IOTA Contest Looks For Good Band Conditions and Another Record Turnout In 2008 Test

By Jamie Dupree NS3T  radio-sport.net 
Posted July 21, 2008

Encouraged by recent HF band conditions in the IARU contest, organizers of the 2008 Islands On the Air Contest this weekend hope it will bring another record crop of contest logs.

"Last year saw a record number," said IOTA Contest Director Don Field G3XTT, "almost 2000, compared with a previous best of around 1500, despite the poor propagation.

"I expect another big entry this year," Field told radio-sport.net.

A look at NG3K's internet listing of IOTA operations shows a good number of announced expeditions will be on the air from all corners of the globe, adding even more multipliers to this year's test.

"There seem to have been quite a few announcements," Field said, "including some rare ones like NA-234, Alaska."

That expedition involves both American and Russian hams, who will activate Chuginadak Island in the Aleutians, using the callsign KL7DX.

The team gathers in Dutch Harbor, AK by plane, then goes by boat to the island where they will setup camp for the contest.

Back in the United Kingdom, there's the usual flurry of activity for this RSGB-sponsored contest, as groups head to a variety of islands, like Arran Island in Scotland, EU-123.

That island will be activated by the Sheffield IOTA Contest team, which has been making regular IOTA contest expeditions there (see photo at right.)

In the US, among the many expeditions, the 2007 winner of the Low Power NA expedition plaque will be up and running again from Cape Lookout, North Carolina.

"N4A will attempt to defend the title, and expect to augmented by the addition of K4CZ for 2008," said team member Keith Zeringue W4KAZ.

"N4YDU was the QSO machine, I was mostly logistics support. This is really Nate's win - he really is a genuine QSO machine," Zeringue told radio-sport.net.

Skimmer, Log Checks and Paper Logs

After years of taking the time to translate paper logs into electronic form, that service is going to end with IOTA 2008.

"I have tried the patience of my log typists long enough," Field told radio-sport.net, "but we have had to say, finally that paper logs won't be eligible for awards."

"Sorry, but we couldn't realistically continue with the old approach now that participation is so high."

As for rule changes, "there haven't been any of substance," Field says, but he did take time to reinforce two areas "of concern."

"Operating outside the specified frequency limits for the contest detailed in the rules and multi-op entrants working non-mults on their mult station."

While Field says neither is a "big" problem, "we will be scrutinising logs very carefully this year and, where appropriate, applying penalties."

Like the IARU Contest, the controversial CW Skimmer will be allowed for use by single operators in the contest, as long as it is a local Skimmer.

"We have made no specific rule about Skimmer but would certainly be interested to hear from anyone who uses it during the event, with a note of their experiences, good or bad," Field said.

"We look forward to a great weekend, with lots of island activity!"