POTA (Page 8 of 8)
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btt. haven't activated since FD. Heat & Humidity are a thing here in FL  I'm not getting a lot of traction at home trying to hunt. I don't know if band conditions are not that great, despite the band(s) being labeled as "good" or what ? I've picked up a few parks cw, and more FT4 vs FT8, which is weird. forget about ssb.. I need to stop being lazy and put my FT-450AT on the bench and check the receiver... (something I've been questioning for a while) |
MIA: M/SGT James W. Holt USSF 2-7-68 SVN
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
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During the summer, the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun, resulting in more direct solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation and longer daylight hours. This heavily ionizes the lower D-region of the ionosphere. The D-layer acts as an RF sponge, absorbing lower and mid-frequency HF signals (especially on 160m, 80m, and 40m) during the day and pushing up the Lowest Usable Frequency (LUF). The intense summer heating causes the upper thermosphere to expand. As the key reflecting layer for long-distance communication. The F2 Layer expands upward into a larger volume, its overall electron density drops. Lower electron density means the F2 layer cannot refract higher frequencies as effectively, which lowers the Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) for traditional long-distance skip. During bright summer days, the Sun creates distinct, highly ionized lower layers (E and F1) beneath F2 layer. These intermediate layers can reflect or absorb signals before they can reach the higher F2 layer, blocking or blanketing long distance DX paths at certain angles. Convective thunderstorms and localized severe weather across North America peak during the summer months. Static generated by lightning strikes thousands of miles away propagates easily across the continent, raising the overall noise floor and masking weak signals. So....the good thing is that September is just around the corner and the HF bands should start to improve. 
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“Every man has two deaths, when he is buried in the ground and the last time someone says his name. In some ways, men can be immortal. “ - Ernest Hemingway
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Originally Posted By K9-Bob: During the summer, the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun, resulting in more direct solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation and longer daylight hours. This heavily ionizes the lower D-region of the ionosphere. The D-layer acts as an RF sponge, absorbing lower and mid-frequency HF signals (especially on 160m, 80m, and 40m) during the day and pushing up the Lowest Usable Frequency (LUF). The intense summer heating causes the upper thermosphere to expand. As the key reflecting layer for long-distance communication. The F2 Layer expands upward into a larger volume, its overall electron density drops. Lower electron density means the F2 layer cannot refract higher frequencies as effectively, which lowers the Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) for traditional long-distance skip. During bright summer days, the Sun creates distinct, highly ionized lower layers (E and F1) beneath F2 layer. These intermediate layers can reflect or absorb signals before they can reach the higher F2 layer, blocking or blanketing long distance DX paths at certain angles. Convective thunderstorms and localized severe weather across North America peak during the summer months. Static generated by lightning strikes thousands of miles away propagates easily across the continent, raising the overall noise floor and masking weak signals. So....the good thing is that September is just around the corner and the HF bands should start to improve.  |
Mach
Nobody is coming to save us.
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Nobody is coming to save us.
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Originally Posted By Mach: yes, fuck summer! Originally Posted By Mach: Originally Posted By K9-Bob: During the summer, the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun, resulting in more direct solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation and longer daylight hours. This heavily ionizes the lower D-region of the ionosphere. The D-layer acts as an RF sponge, absorbing lower and mid-frequency HF signals (especially on 160m, 80m, and 40m) during the day and pushing up the Lowest Usable Frequency (LUF). The intense summer heating causes the upper thermosphere to expand. As the key reflecting layer for long-distance communication. The F2 Layer expands upward into a larger volume, its overall electron density drops. Lower electron density means the F2 layer cannot refract higher frequencies as effectively, which lowers the Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) for traditional long-distance skip. During bright summer days, the Sun creates distinct, highly ionized lower layers (E and F1) beneath F2 layer. These intermediate layers can reflect or absorb signals before they can reach the higher F2 layer, blocking or blanketing long distance DX paths at certain angles. Convective thunderstorms and localized severe weather across North America peak during the summer months. Static generated by lightning strikes thousands of miles away propagates easily across the continent, raising the overall noise floor and masking weak signals. So....the good thing is that September is just around the corner and the HF bands should start to improve. Well, that makes sense today why my first outing with a random wire EFHW slopper wasn't great but not terrible. Had contacts answering by their RST to me was low (55s to 43s), but they heard me well (55+s). Constant fading with a lot of qrm noise. Only 13 contacts. Working with a TennTenna. 66ft main element with a 6ft counter up in one of the few trees we have. Slop was about 30 degrees. 98f today. |
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Originally Posted By Mauser556: Well, that makes sense today why my first outing with a random wire EFHW slopper wasn't great but not terrible. Had contacts answering by their RST to me was low (55s to 43s), but they heard me well (55+s). Constant fading with a lot of qrm noise. Only 13 contacts. Working with a TennTenna. 66ft main element with a 6ft counter up in one of the few trees we have. Slop was about 30 degrees. 98f today. I like the TennTennas 49:1, reasonably priced, works well. The guy that makes them is about an hour from me and I have picked up a couple from him, saving shipping costs when I am in his area. |
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Originally Posted By TVille: I'm a big proponent of EFHW, but the sloper configuration really hurts their performance. I often use one when on trips, but I can tell the difference from a flat top. The past several days the fading has been pretty significant. I like the TennTennas 49:1, reasonably priced, works well. The guy that makes them is about an hour from me and I have picked up a couple from him, saving shipping costs when I am in his area. |
Mach
Nobody is coming to save us.
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Nobody is coming to save us.
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Originally Posted By qrprat77: I've been hunting POTA this week, finally broke 300 parks. About 2/3rd of those contacts have been <= 5w. Pretty cool time. I need to activate a park. Outstanding!!! Congrats |
“Every man has two deaths, when he is buried in the ground and the last time someone says his name. In some ways, men can be immortal. “ - Ernest Hemingway
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POTA is actually a copy of World Wide Flora and Fauna (WWFF), and has become far more successful then the original WWFF. POTA has been a huge boon to the ham radio world, getting more, and younger folks involved and active. Like every organization, it has issues and complaints. One issue is that for parks to be added the have to be state or federal parks. So local, city or county parks do not qualify. Apparently this is an issue when you go to other countries due to the governmental structure of other countries being different. Each area (country, state, etc. ) has volunteer mapping coordinators that are supposed to ensure that parks meet the POTA organization requirements, and add parks for their area. Apparently something happened in France a few days ago, and around 85% of the POTA Parks in France were removed from POTA. As I understand it, this may be due to the different governmental structures of France, but I do not know the details. Apparently the mapping coordinator stepped down after this happened because he couldn't get any direction or clarification from the organization. This is just an FYI. I haven't seen what I consider good information on this, just some things I have heard. |
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Originally Posted By TVille: POTA is actually a copy of World Wide Flora and Fauna (WWFF), and has become far more successful then the original WWFF. POTA has been a huge boon to the ham radio world, getting more, and younger folks involved and active. Like every organization, it has issues and complaints. One issue is that for parks to be added the have to be state or federal parks. So local, city or county parks do not qualify. Apparently this is an issue when you go to other countries due to the governmental structure of other countries being different. Each area (country, state, etc. ) has volunteer mapping coordinators that are supposed to ensure that parks meet the POTA organization requirements, and add parks for their area. Apparently something happened in France a few days ago, and around 85% of the POTA Parks in France were removed from POTA. As I understand it, this may be due to the different governmental structures of France, but I do not know the details. Apparently the mapping coordinator stepped down after this happened because he couldn't get any direction or clarification from the organization. This is just an FYI. I haven't seen what I consider good information on this, just some things I have heard. Before the 85% reduction, France had more POTA entities than the entirety of North America. For me anyway, I don't think there should be a POTA entity on every corner park bench. |
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Originally Posted By Bluedog1971: Wyoming POTA https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/359275/IMG_2372_jpeg-3814569.JPG Spot via SOTAmāt that is amazing 
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Originally Posted By Prolix: Nice! Looks relaxing. I hope there's a near-zero risk of a tip-over. With me paddling it would be higher than that but still a chance I'd take. Near zero. Ive had it out over a hundred times with no issues. Originally Posted By Colt653: that is amazing It was fun evening! |
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Originally Posted By TVille: POTA is actually a copy of World Wide Flora and Fauna (WWFF), and has become far more successful then the original WWFF. POTA has been a huge boon to the ham radio world, getting more, and younger folks involved and active. Like every organization, it has issues and complaints. One issue is that for parks to be added the have to be state or federal parks. So local, city or county parks do not qualify. Apparently this is an issue when you go to other countries due to the governmental structure of other countries being different. Each area (country, state, etc. ) has volunteer mapping coordinators that are supposed to ensure that parks meet the POTA organization requirements, and add parks for their area. Apparently something happened in France a few days ago, and around 85% of the POTA Parks in France were removed from POTA. As I understand it, this may be due to the different governmental structures of France, but I do not know the details. Apparently the mapping coordinator stepped down after this happened because he couldn't get any direction or clarification from the organization. This is just an FYI. I haven't seen what I consider good information on this, just some things I have heard. I keep forgetting to send my logs to WWFF. I've only got one I did. As of now, I got my first KILO. Lewis and Clark National Trail. I'm halfway to getting the Kilo for the Little Missouri National Grasslands. Where I work, I go into the Grasslands to pull from wells. Two places sit in parks. I just throw up my Just-OK-Mini, plug in the QMX, set the QFT8 to CQ POTA, and let it do its thing while I'm loading oil, checking it periodically. Getting 10 contacts is work in 44mins to an hour. Especially with the semi-trucks own RF interfearence. |
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Originally Posted By Bluedog1971: Wyoming POTA https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/359275/IMG_2372_jpeg-3814569.JPG Spot via SOTAmāt You are always living the dream!! Right on!! |
“Every man has two deaths, when he is buried in the ground and the last time someone says his name. In some ways, men can be immortal. “ - Ernest Hemingway
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Originally Posted By Bluedog1971: Wyoming POTA https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/359275/IMG_2372_jpeg-3814569.JPG Spot via SOTAmāt @Bluedog1971 Please tell me (us) about that paddle (what is it and how do you like it?) I'm waiting in line for my Modern Morse paddle for my POTA setup, at home I'm using a Bencher BY-2 I've had for 30 yrs (omg I'm getting old) |
MIA: M/SGT James W. Holt USSF 2-7-68 SVN
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
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Originally Posted By RED_5: @Bluedog1971 Please tell me (us) about that paddle (what is it and how do you like it?) I'm waiting in line for my Modern Morse paddle for my POTA setup, at home I'm using a Bencher BY-2 I've had for 30 yrs (omg I'm getting old) That is a Bamatech TPIII, a perfect little German-made paddle. Sadly, Markus passed away last year so new ones are no longer available. That is the second one I've owned..I gifted the first to my Serbian friend after our SOTA tour of Serbia and Bosnia. When Markus got wind of that, a new one, listed as out of stock on the website, appeared in my mailbox a couple weeks later.  |
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Apologies if it was mentioned already, but there is an updated POTA website at https://next.pota.app/ Haven't looked at it much but the layout looks similar to the current one. |
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Originally Posted By Bluedog1971: Apologies if it was mentioned already, but there is an updated POTA website at https://next.pota.app/ Haven't looked at it much but the layout looks similar to the current one. WOW the new map is much nicer color coded so you can see what you’ve worked Attached File |