For most of my early years of my Amateur Radio existence, operators' stations locations were known for their simple, modest and sometimes enormous antenna towers. This was and is basically a good indication that a "Ham Radio" operator resides somewhere near those structures. And if you had the opportunity to visit the radio rooms (Ham Shack) of those operators, some of them may have been in a corner of a room, in a closet, a spandrel, a garage, a shed or look similar to the photo above
In today's world, that is far from the case. Due to HOAs (Home Owner's Associations) and other covenant restrictions, ham operators in their infinite ingenuity, come up of many types of inconspicuous means of assembling antennas to enjoy their hobby.
The minimization of electronics have given Ham Radio operators the ability to communicate "To infinity and Beyond". During my past three years of operating portable, primarily POTA, I've had countless people inquire what I was doing. Most of the POTA sites near my QTH are parks where trying to find a spot which is safe AND a considerable distance away from people is limited.
For me its no big deal. Most of the time people will look, point, observe and casually walk, bicycle ride or run by without saying a word. But then, there are the ones who's curiosity takes the best of them. Doesn't matter the age, nationality, or sex, the sight of someone sitting under a pole with wires going this way and that way, hearing beeps and tones, have to find out what is going on.
Summits on the Air (SOTA), Parks on the Air (POTA) and World Wide Fauna (WWFF) have given ham radio operators a way to bring our equipment out of the dark rooms to the open air. It is exciting times we live in in this world of Amateur Radio. We should take advantage of the minimization of the equipment we have at our disposable and show the world just how GREAT ham radio is not only as a hobby but exposing young and old minds to potentially unimaginable innovations.
As the daylight starts to shorten, the temperatures become more tolerable, it can present the favorable conditions to take our equipment portable to remind the world that, HAM RADIO is still something people do. It doesn't have to be POTA or SOTA but its a good time to experience all Mother Nature has to offer as the season changes.
Here are some who just enjoy operating outdoors.
Portable Amateur Radio
M0KVI Owen
W0ABE "Fin"
KH6WI Eric
VE5REV Jason
KH6RF John
VA7USD Matthew
KO4TJP Jake
W3IPA Tim
Amateurs operating through Satellites and the International Space Station (ISS) can be very simple but for some, but some have a wide array of portable equipment they use for different modes to communicate via satellites and ISS.
Portable Satellite Operation
K9BCM Thomas
VA3VGR Richard
EA2CW / AE2CW - Mikel
K8ZRY Zach
WD9EWK Patrick
KE5NJ Chris
KG4AKV John
SP3RNZ Greg
NC0Q Tim
KB5FHK Thomas
Parks on the Air has taken portable ham radio operating to a different level. Here is just a few of the thousands who choose to spend a lot of their operating time outdoors.
Parks on the Air
AE4JC Matthew
K1STG Fred
KC9BKA Dan
KM6HJC Ben
KN4YZY Corey
N9OHW Michael
KA3DRR Scot
AI5DD Joe
K4WSD / Allen
KB6NU Dan
And then there are the ones who operate Summits on the Air (SOTA). Some might think this is an Extreme Sport but to them, its just another day at the office.
Summits on the Air
KO6BTM Di
EC7ZT Manu
JL1SDA Tetsuya
MM0EFI Fraser
WA7JNJ James
JR8MHA Katsu
N2SRK Dan NA0MT Scott
N6ARA Ara
K4KFO Yusef
You don't have to travel far from the Backroom to the Open Air. A few weeks ago I began a Sunday morning routine of "A Cup of Joe Patio Amateur Radio". It's my quiet time to relax, commune with nature and do some sort of ham radio operating. For me its natural boost to reset for another week.
We've come a long way baby from the days of operating portable in the photo below. Why not grab your gear now at head out for some Ham Radio Portable operating.
I know you are wondering what does a baseball double play have to do with (POTA) Parks on the Air. Let me briefly explain my introduction into Parks on the Air.
During the Pandemic shutdown I stumbled upon Parks on the Air (POTA), Summits on the Air (SOTA) and shortly thereafter World Wide Flora & Fauna (WWFF). Information on the first two were readily available as it related to me here in the U.S. However, at face value, all I could conceive about WWFF from YouTube videos; that it was an organization dedicated to countries outside of the U.S. What a HUGE MISCONCEPTION. Once I delved further; I learned WWFF was Worldwide just as POTA and SOTA. Since becoming a POTA activator in 2021, there are few POTA sites near my QTH that are part of WWFF which I've included in my POTA activations.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago while going through my YouTube Amateur Radio recommendations I came upon a video by Stuart VE9CF "This One Thing Often Overlooked By Almost All POTA Operators".
In Stuart's YouTube video, he explains how some POTA activators overlook the relationship between POTA and WWFF and how to combine the two, just like you would with POTA and SOTA.
Now, where does the Baseball Double Play analogy come into play. There are thousands of POTA sites that are part of the WWFF network. With those POTA sites you can combine those WWFF sites and POTA sites for a Double Play. Thanks to Stuart (VE9CF), I wanted to pass along to those who may be unaware of the relationship with POTA and WWFF. Find out more about Stuart's Ham Radio experiences on his YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@outnaboot and his website: https://www.outnaboot.ca/
To find out more about World Wide Flora & Fauna, how to register and WWFF sites (U.S.) and abroad, here is the link:
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