My first Parks on the Air activation didn’t go the way I expected. I showed up ready to make contacts and log a successful activation. That’s not what happened.
I packed up my gear, drove out to a new park, found a good spot, and got everything set up. I was ready to make contacts and get my first activation in the books.
There was just one problem.
The bands had other ideas.
The Plan
Going into my first activation, I had a simple goal: Get at least 10 contacts and log a successful activation. I wasn’t trying to do anything complicated, and I wasn’t interested in boosting my numbers. I just wanted to get on the air, make some contacts, and see how well my equipment worked in the field.
My setup was pretty straightforward:
- Radio: Xiegu G90
- Antenna: Super Antenna MP1
- Power: 16Ah LiFePO4 battery
- Logging: Some POTA log sheets I found and printed from the internet
Nothing fancy—just practical gear that gets the job done.
The Setup
I like to scout parks ahead of time, so I had already gathered my intel the night before. The website for the state park I chose had good PDF line maps that revealed locations of picnic tables and shelters not far from one of the parking lots. Google Maps satellite view verified this.
Since this was to be my first POTA activation I wasn’t looking for the most scenic location. I was looking for something quiet and convenient. This had:
- Easy parking
- Some picnic tables
- Enough space to set up without bothering anyone
I got set up at a spot that checked all the boxes. It was close to noon. The day was dreary with a chill in the air and some light misting and drizzle, so I opted for a table under the shelter. Aside from a few dog-walkers, there was no other activity in the area.
So far, so good.
Then Reality Set In
Once I got on the air, things didn’t go quite as planned. Very little activity was heard on 20 meters. At least finding a spot on the band wasn’t difficult.
I started calling CQ.
And calling CQ.
And calling CQ…
Not much happened. After 5 minutes, a lone station answered my call, but then silence stretched on for about 20 minutes. Desperate, I re-tuned my antenna for 40 meters and switched bands. I wasn’t optimistic about 40m given the time of day, but a park-to-park station found me within a minute or two. After 20 more minutes and no further contacts, I turned to hunting. The bands were very quiet, but I managed to reach 2 other parks and one random CQ call. I packed it up after a little over 2 hours and a paltry 5 QSOs in the log.
The Problem: The Bands Were Rough
It quickly became clear that the issue wasn’t my setup. I did make contacts with signal reports of ranging from 45 to 57.
The radio was working.
The antenna was working.
The coffee was working.
But the bands? Not so much.
It wasn’t until I got back home that I checked the propagation report. It was miserable, reporting poor-to-fair HF conditions. Other park operators I had managed to contact during my outing confirmed that they, too, were having a slow day. That was reassuring—it told me it wasn’t just me doing something wrong.
If you’ve been in the hobby for a while, you know how that goes.
If you’re new, this is something you’ll learn pretty quickly:
Sometimes everything is right… except the conditions.
The Result
At the end of the activation, I didn’t reach the required 10 contacts. No official activation. On paper, it was a failure. I sent my log to the POTA site for processing. At least the stations I contacted would get credit, which brings up an important point. If you are ever in a similar situation and have a failed activation, DO upload your logs. You owe it to those who hunted you.
What I Learned
Even though it didn’t go as planned, I walked away with a lot more than I expected.
How to Avoid This on Your First POTA Activation
- Band conditions matter more than you think. Check them before you head out.
- Have a multi-band antenna if you can. Being stuck on one band limits your options.
- Consider digital modes. FT8 (love it or hate it) can save a slow activation.
- Patience matters. Another hour might have made the difference.
- Don’t forget to spot yourself. If no one knows you’re there, it’s a lot harder to get contacts.
Why It Was Still Worth It
Even without the contacts, the day itself was still a win.
- I got out of the house
- Took a fun road trip
- Operated from a new location
- Enjoyed some fresh air
- Great coffee and some snacks!
And I got real, hands-on experience setting up and operating in the field.
That’s something you don’t get from reading or watching videos.
Final Thoughts
If your first POTA activation doesn’t go perfectly, you’re not alone.
Pileups are common, but never guaranteed
Sometimes the bands are rough. Sometimes things don’t line up the way you expect. And sometimes you don’t hit that 10-contact mark.
But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth doing.
Every activation, successful or not, teaches you something.
And the next time you head out, you’ll be better prepared and a lot more confident.
👉 Keep Learning
If you’re just getting started with amateur radio, these will help:
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