IOTA

1
IOTA

• Islands On The Air http//www.rsgbiota.org/index.p
  hp4?countthis1
• Presentation to NSRA on February 13, 2006 by Gary
  Young K2AJY

2
IOTA

• IOTA is designed to encourage contacts with
  island stations world-wide.
• The Islands On The Air program was created in
  1964 by Geoff Watts, an English SWL and adopted
  by the RSGB in 1985.
• Ocean islands have been grouped into some 1200
  IOTA groups based on geographical and political
  boundaries.
• Each IOTA group may contain one or many islands
  that count for the same IOTA number.
• There are approximately 15,000 to 20,000 IOTA
  chasers.

3
IOTA

• There are 18 certificates and 2 achievement
  awards that are currently available.
• Certificates begin with IOTA-100 and progress up
  to IOTA-700.
• There are also continental certificates for
  working a set number or percentage of each
  continents IOTA groups.
• The achievements awards are, a plaque for
  reaching the 750 IOTA levels, and a crystal cup
  for reaching the 1000 IOTA level.
• The IOTA Honor Roll is published each year. The
  level required to make the IOTA Honor Roll
  increases each year as the number of activated
  IOTA groups increases. In order to be listed, the
  applicant must have 50 of the numbered IOTA
  groups.

4
IOTA

• The main frequency is 14.260MHz.
• On SSB the customary frequencies are 28.560,
  28.460, 24.950, 21.260, 18.128, 7.055, and 3.755
  MHz.
• The CW frequencies are 28.040, 24.920, 21.040,
  18.098, 14.040, 10.115, and 3.530 MHz.

5
IOTA

• The rules pertaining to what constitutes a valid
  IOTA QSL are very strict.
• QSL cards need to be submitted to a nominated
  IOTA checkpoint for credit.
• w4dks_at_cox.net is the checkpoint for us in
  New England.
• The name of the island is required to be printed
  on each card. Hand-written island names on QSL
  cards are no longer valid.
• The IOTA number does not have to be printed on
  the QSL for it to be valid, the important QSL
  feature is the printed island name or
  non-ambiguous location identifier. Grid squares
  or lat/long are not considered valid location
  identifiers for IOTA.
• E-QSLs and LoTW are not valid for IOTA credit.
  There is some discussion between the ARRL and
  IOTA but because there are many issues to be
  dealt with it is doubtful that IOTA will accept
  LoTW for credits, in the near future.

6
IOTA

• The IOTA directory is an extremely valuable
  reference and can be used to verify the validity
  of IOTA islands prior to submitting QSL cards to
  the checkpoint. The 40th edition of the directory
  is the most current and can be purchased from the
  Island Radio Expedition Foundation (IREF) for
  15.00.
• The IREF is an organization created to provide
  support to IOTA expeditions and depends on
  contributions from members on an annual basis.
  IREF has provided financial support to very rare
  and new IOTA operations over the past 5 years
  thru contributions.
• IREF website is http//www.islandradio.org/aboutir
  ef.htm

7
IOTA

• Record keeping is perhaps the most daunting
  aspect of the IOTA program. In order to simplify
  this task it is recommended that you purchase the
  directory, then obtain a copy of the IOTAMEM or
  IOTAMEM4WIN software developed by the RSGB for
  managing IOTA records and simplifying submission
  requirements. This software is available from the
  checkpoint for a one time fee of 10.00, and
  using it entitles the user to a processing
  discount when claiming credits.
• A checkpoint individual is usually known to the
  RSGB and asked to volunteer as a QSL card checker
  in order to lower the cost of the IOTA program
  and to minimize mailing risks.
• The application, QSL cards arranged by continent,
  and the appropriate payment should be submitted
  to the checkpoint by Feb 1 of each year in order
  to have your score appear in the annual listing.