Welcome
Wainwrights On The Air (WOTA for short) is an adventure radio programme for amateur radio enthusiasts who enjoy being out on the fells of the English Lake District, as well as those who just like collecting contacts with unusual locations, and has been designed to make participation possible for everyone.
Julian Moss, G4ILO, activating Lord's Seat with Skiddaw in the background
Similar to Summits On The Air (SOTA), the goal is to make contacts from, or with, as many different summits as possible. All of the 214 fells described by Alfred Wainwright in his famous Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells, and all of the 116 fells described in his famous Outlying Fells Of Lakeland, count for contacts, and an award will be made to anyone who contacts or activates all of them! But if you just want to add some radio interest to your walks in the hills, that's fine too. Taking part in WOTA will add to your fun by increasing the number of people wanting to contact you.
For more information see About WOTA.
News
Cumbria Raynet needs your help
Many members of WOTA are both keen amateur radio operators, chasers and fell walkers/activators. As a direct result of this, members hold a lot of valuable information about how well radio works within the fells, problems encountered with opreating in the fells and "dead spots" for both radio and mobile phone communications.
This is something that Cumbria Raynet, local Mountain Rescue and Emergecny Services would like your help with.
On the 11th/12th of May there are two charity events taking place. The Keswick to Barrow Charity Walk on 11th and Fred Whitton cycling challenge taking place on the 12th where 1700 riders take part in a gruelling 112 mile race over all the Lakeland passes – in one day!!
Cumbria Raynet need help and feedback on how to ensure that effective communications can be put into place to cover the often remote areas of Cumbria that this event entails. They need to be able to furnish contact with HQ at Coniston, from all the pass summits where checkpoints are placed. But they need to cover a very wide area and that takes knowledge and manpower. Cumbria is a big county!
Many members may travel these routes on a normal basis, and organised interaction beforehand could facilitate in the knowledge required being passed on before the event or suggestions which would ease the tasks being passed on. Some members may even be able to “work” as a relay from their home / portable on the day or suggest some other possibilities.
All knowledge gained will also be logged to a database for future reference by Raynet, Mountain Rescue Groups and local Emergency Services for when disasters happen. The Lakes topography is not suited to straight forward solutions.
You do not need to be a member or WOTA or radio club in order to help. All help is welcomed so please let friends, family and fellow radio operators know.
This is a great opportunity to help promote amateur radio and to help ensure the future safety and well being of everyone that enjoys the Lakes, something that we should all never take foregranted.
Now, over to Paul from Cumbria Raynet:-
Happy New Year from the WOTA Management Team
As WOTA approaches its fifth year, we have a lot to celebrate.
During 2012 several members managed to achieve the full 116 Outlying Fells as both chasers and activators, along with three more members achieving the 214 Wainwrights.
We now have over 300 participants registered at the website, of whom several have contacted over 100 summits.
The 1st January 2012 saw the Wainwrights on the Air scheme (WOTA) extended, with the addition of the 116 Outlying Fells, which are described in a separate Wainwright guidebook.
This added new challenges and made it easier for everyone of all ages and levels of radio operation and abilities to get involved and has been a great success for throughout 2012.
Merry Christmas From The WOTA Management Team
Merry Christmas to everyone.
We hope that you have all enjoyed taking part in Wainwrights On The Air (WOTA) this year, depsite the weather here in the Lake District during 2012 !
May peace, happiness and goodwill be with you and your families not only on Christmas, but through out the coming year and beyond.
73
WOTA Management Team
Remembrance Sunday 2012
Please also be aware that several of the Wainwright summits will have a memorial service on them on that day, most notable being Great Gable.
WOTA Activator and Chaser double unique!
This year, with the introduction of the Outlying Fells in January, WOTA has seen the first ever double of all of the 214 Wainwrights and 116 Outlying fells being chased and activated.
Congratulations go to Phil Catterall (G4OBK),
to Geoff Harper (GM4WHA)
(Geoff on Orrest Head completing the double - the first
fell climbed by A.Wainwright)
and Colin Wilkinson (G4UXH)
(Outlying Fell Platinum Award being presented to Colin
by Awards Manager Phil)
as the first Activator and Chasers respectively to achieve this unique double as part of the Wainwrights On the Air (WOTA) Programme.