Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor is a free Windows application that helps amateur radio hunters find and contact portable stations. It brings current spotting information into one easy-to-read window, so you can spend less time checking websites and more time making contacts.

Designed with the Australian and New Zealand amateur radio community in mind, it supports hunting activity associated with POTA, WWFF, SOTA, SiOTA, ZLOTA and LLOTA. An optional Worldwide spot source broadens the view beyond Oceania.

Spend less time searching for activations and more time making contacts! Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor supports simultaneous HF and VHF/UHF radio control, with CAT connectivity for the Icom IC-7300, IC-9700, IC-905, Yaesu FTX-1 and other supported transceivers, plus Ham Radio Deluxe. Simply double-click a spot to tune the appropriate radio to the station’s frequency and operating mode. With mode-specific frequency presets, optional QRZ.com operator lookups, personalised Wanted Station alerts, live radio frequency monitoring and real-time BoM HF propagation maps, it’s a powerful companion for amateur radio hunters. Day and Night themes, a compact display and integration with Ham2K Logger make it easy to operate alongside your favourite logging software.

Best of all, Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor is completely free to download and use.

Features at a glance

• Live spots — automatic updates, spot age, operator callsign, frequency, mode, reference and activation details.
• Flexible filtering — choose operating mode, country, program and spot source.
• Mode-dependent frequency buttons — separate SSB, CW, FT8 and FT4 preset banks.
• Dual-radio CAT — configure HF and VHF/UHF radios independently, with live frequency readouts and optional automatic tuning.
• Preferred receive filters — configure SSB and CW filters for supported radios; digital modes use FIL1 (Wide) when supported.
• Wanted Stations — maintain a callsign watchlist and hear a distinctive spoken alert when a wanted station appears.
• Optional QRZ.com lookup — display an operator’s first name when the required QRZ lookup access is configured.
• HF Conditions — view live Bureau of Meteorology T Index and ionospheric maps, with links to video explanations.
• Compact view — suitable for smaller screens, with Day/Night themes.
• In-app update checking — find newer published versions and download the distribution ZIP.

Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor is a free Windows application developed primarily for Australian and New Zealand amateur radio hunters who enjoy chasing portable stations operating from parks, summits, silos and other locations. The software brings live activation spots from Parks on the Air (POTA), World Wide Flora and Fauna (WWFF), Summits on the Air (SOTA), Silos on the Air (SiOTA), ZLOTA and LLOTA into one convenient, easy-to-read window, with both Oceania and worldwide spot monitoring available. Rather than continually checking websites for new activations, hunters can monitor callsigns, operator names, frequencies, operating modes, activation references and spot ages in real time. Customisable filters help you focus on your preferred countries, modes and award programs, while audible new-spot notifications and personalised Wanted Station alerts ensure you don’t miss an important activation. With automatic refreshing, colour-coded spots and seamless dual-radio CAT control, Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor makes finding and chasing portable stations easier than ever.

What makes Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor particularly useful is its ability to control your amateur radio transceivers directly. Supporting simultaneous HF and VHF/UHF operation, the software works with compatible Icom and Yaesu radios, including the IC-7300, IC-9700, IC-905, FTX-1 and FT-891, as well as Ham Radio Deluxe. Simply double-click a spot and the appropriate radio automatically tunes to the station’s frequency and operating mode, with preferred receive filters applied where supported. Additional features include mode-specific frequency presets, QRZ.com operator-name lookups, park information, live frequency monitoring and personalised Wanted Station alerts.

The new HF Conditions window displays live Bureau of Meteorology T Index and Australasian ionospheric maps, helping hunters assess propagation conditions before choosing a band. With a compact display, Day and Night themes and convenient access to Ham2K Logger, Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor helps you spend less time searching and more time making contacts.

Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor was created with the Australian and New Zealand amateur radio hunter in mind, making it easier to find and contact portable stations without constantly switching between websites and applications. Whether you’re chasing POTA parks, collecting WWFF references, hunting SOTA summits or looking for SiOTA activations, the software brings live Oceania and worldwide spots together in one convenient window. Filter activations by country, operating mode or award program, monitor spot ages and receive audible notifications when new stations appear. The personalised Wanted Stations feature even alerts you when a callsign on your watchlist is spotted. With simultaneous HF and VHF/UHF radio control, automatic CAT tuning, mode-specific frequency presets and live Bureau of Meteorology propagation information through the HF Conditions window, you’ll have the tools to make the most of every activation. It’s all about reducing distractions, catching short-lived opportunities and spending more time doing what amateur radio hunters enjoy most — making contacts and adding new references to the log.

Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor automatically retrieves live amateur radio activation spots from the Parks n Peaks website, presenting them in a clear, easy-to-read display that refreshes every 60 seconds by default. Each spot includes the activating station’s callsign, operating frequency, mode, activation reference, location and age, along with the operator’s first name when QRZ.com integration is enabled.

Hunters can quickly narrow their search using filters for operating modes including SSB, AM, FM, CW, FT8 and FT4, countries such as Australia (VK) and New Zealand (ZL), and activation programs including POTA, WWFF, SOTA, SiOTA, ZLOTA and LLOTA, with worldwide spot monitoring also available. New activations are highlighted as they appear, while optional audible notifications ensure you don’t miss an opportunity when concentrating on other activities in the shack. The Wanted Stations feature takes this a step further, allowing hunters to maintain a personal callsign watchlist and receive a distinctive voice alert when a sought-after station appears. Combined with adjustable spot-age limits, automatic refreshing and colour-coded operating modes, Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor makes finding your next contact quicker and easier.

One of the most useful features of Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor is the ability to tune your radio simply by double-clicking a spot. Instead of manually entering frequencies and changing operating modes, the software sends CAT commands to the appropriate connected transceiver, automatically selecting the spotted frequency and operating mode. Supporting simultaneous HF and VHF/UHF operation, Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor works with compatible Icom and Yaesu radios, including the IC-7300, IC-9700, IC-905, IC-7300MK2, FTX-1 and FT-891, as well as Ham Radio Deluxe through a local TCP connection. Mode-specific frequency presets provide convenient one-click tuning for SSB, CW, FT8 and FT4, while supported radios can automatically select preferred receive filters for SSB and CW, or a wide filter for digital operation. With live frequency monitoring and automatic radio selection based on the spotted frequency, hunters can move from finding an activation to making a contact in seconds.

Mode-specific frequency shortcut buttons provide instant access to popular amateur radio frequencies for SSB, CW, FT8 and FT4, automatically changing to match the selected operating mode. With simultaneous HF and VHF/UHF radio support, live frequency displays continuously track both transceivers, including changes made directly at the radio or through other software such as WSJT-X. Automatic radio selection, preferred receive filters and double-click spot tuning make chasing activations faster and easier. Combined with flexible spot filtering, automatic updates, personalised Wanted Station alerts and live propagation information through the HF Conditions window, Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor is a practical companion for finding and contacting portable amateur radio stations quickly and efficiently.

Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor helps ensure you never miss an opportunity to work a new portable station. The software automatically checks for fresh activation spots at regular intervals, displaying new entries with a highlighted background so they stand out from existing spots. An optional audible alert notifies you whenever a new station matching your selected filters appears, even when you’re busy logging contacts, operating digital modes or working in another application.

Each spot also includes an automatically updating age indicator, making it easy to identify recently active stations and prioritise contacts before an activation ends. With adjustable spot-age limits and automatic refreshing, you can leave the monitor running in the background while concentrating on what matters most — making contacts.

Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor can integrate with QRZ.com to display an operator’s first name alongside their callsign, adding a personal touch to your amateur radio contacts. For users with access to the QRZ XML lookup service, the software automatically retrieves operator names as new callsigns appear and stores the results locally to minimise unnecessary lookups. This information appears in a dedicated Name column, making it easier to greet operators by name when calling them on the air.

Even without a QRZ subscription, hunters can right-click any spot and select the QRZ.com lookup option to open the station’s profile in their web browser. The integration is entirely optional, allowing everyone to enjoy the Spot Monitor regardless of whether they subscribe to QRZ.

Download

Follow the link to download from GitHub

Getting started with Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor couldn’t be easier! There’s no complicated installation, no programming required and absolutely no licence fees. Simply download the free Windows distribution ZIP, extract the complete application folder, create a desktop shortcut and start hunting! The included First-Run Setup Wizard guides you through radio selection, COM port configuration and CAT connection testing, while the comprehensive illustrated User Manual and Quick Start Guide explain everything from spot filtering and QRZ.com integration to dual-radio operation, Wanted Station alerts and HF Conditions. With automatic update checking, a compact display and support for compatible Icom and Yaesu transceivers, it’s an ideal companion whether you’re hunting from your home shack or using a laptop in the field. Developed primarily for Australian and New Zealand amateur radio operators, but equally useful for worldwide hunting, Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor is your free companion for chasing portable activations. Download your copy today and get hunting!

Ready to spend less time searching and more time hunting? Download Parks n Peaks Spot Monitor absolutely free! This easy-to-use Windows application puts live POTA, WWFF, SOTA and other portable amateur radio activations at your fingertips, helping you find stations, track new spots and make more contacts.