Meet the Parks on the Air Board: Tom N4MTE
About this episode
Tom Suggs N4MTE shares his journey in amateur radio and insights on the Parks on the Air program.
Tom Suggs N4MTE is a longtime amateur radio operator, Parks on the Air board member, and one of the program’s dedicated activators. His journey into radio began as a teenager inspired by an uncle’s ham radio station, where a simple contact with Norway sparked a lifelong fascination with geography, communication, and the magic of radio. After earning his license in 1985, Tom spent decades chasing DX and enjoying the many corners of amateur radio before discovering Parks on the Air in its earliest days. In this conversation, Tom reflects on hearing one of the first “CQ Parks on the Air” calls back in 2018 and deciding to give the program a try at a nearby battlefield. One activation was all it took. Today, he plans multi-state activation trips that can include dozens of parks in a single week and has already activated parks in 38 states. Along the way, he’s explored hidden corners of America, learned local history, and built friendships with hunters and activators across the world. Tom also offers a candid look inside the Parks on the Air leadership transition from founder Jason Johnson, W3AAX, to the current board structure. He explains why explosive growth made a volunteer-led…
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