I joined the 2023 RSGB IOTA Contest for the final hour to see if I could work a few stations. I was using my Icom IC-7610 with 100W and inverted L antenna, which is 22 meters long and mounted at a height of 13.5 meters.

My software configuration for this contest was Win4Icom Suite (which provides the IQ panadapter display and the ClubLog feed), Log4OM (which logs all my contacts in the background and propagates to my QRZ.com logbook, my eQSL, HRDnet and ClubLog logbooks in real time), and, during contests I use N1MM+ Logger.

As you can see from the video, I like to enjoy taking part in contests - This means that I don't try to rush through contacts! Others may disagree and are very competitive. Each to their own :-)

I worked the following stations during the course of making this video:

M0ICR @m0icrcarl227
EI7M
S51CK
IQ3AZ
SP9KAO
TK4TH
TK5KT
IV3IPA
IK2YCW
ED1K
IS0SWW
PI4DX
G8S
M1T
PA/OP2C
PA38EU
EI9E
9A0BR
IU3BTY
II2YCW
SA6U
9A1AA
OM2VL
PA3BEU
M0MCV
OY/4X6TT @bestclipsonline

Towards the very end of the contest I came across Amir, OY/4X6TT @bestclipsonline who was operating from the Faroe Islands on 20 meters. He had a massive pileup and I was unable to get him in my contest log but worked him just after the contest had finished. You can hear our short QSO at the very end of the video.

The Islands On The Air (IOTA) is a programme designed to promote activity on the amateur bands in a way that provides enjoyment, fun and, if you want it, a challenge. Unlike the ARRL’s DXCC Programme which majors on contacts with countries, IOTA has as its purpose the making of two way contacts with fellow amateurs located on islands worldwide.

For more information please visit the RSGB website: https://rsgb.org/main/faq-2/iota-faqs/