About HOTA
Hills On The Air (HOTA for short) is an adventure radio program for amateur radio enthusiasts who enjoy being out on the hills and in the great outdoors, as well as those who just like collecting contacts with unusual locations.
Similar to Summits on the Air (SOTA), the goal is to make contacts from, or with, as many different hilltops as possible. But if you just want to add some radio interest to your walks in the hills, that's fine too. Taking part in HOTA will add to your fun by increasing the number of people wanting to contact you.
HOTA was started in Eastern Ontario, Canada, due to the lack of summits that qualified for activation under the SOTA program.
Objectives
The goal of the program is to make contacts from, or with, as many different hilltops as possible. There are many easy hills for the less fit or those with less time to spare to climb, as well as more challenging adventures and opportunities for multi-summit activations during the course of a full day's walk, for the more active.
But if you aren't interested in competing to operate from the greatest number of hilltops, but would just like to add some fun radio activity to your walks in the hills, Hills On The Air still has something to offer you. Because taking part, and announcing your destinations on this site, will increase the number of people keen to contact you whilst you are up there!
Joining in
If you hold an amateur radio license then you can participate in one of two ways. You can be an activator, which involves taking a portable radio transceiver up into the hills and making contacts from the summit. Or you can be a chaser, which means trying to make contact with as many different hilltops as you can. You can even do both: chasing when you are at home, and activating whenever you get the chance for a day out on the hills.
