Islands On The Air
Islands on the air (IOTA) is an amateur radio program
that promotes contact between ham radio operators and stations on islands.
The islands in this program have been grouped into 6
large groups. These groups have been decided on based on the location of the
islands. There are 1200 smaller IOTA groups of islands that qualify.
The islands have been because they would be too many
if they stood alone.
Qualification for IOTA
For islands to qualify for the island's on-air program,
they have to meet the following condition:
1. The
island must not lie in an inland lake or water body.
2. They
must be visible on officially recognized maps.
3. The
island must not lie inside a river or a stream.
4. The
island must lie a certain distance from the nearest mainland.
There are no specific frequencies set aside for IOTA
use.
The IOTA Island chaser is an amateur radio enthusiast interested
in making contact with an island on air. The island chaser tries to initiate
contact with as many islands as possible.
Certificates are awarded to island chasers who manage
to contact the listed islands on air according to how many islands a chaser
manages to contact.
History Of Islands On Air
The Island on-air program was created by an English
shortwave listener named Geoff Watts in 1964.
In 1985, the Radio Society of Great Britain took over
the management of the island's on-air program.
In 2006, the Radio Society of Great Britain handed
over the island's on-air program to Islands on the Air Ltd (IOTA Management).
Rules of Islands on Air
1. An
applicant must be a licensed amateur radio operator to be granted a chance to
participate in IOTA events.
2. All
contacts to IOTAs must be made from a location based on land.
3. Contacts
to IOTAs must be made on specified radio frequency bands (1.8 and 30 MHz)
4. Contacts
to Islands on Air through signals enhanced in any way mid-way do not count in
the competitions. Contacts through repeater stations will also not be awarded
credit.
5. Earth
to the moon to earth contacts are awarded credit. They count as IOTA contacts.
6. For a
club category entry, one is supposed to show proof of authority to represent a said
group. In such cases, an amateur radio operator license is not mandatory.
7. Proof
of transparency in compliance with the set guidelines is supposed to be kept as
transparent as possible.
8. QSL
cards submitted for the issuing of credits must have details of one or two
QSOs.
Validation Of IOTA Operations
The program chooses to trust the information provided
is accurate. If, however, the accuracy of the information provided is in
question, management requires;
1. Proof
of physical presence on the island in question,
2. Photocopies
of the licenses of the operators involved and
3. Operating
permits where they are required.
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