{"id":2128,"date":"2026-01-01T06:19:26","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T06:19:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/w6sota.org\/web\/?p=2128"},"modified":"2026-03-31T02:50:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T02:50:20","slug":"2026-sota-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/w6sota.org\/web\/2026\/01\/01\/2026-sota-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 SOTA Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n

Although SOTA is not a contest, all involved agree that the points scheme and fun awards we have adds to the fun of chasing and activating.  Although we may not agree about how some summits get more points than others, it never stops us from hiking, activating, chasing, working on completes and summit-to-summits.  <\/span><\/p>


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Every other year, some of the management team come up with a \u201cchallenge\u201d for that year to add to the fun.  Although you don\u2019t have to participate, you might try one from time to time. I had a blast doing the 10m challenge in 2024.<\/span><\/p>


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For 2026, the group came up with a challenge where activators and chasers use SSB or CW on 2m and 70cm bands.  Below is the full description of the challenge that was published, followed by some great tips from N7DA to include radio and antenna choices (some as low as $20) and some FAQs that we\u2019ve been able to pull out of the group.  Enjoy & have fun.<\/span><\/p>


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<< This page will be updated as new info and answers are generated. <\/span><\/p>

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Send your feedback using the <\/span>contact us<\/span><\/a> form >> <\/span>History at bottom<\/span><\/span><\/p>


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Lorem Ipsum has been the industry\\’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Challenge Description<\/span><\/h1>

Below is our read on the challenge.  (I\u2019ve pasted the description from the reflector at the bottom.)<\/span><\/p>


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Date: <\/span>1-Jan-2026 0000 hrs UTC through 31-Dec-2026 <\/span>2359 hrs<\/span> (UTC) (All year)<\/span><\/p>\n

Frequency Band:<\/span> 2m or 70cm (see frequencies in the tips below)<\/span>

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Modes:<\/span> SSB or CW (no FM)<\/span>

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Scoring For Activators:<\/span> Your score will be 1pt\/km for each QSO with a unique callsign (per summit) activated within the year, multiplied by the number of unique summits activated.<\/span><\/p>


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Scoring For Chasers:<\/span> Your score will be 1pt\/km for each QSO with a unique callsign (per summit) chased within the year, multiplied by the number of unique summits chased.<\/span>

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Radios:<\/span> See Radio section below in the tips area by N7DA\n\nExchange:<\/strong> RST and location. See below detail and example also in FAQ.<\/span><\/p>


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You Must Log Location.  The following qualify:<\/span><\/p>