IOTA AWARDS FEE STRUCTURE PAGE

NEW IOTA APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

NEW IOTA WEBSITE OPEN FOR ALL APPLICANTS

Amateur Radio Island Awards Resource -- These web pages are designed to assist you with learning more about the many challenging international ham radio island award programs. The original and still the most popular island award is IOTA but there are many country and regional island awards which complement the IOTA program. It is important to note that not all islands valid for awards count for IOTA but part of the fun is to research the various awards. Hunting islands, meeting award requirements and submitting applications demands some basic knowledge. I hope that we can provide you with necessary information to make the process easy and enjoyable.

History of Island Awards -- Geoff Watts, a well known SWL and editor of the DX News Sheet developed the "Islands on the Air" (IOTA) award program in 1964. Many of the islands counting for IOTA also qualified as islands for the DXCC program so those who were active in DXCC had a head start. As IOTA grew in popularity, additional resources were required and the award was assumed by the Radio Society of Great Britain in 1985. The interest in Island Hunting increased rapidly which encouraged other radio associations to create awards for working islands in their own countries.

Island Hunting is Contagious -- It is fun to locate an island on a National Geographic map, find a resident amateur or encourage a ham to go to the island and then make a valid QSO. Even more enjoyable is the opportunity to meet the friendly group of Island Hunters who seem eager to help you work "a new one". The excitement of the hunt is increased by the tolerable pileups, the minimal intentional interference, the need for only one QSO per island and the attitude that it is not a "life or death" need for a contact.

Island Award and Resource Data -- NEW, NEW, NEW: A new IOTA web-based software program has been developed to solve a myriad of problems with the old IOTAMEM application process. Click on the IOTA Checkpoint Information page to obtain detailed information on the changes and the new method of making an application. You can register to gain access to the new program on line to insert new cards and make applications. I suggest you collect your cards and insert them into your personal database. I know you will find this new process much better and easier to use and will allow you to examine your database quickly.

The Islands Award and Additional Award links above are two additional pages containing sources of major island awards and key links to aid in successful island hunting. Please let me know if I can be of assistance in your island hunting efforts.

Lighthouse Hunting -- Lighthouses are beautiful and fun to visit. Those located on islands pose a greater challenge to visit due to rough seas, various restrictions and their location away from the mainland. Working a lighthouse reminds you of the solitutde, difficulty and strength of the lighthouse keeper who braved the elements to warn ships at sea. This mystery and beauty of the lighthouse has attracted the interest of many folks including hams who find excitement when they work these out of the way lighthouses.

List of Islands Activated by W9DC - See W9DC Biography

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Thank you for stopping by and
HAPPY ISLAND HUNTING!

73 and HAVE FUN,

DON, W9DC

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(revised January 2008)