New to SOTA, intro & basic questions

[G4TJC]

@GD5MUP

I simply don’t ‘do’ mobile phone

@GD5MUP

I may just take the FT-5D with me

Hi Mark.
You can use that FT5D to spot yourself from the summit using APRS. Instructions in this thread:

APRS2SOTA Spot Server

My APRS2SOTA server is intended to be available to anyone that uses APRS whilst on route to or at a SOTA Activation to try to generate a SOTAwatch SPOT on your behalf (you will need to register with me first). The system monitors the Internet APRS feed and looks for either UNPROTO frames (i.e: Call>SOTA) or APRS Messages (with SOTA in the Addressee field) that contain sufficent information to post a SPOT on SOTAWatch. It will of course only work if your ARPS message manages to find its way to …

You’ll need to register with Stewart, G0LGS.

APRS has the added benefit that people can see you approach the summit and might be ready and waiting even before you spot!

1 or more QSOs from a summit we call an activation
4 or more QSOs from a summit we call a qualifying activation - i.e. you get the activator points

As well as the other rules do be sure to understand the definition of the activation zone (AZ) which is a detail folk sometimes get wrong:

https://www.sota.org.uk/Blog/2020/09/01/In-The-Zone-2