I searched but found nothing … maybe I was blind too.
Sometimes there are /p (contest) stations. There are contests, whose rules are very similar to those of SOTA. (…e.g. only portable power supply)
If I am an activator and have a contact with someone who is /p on a SOTA-mountain… is that always an s2s?
Even if he does not participate in SOTA?.. is neither an activator nor a chaser…?
Or is it a must, to have a contact to a SOTA activator… to have a valid s2s?
It doesn’t matter whether or not the other station is a registered participant, or intentionally doing SOTA, or logs to the SOTA Database.
For it to count as a chaser / S2S QSO, the other station needs to be:
In the activation zone
Using a portable power source (worth confirming as many contest stations use generators or vehicle power supplies).
Not be operating from a vehicle, or building with mains electricity.
So yes, if they are in the AZ and 100% compliant with the criteria for a SOTA activation, then you can claim it as a chase or S2S, even if they don’t engage in SOTA or submit logs.