Any new Challenge for 2025? (Part 2)

[system]

Continuing the discussion from Any new Challenge for 2025? (Part 1) - #100 by VK3SQ.

Previous discussions:

• Any new Challenge for 2025? (Part 1)

[DL6GCA]

Any new Challenge for 2025? (Part 1)

12m challenge concept “The aim of the challenge is to promote use of the 12m band for SOTA QSOs” 10m/6m challenge concept “This will be a challenge to make contacts on 6m and 10m.” Flavours challenge “Like in the past we want to encourage use of parts of the spectrum, and operating modes that are generally less represented in SOTA, but keen to maximise participation by making the Challenge both diverse and inclusive.” 2024 10m challenge concept “The aim of the challenge is to get everyon…

You forgot the “20 Year SOTA” challenge… which unfortunately was never evaluated.

73 Armin

[MM0FMF]

I had forgotten Armin but that didn’t require anything different from chasers or activators.

[G4OIG]

Although I am largely one of those that have not had their boat floated by any of the challenges, I can see some advantage of having challenges every other year to give some time for operating practices to revert to their normal level. This does not mean that everyone suddenly stops using 10m… far from it, but the emphasis changes. The bands are all there to be used and not having a challenge next year might open up activators’ minds to other possibilities, for example such as has been suggested, being the first to use a particular band from a summit.

If I were allowed a vote (which I’m not because I don’t usually participate ) a 15m challenge in 2026 seems to me to fit the bill. I might even give it a go.

[G8ADD]

SOTA has never been a democracy, as it is an award scheme, not a club. This is clearly stated in the General Rules. That doesn’t mean that the MT pays no attention, but their emphasis is on maintaining the facilities and extending the geographical coverage of the scheme. Things like challenges are a bit of fun, but they are also a distraction.

With regard to 15m, I look at it like this. If you are in EU or NA and you want to work the newer Associations in SA at this time then 15m should be your automatic choice! It shouldn’t take a challenge to make this clear!