Parks On The Air (POTA) CW exchanges explained
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- Опубликовано: 22 авг 2021
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Thanks for watching!
73,
Thomas
K4SWL 
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This is incredibly helpful. New ham learning CW with hopes of using it for POTA/SOTA and this breakdown helps!
my very first cw contacts were hunting pota! and actually my first ssb contacts outside of nets were hunting also lol
I was a novice in '63. Nobody had a keyer, so you could extend the final dah of the K to indicate that it meant "over to you" rather than "k". So you wouldn't mistake it for part of someone's call. You could even do this with a bug because you still were self timing the dahs. "K" with the extended dah was widely used, and "BK" was not. Now that we're all using electronic keyers, we don't have an easy way to extend the final dah, so BK is popular. K is probably still an alternative, strictly speaking, but I agree it should be preceded by space.
Another older convention was to end your first transmission in answer to a CQ with the procedural AR instead of K (at least according to my ARRL learn Morse booklet). The logic was that you have not yet established communication until the CQing station sends your call, confirming that things are working two ways. And that first responder transmission is sent only in hope of a contact, so "and that's the end of my message to you" is more appropriate than "over" (or, according to the book, "invitation to transmit"). This, too, would not be confused with his call. But it would probably confuse most ops today, and is unnecessary extra time in a pile up type situation. Just having sent your call covers you legally, without need of any terminator.
Another confusing to newer ops option for other transmissions within the QSO is the procedural KN (over to the station I'm working, no break ins please), which is what we typically mean anyway. And "R R", or even just "R", is a faster option than "BK" at the beginning of your transmission after someone turns it over to you.
So while we can't send dadidaaaaah now, there were well thought out solutions to these problems at least 70 years ago, if not all the way back to telegraph days.
Fascinating! Thank you for sharing this, OM!
Agreed (rather, "R"). I've always waited "2 beats" before ending with a "K". Thanks for the informative video. de KC9O
Thomas, thanks to your videos and especially this one regarding the standard POTA exchange, I finally got brave enough to do a cw activation today at K-4098. I set out to get 10 make it an official activation and was then gonna switch to SSB or FT8. Ended up with 30! The hunters were great and patient and it went much smoother than I expected.
Thanks again,
Gary, NY9R
Bravo, Gary! This absolutely makes my day! Thank you for sharing this. CW is such a wonderful mode and our POTA hunters out there are a patient and supportive bunch. Very well done! 72, Thomas
@@ThomasK4SWL Can you do the same park? I have no idea if a Park has been done already or activated or does it even matter?
Your videos have been (are) a colossal resource in my CW journey. Thank you, Thomas.
Thank you so much!
Thank you.. cw is something I'm mic shy on and I realize POTA is probably the best way for me to jump in because everyone's very helpful and patient
Yes. 100%. Start by hunting parks and getting used to hearing your callsign being sent back to you. The rest is formulaic and your brain will start to learn characters in callsigns. You'll be surprised how quickly you can get into CW with a program like POTA!
Thanks Thomas... I try to play along at home when I can see the screen of the KX3. Your videos keep inspiring me to learn.
Thomas - Nice explanation. This should be really helpful to new CW operators. Anything to demystify and remove fear can help. Of course, once you try it, it quickly becomes addictive, hi hi. 73 de Brian - K3ES
Thank you! You're right: I recall that just before my first CW activation, my buddy WD8RIF sent me the sample exchange. I printed it and had it handy for when my brain decided to freeze up in all of the excitement. :)
Thanks Thomas! I watched enough of your videos before my first hunter and activator CW contacts, that weak copy skills were my biggest worry. 😉
I just made my first couple of CW contacts today and yesterday. It's still a struggle but so much fun. Hopefully I'll add some POTA contacts soon! Thanks for the great video!
Congratulations! Keep it up. It's funny, but you'll reach a point where your brain just sort of takes over. I would encourage you to do a little POTA and SOTA hunting in CW. The exchanges are very formulaic and it gives you an opportunity to practice. Good luck! You've got this! 73, Thomas
Many thanks Thomas for another immensely useful video. I especially appreciate that you take the time to explain in detail what you do and why. Although I've been licensed since the mid-1980s I had not realised the impact that things like the RBN have had, I will now try to make use of it. It's a beautiful day here in SE England and I don't have to work so I'm off out on the motorbike to do some portable operating! 73 DE G0CIQ . .
Oh now that sounds like a plan! I used to live in Shere (Surrey) and loved heading into the SE and exploring the area (and pubs, if being honest here). Best, Thomas (K4SWL / M0CYI)
Thank you Soooo much for doing this video. I refer to it often as I continue to learn CW. Your channel is an awesome reference and keeps me inspired to copy CW better. Got my second CW park QSO today.
WOO HOO!!! Congrats on your second CQ park QSO! Keep up the great work. You've got this!
Super handy. Close to getting on the air or attempting. biggest draw is grabbing a few of those hard to reach states via CW.
Thank you! I just ordered an IC-705 to start playing with CW QRP and was thinking about POTA CW exchanges so this was perfectly timed for me and exactly what I was looking for!
Happy to help! You'll love that '705!
Fellow Carolinian here. You hadn't gotten to saying you were doing a POTA activation at Lake Norman and I already heard the Carolinian accent and thought, "oh yeah... this is going to be good." 73s KN4FVH.
Thank you for posting this. I am hoping to use CW in POTA later this year so this video is helpful as I prepare to know what to expect.
Remember too, hunters may call you only because your spot told them where they could find a new state, county, grid square, etc. on the band. Try to know those things before you get to the park. Also, "TU" is sometimes sent as "TNX." (TNX for this great video!)
Thanks, my next job! Get POTA Activation to do what you do!
I found this video via the POTA website docs, this is a very helpful guide, thank you Thomas. Once my Venus arrives I will be scheduling my first park activation, CW only, at K-2999. Can't wait, it's going to be a blast.
Great choice in the Venus as a dedicated CW field radio! Looking forward to seeing you on the air in CW!
Goo vid to help know what to expect. Especially for those like me just learning. Still takes me about 3 tries to get a good read on a transmission.
Thank you I never new what to do,POTA was not how it was done. SSB just standard voice. 73 ..
Older CW OP here. I haven't done POTA yet and wasn't active when it became popular. Kudos to you all, and thanks for the detailed explanation!
Thanks much for this explanation. I am learning the code and watch your videos often and since I'm not fast as you, this helps to tell me what you have been doing in the exchanges.
Thank you, Paul! Keep up the good work on CW. You'll soon find my speed a little on the slow side! :)
Love your videos Thomas, this one is especially helpful in understanding CW conversations! Thank you and keep the great content coming.
Great video! I do a lot of CW POTA hunting, and you video is exactly the way it is done. Thanks for your time producing a fine POTA intro using CW!
Enormously helpful. Thank you. I'm just getting enough CW in to try to get on the air and hunt some parks, and this is just what I was looking for.
Thanks for the explanation. Being very new to HAM radio and CW, this is great! The BK for Back to you surprised me. I thought it would be KN. But reading more I do see where it is used the way you have it. Thanks again.
I actually heard it being used yesterday.
Thank you, Thomas. Very informative. I recently completed the Basic class of CW Academy. This will help me once I feel confident and comfortable to try POTA using CW. 73
Excellent video. I am getting started in CW and this video was super helpful. I am very familiar with POTA and hunt (phone) daily. Thanks so much.
Very helpful info Thomas. Thanks, and 73!
GA K4SWL ES TU FER THIS DE AC1NO!
I've been studying CW for about 6 weeks and I just had my first QSL with K4CAB at K-5516 in VA. I watched this video and had a notepad open with the exchange you reviewed @11:15. Having the notes there gave me the confidence to key up, and I almost understood the entire exchange as it was happening. I recorded it and got the rest of the info after the QSL was complete.
This was the most rewarding and nerve-wracking QSL I've had to date - My hands were shaking as I was keying. What fun!
Thank you again for posting this and all your other vids. Hopefully, I can catch you one of these days on the air.
73s,
Ed - AC1NO
I love this, Ed! WONDERFUL!
I'm so happy to have even played a small part in your first CW POTA contact. TRust me: it gets easier and the nerves calm with time. We all know about the shaky fist and first time jitters. Makes it all that much more memorable.
Thank you for sharing this and WAY TO GO!!!
72,
Thomas
K4SWL
Windy? Rubber band on the clipboard... brilliant!
I've watched quite a few of your videos now and your use of dit dit at the end of a QSO confused me but clearly not any of the hunters who always seem to respond in kind. Thanks for explaining it!
That was most informative. THANK YOU! ❤
Glad it was helpful!
Another great, detailed video Thomas. Subbed. My first pota activation was cw / qrp, and was successful in spite of my lack of knowledge on how it actually should have been done!
as someone just learning CW, this is immensely helpful!
Tnx fer the pointers!
BK is "break" meaning "I'm taking a break for your immediate response without the IDs." ;)
73/72
Thanks Tom. I don't always do it that way, but I will follow your example from now on because it's faster. Very Best to you and yours!
Thank you! This is something I had asked you about as well and this is exactly the explanation I needed. I was always confused by the “5N”. Makes perfect sense now.
You are so welcome! Glad it helped!
Thanks for sharing these examples- very helpful. I'm trying to get to a point where I can get on the air with CW
You can do it! You might consider starting by hunting stations from home to build your confidence. :) You've got this! Hope to put you int he logs soon!
Thanks for this Thomas it answered all the 'why does he do that' questions I think of while watching your videos. De M7RMF in England.
Ha ha! Thank you!
Hey Thomas, this is great info and very helpful for me as I am just beginning to learn CW. Thank you for the great content.
Thanks Thomas! I am just beginning POTA and learning the basic exchange. This video was extremely helpful! Also enjoy your other POTA videos
My pleasure! So glad it helped.
@@ThomasK4SWL Woo hoo....did my first activation today! I am hooked! Started with SSB for the first one but hope to use CW sometime
@@garystout4300 CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I hardly need tell you how addictive this gets, right? :) Very well done!
This was a great help! Not a real big CW OP. With your tips (and a little encouragement from the kind folks at the LICWC) I decided to give it a try as a hunter. I managed to work 7 parks without embarrassing myself too badly.
WOO HOO!!! Way to go! It only gets better from here. Keep up the great work!
A+ video and explanation. Thank you, sir.
Thank you so much for this video, I have been watching when you use your KX2 what you have been sending while you activate the park. I noticed a couple video's ago I could see what you was sending on the screen of the radio.
Thank you, Tommy! I'm grateful to the subscriber who made the suggestion.
So glad you did this vid, Thomas! It is hugely helpful and timely for me anyway.
That's great to hear, Carolanne. :)
Very helpful. I am going to need this pretty soon!
You'll be so surprised, Josh, how quickly your brain will adopt the cadence of POTA/SOTA contacts in CW. A couple activations under the belt and it'll be an auto pilot thing. Proud of you hitting CW!
Nice video and thanks for posting! I watched this last year, and then posted a question on the POTA FB page asking this exact question and someone was kind enough to tell me about this video. I had totally forgotten about it. This is a good little primer for the exchange. I plan on writing a little cheat sheet for when I activate for the first time in the 2023 season just to get back into the swing of things. 73
So glad it has helped! Look forward to logging you sometime soon!
Thanks for clearing that up for me. I have been inactive for many years and just getting back on the air. I keep hearing "cq pota" and figured it was a contest and I am not a contester at all. Now I will take the plunge and give a qrp call back to a activator and perhaps someday I will take my HW-8 rig to a park and give it a try 😀 73 de WA4JAT se coastal NC
Thanks for the rundown on the POTA system and how it works not on with CW yet but following the Ham Whisper morse course and enjoying it this is about my 3rd try. I am also now trying to copy morse on your channel to try and get the new paths in the brain to connect the dots or should I say the Dits and Dahs. :)
Great video Thomas! Being new to CW this has taken a lot of confusion out of what I hear on the air. I may even have the guts to try some POTA hunting this weekend to get my feet wet.
Go fot it! Hunting is the perfect way to get your feet wet, rack up contacts, and build confidence. You've got this!
Thanks for the help - it's very nice to see it this way
I just started with cw and did half an activation with cw last month. It was pretty rough and I was kind of making it up on the fly using a similar script that I use for ssb. This video was help explainging the cw bits I forgot about in my nervousness. I'm going to write this down and have it to reference next time I try a cw activation.
Congrats on going CW! You'll find that the exchanges become second nature even after only a few activations.
Thank you, I needed this information.
Thanks, Thomas. Very helpful!
I don't do CW yet due to nervousness so this helps greatly
You can do it! CW just takes a lot of listening, then a leap of faith for your first few contacts, then you get comfortable with it very quickly.
Listening is the key. And community, too. Consider joining the Long Island CW Club. They're amazing!
Excelente clase, cada dia es un nuevo apredizaje TNX 73
Great help. Thanks very much!
Thanks Thomas, I was under the impression I had to send the park number/designator. It makes a lot of sense to spot yourself. Either by the Reverse Beacon Network or by other means. I’m going to take your advice and look for POTA on CW as a hunter.
Excellent, Jason! I hope to work you on the air sometime soon!
Thank you, this is big to us learning cw
My pleasure.
Thanks Thomas - a great refresher! I'm going to listen on the bands to catch this in action. TU de N1ACW
Great video! I do have to say (for myself), I don't like our current format of not giving out the park on CW. I have stumbled across POTA stations, but I have no clue where they are! When I have activated my 4 parks (and attempted a couple others), I try to give the K#### every or every other QSO because I like knowing that the other person (and any listening) can without a computer know my QTH, figuring they can look up the number later.
I understand I am in the total minority, I can't even remember the last time I heard someone give out the park. But it feels like we do it out of convenience, a bit too much for me. Thanks for all the great CW content on RUclips!
I've actually been thinking about doing the park ID in my CQs on occasion between exchanges. My pet peeve are the ops that never give out their own callsign. I've tried P2P calls and had no idea who was on the other end nor where they were because they gave no ID during exchanges. They finish a contact, then answer the next or simply send "QRZ?"
Thanks Thomas - I had a lot of this after listening to your other videos, but it is nice to have it written out and understand the thoughts behind the exchange structure. 73 de KI5GX
So glad you found it helpful, Shawn.
Excellent video. I have a 2x1 call and sometimes the receiver is expecting more after my suffix and I will receive a "?". What works for me is I send my call followed by a space and then "KN" (K means over and "KN" means back to the named station only) The "KN" is pronounced as one word with no space dah-di-dah-dah-dit. It lets them know that, that is all there is and prevents an additional exchange. I'm just getting back into CW and even though I am rusty, I am having fun. The best way to get better, is get on the air.
"The best way to get better, is get on the air." That right there, my friend, is solid advice! Thank you!
Thanks Thomas! That was really great information. I have a much better understanding of this, now.
excellent explanation. thank you . 73
Thanks for taking the time and explaining this. Very helpful! I am new to CW and I have been wanting to start chasing CW POTA... after I get this down, then I can start activating CW POTA. (MTR5B w/N9SAB Dipole in the POTA pouch ready to go)
You'll be starting in style with an MTR-5B! Hunting is the gateway to CW activating for sure. It'll build your confidence and also give you exposure to variations in exchanges. You'll be surprised how quickly your CW skills will improve once you start hunting in CW. Keep up the great work!
Based in large part to your videos, I have just signed up for POTA and looking forward to my first activation. THANK YOU for taking the time to explain the CW exchange - very helpful! 73 de K4BLB
My pleasure! I look forward to putting you in the logs soon! :)
Man, this was exactly the video I was looking for and by someone I have been really enjoying learning from.
Thank you, Chris!
Thanks! This was extremely helpful. I just made my first CW contact today, and I've been wanting to hunt some POTA (eventually I want to activate on CW, but that'll be a while). Knowing what to expect in the exchange is very helpful, especially for a CW newbie like myself.
Brilliant work, Evan, making your first CW contact! You'll be in the field with a key before you know it! Great job!
@@ThomasK4SWL And......I just worked you on CW at K-3378! Thanks for this video, it definitely gave me the confidence I needed to start hunting parks. Once I get a little better, I'll start activating. Thanks man!
You're a wealth of knowledge. Thanks for taking the time to do these videos 73 NE5U
My pleasure, Michael. Thank you so much.
Very practical advice! Thx!
This is great thank you! I took screenshots 😎🙏🙏🙏
Great stuff Thomas!
Night Owl CW
Activation this evening planned. I was going to change that sentence but kinda sounds (YODAish)
As a newbie I have the AGN and ? Down pat!
I will say that anyone thinking about jumping on CW but doesn’t think there ready DO IT. No sailor builds skills sitting at port!
Hear, hear!
Well done, thanks. Might add links in the description for pota, sota, where to find park numbers, reverse beacon network.
Excellent suggestion! Just added links to the accompanying post on QRPer (see link in description).
Thank you, Tom!
Love your videos! Thank you.
My pleasure!
Nothing like listening to *12* CQs followed by a callsign. This has actually happened to me. Make them short and sweet!
Brilliant. Yes, you're reminding me I need to "massage" an ADIF file I created this weekend during a park activation to submit as a two-fer POTA activation and also an entry in the Portable Ops Challenge.
Courtesy is a must.
Love your work....
So, I have not heard of sending the BK at the beginning? This is new to me. I just copied at 15 wpm with no spacing this evening so thats a HUGE step forward for me. If you're out there thinking you will never get it, keep going, I really surprised myself tonight.
BK can often mean "Back To Me" in exchanges like this. Sort of a handshake on both sides.
Well done!
This is an invaluable resource for the rest of us. I’m one of those who are P2P though I’m not out there activating, I simply setup and hunt in parks because QRM is lower and happened to be hunting activators that happen to be activating parks.
I never really tell them unless they ask. I hope to be working CW soon, I can key it, my ears just don’t pick it up and I am aided by a decoder. I’m sort of relieved that it’s not involving keying whole words.
Saying “Good morning” on a J38 as compared to “GM” on 13wpm will probably wear me out before my tenth contact anyhow. Thank you for the pointers, hope to work you some day.
73 de KN4GEI
I look forward to working you someday soon!
Thank you
Thanks again for another great video (I'm late to the party) Can you recommend a high quality portable paddle that is much higher precision than the Cwmorse key. I have one and even with adjustment it's just too sloppy. thanks
N0SA makes some wonderful paddles, but only produces them in small quantities. You might reach out to him and see if he has any currently. Also, I love Begali keys, but they are pricey.
@@ThomasK4SWL Thanks for the info Thomas. I believe NOSA is no longer making paddles, but I'll look at Bengali.
Question: as a soon to be new Tech, what band radio makes the most sense to construct? I'm @ AZ and home brew is what has my interest which means, for now, very simple single band, CW/QRP. Btw I took screen shots. This is helpful. TU.
Tough decision, but 40 meters is a very popular band because it has DX properties in the evenings and around greyline, but can be used for NVIS and more local/regional contacts in the day.
Thanks
Older CW operator here. I recently returned to ham radio after a 25-year break and have heard of POTA/SOTA. I don't understand the brevity in POTA CW QSO's. Why the rush? The rapid operating style, and lack of prosigns, just seems to encourage bad CW operating habits.
So it's funny: I get similar questions from contesters who are dipping their toes in POTA and feel like the exchanges are too long. They ask why it's necessary to include "GA" (Good Afternoon), "BK" and not only send the state/province (when it's not required by POTA) but they ask why the activator often confirms the state/province when it's not needed for the log submission. :) For me, POTA exchanges are a more friendly, casual sort of quick exchange--usually lasting a minute, where contest exchanges are a few seconds at most.
I don't think it promotes bad CW habits--in fact, I think it promotes the more courteous abbreviations in routine exchanges that are then used in general contacts and ragchews.
This is great. Can you send a grid square if the park covers multiple counties/sates?
You certainly can as long as you have it in advance. I've actually been asked for both county--and at least a couple of times--grid square. I sometimes don't know the full grid square, though, but I can always confirm post-activation.
I follow this script almost to the tee. I use the full signal followed by a repeat with cut numbers. In my final with a Texas station, I typically send “TU TX 72 de K9NUD dit dit, though sometimes I skip the callsign if I’m navigating a pileup.
I do the same. I attempt to give my call at least every other exchange during a pileup.
15 Ahours, that’s a ton of power!
It is a lot of capacity. I use that battery exclusively for my 20W+ radios. Radios like my IC-756 Pro, Mission RGO One, and KXPA100 amp all benefit. Typically, I use a 3Ah battery with my QRP rigs and even that is a lot of capacity for them! :)
You did not overtalk this. :) Thank you for this - I hunted my first parks yesterday by CW and this guide was extremely helpful!! Thank you! kq4cwk
Very helpful.
Excellent
Great video thank you. Was someone raking?
Hey, Thomas: My FT991a is too big for POTA activations so I'm thinking of buying the QCX mini. It's monoband 5 watts and comes in a kit. I have to pick a band and am leaning towards 40 meters which I see is most active for POTA (at least it seems that way.) If you had to pick one band for POTA and SOTA what would it be?
Hi, Larry,
For POTA (here in North America) I prefer the 40 meter band. For SOTA? I think I prefer the 20 meter band because the resonant antenna options are more compact, and from here in eastern NA, it seems to take advantage of all of the west coast and EU hunters. 40 meters certainly works for SOTA, too, but I can easily activate a summit in NC only using the 20M band regardless of conditions, it seems.
The QCX Mini is a great choice, by the way!
Cheers,
Thomas
K4SWL
@@ThomasK4SWL Thanks, Thomas.
is this a typical qso format in the UK? Ive been learning CW for ages and will try for my first contact when my xiegu x6100 arrives. Would i just send 'UK' in place of where you declare your State? Really enjoy your videos BTW
Great question. I believe in the UK, there's no need to send anything in place of the state/province. I believe that is merely left over from POTA's earliest days. Otherwise, the format is the same. Cheers, Thomas (K4SWL & M0CYI)
Hi Great help with the protocol for pota qso. I have a question, if you do not spot yourself or you are working pota in another country like EI , should you give the park indicator number?
Feel free to do so, but it's probably not necessary because 97% of your chasers are pulling your info from the POTA spotting page. But again, there's no harm whatsoever in sending it.
Good luck! I hope to work you sometime!
Thanks a lot! Being new to POTA I have one question: On a P2P contact you don't actually send the dash in the park designator e.g. K-6856 or do you? 73!
Correct: you do NOT send the dash. Simply, "K1234" for example. Great question!
@@ThomasK4SWL Cool, thanks! Will try my first activation tomorrow :)
thanks Thomas - appreciate this info - one question -do u not state ur state in ur reply ? also i see a CW Morse paddle on the bench - i have one and find it fairly sloppy no matter how i adjust it - is urs like that of did i get a bad one - thanks 73
Hi, Brian,
Convention with POTA exchanges is that the activator doesn't send the state because typically hunters use the POTA spot network to find the activator and all of the info is there. That said, some activators do send the state/province regardless. Technically, when you're activating a multi-state entity (like a trail or parkway) you should send the state, but I do often forget.
I love CW Morse paddles and haven't had an issue with them being sloppy. If you're looking for a precision paddle, you might check out some of the portable offerings from Begali.
@@ThomasK4SWL thanks Thomas - appreciate the reply 73
Ok so random question what is the pencil you use in your activations? It looks like one I'd like to try out being a write in the rain and pencil guy for logging most of the time.
Hi, Zachary, I have a link to it and the other gear I use in my blog posts. Here's the link for the pencil: amzn.to/3frARMG
@@ThomasK4SWL awesome thanks I ended up ordering a package almost identical to this im glad I got it correct.