The Morse Code POTA "Early Birds"

 

There is something spiritual and innate about the early morning moments of a new day.  As a Ham Radio operator who does a lot of Parks on the Air,  that moment the sun peaks just above the horizon introducing the freshness of a new day is incredibly serene.   

Living in Kentucky, USA, summer mornings can be insufferable. At times, the heat island of Louisville situated in the Ohio River Valley creates a vicious daily cycle of high heat and high humidity during the daylight hours with nighttime conditions never providing cooler relief. Some days at dawn the temperatures can be in the low 80's with humidity near or above 70%.  That's why most of my summer Parks on the Air and portable activities were done at sunrise to avoid those dangerous conditions.  

Those Terrestrial weather conditions along with Space weather conditions (Solar Flares - Radio Blackouts) during the summer months found me doing what I called, "Beat The Heat" activations. I've found getting in an activation before he heat of the day satisfied my POTA addiction and I could enjoy the heat of the day sipping on glasses of ice tea in the cool of an air conditioned room. 

over the past several months, I been delighted to find not only an abundance of early morning operators hunting but quite a few operators who were activating at sunrise, too.  I've come to admire and respect their commitment and enjoyment to Parks on the Air activities.

As we approach the winter months these dedicated operators continue to rise early to participate in POTA.  I like to call them and me "The Morse Code POTA Early Birds".  Here are a few of the weekday regulars in the United States that you can find operating CW on 40, 30, 20 meters; and now with other bands opening early you can likely find these operators on 17, 15, 12 and even 10 meters at or near sunrise local time (1030 - 1200 UTC).  If you're are hunting POTA, it will be worth the effort to include them in your Ham Alerts or watch for them on POTA Spots.

KB9RPG - Steve

Fort Harrison State Park

You can usually find Steve activating a 2-fer Fort Harrison State Park (US- 2256) & Lawrence Creek State Nature Preserve (US-10247), north of Indianapolis, IN. almost every weekday.  Steve and I have a couple of commonalities. He activates his 2-fers as much as I activate Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve US-7956, and I also discovered that Steve knew my former nextdoor neighbor, Amateur Radio operator Larry Card W9CC (SK) when I lived in Indianapolis, IN. in 70's and 80's. You can find Steve on 40 meters around 7.044 Mhz or  30 meters around 10.116 Mhz

W4ARB - Aaron

Aaron - W4ARB

Aaron is out several weekday mornings operating from Tuskegee National Forest (US-4451) east of Montgomery,AL.  Aaron operates a lot of QRP with various rigs, keys and paddles.  He sends at speeds at or near 20 WPM but uses the Farnsworth method of sending to accommodate those you may be new to or learning CW.  You can find Aaron on 40 meters around 7062Mhz or on 30 meters around 10.112Mhz.

AC4BT - Jerry 

Jerry - AC4BT

Jerry is one of those Old School operators who operates exclusively Morse Code. If you check out his QRZ page you'll see Jerry has been quite active over the years.  Recently Jerry has been activating parks along the eastern seaboard in Maryland, Virginia and New York.  On his early morning POTA activations on 40 meters, Jerry is usually close to 7.060Mhz. And when 20 meters is open early, Jerry hangs around 14.060Mhz.

KB3EOF - Sandy

Sandy - KB3EOF

I have quirky ways of remembering callsigns. With Sandy I use a computer acronym to remember him EOF (End of File)  Sandy is another east coast earlier riser. Sandy is up so early he is usually the first to get his 40 meter frequency of 7.062 Mhz spot.  This retired Air Force veterans activates several POTA sites in the state of Maryland using his QRP Labs 5 Band QMX.

K2JVB - Dave

Dave - K2JVB

 In addition to his Ham Radio activities, Dave is truly a World Traveler as you will see from his web page  http://k2jvb.org/  Dave doesn't shy away from cold weather.  Dave's is one of those multi hour / multi band POTA activators. His early morning activities are close to these frequencies are 40 meters 7.058 Mhz  or (7.043), 30 meters 10.124 Mhz 20 meters 14.056 Mhz, 15 meters 21.045 Mhz.  And if you are across the pond and looking to work some U.S. DX, most recently Dave can be found on 10 meters around 28.045 Mhz.  Dave operates at several POTA site on the Long Island of New York.

N8BB - Werner

Werner - N8BB

Werner has recently set up shop at North Country Trail National Scenic Trail US-4239 in Michigan but you'll find Werner at other POTA sites in Michigan.  Werner is a definite outdoorsman who likes to fish and has found a new adventure in Parks on the Air. I like to call Werner the "Elecraft Man". Werner uses one of his several Elecraft rigs to operate early morning QRP close to the 40 meter frequency of 7.046 Mhz.  You'll find Werner operating POTA several weekday mornings.  

N1BS - Brian

Brian - N1BS

Brian takes full advantage of his Rhode Island QTH and operating in various POTA sites in that state by being in a position to work European DX and domestic stations. Brian usually starts out on 40 meters close to 7.053 Mhz.  But don't blink because Brian will QSY to 20 meters 14.042- 14.045 Mhz and if you blink again Brian's already moved to 10 meters near 28.044 Mhz to capture that DX.

I know I've likely forgotten someone but these are the operators I've seen on POTA spots around sunrise (1030 - 1200 UTC)  almost on a daily basis throughout this past Spring, Summer and now Fall.  So if you're an early riser or someone looking to try out hunting POTA activators in a less intense environment, set that alarm for 1030 UTC and come join us. 

Sunrise along the Ohio River at Louisville, KY. USA
Part of the Lewis & Clark National Historical Trial
US-4572

73 from "Ham on a Bike"

N4JAW