YOTA Month

YOTA Month takes place every December with the aim of getting young people across IARU Region 1 active on the amateur bands.

Getting ‘Youngsters on the Air’ begins with you! YOTA Month is an exciting opportunity for you, your club, school, or social group to host an amateur radio station with the aim of getting youngsters active on the amateur bands. It runs from 1 to 31 December every year and the RSGB has put a call sign on the air since 2014. This year the RSGB will be providing access to the special call sign GB23YOTA (pending Ofcom approval).

Who can take part?

A ‘youngster’ is defined by the IARU as any person aged 26 or below. This is our preferred age range however, please bear in mind that if you are doing an on-air demonstration for youngsters, the operator’s age can vary. The only thing we ask is that any use of this call sign is done so in the presence of youngsters who you encourage to get on the air.

Activations can be big or small, and done however you wish (be that HF, VHF, satellites, voice, Morse code or data modes). All QSOs support our hobby and encourage the use of GB23YOTA among young people.

Get involved!

A full list of operating slots will be made available on QRZ.com, search GB23YOTA. All hosts must be a club or full licence holder, and all intermediate or foundation licence operators should be supervised, in line with the licensing conditions.

To register your interest (or for further information) email Jamie, M0SDV at yota.month@rsgb.org.uk. You will need to include your name, club or organisation, the call sign to be associated with the activation (must be a full licence), as well as some information about what you’re planning. Operating slots will be issued on a first come, first served basis.

Be inspired by those who hosted the YOTA call sign in previous years and see how the young people enjoyed being part of YOTA Month in the UK (see links on the right).