2012 IOTA Challenge

Islands On The Air (IOTA) DXing is one of the most exhilarating elements of radio communications.  Whether you’re an Island Hunter or Chaser, part of a DXpedition team activating an island, or holidaying with the YL on a small isle with radio gear in tow, IOTA operations represents an enormous challenge for the DXer – one that has transcended from the ranks of Amateur Radio to the 11m scene more than a decade ago.

With this in mind, the Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) is proud to bring you one of the most exciting island events ever staged in the world 11m dx community.  Commencing January 1 and concluding on December 31, DA-RC’s IOTA Challenge extends for 365 days, where every second of every day of every month counts as island DX potential and a moment spent away from the mic is an opportunity missed.

Apart from everyday island hunting, a strong performance in some of the other island events staged on 11m such as the Oceania Contest will go along way towards ensuring success in the IOTA Challenge.  Some would regard it, therefore, as the ultimate test of an Island Hunter’s skills; an unsympathetic assessment of his determination and ability to chase islands over a long period of time, his staying power behind the microphone, his knowledge of island nation frequencies and operating culture, and much, much more!

Full details of the 2012 IOTA Challenge are listed below…

IOTA Challenge Rules/Guidelines

Dates
  • January 1, 2012 – December 31 2012 (1 year)
Participation
  • DA-RC members only are entitled to participate in this contest event
Frequencies & Modes
  • 26.200 MHz - 27.655 MHz (Note: Contesters are advised to adhere to their local laws regarding legal frequency use)
  • Contesters are reminded to make their call on any one of the calling (See http://www.delta-alfa.com/swl-world/856/ )  frequencies and then to QSY to another frequency
  • All modes are valid
     

Scoring

  • The score for each contact with an island depends on your rtx QTH.  Please refer to the table below:
You are in… 2 pts 5 pts 10 pts 15 pts 30 pts 50 pts 100 pts
EU EU AF AS NA SA OC AN
NA NA SA EU OC AF AS AN
SA SA NA EU AN AF OC AS
AF AF EU AS SA NA AN OC
AS AS OC EU AF NA AN SA
OC OC AS NA SA AN EU AF
AN AN AF OC SA EU NA SA

 

  • Multiple contacts with the same island are valid - if made with different stations
  • Only one contact per station is valid
  • Contacts with stations on your own island are not valid contacts in this event
  • Each RSGB IOTA reference number worked and confirmed equals one multiplier
  • Islands referenced as N/V (not valid) are valid but count only for one multiplier in each continent (i.e. if you work several European N/V islands then they will all count for one multiplier only)
  • Total is multiplied by the number of IOTA reference numbers worked and confirmed by QSL card to give the final score
  • A QSL card is required to confirm each new IOTA reference number (for example: if a challenger works a station transmitting from EU-026 he cannot claim it as a multiplier if a QSL card photocopy or scan (front and back) cannot be sent to the Challenge Manager.  Instead the contact will count for 1 point only.  If a challenger works 5 stations transmitting from the same island, then he requires only one QSL card to claim that IOTA reference as a multiplier)
Valid IOTA Groups
  • Oceania (OC)
  • North America (NA)
  • South America (SA)
  • Europe (EU)
  • Asia (AS)
  • Africa (AF)
  • Antarctica (AN) 
Logs
  • An IOTA log sheet must be used which contains the following QSO details (Date of QSO, time in UTC, callsign, frequency, mode, progressive numbers RX and TX, Island name, RSGB reference number).
  • Logs must be received by the Contest Manager by March 1 2013
Station Types
  • Single operator only
Final Results
  • Results and scores will be published on the DA-RC website

PRIZES

First Prize
  • 1 Personalized Plaque
  • 1 RSGB IOTA Directory
  • 1 DA-RC Log Book
  • 1 DA-RC DX Atlas
  • 1 Full Colour Certificate
Second Prize
  • 1 Personalized Plaque
  • 1 RSGB IOTA Directory
  • 1 DX Atlas
  • 1 Full Colour Certificate
Third Prize
  • 1 Personalized Plaque
  • 1 IOTA Directory
  • 1 Full Colour Certificate
Contest Manager
  • 14DA911 Eric