Activation Report: Sawgrass Lake Park (US-6700) — April 11, 2026
- 3 min reading time
Mode: FT8 (Digital) · Band: 15m · Radio: Xiegu X6200 · Contacts: 12 · Park: US-6700
Back at Sawgrass Lake Park — POTA reference US-6700, right here in St. Petersburg. This one wasn't originally planned as a formal activation. It turned into one anyway. 12 QSOs in the log.
The park
Sawgrass Lake Park is a regular stop in the rotation and it never disappoints. Four hundred acres of genuine Florida wilderness tucked behind the neighborhoods off 25th Street North — one of the largest maple swamps on the Gulf Coast, an elevated boardwalk winding through the trees, an observation tower overlooking the lake, and more wildlife than you can keep track of between contacts. Free admission. Hard to beat for a morning in the field.
It was another beautiful day out there. Steady visitor traffic on the boardwalk, plenty of birds working the shoreline, and a perfect Florida spring morning to have a radio on a picnic table.
The reason for the visit
This wasn't a solo trip. Several members of the Gulf Coast Contest Club (GCCC) came out to Sawgrass for a joint gear shakedown ahead of the Florida QSO Party. The idea was to get everyone's portable setups in the same place, work out any kinks, and get some actual air time before the contest. Each operator ran their own setup — mine was at a picnic bench right next to the club's gear.
The setup
Arrived around 0900 and was on the air in 15 minutes. The gear bag rework I did the night before paid off immediately — stripped out all the extras, got the weight down, and everything I actually needed was right there when I reached for it. Clean and simple.
For this activation: Xiegu X6200, DigiPi on the Raspberry Pi 4, Android tablet, and the DIY battery box. Antenna was the telescoping vertical pole with all 8 radials laid out. The DigiPi cooperated from the start, which honestly made the whole morning easier.
On the air
Decided to run 15 meters for this one. FT8 via the DigiPi, spotted on the POTA network, and contacts started coming in. 12 QSOs — valid activation confirmed.
Was live on TikTok for most of the activation, so if you were watching the stream, you already know how it went. Not a huge pile-up, but steady solid contacts and good conditions on 15.
What started as a gear test turned into a legitimate activation. Sometimes that's just how it goes — you get on the air, it works, and the log fills up before you decide to stop.
Would I activate here again?
Already have, already will. Sawgrass is a home park at this point. Close, easy, good operating spots, and always worth the morning. With the Florida QSO Party on the horizon, there will be more visits to come.
Full log uploaded to POTA.app. 73 de W4GGJ