SOTA Operating Practices

Being new to Summits On The Air, I posted a few questions on the SotaWatch reflector (link to SOTA sites in Footer) and got some great replies from experienced operators.

The Questions I asked were:

1. I was wondering if there is a "standard" and/or recognisable way to call CQ for both SSB and CW for SOTA activations, and also give the summit number.
    
2. As there are no band or mode multipliers for SOTA, how do activators decide on frequency and mode for the activation? Do you try to do multiple bands and modes, or just one band/mode?
    
3. As there are no multipliers for the number of contacts, do activators just get the required number of contacts for official activation, or spend time on the summit to give as many chasers a point as possible?
    
4. And lastly, if you are some distance from the peak, say because the peak is on private property and you cant get any closer, but are still within 25M of the summit HASL, does that still count as an official activation?

Here is a summary of what I learnt from their replies.

Calling CQ

SSB: "CQ SOTA, CQ Summits on the Air" and callsign.
CW:  -.-. --.-  ... --- - .-  -.. . ...- -.- ...-- ..- .-  

Summit Reference

You dont have to give the summit reference every over as those listening will already have it down. Give it the first couple of overs, but after that you only need to announce it every few overs.

Band / Mode

It seems the band/mode is a cross between preference and conditions.

Here in VK, I think 40m is going to be important, with the higher bands for DX if they are open.
20 Metres and 17 Metres are popular for DX contacts.

SSB is the obvious operating mode, but also try CW as there will be more chance of DX contacts at QRP power levels.

Number of Contacts

The number of contacts got some interest.

To qualify for activation points, you need four (4) contacts from the summit you are activating.

Some activators do 2 or 3 or even 4 activations in one day.

I asked if I should be just getting 4 contacts and then packing up and moving to another close by summit, or stay and contact as many operators as possible. The overwhelming majority was for getting as many contacts as possible, as quite often a "pile-up" can result from summit "chasers". Personally, as it is rare to be the centre of a pile up here in VK, I would welcome one and LOVE it, and would not consider closing down until the activity subsided, or the battery expired.

Currently, the problem in VK is that there are not many summit chasers in VK yet, so I think a pile up will only result if the bands open to the northern hemisphere.

Hopefully as more people learn about SOTA here in VK the situation will improve. I think if VK2 can get approved summits then that will help a lot.
Anyway, I hope there are plenty of northern hemisphere chasers interested in VK summits as I will be calling CQ SOTA. I like trekking and camping (ex-army signals) and plan to actually camp at some summits and try to operate as long as possible.

Operating Area on Summit

As long as you are within a 25m vertical distance from the summit, in the same topographic ring, you can find a nice out of the way area to operate from, as a lot of peaks are tourist lookouts, so you don't want to be in their way. Or have them falling over your antenna guys.

It was great to get a lot of good input from experienced Summiteers.

See the whole thread on SotaWatch

73

Cambo