Coastlines On The Air

ZULU—

Rules

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About

Coastlines On The Air (COTA) is a portable radio activity. For questions, suggestions, and updates please contact us.

Activators

Activators are those licensed amateur radio operators who operate portable or mobile at designated coastlines and beaches.

Hunters

Hunters are those licensed amateur radio operators who make contact with Activators at designated coastlines.

Activation boundaries and accessibility

Activators and all station equipment must ideally be positioned directly on the coastline or beach area. However, where a coastline is physically inaccessible due to safety concerns, private property restrictions, high tides, or environmental protections, operators may set up at the nearest safe, legal, and publicly accessible vantage point. In these circumstances, the entire station, including the operator, transceiver, power supply, and all parts of the antenna system, must remain within a maximum distance of 200 metres from the mean high-water mark or the officially defined boundary of the coastal feature. Operating from locations beyond this 200 metre limit will invalidate the activation for COTA credit.

Bands & modes

Participants may use any amateur band and mode permitted by their specific licence class.

Because COTA is an award programme, not a contest, you are welcome to make contacts on any legally permitted amateur radio frequency.

Terrestrial Repeaters - Contacts made through land based repeaters are strictly prohibited for COTA credit. The qualifying QSO must be made point-to-point (simplex).

Satellite Communications - Contacts made via satellite repeaters are permitted. When logging a satellite contact, Activators must record the specific band used for their transmit frequency.

Spotting

Activators are encouraged to self-spot on the official COTA spotting page. Additionally, Hunters and general operators/listeners are welcome to spot or re-spot activators at any time.

If you are dual-activating a coastline while participating in an external event (such as International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend or a national field day), please note that the other event may restrict self-spotting. COTA operators are expected to respect the rules and operate within the true spirit of both programmes.

Qualifying QSOs

A contact counts when both stations exchange callsigns and a signal report. Log it here against the coastline reference. One reference per activation. Self-spots are welcome. Keep spot comments short and operational: for e.g. duration of stay, power, and antenna.

Conduct

Registered COTA Participants will:

  1. Follow the COTA Rules.
  2. Operate within ARRL’s operating ethics guideline.
  3. Operate according to the DX Code of Conduct.
  4. Respect the guidance and decisions of any local government / council officials when operating.

COTA participants will not:

  1. Exhibit behaviour that discredits the integrity of the COTA Program.
  2. Threaten or abuse members of the administration team, volunteers, or other participants in any manner.
  3. Make posts or comments on any COTA, forum, or social media account that are:
    • Discourteous
    • Offensive
    • Arguing in bad faith
    • Infringing others’ copyright
    • Containing advertisements of products or services not under license with COTA.
  4. Use, access, or attempt to access COTA websites inappropriately.
Official events

Official events will be posted on the COTA website.

Finally, Coastlines On The Air (COTA) is not affiliated with any other award programme.