POTA — Parks on the Air — is one of the friendliest ways to enjoy ham radio outdoors. Activators set up portable stations in parks and historic sites, hunters try to contact them, and everyone logs the fun. All you need is a radio, an antenna, and a park.
Live POTA Spots — Who Is On the Air Right Now
These are live POTA spots from the public POTA API, updated every time this page loads. Pick a station, tune to its frequency, and call when they ask for hunters.
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How POTA Works
- Activators go to a registered park, set up a portable station, and call CQ POTA. An activation counts with 10 contacts.
- Hunters listen for activators — on the air or spotted in the live table above — and make contact from home, a car, or another park.
- Park-to-park contacts happen when two activators work each other from different parks.
- Contacts are logged and confirmed through the POTA website, with awards for parks activated, parks hunted, and more.
Your First Activation
Pick a park close to home, check its rules, and pack light: a radio, a battery, a wire or portable antenna, and something to log with. A simple setup works beautifully — many activators run 10 to 20 watts from a picnic table. Call CQ POTA, log each contact, and upload your log afterward. That is all there is to it.
Hunting From Home
No portable gear yet? No problem. Watch the live spots in the table above, tune to an activator’s frequency, and call when they ask for hunters. It is a great way to build confidence, collect new parks and states, and learn how pileups work — all from your shack. New to the hobby? Start with our New Hams page, then come back and chase some parks.