SOTA/POTA activities by
ZS6DX/ZS2M

Summits Activated or planned by ZS6DX/ZS2M

Update 29/04/2021: With winter approaching we will be looking at activating summits again soon, it is just too hot in summer to go climbing mountains here in this part of Africa!

I am now also interested in POTA (Park On The Air), since I have quite a few parks that are quite close to my QTH I think it is time to activate a few. First I need to find a list of park and their POTA numbers, if there is such a list for South Africa,

Update 20/04/2021: I am leaving the notes from 2003 below simply as historic information, I will add more relevant information soon.

Due to recent very long delays in getting SOTA summits approved or in some cases coordinates fixed by the SOTA "system", I, along with other locals, have become involved in the "Global Mountain Activity" group. In many ways it is similar to SOTA but it is far easier, and quicker, to register summits. They also support other activations like parks and light houses. We already have quite a few local summits listed and activated.

The "GMA" web page can be found HERE

  1. Magaliesberg ZS/GP-008 01/01/2003
  2. Suikerbosrand ZS/GP-002 Planned 2016
  3. Perdekop ZS/GP-001 Planned 2016
  4. Witwatersrand ZS/GP-003 Planned 2016
  5. Roodepoortkop ZS/GP-004 Planned 2016

Summits On the Air - SOTA for short - is an international Amateur Radio awards program that was launched in March 2002. SOTA issues certificates to members who contact or activate a certain number of mountain summits. It is especially suited to South Africa since although we have relatively few islands we do have plenty of mountains, as well as excellent hiking weather throughout the year.

SOTA encourages portable operations by summit activators. Operations from vehicles are not permitted, and although a vehicle may be used to get to the mountain, the method of final access to the summit must be "person powered" (e.g. hiking, mountain bike etc.) and all equipment must be carried to the site by the activator team. QRP operations are the rule, so this is a wonderful opportunity for all you homebrew and QRP enthusiasts to show off your portable equipment and operating prowess. However since all bands and modes are permissible, you don't require a portable HF rig to activate a summit - a VHF HT is quite sufficient but I personally feel that you miss most of the fun if you only plan a 'local' operation by not using HF !. There are a number of certificates for activators, culminating in the ultimate accolade - the "Mountain Goat" plaque.

See you on the Summits !

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