There is something special about operating from a park bench or a hilltop with a small radio, a battery and a length of wire. Two programmes have turned that into a hugely popular part of the hobby: Parks on the Air (POTA) and Summits on the Air (SOTA).
Parks on the Air (POTA)
POTA encourages operating from parks and protected areas. Each park has a reference – UK parks start with GB-. There are two roles:
- Activators go to the park and operate. An activation counts when you make at least 10 contacts from the park within one UTC day.
- Hunters stay at home and try to work as many park activators as possible.
Activators are “spotted” on the POTA website (pota.app), so hunters know where to find them. Upload your log afterwards to get credit.
Summits on the Air (SOTA)
SOTA is the mountain-goat version. Each summit has a reference and a points value depending on its height. To qualify, you must:
- Operate from within the activation zone – close to the summit (within 25 m of height).
- Carry your equipment and power yourself – no operating from a vehicle or using mains power.
- Make at least 4 contacts to claim the summit’s points.
Chasers at home collect points too, and SOTAwatch is where activators are announced and spotted.
What to pack
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| A light HF radio or a handheld | A handheld on 2 m FM is enough for many summits |
| Battery (e.g. LiFePO4) and spare fuses | Power for a couple of hours |
| Wire antenna or end-fed half-wave + light mast | Quick to put up, effective on several bands |
| Logbook and pencil (or phone app) | Write down callsign, time UTC, band, mode |
| Waterproof, warm layer, food and water | Hilltops are colder and windier than you expect |
| Map, charged phone and a plan | Tell someone where you are going |
Tips for a first activation
- Pick an easy, accessible park or a low summit for your first go.
- Practise putting the antenna up in the garden first.
- Post an alert in advance and self-spot when you start.
- Be patient – it often takes a few minutes for hunters to find you, then the pile-up starts.
- Leave no trace and respect the site, livestock and other visitors.
My portable outings appear on the Calendar as “Activation” events – come and find me. 73!