************************************************
* We wish all our readers and their families *
* a Happy Christmas *
* and a Healthy, Peaceful and Prosperous *
* New Year 2004 *
************************************************>>> ANNUAL UPDATE <<<
IOTA enthusiasts are reminded that the last date for mailing applications or updates to checkpoints for inclusion in the 2004 Honour Roll and other performance tables is 1 February 2004. If postmarked after that date, they will be processed in the normal way but the scores will be held over to the following year's listing. Listing in the 2004 tables will be restricted to those members who have updated their scores since February 1999. _____________________________________________________________________________
>>> IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS <<<
New Year 2004 is the occasion of IOTA's 40th Anniversary! And Great News to start the year off. The Society has agreed to the IOTA island group listings, complete with full titles, geographical coordinates and qualifying islands, being made available on Internet. To see them, go to the IOTA Manager's or the RSGB IOTA web-site. Posting on the Internet brings key programme information to a much wider audience. It has the added advantage of enabling the listings to be kept up to date as new group reference numbers and qualifying islands are added. The RSGB maintains the copyright to this data and states that no part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except for personal non-commercial home use, unless prior written permission has been obtained from the RSGB.
Following this policy change the IOTA Committee has amended the requirement in the rules that applicants must purchase their own copy of the paper IOTA Directory in order to enter the programme. The emphasis has now shifted to ensuring applicants use, as far as possible, current information in preparing their submissions. So, the new wording adopted is that you should use the island group listings now on line on Internet or, alternatively, in an IOTA Directory no earlier than IOTA Directory 2000 - this could be your own or a friend's. The Directory will continue to be published and copies may be obtained from RSGB Sales - details available at www.rsgb.org/shop or by mail from RSGB Sales, Lambda House, Cranborne Road, Potters Bar, Herts EN6 3JE, UK. Please, do not send Directory requests to the IOTA Manager! _____________________________________________________________________________
MONTHLY UPDATE OF DATA IN IOTA DIRECTORY - 11th Edition -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> NEW IOTA REFERENCE NUMBERS ISSUED <<<
OC-263 V73 Taongi Atoll (Marshall Islands) OC-264 FO Maria Island (Austral Islands) OC-265/Pr VK9 Coral Sea Islands Territory South (Australia) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> PROVISIONAL IOTA REFERENCE NUMBER AS AT 20 DECEMBER 2003 <<<
OC-265/Pr VK9 Coral Sea Islands Territory South (Australia) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> IOTA REFERENCES ISSUED SINCE PUBLICATION OF <<<
>>> DIRECTORY - 11TH EDITION <<<AF-092 3V Sousse / Monastir / Mahdia Region group (Tunisia)
AF-093 J5 Guinea-Bissau Coastal Region group (Guinea-Bissau)
AF-094 7X Mediterranean Sea Coast West group (Algeria)
AS-162 3W South China Sea Coast North group (Vietnam)
AS-163 R0Q Laptev Sea Coast East group (Russian Federation)
AS-164 R0Q East Siberian Sea Coast West group (Russian Federation)
AS-165 XZ Arakan Region group (Myanmar)
AS-166 EP Hormozgan Province group (Iran)
AS-167 XZ Irrawaddy / Yangon / Pegu Region group (Myanmar)
AS-168 HL2 Kangwon-do Province group (Korea (South))
NA-222 KL Southern Alaska Peninsula West group (Alaska)
NA-223 HR Gracias a Dios Departmant group (Honduras)
NA-224 XE1 Veracruz State South group (Mexico)
NA-225 VY0 Nunavut (Prince of Wales and Somerset Islands) group
(Canada)
OC-249 YB8 Aru Islands (Indonesia)
OC-250 YB3 Masalembu Islands (Indonesia)
OC-251 VK3 Victoria State West group (Australia)
OC-252 YB7 Kalimantan's Coastal Islands West (Indonesia)
OC-253 V63 Hall Islands (Federated States of Micronesia)
OC-254 V63 Mortlock Islands (Federated States of Micronesia)
OC-255 VK4 Queensland State (Gulf of Carpentaria) North group
(Australia)
OC-256 P2 Kilinailau (Tulun) Islands (Papua New Guinea)
OC-257 P2 Nuguria Islands (Papua New Guinea)
OC-258 P2 Papua New Guinea's Coastal Islands North (Papua New Guinea)
OC-259 V63 Nukuoro Atoll (Federated States of Micronesia)
OC-260 V63 Oroluk Atoll (Federated States of Micronesia)
OC-261 VK5 South Australia State West Centre group (Australia)
OC-262 YB4-5 Sumatra's Coastal Islands South (Indonesia)
OC-263 V73 Taongi Atoll (Marshall Islands)
OC-264 FO Maria Island (Austral Islands)
OC-265/Pr VK9 Coral Sea Islands Territory South (Australia)
SA-092 PZ Suriname group (Suriname)
SA-093 HK4 Choco Division North/Antioquia Division group (Colombia)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------->>> OPERATIONS WHICH HAVE PROVIDED ACCEPTABLE VALIDATION MATERIAL <<<
AF-013 5R8HA Madagascar Island (September 2003) AF-014 CT3/CT1EAT Porto Santo Island, Madeira Archipelago (July 2003) AF-014 CT9T Porto Santo Island, Madeira Archipelago (July 2003) AF-053 J20RM/P Moucha Island (September 2003) AF-090 5R8HA/P Sainte-Marie Island (September 2003) AS-110 BQ9P Pratas Island (October 2003) AS-168 DS0DX/2 Cho Island (October 2003) EU-035 R1PQ Novaya Zemlya Island (August 2003) EU-067 SV8/F5TGR Naxos, Paros & Santorini Islands (September 2003) EU-070 TM3OR Or Island (June 2003) NA-162 XF1K Todos Santos Sur Island (September 2003) OC-078 V63TXF/P Falalop Island, Ulithi Atoll (August 2003) OC-110 YJ0AMY Tegua Island, Torres Islands (October 2003) OC-110 YJ0ATU Tegua Island, Torres Islands (October 2003) OC-263 V73T Taongi Atoll (August 2003) OC-264 FO/I1SNW Maria Island, Austral Islands (October 2003) OC-264 FO/IT9EJW Maria Island, Austral Islands (October 2003) OC-264 FO/IT9YRE Maria Island, Austral Islands (October 2003) SA-070 3G5Q Quiriquina Island (February 2003)
Note: This list includes operations where validation material was volunteered, ie not specifically required for credit to be given. In all cases, cards now submitted will be accepted by Checkpoints if they meet normal standards. This means that the island name should be printed on the card. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> OPERATIONS FROM WHICH VALIDATION MATERIAL IS AWAITED <<<
>>> AS AT 20 DECEMBER 2003 <<<NA-162 XE2/W7KFI ??????????? (April 2003) OC-079 FK/AC4LN Belep Islands (September 2003) OC-132 V63MB ??????????? (May 2003) OC-158 H44VV ??????????? (August 2003) OC-258 P29VVB ??????????? (August 2003) OC-265/Pr VK4GL/P Cato Reef, Coral Sea Islands Territory (Dec 2003) OC-265/Pr VK4WWI/P Cato Reef, Coral Sea Islands Territory (Dec 2003) SA-089 YV5ANF/1 Sal Key (April 2003)
Note: Checkpoints are not authorised to credit QSL cards for an operation where validation is required. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> IOTA 2004 ACTIVITY PROGRAMME <<<
To celebrate IOTA's 40th Anniversary, the IOTA Committee and CDXC (Chiltern DX Club) - The UK DX Foundation - have teamed up to launch a year of IOTA activity - to be called IOTA's 40th Anniversary Awards Programme or IOTA 2004 for short. The IOTA Committee is grateful to CDXC for agreeing to run the event on its behalf and to Nevada who have agreed with CDXC to sponsor the costs of administration and certificate design.
IOTA 2004 will run from 1 January to 31 December 2004 and will adopt the same format and rules as the very successful IOTA Millennium Programme in year 2000 (also administered by CDXC). Entrants will need to make contact with as many different IOTA island groups as possible within the calendar year, using any amateur band, HF or VHF, or any combination of band and mode. Contacts counting for credit come in two types - premium contacts and normal contacts. "Premium" contacts are made during a particular month that depends on the island's geographical location (for January to April, see below) and these score extra points. Contacts made with the same island in other months are "normal" contacts. No QSL cards are required but there will be scrutiny of entries. A series of attractive certificates - gold, silver and bronze - will be available for various levels of achievement as will certificates for stations who activate a specified number of island groups during the year.
Full details can be found at the CDXC web-site at www.cdxc.org.uk (follow the IOTA 2004 links). The set of files available for downloading include a tracking spreadsheet that does absolutely everything you might need (thanks to G3PMR and G3LAS for their work on this) or, if you don't want that level of complexity, a simple application form and lists of Premium Island Groups (by month) and Rare and Unnumbered groups qualifying for the DXpeditioners Awards. Those of you who would like details and do not have Internet access but have a computer should send a floppy disk and a post-paid mailer to Don Field, G3XTT, 105 Shiplake Bottom, Peppard Common, Henley On Thames RG9 5HJ, UK. Those without computers should send a large envelope and GBP 1.00 (or USD 2.00 or 2 IRCs) to cover printing and postage. Please note that the programme will, for ease of administration, be run wholly via the Web page, so if you do not have Internet access yourself, you will need to find a friend who does, or perhaps use a local Internet cafe. All applications must arrive in electronic form. No paper applications will be accepted.
A list of Frequently Asked Questions about IOTA 2004 also appears on the web-site, but questions may additionally be sent direct to G3XTT at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Any queries about the IOTA Programme as a whole should, of course, continue to go to the IOTA Manager if they cannot be answered from the Rules pages of the IOTA Directory available on the RSGB IOTA web-site at www.rsgbiota.org.
As well as commemorating a significant anniversary, the IOTA Committee and CDXC see the programme stimulating lots of activity and fun on the HF bands at a time of declining sunspots. So, prepare yourself for the start of the year - this could be a good opportunity to boost your score.
Some of the regularly-activated island groups counting for premium points during January to April 2004:
JANUARY 2004 OC-004 VK9 Lord Howe Island OC-005 VK9 Norfolk Island OC-010 V63 Pohnpei Islands OC-011 V63 Chuuk Islands OC-016 3D2 Viti Levu & Vanua Levu Group OC-028 V73 Ralik Chain OC-031 C2 Nauru OC-032 FK New Caledonia Island OC-035 YJ New Hebrides OC-036 ZL North Island, New Zealand OC-047 H4 Solomon Islands OC-049 A3 Tongatapu Group OC-064 A3 Vava'u Group OC-134 ZL South Island, New Zealand
FEBRUARY 2004 AS-007 JA1 etc Honshu Island AS-017 JA6 Okinawa Islands AS-018 R0F Sakhalin Island AS-020 BV Taiwan AS-031 JD Ogasawara Islands AS-076 JA5 Shikoku Island AS-077 JA6 Kyushu Island AS-078 JA8 Hokkaido Island OC-001 VK Australia OC-006 VK7 Tasmania OC-012 V63 Yap Islands OC-026 KH2 Guam Island OC-034 YB9, P2 New Guinea OC-042 DU1-4 Luzon Island OC-086 KH0 Northern Mariana Islands OC-130 DU8-9 Mindanao Island OC-146 YB8 Celebes Island
MARCH 2004
AS-006 VR2 Hong Kong Islands
AS-015 9M2 Pinang State group
AS-019 9V Singapore
AS-042 R0B Severnaya Zemlya
AS-053 HS Malay Peninsula West group
AS-075 XX Macau Islands
AS-094 BY7 Hainan Island
OC-002 VK9X Christmas Island
OC-003 VK9C Cocos (Keeling) Islands
OC-021 YB0-3 Java Island
OC-022 YB9 Bali Island
OC-088 YB7/9M/ Indonesia Kalimantan/
V8 East Malaysia/Brunei
OC-143 YB4-6 Sumatra IslandAPRIL 2004 AF-006 VQ9 Diego Garcia Island AF-017 3B9 Rodrigues Island AS-003 4S Sri Lanka AS-005 R0B Kara Sea Coast West group AS-013 8Q Maldives AS-083 R9K Kara Sea Coast East group -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> IOTA 1000 ISLANDS TROPHY <<<
The IOTA 1000 Islands Trophy is now available to top Honour Roll performers who reach the dizzy heights of 1000 IOTA groups confirmed. The trophy takes the form of an attractively produced diamond glass feature resting on a highly polished wooden base. This base is fitted with a metal plate, suitably engraved on the front with the holder's details, with space for 8 metal mini-plates, 2 on the front, 2 on the sides, and 4 on the back, for 25-island group increments. The price is GBP 55 plus postage. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> IOTA CO-ORDINATOR CHANGE <<<
In early November Teresa Baker took over from Sylvia Manco as the IOTA Co-ordinator at HQ. Her duties are the day to day management of the Central IOTA Database, input of application data submitted by Checkpoints, despatch of certificates, Plaques of Excellence and 1000 Islands Trophies, and the handling of routine queries.
We welcome Teresa and at the same time thank Sylvia for her support and commitment to the IOTA Programme during her time in post. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> IOTA CHECKPOINT ADDRESS CHANGE <<<
Members are asked to note a change of address with immediate effect for our
checkpoint in Japan:
Jim Nakajima, JA9IFF/1
Sakaigi Hon-Cho 68-2-1104
Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-0033
Japan
_____________________________________________________________________________
Roger Balister, G3KMA Mauro Pregliasco, I1JQJ RSGB IOTA Manager RSGB IOTA Committee Member 20 December 2003 21 December 2003 http://www.g3kma.dsl.pipex.com http://www.425dxn.org/iota
Mauro Pregliasco, I1JQJ/KB2TJM
425 DX News Editor
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.425dxn.org
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