Parks on the Air participants have benefited from the program's impressive technological foundation. Their advanced infrastructure didn't happen by accident. Founding members W3AAX, N3VEM and W8TAM were instrumental in designing a reliable system. They (and others) executed their plan with zero budget and an entirely volunteer crew. Today, that vision is being expanded upon by a team of 15 volunteer software developers - the unsung heroes behind POTA's success. In this interview, Thom Martin, W8TAM, talks about the early, uncertain days of the now wildly successful program, the team that continues to improve the POTA system and his personal love of portable ham radio operation.
Thom is the one who renewed my interest in the hobby when we worked together. Awesome person and ham.
Hi, « Volunteer » is a key part of many success stories, and « Volunteer » within our hobby is no exception! The POTA team accomplished so far a huge and wonderful system to manage with efficiency many tasks to make life easier for everyone.... and especially for « Volunteer ». Keep going POTA Team.... best regards 73 de Jeff | VA2SS
The POTA program not only sets a high bar for website design, but encourages participation in radio and nature. Many amateurs that I have talked to about POTA have since become active in the program, both as hunters and activators. Wonderful job POTA! 73 de K2ZAD, Mike.
Fell in like with POTA along with the kids back in 17-18. I can't even tell you how many times we have made great memories together, as well as all of us learning radio along with the history of the parks. We even activated 4 parks as first time activators as K1YAH, the young Atlanta Ham's youth club. If you have had a great time with POTA, consider an occasional 5 or 10 dollar donation to them.
The POTA volunteer staff have done a great job and have made a genuine contribution to the hobby. Doing activations has given me a great deal of experience as an operator - learning how to "work" the bands despite challenging conditions, experimenting with setting up and constructing different homebrew portable antennas, sharpening CW skills, managing a pile-up while remaining courteous to hunters, and dealing with (ignoring) the occasional troll. Thank you, POTA staff!
We can tend to take for granted the work of the men and women who make POTA possible, but with out them I can't see that this program would have ever been the success that it has been or even possible as a long term project. I would like to extend my thanks and prayers to the team members for their efforts and continued success, and I hope to be a part of this great subculture of amateur radio for many years to come. So to all my fellow operators I say: show you support financially, by activating and hunting. Now lets get out there and POTA.
Had the pleasure of meeting W8TAM and his wife, Julie. They came to our club shack(K8PL) a few years ago to do MI POTA. And then caught up with them in Dayton when they hosted a seminar. Hope when they visit the U.P. of Michigan, we can do a 3 person POTA.
