Many of the HF activators in SOTA use minimalist equipment (reduced weight and few accessories) during their mountain expeditions.
We propose a special event to encourage and test the use of a reduced and simple gear to activate a SOTA summit.
Target
A) for Activators: to use a minimalist HF band setup from a SOTA summit. All the radio equipment used in the activation including battery, transceiver, paddles, coaxial, tuner, antenna and support pole should not exceed the maximum weight of the following acceptance criteria:
CW only: maximum weight = 1 kilo (1 kilo = 2,2 pounds = 35,3 ounces)
SSB only: maximum weight = 2,5 kilo (2 kilo = 5,5 pounds = 88,25 ounces)
Mixed CW & SSB: maximum weight = 2,5 kilo
*Extra weight is allowed for other purposes, like water & food, orientation, extra cloths, etc.
B) for Chasers; to try using QRP levels to chase the minimalist activators.
Dates
Friday 17 june is the QRP worlwide day. We propose this date and the closest weekend, therefore 17, 18 and 19th of June as for the Minimalist event.
Identification of participants
Although the event will run according to the standard SOTA rules, the additional word “MINI” will be added during the CQ call and on the exchange as follows:
· Activators to use the suggested CQ call in this example:
CQ SOTA DE EA2BD/P SOTA MINI (the Word MINI stands for minimalist)
· Chasers to use the suggested exchange in this example (The exchange below is an example in CW, but it should work the same for Phone or other modes…):
CQ SOTA DE EA2BD/P SOTA MINI
F1XX
F1XX GA UR RST 599 MINI BK
BK TU UR 599 MINI 73 (MINI stands here for a fixed station running QRP to chase the minimalist activator **)
BK 73 TU.
** If the chaser doesn’t run QRP power level please don’t add MINI in your exchange.
Please help the Activators to work other S2S, as many minimalist activators and as many QRP chasers as possible.
Activators should annotate in their logs the word MINI to identify who were running QRP levels when chasing.
The Summit reference to be provided as a normal activation, not necessarily on every single QSO but regularly.
Schedule
It is recommended for participants to add in their alerts the word “MINI event” on the comment text and, if possible, to post here in this thread below their scheduled summit in advance.
After the event
The experience and results of the activators can be shared in this thread of the SOTA Reflector. You could provide information of the following items:
- Station setup: rig, antenna, overall weight of the gear.
- results obtained: number of QSO, number of S2S achieved, number of QRP chasers in the log, longest distance, etc.
- Interchange of photos are welcome in the thread: you are welcome to uploada picture of your setup in the summit.
Suggested setup
There are lots of options to fit the required weight. Either single-band or multiband rigs are allowed. Some example of suitable rigs for this purpose for activators:
CW: Pixie, Rockmite, MTR, HB-1, KX1, K1, PFR-3, ….
SSB: KX3, FT817, LNR LD-5, X1M, …
A resonant antenna will help reducing the weight as they make the use of tuners redundant. A short pole (4/5 meter height) also helps reducing weight.
Remember
Please be considered; this is not a contest but a nice chance to run low power on a tiny setup and have a lot of fun!
Before activating it is advised to check for any contest in progress going on on your activation date and look for cleaner bands & calling frequencies.
Good luck and 73 de Ignacio
here in our region 
73 cu