PowerPoint Created by: Guy Hamblen – N7UN SOTA W7 Summits Manager Summits On The Air Mountain Top Activations and Amateur Radio Presented by: Curtis Hays – KC5CW Stephen Denison – W5SMD HamCom 2013 Presentation props: General Rules Association Reference Manual Station packed in rucsac AR and public SOTA brochures G3CWI pole Book: The Marilyns Certificates PowerPoint Created by: Guy Hamblen – N7UN SOTA W7 Summits Manager

Summits on the Air How did it start? What is it? How do I participate? Can I get any awards? How do I start activating and what equipment should I use? Safety and Operating

“For as long as there has been radio, amateurs have taken their stations to the tops of hills… “It’s perhaps a little surprising then that no formal programme for activating summits existed until March 2002!” Radcom, July 2004

How did SOTA start? Original idea of John, G3WGV Developed with Richard, G3CWI Launched on March 2nd 2002 Internet based activity Industrial strength database by Gary, G0HJQ 1.8 million QSO’s in SOTA Database More than 5,900 registered users Sophisticated web portal by Jon, GM4ZFZ Alerting, spotting, forum, etc 55 participating countries and nearly 60,000 peaks in the SOTA database and growing fast

wG0AT and N7UN on Humboldt Pk, CO

Richard, G3CWI/P on Snowdon - GW/NW-001

Stephen, W5SMD on Winding Stair Mountain, W5O/OU-002

Curtis, KC5CW, on W5O/QA-001

Summits on the Air How did it start? What is it? How do I participate? Can I get any awards? How do I start activating and what equipment should I use? Safety and Operating

What is the SOTA program? “Summits on the Air (SOTA) is an award program for radio amateurs and shortwave listeners that encourages portable operation in mountainous areas. SOTA has been carefully designed to make participation possible for everyone - this is not just for mountaineers! There are awards for activators (those who ascend to the summits) and chasers (who either operate from home, a local hilltop or are even Activators on other summits).” From www.sota.org.uk

General SOTA Principles One set of generic rules for everyone DX entities form one or more “Associations” USA and Canada are exceptions Associations maintain a list of summits SOTA scoring is based on elevation in that Association Activators, Chasers & SWLs are participants Various awards, Honor Rolls, etc. Totally Internet based administration Patterned after IOTA, Islands on the Air

Selected SOTA Associations G - England GW - Wales GD - Isle of Man GM - Scotland GI - Northern Ireland HA - Hungary F – France EI - Ireland DM - Germany OE - Austria SV - Greece ZS - South Africa HB - Switzerland W2 – USA ON – Belgium OK – Czech Republic OH – Finland SP – Poland LA – Norway HB0 – Liechtenstein ON – Belgium OK – Czech Republic OH – Finland SP – Poland LA – Norway HB0 – Liechtenstein SM – Sweden S5 – Slovenia PA – Netherlands OD – Lebanon TK – Corsica Z3 – Macedonia W1 – USA W6 – USA VE2 – Canada W3 - USA(W3) VP8 - Falkland Islands LX - Luxembourg 9H - Malta OZ - Denmark YO – Romania E7- Bosnia-Herzegovina VE1- Canada (Novia Scotia) W0 - USA(W0) UT – Ukraine W4G – USA (Georgia) W4T – USA (Tennessee) W4V – USA (Virginia) W5A – USA (Arkansas) W5M – USA (Mississippi) W5N – USA (New Mexico) W5O – USA (Oklahoma) W5T – USA (Texas) W7A – USA (Arizona) W7I – USA (Idaho) W7M – USA (Montana) W7N – USA (Nevada) W7O – USA (Oregon) W7U – USA (Utah) W7W – USA (Washington) W7Y – USA (Wyoming) W8V – USA (West Virginia) HL - South Korea W7 - USA(W7) EA1 - Spain - North West More are on the way… As of Apr 2011 12

When is a peak not a SOTA peak? A qualified SOTA peak is when: Prominence is greater than 500 ft (150m) from surrounding peaks (333 ft, 100m for Oklahoma) Peak qualification rules: Vertical separation concept (500’ prominence) Must be a readily accessible summit Private property with permission only (no trespassing) Respect for Native American and Government properties

Prominence Definition Qualifies for SOTA Does not qualify for SOTA Qualifies for SOTA 400m 330m 300m 50m 280m 400m 200m 100m Sea Level

SOTA Scoring Based on ASL elevation of a qualified peak Varies by Association May include a “seasonal bonus” for activators Same principles for Chasers and SWLs Scoring example for W5O – Oklahoma: Under 1349’ 1 point (28 peaks) 1350’ to <1550’ 2 points (48 peaks) 1550’ to <1850’ 4 points (32 peaks) 1850’ to <2250’ 6 points (43 peaks) 2250’ to <2450’ 8 points (23 peaks) 2450’ + 10 points (8 peaks)

Association Reference Lists All Texas peaks listed in the W5T Association Reference Manual. All Oklahoma peaks listed in the W5O Association Reference Manual available at www.sota.org.uk

Summits on the Air How did it start? What is it? How do I participate? Can I get any awards? How do I start activating and what equipment should I use? Safety and Operating

Participation Roles Activators – those who “activate” a peak Chasers – those who work the activator Short Wave Listeners – those who can confirm a qso Each group scores “points” for their participation. Points then total for awards.

Web Tools for SOTA www.sota.org.uk www.sotawatch.org The main site about the SOTA program www.sotawatch.org Alerts, spots, map, and a forum Register to participate Anyone can read information posted database.sota.org.uk/ Log chasing and activating QSO’s Register to enter QSO’s and see more detail

Chaser Honor Roll

Activator Honor Roll W5T Activator Rankings as of May 2013

Summits on the Air How did it start? What is it? How do I participate? Can I get any awards? How do I start activating and what equipment should I use? Safety and Operating

SOTA Awards Certificates 100, 250 and 500 points Mountain Goat 1000 activating points Shack Sloth 1000 chasing points SWL Association awards Further certificates at 2500, 5000, 10000 points

Summits on the Air How did it start? What is it? How do I participate? Can I get any awards? How do I start activating and what equipment should I use? Safety and Operating

Bands and Modes VHF+ HF A lot of 2m FM SSB is popular CW is also used occasionally HF A lot of CW, due to use of QRP equipment 10118 kHz, 14060 kHz, 14342.5 kHz are popular

Have a go! You don’t have to be a mountaineer! But if you are... Some summits where you can drive to the top, just walk out of the activation zone and then back up You can participate from your shack But if you are... There are many first expeditions yet to be done It’s a good excuse to enjoy the outdoors on the summit looking at the views It’s a great way to bring two hobbies together

Summits on the Air How did it start? What is it? How do I participate? Can I get any awards? How do I start activating and what equipment should I use? Safety and Operating

Mountain safety Safety is important to SOTA Competence rule… Don’t take risks SOTA does not add to the risks Mountain peaks are dangerous already, wear a helmet Golden rules Don’t take abnormal or unreasonable risks Keep track of time, especially in winter Don’t get cold, temperature drops as you go up Drink/bring water, have food, prepare for emergencies Obey laws Driving up Mount Scott is speed enforced

Principal Rules for Activators Cannot use motorized transport to summit Must operate from portable power source Must carry all equipment to summit Must make at least four QSOs QSO’s via repeaters don’t count

Equipment It’s all a lot easier these days! Typical activator radios Equipment is smaller, lighter and more efficient Battery technology has improved immensely Typical activator radios FT817, FT857, IC-703, Elecraft K1, KX1, KX3 Various handy-talkies for 2m FM, 6m FM etc

Typical SOTA Equipment Portable Radios e.g. Yaesu FT817 Handheld Radios e.g Yaesu VX7 QRO (relatively light) Radios e.g. Yaesu FT857

Typical SOTA Equipment A wire antenna (EFHW, OCFD or Buddi) & Fiberglass Pole LiPO/LiFePO/etc are used due to light weight, high output Bugspray, throw rope & weight, first aid, log/pen, & a weather report.

Ollallie Butte, Central Oregon

Sunset Mt Fuji, Central Oregon

What’s Close?

Tech Apps! iPhone SotaGoat Pocket SOTA HamLog/Pignology RepeaterBook (repeater QSOs don’t count but they can drum up some 146.52 or if you REV and log a simplex QSO without the repeater, it counts) Android SOTA Finder SOTA Logger

Summary So now go take a hike; go climb a peak! Chasing Activating Use the SOTA Internet based tools Alerting Spotting (if you won’t have internet on the summit, pre-spot, alert, cell ph a buddy, APRS Database Be careful – it’s addictive!

Sunrise over Guadalupe Peak Highest Point in Texas

Questions? www.sota.org.uk www.sotawatch.org http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nasota/ Download this powerpoint from www.qsl.net/w5smd/SOTA.htm Or scan the QR code 