The ARRL has organized an ongoing radio event during all of 2016 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the US National Parks Service titled National Parks on the Air (NPOTA).
Approximately ~470 National Park entities exist including parks such as Zion, Yosemite, battlefields such as Gettysburg, monuments such as Lady Liberty all the way through to preserves like Mojave.
The goal is for amateur operators to communicate far and wide from an entity to celebrate one of America’s best ideas and bringing further awareness to the wonder and irrefutable value of amateur radio.
Two roles exists; activators and chasers. Activators operator a portable radio station within an entity and chasers communicate with them from virtually anyway on the globe. Ideally tens if not hundreds of chasers will thoughtfully converge on a single activator ensuring smiles all round.
I have completed 10 unique activation and 14 in total. All have been 12 watts SSB into either an LNR End Fed or AlexLoop. I use any band that seems to work!! Have been having tons of success one 10m, 15m, 17m and 20m. 40m has been OK with the End Fed and a miracle with the AlexLoop (its 13% efficient which means my 12 watts is about 3 watts ERP. That written I do make QSOs out 400-500 miles with the AlexLoop on 40m if propagation.
National Parks
- Joshua Tree NP
- Death Valley NP
Recreation Areas
- Santa Monica Mountains NRA
- Golden Gate NRA
Preserves
- Mojave Preserve
Seashores
- Pt Reyes Seashore
Trails
- Pony Express Trail
- Juan Bautista de Anza trail.
Historic
- Fort Point NHM
- SF Maritime Park
Paul Gacek 