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National Parks On The Air

National Parks On The Air. The ARRL National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) event runs in parallel with the National Park Service’s centennial. The program runs from 0000 UTC January 1, 2016 through 2359 UTC December 31, 2016.

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National Parks On The Air

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  1. National Parks On The Air

  2. The ARRL National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) event runs in parallel with the National Park Service’s centennial. The program runs from 0000 UTC January 1, 2016 through 2359 UTC December 31, 2016.

  3. ARRL has no formal partnership with NPS for this event, nor does a Memorandum of Understanding exist between ARRL and NPS. However, ARRL has been in communication with NPS, The NPS Centennial Office and the National Parks Foundation concerning National Parks on the Air since early 2015.

  4. Goals of National Parks on the Aira) Promote the capabilities of Amateur Radio to the general public through operations at eligible NPS Administrative Units.b) Promote the NPS Centennial and heritage of the National Park System through Amateur Radio.c) Encourage portable Amateur Radio operation from as many of the officially-listed National Park Service administrative units and recognized Affiliated Areas as possible.

  5. Rather than engage in debate over the validity of what units should be permitted, ARRL uses the list of official NPS Administrative Units and Affiliated Areas as provided by NPS itself at www.nps.gov/aboutus/faqs.htm.The list shows official Administrative Units and Affiliated Areas; this list is which the validity of an NPOTA unit is based. A unit must be on this list to be considered for NPOTA.There are many places across the country which bear the NPS logo and are not part of the NPOTA program, such as National Heritage Areas, or sites on the National Register of Historic Places.

  6. National Battlefields:11National Battlefield Parks: 4 National Battlefield Site: 1 National Military Parks: 9 National Historical Parks: 50 National Historic Sites: 79 International Historic Sites: 1National Lakeshores: 4 National Memorials: 30National Monuments: 80 National Parks: 59National Parkways: 4 National Preserves: 19  National Reserves: 2 National Recreation Areas: 18National Rivers: 5National Wild and Scenic Rivers and Riverways: 10National Historic and Scenic Trails: 23 National Seashores: 10 Other Designations: 11  Total NPS Units:     409 NPS official Affiliated Areas: 25* *(OKC National Memorial is affiliated)

  7. Activation ListThe listing of activations can be found at https://npota.arrl.org/nps-events.php. Keep in mind, unlike the ARRL Centennial Event which had a set schedule, NPOTA activations can change from day to day!

  8. Each NPS Administrative Unit will have its own rules and regs. NPOTA Activators should review a unit's rules and regs and contact the unit directly with questions before your visit, i.e. don’t just show up.HQ ARRL has begun compiling a list of ‘ground rules’ from various NPS units. This will help in preparing for an activation.The five NPS units in Oklahoma can be found on the NPOTA leader board.

  9. ActivatorFor your Activation to count towards accreditation and your Activator Award, the following items must be met:a: You must make a minimum of 10 QSOs during your activation.b: All station equipment must be physically present in the NPS unit you activate.c: You must upload your log to Logbook of the World (LoTW) as soon as practical.Activation is registered on the NPOTA Leader Board.

  10. ActivatorSome ‘weird’ rules for activation….- for national/wild scenic rivers (Ozark Scenic Waterway), you have to be within 100 feet of the water- for scenic trails (Appalachian Trail), you must ‘in the spirit of the event, walk to you operating location’, and your operating locations must be within 50 yards of the trail; pedestrian mobile is also an option- for historic trails (Trail of Tears), your operating locations must be within 100 feet of the trail- for national parkways (Blue Ridge Parkway), you must be mobile while operating

  11. ChaserChasers are the stations attempting to work activated NPS units.Activators will announce the bands/modes and times/date of activation.Your first QSO with an activated NPS unit is the only one that counts toward NPOTA awards; all the rest are ‘gravy’.Chasers may operate from any location, i.e. home, mobile, portable, etc.Keep in mind, virtually all Activator stations will be portable.

  12. Logging ContactsContacts for NPOTA are reported by LOTW only!For information/instructions on reporting NPOTA contacts, go to http://www.arrl.org/npota-faq.

  13. Leader BoardAs in the ARRL Centennial event, there will be a ‘leader board’ to track your scores.https://npota.arrl.org/Log into the Leader Board using your LOTW username/password.Most of the information regarding NPOTA can be found on the Leader Board page.

  14. Sensitive AreasAll Activators are reminded that several NPS Administrative Units are sensitive areas, such as the units in and around Washington, DC. There are approximately 66 ‘Sensitive’ locations with approximately 14 designated ‘Highly Sensitive’. There are six with ‘no public access’.Most of the sensitive sites are burial locations.Discretion and respect of the location and other visitors to these NPS units cannot be overstated. Every effort must be made by an Activator attempting an operation from these units to be discreet and cooperative with any park officials or law enforcement agency. Units deemed to be sensitive/highly sensitive for security or cultural reasons are designated on the ARRL NOATP units list.

  15. AWARDSActivator Award: Awarded to any Amateur who makes a minimum of one accredited operation from an NPS Administrative Unit. Chaser Award: Awarded to any Amateur who confirms QSO’s with a minimum of one accredited operation from an NPS Administrative Unit. National Parks Honor Roll: Awarded to any Amateur who confirms QSO’s with 75% of the 59 National Parks that have accredited operations in 2016. Note…. this does not mean 75% of all 59 National Parks, just the ones activated. “Five Star Activator": Special recognition on Activator certificates for Activators who engage in exceptional outreach during activations throughout the event.

  16. Activation of the Oklahoma City National Memorial -When you enter the NPOTA website to activate the Memorial (AA-18), a ‘flag’ will tell you to contact local amateur radio community liaisons to brief you on the ‘ground rules’ of the Memorial.- At this time, only one activation per day in the Service Center Lot will be allowed.-The local liaisons will advise the Memorial security department of your activation date/time.-Activations in the last two weeks of April are discouraged. The Memorial staff will be quite busy with preparations for the Murrah Bombing Anniversary Observance (19 April) and Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon (24 April).

  17. Activation of the Oklahoma City National Memorial- ‘Pedestrian mobile’ operations may be conducted on Memorial grounds between 8 AM and 7 PM on any day. Avoid disruption of groups and activities on the grounds.-ARRL has confirmed the Memorial Service Center located between Hudson & on NW 5th qualifies for activation as property ‘owned and maintained’ by the Memorial.-Mobile operations will be conducted in the Service Center parking lot. Keep in mind, parking might not be available in the center lot when you arrive. - High profile vehicles (RV’ s, motor coaches, large vans) are not permitted in the Service Center Lot.- At this time, mobile operations are restricted to weekends (Saturday & Sunday), 8 AM to 7 PM.

  18. Activation of the Oklahoma City National Memorial-Portable antennas (Buddipole, CrankIR, TravelWorld, etc.) may be erected in the Service Center parking area on a ‘non-interference’ basis.- Portable shelters (pop-up shelters, tents, etc) are not permitted in the Service Center Lot.- For your personal safety, operations should not be conducted after dark.- Carry a copy of your amateur radio license, photo ID, and wear a call sign badge if you have one.

  19. A waiver from ARRL for remote operation from the Memorial is a possibility…..“The Activator and all components of the Activator’s Amateur Radio station must be physically present on the property of the claimed NPS Unit, unless specifically exempted by ARRL in advance. Activations from parking lots, visitor’s centers and other property maintained by the specific NPS unit are acceptable.”

  20. National Parks On The AirGo get ‘em!!!

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