My First KX2 POTA Activation And Some Rich History!

[kd9zab]

First POTA Activation with the Elecraft KX2 — Fort de Chartres, Illinois

Today I finally checked a big one off the list — my first Parks on the Air (POTA) activation using the Elecraft KX2. I decided to sneak out for a few hours (perks of being the business owner!) and headed down to Fort de Chartres State Historic Site, just west of Prairie du Rocher, Illinois.

Armed with the KX2 running QRP at 10 watts on SSB and a simple 20-meter whip antenna, I set up, got on the air, and logged 20 contacts before lunchtime. Not bad for a weekday field trip.

A Perfect Day for Radio

Conditions on 20 meters were strong — clean signals, manageable noise floor, and plenty of chasers ready to log Fort de Chartres (POTA US-7367). The KX2 performed flawlessly, as usual: compact, intuitive, and surprisingly punchy for such a small rig.

Setup took less than 10 minutes. Within minutes of spotting myself, the pile-up began. Running just 10 watts SSB, I was consistently being heard across the country. For a QRP station on a whip, it reminded me why I love this part of the hobby — minimalist gear, maximum fun.

The Location: Fort de Chartres State Historic Site

Activating from Fort de Chartres made the experience even more special. This isn’t just another park — it’s a living piece of early American history.

Originally built by the French in 1720, the fort served as the military and administrative hub of the Illinois Country during the French colonial era. The first two wooden forts eventually succumbed to the Mississippi River’s floods and time, but by 1753 – 1754 the French constructed the third and final version in limestone.

That stone fort became one of the most impressive European outposts on the American frontier. After France’s defeat in the French and Indian War, it passed to the British in 1765 and was renamed Fort Cavendish. But by 1772, flooding and neglect forced its abandonment.

What remains today are meticulously reconstructed stone walls, bastions, and a powder magazine believed to be the oldest surviving structure in Illinois. The site is now managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and recognized as both a State Historic Site and a National Historic Landmark.

Walking those grounds — surrounded by 18th-century walls and echoes of the past — made every contact feel like a connection through both time and airwaves.

Activation Summary
Details Summary
Park Fort de Chartres State Historic Site (POTA US-7367)
Rig Elecraft KX2 (10 W SSB)
Antenna 20 m whip vertical
Band Conditions Excellent — 20 m open and stable
Contacts 20 QSOs
Time on Air ~1 hour
Round Trip Time 2.5 hours total (including drive)
Reflections

This activation proved a few things:

The KX2 is a powerhouse in a small box. Its efficiency and simplicity make portable ops easy and enjoyable.

10 watts is plenty. When propagation cooperates, QRP SSB can hold its own.

Short trips are sustainable. Leaving mid-morning, operating for an hour, and being home before lunch — that’s the kind of schedule that keeps radio fun and repeatable.

History and hobby align beautifully. Operating from a site that dates back three centuries added depth to the day — it felt like bridging the old frontier with the new airwaves.

I’ll definitely be returning to Fort de Chartres for future activations — maybe next time I’ll bring the wire antenna, experiment with CW, or see if I can work some DX from the same historic ground.

For now, I’ll call this first POTA run with the KX2 a success. Sometimes it pays to play hooky.

73 and see you on the bands,
Adam – KD9ZAB

[K4SWL]

This is brilliant! Would you care to share this field report on QRPer.com as well? I would be happy to re-post it there.

Cheers,
Thomas
K4SWL

[kd9zab]

Thomas, I’d be honored if you’d post. I updated my park number in the original post. Thank you!

Adam
KD9ZAB

[KnoxvilleMike]

What an awesome location!