Summits On The Air

Summits On The Air Mike Olbrisch – KD9KC W5-SOTA Association Manager Ham Radio with an Altitude

So – How many of you? How many of you have looked at the mountains around us and wondered how your radio would work from “up there”? How many of you have gone “up there” and tried it out? Did you have fun doing it?

“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

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?

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 • Over 1.4 million QSO’s in SOTA Database on 1 June 2012 • More than 4,800 registered users on 1 June 2011 • Sophisticated web portal by Jon, GM4ZFZ • Alerting, spotting, forum, etc • 69 participating associations, 590 regions and nearly 50,000 summits in the SOTA database and growing fast!

wG0AT and N7UN on Humboldt Peak, CO

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 • Activators, Chasers & SWLs are participants • Various awards, Honor Rolls, etc. • Totally Internet based administration • Patterned after IOTA, Islands on the Air

G - England-2 Mar 02 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-1 Jun 09 W6 – USA – 1 Jul 09 VE2 – Canada W3 – USA – 1 Jan 10 VP8 - Falkland Islands LX - Luxembourg 9H - Malta OZ - Denmark YO – Romania E7 - Bosnia-Herzegovina VE1 - Canada (Novia Scotia) W0 – USA – 1 May 10 * UT - Ukraine W5 – USA – 1 Jul 10 HL - South Korea W7 – USA – 1 Jul 10 69 Current SOTA Associations • EA1 - Spain - North West • EA3 - Spain (Catalunya - EA3) • EA2 - Spain (North - EA2) • EA8 - Canary Islands - EA8 • EA5 - Spain (Southeast - EA5) • EA4 - Spain (Center - EA4) • VE7 - Canada (BC) • W4 – USA – 1 Feb 11 * • IS0 - Sardinia • I - Italy • CT – Portugal • OM – Slovakia • VK3 – Australia • W4T – Tennessee • * Some regions such as W5 have split into separate states, thus making the 69 association total. More are on the way… * Not all states are on board as of this time As of Jun 2012

W-regions not completed. • W0: CO, ND and SD. • Not included are KS, MO, NE, IA, MN. • W4: NC, SC, TN and VA. • Not included are AL*, GA, FL and KY. • W8: Discussions presently occurring. No start date as of July 2011. • W9: No interest shown to date. * In progress as of 1 June 2012.

W5 - Management Team • Mike – KD9KC. Association Manager. Responsible for forming the association, cataloging 1692 summits, separating them into 75 regions, and writing the initial documents to start the W5-SOTA association. W5-sota@elp.rr.com • Andrew – KD5ZZK. Arkansas manager (8 regions, 124 summits) KD5ZZK@yahoo.com • Fred – KT5X. New Mexico Manager (37 regions, 1064 summits). just.one.hill@gmail.com • Jim – W5JCS. Oklahoma manager (6 regions, 57 summits) sjim747@gmail.com • Sean – KD6CUB. Texas Manager (24 regions, 447 summits) kd6cub@arrl.net • NOTE: There are no qualifying summits in Louisiana or Mississippi.

Arkansas

New Mexico

Oklahoma

Texas

Texas (zoom-view)

Mike - KD9KC on W5N/RO-015Rough and Ready Hills west of Las Cruces NM.

When is a peak not a SOTA peak? • A SOTA peak is qualified when: • Prominence is greater than 500 ft (150m) from surrounding peaks • Peak qualification rules: • Vertical separation concept (500’ prominence) • Must be a readily accessible summit • Private property - with permission only • Respect for Native American and Government properties

Prominence Definition Qualifies for SOTA Does not qualify for SOTA Qualifies for SOTA 1400 ft 1000 ft 550 ft 150 ft 900 ft 850 ft 1400 ft 600 ft 300 ft 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 W5N-New Mexico: 0001’ to 2000’ ASL 1 point 2001’ to 4000’ ASL 2 points 4001’ to 6000’ ASL 4 points 6001’ to 8000’ ASL 6 points 8001’ to 10000’ ASL 8 points 10000’ + 10 points ** Bonus based on summer heat or winter snows, no bonus below 4000 ft ASL.

Association Reference Lists • All W5 summits listed in the W5 – Association Reference Manual are available at www.sota.org.uk/associations/

Richard - G3CWI/P on GW/NW-001Snowdon – Yr Wyddfa, North Wales.

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

Web Tools for SOTA • www.sota.org.uk • The main site about the SOTA program • www.sotawatch.org • Alerts, spots 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

Registering for SOTA • Having your Latitude and Longitude to help locate summits near you is advisable too.

Another popular place to watch

Ron -WT5RZ on W5T/FR-003South Franklin Mountain above El Paso Texas.

SOTA Awards Certificates (activator and chaser) 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

Bands and Modes • VHF+ • A lot of 2m FM (Who doesn’t own an HT?) • 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

Equipment • It’s all a lot easier these days! • Equipment is smaller, lighter and more efficient • Battery technology has improved immensely • Typical activator radios • FT817, IC-703, Elecraft K1, KX1, new KX3 • Various handy-talkies for 2m FM, 70cm 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 Antennas 7 to 30 MHz Magnetic Loop antenna on tripod Arrow Yagi Antennas and fiber-glass “painter’s pole”

North American SOTA The North American SOTA Association plans a SOTA activity day on 13 and 14 November 2010. More information can be found at: www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nasota. Summit, times and frequencies are listed there. Of interest: The new W5-SOTA association has formed. In W5 they have 75 regions with 1692 summits. Manager is Michael, KD9KC. In the W5/SS region (Sangre De Cristo Mtns, region manager Doug Thompson, W5DET) lays the highest summit, 4011 meters over sea level, Wheeler Peak (W5/SS-001). This summit belongs to the southern end of the Rocky Mountains in the American state of New Mexico, and is known for its ski areas. It is 20 km north of the city of Taos.

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

Mountain safety • Safety is important to SOTA • Watch the sky – storms and lightning. • Competence rule… Don’t take risks • SOTA does not add to the risks • Mountain peaks are dangerous already • Golden rules • Don’t take abnormal or unreasonable risks • Keep track of time, especially in winter • Don’t get overheated or chilled. • Drink water, have food, be prepared for emergencies

Give it a try! You don’t have to be a mountaineer! Some summits where you can almost drive to the top 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

Summary • So now go take a hike; go climb a summit! • Chasing • Activating • Use the SOTA Internet based tools • Alerting • Spotting • Database • Be careful – it’s addictive!

So there is only one thing left to do.Give SOTA a try! • Grab your pack, pack your gear – and get going as an activator. • Check SOTAwatch and QRPspots for activations and work them from home. • Above all – HAVE FUN!

SOTA resources * • www.sota.org.uk • www.sotawatch.org • www.qrpspots.com • www.na-sota.org • nasota@yahoogroups.com • w5-sota@elp.rr.com * Hand-outs available with the presenter after the presentation

Questions ???

Summits On The Air