Houses on The Air (HOTA) Last updated: March 12, 2025
HOTA is an amateur radio activity encouraging operators to set up from various houses.
Registration is not required for HOTA. Simply set up your station and start making contacts.
Rules include eligibility, registration, event guidelines, code of conduct, and contact information. They are available on our Rules Page.
To participate in HOTA, set up your station at a house location, make contacts, and log your activations.
Yes, we have a merch store. You can visit our Merch Store to view our products.
You can uniquely identify your house by its address or using a UPRN if available in your location.
A UPRN is a unique property reference number assigned to each address in the UK.
Yes, you can use What3Words to identify your house location.
What3Words is a geocoding system that divides the world into 3m x 3m squares, each with a unique three-word address.
You can get licenced for Amateur Radio by passing an exam and obtaining a licence from Ofcom. For more information, see our Get Licenced Page
An activation is when an operator sets up and operates from a house location.
There is no minimum number of contacts required for a successful activation, but more contacts increase your chances of earning awards.
No special license is required, but you must have a valid amateur radio license.
HOTA stations use their call signs followed by "/HOTA" to identify their participation in the activity.
Yes, you can operate from your own house or another location with permission.
Yes, there are awards and contests for HOTA participants based on their activations and contacts.
You can earn awards by activating unique house locations and making contacts with other operators.
The tier system includes different award levels based on the number of unique addresses activated. You can view the tiers on our Awards Page
An ADIF file is a standard format for logging amateur radio contacts.
You can upload your ADIF file on the website to check for awards based on unique addresses.
Upload your ADIF file to check for unique addresses and determine your award tier.
The ADIF file uses the "ADDRESS" field to identify the house location.
After checking your awards, you can download a certificate based on your tier.
Yes, you can participate in HOTA contests and earn awards for your achievements.
The best time to operate in HOTA depends on band conditions and your location.
You can log your activations manually or use logging software to track your contacts.
You will need a transceiver, antenna, power source, and other accessories for portable operation.
Set up your station at a house location with a suitable antenna and equipment for making contacts.
Yes, you can share photos of your station setup and activations with the HOTA community.
You can share your station setup on the HOTA website or social media channels to get feedback from other operators.
You can join the HOTA community by participating in activations, contests, and events.
Yes, you can share your HOTA experiences with the community through social media, forums, and other channels.
You can get support for your HOTA activities by contacting the HOTA team or community members for assistance.
If you encounter any issues with the HOTA website, please contact us at [email protected]
Yes, you can operate in digital modes for HOTA activations and contests. We currently have a TGIF Talkgroup if you would like to talk to other HOTA operators.
Remote participation is not allowed.
You can listen for HOTA stations calling CQ or search for them on the bands.
"CQ" is a general call for any station to respond and make contact.
A "QSO" is a contact or conversation between two amateur radio stations.
A "QSL" card is a confirmation of a contact between two amateur radio stations.
You can exchange QSL cards directly, through a QSL bureau, or electronically using services like eQSL or LOTW.
HOTA participants can operate on various bands and modes, including HF, VHF, UHF, and digital modes.
To get involved in HOTA, set up your station at a house location, make contacts, and log your activations.
HOTA does store a copy of your ADIF file after processing it for awards. This is used for generating metrics and future functionality.
If you are interested in advertising on the site, please see our Advertising Page for more information.
Email us at [email protected] or join us on Discord.
You can join the HOTA Discord server by following the link on our Discord Page.
Discord is a communication platform for communities to chat, share, and connect.
TGIF is a DMR network for amateur radio operators.
You can join the TGIF network by following the instructions on our TGIF Page.
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Yes, the HOTA website is open source. You can view the code on our GitHub profile.
You can contribute to the HOTA website by submitting bug reports, feature requests, or code contributions on our GitHub profile.
For more information about HOTA, visit our About Page.
Yes, you can download app icons for HOTA from our App Icons Page.
Yes, we have a glossary of terms available on our Glossary Page.
Bands are allocated by frequency range and mode of operation to ensure efficient use of the radio spectrum. For more information visit our Band Plans page.
You can view our support options on our Support Us Page.
