August 17, 2024
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Day 1: A Blast from the Start!

By | YOTA Czechia 2024 | No Comments

Energizing ice breaking games in the morning

Our first day at the YOTA Camp was packed with fun, learning, and new friendships! We kicked off the day with breakfast and a quick team meeting to get us ready for the adventures ahead.

With participants hailing from all corners of the globe, our camp was a melting pot of cultures, languages, and new faces. To kickstart the bonding process, we dove right into energizing icebreaker games, helping us break down barriers and build a strong group dynamic from the very start.

Our first workshop took us to a nearby building where we met up with Milan OK2IMH for an in-depth look at SMD technology. We learned all about surface mount technology, different types of PCBs, and the fascinating process of bringing a circuit board to life. It was mind-blowing to see how a machine can place a whopping 45,000 components per hour!

Exploring SMD components on PCB

Our next adventure was a deep dive into ARDF, an exciting sport that combines orienteering with radio direction finding. The introduction was given by Pavel and Simon. We watched thrilling competition videos, learned about the history of the sport, and got a hands-on look at the equipment. With a clear understanding of the maps, rules, and how the receivers work, we were ready to put our skills to the test in the afternoon workshops.

A snapshot of audience from todays lectures and workshops

After a quick lunch break, the excitement reached new heights as we dived into our workshop rotations! Divided into six groups, we got to experience a variety of activities. First up, we had the ARDF workshop, where a team had hidden transmitters, or “foxes,” in the surrounding area. Our mission was to find them using our radio direction-finding skills.

ARDF in action

For those eager to master Morse code, there was a dedicated workshop led by Honza OK1JD. Using whistles and interactive games, we learned how to send and receive those iconic dots and dashes. The QTH operating workshop was a dream come true for aspiring radio operators. Under the guidance of experienced hams, we got the chance to practice our skills on the airwaves.

Operating at the camp QTH

To keep the team spirit high, there was also an icebreaker workshop filled with fun and engaging activities. For the creative minds, we had a rocket building challenge hosted by Ana EI5IXB. Using paper materials, we constructed our own rockets and competed to see whose would fly the highest. The record for the day was an impressive 50 meters! Finally, we had a unique Lego challenge that tested our communication skills. Partnered up, we had to build identical Lego creations without seeing each other. It was a fun and challenging way to work together.

Playing the Lego Radio game

Even though everyone was already hungry after all the workshops, there was no dinner planned for the night! We embarked on a culinary and cultural journey around the globe – it was time for our intercultural evening, one of the highlights of the camp, showcasing the incredible diversity of our ham radio community. With participants from so many different countries, we knew we had to celebrate our unique cultures. Each country brought a special dish, snack, or piece of traditional clothing to share. The result was a mouthwatering spread of flavors and a vibrant display of cultural heritage. From savory delicacies to sweet treats, there was something to tantalize every taste bud. It was amazing to try food from countries we’ve never visited before and learn about the stories behind each dish. We’re so grateful to everyone who contributed to this unforgettable experience! This evening brought us even closer together as a community, fostering a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry of cultures within our hobby. It was a reminder that while we may speak different languages and come from different backgrounds, our shared passion for ham radio unites us all. And how exciting the international aspect of this hobby can be!

Intercultural Evening – find more pictures of it in our dedicated gallery!

August 16, 2024
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Arrival Day: The Adventure Begins!

By | Publication, YOTA Czechia 2024 | One Comment

Early arriving participants in front of the Nikola Tesla monument

The long-awaited YOTA Summer Camp in Prague has officially kicked off! After months of anticipation and preparation, young radio enthusiasts from across the globe have gathered in the heart of Europe.

The day was filled with participants arriving to the camp venue. Jet-lagged faces and excited smiles were the order of the day as participants checked in and claimed their accommodations. While some teams arrived bright and early, eager to dive straight into the camp experience, others opted for a more leisurely start after their long journeys.

Youngsters exploring the area around the venue

For those who arrived with extra time and energy on their hands, a guided tour of the local area was offered. Led by the Martin OK1VHB, participants explored the captivating CTU University campus and visiting the Nikola Tesla monument. It was a perfect way to stretch their legs and immerse themselves in the city’s vibrant atmosphere.The journey to Prague proved to be a test of endurance for many. While the allure of international travel is undeniable, the reality of long-haul flights and cross-country bus rides is a different story. Clearly, guest teams from IARU Region 2 and 3 had a super long flight. Though, this years longest travels by plane goes to a team from region 1, as the team from Burkina Faso travelled for 24h and thus even a little more than our guest teams from Singapore or Japan. Closer to Prague, but yet an even slightly longer travel was the one from the Bulgarian team that faced an equally challenging journey, spending a grueling 26 hours on the road in the bus.

Ready to welcome the arriving participants

As expected, social media platforms were full with travel updates and photos as participants shared their adventures with friends and family. However, true to the spirit of the camp, radio communication was of course also a part! Dedicated Tetra and 2m FM frequencies were used by participants to connect with fellow friends.The camp started in the evening with the first part being the dinner, providing a much- needed opportunity for participants to relax and refuel after their journeys. The official opening ceremony then marked the first program point of the YOTA camp. A warm welcome from the organizers and Henni OH1ESI, the chair of the YWG, set a positive tone for the week ahead. Philipp DK6SP, a Director on the Board of the World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF), delivered a heartfelt speech on behalf of the sponsor, expressing their enthusiasm for supporting young radio enthusiasts. A huge thank you was extended to all the sponsors for their generous support in making this year’s YOTA camp possible. The organizers also took the opportunity to provide essential information about the camp’s logistics, ensuring a smooth running event. To add a touch of fun, the ceremony also included a special celebration for two participants who happened to share the same birthday with the arrival day of camp, making their YOTA experience even more memorable.

Stay tuned for updates on the exciting activities and challenges that await them in the coming days.

February 19, 2024
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Apply for Youth Contesting Program – TM4Y (@F6KOP)

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After years of sleep, the Youth Contesting Program is back for new adventures. For this fresh new start, we are planning a full team of young operators to make some noise with the call TM4Y, during CQ WPX SSB (March 30-31), in one of the best “big gun” stations of France: F6KOP 🇫🇷

From simple transceiver usage to committed contester, any level goes! Although having very basic knowledge of French would also be a plus!

If you are interested in joining the fun, please contact Jules F4IEY (mail on QRZ.com) for more info.

Note: Keep in mind that you will have to travel there by your own means and places are very limited (10) due to the nature of the event. The applications will close on March 1st for organization purposes but feel free to show your interest after this date!

73 DE F4IEY / K4IEY Jules

February 1, 2024
6

Call for applications – YOTA Czechia 2024

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The IARU Region 1 Youth Working Group together with the Czech Radio Club are pleased to announce the 12th  annual YOTA Summer Camp – this time in Czechia.

The event will take place in Prague from 16th to 23rd of August 2024. We are able to host 100 ambitious youngsters from around IARU Region 1 including guest teams from Regions 2 and 3.

If your Member Society is considering sending a national YOTA Team to this event, please fill out the preliminary application form here. The teams consist of a team leader (aged 18-30) and 0-3 team members (aged 15-25). Please choose the participants according to their level of interest for the hobby and the program. The camp is both a place to have fun and become a part of the community, and an opportunity to learn.

The final team size of each member society will be announced after the application deadline on February 29th 2024. Afterwards you will be given more time to name your participants using another online form.

 

In case you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us via youth@iaru-r1.org.

December 2, 2023
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December YOTA Month Celebrating youth the whole December on air!

December YOTA Month is here!

By | Publication, YOTA Month 2023 | No Comments

Every year, for the entire month of December, several youngsters under 26 become active with their national YOTA callsigns. This will continue in the 11th edition of December YOTA Month (DYM) starting from today! We have already 40 active YOTA callsigns from different countries participating this year. Check out active stations at events.ham-yota.com/spots.

Remember to follow us during DYM and listen in on the air for all the YOTA stations. Everyone can support the youth worldwide by collecting QSOs with YOTA stations on as many bands and modes as possible. Collecting QSOs can make you eligible for Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum awards.

September 17, 2023
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KOTA Czechia 2023 – Day 3

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The Kids On The Air (KOTA) event today had its third and last day held in the Trhanov Castle in Czechia.

The day began with a presentation by Philipp, DK6SP, who shared insights into the possibilities within amateur radio. He told us stories about his travels and showed us how important friendship is in amateur radio.

Before lunch, we got the opportunity to take part in a high-altitude balloon launch, carrying a 20m WSPR beacon as payload.

Over the last two days, we received a step-by-step introduction to contesting. We learned how to do QSOs and had some training in the Off-Air contest. For a final activity, we got to try out our newly gathered skills in a PMR contest, where all participants gathered in the nearby park and got two times 35 minutes to make as many contacts with each other as possible.

The closing ceremony was held in the lecture room, where not only did every participant receive their camp certificate, but the winners of the contests held during the camp got their awards and some presents for the sponsors.

September 16, 2023
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KOTA Czechia 2023 - Day 2

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KOTA, Kids On The Air, has successfully ended day 2 of their camp in Czechia. The participating kids did have a long and eventful day.

On today’s agenda were World Wide Flora Fauna activities from three OKFF entities. Also, various workshops were held, e.g. soldering, QO-100, “How to do a good QSO”, SSTV and ARDF on a nearby mountain. Furthermore, all attending took the group photo. In the evening the famous “Off-Air Contest” was held. The day finished with some OL1KOTA shortwave and QO1-100 activity.

Stay tuned for the final day at this event tomorrow.

September 15, 2023
1

KOTA Czechia 2023 — Day 1

By | KOTA Czechia 2023, Publication | No Comments

KOTA, which stands for Kids On The Air, officially opened today. This event is organized by the Czech Radio Club (ČRK/CRC) in collaboration with the IARU Region 1 Youth Working Group and marks a new addition to the well-known YOTA program. It’s aimed at a different age group and is considered a Subregional Camp.

Approximately 30 kids between the ages of 10 and 15 have gathered at Trhanov Castle in Czechia. Today’s schedule included their arrival, having dinner, a brief welcome session, and their first workshops on “What is amateur radio?” and “How to have a QSO.” These enthusiastic kids are already on the air using the callsign OL1KOTA. They are operating on the HF bands and the QO-100 geostationary satellite throughout the upcoming weekend.

Additionally, during the camp, participants will have the opportunity to take part in various interactive sessions, workshops, and hands-on demonstrations. The program is designed to provide valuable insights into the world of amateur radio, encouraging a sense of exploration and learning.

August 12, 2023
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YOTA Summer Camp 2023 | Day 6 | 11.08.2023

By | Publication, YOTA Hungary 2023 | No Comments

Day 6 – A day trip to Budapest 

This blog post is written by Mari ES5MJR from YOTA Team Estonia.

On the last full day of the YOTA Hungary camp, the participants were taken to see Budapest, to put a cherry on top of the cake that this event already was. 

 The trip started early in the morning as two buses full of youngsters set off from Györ. I ended up in the back of the so-called party bus, where music was blasted and energetically sung along to. Those who didn’t have the energy managed to somehow sleep through it. 

 We arrived in Budapest within 2 hours about 10 am. We were separated into 3 different groups. To our misfortune, we had to climb multiple sets of stairs to see the gothic Matthias Church. Once we made it to the Trinity Square everyone was in need of water and the Estonians of some shade (me being one of them). Tomi HA8RT kindly took the tour guide role and enlightened us with some history. After some recovery, we started slowly heading down with beautiful panoramic views of the Pest side of the city. 

The views from Trinity Square were amazing!

 A marking point in our tour was definitely the Liberty Bridge connecting Buda to the Pest. The 19th-century architecture was stunning to look at. The bridge was lively, filled with bicycles, cars, and the occasional tram. The Donau River itself wasn’t any inferior, the water was full of tour boats and yachts making their way in the waves. We were so amused that we were stopping the traffic. Luckily we got out of the way quickly. 

We had lunch in the Pest part of the town (pun intended) near a market where we could fill all our souvenir needs starting with magnets and ending with local sausage. 

After our meal, we walked through the city center encountering gorgeous sights of various architectural eras. Taking a quick stop in front of the Hungarian National Museum to take group pictures. Our last cultural destination was the Kossuth Square where we took the metro to our bus pick-up. Following the slightly chaotic bus ride home, to top the trip off, we had some pizza before the closing ceremony. 

The only way I could describe the official event ending was joyful… and also loud enough to trigger some hand-watches warning of damaging dB levels. The night was followed by an after-party in the cafeteria. Some people say that international world peace can never be achieved, but for those 2 hours of dancing and singing to various songs around the world with people from so many different countries, I think we managed to do something.

73s

Mari ES5MJR

 

August 11, 2023
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YOTA Summer Camp 2023 | Day 5 | 10.08.2023

By | Publication, YOTA Hungary 2023 | No Comments

Two blog posts are written from this day, keep on scrolling for the pictures!

This blog post is written by YOTA Team Italy

We woke up in the morning and after having a very tasty breakfast we went to the conference room where the first lesson of the day took place.

In the conference room, we found Sylvain waiting for us to teach us what is behind a Software Defined Radio (SDR). Although there are plenty of people who know about electronics and technical stuff, the lecture was easily understandable for people who do not know much about that. Alessio, in particular, found it a bit difficult to follow it as he is a high school student.

After that, we had Tibi, OM3RM who held the lecture about the CR3DX contest station showing us all the equipment in the shack (e.g. antennas, towers, main radios, amplifiers [legal limit “always”] ). He also mentioned they had a 5400km (3400 mi) QSO with OM in VHF! He moves roughly 5 times a year for major contests such as CQWW / WPX. Furthermore, they are trying to set up a fully functioning remote station to be able to work even longer, anytime, anywhere.

Lessons finished early so we had plenty of time to play some sports together and go for a swim in the river nearby. After a quick snack with some gelato, we went to the outside station where *insert guy’s name* from Mastrant showed us some of his products and how to use them to hook the antenna on the ground. At the end of the demonstration, we were also given some gadgets such as a 12 meters-thin rope and a cute keychain. It was really interesting because we had the opportunity to see and touch everything with our own hands.

At 5 pm, it was time for *presentations by youngsters, for youngsters*: Two teams prepared topics in order to share their experience and inspire the others to follow suit.

To begin with, the French talked about their “beta test” gathering at Provins for their TM45KOP activation. It consisted in explaining what and how the weekend went at F6KOP top gun station.

Then, Team ON showed us their project about a weather balloon that they launched. The purpose of the balloon was to measure some weather information such as temperature and humidity and to transmit them back to Earth with a radio signal. It also has GPS tracking that makes localization a lot easier and it’s very useful when you have to retrieve it. They told us that you should inform the local air force before launch so that it won’t be a threat to anybody and even showed us how to build our own since it’s very simple. Apparently, that circuit is very durable and can be reused or reprogrammed for other activities such as a transmitter for ARDF.

The last presentation was quite a surprise, Jules F4IEY and Bastien ON4BCY showed us something that we did not even think existed: the Meme Appreciation Month (MAAM) event! Everyone was hyped up to see that a group of young youngsters are putting fun special callsigns on the air, just for fun! By doing this, they spread the internet culture and give a more modern image of amateur radio. One of the outstanding proposed ideas was to make an SSTV meme contest, which Sylvain, IARU R1 president, approved! Now we are just hoping this funny event can actually happen.

If you have any ideas of special calls to be activated between July and August 2024, feel free to fill this form

The fifth day of the annual YOTA Summer Camp was again a day full of fun and activities. This blog post gathers the feelings of the fifth day into 10 pictures!

The day began with a presentation about SDR radios by Sylvain F4GKR


Many of the participants found one of the more technical presentations of the camp really interesting!


YOTA Camp is also about having fun together with new friends! Before the next presentations some of the participants were playing with a ball outside of the lecture hall.


The next presentation of the morning was about OM Power


During the free time, after lunch, the most enthusiastic operators were already on air with HG23YOTA!


The next activity was about Mastrant ropes at the outdoor station


At the same time, there was also an opportunity to be on the air. Look at how shiny the YOTA key looks!


The afternoon consisted of the last presentations of the camp.


Team Belgium told us about radiosondes!


Soon after Belgium, we were introduced to Meme Appreciation Month, after which it was time for Dinner!

In the evening many participants went swimming in the river nearby, operated the HG23YOTA, and enjoyed the company of likeminded hams all around the world!