RWK Parks-On-The-Air Outing Coming September 17th

Plans are coming together for our Parks-On-The-Air (POTA) outing to the Spring Creek Forest State Preserve in Garland. Texas State Park K-4423 is the closest POTA-eligible location to Richardson (and only about 10 minutes east of here). This is a prime opportunity for you to learn how a POTA activation is conducted (or to just go play radio in the park). Come see why POTA has generated over 6 million QSOs in the last year or so.

The outing is planned for the third Saturday in September (Sept 17th). Eagle-eyed RWK members will notice that is the same day as the RWK Hungry Hams breakfast (at Southern Recipes Kitchen). The current plan would be to assemble at the breakfast then convoy to the park around 10am and operate until mid-afternoon. Come for breakfast or just come to the park later.

We’re planning at least two operating positions, probably separated by band and/or mode(similar to Field Day). You are welcome (encouraged even!) to bring your own POTA setup (Radio, Antenna, power) but the club or other members will also have equipment (and power) that can be used so you aren’t required to bring anything except yourself (and possibly a camp chair). If you’re a new ham and want to experience HF operations, just bring yourself and we will get you on the air.

There will be fun and a bunch of radio (it’s the weekend of the Texas QSO Party!). We have sent a poll through HamClubsOnline so please respond if you are coming.

What do you need: Please bring a radio and antenna and whatever else you need for a POTA station (if you want to test your equipment) – We will have AC power available if needed. If you want to use someone else’s POTA station, you should still bring whatever you need to operate and log your contacts (yellow pad or PC) so you can upload them later to the POTA website. If you have camp chairs and/or a portable table, you might want to bring that as well.

Directions to 6110 N. Shiloh Road: From Arapaho, proceed east until you reach Shiloh Rd. (approx 6 miles from Richardson City Hall). Turn left on Shiloh and go north approx 1/4 mile. Park entrance is on the right just after the bridge and just before the apartment complex. From Campbell, go east to Shiloh and turn right, but you will have to make a U-turn cause there is no median access to the park entrance.

We will have a small selection of soft drinks and water at the park. If you are not full from the RWK Breakfast, please feel free to bring your own Lunch. Note: the park does NOT have rest rooms, but there are several locations at businesses just south at Arapaho and Shiloh Rd. The main picnic tables (operating areas) are mostly shaded (see above pic), but please take whatever precautions that you need for outside activities (sunscreen, bug repellent).

For those not familiar with POTA, you’re encouraged to watch Don Weeks N5SKT’s General Meeting presentation from December 2021 or visit the Parks-on-the-Air website. Here’s a short video of David KG5EIU (and Bill KF5ZBL) and their (fancy) POTA setups:

KG5EIU and KG5ZBL activating Park K-4423 in Garland