February 10, 2024, was a rainy day. It was raining all through the night, with plenty of water on the roadways and surfaces in the morning. Equipment had to be cared for, so Marvin (KI5MM) volunteered to bring his radio trailer to Cedar Hill for us to use.

After breakfast, Jonnie (W5MMS) and Mark (K9MWD) with Elisha (KE7FLA) (and kids) peeled off and went their own ways. It was great having everyone together for breakfast at Dicks Uptown Cafe.

We arrived at our POTA spot after breakfast at the designated swim area at the park, and we got started on the radio. It seemed that each one of us had personal goals to meet or we just wanted to hunt parks. Justin (N5RH) and Marvin (KI5MM) hunted from the trailer using two radios, an old Icom and a Yaesu. Both worked well and David (KI5TRF) joined in and worked a few parks. Matthew (N5MHM) and Micah (K5MEC) worked a few parks from the pickup truck and Michel (WH6ERS) worked out of his vehicle using a buddy pole vertical antenna.

Early in the morning, most of us stumbled on a park activator who had five parks at his location. When we passed the mike around with him, we were already halfway through our own activation because all that is needed is ten contacts for a successful POTA activation. We all stayed dry and warm, and the rain let up around 11:00 AM, just before we shut down.

It was a great day to play “radio”.  Wish you were there with us. Hope to see you next month.

Matthew (N5MHM)

March 9th 2024, was a cold, Blustery day. Breakfast commenced at 7 AM at Dicks Uptown Cafe.

We arrived at our POTA spot after breakfast at the designated swim area at the park. Three stations were set up each at about 100 yards apart. Unfortunately, all were on 20 meters and we were spilling over on each other. N5WQ retuned her antenna fo 12 meters to eliminate the overlap. Lesson learned - Assign bands to the participants a few days before the event so they have an opportunity to set up before hand.

A great time was had by all and we are looking forward to next month.

Who needs counterweights when you have a POTA tree. 25 mph wind gusts at the Mecca this morning, somebody planted a tree for us! Creative radio-ing! @Justin N5RH- President - First QSO with the new call sign!

Matthew - N5MHM:
K-2996-20231216 76 total QSOs and one new activator. Great job today @K9MWD. Special thanks to @Johnnies-W5MMS for showing how it is done! It was a little cold and windy, but sunny with clear skies. WISH YOU WERE HERE!

POTA Activity Pictures for the Weekend of 7/15/2023.

K5EDW:

Another successful activation and a new member of our team - AI5LO, Jeremy.

POTA: K-2996 5/13/2023 Cedar Hill State Park

Mr. Micah - K5MEC was The Man today. He was a Ham On Fire making sure that Wendell had some air time and performed troubleshooting on other HAMs Radio. If you go to the park, take Micah with you! He will get you going!

K5MEC Micah, KI5MM Marvin, N5WC Wendell, N5MHM Matthew. Seated KI5YXA David. Not Shown - KI5YWN Rani and Caleb

POTA: K-3042 4/15/2023 Mother Neff State Park

 David and Rani activated Mother Neff park recently.  Herer are a few pictures:

POTA: K-2996 3/11/2023 Cedar Hill State Park

The new Parks on the Air Plaque Event is scheduled for the weekend of June 3-4, 2023

Severna Park, Maryland— February 22, 2023 — Parks on the Air announces the creation of a new event called the Parks on the Air Plaque Event. The Event is now separate from the popular Support Your Parks Event Weekend and provides a point structure for amateur radio operator recognition in a number of award categories.

Not a WD5DDH activation but we had a good time as a group.

POTA: K-2996 January 21st-22nd Cedar Hill State Park

1/22/2023 - Cedar Hill State Park. KI5IBT Micah and KI5YXA David. Micah "Elmer's" David on his first POTA outing

Picture by Reni KI5YWN.