think.
However, I’m only out for an hour or so. 20 - 35 contacts (cw) is good enough for me. I only operate outside away from my truck because I feel like that aspect is pertinent to the program. I rarely look at my POTA page, so I have no idea what my stats look like. I don’t want it to turn into a sport/competition for me. I just want to have fun. So I keep it simple and fun.
Who knows? Maybe someday I will get tired of it, but I feel like that might be a long time from now if ever.
Thank you for sharing your approach! It’s refreshing to see someone prioritize enjoyment over competition. Your mindset is inspiring for both new and experienced activators alike!
If I have time to travel to a different POTA park I will do it. But for me if I have to travel somewhere for work or leisure I will always check and see if there is going to be a POTA park on the way or nearby I will stop. Quitting I don’t think so, I don’t have a shack at home all my ham radio activities are out in the field and it’s always exciting to me to get a cool DX contact that keeps me going! 73!!!
@@Ammed_KN6STX DX fuels the passion for sure
For me, I got a little frustrated. Yes, perhaps bored too. I did something like 120 activations in a year or two. It started feeling very samey. However, I think the clincher for me to quit was that the proportion of ill-behaved hunters was going up - dramatically. For example, I got tired of calling for low power stations only to get hammered with those that think 600W is QRP. Lids walking over other stations. I got fed up dealing with them and moved on. You'd think that getting the contact was THE most important thing that they would do in this life. So sad.
Man, I totally get it! It’s a bummer when the vibe shifts like that. You put in all that work, and then it feels like a circus out there. Just remember, it’s all about having fun, so hopefully, you find something else that sparks your interest!
There are three things I see impacting POTA negatively right now:
1) Lack of growth in activatable parks. I get that in the states focusing on federal and state entities is a good start, but local jurisdictions may not play nice with these rules. For example, some cities/counties have 100/200/300+ acre parks (with camping) that are not included in the program. And, even with the rules today there are many preserves and other facilities not included.
2) Lack of local clubs using the program to regularly (sometime more than once a month) getting together. This is a great elmer opportunity, but old leadership fails to see benefit.
3) QRM or intentional jamming of activators. This is becoming a real problem where "old guys" use their 1500W to stomp out a 20W activator using their G90. This is societal issue and one that cannot be fixed here. Shoot, one of the parks I regularly activate becomes a problem because yahoos choose to park next to the one occupied picnic shelter and blast music limiting my ability to use SSB.
I don't know if there is a solution, but I see why people slip away. For me, it tends to be an added activity, not the primary purpose for being at an activatable park. It may be hiking, picnicking, camping, or visiting the local museum, but rarely the primary purpose.
POTA is a bureaucracy....I agree lets open it up to all parks, why federal and provincial (states) parks only? Lets open it up and have fun. To avoid QRMers, I never ID with POTA, that name nevers comes out of my mouth when I am out at a park. I always use CQ DX or CQ the band I am on. I am just one of the other guys chasing DX and not doing POTA. POTA and WWFF are just tools for me to work more DX stations.
@@outnaboot Do the same sometimes. Find that I hunt while in a park more than calling CQ.
Regarding parks, I do think there should be limits. For example, every neighborhood park with the purpose of hoops, baseball, or playground probably shouldn't be POTA sites. However, sites with historical significance or equating to a state/provincial/federal park should be included. Best example I can think of is a local park here that has the history and size. It's 350+ acres, sits next to a major university in the state capital, and interconnects with a semi-large greenway system. This park and greenway should be options for POTA activation. But, as they are county (greenway) and city (park) funded, they cannot be included.
@ I agree, yes not the community park with baseball fields but a city park with trails and picnic areas, why not?
It is certainly a valid set of reasons. The part of the lack of new parks to activate locally comes down to a finite amount of wild life areas, state parks, trails, etc that qualify for inclusion in the POTA program. It's the same for SOTA. If you still enjoy activating a park, there is no reason you can't use the same local park(s) regularly. I get that boredom can set doing the same thing over and over again. Perhaps it's time to take a break from activating parks and switch to hunting the activators.
@@bwillan been doing that a lot myself and focusing on activating parks that I can video and tell a story around it.
Seeing that the ham who started POTA has now quit POTA, perhaps there is something fundamentally wrong with the program.
Since I am not an American, I am not a fan of it being solely focused on the USA. There is a huge world outside America. That is why I like WWFF so much more
I definitely slow down anytime there's a bunch of yahoos out in the woods with rifles looking to shoot deer. Not the best time to be out in these places. There's also something about activating in winter, it's not the cold but I hate working with coax and the struggle to keep the connectors dry and free of moisture when there's snow on the ground. It also gets stiff after sitting out in the cold. Radials are just not fun to deal with in these conditions either. When it warms up, same deal- got my gold activator by activating the 30 closest parks to me and it's going to take a serious drive to go to a new place. I'll still get out but not as much as I once did. I got semi competent at CW and that breathed new life into my POTA as it got me out there doing a new skill but that novelty wore off eventually as well. Spare time and money aren't things I have in abundance. POTA would be fun in retirement, if that ever happens.
Thank you for sharing your experience! It’s always insightful to hear how others navigate the challenges of POTA. Your journey and tips will definitely inspire fellow activators!
I am lucky US-7544 a mile away from my house. I am still having fun. I do more FT8 activations lately though.
FT8 Rocks...but I love FT4 more since it is so much faster than FT8
@@outnaboot I will try it this weekend. :)
@@KC1PSK Have fun...The RAC winter contest is Dec 28, and the WWFF Winter Chill is also this weekend. I will be out on the 29th since I will be contesting the 28th
Lives change, hobbies come-and-go, POTA shine diminishes, boredom, etc. If you truly enjoy POTA, the cost of fuel would generally not be the determining factor. I LOVE road cycling and I purchase a new $20K bike every 2 or 3 years. My wife would have to kill me in order to stop this insanity. If I loved POTA as much, I'd buy a new car every few years if I needed to. Thank you for your videos!
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! I appreciate your perspective on hobbies and passion. It's always inspiring to hear from fellow enthusiasts!
Spent most of my heavy trucking career on moble HF so now I am totally fine building my Florida and sitting at my station....
Just need to have a couple of stiff drinks when the 14247 net is on :-)
I don't have time to activate with my work schedule especially during the winter so I mostly hunt. I'm also learning cw so I would like to activate a park with CW once I get more comfortable
That said I think the net bullies discourage people to activate
Activating for the sake of activating to keep up with others expectation is just plain dumb. Also, I do my outings different and never have a problem with net bullies...why? Because I don't call CQ POTA, I am just a ham calling CQ CX and CA the band I am on. Thanks for a new video idea!
I've been doing activations since 2021 with 2023 being my most active. I've been running out of parks within a reasonable drive from me but recently some more references have been added in NM where I live. I have been using FT8 almost exclusively since 2022 so I cannot speak to the pileup burnout that you talked about. This year, because of time constraints and distances, I have had fewer activations. I don't think I would just quit doing POTA altogether, but my focus would change. I have recently bought a tiny QRP radio and I want to use my ebike to carry me and my gear to a closer reference for more activations. Maybe try some CW too. What has dropped more for me is my POTA hunting from home. Still loving my activation activity though. 73 de K5MGK
Thank you for sharing your journey with us! It’s inspiring to see how you’re embracing new challenges and finding ways to keep the POTA spirit alive. Wishing you many successful activations ahead!
POTA is still fun, but they need to expand the gamut of parks that have POTA numbers.... We have several large city and county parks that are not in POTA and should be. Contesting in general outside of POTA I find boring after a while. We need to keep pioneering new and fresh things to do.
I agree...National and Provincial (state) parks is just stupid...open it up and lets have a lot more fun. But I am just a nobody with the POTA execs :-) POTA I think is a 501.c corporation in the US and have a level of bureaucracy to navigate through, such a shame...
It's totally understandable why you would stop doing POTA. Being in Nova Scotia I get it. I don't get out portable very much, I won't go somewhere far away just to do an activation. I like to set up and do portable activations in close places just to get out sometimes. I like to do a couple places on the university campus I work on here in Halifax, and I have done a park here in town where I live in Windsor NS. I don't specifically do POTA yet just portable activations so I don't have to meet a "quota" 😉 If I make one or two contacts I'm happy having set up and listened around the band I set up for.
You guys in NS are better off than us in NB. The province still has small picnic area parks that are provincial. NB solds theirs off...dumb ass move if you ask me
To anyone out there whenever I hear someone calling from a park I always try and make a contact.
Thank you for your dedication! It's always great to hear from enthusiastic activators like you who keep the spirit alive!
No new stations, especially in CW. There are about 200 active hunters and that's all. Way more people in SSB. So even though CW goes further there are less stations in CW portion of the bands. I am getting waaaay more DX stations in SSB for this reason. More DX, more contacts, more QSL for SSB contacts.
See you in the contest!
P.S. I am not going to quit POTA anytime soon as I don't have a station at home.
Neither am I, looking for new ways to challenge myself
I personally don’t plan on quitting POTA. Yes the gas prices are restricting my travel to local parks and I’m not going more than an hour out from home now. I’ll rotate between the parks on occasion now. If I’m heading somewhere for a reason, I’ll take my gear with me to notch up another new park to get it in the book.
Thank you for sharing your plans! It’s great to see your dedication to POTA, and I appreciate your commitment to making the most of your local parks!
I learned for myself if you go at something too hard and too often it gets boring. I go out from time to time but only for 40 or 50 contacts. As far as parks go there are 30+ parks with in less than hour so I'm lucky that way. But we also use the opportunity to hike, picnic etc. As for gas.. well that's an issue for many but again I mix it with other trips and ration it out! I really enjoy your videos, but once a week may be easier? Hang in there and ease back a little perhaps?
It's good to hear you're still enjoying POTA in your own way!
I’m not interested in organized competition or other jumping through hoops activities. I’d rather talk a little and burn solder a lot. Thinking about getting some old tube equipment and cleaning and repairing it .
I feel the same way, that is why POTA and WWFF are just tools for me to chase DX and have fun with working DX stations.
My closest new park is over 3 hours away now in georgia
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's always interesting to hear about the challenges fellow activators face in different regions.
I don't think people decide to quite. Rather the novelty wears off, and other things come along. Sometimes they are readio related. Sometimes not.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! It's interesting to see how hobbies evolve and change, and your perspective adds depth to the conversation.
I agree with being boring....does not interest me at all...That is the great thing about our hobby, something for everyone...
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! It's great to hear different perspectives on what keeps us engaged in this hobby.
My home park is less than 2 miles from my house. I am mainly CW and need the practice. I generally activate in the winter because of work and farm responsibilities. I’ve even activated from my Honda Trail 125 motorcycle. So if fuel gets too high I have that at least. I hate to see long time activators stop, as well as my regular hunters. But every activation I get a few new hunters too. GL - Mat - K4OCY
It’s always nice to hear from fellow activators who are passionate about the hobby!
If you find it boring, could be time to move on to something that excites you! Maybe this will be your last POTA video?
Do you guys think this is me talking about myself? I am just speaking in general terms...geez Louise 🙂
I quit because of the weather. It's cold outside, and a lot of parks are inaccessible.
Thank you for sharing your experience! Weather can definitely be a huge factor. Your input is valuable and helps us understand the challenges faced by activators.
Maybe because the whole. **OTA thing was a fad, and like all fads, people got tired of it and moved on to whatever the "next big thing" is?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It’s always valuable to hear different viewpoints on the evolution of hobbies and interests.
As a new operator, it looks boring to me but I haven't done it yet so maybe I'm wrong. Then again I don't do repetitive tasks very well without losing interest.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It's great to hear from new operators. I hope you give POTA a shot and discover the excitement it can bring!
I've been doing POTA since the Autumn 2020 SYP event, and at the moment have over 600 activations done in over 60 parks. I really enjoy it, and I do it mainly because I have a very high noise floor at home and the local POTA sites are very RF quiet.
A couple of things are starting to piss me off with POTA, one is the near constant deliberate QRM we get by idiots using more power than they should be. I plow through them, but some days it's tough to do. I'm sure they follow the spotting page.
Another is the bureaucracy of POTA....it's interesting that what is accepted in one region isn't acceptable in another. I'm talking about long distance hiking trails and national historic sites here. It's very interesting that the long distance trails around Toronto have all be put on the POTA list, but other trails in Ontario have been refused...yet have the same management structures. That's just one small issue that needs to be sorted out. Favouritism? You betcha! The bureaucracy needs to start listening to the activators, without us you have nothing....they need to remember that.
Communication from the bureaucracy is sadly totally lacking these days. There used to be a monthly UA-cam update video posted, but they have stopped. How about a simple reflector like the SOTA people have......reflector.sota.org.uk. It's great for getting information out, and on time.
Will I cease to activate? More than likely I will if things don't change.
I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts! Your insights highlight important issues that need addressing. Activators like you are the backbone of POTA, and your voice matters. Let’s hope for some positive changes in the near future!