POTA haters and purposeful interference.

[AntiPOTA]

I am Anti POTA. My experience has been that many not all POTA activators are poor operators and feel that just because they are operating portable that they have an innate privilege to:
1. self spot and take over a frequency regardless if it is in use.
2. Will activate a few KC's from an on going QSO
3. Have 2 or 3 of their buddies standing by to work the same station. "stand by for the 2nd operator" which is utter nonsense.
4. Many lie about their location.

Finally, the ARRL sponsored "POTA" to acknowledge 100th anniversary of the parks system. This was never intended to be a daily activity. It like have "Field Day" ever day of the week. FYI... fellas POTA is not a sport hi hi...

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

I am beginning to get the idea that POTA is not at the top of your list?

 

[FlatlandBusa]

Intentional interference whether it is done to a POTA station, or it's the 11111 guy is a sign of a mental midget who likely has little going on in his life. People who think they "own" a frequency are pathetic, radios have a VFO or channel knob for a reason.

 

[AudioShockwav]

I am Anti POTA. My experience has been that many not all POTA activators are poor operators and feel that just because they are operating portable that they have an innate privilege to:
1. self spot and take over a frequency regardless if it is in use.
2. Will activate a few KC's from an on going QSO
3. Have 2 or 3 of their buddies standing by to work the same station. "stand by for the 2nd operator" which is utter nonsense.
4. Many lie about their location.

Finally, the ARRL sponsored "POTA" to acknowledge 100th anniversary of the parks system. This was never intended to be a daily activity. It like have "Field Day" ever day of the week. FYI... fellas POTA is not a sport hi hi...

Depends on what you call sport, just like any other station it is all part of the radio hobby.
They just chose to operate from a park but the goal is to make contacts.
It's popular, there are groups all over that participate in both hunting and activating POTA.
Just like contesting or some other special events it's for fun.
Actually pota that we know today "started" in early 2017 when the ARRL special event ended, by a group of volunteers that wanted to continue the fun beyond the one-year event, and POTA was born, it is perfectly legit.
It's unfortunate that something spoiled your view of the activity.
Good thing there is plenty of room on the band's to enjoy other things.....


73
Jeff

 

[nomadradio]

It's too easy to feel entitled to the frequencies we use.

I'm of the opinion that anything that encourages activity on the air serves your best interest, and mine and that of every licensed ham.

Yes, contests sometimes clobber our Friday-night sked with high-school buddies. But on-air activity justifies our collective entitlement to those frequencies.

Face it, bandwidth is the next crude oil. Attempts to snatch those frequencies away for some corporate use are easier if they can claim those bands are "empty", and under-utilized public resource.

Been on a HF band lately? Coulda, shoulda, woulda.

POTA, SOTA, WOTA.

73

 

[BC Coyote]

I am Anti POTA. My experience has been that many not all POTA activators are poor operators and feel that just because they are operating portable that they have an innate privilege to:
1. self spot and take over a frequency regardless if it is in use.
2. Will activate a few KC's from an on going QSO
3. Have 2 or 3 of their buddies standing by to work the same station. "stand by for the 2nd operator" which is utter nonsense.
4. Many lie about their location.

Finally, the ARRL sponsored "POTA" to acknowledge 100th anniversary of the parks system. This was never intended to be a daily activity. It like have "Field Day" ever day of the week. FYI... fellas POTA is not a sport hi hi...

Good Grief. This is a prime example of what is known as a "First World Problem".

There are wars all over the world, kids going hungry, political and social upheavals everywhere, and you're getting your knickers in a knot over POTA ?!?!
Give your head a shake.

 

[928bolo]

I worked FT4GL this morning. It is a POTA station. TF-0008 Glorioso Archipelago National Nature Reserve. it is also #301 DXCC for me.

I appreciate his POTA activation.

https://ft4gl.blogspot.com/

 

[RobinD]

I like POTA. DX is my preferred activity, but when the bands are short or "closed" it may be the only thing on the air. I definitely agree that some of the activators could hone their operating skills. More Qs means more experience and hopefully steady improvement.

Two things that do irritate me about POTA are..

1. "Park to Park" is not your callsign. establish the Q with your full call, then share that information please.
2. "standby for second operator" If another operator wants to run the station then split the time. Have each op call CQ for a while. Please don't try to hold me hostage. I'm moving on.

It is my opinion that these are examples of poor operating skills that I hear often from POTA. I am not going to be an A-hole about it. I'm going to operate in a respectful manner to try and be a good example. That is the best thing we can do.

If I here that the second op thing is going on, then I'm not calling. I'm certainly not going to cause interference or try to inflict my personal preferences on them.

 

[Crawdad]

I personally don't see the thrill the POTAto people get from it, but I say whatever punches your ticket so I reckon I'm Pro Pota. Pick any amateur band or the Children's Band and you can always find a miserable bastard who wants you to be miserable also. Like Jeff said, good thing there's plenty of bandspace. For now anyway.

7 3

 

[Mudfoot]

I'm a fan of POTA. I've never operated from a park. I haven't even been to a field day for close to 15 years. I'll make a contact to any and all of them. Some of the activated parks are historical and of great interest too myself.

It's good for the hobby. Travelers and visitors see them. Some get curious and might even pick up a new ham out of the encounter. I've even seen operators throw up a sign and offer coffee and snacks. Reminds me of the old REACT crowd. I miss those days.

I'm for whatever floats your boat.

 

[W4KVW]

I am Anti POTA. My experience has been that many not all POTA activators are poor operators and feel that just because they are operating portable that they have an innate privilege to:
1. self spot and take over a frequency regardless if it is in use.
2. Will activate a few KC's from an on going QSO
3. Have 2 or 3 of their buddies standing by to work the same station. "stand by for the 2nd operator" which is utter nonsense.
4. Many lie about their location.

Finally, the ARRL sponsored "POTA" to acknowledge 100th anniversary of the parks system. This was never intended to be a daily activity. It like have "Field Day" ever day of the week. FYI... fellas POTA is not a sport hi hi...

It would be Great if All POTA, NETS, & Contesters were moved to one portion of each band & they were Not allowed any use of the WARC Bands. Maybe give them their own band so they can just bother each other. About all I hear on 20 meters is POTA every hour of every day if the sun is up. I'm a DX Chaser & I can't hear so many of the DX Stations because of so many POTA activations. I don't reply to Any of them because I have no need to talk to any park anywhere in the world even if they are a DX Station. It's just another waste of good band space like NETS & Contests to me. That's my personal opinion & I do have an ICOM 703+ that I use Portable sometimes, but I NEVER use it from a park. I operate QRP Portable & that's it with it & I Rarely ever log a contact with it. I Rarely log anything even at home unless it's somewhere that I Rarely hear or a DXPedition. I have 290 Entities & I'm always searching for a New one & it's very difficult to work them or hear them with all of the POTA, NETS, & Contesters across most every band. So happy that FT8 FT4 & other digital modes have been assigned a limited space on each band so they can be Avoided. Same way with a New Grid Square. I just want to work the stations & move on. I'm not interested in any awards either. I have enough grid squares on 2 & 6 meters for DXCC many times but that does not interest me either since it's just another useless piece of paper. I keep my own records & I don't need or want anything from the ARRL. I say that ARRL = Amateur Radios Real Losers. If the crap, they have proposed over the years had been put in place then Amateur Radio would all be just one big CB Band. That's my 2 cents worth so take it for what it's worth & it's perfectly fine if you don't agree with me. We each have our own opinions about everything & that's mine about the use of the Amateur Bands. DX is KING.

W4KVW

 

[Rwb]

humm disagreement amongst hammers. least ya'll off cb operators for a few minutes. anybody happy anymore?

 

[W4KVW]

humm disagreement amongst hammers. least ya'll off cb operators for a few minutes. anybody happy anymore?

I have never been one that cared if anyone agreed with me about anything. I'm not into pleasing others & for sure of changing my way of doing things for them so they are happy. We can't please everyone so we should just please ourselves when possible & we will all be much happier. If that upsets someone then it's their problem & not mine & like a Speedbump they will get over it. I'm Very Very HAPPY. LOL {:>)

 

[Onelasttime]

Well I too have some hate but not for legit use of radio or POTA! I get tired of people with stupid amounts of power effectively killing comm's like how channel 6 is. Every single person on the bowl should have been caught and sent to Prison for a 2-10 years by now. I am talking about the well known characters that have 10,000+++++ watts at home and we all know and hate. Anyone that operates a linear and is not enguaged in a 2 way conversation. Everyone participating in a Key Down Event which has ZERO to do with 2 way communication and is breaking every single rule. I do not care too much about power if it is clean and not more than 1500 watts. I care more about how the radio and power are being used!

2 way radio's are designed to have conversations aka communication between 2 or more human beings. It should not be vulgar or obcence. Any history of repeatedly keying over someone or interfering with attempts to communicate should be punnished harshly and quickly! I am not saying we should cut off a hand or anything like that. Whipping, canning, 15 days in local jail starting early on for minor offenses.

It would be Great if All POTA, NETS, & Contesters were moved to one portion of each band & they were Not allowed any use of the WARC Bands. Maybe give them their own band so they can just bother each other. About all I hear on 20 meters is POTA every hour of every day if the sun is up. I'm a DX Chaser & I can't hear so many of the DX Stations because of so many POTA activations. I don't reply to Any of them because I have no need to talk to any park anywhere in the world even if they are a DX Station. It's just another waste of good band space like NETS & Contests to me. That's my personal opinion & I do have an ICOM 703+ that I use Portable sometimes, but I NEVER use it from a park. I operate QRP Portable & that's it with it & I Rarely ever log a contact with it. I Rarely log anything even at home unless it's somewhere that I Rarely hear or a DXPedition. I have 290 Entities & I'm always searching for a New one & it's very difficult to work them or hear them with all of the POTA, NETS, & Contesters across most every band. So happy that FT8 FT4 & other digital modes have been assigned a limited space on each band so they can be Avoided. Same way with a New Grid Square. I just want to work the stations & move on. I'm not interested in any awards either. I have enough grid squares on 2 & 6 meters for DXCC many times but that does not interest me either since it's just another useless piece of paper. I keep my own records & I don't need or want anything from the ARRL. I say that ARRL = Amateur Radios Real Losers. If the crap, they have proposed over the years had been put in place then Amateur Radio would all be just one big CB Band. That's my 2 cents worth so take it for what it's worth & it's perfectly fine if you don't agree with me. We each have our own opinions about everything & that's mine about the use of the Amateur Bands. DX is KING.

W4KVW

This is a fantastic idea. It would only work though if you had harsh penalties for violating it. I am not talking about money either. Nothing less than say 30 days in jail for first offense no appeal. Make the evidence standard very high! .

Instead of code testing for decades they should have made a personality test part of the process to punch your ticket!

 

[AudioShockwav]

Reminds me of the old REACT crowd. I miss those days.

I'm for whatever floats your boat.

It's hard to believe now, but react was the real deal back then. Meetings at cafe every two weeks, montering of channel 9 by members so that it was covered 24/7 and helping out at public events with communications.
Raffles, coffee breaks
Lots of community involvement, even the Sheriffs department had a CB and antenna.....

Agreed.


73
Jeff