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Ham radio outdoors?
Quote from Justin on August 26, 2022, 3:32 pmI just saw this part of the site and didnt know what it meant. I dont do ham radio but I had always thought it was just people with radios in their basement and not really an outside thing. When I saw it here though I googled it and was surprised to see that ham radio has a LOT of things to do outdoors. Not sure that this is somewhere that I would post but it will be neat to see if anyone else does and what they are doing with ham radio outdoors. Good topic!
I just saw this part of the site and didnt know what it meant. I dont do ham radio but I had always thought it was just people with radios in their basement and not really an outside thing. When I saw it here though I googled it and was surprised to see that ham radio has a LOT of things to do outdoors. Not sure that this is somewhere that I would post but it will be neat to see if anyone else does and what they are doing with ham radio outdoors. Good topic!
Quote from nathanu on August 26, 2022, 4:20 pm@justin46 very cool question and I can confirm that Ham radio is definitely something to play with outdoors. I've been a licenses Ham radio operator for a couple of years now and have enjoyed what's caled SOTA (Summits On The Air) and POTA (Parks On The Air). SOTA is basically taking a radio to the summit of a mountain and then trying to talk to other Ham radio operators and POTA is the same but with National Parks (may be State Parks too). Some people really get into it and you can get points based on the number of summits, parks and contacts that you made and then awards based on the points. I don't get that into it but I do like to take my radio with me when I hike and backpack. It's fun to play with on breaks and, if I find myself in a tough situation, Ham radio gives me one additional option to call for help.
@justin46 very cool question and I can confirm that Ham radio is definitely something to play with outdoors. I've been a licenses Ham radio operator for a couple of years now and have enjoyed what's caled SOTA (Summits On The Air) and POTA (Parks On The Air). SOTA is basically taking a radio to the summit of a mountain and then trying to talk to other Ham radio operators and POTA is the same but with National Parks (may be State Parks too). Some people really get into it and you can get points based on the number of summits, parks and contacts that you made and then awards based on the points. I don't get that into it but I do like to take my radio with me when I hike and backpack. It's fun to play with on breaks and, if I find myself in a tough situation, Ham radio gives me one additional option to call for help.
by nathanu