State of POTA 2026 | Co-Founder Thom W8TAM on AI and What's Next

Parks on the Air has grown into one of amateur radio's biggest success stories. So what's next?

Thom Martin W8TAM, co-founder of Parks on the Air and a current member of the POTA Board of Directors, joins me for a candid conversation about the organization's next chapter. We discuss POTA's remarkable growth to nearly 90,000 participants, the unique challenges of running a global volunteer organization, and the work happening behind the scenes to prepare POTA for the future.

hom also shares the story of how recent advances in AI helped overcome years of software development challenges, putting a public beta of the next-generation POTA platform within reach. We also tackle several topics that generate frequent discussion within the community, including park boundaries, N-Fers, Pass the Mic, volunteer leadership, and why maintaining a simple, consistent set of rules is essential as Parks on the Air continues to expand around the world.

Whether you're a new activator, a seasoned hunter, or simply curious about where POTA is headed, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the people, technology, and decisions shaping its future.

Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

 

Great job guys. right on point. Mark K8MST

 

I really enjoy hunting DX and POTA on HF. Without them this becomes a very boring hobby. There's only so many weather reports and having to hear people go on about their health conditions before I just wanna find a new hobby. The POTA system has always worked well for me and the only issues that come to mind are some things lag from time to time on updating stats but this is a very small detail to me. Some things I'd like to see are more awards and band endorsements for things like the 50 states, better maps that show what youve worked and what you need and maybe some other helpful tools. Aside from that I think POTA is awesome. POTA activators are some of the most fun and interesting folks I've ever worked. They are more interesting to work than the old, crusty, and bitter POTA hating net folks. In an emergency it's the POTA operators who will be the most helpful. Not the ones who think we are playing army or something connected to the government which we are not, we are hobbyists PERIOD. These folks can put up a very effective station pretty much anywhere within a few minutes and be on the air. On the volunteer thing with POTA, I think that's great but there's only so much mileage that you're gonna get with just your love of POTA and good intentions. I'd be interested in a paid membership model of POTA where members get more features and the system itself gets the funding that it needs including payroll and infrastructure to keep everything running smoothly. I don't know how possible that is but its just a thought. Thanks for saving the hobby and making it enjoyable for everyday people de KT4ZG

 

Kevin -- another great video. Thanks. I'm already excited about the upcoming beta release(s).

I'd say I'm only a POTA medium-grade-kook (only a couple hundred parks activated), so maybe I'm not qualified to chime in, but I really like the minimalist approach to the rules. I do my best to abide by the rules and (like you) enjoy the process of researching boundaries (I'm stumped right now to figure out a way to get within the boundaries of US-9758, Chattooga River), but I also don't get all lathered up about people who break the rules. If someone wants to brag about having a bunch of awards that he didn't really earn, who cares? To me, he's in the same category as someone who cheats at solitaire and then brags about running the deck. I'm not going to lose any sleep about either guy. I'm not "competing" against anyone and the enjoyment I get from POTA isn't diminished in the slightest by the prospect that someone, somewhere wasn't actually in the park the claims to have activated. His loss and no effect on me. Anyway, that's my three cents (inflation)...

Anyway, thanks again. I'm looking forward to the next Q5 video announcing the first upgrade.
73 Skip K4EAK

 

Nice video. I agree that POTA has reinvigorated Ham Radio for a lot of people including myself. Even if all I'm doing is going from truck to picnic bench, I'm getting outside and doing something fun.

I do agree that there are definitely things on the website that could do with an update, but fully understand it must be very difficult to find time / resources to do these updates. These are the kinds of things AI should be used for in my opinion. Looking forward to seeing what they implement.

 

I sure wish Army Corp of Engineers and other places that already use the America the Beautiful National Parks Annual Pass would eventually qualify for POTA.

 

I think the biggest problem with the POTA program are the folks who submit logs for multi-entity activations where some of the parks they submit logs for don't actually overlap each other. It takes all of the drive to participate for the sake of awards away from the program, at least for those of us who play by the rules and are honest when it comes to submitting logs for the parks that we actually activated.

 

Apps and individuals that spam the bageezus out of Clusters...Others do use the clusters too and may not care for the spam.

 

Could you not just create a filter to remove anything that includes POTA?

 

One POTA Board member being interviewed by another and Kudo'd right out of the gate by a third. Did I get that right?

"He who controls the media controls the minds of the public." — Noam Chomsky

 

Can you say self-licking ice-cream cone? True for many contests/contesters

 

I enjoy POTA, both hunting and activating. It's a great way for me to introduce amateur radio to my four young kids. However, as with most contests, many of the behaviors POTA encourages are less than stellar and don't represent good operating practices.

I've watched seasoned operators—who are normally nothing but perfect gentlemen on the air—tune up over others, start calling CQ on a frequency without even bothering to check if it's in use, set up too close to another station when there's plenty of room elsewhere on the band, self-spot more than the rules allow, and engage in other questionable operating practices, all while participating in POTA.

It will also be interesting to see what happens as we head into the lower part of the solar cycle and those whizbang "it works!" antennas stop working because prevalent propagation is no longer doing all the heavy lifting. Hopefully, some will learn, and learn to build, what makes an efficient radiator and discover that needle-tickling QRP sometimes just needs a big amplifier in line to get the job done! LOL. 73

 

on someone else platform.......lol

 

It is in my opinion that the "New Breed" of POTA Activators are far more selfish regarding QSO confirmations. Their awards don't need to be confirmed for their "Participation Trophy", what about the Hunters that NEED confirmations for theirs, ie: US-250, etc. Also, how is it that POTA can achieve WAS without WAS? Makes no sense. If you need Alaska or Hawaii, work them!!! 73 ... Mark-KC1SOW

 

SOMEONE commented right here in this very featured article, and I quote..."I really enjoy hunting DX and POTA on HF. Without them this becomes a very boring hobby. Which DIRECTLY infers to the present state of Ham Radio! I.E, YOU'VE lost the art of or the ability to (A) communicate and (B) and most unfortunately, YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN OTHER PEOPLE! If YOU aren't able to create a QSO beyond "you're 59" or going get beyond what constitutes every stinkin' nut ,bolt and washer THAT IS your shack...am I making a point before saying another word? For the longest of time I've had better QSOs yaking with perfect strangers in line at the Deli at our local Walmart than I do in 21st century Amateur Radio! To that end POTA has packed the bands, or and especially 20 meters, with folks having fun. But personally it's disappointing what ham radio has become since I was first licensed in 1984. But just like "FT THIS AND FT THAT," POTA requires nothing more than what I presented in the very beginning. "You're 5-9, QRZ" THAT IS BORING!