Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Trying to activate a POTA park during a major ham radio contest can feel impossible. The bands are packed, CQ calls never stop, and finding a clear frequency seems hopeless. But what if the contest isn’t the problem… what if it’s the solution?
In this video, I show how you can successfully activate Parks on the Air even when HF bands are jammed by a busy contest weekend. Instead of fighting the pileups, I flip the script—learn the contest exchange, blend in like a contest operator, and quietly rack up POTA contacts without anyone realizing you’re activating a park.
This is a real-world, practical POTA strategy for:
• Contest weekends when every band sounds full
• Activators who don’t want to call endless CQ
• Operators running portable, QRP, or modest power
• Anyone frustrated by “there’s no room for POTA today”
You’ll learn:
• Why contest weekends can actually be great for POTA
• How to identify the right contest and its exchange
• How to sound like a legit contest participant
• How to log POTA contacts while staying completely under the radar
• Why this approach works even in terrible noise and congestion
Whether you’re new to Parks on the Air or a seasoned activator, this technique can turn contest chaos into guaranteed contacts—without fighting the crowd.
If you’ve ever asked:
“Is POTA even possible during a contest?”
“Do contesters ruin HF for portable ops?”
“How do I activate when the bands are slammed?”
…this video answers all of that.
📍 Parks on the Air (POTA)
📡 HF Ham Radio Strategy
📝 Contest Exchange Tactics
🎯 Stealth Activation Techniques
Drop a comment if you’ve tried activating during a contest—or if you thought it was impossible until now.
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
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:
National Park Map Coffee Mug - amzn.to/3FCEhMn
"Come to the Park Side" T-shirt - amzn.to/49FO1C4
Music:
"Rusty Nails" - by Got Happy
epidemicsound.com/track/OUORcm6mpd
Trying to activate a POTA park during a major ham radio contest can feel impossible. The bands are packed, CQ calls never stop, and finding a clear frequency seems hopeless. But what if the contest isn’t the problem… what if it’s the solution?
In this video, I show how you can successfully activate Parks on the Air even when HF bands are jammed by a busy contest weekend. Instead of fighting the pileups, I flip the script—learn the contest exchange, blend in like a contest operator, and quietly rack up POTA contacts without anyone realizing you’re activating a park.
This is a real-world, practical POTA strategy for:
• Contest weekends when every band sounds full
• Activators who don’t want to call endless CQ
• Operators running portable, QRP, or modest power
• Anyone frustrated by “there’s no room for POTA today”
You’ll learn:
• Why contest weekends can actually be great for POTA
• How to identify the right contest and its exchange
• How to sound like a legit contest participant
• How to log POTA contacts while staying completely under the radar
• Why this approach works even in terrible noise and congestion
Whether you’re new to Parks on the Air or a seasoned activator, this technique can turn contest chaos into guaranteed contacts—without fighting the crowd.
If you’ve ever asked:
“Is POTA even possible during a contest?”
“Do contesters ruin HF for portable ops?”
“How do I activate when the bands are slammed?”
…this video answers all of that.
📍 Parks on the Air (POTA)
📡 HF Ham Radio Strategy
📝 Contest Exchange Tactics
🎯 Stealth Activation Techniques
Drop a comment if you’ve tried activating during a contest—or if you thought it was impossible until now.
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
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:
National Park Map Coffee Mug - amzn.to/3FCEhMn
"Come to the Park Side" T-shirt - amzn.to/49FO1C4
Music:
"Rusty Nails" - by Got Happy
epidemicsound.com/track/OUORcm6mpd
