The Parks on the Air Book

A few months ago I was approached by Rick Parent (W0ZAP) about writing an essay for a planned book on POTA by the ARRL. While I am not a fan of false humility, I had to question what value I could bring to such a publication. It didn’t take long for me to hear from Mark Derks (KC1RVQ), Acquisitions Editor for the ARRL. Those who know me understand that the CW mode is my passion. At the time Mark contacted me I had logged close to 100,000 POTA CW QSOs. I suppose that provided a good hint that I may have some interesting things to say about POTA and the CW mode. I humbly accepted Rick and Mark’s invitation and began work on the essay that is contained in the Parks on the Air Book.

A fair question to ask is “Why have a Parks on the Air Book”? For those of you involved in POTA, the answer is self-evident. From its humble genesis as NPOTA, POTA has exploded in participation and popularity. POTA has actually become an entry path into the amateur radio hobby. While Field Day happens annually, POTA activators are in parks daily. This means the hobby is rubbing shoulders with people who would otherwise remain uninformed. With over 3,700 park activations under my belt, I can recount dozens of conversations I had about POTA and amateur radio with interested park visitors. One memorable encounter was with a well-known author who was intrigued by the dits and dahs I was sending. Patrick Morley wrote a best-selling book titled, “The Man in the Mirror”, a book that has been in print for over 30 years! Patrick was hiking at Catfish Creek Preserve in Haines City, FL. He asked what I was doing, so I took a break from my activation to chat with him. He took a picture of my portable station so he could share with his wife the exciting thing he came across on the trail. How cool is that? While a famous author stopping by an activation is exciting, POTA activators run into people from all walks of life. Whether intended or not, POTA activators become ambassadors of the hobby. New hams have been added to the hobby because they spoke with an activator.

While portable operations are at the heart of POTA, the real magic is the sense of community POTA imparts to its participants. Hams get involved in POTA for a myriad of reasons. Maybe it’s the thrill of being on the business end of a pile-up that is usually reserved for DXpeditions. Many POTA parks have historic significance or provide breathtaking views of natural beauty. Gazing up at Pikes Peak, looking out over the Gettysburg Battlefield, and experiencing the morning mist of the Scottish Highlands are memories that remain. There are hunters who are dealing with physical disabilities and chasing after activators allows them to stay involved in the hobby in a new and exciting way.

The Parks on the Air Book contains essays on a variety of topics:

I am bullish on the future of amateur radio. Our hobby faces many challenges. Some of those challenges become easier to navigate if the hobby is growing. POTA may be the shot in the arm the hobby needs to grow its ranks. The Parks on the Air Book will be a great gift this holiday season to anyone who is interested in learning more about POTA.