Island ChasingRoger Reini, KD8CSE

October 2013

What is Island Chasing?Island chasing is one of several ways to operate

from and activate various geographical or political entities

Akin to DXCC, county hunting, mountain peak activation (Summits On The Air), etc.

Main Program: IOTA (Islands On The Air)

US program: US Islands Awards Program

Islands On The Air

IOTA (Islands On The Air)The best-known island chasing program

Created by Geoff Watts in 1964; now administered by the RSGB (Radio Society of Great Britain)

Eligible islands or island groups: islands in salt water (not islands in rivers, lakes or mostly enclosed bays); listed in directory

More details at http://www.rsgbiota.org/info/directory.php

IOTA AwardsFirst award certificate for contacting 100 islands;

next come 200, 300, 400, etc. up to 1100 islands

Certificates also available for contacting all islands in each continent (All Africa, All North America, etc.)

IOTA Plaque of Excellence for contacting 750 island groups

IOTA 1000 Islands Trophy

Example Certificate

MiscellaneousForthcoming activations listed at

http://www.rsgbiota.org/activations/index.php

50th Anniversary convention July 4-6, 2014 in the UK

US Islands Awards Program

Established in 1994 by John Reisenauer. Jr., KL7JR (ex-NL7TB) as a US counterpart to IOTA and CISA (Canadian Islands)

Not as well known as IOTA

Fresh water islands are eligible to be activated – e.g., Belle Isle, Grosse Ile, Mackinac Island are ineligible for IOTA but are eligible for USIA

Rules: http://www.usislands.org/rules.html

USi AwardsUSi Honor Roll – contact with 100 islands (then

300, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1500 and up)

WASI Award – work islands from all 50 states

More listed at http://www.usislands.org/awards.html

2013 W/VE QSO PartyWeekend before CQWW Phone contest – so

October 19, 1600 UTC to October 20, 2359 UTC

Details at http://www.usislands.org/contest_rules.html

LinksIOTA Program: http://www.rsgbiota.org

US Islands Award Program: http://www.usislands.org