POTA Activation at El Dorado State Park
On September 20, 2026, members of the Flint Hills Amateur Radio Club gathered at El Dorado State Park from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Picnic Area #1, 1-1, for an afternoon of amateur radio and outdoor fellowship. The group activated Park #2336 by participating in Parks on the Air (POTA), a worldwide program that encourages amateur radio operators to take their stations into parks and other outdoor locations.
It was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, operate portable radio equipment, make contacts with fellow hams, and share the excitement of amateur radio in a beautiful park setting. After nearly three months of scorching 90–100-degree temperatures, the weather finally cleared, giving us a pleasant day to get outside and enjoy the activation!
Wayne (KDØWAT) set up his dipole antenna using a portable mast mounted to the hitch receiver on his truck. He raised the antenna approximately 37 feet above the ground for operation on the 20-meter band. His portable station demonstrated how amateur radio operators can adapt their equipment to operate effectively from a park or other outdoor location.
Barb successfully verified the installation and operation of the new Winlink Gateway KD0WAU‑10, located in Andover. The gateway was originally configured as a Private Gateway, but with the WX0NET‑10 Gateway in El Dorado taken offline, KD0WAU‑10 has now been promoted to a Public Gateway to support wider regional traffic.
For the field test, a Comet GP‑1 antenna was mounted on Wayne’s hitch mast on his vehicle. Using this setup, Barb established a solid connection from the park to the Andover Gateway and confirmed full functionality by sending and receiving a Winlink message without issue.
The test covered a distance of approximately 22 miles, from the lake to the gateway site in Andover, demonstrating reliable coverage and readiness for emergency communications.
Barb and Bern operated under the Flint Hills Amateur Radio Club callsign KBØVAC, making a combined 32 QSOs—well above the 10‑contact minimum needed to officially activate the park under the club’s call.
In addition to the club activation, several members also activated the park individually and earned their own credits. Bern logged 25 QSOs, Steve made 19, Barb added 20, George recorded 32, and Jason finished with 19.
Bern (KC4CRH) set up his portable station with an NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) antenna supported by a painter’s pole, raising it approximately 20 feet above the ground for operation on the 40-meter band. His station added another approach to the variety of antenna configurations demonstrated during the club’s Parks on the Air activation at El Dorado State Park.
Park Leader George (KAØOSN) mounted his antenna system on the roof of his vehicle, raising the feed point to roughly 12 feet above ground level. His setup uses a Triple Magnetic Mount, giving him a stable base for mobile HF operation. Onto this mount he attaches various Ham Stick–style resonators, each threaded with the standard 3/8‑24 stud.
For band coverage, George rotates through five Mini Mobile Vertical Shark Antennas—10, 15, 20, 40, and 75 meters—depending on the conditions and the band he wants to work. This combination gives him a compact, quick‑deploy HF mobile station with surprisingly effective performance for POTA and general mobile operation.
Also activating the park was Jason (KØJHW), who set up his own antennas one campsite down from the main group. This gave him plenty of room to operate independently and prevented any band interference between stations. His separate setup added another active signal from the park and helped broaden overall coverage during the event.
In addition to participating in POTA, the Club also held its Monthly Third Sunday 40‑Meter Antenna Net on 7.245 MHz at 3:00 PM. We were curious to see whether the radios at the park could reach Bern’s station, since he served as Net Control for the afternoon.
Club members at the park were able to hear the net clearly, but when they transmitted, the other operators on the net could not hear their signals. Even so, everyone followed along using NetLogger, which tracked check‑ins throughout the session.
Operators logged on NetLogger included: Bern (KC4CRH), Barb (KDØWAU), Wayne (KDØWAT), Steve (KDØIJP), Vic (KØVAB), George (KAØOSN), Conrad (KØFCL), Chance (N5NIQ), and Jason (KØJHW).
Members attending the event included George KAØOSN, Vic KØVAB, Bern KC4CRH, Wayne KDØWAT, Steve KDØIJP, Barb KDØWAU, and not shown Jason KØJHW.
Our POTA activation at El Dorado State Park showcased exactly what makes the Flint Hills Amateur Radio Club special—teamwork, learning, experimentation, and plenty of on‑air fun. From SSB to FT8, from club activations to individual achievements, every operator contributed to a productive and enjoyable day.
Thank you to everyone who set up gear, logged contacts, taught new skills, or simply stopped by to encourage the operators. Events like this strengthen our club, sharpen our skills, and remind us why amateur radio continues to bring people together.
We look forward to the next activation and hope to see even more members join us on the air.
