Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
I created a brand-new POTA challenge designed to test just how versatile a Parks on the Air operator can be: the POTA Iron Operator Challenge!
The goal is 100 POTA contacts during a single activation:
33 Phone/Voice contacts
33 CW contacts
33 Digital contacts
1 Satellite contact
The idea behind the POTA Iron Operator Challenge is simple: ham radio has so much more to offer than just one operating mode. It's easy to become an "SSB guy," a "CW guy," or spend every activation running FT8. This challenge is about getting outside your comfort zone and becoming a more versatile amateur radio operator.
In this video, I explain the rules for the POTA Iron Operator Challenge and make my first attempt. I try to complete a ham radio satellite contact before moving to HF, where I operate FT8 digital, CW Morse code, and SSB phone from the park.
Can I successfully complete all the requirements and become a POTA Iron Operator?
More importantly, could YOU?
If you're a Parks on the Air activator, I'd love to see other operators attempt the POTA Iron Operator Challenge. Whether your favorite mode is SSB, CW, FT8, digital, or satellites, the whole point is to get outside your usual operating routine, try something different, and experience more of what amateur radio has to offer.
If you attempt the challenge, leave your callsign in the comments and let me know how you did!
POTA Iron Operator Challenge:
33 Voice + 33 CW + 33 Digital + 1 Satellite = 100 QSOs
#POTA #ParksOnTheAir #HamRadio
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!
Buy Travelin' Ham Merch at:
travelin-ham.printify.me
DX Engineering Affiliate Links:
Yaesu FT-891 - dxengineering.pxf.io/m447q1
Yaesu ATAS-120A - dxengineering.pxf.io/7XoxWg
Chameleon 17-Foot Whip - dxengineering.pxf.io/DWW2Gd
Bioenno 12ah LiFePO4 Battery - dxengineering.pxf.io/ZVVZGX
DX Engineering 25 feet RG-8X Coax - dxengineering.pxf.io/vDD7Kv
Powerpole connectors - dxengineering.pxf.io/vDD77W
Rocket Machine Worx - dxengineering.pxf.io/6kd7zE
Comet Lip Antenna Mounts - dxengineering.pxf.io/xJQb01
Lido Radio Products for 10% discount
https://www.lidoradio.com?sca_ref=10002371.rmuheGv22Ito
10% Discount Code World Radio League
KE0VIM
10% Discount Code Ham Radio Prep
KE0VIM
AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS:
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
NexTool EDC Keychain Multi-tool - amzn.to/4tX3AMv
MonTEK Monitor Wall Mount - amzn.to/4r4zhTe
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
Map of all of my activation locations on MyMaps:
google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1iEKlKvNlrwZZO1Y1mjNuA0W_DeFu-Vk&usp=sharing
Set Up:
Arrow II 146/437-10 Yagi Antenna
Yaesu FT-2D
Yaesu FTM-6000 at mid power level
Sony ICD-PX470 Stereo Digital Voice Recorder
Yaesu FT-891
10 watts CW
10 watts FT8
100 watts SSB
US Morse Paddles
Chameleon 17-ft Whip on Wolf River Coils Tripod
9ah Bioenno LiFePO4
15ah Bioenno LiFePO4
Logging on World Radio League
Music:
"Coming Through" - Rockin' for Decades
epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/49071e13-2ad5-355a-8a84-5a368e95509e
'Pursuit' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
"Rusty Nails" - by Got Happy
epidemicsound.com/track/OUORcm6mpd
I created a brand-new POTA challenge designed to test just how versatile a Parks on the Air operator can be: the POTA Iron Operator Challenge!
The goal is 100 POTA contacts during a single activation:
33 Phone/Voice contacts
33 CW contacts
33 Digital contacts
1 Satellite contact
The idea behind the POTA Iron Operator Challenge is simple: ham radio has so much more to offer than just one operating mode. It's easy to become an "SSB guy," a "CW guy," or spend every activation running FT8. This challenge is about getting outside your comfort zone and becoming a more versatile amateur radio operator.
In this video, I explain the rules for the POTA Iron Operator Challenge and make my first attempt. I try to complete a ham radio satellite contact before moving to HF, where I operate FT8 digital, CW Morse code, and SSB phone from the park.
Can I successfully complete all the requirements and become a POTA Iron Operator?
More importantly, could YOU?
If you're a Parks on the Air activator, I'd love to see other operators attempt the POTA Iron Operator Challenge. Whether your favorite mode is SSB, CW, FT8, digital, or satellites, the whole point is to get outside your usual operating routine, try something different, and experience more of what amateur radio has to offer.
If you attempt the challenge, leave your callsign in the comments and let me know how you did!
POTA Iron Operator Challenge:
33 Voice + 33 CW + 33 Digital + 1 Satellite = 100 QSOs
#POTA #ParksOnTheAir #HamRadio
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!
Buy Travelin' Ham Merch at:
travelin-ham.printify.me
DX Engineering Affiliate Links:
Yaesu FT-891 - dxengineering.pxf.io/m447q1
Yaesu ATAS-120A - dxengineering.pxf.io/7XoxWg
Chameleon 17-Foot Whip - dxengineering.pxf.io/DWW2Gd
Bioenno 12ah LiFePO4 Battery - dxengineering.pxf.io/ZVVZGX
DX Engineering 25 feet RG-8X Coax - dxengineering.pxf.io/vDD7Kv
Powerpole connectors - dxengineering.pxf.io/vDD77W
Rocket Machine Worx - dxengineering.pxf.io/6kd7zE
Comet Lip Antenna Mounts - dxengineering.pxf.io/xJQb01
Lido Radio Products for 10% discount
https://www.lidoradio.com?sca_ref=10002371.rmuheGv22Ito
10% Discount Code World Radio League
KE0VIM
10% Discount Code Ham Radio Prep
KE0VIM
AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS:
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
NexTool EDC Keychain Multi-tool - amzn.to/4tX3AMv
MonTEK Monitor Wall Mount - amzn.to/4r4zhTe
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
Map of all of my activation locations on MyMaps:
google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1iEKlKvNlrwZZO1Y1mjNuA0W_DeFu-Vk&usp=sharing
Set Up:
Arrow II 146/437-10 Yagi Antenna
Yaesu FT-2D
Yaesu FTM-6000 at mid power level
Sony ICD-PX470 Stereo Digital Voice Recorder
Yaesu FT-891
10 watts CW
10 watts FT8
100 watts SSB
US Morse Paddles
Chameleon 17-ft Whip on Wolf River Coils Tripod
9ah Bioenno LiFePO4
15ah Bioenno LiFePO4
Logging on World Radio League
Music:
"Coming Through" - Rockin' for Decades
epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/49071e13-2ad5-355a-8a84-5a368e95509e
'Pursuit' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
"Rusty Nails" - by Got Happy
epidemicsound.com/track/OUORcm6mpd
