SPARK POTA Activation – US-3998 Ragged Island WMA – November 15, 2025.
Don, KJ4MZ, organized a long-overdue Shack Day for the SPARK members, an event the club had not experienced in quite a long time. The chosen location was US-3998 Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area, an ideal setting for bringing everyone together again to enjoy portable operations and shared time on the air.
The weather was excellent for a November day in Virginia: partly cloudy and 65 degrees, providing a perfect backdrop for outdoor radio work. Members arrived throughout the morning and quickly transformed the parking area into a temporary field station. Tailgates were lowered, equipment cases were opened, and before long the back ends of pickups and SUVs had become fully functional mobile shacks.
Alongside Don (KJ4MZ) was Lee (K4SFR), Vince (KC6ISS), Robbie (KC4FLB), and Patrick (KR4BSN), who set up their stations, each one employing a different antenna configuration. The resulting collection of verticals, end-fed wires, whips, and creative supports formed an antenna farm that was both impressive and educational. Everyone enjoyed examining one another’s setups, something that had been missed for far too long.
Operators made use of a wide range of modes throughout the day, including CW, FT8, SSB voice, APRS, Winlink, and others. Despite the diversity of equipment and approaches, every station achieved successful contacts, and logs steadily filled with QSOs.
Several visitors stopped by to greet the group, check on the progress of the activation, and learn more about the equipment in use. Thanks go out to Mark KD4SVN, Russ K1OB, and Dave W1DAV for stopping by our activation site.
By the end of the afternoon, the shared sentiment was clear. This Shack Day represented exactly what had been missing: good company, favorable weather, active radios, and the simple enjoyment of operating together in the field once again.
Here are some photos from this Shack Day event:
Field Day 2022
Don, KJ4MZ and Dave, WA4OPE, checking the SWR reading of a 2 meter antenna that was just built during Field Day 2022 by a youth ham operator.
SPARK and HPT groups set up several portable stations and other ham radio exhibits for the 2022 Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) event in October . Many of the scouts attending were able to get on the air and earn thier communication badge.
Dave, WA4OPE, has built a nice Go-Kit, with an external battery case. These photos are from the 2022 Field Day event, Dave has made several upgrades to these setups, and shares his experience on his website – WA4OPE The DIY Ham.