Books, News, POTA

The ARRL POTA Book Prize Package Giveaway!

245 Comments

As I mentioned in my article about the new ARRL POTA book, the ARRL has offered a generous prize package to one lucky QRPer.com reader.

The prize package includes everything you see in the image above:

How to enter…

All you need to do is leave a comment on this post telling us what you love about Parks On The Air (POTA).

If you have yet to participate in the Parks On The Air program, then please tell us what it is that you find so enticing about the program; why you plan to become active in POTA.

Details:

  • We will keep the comments open until 13:00 UTC on Friday, November 17, 2023. You can only enter once, so please include your callsign (if you have one) in the comment.
  • We will take the total number of comments, use a random number generator to pick one comment, then reach out to you to obtain your shipping information.
  • The ARRL will drop ship this prize package directly to you!
  • This giveaway is open to everyone.

Click here to comment and enter the giveaway!

Many thanks to the ARRL for offering up this POTA prize package!

245 thoughts on “The ARRL POTA Book Prize Package Giveaway!”

  1. I like POTA because of the many ways to participate. I like that you can do FT8 as a beginner and is great way for new people to learn proper phone signal exchange. I also like it as a great source for learning CW.
    The operators involved in the program are very considerate and helpful.
    Finally I like the fact of getting outside and figuring out different setups.

  2. Growing up, I never really liked going outside. Many years later when I moved to Colorado I started enjoying going on walks and just spending my time outdoors. I wanted to also do ham radio but couldn’t due to limitations and high noise from my apartment complex.
    I learned CW and thought I would give POTA and SOTA a try and instantly became hooked on it. Being the DX is exhilarating and it’s just so fun to do!

  3. Parks on the Air is a great way to get outside and play radio, two of my favorite activities. I really enjoy portable operating and have encouraged several folks to get licensed after conversations I had while operating at a park. I also feel like its an easy entry point as it give newbies a structure in which to learn how to operate on the air.

  4. I am learning about POTA/SOTA and studying CW at the same time. QRP and getting outdoors are a great combo. I hope to build and activate with homebrew equipment.
    Dave – KE7WJW

  5. POTA dramatically and nearly instantly helped me overcome mic fright. I was not having too much success getting up the nerve to call CQ at home. My first POTA activation resulted in a 30 station pile up I worked through in a half hour. I didn’t have time to be afraid, as I was too busy, and the hunters were patient.

  6. This will be said by many I’m sure. I find POTA re-kindled my joy in getting on the air. It motivates me to go out to the field to operate because I become “DX” from the first “key-down“ until my fist tires. Having a “pile up “ seeking to work ME is exhilarating! Not only is it fun it also sharpens my skill. I love that’s not a contest but just for fun. No competitive pressure just pure joy.

  7. I only HUNT , but it is to me a great part of ham radio . hearing a qrp station on cw or voice is still exciting. my favorite is a cw station in England at a park.
    NEVER get tied of hunting.
    Terry

  8. POTA has all the fun of hunting DX with none of the hassle of QSL cards or LOTW. The idea of the system automatically keeping totals and giving awards is ingenious.

  10. The POTA program has allowed me to merge ham radio with being oudoors. Expermenting with different antennas and operating conditions has expanded my knowledge and allowed interaction with many fellow hams out at the parks.

  11. POTA has been a major entry point for HF amateur radio for me. Since getting fully licensed in January 2022 with Canadian Basic With Honours allowing full HF privileges, I’ve logged almost 2000 QSOs of which almost half were POTA!

  13. Parks On The Air is a refreshing change from contesting. With POTA I have yet run into any Activator that is rude or short tempered. Pleasurable is a goo description. I only operate CW and it’s a pleasant change of pace, I hope it lasts for a while.

  15. Focus on the POTA program has been a fantastic way for me to learn more about HF, band characteristics, operating/etiquette, and so on. I’ve also really enjoyed putting together a POTA/SOTA focussed mobile kit!

  16. I enjoy getting out o the QTH. I usually activate with some other operators so it’s nice to socialize. I also enjoy running a pileup.

    AD4CH

  17. I am 100% fascinated by the fact that POTA rhymes with SOTA. Coincidence or conspiracy? The mind boggles! Contemplation of this mystery has kept me out of trouble for years!

  18. I enjoy contacting the POTA activators. It’s a mix between contesting and ragchew, not just call, park number and of course ALWAYS 599. I want to get me CW speed back to what r wax and I see POTA as a way to achieve this.
    73
    JP
    KA3BWP

  19. I love to bee in nature while connecting with people ota with simple means. 5w and a write. It’s still magic after many years.

  20. I love to bee in nature while connecting with people ota with simple means. 5w and a write. It’s still magic after many years.

    Johannes, KI6M

  21. I wish POTA was more active in UK but it’s a great way to visit wonderful national parks.

    73
    Jonathon
    G8SEA

  22. After a 7 year lapse, I am working towards doing some activations again. Finally making the time to do so. Constantly reading these articles has kept my interest up, even if I didn’t have the time to activate or rarely chase. Great articles. Keep them coming.

    Larry, W1AST

  24. As a new ham, I’m looking to become more active with POTA. I feel like this combines a lot of things I already enjoy: camping, being outdoors, enjoying our state parks and now add in a radio. I’m really looking forward to getting set up as an activator!

    73
    MG
    KE2BWZ

  26. POTA gives a way to combine multiple hobbies, the outdoors/hiking/etc with ham radio. And there’s always someone to answer a POTA CQ. Thanks hunters!!!

  30. I am looking forward to family outings at the beach. We have a beach nearby that is q state park. My wife and daughter love the beach. I .. don’t. Now they can go swimming and such while I play radio

  32. As an aging/retired Amateur POTA gives me the opportunity to get outside and moving…sorely needed as the lack of exercise is a problem as one ages.

  34. Looking forward to some activations in the UK with my new soon-to-arrive MTR4B.
    My dog loves POTA too.
    Regards
    Harry
    2E0TPZ

  35. I love the POTA program. So far I’ve only hunted, but I plan on doing an activation in the future. The activators are some of the friendliest hams I’ve met and hunting has given me a reason to get on the air more often than I otherwise would.

  36. POTA involves so many great points: It gets one out in the fresh air away from the honey dos at home. It’s a mini field day every time, and who doesn’t love field day. Many times it is a great way to demonstrate amateur radio to non-hams, maybe even recruit new hams. It sharpens operating skills. And it’s just fun! 73, AA4HV

  37. I like POTA because it offers opportunities to get out and visit places I may not have been and while there I can participate in a ham radio activity. Combining these two interests of mine works well for me.
    Don, KM7DG

  38. I like POTA I usually can find Activators around and near my Home QTH when I have the time to get on the air.
    I was excited when I got my first 100 Parks.
    I was away from Ham Radio and during COVID outbreak I renewed my interest. I picked a QRP rig and I have been working POTA I working on my 400 Parks now.
    I haven’t done and activation I tried to build a couple of different antennas but I picked a a Wolf River Coils setup and it works well.
    I do some of my Home QTH operations in the summer from my Deck with the Wolf River coils setup in the yard.

  39. Un site sympathique qui m’a donné l’envie de faire du Qrp portable. Grace à Qrper j’ai pu trouver le transceiver qui me convenait et bien sur les antennes.
    Bonne continuation,
    Jean F5imv

  40. I love POTA for so many reasons that it’s hard to put into a single comment. But, I love that POTA gets me outside more often, and I’ve seen places in my state that I never would have seen otherwise.

    I also love “being the DX” and running a pileup is a rush!

  41. As mentioned in a previous post, QRPer.com is one of the first emails I go to in the morning. QRPer and Thomas have inspired me to learn cw to a point that I did my first POTA activation this year. I love portable and QRP radio and all the posts from other hams who are at various stages of proficiency with CW. I look forward to working on my CW skills with the encouragement of QRPer.com. Keep up the great work.
    Best 73, 72
    Vic
    VE6VIC

  42. I do activate POTA. Started out on SSB but 99.9% of my activations are now CW. K4SWL has been a big impact on people getting on POTA and going back and learning CW. I have even gone out and done my first SOTA this year.

  43. POTA gives me the needed ‘push’ to get out of my shack and practice my amateur radio skills in an outdoor environment and demonstrate to others the fun of amateur radio.

  44. I love how well organized POTA is and what a fantastic job the team of volunteers has done in creating and maintaining the online system (information, spots, logging, reporting ,etc.) I love that it encourages operation but in a casual way, and that it is not a “contest.” I am not a “paper chaser,” but I enjoy being able to track my personal progress and I’m excited each time I reach a new milestone and get a new “certificate.” I enjoy many different types of operating, but two of my favorites are QRP and portable / pedestrian mobile operating, and POTA fits perfectly with those interests. Thanks to POTA I’m able to make many more QRP/P and QRP/PM contacts than would ever be possible without all the POTA activity. I love standing in the woods, holding my entire station in my hand, calling “Park to Park,” and getting an immediate reply from the other station. 72 and POTA On!

  45. POTA is a wonderful way for new CW operators to get on the air and get comfortable making contacts. I also enjoy getting outside and getting people together to have fun with radio!

  46. I would donate the prize to a new ham I know to get him more active on the air. I enjoy doing POTA, now that I am mediaclly retired at 51 I found I can’t do those physical activities I used to enjoy like fly fishing, mountain hiking, and hunting. Amatrur Radio has been my hobby of choice. I can take a ride and park in a spot and operate from my vehicle to talk to other amateurs in far off places, or work people calling CQ POTA from my home station. Best part I do like about POTA is the fact that anyone can do it, and there is a couple of incentives to do this. First is as an Activator you get to travel to new places. Second is the structured awards program for POTA. Yes you can work DXCC and WAS, but ince you did it, what else is there? With POTA you always have that next award or achievement to work towards, bith in the shack and in the parks. 73 and see you on the bands Matt NA1Q

  47. Hello! I’m novice in ham radio but very interested in POTA activities. My QTH is Trecastagni, Catania (Sicily) under the Mt. Etna (actually in activity)!
    73 de IT9JEF

  48. The KH1 has rekindled my interest in HF QRP after a near 35 year absence. The simplicity of getting on the air at a local park with minimal gear is very compelling.

  49. POTA and over here SOTA are great ways of making contacts, getting to know people and als new friendships will be show up…
    73 de HB9TMM

  50. POTA encompasses everything I love about this hobby. Ever since I was first licensed I have enjoyed operating outdoors more than inside the shack. Before POTA I often found it difficult to make contacts when I operated QRP outdoors, but now, thanks to POTA, I am guaranteed to make as many QSOs as I can handle. POTA has rejuvenated amateur radio and given us a reason to power up and key up!

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