Activation Report: Starkey Wilderness/Serenova Preserve State Conservation Area (US-7475) — April 23, 2026
- 2 min reading time
Mode: FT8 · Band: 20m · Radio: Xiegu X6200 · Contacts: 21 · Park: US-7475
Starkey Wilderness/Serenova Preserve State Conservation Area, POTA reference US-7475. A day that started with a wrong turn and ended with 21 QSOs logged from a tree branch. Good day.
The park
Starkey Wilderness/Serenova Preserve is raw Florida. No picnic tables, no manicured grounds, no facilities to speak of — just miles of trails for hiking and equestrian use cutting through undisturbed wilderness. It's the kind of park that reminds you what most of Florida looked like before it became what it is today. If you're looking for a challenging, off-the-beaten-path activation that rewards you for actually getting out there, this is it.
The reason for the visit
Planned activation, with an unplanned detour. About an hour into the drive I realized I had been heading to the wrong location — the State Park rather than the State Conservation Area. Ten miles of correction later I arrived at US-7475. Adding "verify park ID against actual destination" to the checklist for good.
The setup
The usual table setup was immediately out of the question. No benches, no tables anywhere in sight. So I found a large tree growing low along the ground, grabbed the camping chair, and made it work. Radio went on the tree branch, DigiPi on the battery box, battery box on the ground. Unfolded the chair, sat down, and got on the air. The Tava One kit is built for exactly this kind of situation — same gear, different surface.
Full station: Xiegu X6200 at 5 watts, Raspberry Pi 4 running DigiPi, Android tablet, 18.3ft vertical with all 8 radials, DIY LiFePO4 battery box.
On the air
Conditions were inconsistent — bands alive one minute, quiet the next. Cycled through a few options and settled on 20 meters FT8 as the workhorse for the day. Went live on TikTok during the session which was a good time — great conversation with returning viewers and some new faces in the stream. Had an unexpected visitor too: a local FWC officer stopped by to see what all the gear was for. Good conversation. Finished with 21 QSOs despite the iffy conditions. The direct sun was working against me but the breeze made it bearable.
Would I activate here again?
Yes. It's a legitimate wilderness activation for someone who wants to get off the grid — just bring your own seating, your own desk, and double-check the address before you leave the driveway.
Full log uploaded to POTA.app. 73 de W4GGJ