The Bombogenesis Blizzard Edition – February 22, 2026
While New England braces for snow measured in feet, not inches, Parks on the Air continues to heat up worldwide. Let’s dive in.
📊 POTA Program Update from Board Member W1DED
If you haven’t watched Kevin’s video update, it’s worth your time. See it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzCGkra3pFI
Here’s what the numbers tell us:
- 85,000+ registered parks
- 236 DX entities
- 84,000+ registered operators worldwide
Monthly activations in 2025 averaged:
- ~10,200 unique parks activated per month
Annual QSO growth:
- 2023: 10.6 million QSOs
- 2024: 13 million QSOs
- 2025: 15.2 million QSOs
That’s a 43% increase in QSOs in just two years.
Log submissions:
- 2023: 245,000
- 2024: 333,000
- 2025: 406,000
That’s a stunning 66% increase in log uploads.
Since inception, POTA has generated nearly 53 million QSOs, not including roughly half a million early pre-2016 contacts.
Momentum isn’t slowing — it’s accelerating.
🔧 Coming in POTA 2.0
Highlights from the roadmap include:
- Live statistics dashboards
- Faster log parsing & improved upload validation
- 24-hour correction window before logs go live
- Award system enhancements
- Improved mapping tools
- Integrated documentation
- Club vs. individual tracking distinction
- Expanded spotting (multiple activators + persistent comments)
- More powerful admin panels
- Enhanced support system
This isn’t just growth — it’s infrastructure catching up with scale.
🏰 Bunkers on the Air (BOTA) Expands in the U.S.
Rem K6BBQ reports that U.S. operators can now officially activate bunkers!
BOTA began in the UK and has now expanded to the U.S., joining 23 global chapters.
Key details:
- Activations must occur at least 1,000 meters from the bunker center
- Many bunkers are located within parks
- Annual awards available
- QSO credits count toward international BOTA programs
- Ham2K and other logging software now support BOTA integration
Amateur Radio Newsline recently featured US BOTA at the end of a podcast episode — a sign the program is gaining traction.
Bunkers. History. Radio. Yes please.
📈 Stats Corner
Over on the PN&R Forum, Paul W7PFB is analyzing the first two months of 2026. If you love numbers as much as activations, you’ll want to follow that thread. https://forums.pota.news/t/pota-year-to-date/182/3
🦅 Eagle on Final Approach at US-0249
You never know what you’ll see when you pull into a park for an activation.
Shirley KQ4COB and Roy KQ4COJ were setting up at US-0249 Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge when nature decided to steal the show. A Bald Eagle, fish in talons, landed right by the road.
Radio ops were temporarily suspended.
Activation commenced only after the eagle cleared the runway.
Image: KQ4COB via Facebook
It’s not every day your pre-activation checklist includes:
- ☐ Antenna deployed
- ☐ Rig powered
- ☐ Bald Eagle finished lunch
POTA isn’t just about QSOs. It’s about moments like this — the kind you remember long after the log is uploaded.
🗽 Two QSOs from the Top of the Monument
Proof that big memories don’t require big pileups.
Ales XE1EE recently operated from US-0794 Washington Monument, making just two contacts on 146.520 FM while visiting Washington, DC.
Two QSOs.
That’s it.
But sometimes that’s all it takes.
Operating from one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States isn’t about chasing numbers — it’s about the experience. Permission secured, handheld in hand, history all around.
POTA reminds us that success isn’t always measured in volume. Sometimes it’s measured in location.
73 from the monument!
🎙 First Activation Success
David KA3ZJW completed his first activation at US-1401 (Point State Park, Pittsburgh):
- 31 QSOs
- 40 minutes
- 20m hamstick
- Yaesu FT-840 @ ~30 watts
Simple setup. Solid run. Welcome to the addiction.
🧊 Frozen Lake Activation
Jarmo OH2CGU activated FI-0243 Kanteleenjärvi — on the ice.
- 86 QSOs
- -6°C (20°F)
- Mainly Europe and East Coast NA
In summer you’d need a boat. In February? Just better boots.
🦿 First Activation After Surgery
Mark W1EKU checked out his new knee at US-4632.
Knee replacement Monday. Activation this week. Daughter assisting with setup.
That’s grit.
🌊 Six Parks on Six Meters
Congratulations to:
- Joe KB1WCK
- Wendy KC1TLT
for earning the “Six Parks on Six Meters” Activator Award.
It took about a year to collect all the 6m contacts — and now they hold both the hunter and activator versions! The magic band rewards persistence.
📡 D-Star & DMR Resources
Reminder:
- XLX845 (D-Star)
- TGIF TG846 (DMR)
Available for POTA enthusiasts.
🚐 Anatomy of a 30-Park Rove
Over on PN&R, John KK6GUK breaks down the strategy behind his recent 30-park rove. If you’re planning a multi-park run, this is required reading. https://pota.news/sites/anatomy-of-a-parks-on-the-air-rove/
📬 Send Us Your Stuff
Have a tip?
📩 tips@pota.news
Planning an event?
📅 events@pota.news
Know a park we should feature?
🌲 parks@pota.news
The Hawk is always watching.
Stay warm and safe, New England.
73,
🦅 Ada
Nosey News Hawk
