POTA Go-Bag Essentials — What I Carry to Every Activation
- 4 min reading time
Every POTA activation starts with the same question — did I pack everything? After several activations across Florida state parks I've dialed in a go-bag setup that covers every situation without turning into a hiking disaster. Here's exactly what I carry, why I carry it, and what I'd recommend if you're building your own kit.
The Radio
My field rig is the Xiegu X6200. It's compact, runs on internal or external battery power, covers HF and 6m, and has a built-in auto-tuner that handles most antenna mismatches without drama. For POTA operating FT8 it's hard to beat — the 4-inch waterfall display lets you see band activity at a glance and the 5–8W output punches well above its weight from a Florida park bench.
[Link: Xiegu X6200 at Radioddity — use code W4GGJ for $15 off]
The Antenna
I run an 18.3ft stainless steel 1/4 wavelength telescoping vertical with a grounding counterpoise plate and 8 radial wires each 17 feet long. It covers 14–30 MHz (10 through 20 meters) right out of the box, is rated up to 300–600W so the X6200's 5–8W is no stress at all, and deploys in minutes. I add a 40m induction loading coil when I want to drop down to 40 meters. One antenna system, three band groups, fits in a small bag.
[Link: 18.3ft QRP Vertical Antenna on Amazon] [Link: Grounding counterpoise plate on Amazon] [Link: 40m induction loading coil on Amazon]
Field Power
I built my own 32Ah LiFePO4 battery box using four 8Ah cells wired in parallel inside a plastic ammo can. It runs the X6200 through multiple activations without breaking a sweat. The panel has a digital voltmeter, Anderson Powerpole connectors, USB-A, USB-C, a 12V cigarette lighter plug, and a master switch. Full build details coming soon — but if you want to buy cells and start your own build, these are the ones I used.
[Link: LiFePO4 8Ah 12V cells on Amazon] [Link: Anderson Powerpole 30A connector set on Amazon] [Link: Digital voltmeter panel mount on Amazon]
Digital Modes — The DigiPi
For FT8 in the field I run a self-built DigiPi — a Raspberry Pi based digital station running WSJT-X. It connects to the X6200 with a single USB-A to USB-C cable handling both CAT control and audio. I manage it from my Android tablet over WiFi. No laptop needed. If you're curious about the DigiPi setup I'll be doing a full build walkthrough post soon.
[Link: Raspberry Pi on Amazon] [Link: USB-A to USB-C cable on Amazon]
The Bag
Everything fits in a single REEBOW GEAR Military Tactical Backpack. The antenna mast and ground stake slide into the side MOLLE slots keeping them secure and accessible, while the main compartment holds the X6200, DigiPi, 17ft radial wires, 25ft coax run, Android tablet, and a few backup items. One bag, on your back, ready to hike to any picnic table or park bench. Setup takes minutes and nothing gets left in the car.
[Link: REEBOW GEAR Military Tactical Backpack on Amazon]
The Small Stuff That Matters
These are the things you forget once and never forget again:
- Extra coax jumper cables — always bring a spare
- Headphones — FT8 is digital but you still want audio monitoring
- Notepad and pen — for logging if digital fails
- Phone charger / power bank — for the tablet and phone
- Sunscreen and bug spray — this is Florida, plan accordingly
Power bank — I carry the Charmast 20000mAh with built-in cables. No hunting for the right cable in your bag — everything you need is already attached. Keeps the tablet and phone topped off through a full day of activating.
[Link: Charmast 20000mAh Portable Charger with Built-in Cables on Amazon] [Link: Short coax jumper on Amazon]
Final Thoughts
The best go-bag is the one that gets you on the air fast and keeps you there. Mine has evolved through every activation and I'm still tweaking it. If you're just getting started with POTA, don't overthink it — a radio, an antenna, a battery, and a way to log contacts is all you need to qualify a park.
73 de W4GGJ — see you in the logs.