Islands on the Air

Event Phone: (713) 254-6615

The Radio Society of Great Britain’s IOTA Contest is one of the most popular contests on their calendar, attracting entries from around the world.  IOTA refers to “Islands on the Air“.  IOTA is an exciting and innovative activity program that has caught the interest of thousands of radio amateurs worldwide.  Established in 1964, it promotes radio contacts with stations located on islands around the world to enrich the experience of all active on the amateur bands and it draws on the widespread mystique surrounding islands.

This year the “Bay Neigh Amateur Radio Club”    KI5TUX    will activate Galveston Island, Texas.  We will be in the Texas State East (Matagorda to Jefferson County) group identified as NA-143, or the islands from Port O’Connor to past the Bolivar Peninsula.  The location will be Galveston Island State Park but that could change.

You don’t need to be a ham radio operator to come and have fun.  There is a legal way for you to operate a radio with the oversight of a licensed amateur radio operator.  A newcomers’ guide to the system of IOTA references and further information on the IOTA Contest can be found at the IOTA Contest Information page and on the IOTA Contest FAQ page. A beginners’ guide to operating in the contest is here.

There is no cost to operate, but there will be a State Park entry fee and if you are eating, perhaps a small charge for food and beverages.

Due to the extreme heat conditions along the Texas Gulf Coast and Galveston Island, and the high heat indices, the event is being postponed to next year.