Take amateur
radio higher.
SOTA combines hiking, portable radio and the challenge of making contacts from qualifying summits — and New Hampshire gives us plenty of places to try it.
The mountain is
part of the station.
Summits on the Air — SOTA — is an amateur radio activity built around operating portable from qualifying mountain summits.
You choose a summit, carry your station into the activation zone, set up and make contacts. Operators on the summit are called Activators. The operators contacting them are called Chasers.
You don't need a huge station. In fact, part of the challenge is deciding what radio, antenna and power you are willing to carry to the top.
Choose
Find a qualifying SOTA summit and plan your route, weather and station.
Hike
Carry your radio equipment and everything else you need to safely reach the activation zone.
Set Up
Build a portable station using the radio, antenna and power source you brought with you.
Get On Air
Call CQ, work the Chasers and make at least four qualifying contacts for the activation.
Log It
Submit your contacts to SOTA and record another summit activation.
Activator
The operator who heads to a qualifying summit, carries a portable station and gets on the air from the activation zone.
Chaser
The operator making contact with an Activator. You can chase SOTA stations from home, mobile, portable or even from another summit.
An Activator needs at least four qualifying QSOs to earn the summit's activation points.
The official SOTA database lets you find qualifying summits, activations and Chasers around the world.
We have the
perfect backyard.
Mountains, trails and plenty of qualifying summits make New Hampshire a natural place to combine amateur radio with time outdoors.
The hike is part
of the activation.
Route, weather, elevation and conditions all matter. Getting your station to the summit is part of the challenge.
Your station
goes with you.
Radio, antenna, battery and everything you need to operate has to make the trip too. Every ounce starts to matter.
Elevation changes
radio.
Put a modest portable station on a mountain and you may be surprised how far your signal can travel.
SOTA isn't about carrying your home station up a mountain. It's about figuring out how little you need to make radio work from somewhere remarkable.
What do I
actually need?
Enough radio to make contacts. Enough hiking gear to get there and back safely.
There isn't one perfect SOTA station. A short hike on a summer afternoon and a winter mountain activation can require very different equipment.
The goal is to build a station that works for you, the summit and the conditions.
Your portable station.
HF, VHF/UHF or both. Choose something you're comfortable operating and willing to carry.
Lightweight and easy to deploy. Your antenna should fit the bands and operating style you plan to use.
A battery sized for your radio, expected operating time and conditions.
Phone, tablet, paper or another method that lets you reliably record your contacts.
Everything else.
Know where you're going, how you'll get back and what conditions you'll encounter.
Summit conditions can be very different from what you left behind at the trailhead.
Bring what the hike and expected time on the mountain require.
Carry appropriate hiking and emergency gear for the terrain, season and conditions.
Start with the summit, route and conditions. Then decide what radio equipment makes sense to carry. Sometimes the simplest station is the best station.
Your first activation doesn't need to be your hardest hike. Pick an approachable summit, keep the station simple and learn what works for you.
CONNECT WITH A GSARA MENTOR
Ready for your
first summit?
You don't have to start with the biggest mountain or the smallest radio. Find an approachable summit, make a plan and give portable operating from elevation a try.
Find a Summit
Explore qualifying SOTA summits and start looking for an activation that fits your experience.
Check the Calendar
See what's coming up with GSARA and find your next opportunity to get outside and get on the air.
Talk to a Member
Not sure what radio to bring, how to choose a summit or where to begin? Connect with someone who can help.
Hike somewhere interesting. Carry a radio. See who you can reach.
I’ve always enjoyed hiking and recently got into the technical and exciting hobby of amateur radio. I was intrigued when I first learned about a program called Summits On The Air. According to their website Summits on the air or SOTA is “An award scheme for radio amateurs that encourages portable operation in mountainous areas.” It is similar to Parks on the air (POTA) but differs in that you have to set your radio equipment up on the summit of a mountain that is listed on their site. Unlike POTA, you only need 4 contacts to get credit for an activation. An activation essentially gives you credit for operating your radio on the summit. The struggle often is the logistics of getting to the summit and setting up the radio equipment in less than ideal conditions.