POTA Activation at DeSoto Falls State Park with the Penntek TR35
Sometimes the best radio days happen when you least expect them. This week, I want to share an impressive Parks on the Air (POTA) activation by David WK4DS that caught my attention - a solid demonstration of portable operation that's worth talking about.
Setting up at DeSoto Falls State Park in Alabama, David brought a lean, efficient portable station that proves you don't need a truckload of equipment to make meaningful contacts. His rig - a Penntek TR35 QRP transceiver paired with an Elecraft T1 tuner and a 41-foot random wire antenna - was a masterclass in minimalist design.
Band performance was interesting. The 20-meter band opened up nicely, with David quickly logging several contacts. The 17-meter band was quieter, but he still managed two solid QSOs. The real surprise came on 30 meters, where he worked seven contacts that highlighted the effectiveness of his setup.
What stands out isn't just the technical execution, but the approach. Running off a custom Bioenno 3Ah battery pack, David demonstrated how thoughtful preparation meets on-the-spot adaptability. His setup powered not just the radio, but an external speaker and S-meter - proving that compact doesn't mean compromising.
For those working to improve their CW skills, this activation offers a real-world learning opportunity. It's one thing to practice in controlled settings; it's another to see live contacts in challenging field conditions.
The bigger message here? Portable operations are about more than just making contacts. They're about problem-solving, adapting to conditions, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible with minimal gear.
If you're interested in the full details, David's video capture of the activation is worth checking out. I'm curious, what's your approach to portable operations? Drop a comment and share your setup and experiences.
Watch the Video
Catch all the action here:
📺 POTA Activation at DeSoto Falls State Park with the Penntek TR35
Let us know in the comments what you think! What’s your go-to setup for POTA?
Final Thoughts
Portable operations like this remind us why we love ham radio. It’s about exploring the outdoors, testing your skills, and making connections across the bands. Dave’s activation is a great example of how much you can do with a compact QRP setup, and I hope it inspires you to get out there and activate your local park.
Today David (WK4DS) takes a trip to DeSoto Falls State Park and sets up the Penntek TR35 and the (new to him) Elecraft T1 antenna tuner with a 41' random wire antenna. All this to see how the bands will work for a QRP rig running on a small Bioenno Battery pack. Needless the say, the 20 meter portion of the activation I did prior to getting the video camera out went like gang busters, then I setup the camera and switched to the WARC bands. First 17 meters where I was able to only get 2 contacts in the log before moving down to 30 meters and working 7 more there after which I got cold and went QRT so I could pack up and go get warm... All in all the POTA activation went really well and the weather was really cooperative for me to not have a wind muff on the camera microphone. Follow along to hear some CW on the bands and see if you can copy some of it to get you some CW practice as well.
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