What is COTA?
December 7, 2008 by Darren
What is COTA?
COTA is an acronym for the special radio DX activity known as Castles On The Air. COTA is an exciting concept most likely born in Spain (home to many of the world’s finest castles) which involves radio transmissions occurring from castle grounds or within a maximum of 500 metres from castle walls.
A slight variation of that phrase, yet one which carries the same implication and is commonly added as a suffix to the callsigns of Freeband operators undertaking COTA activity, is the term CF (Castles and Fortresses).
While CF stands for Castles and Fortresses, the first two letters or numbers after CF refer to the department, province, state, county or other where the CF is located. The suffix, composed of three numbers, is the reference assigned to the castle or fortress.
Who Invented COTA?
The Delta Radio DX Group is credited by most as the creator of the COTA concept. The DR World Castles and Fortresses Weekend was once one of the most eagerly anticipated weekends of DX adventure in many sections of the Freeband Community with activities occurring in most continents of the world.
Why COTA?
Like Lighthouse On The Air (LOTA) activations, COTA activity presents an opportunity for radio operators to educate and promote the historical significance and architectural uniqueness of castles. In the past, they have also been used in conjunction with important fundraising ventures to assist with the repair or renovation of ‘at risk’ castles.
DA-RC and COTA
The Dx Adventure Radio Club fully supports the COTA concept, including its objectives as outlined by the now defunct Delta Radio (DR) group. DA-RC members, in fact, have undertaken many castles and fortresses activities in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
The DA-RC Achievement Program offers a fabulous range of COTA awards which include a COTA Hunter award for the operator who successfully works and confirms 50 COTA stations, as well as four COTA DXpeditioner awards for 10, 20 and 30 activities respectively.
Welcome 43DA162 Brett
November 13, 2008 by Darren
DA-RC is delighted to herald the signing of 43DA162 Brett to the club. One of Oceania’s elite 11m DXers and a mainstay of Freeband DX in Australia, Brett farewells a five year association with Alfa Tango to concentrate his efforts with Team DA-RC and is super excited to be part of the line-up.
Starting out in the hobby back in February 1980, Brett brings with him more than 25 year’s experience and a reputation as arguably 43 Division’s number one DXer.
Whether it’s as front man for one of New South Wales’ most dynamic heavy rock bands, as a retired serviceman in the Australian Navy, or as a former life saver safeguarding the beaches of his home town, 43DA162 Brett lives and dies by the philosophy that one should “live life to the fullest”.
In his down time though, Brett enjoys spending time with his wife Marty and diminutive dog Nipper in his small country town in Northern NSW, as well as keeping physically fit, snorkelling in the nearby Pacific Ocean, enjoying picnics on the beach and watching his favourite sport rugby league on television.
A portable DX enthusiast, in addition to work behind the mic in his home radio shack where he has undertaken special event (SES) operations for his previous group, Brett has his sights set on some of the extraordinary lighthouses along OC-001′s east coast for some Lighthouse On The Air (LOTA) activity in the near future and joining with other members of the 43 division DA-RC Team for ‘most wanted’ dx adventure.
On behalf of the World Headquarters Team and all DA-RC Members, welcome to the Club 43DA162 Brett.
What is LOTA?
November 5, 2008 by Darren
LOTA is an acronym for DX activity termed Lighthouses On The Air which sees radio operators travelling to a lighthouse for the purpose of activating it as a special DX entity. As is the case with the Radio Society of Great Britain’s Islands On The Air (IOTA) program (which of course specialises in islands), lighthouses, lightships, and navigational beacons around the world have been assigned a unique reference which enables a radio operator to readily identify a light for contact purposes. Composed of a 3 letter country prefix followed by digits, this lighthouse identification system was instigated by the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society (ARLHS) who overseas most aspects of the concept in ham radio.
According to the ARLHS, the purpose of a LOTA activation is:
- To promote public awareness of the role radio and light beacons have played in assisting and maintaining safety at sea;
- To preserve the heritage and history of lighthouses and lightships; and
- To aid in preserving those lights in danger of destruction or decay.
Operating from the lighthouse itself is not always possible. For this reason, LOTA rules state that a DXpedition station may operate within 1000m or visual sight of the structure in order for it to be considered a valid LOTA operation.
How Does the Reference System work on 11m?
All Australian lights for example, carry the prefix AUS followed by the ARLHS reference number. A Freeband radio operator belonging to the Delta-Alfa Radio Club and activating the Cape Borda lighthouse on Kangaroo Island, for instance, would use the callsign 43DA/AUS-021.
History has shown that LOTA activity often combines well with IOTA work as many of the world’s islands contain lighthouses warning approaching vessels of the impending danger of sand bars and surrounding reefs as well as the site of safe passage.
The Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) offers a number of exciting awards for LOTA DX enthusiasts-including Chasers and DXpeditioners-as part of its Achievement Program.
For more information on the LOTA concept, visit the ARLHS webpage at http://arlhs.com/ .
73 de Darren
