The SOTA 2020 'Flavours' Challenge

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A series of themed challenges will take place in 2020, as part of the SOTA - Summits On The Air awards programme.

The idea is to encourage SOTA activity on bands and modes that are popular in amateur radio generally, but somewhat under-represented in SOTA.

The SOTA 'Flavours' Challenge 2020

  • 1st - 7th January 2020: LF - 160m & 80m

  • 1st - 7th February 2020: Datamodes

  • 1st - 7th March 2020: Digital voice

  • 1st - 7th April 2020: LF - 160m & 80m

  • 1st - 7th May 2020: Datamodes

  • 1st - 7th June 2020: 12m, 10m & 6m

  • 1st - 7th July 2020: 70cm

  • 1st - 7th August 2020: 17m

  • 1st - 7th September 2020: Datamodes

  • 1st - 7th October 2020: Digital voice

  • 1st - 7th November 2020: LF - 160m & 80m

  • 1st - 7th December 2020: 12m, 10m & 6m

The SOTA 'Flavours' Challenge 2020 Scoring

Activators

Number of unique QSO partners worked multiplied by the number of unique summits activated.

Chasers

Number of unique activators worked multiplied by the number of unique summits worked.

Only QSOs made on the nominated band or mode, on the dates specified, will count towards Challenge scores.

To take part in the “Flavours” Challenge, simply enter your activator and chaser logs into the SOTA Database as normal.

Background/further information

There hasn't been a SOTA Challenge for several years. 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.

The first seven days of each month will be “Challenge Days”.

This guarantees that there is no bias towards weekday or weekend days, and also ensures that the majority of each month will see a more “normal” distribution of SOTA operating.

There may be one or two “Flavours” in the schedule that are not of interest or not available to individual participants. This “unique x unique” scoring algorithm will mean missing one or two “Flavours” out should not be hugely detrimental to your score in comparison to other participants. Nonetheless, the spirit of the Challenge is to encourage activators and chasers to try something new!

Towards the end of 2020, we will review the Challenge and determine the 12 “Flavours” for 2021. It is thought unlikely that any year would have exactly the same schedule of “Flavours” as the previous, but this schedule will always be decided and published in advance.