Islands On The Air

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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