I was a 5-year-old boy when I watched my father, WA2NAU (now W2BIL), talk to another ham radio operator in Scotland. My dad’s “shack” was in the back bedroom of our two-story home in North Arlington, NJ. I was mesmerized by the warm glow that came from the tubes in his Viking-Johson transmitter. I didn’t know it at the time, but I would be inevitably drawn to the same hobby my father enjoyed. At that time in my young life, I thought the whole thing was a form of magic.
Earlier today I drove to the shores of Lake Apopka for a POTA activation at K-8353. Lake Apopka is known for its diverse bird species and large and plentiful alligator population. But today wasn’t about large gators. It was about low-power CW, and specifically, QRP. I arrived at the park just before dawn which gave me time to set up my car-based portable station. Today’s equipment was my Elecraft KX2, Gabil GRA-7350-TC antenna, and the Begali Traveler key. Power was provided by a 20Ah Bioenno LifePO battery. Coffee and a sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich were from WaWa.
I checked for an open frequency on 30m, posted my activation on the POTA spotting page, and started calling “CQ POTA”. Less than a minute later I had my first contact with my most prolific hunter, “Bruce” – WD0ACB. Bruce has “hunted” me 3627 times. That’s a lot of QSOs! I had 10 contacts on 30m before changing to 40m. 40m netted me 36 QSOs. From 40m I decided to move up to 20m which was just waking up on the east coast. I had 17 QSOs on 20m. 10m yelled 8 QSOs, 12 meters 5 QSOs, 15 meters 12 QSOs, and 17 meters 7 QSOs. I had 95 total QSOs on only 5 watts. I call this the K4NYM Day Band Sweep – all HF bands from 10-40m. My contacts spanned from California to Germany.
I forgot my Microsoft Surface Pro notebook, so I broke out my spiral-bound notebook. Unfortunately, I have the handwriting (but not the income) of a doctor. I had a difficult time transcribing my own handwriting into my HAMRS logging software when I got home. Thankfully, I was able to figure out all the call signs.
I can’t help but marvel at the wonder of this hobby. I’m not a 5-year-old boy any longer. Glowing tubes have given way to a transceiver I can hold in the palm of my hand. But the magic of radio allowed me to “work the world” on this beautiful Thanksgiving week morning at the park.
I encourage you to think about what first attracted you to the amateur radio hobby. Do you still marvel at the wonder of it all?
Radio Free Florida: K4NYM 
Ever single contact I make amazes me. The fact that a wire and a few watts allows me to communicate with the world turns me into that little tow headed boy watching Jimbob on his little radio in the barn talking to someone in Europe. The Waltons was appointment TV growing up.
My elementary school principal was a ham. His bug catcher antenna back in the early 70s caused me to ask him a million questions.
A family member in South Georgia had a huge CB station and later became a ham. I knew one day that I too had to get my ticket.
We have nowhere near that many QSOs Bill. Yet every time when you reply to my call by sending GA Ron makes it a special contact. Taking the time to recognize the people who contact you has made an impact on me. I try to do the same with people who I regularly work on POTA.
73/72,
Ron
KF4GNV
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Great post, Bill! I’ve been involved with radio for almost my whole life: shortwave listening as a kid, Navy Radioman, and 49 years as a ham. Everytime I make a contact, I’m still amazed at how this radio stuff works. It really is magic! 73, Craig WB3GCK
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Bill, thanks for sharing your experience and insights on most recent activations. Thanks also for all the QSO we had so far… I am looking forward to working you many times in the future. vy73/55, Tom DL1HBT
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Tom, thanks for the kind comments. I’ll be looking for your call! All the best. 73.
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