Pota cat (found at potacat.com) is a specialized, 1-click hunting and logging application for Parks On The Air radio operators. It uses CAT control to instantly tune radios, allowing users to quickly find, log, and chase activators. It specifically features watchlist notifications, park filtering, and Hamlib integration for over 200 radios!
Usage Examples & Features:
- 1-Click Hunting: Directly tune your radio to a POTA activator’s frequency by clicking a spot in the app.
- Efficient Logging: Automatically log contacts and manage Park-to-Park (P2P) contacts.
- Filter & Track: Hide previously worked parks and set watchlists for specific activators or rare locations.
- Real-time Data: View live spots and POTA, SOTA, and DX information in a dedicated, often compact, interface.
- Radio Control: Integrates with software like Hamlib, rigctld, flrig, or OmniRig to manage radio settings
How it works:
Launch & configure — A first-run welcome dialog walks you through radio setup: FlexRadio, Hamlib rig, or no radio. Set your Maidenhead grid square for distance calculations.
Browse live spots — Seven sources stream in automatically: POTA, SOTA, DX Cluster, RBN, PSKReporter FreeDV, WSJT-X decodes, and DX Expeditions. Filter by band, mode, source, and spot age.
Pick your target — Sort by distance, use split view or pop-out the map to a second monitor, or set up a watchlist and get desktop notifications when friends come on the air.
Click to tune — One click sends the frequency and mode to your rig. CW XIT offset is applied automatically. You’re on the air and ready to make the contact.
Winter Field Day at PARC! Has had an awesome start! There are more photos to come! Be sure to catch us again tomorrow for more Playground fun!
