POTA, SOTA, IOTA: Parks, Summits & Islands on the air

Amateur radio enthusiasts worldwide participate in various award programs that combine their passion for radio communication with outdoor adventures. Three of the most popular programs are Parks on the Air (POTA), Summits on the Air (SOTA), and Islands on the Air (IOTA). 

Parks on the Air (POTA)

POTA (est. 2017) is a program that encourages amateur radio operators to operate from state and national parks, forests, and historic sites.

How it works:

• Activators set up temporary stations in designated park areas.
• Hunters try to make contact with these activators.
• Both activators and hunters earn points for successful contacts.

Award levels:

• Bronze: 10 park-to-park QSOs
• Silver: 25 park-to-park QSOs
• Gold: 50 park-to-park QSOs
• Platinum: 100 park-to-park QSOs

Additional awards are available for activating or hunting specific numbers of parks.

SOTA activation (© Bob K0NR)

POTA activation (© Tom K4SWL)

Summits on the Air (SOTA)

SOTA (est. 2002) challenges operators to make contacts from qualifying summits around the world.

How it works:

• Activators climb to designated summits and make a minimum of four contacts.
• Chasers attempt to contact activators on summits.
• Points are awarded based on the summit's height and difficulty.

Award levels:

• Mountain Goat: Activators who accumulate 1000 points
• Shack Sloth: Chasers who accumulate 1000 points
• There are also certificates for various point thresholds and annual trophies. 

Islands on the Air (IOTA)

Established in 1964 by shortwave listener (SWL) Geoff Watts (BRS-3129) and handed over to the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) in 1985, IOTA promotes radio operation from islands across the globe.

How it works:

• Operators activate islands that are part of the IOTA program.
• Other operators try to make contact with these island stations.
• Points are earned for contacting different IOTA groups.

Award levels:

• IOTA 100 Islands Award: For contacting 100 IOTA groups
• IOTA Continents Award: For contacting all IOTA groups in a continent
• IOTA Globe Award: For contacting 750 or more IOTA groups

Events & competitions

Each program also offers various certificates and trophies for achieving specific milestones or participating in contests, some of which are listed below:

POTA hosts several annual events, including:

• POTA Spring Support Your Parks Event
• POTA Plaque Event
• POTA Summer Support Your Parks Event
• POTA Fall Support Your Parks Event

These events encourage increased activity during specific timeframes, often with special awards or plaques for top performers.

While SOTA is not primarily contest-oriented, it does have some competitive events:

• SOTA Mountain Day Contest: Held annually on the first weekend of July
• S2S (Summit to Summit) Week: A week-long event encouraging contacts between activators on different summits.

IOTA has a major annual contest:

• IOTA Contest: Held on the last full weekend of July each year
• This 24-hour contest encourages contacts between IOTA islands and with non-island stations
• There are various entry categories for island and non-island stations, single and multi-operator setups

IOTA AF-111 activation

IOTA OC-142 activation

Additionally, IOTA occasionally runs shorter duration contests or activity periods to stimulate activity on specific groups of islands.

These award programs (IOTA,POTA and SOTA) not only challenge radio operators technically, but also encourage exploration of parks, mountains, and islands worldwide. They foster a sense of community among amateur radio enthusiasts and promote the hobby in diverse and often picturesque locations.