Activator Rules for SOTA - Overview

Interested in the rules for being a Summits on the Air activator? This video summarizes the primary activator rules highlighted in the "Rules for Activators" section. For reference, SOTA rules are located at the link below.
www.sota.org.uk/Joining-In/Ge...
As you get involved with activating, it's also good to check your Association rules.
summits.sota.org.uk/ summit information (Association rules listed here)
This video is part of a series focused on those interested in or newer to SOTA. Future videos will focus on posting alerts & spots, equipment ideas, submitting your activator log, etc. Please see the earlier videos regarding an overview of SOTA resources, and how to choose your first summit.
www.sota.org.uk/
www.sota.org.uk/Joining-In best place to start...includes rules, faq, etc.
sotawatch.sota.org.uk/en/ post or watch for Spots & Alerts
www.sotamaps.org/ mapping resources, find gps tracks, activation maps, much more
www.sotadata.org.uk/en/ submit activator/chaser logs, track progress, etc
reflector.sota.org.uk/ discussion for SOTA topics
summits.sota.org.uk/ summit information
sotl.as/
User friendly website to see summits on interactive map, click on summit for more information, post spots & alerts, etc.
www.pnwsota.org/ Resource for those in the Pacific NW
www.pnwsota.org/content/gettin...
www.pnwsota.org/content/sugges...
www.pnwsota.org/content/pacifi...
Keep learning and exploring!
June 2024 update: Just did a quick video about my first SOTA activation learning based on another new activators experience. Below are a few recommended HT's for SOTA that are better quality that starter cheaper radios. These are generally between $130-$200, and you can usually get a better price from Ham Radio Outlet, RandL, DX Engineering, Gigaparts, etc.
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Icom IC-V86 VHF 2M (144-148 MHz) FM Portable HT Handheld Amateur Radio
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Yaesu FT-70DR
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Yaesu FT-60R DualBand Handheld 5W VHF/UHF Amateur Radio Transceiver
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Interested in learning about Meshtastic? Please check out a recent May 2024 video on the channel where I give a presentation explaining what it is, devices, antennas, what I've learned, etc.
I've purchased most of my devices and parts from Rokland, and have been very impressed. If you'd like to support the channel, please check out the affiliate link below. Thank you!
store.rokland.com/?ref=WA7JNJ...
Below is CalTopo map link with an elevation rule added.
- Recommend you save a link based on a summit near your location.
- To update the rule, click on the pencil icon next to "Activation Zone Rule". What is currently listed in the Rule section is "e509-1000f FF0000-FF0000", when I want to see the map shaded in red for elevation over 509 feet (within 82 feet of the SOTA summit, in this case the summit is 591 feet minus 82 feet = 509). The next number "1000" is the max elevation for the rule, and can change depending on the summit...it just needs to be higher than the elevation of the summit you want to map. The next part of the rule..."FF0000-FF0000" defines what color to highlight the map, based on the elevation range.
caltopo.com/map.html#ll=48.21...
The Activation Zone Estimator by N6ARA is a great newer resource, and is located in the "Open" drop-down link on each SOTLAS summit page.
Summit link for Camano Island summit
sotl.as/summits/W7W/RS-088
Music by Bensound.com
"Elevate"

[@thedwighty]

Another video with a lot of great information for newer sota folks! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@wa7jnjradio]

Thank you so much Dwight, and much appreciated!

[@JulietNovember9]

Super informative. Groups of us new Gens want to do a SOTA activation and this was great to get us started! Thank you! 73

[@wa7jnjradio]

Thank you so much for taking a few minutes to give feedback, and glad it was helpful! 73

[@kn6eze]

Great video! Just wanted to note that Ara recently made an update to the Activation Zone Estimator allowing you to download the polygon defining the activation zone as a GPX file for easy import into your favorite navigation app or device!

[@wa7jnjradio]

Thank you KN6EZE, and appreciate the activation zone estimator update! 73

[@MikeN2MAK]

Thanks! I just did my first SOTA last month and spent a while looking at maps to try and make sure I would be in the activation zone. I didn't know about the sotl.as feature to estimate the activation zone until I saw this. That will make me feel much more confident when I do my next one. 73, N2MAK

[@wa7jnjradio]

Thank you for taking time to share, and glad to hear the sotl.as feature tip helped! It was actually relatively new to me recently as well, and is nice to have as another tool to get a feel for the activation area. Congrats on doing your first SOTA last month!!! 73, James

[@d3w4yn3]

Great summary! I actually learned a few things! That doesn't always happen, lol. Getting excited about becoming a SOTA activator!!!

[@wa7jnjradio]

Thank you for taking a minute to share, and always good to learn a few things (-: Very awesome about getting excited to be a SOTA activator! I made another quick video about choosing your first summit, and that may be helpful as well. I made too complicated at first, and finally chose a popular easy local summit to start with. Thanks again for feedback...much appreciated! 73

[@WilliamParmley]

Fantastic, thank you!

[@wa7jnjradio]

Thank you for the feedback! 73

[@WilliamParmley]

@@wa7jnjradio I'll be watching the other three in this series. I had a nice chat with WA7NCL on 12m today and he made some suggestions about getting started with SOTA, online resources, etc.. I do a bit of POTA and would like to try SOTA, although we only have a few "summits" here in W9/IL. (Nothing higher than about 1000 ft. MSL.)

[@reidlanham2011]

Great video! There are several summits in my area here in VA that could be a drive up but I like the idea of not operating in close proximity to your vehicle. Maybe helps to keep it a little honest! 73, K8JLW

[@wa7jnjradio]

Thank you! Some definition room in how close to vehicle you can be, but as long as not using for support, etc. is the main thing....and one of the main rule differences with POTA. (-: 73!

[@SimiNelsonFamily]

We’ll done.

[@wa7jnjradio]

Thank you for the quick comment, and much appreciated!

[@DARTHDANSAN]

Thanks

[@wa7jnjradio]

Appreciate the thanks, and for subscribing! (-: 73

[@DARTHDANSAN]

@@wa7jnjradio anytime !

[@jakep5121]

Have you tried Onx maps? I use it for hunting. It shows propert lines and ownership. As well as topo and satellite views .

[@wa7jnjradio]

Hello Jake, I haven't but will have to check out... especially love the idea of showing property lines and ownership!

[@N7KOM]

Excellent overview of the rules. - 73 de Tim N7KOM

[@wa7jnjradio]

Thank you Tim! Will be great to see you and other activators in a few weeks at the campout! 73, James

[@JxH]

Do the contacts benefit the other stations if the summit-climbing Activator station doesn't bother to send in the paperwork ? In other words, can someone "activate" a summit on the spur of the moment, or do they have to follow up with log submissions to make it count ? Asking in case I find myself on a summit.

[@wa7jnjradio]

Thanks for watching, and reaching out with the question. You definitely can activate a summit on the "spur of the moment" without posting an alert (or spot), as long as you are in a SOTA summit activation zone. With POTA, the chasers rely on the activator to get points...and that is one difference with SOTA. For SOTA, both activator and chaser submit logs...so they are not reliant on each other in the same way as POTA. If you do "find yourself on a summit" (-: encourage you to check out the online SOTA web interface to get points for the activation as it's pretty straightforward... it gets a bit more complicated with CSV or ADIF upload depending on your background with other logging software, etc. Hope this helps. 73

[@Bat31160]

Hey, completely new to hamradio here and wondering ... do you have to prove that you are in the activation zone when making contacts !? I'm very confused because you could pretend you are at the top of any summit while being in your sofa ... Can't find this information anywhere. Thanks

[@wa7jnjradio]

Hello, and firstly welcome to ham radio...including aspects of ham radio hobby like SOTA! You don't have to prove that you are on a summit, and there is trust that activators are following the guidelines for an activation. This is primarily covered in "Code of Conduct" section of the Rules (link to rules in Joining In section of the SOTA webpage). If there are questions or concerns that someone is "sitting on their sofa" and claiming an activation, I believe this would generally be discovered in time...and the person would lose ability to be involved in SOTA (more info in Code of Conduct section). Hope this helps, and wishing you the best in your ham journey!

[@Bat31160]

Ok fine, that's honorable. As a mountaineer living in the mountain it's a good motivation for me to climb new summits or even climb them again just to try activating them, especially since there is a lot with 0 activations around my place. 73 !

[@jakep5121]

I tried my 1st POTA today and got skunked by rain 🌧. But no biggie, we are gonna be trying different parks all weekend (Winthrop to Leavenworth). While your here, how do you spot your self on ham alert

[@wa7jnjradio]

So awesome about first POTA today even though you got "skunked by rain"! (-: I need to get out soon to do a POTA only...and still haven't done Bayview. I'm still pretty basic on spotting for SOTA & POTA, but have APRS & SMS spotting set up for SOTA. For POTA, I've usually had good luck just using my phone to access the main POTA website for alerts and spots. Hope this helps... 73

[@j.b.708]

a generator is just a gas-powered battery. seems unfair i can't carry a generator up there.

[@wa7jnjradio]

Love it... Hope you have a great weekend, and thanks for watching!

[@ncphotos]

Great video! de W2CSI

[@wa7jnjradio]

Thank you W2CSI! Always nice to hear a quick encouragement, and it's a good reminder for me that I want to complete this series for newer activators! 73