POTA Activation - East Fork Lake State Park, K-1948, and East Fork State Wildlife Area, K-8411, March 15, 2024

On a overcast and windy March afternoon, Josh Senefeld, N8VXR, conducted a successful Parks on the Air activation of East Fork Lake State Park, K-1948, and East Fork State Wildlife Area, K-8411, after returning from a spring break vacation to Mammoth Cave National park, which also involved a POTA activation, plus one while traveling to the National Park.

Josh arrived at Boat Ramp on the east side of the park around 1800 UTC and found a nice long parkings spot and happily backed into one. Josh started to deployed the Chameleon P-Loop 2.0 magnetic loop antenna from the Ohio University Amateur Radio Club and then set up the IC-718 inside his vehicle. The antenna was tuned around 14.28 MHz already so Josh hopped in the car and found a clear spot to call CQ. He was on the air by 1825 UTC.

The view from the passengers seat.

The P-Loop 2.0 antenna.

View of the site as Josh was packing up.

Josh spotted himself on the POTA website and began calling "CQ Parks on the Air." Josh's first QSO was with K6LS from Florida at 1827 UTC. His next two contacts came at 1830 UTC, K4CAE from South Carolina and KE2CAN, a Park-to-Park QSO from K-1620 in New Jersey. Many of Josh's contacts started coming from the North East, especially New York, which was a welcome addition because Josh started loosing hope in the magnetic loop after his lack luster success at Mammoth Cave National Park! Things started slowing down a bit after a few more QSOs with the largest break in-between AC1PI in New Hampshire, at 1848 UTC, and N8OHQ in Florida, at 1855 UTC, 7 minutes of calling CQ with no answer in-between the two. Josh then checked his spot on the POTA website and saw Michael Martens, KB9VBR, close by on the band. He was at the Mead State Wildlife Area, K-4310, in Wisconsin. When Josh got on Michael's frequency, he was already working a Park-to-Park station and Josh heard another calling after that. Thankfully Michael called for any more Park-to-Park stations and Josh was able to slide in and get a contact in very quickly at 1858 UTC!

Then Josh decided to retune his antenna to the 17m band, around 18.132 MHz. He then jumped back in the car and made contacts with two stations, first was K9JFB in Rhode Island at 1906 UTC, Josh's first 17m POTA QSO, then KA5WAD in Oklahoma at 1913 UTC. Then a large break again, calling and calling without no one answering. Josh decided to abandon 17m and retuned the loop to the 40m band. He was back on the air made his first 40m POTA contact with KB8SRN in Minford, OH at 1926 and then KE8QLG, a Park-to-Park contact from K-1508 in Michigan at 1927. After a few more minutes of calling CQ with no answer, Josh decided that it was time to pack up and head home to get some dinner.

Overall, Josh made 27 QSOs, 4 of which were Park-to-Park, in roughly 39 minutes of operating time. All of his QSOs were SSB and were made with 25 watts of output power.