Activation Report: Alafia River State Park (US-1829) — March 18, 2026
- 2 min reading time
Mode: FT8 (Digital) · Band: 20m · Radio: Xiegu X6200 · Contacts: 29 · Park: US-1829
First activation of 2026 logged — Alafia River State Park, POTA reference US-1829, out in Lithia, Hillsborough County, about 30 miles southeast of Tampa. One in the log, 29 QSOs to show for it.
The park
Alafia isn't your typical flat Florida state park. The whole place sits on a former phosphate mine, which means the terrain has actual hills — genuinely unusual for central Florida. The land has been reclaimed and reforested over the decades and it shows. Mixed hardwood forest, pine flatwoods, lakes scattered throughout, and the South Prong of the Alafia River running through the lower section. Mountain bikers come from all over the state for the trails here. On the day I visited there was a steady flow of cyclists, but the picnic area was quiet enough to set up without any issues.
Keep your eyes open at this park. Wading birds work the lake edges, and if you're lucky you might catch a bald eagle or roseate spoonbill. Watch where you step near the water — alligators are a regular presence along the shores.
The setup
Got the JPC-12 vertical up with all 8 radials laid out — 17 feet each, spread around the base of the antenna. Power came from my homemade portable battery box, which I built myself for field operations. Running the Xiegu X6200 off the battery box, logging on the laptop with WSJT-X handling the FT8 — simple, portable, and reliable.
On the air
Ran FT8 exclusively for this activation via a Laptop. Once spotted, contacts started rolling in steadily — 29 QSOs total, reaching stations across the eastern US and a few further out. Digital modes are great for POTA in park environments where running high power isn't practical. 5W FT8 does the work quietly and efficiently, which the other park visitors appreciate too.
29 contacts is a solid activation by any measure. Valid activation confirmed.
Would I activate here again?
Absolutely. Easy access from the Tampa Bay area, good open space in the picnic area for the antenna and radials, and a genuinely interesting park to spend a few hours in. The elevation changes and mature forest make it feel like you're somewhere other than Florida for a while. Already on my list to come back and try it on 40 meters with the loading coil.
Full log uploaded to POTA and LoTW. 73 de W4GGJ
Gear available at Radioddity — use code W4GGJ for $15 off.