by William Eric McFadden
From the park's website:
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The park is perfect for nature enthusiasts to observe owls, herons, and waterfowl as well as many species of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals such as mink and otter. Hundreds of species of wildflowers, mosses, fungi, ferns, and other plants, as well as trees, shrubs, and vines, add to the natural ecological diversity of the area. Several ranger-led programs are planned throughout the year including canoe floats, wildflower walks, astronomy night hikes, nature hikes, programs on snakes, off-trail land acquisition hikes, and birds of prey.
Pictures
Description
On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, one member of the Southeast Ohio Radio Adventure Team performed a successful activation of Radnor Lake State Park (US-3922) in Tennessee as part of the Parks on the Air (POTA; link) program.
While driving home from northern Alabama, where he and his wife had found themselves for the adoption of a small dog the previous day, Eric McFadden, WD8RIF, stopped at Lake Radnor State Park near Nashville for his first POTA activation within Tennessee. Eric was accompanied by his wife Vickie and their two small dogs Theo and Gracie.
The Radnor Lake State Park sign.
Eric, Vickie, and the two small dogs arrived at Radnor Lake State Park at about 1615 UTC. Eric had expected the park to be nearly empty on a late morning on a Wednesday but upon their arrival, he and his wife found the park to be jam-packed with visitors. Eric had hoped to be able to perform his activation on a quiet picnic table somewhere in the park but had to settle for operating at his car parked at the top of Otter Creek Road, very near the Dam Walkway.
Eric deployed his Tufteln (info) EFRW as a 29' vertical supported on a 31' Jackite telescoping fiberglass mast in a drive-on base, placing two 17' counterpoise wire directly on the ground. Placing his folding camp chair at the base of the mast, and placing his Elecraft KX2 on the camp chair's flip-up table, Eric was on the air at 1645 UTC.
Eric's KX2 station on his folding camp chair's flip-up table.
Eric's mast and antenna; appearances to
the contrary notwithstanding, Eric's car was
not blocking traffic on Otter Creek Road.
Eric had cell-signal and would be able to access POTA Spots to spot himself and to find Park-to-Park (P2P) QSO opportunities.
Eric started his operation on 20m. After finding himself a clear frequency to run, Eric began calling "CQ POTA" and was auto-spotted on POTA Spots. His first QSO came at 1646 UTC with WB2FUV who was activating Bearpen Mountain State Forest (US-5108) in New York. His second QSO came at 1648 UTC with NO0X who was performing a two-fer activation of Central Lakes State Trail (US-9389) and North Country Trail National Scenic Trail (US-4239) in Minnesota. His third QSO came at 1649 UTC with W0MM in Texas.
Switching to 40m, Eric found a clear frequency to run, began calling "CQ POTA", and was auto-spotted on POTA Spots. His first QSO in this run came at 1654 UTC with KB8TL in Michigan. This was followed at 1656 UTC by a QSO with Eric's good friend K8RAT in north-central Ohio, and at 1657 UTC by a QSO with AB9CA in Indiana.
Returning to 20m, Eric found a clear frequency, began calling "CQ POTA", and was auto-spotted on POTA Spots. His first QSO in this run came at 1705 UTC with AI5ZI in Texas. QSOs came quickly, with Eric's fifth QSO in this run coming at 1712 UTC with K4KVC who was activating Panasoffkee Outlet State Conservation Area (US-6455) in Florida. This run included a P2P QSO with WA1VEI at Little Big Econ State Forest (US-4630) in Florida and QSOs with operators located in Florida (2), Texas, Vermont, and Virginia. Following the QSO with K4KVC, the internal battery in Eric's KX2 suddenly died, but Eric was quickly able to connect his second battery as an external battery and carry on.
Switching to 30m, Eric found a clear frequency to run, began calling "CQ POTA", and was auto-spotted on POTA Spots. His sole QSO on this band came at 1718 UTC with NU8Z in Michigan.
In all, Eric made twelve QSOs, including five P2P QSOs, in thirty-three minutes of on-air time. All of Eric's QSOs were CW and were made at five watts output.
Eric snapped some photos, and then tore down his station and re-packed the car. While driving back down Otter Creek Road, it quickly became apparent that a large portion of the park visitors had departed while Eric was performing his operation. (He doesn't think his activities had anything to do with this.) He and Vickie made a quick stop at the park's visitor center and gift shop before aiming the car toward their next stop, Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in downtown Nashville.
Radnor Lake as viewed from the intersection of
Otter Creek Road and the Dam Walkway.
Eric also submitted his log to the World Wide Flora and Fauna in Amateur Radio (WWFF; link) program for an operation at Radnor Lake State Park, KFF-3922.
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