Activation Report: Sawgrass Lake Park (US-6700) — April 19, 2026

Mode: FT8 (Digital) · Band: 20m · Radio: Xiegu X6200 · Contacts: 19 · Park: US-6700

Back at Sawgrass Lake Park — POTA reference US-6700, right here in St. Petersburg. Solo morning session, 19 QSOs in the log.

The park

Sawgrass Lake Park is one of those places that earns its way into the regular rotation. What looks like a quiet neighborhood park from the road opens up into over 400 acres of genuine Florida wilderness — one of the largest maple swamps on the Gulf Coast. The elevated boardwalks put you right in the middle of a hardwood hammock that feels nothing like the city surrounding it. Originally built in 1972 for flood protection, the park went through a major restoration in 2012 and now hosts over 200 recorded bird species. Admission is free, access is easy, and the morning light through the cypress canopy makes it worth the trip even on a bad band day.

The reason for the visit

Solo morning session. Wanted to get out early before the heat set in, test the station efficiency, and enjoy the Florida morning.

The setup

Arrived and had the station operational quickly. Xiegu X6200 running 5 watts, 18.3ft vertical with all 8 radials deployed, DigiPi on the Raspberry Pi 4, Android tablet for control and spotting. Everything held up perfectly — the gear is dialed in at this point.

On the air

Settled on 20 meters FT8. Spotted on the POTA network and worked a steady stream of hunters for 19 QSOs. The highlight of the morning had nothing to do with the radio — about 20 feet from my operating position I spotted a nest in a tree full of baby anhingas. Just another reminder of why portable operation beats the shack. You get a front-row seat to the kind of thing you'd miss entirely if you stayed home.

Would I activate here again?

Absolutely. Sawgrass is consistent, close to home, and the environment is always worth the trip for a morning session.

Full log uploaded to POTA.app. 73 de W4GGJ