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Get On The Air!

This webpage is designed to encourage both new and returning operators to begin or resume active on-air operation, and to highlight a variety of amateur radio activities that promote engagement on the air. Licensed operators are invited to make contacts and participate in these events, while anyone can listen and enjoy radio communications without a license. After all, the purpose of obtaining a ham radio license is to communicate—and the airwaves are waiting!  

GOTA

Federal Way Amateur Radio Club
P.O. Box 23415
Federal Way, WA  98093-34125


Parks On The Air

Parks on the Air (POTA) is an international amateur radio activity program that encourages licensed amateur radio operators to operate from, and make contacts with, parks and protected areas worldwide. The program originated in the United States and evolved from the National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) event, a one-year initiative sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) in 2016. NPOTA commemorated the 100th anniversary of the U.S. National Park Service and generated significant participation as operators activated national parks and related sites throughout the year. Following the conclusion of NPOTA on December 31, 2016, strong interest in continuing the activity led a group of volunteers, independent of the ARRL, to establish Parks on the Air in January 2017 as a permanent, worldwide program.

Summits On The Air

Summits on the Air (SOTA) is an international amateur radio award and activity program that promotes portable radio operation from the summits of hills and mountains by licensed amateur radio operators. The program integrates amateur radio with hiking and mountaineering, emphasizing lightweight, self-contained, and emergency-style operating practices. Participants transport their equipment by foot to qualifying summits and establish temporary radio stations to make contacts from the summit location.  SOTA is administered by the SOTA Management Team, an international group of volunteers responsible for overall program governance and policy development. Each participating country or region is organized as a SOTA Association, led by a volunteer Association Manager who maintains official summit data and oversees local program administration. Participation in SOTA is free of charge, and no membership is required.  

Islands On The Air

Islands on the Air (IOTA) is an international amateur radio award program that encourages licensed amateur radio operators to operate portable radio stations from islands around the world.  The program integrates amateur radio with expedition-style operating, emphasizing portable and self-contained stations under remote or challenging conditions. Participants activate qualifying islands and make contacts from these locations, while other operators earn credit by contacting the island stations from anywhere.  IOTA is administered by the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), which maintains official island listings and program rules. Each participating island group is assigned a unique IOTA reference, and program administration is supported by volunteers who oversee local and international operations. Participation in IOTA is free of charge, and no membership is required.


Worked All States Award

Worked All States (WAS) Award is a prestigious amateur radio program administered by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) that recognizes licensed operators who have made confirmed two-way contacts with all 50 U.S. states.  The program promotes operating skill, technical proficiency, and knowledge of propagation conditions across HF, VHF, and other amateur radio bands.  Operators may qualify in different modes, including CW (Morse code), phone (SSB/AM/FM), and digital modes.  Contacts must be properly confirmed using QSL cards, Logbook of The World (LoTW), or other ARRL-approved verification methods.  Participation is free of charge, and no additional membership is required beyond a valid amateur radio license.  The WAS Award is widely regarded within the amateur radio community as a significant milestone, encouraging operators to expand their experience, participate in contests, and develop effective station and propagation strategies to reach all 50 states.  


Check out our QSO Parties webpage.  


DX'peditions  

A DX'pedition is one of amateur radio’s most thrilling traditions—a mix of adventure, technical know‑how, and serious logistical muscle. If Field Day is a friendly weekend campout, a DX'pedition is that same idea pushed to the extreme. Field Day might mean a couple of tents, a generator, some wire antennas, and operators taking turns at the radio while enjoying good weather and good food. A DX'pedition, on the other hand, sends operators to remote, hard‑to‑reach locations—often accessible only by boat or helicopter—where the environment is anything but comfortable. High winds, salt spray, and rugged terrain replace the park‑day atmosphere, and the operating pace jumps from casual to relentless. Teams run multiple stations around the clock, manage massive global pileups, and log tens of thousands of QSOs. Every detail—power, food, antennas, safety—must be planned, transported, and maintained under conditions that make Field Day look like a relaxing warm‑up.


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https://fwarc.org/gota