How I'm logging my Parks on the Air (POTA) contacts
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- We're getting back to basics by looking at key parts of a Parks on the Air activation. This week I head to Dewy Marsh State Natural Area in Wisconsin (POTA K-8209) to illustrate the important task of logging all your hunters during the park activation
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#Hamradio #AmateurRadio #POTA #ParksOnTheAir #portablehamradio #logging #makingcontacts #parkactivations #HAMRS
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I'm all about jumping in and trying POTA. I've got the radio, the antenna, a battery, and a couple of nearby parks that qualify. Logging is the one thing that is holding me back.
Thanks for this. I did my first activation a couple of weeks ago. Just used paper with a table I set up and printed out. I can see the benefit of using HAMRS on the fly. I did a typo with entering after (typed a 0 for O). IF I have the data working WHILE logging, I would catch that when the pop-up wouldn't show. Interesting that HAMRS can populate park info without the internet connection. QRZ info needs the connection though. That makes sense.
Thanks for the back to basics series! As a new Ham it’s incredibly helpful
Finally downloaded HAMRS,, looking forward to using it for uploading to POTA. Your vidoes are life savers, I keep going back to several of your past videos. Thank you for all you do Michael.
Like you my wife and I prefer the tried and true paper log. But now everything is going digital and computer logs are very easy to use. I have copies of my Dad’s(sk) log books dating back to 1948 when he was first licensed.
I love old log books, and QSL cards for that matter, they are certainly fun to page through.
@@KB9VBRAntennas I have a large collection of my fathers old QSL Cards that we wish did not have to be thrown in the garbage
Love HAMRS , one advantage with HAMRS it creates the adi, and you can use the same Adi that you load into POTA to load into QRZ.
Thanks Michael, as always, down to earth and very useful. You keep posting and I’ll keep watching.
I set up HAMRS on a fairly old iPad and it works without delay.
I also loaded it on an iPhone 11 … and it seem to lag way too much and usability is not so good.
I still have my first “parks on air” to do waiting on equipment etc. knowledge, etc …. My first POTA will probably be at this point - mid June or later depending on how my learning curve goes on the
FT-891.
I appreciate your videos. The information is well organized and presented well. It is helpful for those people that are wanting to get into POTA.
It’s like you read our minds for what video we need to see! Thanks again great video, I chase POTA a lot and hope to be the POTA activator soon!
I found this very useful as a returner to the hobby. Thanks, Michael!
Excellent video! Thanks for the tip about HamRS I really like that it's avail for multiple OS.
Thanks Michael, enjoy your videos and find them helpful. Liked the window screen idea and am going to try it with my Alpha EZ-Military antenna and my IC-7000. 73 from VE7WNO.
Thanks for the video! I've been looking into actually doing some real radio rather than just playing around with my own gear, so logging is a must that I i need to learn to do.
Great video. I've chased but plan on activating with our ARES group on April 22nd 2023. Thanks for posting. 73
Michael very well done. It's so much easier to use pen & paper and then put in HAMRS when you get home.
Paper logging makes double the work in my opinion. The downside especially is having to add and keep track of the times contacts are made and then having to manually enter the time as well. I use HAMRS as well and the instant lookup feature is an added bonus.
Found a $600 Lenovo laptop on sale for a little under $200, so I scooped that up and downloaded HAMRS tonight. May go to my local POTA park very soon and do a 2m activation, just to get my feet wet.....since I'm still working toward that FT-891 setup for the bikes. Thanks for another great video!
Thanks Michael…I had always thought there was a certain syntax to the title for Hamrs but now understand I can name it how I like!
Back when we had to email our logs to an area coordinator, the log filename needed to be in a specific format. This was so the coordinators could easily recognize the file and its contents without opening it up. So it was recommended that you use that filename format in naming your log within Hamrs for convenience.
Now that we have the self uploader, as long as the proper ADIF fields are in the file, the uploader will parse the information when it processes the log. This means you can name the log within Hamrs whatever you want. You can also name the exported ADIF file whatever you want. The self uploader will process the log as long as it is a properly formatted ADIF file (which Hamrs does when it exports).
@@KB9VBRAntennas Thanks for the additional info...enjoyed working you a few weeks ago! KD9TQH
FLE is my daily logger!!! I like HAMRS for logging on a laptop for POTA. I find logging on my phone annoying with HAMRS as I often make mistakes when typing. I haven't found a solution other than good old pen and paper that is compact and travels well.
FLE is awesome and totally under appreciated. I can't log with my phone either, I need keyboard in front of me.
Got some great information on programs Mike. I also have a Lenovo laptop. Bought a couple when they were on sale for under $150 each. Not bad machines and they handle radio work just fine.
I paid about $150 for mine also. For the abuse I put it through, I'm surprised the thing is still working.
Thanks!
Thanks for the support. It's greatly appreciated.
Hi Michael,
Very good video on the how's to logging while in the field. Hi to Christine and you both stay safe. 73 WJ3U
Great info. Enjoy all your vids, thank you! Cheers and 73!
Nice Michael. We usually paper log and the put in HAMRS when we get home. Have to get Katie to give if a shot in the field!
I liked this video, how to's are always welcomed.
Thanks Mike, great video.
Thank you Very educational.
I’m with you amigo. It’s easier to scrawl a callsign, report & tick a time every few minutes than to divert my attention to the screen, unhand the key or mic & then keyboard in the callsign &c. At least with CW or SSB. FT8, well, sure: that beast is damn near SkyNet ready ;-) 73 de W8IJN
Great video Mike.
I use vk porta log when out doing sota.
Nice content
Motters M7TRS 73
Very helpful....thanks
I use a notepad and a mechanical pencil, light and easy. Thanks for the video.
Already have my phone with me.
Great video! Thanks, 73 Bas PA5BAS
Oh, Michael - I wanted to let you know that HamRS works fine in Arch linux too. The download says "Ubuntu" but its an AppImage file so once you set it as executable it "just works" in non-Ubuntu linux too.
My computer died and I spend almost all my time hunting so I still paper log but have HAMRS on my phone. U-rah-rah
Great video. I actually worked you the other day, I was so excited. Now for me question. I'm trying to convert from paper logging to Hammrs. How do you handle pile ups? Say I hear the begging of a callsign and the end of a callsign. Right now I write them down on paper, ask for the station starting with blah blah blah, work them, then look at my paper and work the station who's callsign I got the tail end off. Then I logg both to Hammrs. This seems slow since I have to pause talking. You didn't pause in your video, but it also wasn't clear how you handle pileups. Can you elaborate in a future video? Thanks!
There is a bit of nuance to working a pile up. If I hear a callsign float to the top, I'll grab that, otherwise I'll pick a partial at either the beginning or end of the pileup. As I hear the callsign, I type it into the callsign field in Hamrs (this is where is pays to be able to touch type). And work them. sometimes, when doing partials, I can remember a callsign ending in one or two characters and will ask for them next. I've found, though, that you can't really grab more than two partials out of a pileup as the other party may no longer be listening or prepared for your response.
I would like to know in HAMMRS how you log a park 2 park, 2nd operator and multiple park locations from a single station.
It's pretty slick, actually. If you select the POTA template, there's a field right beneath the call sign "their park." You enter the "K-1234" there. If there are multiple park references you enter them in the same field separated by a comma. "K-1234, K-2234, K-3334." In that case HAMRS will actually create separate rows in your log for each park but with the same station worked (uploading to LoTW- doesn't like that). 2nd operators can trip me up a bit and maybe there's a more elegant way to do it but I just type fast. I'll enter the first one, then get the second call sign and grab the "K-1234" from the log section below to enter for the new contact if they don't mention it. I sometimes have to ask everyone to standby while I get the second op entry squared away but it doesn't happen too often.
Great question
@yeahitsk is right; if you have a p2p that's a twofer, threefer, or more. You can enter the park numbers, separated by commas, into the park field. 2nd operators; basically save the first contact and enter the details for the 2nd operator.
If you are operating out in the field in a multiple park entity, Hamrs lets you duplicate a log with the 2nd park number. It will create a 2nd log with identical info, which the exception of the park number, which will be changed. You can then upload the two logs into the POTA site.
As for multi operators in the field, this is a bit more challenging. The easiest is using one log and then exporting it into an ADIF file. Take copy into ADIFmaster and edit the Station and operator fields for the 2nd op. The 2nd operator can then upload their own edited log.
@@yeahitsk Thanks for the reply. It was very helpful. I've never activated and didn't know how to handle these situations.
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@@KB9VBRAntennas Thanks Michael for the added details. I've never seen anyone address these situations in any video. Maybe this can be a topic for a future video idea. Thanks for all you do.
I am new to ham and logging. Does Hamrs also talk to QRZ or the other big logbooks?
No, not natively. You will have to upload the ADI file from Hamrs manually to the logbook services.
I downloaded the app. Yes very simple and easy. I like it! Thanks! I use on my iPad and iPhone. Do you know if i create a single account that i can log on iPhone and it synchs to the iPad log?
The log files are stored locally, so hamrs won't sync between two devices.
I like
HAMRS, but i can never get it to show more than about 50% of my contacts on the map... I also dont like the fact I have to change screens ... on my tablet to enter the dash between K and the park number... on my phone the POTA website automatically enters the dashes ,,, saving me clicks and time when logging
Great video on basics. Which quirks are you referring to ? Thanks Jimmy K2WPA
Two quirks that bug me. In the callsign field, if you tab away and then click back onto it, the cursor always bounces to the end of the text, you can't edit text without backspacing. This makes updating a partial call difficult. The second, if you tab to the park field to enter a park-to-park number, start entering text, but decide not to (maybe the contact wasn't a p2p and you want to move on), the save button will be locked out until you enter something. You will now need to enter some random info in order to save, and then edit it out later.
Finally, the database is opaque. It's a closed system that makes it difficult to move between computers or mobile devices.
@@KB9VBRAntennas the one thing I don’t like about HAMRS is the Frequency box on the right side. I can’t tell you his many times when I was in the hunting mode, I forgot to change the frequency from my last contact. I just don’t like the position of it ! I wish it was more centered or on the left side of the display field.
Also, when you enter a frequency, the band box is grayed out. If you want to change bands, but not frequencies, you have to first clear out the frequency field.
What were the “quirks” in HAMRS that you hope they’ll get worked out, Michael???
Two quirks that bug me. In the callsign field, if you tab away and then click back onto it, the cursor always bounces to the end of the text, you can't edit text without backspacing. This makes updating a partial call difficult. The second, if you tab to the park field to enter a park-to-park number, start entering text, but decide not to (maybe the contact wasn't a p2p and you want to move on), the save button will be locked out until you enter something. You will now need to enter some random info in order to save, and then edit it out later.
Finally, the database is opaque. It's a closed system that makes it difficult to move between computers or mobile devices.
Does one have to do POTA/SOTA or a contest or DXing to attempt to log alot of contacts, or can you just go to the local play ground with your kids and attempt to log contacts while they play? Is that even a thing? Just playing radio i guess?
How do you add a park? There is a federal camp ground in KY that isn't listed, I camp there and would love to do a POTA.
You’ll want to contact your states mapping coordinator to see if the park qualifies for addition to the program. docs.pota.app/docs/volunteers/countries/united-states-of-america.html
One item to note, if the recreation area is an Army Corps of Engineers site, it will probably not be added to the list. This is due to the fact that these sites are often a mix of local and federal management and even though it may be administered by the COE, the land itself may be locally owned. Instead of trying to disentangle these relationships POTA has decided it’s easier to not add COE sites to the list.
It’s a bummer as there are a couple of campgrounds that I wish could be added, too.
@@KB9VBRAntennas Yep, it's a Army Corps of Engineers out of Nashville TN. The next time I camp there I'll just stay a hunter. Oh, and a first time Subaru owner too as I bought a 2024 Forester Wilderness to do some soft over landing, camping at state and federal campgrounds and get into POTA.
how do you notify parks on the air that you are activating? So info shows up on the pota logging site .(no wi-fi) at alot of parks. This maybe a dumb question
That's a great question. Some of the parks I go to have spotty or no cell service. If I can't get a signal to spot myself on the POTA page, I will find a frequency, start calling CQ, and ask the first couple people that find me to please spot me on the network.
Hey Michael, thanks for the video…. I have question… I recently did a POTA activation at one of my local parks and before I started calling, I made several park 2 park contacts. I logged them into Hamrs with their park number and information along with the other contacts that I made that day. I uploaded the adi. file to the POTA page. All contacts are there but it didn’t give me any credit for park 2 park award. I’m not sure why. I was wondering if you might have a suggestion. Thanks
KO4PIH
The only things that come to mind why the P2P don't match up is that either the other person didn't submit their log yet, or the time of the contact was outside the 15 minute window the system requires to make a match.
@@KB9VBRAntennas Ahhh I bet it’s the 15 minute window as I forgot about that. Thank you
I hear hamrs crashes and you lose your log. Have you found that the case? I have just been doing paper logs and manually entering them in. I don't have a computer do log yet.
Early versions of Hamrs had a tendency to either crash or randomly lose the logs. The developer changed the internal database and the new version 1.0.6 is quite stable. I haven't had any issues since that database change.
Which antenna did you use for this activation?
I was using a 1/4 wave vertical antenna. The 213 inch whip was adjusted for resonance on the bands I operated on.
Trying to find the Hamrs on the website. Is there an address?
You can find Hamrs here: hamrs.app/
HAMRs is good but it doesn't sync between devices ... hopefully this is in a future release ...
Just export the log to your favourite cloud folder
KB9VBR, do you use a separate file when you switch bands/frequencies or can you log multiple bands in the same file?
For POTA multiple bands or modes go right in the same file. You can even work the same station on different bands or modes and they both count as independent contacts toward the activation. Just make sure you mind your time, you'll need to start a new file when your local time matches UTC midnight (8:00 pm here on the US east coast). That's when you have to start a new file for the new radio day, and you get credit toward a late shift activation as a bonus.
You make a single log for park entity. Within that log you can change bands and modes on the fly. You can also span across days. When the log file is uploaded, the POTA site will sort out all the band, mode, and day changes.
Is it possible to hike into the natural area? Does the area require that people stay in their cars?
You can certainly hike in and setup inside the natural area. There are trails and what appears to be a logging road. Most of Dewy Marsh is bog, and the couple hundred yards I walked to look at the logging operation was all mud.
HAMRS is terrible to use on a smartphone. It's not ergonomic too. When multitasking, it can takes quite a few seconds to run again.
why did you play lots of audio of working people but we watched this to see how you use the program. You never showed how to use it, just a lot of talking about the program but never explained the various fields nor examples of how it is used. Over 8 minutes of things that are obvious and about 15 seconds of a distant shot of the screen while you worked someone. Thanks for the effort, but I left with absolutely no useful information.
Always enjoy your youtube videos but today's was extra special when I spotted my call sign on your contact map. Thanks for posting.
Wilton King KN4RUZ
Great video! de W2CSI
Great video! Thank you so much for introducing me to "Hamrs"; that was definitely the droid, er, logging software I was looking for! de KI3N
Thanks Michael, that was an especially useful video for me on how you do your POTA logging. de K8HTL
Thanks!
Thank you for your support. I'm glad you found the content useful.