[CQ-Contest] Operating IOTA Contest Remotely

[Michael Adams]

(Note: this email focuses on the IOTA award program, NOT the IOTA contest.)

The rule quoted is old.  There was an update pushed in the past few months: https://www.iota-world.org/info/directory/rules-en.pdf

The short version is:

* If you're an IOTA chaser, there are now restrictions on remote stations counting for credit.  Use of a network of remote stations (like RHR or BeLoud) is not permitted for IOTA chasing credit.

* If you're an IOTA activator, similar rules apply.  However, IOTA will grant exceptions for RIB-style operations (quickly set up a station on shore, remote control it from a boat offshore) if this is the only way government authorities would permit an island group to be activated.

So, Radio in a Box activations are allowed IF all the operators are on a boat offshore, if the island group is rare, and if IOTA agrees that's the only way government agencies would agree to the activation.

Considering the nature of IOTA, where part of the challenge is someone physically going to an island, the new rules on remote operating for the activation makes sense.

The rules for chasing are not what I would have chosen....but I'm a believer of "their program, their rules".   And objectively, for an award or contest organizer that rightly or wrongly wants to discourage geography-shopping and the use of commercial remote stations, the rule adopted by IOTA seems like a good balance between that and accepting the reality that some hams are limited to remote operating (although it could be tweaked to allow remote control of your home station while temporarily out of your home country).

One other nitpick -- it's no longer true that IOTA requires paper cards.  They now accept ClubLog and LOTW for award credit.

-- 
Michael Adams | mda at n1en.org

-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest <cq-contest-bounces+mda=n1en.org at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Jeff Clarke
Sent: Thursday, 27 July, 2023 00:27
To: CQ-Contest at contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Operating IOTA Contest Remotely


/So is the "Radio in a Box" on island with the operators operating remotely less than a km off shore a valid IOTA operation? Sounds like if the operator remotes in from around the world using the boat floating offshore as the gateway, that wouldn't count. So was the whole recent RIB Dxpedition not allowed for IOTA credit? Ed N1UR///


Ed,

I found this in the IOTA program rules

/B.3.7 Contacts made using a radio, Internet or non-wire direct link from a land-to a sea-based station or from a sea-to a land-based station to facilitate or enhance signal transmission or reception will not count.//////B.3.8 Remote operation is defined as where the link between the base station and the remote may be by radio, internet or other means.//////•As the IOTA chaser (i.e. the applicant registered at IOTA with a personal profile): Contacts made by the applicant using a single remote receiving and transmitting site will be accepted for IOTA credit if the remote site is land-based, not located more than 500 kilometers (310 statute miles) from the applicant’s location and / or land-based base station and is nominated as being in use, even if only occasionally, on the applicant’s personal profile. The base station may be the applicant’s home station if he / she is temporarily away from home and remoting it. The applicant, base station and the remote site must all be located within the same DXCC entity. Use of more than one remote site or a network using multiple remote sites to make contact will not be accepted for credit. Contacts between fully automated remotes at both or either end of a path will similarly not receive credit./////


Personally I think the IOTA program is behind the times. For confirmations I think they still require paper QSL cards that have the information printed on them. When someone sends me a QSL wanting a confirmation I usually take my home QSL and print (using  printer) the IOTA info on the back. You can't just write the information on the card. Also, I don't believe there isn't a way to electronically submit a confirmation for their awards. Personally I'm not an avid IOTA chaser. I just operate the IOTA Contest for the rush of a pileup like I do when I go roving in a QSO Party.

I've also never really understood their criteria for what counts as an island. During the Summer my wife and I take a vacation the the Georgia coast. I usually schedule that during the IOTA Contest weekend. I just play around using my mobile setup in the car to activate NA-058. I believe I'm the only station on from that island group. We usually go to either Jekyll or St Simon's Island. What's strange is those two islands count for IOTA but several of the coastal islands around Savannah,GA don't count. A good example is Tybee Island. Jekyll, St Simon's and Tybee are all separated from the Georgia coast by the Intercoastal waterway. But for some reason Tybee Island doesn't count for IOTA but the other two I mentioned do.

EI5DI made a comment that operating a station remotely isn't really ham radio. That's just not true. The only thing that's at my station is the logging program and interface to control the remote station. All the radios, antennas etc.. are located at the physical station location I'm operating. If you think about it this is really no different then you operating your station at home with all everything hard wired. I'm just doing it wirelessly thru an internet connection.

Like K9YC said Bonaire isn't a rare island. My friend PJ4DX will probably be on in the contest on SSB. I just want to operate from there remotely because the contest is much more fun when you're on an island.


Jeff
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