POTA/SOTA Update 5-11-2026
Posted: Mon May 11, 2026 6:11 am
Here's a full roundup of the latest POTA and SOTA news:
##
POTA β Parks on the Air
**2026 Seasonal Activity Weekends**
POTA holds seasonal activity weekends throughout the year on the 3rd full weekend of the month. The remaining 2026 dates are:
- **Summer:** July 18β19, 2026
- **Autumn:** October 17β18, 2026
The Spring weekend (April 18β19) has already passed β hopefully you got out to a park!
**State-Level POTA Events Active in 2026**
Several states have been running their own POTA-flavored events. Georgia State Parks on the Air (GASPOTA) ran April 18β19, 2026, and added a brand new **Teams category** for 2026, allowing operators to work together in pairs. Texas State Parks on the Air (TSPOTA) also ran April 17β19, combining POTA-style activations with Field Day operations.
**HOA Protection for Arizona POTA Operators β Big Win!**
The Indiana General Assembly passed and Governor Mike Braun signed a bill adding HOA protection for amateur radio operators in HOA-regulated housing. Arizona operators should note: similar HOA antenna protection legislation was also advancing in Arizona earlier this year β good news for setting up portable stations at home between activations.
**SOTAmΔt Tool Updates**
The popular **SOTAmΔt** self-spotting tool received a firmware update in January 2026 adding **KH1 support**, and fixes for QRT/TEST modes in both SOTA and POTA. The tool allows self-spotting via HF radio without needing cell or internet service β very handy for remote activations.
##
SOTA β Summits on the Air
**
Big News: 2026 SOTA Challenge β 2m/70cm SSB/CW**
This is the headline story for SOTA this year. The SOTA Management Team announced their **2026 Challenge** for operating **SSB and CW on the 2-meter and 70 cm bands**, running the entire calendar year (January 1 through December 31, 2026). The previous challenge in 2024 was for the 10-meter band.
Scoring is distance-based: activators and chasers earn **1 point per kilometer** for each QSO with a unique callsign per summit, multiplied by the number of unique summits activated or chased. This rewards long-distance VHF/UHF contacts.
The response has been strong β VHF/UHF SOTA activity surged in January across the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. The availability of inexpensive Quansheng UV-K5 handhelds with custom firmware enabling SSB/CW capability has made entry-level participation much easier. Owners of the ICOM IC-705 and older Yaesu FT-817/857 rigs are also actively participating.
One key operating tip from active participants: **antenna polarization matters** β most VHF SSB/CW stations use horizontal polarization while FM operators use vertical, so be ready to flip your Yagi. The recommended calling frequencies are **144.200 MHz** for 2m SSB/CW and **432.100 MHz** for 70cm.
**SOTA Association Updates β May 2026**
The May 1, 2026 SOTA association update includes changes to the **W4C (Western North Carolina) association**, where summit W4C/CM-164 is being replaced with new summit W4C/CM-194 effective July 1. There was also a name change for W4C/WM-021 from "Tusquitee Bald" to "Signal Bald."
**Norway SOTA Gathering β August 2026**
The **LA SOTA Gathering** is planned for **August 21β23, 2026, in Trysil, Norway**, open to everyone interested in SOTA from around the world.
With spring turning to summer here in Arizona, conditions are great for POTA activations at parks like Tonto National Forest, McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and the many state parks in the region. The 2026 SOTA VHF challenge is also a great opportunity to work some of Arizona's peaks on 2m SSB!
##
POTA β Parks on the Air**2026 Seasonal Activity Weekends**
POTA holds seasonal activity weekends throughout the year on the 3rd full weekend of the month. The remaining 2026 dates are:
- **Summer:** July 18β19, 2026
- **Autumn:** October 17β18, 2026
The Spring weekend (April 18β19) has already passed β hopefully you got out to a park!
**State-Level POTA Events Active in 2026**
Several states have been running their own POTA-flavored events. Georgia State Parks on the Air (GASPOTA) ran April 18β19, 2026, and added a brand new **Teams category** for 2026, allowing operators to work together in pairs. Texas State Parks on the Air (TSPOTA) also ran April 17β19, combining POTA-style activations with Field Day operations.
**HOA Protection for Arizona POTA Operators β Big Win!**
The Indiana General Assembly passed and Governor Mike Braun signed a bill adding HOA protection for amateur radio operators in HOA-regulated housing. Arizona operators should note: similar HOA antenna protection legislation was also advancing in Arizona earlier this year β good news for setting up portable stations at home between activations.
**SOTAmΔt Tool Updates**
The popular **SOTAmΔt** self-spotting tool received a firmware update in January 2026 adding **KH1 support**, and fixes for QRT/TEST modes in both SOTA and POTA. The tool allows self-spotting via HF radio without needing cell or internet service β very handy for remote activations.
##
SOTA β Summits on the Air**
Big News: 2026 SOTA Challenge β 2m/70cm SSB/CW**This is the headline story for SOTA this year. The SOTA Management Team announced their **2026 Challenge** for operating **SSB and CW on the 2-meter and 70 cm bands**, running the entire calendar year (January 1 through December 31, 2026). The previous challenge in 2024 was for the 10-meter band.
Scoring is distance-based: activators and chasers earn **1 point per kilometer** for each QSO with a unique callsign per summit, multiplied by the number of unique summits activated or chased. This rewards long-distance VHF/UHF contacts.
The response has been strong β VHF/UHF SOTA activity surged in January across the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. The availability of inexpensive Quansheng UV-K5 handhelds with custom firmware enabling SSB/CW capability has made entry-level participation much easier. Owners of the ICOM IC-705 and older Yaesu FT-817/857 rigs are also actively participating.
One key operating tip from active participants: **antenna polarization matters** β most VHF SSB/CW stations use horizontal polarization while FM operators use vertical, so be ready to flip your Yagi. The recommended calling frequencies are **144.200 MHz** for 2m SSB/CW and **432.100 MHz** for 70cm.
**SOTA Association Updates β May 2026**
The May 1, 2026 SOTA association update includes changes to the **W4C (Western North Carolina) association**, where summit W4C/CM-164 is being replaced with new summit W4C/CM-194 effective July 1. There was also a name change for W4C/WM-021 from "Tusquitee Bald" to "Signal Bald."
**Norway SOTA Gathering β August 2026**
The **LA SOTA Gathering** is planned for **August 21β23, 2026, in Trysil, Norway**, open to everyone interested in SOTA from around the world.
With spring turning to summer here in Arizona, conditions are great for POTA activations at parks like Tonto National Forest, McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and the many state parks in the region. The 2026 SOTA VHF challenge is also a great opportunity to work some of Arizona's peaks on 2m SSB!