IOTA Challenge

Islands On The Air (IOTA) DXing is one of the most exhilarating elements of eleven metre band 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 Freeband scene more than a decade ago.

With this in mind, the Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) is proud to bring you arguably the most exciting island event ever staged in the world Freeband community.  Commencing January 1 and concluding on December 30, 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 and WWRO’s Islands Festival 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 IOTA Challenge are listed below…

Dates

  • January 1, 2009 – December 31 2009 (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 27.555 MHz and then QSY to a frequency outside that allocation
  • All modes are valid

Scoring System

  • Each RSGB IOTA reference number worked and confirmed equals one multiplier
  • 1 point is scored for each island contact made
  • Contacts with stations on your own island are not valid contacts in this event
  • The total is then multiplied by the number of IOTA reference numbers worked and confirmed  to give a final points score
  • A QSL card is required to confirm each new IOTA reference number.  (For example: If a contester works a station transmitting from EU-026, he cannot claim it as a multiplier if a QSL card photocopy (front and back) is not included with the log.  Instead the contact will count for 1 point only.  If a contester works 5 stations transmitting from the same island, then he requires only one QSL card to claim that IOTA reference as a multiplier).
  • Only one contact per IOTA station is valid

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 2010

Station Types

  • Single operator only

Final Results

First Prize

  • A DXpedition money account to the value of 200 Euro to be used for DXpedition expenses (Conditions apply)
  • 1,000 full colour (front and back) personalised QSL cards offered by our printer 16DA101 Max at ON5UR (note that the shipping cost will be at the charge of the placegetter)
  • 1 personalized plaque

Second Prize

  • 1 DA-RC IOTA Directory
  • 1 DA-RC logbook
  • 1 DX Atlas

Third Prize

  •  1 IOTA Directory
  • 1 DX Atlas

Fourth Prize

  • 1 DX Atlas

Fifth Prize

  • 1 DA-RC logbook

Contest Manager

14DA911 Eric