Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This Parks on the Air activation comes with mystery, skyscraper views, and a noise floor only Vegas could deliver. In this video, I take my HF setup and my CW key to the top of a downtown parking structure to activate a “park” that somehow exists on the roof. And honestly… figuring out why it’s there is half the adventure.
Between battling an S7 noise floor and pounding out contacts on CW, every QSO feels like a small miracle. And with antennas, radios, and Morse code clicking away on an otherwise empty parking garage, you’ll see why I halfway expected the local authorities to stop by and ask what exactly I was doing up there.
Join me for this unique and slightly ridiculous POTA activation: part CW challenge, part urban mystery, part “please don’t kick me off this garage.”
If you love CW, POTA, SOTA, HF radio, portable ops, and weird activation locations, this one delivers.
Support the Travelin' Ham here:
patreon.com/c/KE0VIMTravelinHam
buymeacoffee.com/thetravelinham
Also see affiliate links below. Click a link before any Amazon purchase and I get a commission even if it isn't a product I list. And it's no extra cost to you! Amazon makes more money if you don't!
Map of all of my activation locations on MyMaps:
google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1iEKlKvNlrwZZO1Y1mjNuA0W_DeFu-Vk&usp=sharing
00:00 - Welcome
00:10 - Theme
00:30 - Travel Montage
04:47 - Introduction & Setup
16:10 - Radioactive!
35:38 - Wrap-up
39:17 - Outro
Set Up:
Yaesu FT-891
25 watts CW
US Morse Paddles
Chameleon 17-ft Whip on MFJ Triple Mag-Mount
9ah Bioenno LiFePO4
N3FJP logging software on 12-volt Gateway Laptop
AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS:
Radio Equipment:
Bioenno 9ah LiFePO4 - amzn.to/4lsyrww
Bioenno 15ah LiFePO4 - amzn.to/4kWqEqF
Sony ICD-PX470 Stereo Digital Voice Recorder - amzn.to/4mua8zk
Nanuk 909 Case - amzn.to/4jgwB03
Nanuk 910 Case - amzn.to/3Z3wFcl
Digirig DR-891 - amzn.to/4k8CuO1
Lido Suction Cup Mount for Yaesu Mobile Radios - amzn.to/4mwZ9VT
CW Morse Iambic Paddles - amzn.to/3FvcLQP
Arrow II 70cm/2m Yagi Antenna w/out duplexer - amzn.to/3Sl55Ub
Sandbags for antenna tripod - amzn.to/3HdwVzn
Vekkia Headlamp w/ redlight - amzn.to/43sLOFw
Rite in the Rain logbook - amzn.to/4kBAz4B
Heil Sound foot switch - amzn.to/45x5QkG
Nano VNA-H antenna analyzer - amzn.to/4jgVedf
InnoView 15.6 Inch FHD 1080P portable monitor - amzn.to/3Tk7yPf
Recording Equipment:
DJI Wireless Mic System (not what I have, but what I'd get today) - amzn.to/43xRsq3
NEEWER iPhone Cage - amzn.to/4i2OwbL
NEEWER Quick Release Handle - amzn.to/443vdZW
Other Items I Really Love:
12.5' Quik-Set Clam - amzn.to/4nqHz69
National Park Map Coffee Mug - amzn.to/3FCEhMn
"Come to the Park Side" T-shirt - amzn.to/49FO1C4
Music:
"I Don't Give A..." - by Def Lev
epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/8cf69c84-fe3d-4c30-895e-2ddf9c499e9e
"Rusty Nails" - by Got Happy
epidemicsound.com/track/OUORcm6mpd
This Parks on the Air activation comes with mystery, skyscraper views, and a noise floor only Vegas could deliver. In this video, I take my HF setup and my CW key to the top of a downtown parking structure to activate a “park” that somehow exists on the roof. And honestly… figuring out why it’s there is half the adventure.
Between battling an S7 noise floor and pounding out contacts on CW, every QSO feels like a small miracle. And with antennas, radios, and Morse code clicking away on an otherwise empty parking garage, you’ll see why I halfway expected the local authorities to stop by and ask what exactly I was doing up there.
Join me for this unique and slightly ridiculous POTA activation: part CW challenge, part urban mystery, part “please don’t kick me off this garage.”
If you love CW, POTA, SOTA, HF radio, portable ops, and weird activation locations, this one delivers.
Support the Travelin' Ham here:
patreon.com/c/KE0VIMTravelinHam
buymeacoffee.com/thetravelinham
Also see affiliate links below. Click a link before any Amazon purchase and I get a commission even if it isn't a product I list. And it's no extra cost to you! Amazon makes more money if you don't!
Map of all of my activation locations on MyMaps:
google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1iEKlKvNlrwZZO1Y1mjNuA0W_DeFu-Vk&usp=sharing
00:00 - Welcome
00:10 - Theme
00:30 - Travel Montage
04:47 - Introduction & Setup
16:10 - Radioactive!
35:38 - Wrap-up
39:17 - Outro
Set Up:
Yaesu FT-891
25 watts CW
US Morse Paddles
Chameleon 17-ft Whip on MFJ Triple Mag-Mount
9ah Bioenno LiFePO4
N3FJP logging software on 12-volt Gateway Laptop
AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS:
Radio Equipment:
Bioenno 9ah LiFePO4 - amzn.to/4lsyrww
Bioenno 15ah LiFePO4 - amzn.to/4kWqEqF
Sony ICD-PX470 Stereo Digital Voice Recorder - amzn.to/4mua8zk
Nanuk 909 Case - amzn.to/4jgwB03
Nanuk 910 Case - amzn.to/3Z3wFcl
Digirig DR-891 - amzn.to/4k8CuO1
Lido Suction Cup Mount for Yaesu Mobile Radios - amzn.to/4mwZ9VT
CW Morse Iambic Paddles - amzn.to/3FvcLQP
Arrow II 70cm/2m Yagi Antenna w/out duplexer - amzn.to/3Sl55Ub
Sandbags for antenna tripod - amzn.to/3HdwVzn
Vekkia Headlamp w/ redlight - amzn.to/43sLOFw
Rite in the Rain logbook - amzn.to/4kBAz4B
Heil Sound foot switch - amzn.to/45x5QkG
Nano VNA-H antenna analyzer - amzn.to/4jgVedf
InnoView 15.6 Inch FHD 1080P portable monitor - amzn.to/3Tk7yPf
Recording Equipment:
DJI Wireless Mic System (not what I have, but what I'd get today) - amzn.to/43xRsq3
NEEWER iPhone Cage - amzn.to/4i2OwbL
NEEWER Quick Release Handle - amzn.to/443vdZW
Other Items I Really Love:
12.5' Quik-Set Clam - amzn.to/4nqHz69
National Park Map Coffee Mug - amzn.to/3FCEhMn
"Come to the Park Side" T-shirt - amzn.to/49FO1C4
Music:
"I Don't Give A..." - by Def Lev
epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/8cf69c84-fe3d-4c30-895e-2ddf9c499e9e
"Rusty Nails" - by Got Happy
epidemicsound.com/track/OUORcm6mpd
