GOTA Station FAQs

Q. What is the GOTA station?

A. It is an opportunity for Novice licensees, newly licensed amateurs, other generally inactive licensees, and non-licensed persons

to experience first-hand the fun of amateur radio by allowing them to GET ON THE AIR (GOTA).

Q. How many GOTA stations may a club have on the air?

A. A club may employ only one GOTA station.

Q. What are the bands for the GOTA station?

A. The GOTA station may operate on any amateur band on which Field Day operation is permitted (HF or VHF).

Q. What modes and frequencies may the GOTA station use?

A. The modes and frequencies are determined by the license class of the control operator of the GOTA station. There must be a

control operator permitted to use the frequencies and modes desired in direct control of the GOTA station any time it is transmitting.

Q. What callsign does the GOTA station use? What exchange does the GOTA station give?

A. The GOTA station uses a callsign different from the call being used by the group ‘s main Field Day operation. The

GOTA station also uses a single callsign for the duration of Field Day. Remember that you must have permission of the holder of

the callsign in order to use it for the GOTA station. Also remember the rules of station ID. A two-by-three call issued to a Technician

licensee may be used, but if the call is being used outside of the privileges of the licensee, it must also include the callsign of the

control operator (WA4QQN/N1ND for example). GOTA stations use the same exchange as its “parent” station.

Q. Who may the GOTA station contact?

A. The GOTA station may contact any other amateur radio station, with a couple of exceptions. The GOTA station may not work its

“parent” Field Day station. It may not contact any station operated by a person who was involved with their group’s Field Day

operation. Remember that if a DX station is involved, the FCC rules involving Third Party participation apply. A station worked by

the group’s main Field Day set-up may be worked again by the GOTA station and not considered a dupe.

Q. What is considered a generally inactive licensee?

A. The GOTA station is not for everyone. The generally inactive licensee provisions pertain to someone who holds a General or

higher class license but has been inactive. The intent and the spirit of this station is to provide an opportunity for persons to gain

valuable on-the-air experience and progress to operating the regular club stations in the future. The intent is not to develop a group

of “permanent GOTA Field Day operators”. This is also not a station that a club “ringer” operates in order to rack up points. The

list of operators of this station must be submitted with the Field Day entry.

In order to claim the GOTA bonus, the club/group must provide a list of operators and the number of QSOs each operator makes at

the GOTA station. Clubs should use their best judgment in determining the operators of the GOTA station.

Q. May someone operate both the GOTA and the main Field Day stations?

A. It is permissible for someone to operate both GOTA and the main stations. However, remember that to use the GOTA station,

you must meet the requirements of license class, be generally inactive, or a non-licensed person. It is not permissible for a

seasoned operator to operate the GOTA station.

Q. May a non-licensed person operate the GOTA station?

A. A non-licensed person may participate in the GOTA station by speaking into the microphone, sending CW, or making digital

contacts but may do so only under the direct supervision of a properly licensed control operator.

Q. I am an active Novice licensee. May I operate the GOTA station?

A. Yes. The GOTA station may be operated by any Novice or Technician licensee, under the terms of their license privileges, or

under the supervision of a control operator.

Q. How do I calculate the GOTA bonus points?

A: Please refer to the separate GOTA Scoring FAQ in this packet.

Revised: 02/2011

GOTA Scoring FAQ

In order to encourage Class A and F stations to make concerted efforts to have a GOTA station and to maximize the number of

participants at the GOTA station, there have been changes in the GOTA Bonus Point structure.

In addition to the regular QSO points earned the individual operator of a GOTA station can earn 20 bonus points when they

complete 20 QSOs. They earn an additional 20 bonus points for each additional 20 QSOs completed up to 100 QSOs for each

individual GOTA operator. The operator may make additional contacts for credit beyond the 100-QSO level, but only the first 100

qualify for the bonus points. Additional operators may also earn the 100-point bonuses for a GOTA station, up to the maximum of

500 QSOs allowed for the GOTA station. If the GOTA station is supervised full-time by a designated GOTA Coach, the earned

bonus points doubles (the 20 points for 20 QSOs becomes 40 points, 100 points for 100 QSOs become 200 points, etc).

Q: What is the maximum number of QSOs that may be completed and claimed by operators of the GOTA station?

A: 500.

Q: How do you earn GOTA bonus points?

A: The operator of the GOTA station earns a 20-point bonus for completing 20-QSOs at the GOTA station. In addition, they earn

an additional 20-point bonus for every 20 QSOs they complete up to 100 QSOs per operator. These QSOs do not have to be made

all at once – they can be a cumulative total for operation at the GOTA station during Field Day by the operator.

Q. May an operator make more than 100 QSOs at the GOTA station?

A: Yes, but they only receive bonus points for each 20 QSOs up to 100 QSOs. Any additional QSOs beyond the 100 do count

towards the 500-QSO limit for the entire GOTA operation. You still receive the regular QSO credit for QSOs over 100 made by an

operator, but the maximum bonus points for any individual operator is 100 (excluding the double bonus described below).

Q: I completed 85 QSOs at the GOTA station. How many bonus points do I receive?

A: Since you completed at least 80 QSOs you receive an 80-point bonus, 20 points for reaching the 20, 40, 60 and 80 QSO levels.

Q: I completed 85 QSOs at the GOTA station and my friend completed 75. That’s a total of 160 QSOs. Can we combine our

efforts for 160 bonus points?

A: The bonus points are given for the effort of each individual operator. You would qualify for four -20-point bonuses (80 points) and

your friend qualifies for 60 bonus points for completing reaching the 60 QSO level for a total of 140 bonus points. You cannot “pool”

the additional QSOs to reach another 20-point bonus level.

Q: How do I earn the “GOTA Double Bonus”?

A: In order for the bonus points for the GOTA station to be doubled, there must be a designated GOTA “Coach” or “Mentor” working

with the GOTA station whenever it is in operation.

Q: Our designated GOTA Coach will be operating the 15-meter CW station in the next tent, with the instructions that if we

need them we know where to go get them. Does this affect our double bonus?

A: The GOTA Coach must be physically present at the GOTA operating position and monitoring/teaching the GOTA

operators any time it is being used. The double bonus is to compensate for the GOTA Coach not being at other stations

operating, so they should not be involved in any other station while they are serving as the GOTA station coach.

Q: Some of our GOTA operators are comfortable making QSOs without a Coach while others need the Coach. How does

this affect the scoring of the GOTA bonus points?

A: In order to qualify for the double GOTA Bonus, the GOTA Coach must be present at any time the GOTA station is being

operated. If the double bonus does not apply to all QSOs for the GOTA station, it cannot be applied to any.

Q: Our GOTA Coach wants to go home to sleep. Does this mean we lose the double bonus?

A: You don’t have to have only one person serving as the GOTA Coach. Several experienced operators may serve as GOTA

Coaches. As long as at least one of them is present while the GOTA station is operating, you can still claim the double bonus.

Q: How do we claim the GOTA Bonus?

A: First, mark the appropriate area in Item 15 on the Summary Sheet. Then in Item 19 on the Summary Sheet, you must list the

name and/or callsign of each operator of the GOTA station for which you are claiming the bonus, the number of QSOs completed by

that operator, and the number of bonus points you are claiming earned by that operator. If you do not complete Item 19, the GOTA

bonus may be disallowed.

Revised: 02/2011