Summits On The Air

{{Infobox organization

| name = Summits On The Air

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| logo =

| logo_size =

| logo_alt =

| abbreviation = SOTA

| formation = {{start date and age|2002|03|02}}

| purpose = Radiosport

| leader_title = President

| leader_name = John Linford, G3WGV {{Cite web |title=Summits on the Air |url=https://www.sota.org.uk/About |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=www.sota.org.uk |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021002708/https://www.sota.org.uk/About |url-status=live }}

| website = {{URL|www.sota.org.uk}}

}}

Summits On The Air (SOTA) is an amateur radio operating award program launched in Great Britain in 2002 by John Linford.{{Cite magazine |last=Davidson |first=Gerald |date=2015-02-01 |title=Summits on the Air |url=https://rsgb.org/main/blog/publications/radcom/2015/01/22/radcom-february-2015-vol-91-2/ |magazine=RadCom |publisher=Radio Society of Great Britain |volume=91 |issue=2 |pages=14–23 |access-date=2022-10-21 |archive-date=2023-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411093621/https://rsgb.org/main/blog/publications/radcom/2015/01/22/radcom-february-2015-vol-91-2/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Eng |first=Diana|date=2009-06-13 |title=Summits on the Air: mountaintop ham radio |url=https://makezine.com/article/maker-news/summits-on-the-air-mountaintop-ham/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021223937/https://makezine.com/article/maker-news/summits-on-the-air-mountaintop-ham/ |url-status=live }}

The aim of SOTA is to encourage licensed amateur radio operators{{Cite web |last=Viers |first=Holly |date=2018-03-29 |title=Amateur radio operators invited to Summits on the Air |url=https://www.timesnews.net/living/amateur-radio-operators-invited-to-summits-on-the-air/article_16a7bf24-c5f7-5154-9c9b-07f4dee6a9bb.html |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Kingsport Times-News |location=Kingsport, TN |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021173842/https://www.timesnews.net/living/amateur-radio-operators-invited-to-summits-on-the-air/article_16a7bf24-c5f7-5154-9c9b-07f4dee6a9bb.html |url-status=live }} to operate temporarily from mountainous locations{{Cite episode |title=Flat Holm |episode-link= |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00183kc/countryfile-flat-holm |access-date=2022-10-21 |series=Countryfile |series-link=Countryfile |first= |last= |network=BBC |station= |date=2022-06-05 |series-no=14 |number=23 |minutes=52 |time= |transcript= |transcript-url= |quote= |language= |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021223941/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00183kc/countryfile-flat-holm |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Schreier |first=Paul |date=2018-01-01 |title=SOTA: Road Trip of a Lifetime Through Eastern Europe |magazine=QST |publisher=American Radio Relay League |volume=102 |issue=10 |pages=76–78 |access-date=}} using any method of travel including hiking,{{Cite magazine |last=Shapiro |first=Alan |date=2016-01-01 |title=Activating Angel Island: An On-the-Air Trifecta |magazine=QST |publisher=American Radio Relay League |volume=100 |issue=5 |pages=67–68 |access-date=}} mountain climbing,{{Cite magazine |last=Wise |first=David |date=2021-11-01 |title=The First Activation of Antsell Rock |magazine=QST |publisher=American Radio Relay League |volume=105 |issue=11 |pages=53–54 |access-date=}} and cycling{{Cite magazine |last=Newstead |first=Richard |date=2014-01-01 |title=The 1st SOTA International Cycling Weekend |url=https://rsgb.org/main/blog/publications/radcom/2013/12/17/radcom-january-2014-vol-90-1/ |magazine=RadCom |publisher=Radio Society of Great Britain |volume=90 |issue=1 |pages=87 |access-date=2022-10-21 |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021011543/https://rsgb.org/main/blog/publications/radcom/2013/12/17/radcom-january-2014-vol-90-1/ |url-status=live }} while operating their amateur radio station from the summits of hills and mountains.{{Cite book |last=Nair |first=Tim |url=https://www.mountaineers.org/mountaineer-magazine/magazine-files/Mtr_05_15.pdf |title=Connection in the Sky: Mount-Top Ham Radio |publisher=Mountaineer Magazine |year=2015 |editor-last=Gerber |editor-first=Suzanne |location=Seattle, WA |pages=24–25 |language=en |access-date=2022-10-20 |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021002709/https://www.mountaineers.org/mountaineer-magazine/magazine-files/Mtr_05_15.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Handler |first=Jonathan |date=2015-07-06 |title=Moto DX Safari – Ham Radio Camping Via Honda Gold Wing |url=https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2015/07/06/moto-dx-safari-ham-radio-camping-via-honda-gold-wing/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Ultimate Motorcycling |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021002708/https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2015/07/06/moto-dx-safari-ham-radio-camping-via-honda-gold-wing/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite book |last=Silver |first=H. Ward |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1193596365 |title=Ham radio for dummies |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2021 |isbn=978-1-119-69560-8 |edition=4th |location=Hoboken, NJ |language=en |oclc=1193596365}} In addition to getting operators out into the field the program encourages others to listen in to the transmissions from these stations and send in reports.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2018-07-07 |title=Les radioamateurs catalans de F6KBR du REF 66 et de l'ADRASEC 66 émettent depuis le pic du Canigó |url=https://www.le-journal-catalan.com/les-radioamateurs-catalans-de-f6kbr-du-ref-66-et-de-ladrasec-66-emettent-depuis-le-pic-du-canigo/56133/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Le Journal Catalan |language=fr-FR |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021223936/https://www.le-journal-catalan.com/les-radioamateurs-catalans-de-f6kbr-du-ref-66-et-de-ladrasec-66-emettent-depuis-le-pic-du-canigo/56133/ |url-status=live }}{{cite podcast |url=http://hackerpublicradio.org/eps.php?id=3513 |title=Hacker Public Radio ~ The Technology Community Podcast |website= |publisher= |date=2022-01-19 |access-date=2022-10-21 |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021223935/http://hackerpublicradio.org/eps.php?id=3513 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Durrant |first=Ed |date=2022-04-08 |title=Summits on the Air Begins Anniversary Celebration |work=Amateur Radio Newsline |url=https://www.arnewsline.org/s/nsln2319.txt |access-date=2022-10-20 |archive-date=2023-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411090638/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58b08985be65947bf171e05e/t/624f32222d2bdb2ce4c4bd9a/1649357346972/nsln2319.txt |url-status=live }} In areas that are not remote or difficult to access some SOTA activations serve as community outreach events.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-27 |title=Hyderabad Hams organise Field Day |url=https://telanganatoday.com/hyderabad-hams-organise-field-day |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Telangana Today |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021223936/https://telanganatoday.com/hyderabad-hams-organise-field-day |url-status=live }}

The program now has over [https://www.sotadata.org.uk/en/facts 33,842 participants world wide], with about 7,000 in the United States.{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=John |date=2021-09-01 |title=3 In Your Town: Summits on the Air |work=Local 3 News NBC |location=Chattanooga, TN |url=https://www.local3news.com/local-news/local-3-in-your-town/3-in-your-town-summits-on-the-air/article_13135088-2592-5311-89cf-50267e9acaac.html |access-date=2022-10-21 |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021173844/https://www.local3news.com/local-news/local-3-in-your-town/3-in-your-town-summits-on-the-air/article_13135088-2592-5311-89cf-50267e9acaac.html |url-status=live }} Amateur radio operators who set up stations on mountain peaks are known as activators,{{Cite web |last=Brush |first=Chase |date=2021-03-14 |title=Inside the Summit-Obsessed World of Ham Radio |url=https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/exploration-survival/ham-radio-hobby-summit/ |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Outside Online |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021002707/https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/exploration-survival/ham-radio-hobby-summit/ |url-status=live }}Booth, T. (2009). Enjoying Summits on the Air-Tim Booth, G4YTD encourages everyone to try SOTA either as an activator or a chaser. Radcom, 85(5), 47. and other amateur radio operators who complete contacts with them are called chasers.{{Cite web |title=Summits on the Air (SOTA) |url=http://www.ws1sm.com/SOTA.html |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Wireless Society of Southern Maine |archive-date=2022-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022184739/http://www.ws1sm.com/SOTA.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Summits on the Air |url=https://rsgb.org/main/clubs/special-interest-groups/summits-air-sota/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Radio Society of Great Britain |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021002709/https://rsgb.org/main/clubs/special-interest-groups/summits-air-sota/ |url-status=live }} Points are given to both activators and chasers based on how high the mountain is.{{Cite web |title=SOTA – SUMMITS ON THE AIR |url=https://sarc.org.au/sota/ |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Summerland Amateur Radio Club |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021002709/https://sarc.org.au/sota/ |url-status=live }}

Awards are given based on accumulated points and certain special criteria.{{Cite web |title=Awards |url=https://www.sota.org.uk/Joining-In/Awards |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Summits on the Ari |archive-date=2022-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012132913/https://www.sota.org.uk/Joining-In/Awards |url-status=live }}{{cite conference | last = Shepard | first = Phil | title = Summits On The Air | date = 2015-06-06 | location = Seattle, Washington | conference = SEAPAC | url = https://www.seapac.org/seminars/2015/SEA-PAC2015-ns7p-SOTA.pdf | access-date = 2022-10-20 | archive-date = 2022-11-04 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221104111313/https://www.seapac.org/seminars/2015/SEA-PAC2015-ns7p-SOTA.pdf | url-status = live }} Amateur radio contacts between summits, referred to as summit-to-summit, are considered special achievements.{{cite news |date=2016-11-26 |title=SOTA "Summit-to-Summit" Activation Declared a Success |work=American Radio Relay League |url=http://www.arrl.org/news/sota-summit-to-summit-activation-declared-a-success |accessdate=2022-10-20 |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021002713/http://www.arrl.org/news/sota-summit-to-summit-activation-declared-a-success |url-status=live }}

Operators make use of a wide array of communication methods including morse code, voice (FM or SSB), and digital modes such as FT8.Poxon, A. (2004). The SOTA beams 2 m portable Yagi. Radio Communication, 80(7), 52-53.{{Cite web |title=OARC SOTA Activity Day June 25 |url=http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2022/may/oarc-sota-activity-day-june-25.htm#.Y1HnFnbMKUk |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Southgate Amateur Radio News |archive-date=2022-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530091121/http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2022/may/oarc-sota-activity-day-june-25.htm#.Y1HnFnbMKUk |url-status=live }} Although all parts of the amateur radio bands can be used to make contacts, setups and communication modes vary across operators based on equipment,{{cite conference |url=https://hamsci.org/sites/default/files/publications/2019_Hamvention/20190518_2200-Paula_Uscian_K9IR.pdf |title=Summits on The Air and New Methods of Portable Operating |last1=Uscian |first1=Paula |date=2019-05-19 |publisher=HamSCI |location=Dayton, OH |conference=Hamvention |id= |access-date=2022-10-21 |archive-date=2022-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812114654/https://hamsci.org/sites/default/files/publications/2019_Hamvention/20190518_2200-Paula_Uscian_K9IR.pdf |url-status=live }} environment{{Citation |last=Wang |first=John C. H. |title=Radio Propagation at LF, MF, and HF |date=2003-04-15 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/0471219282.eot233 |encyclopedia=Wiley Encyclopedia of Telecommunications |pages=eot233 |editor-last=Proakis |editor-first=John G. |place=Hoboken, NJ, USA |publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |language=en |doi=10.1002/0471219282.eot233 |isbn=978-0-471-21928-6 |access-date=2022-10-21 |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021223934/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/0471219282.eot233 |url-status=live }}{{Cite journal |last1=Devi |first1=M. |last2=Barbara |first2=A. K. |last3=Ruzhin |first3=Ya. Yu. |last4=Hayakawa |first4=M. |date=2012 |title=Over-the-Horizon Anomalous VHF Propagation and Earthquake Precursors |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10712-012-9185-z |journal=Surveys in Geophysics |language=en |volume=33 |issue=5 |pages=1081–1106 |doi=10.1007/s10712-012-9185-z |bibcode=2012SGeo...33.1081D |s2cid=128462427 |issn=0169-3298 |access-date=2022-10-21 |archive-date=2023-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411093540/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10712-012-9185-z |url-status=live }} and license class.

Operators use both VHF and HF signals to make contacts, in both cases enjoying improved line-of-sight propagation over obstructions that would otherwise block transmissions. Contacts are also made using amateur radio satellites.{{Cite magazine |last=Gregory |first=Nick |date=2021-03-01 |title=SOTA working via QO-100 /P |url=https://rsgb.org/main/blog/publications/radcom/2021/02/26/radcom-march-2021-vol-97-no-3/ |magazine=RadCom |publisher=Radio Society of Great Britain |volume=97 |issue=3 |pages=26 |access-date=2022-10-21 |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021011540/https://rsgb.org/main/blog/publications/radcom/2021/02/26/radcom-march-2021-vol-97-no-3/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Stoetzer |first=Paul |date=2022-06-26 |title=Satellite Shorts From All Over |url=https://www.amsat.org/2022/06/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=AMSAT |location=Washington, DC |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021223943/https://www.amsat.org/2022/06/ |url-status=live }}

The highest ever Summits on the Air activation reported was in February 2019 by Polish amateur radio operator Tom Rudzinski (SQ9FVE), who successfully operated from 6,962 meters (22,841 feet) above sea level, atop Aconcagua in Mendoza, Argentina.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-07 |title=Highest-Ever Summits on the Air Activation Reported |url=http://www.arrl.org/news/highest-ever-summits-on-the-air-activation-reported |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=American Radio Relay League |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021002707/http://www.arrl.org/news/highest-ever-summits-on-the-air-activation-reported |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Korol |first=Matias |date=2022-01-21 |title=Un argentino escaló el Aconcagua y realizó una transmisión radial a casi 7 mil metros de altura |url=https://tn.com.ar/sociedad/2022/01/21/un-argentino-escalo-el-aconcagua-y-realizo-una-transmision-radial-a-casi-7-mil-metros-de-altura/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Todo Noticias |language=es |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021223941/https://tn.com.ar/sociedad/2022/01/21/un-argentino-escalo-el-aconcagua-y-realizo-una-transmision-radial-a-casi-7-mil-metros-de-altura/ |url-status=live }}