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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:PT">Summits on the Air continues to grow in VK
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:PT">The Summits on the Air (SOTA) programme is now operational in vk2 and vk4,
with over 1000 summits in vk2 and over 500 registered so far in vk4 with some large regions still to go.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:PT">All regions of VK2 are registered so there are summits all over the state.
In VK4, the two southeast regions and the Capricornia and Wide Bay & Burnett regions are registered at this point. I can also pass on the news that VK6 is being surveyed at present and I will leave detailed announcements to those doing the work.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:PT">To mark the launch of SOTA in vk2 you are invited to join in a SOTA QSO party
on Sunday 13th October. If you can, activate a nearby or distant summit yourself. If you prefer to operate from your home or other portable location as a chaser, do join in. The activators need to make at least 4 contacts to qualify their activation.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:PT">SOTA is not a contest but is an operating award programme. You can record
your contacts in an online log and claim points for your contacts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:PT">A major benefit of participating in the SOTA programme is that to activate
a summit you must do at least some walking (the last 25m of altitude). As many mountains have no vehicle access anywhere near the top, this sometimes means you and your fellow activators need to walk 1, 2 or more km, carrying your radio station, food and water,
navigation and safety equipment. Many radio amateurs around the world are now enjoying this combination of amateur radio with some level of bushwalking. It is good for the health.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:PT">For more details about the award, the summits already registered, activators'
guides and online maps and spotting websites, start your search at </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:PT"><a href="http://www.SOTA.org.uk" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:blue;text-decoration:none">SOTA.org.uk</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:PT">.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:PT">73 from
<br>
<b><i>Andrew VK1DA/VK2UH</i><br>
</b>association manager for SOTA in VK2. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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