Toilets on the Air (TOTA): Difference between revisions

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Update TOTA page for HOPE 26
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== Announcement ==
= Rules =


'''TOTA will be back for HOPE 26! Please stay tuned for updates.'''
Toilets on the Air (TOTA) is a radio contest at [https://hope.net/ HOPE 26]. Compete to make the most voice, CW, and SSTV contacts with other attendees for points and awards like "Worked All Toilets", "The Plunger", "Straight Flush", and "Inside the Bowl". Use this web site to announce which of the designated restrooms you're outside of and log your contacts:


== About ==
https://hope-26.totawatch.de/ (not live yet!)


Toilets on the Air (TOTA) is an exciting new contest for licensed radio amateurs during HOPE_16. Compete to make the most voice, CW, and digital contacts with other attendees for points and awards like "Worked All Toilets". Use the TOTA web site [https://hope-16.totawatch.de hope-16.totawatch.de] to announce which of the designated restrooms you're outside of and log your contacts.
'''New this year''': [[#unlicensed|support for license-free radio services]] like FRS, MURS, and CB!


Activity organized by [https://wiki.nycresistor.com/wiki/Ham_Radio N2YCR], an amateur radio club affiliated with the [https://www.nycresistor.com/ NYC Resistor] hackerspace in Brooklyn, NY. Join the <code>#n2ycr</code> channel in the NYC Resistor Discord to say hi. Open and regular meetings on the 4th Wednesday each month 8:00–9:30 pm. Unlicensed people welcome.
<span id="activity-centers"></span>


== Calling frequencies ==
== <span id="centers">Activity centers</span> ==


Any amateur band and mode can be used to make contacts for points in TOTA. Here are some suggested starting points:
* 2m FM: 146.550 MHz
 
* 70cm FM: 445.950 MHz
* 2 meters
* SSTV: 430.950 MHz
** FM simplex: '''146.550'''
* CW: 432.100 MHz
** FM digital: TBD (something between 145.50 and .80)
** CW: TBD
** DMR: TBD
* 70 centimeters
** FM simplex: '''445.950'''
** FM digital: TBD (something in the mixed mode / weak signal range)


<span id="ground-rules"></span>
== Ground rules ==
== Ground rules ==


* Be a responsible and considerate radio operator:
* Be a responsible and considerate radio operator:
** An amateur radio license valid in the U.S. is required to participate. Please only operate on the frequencies you are licensed for.
** Only operate on frequencies you are licensed to operate on and with radios licensed for that use.
** Please respect the [https://www.arrl.org/graphical-frequency-allocations band] [https://www.iaru-r2.org/en/reference/band-plans/ plans]. Choose frequencies appropriate for the band and mode you are operating in. See the [[#Calling_frequencies|calling frequencies]] for suggestions.
** Please respect the [https://www.arrl.org/graphical-frequency-allocations band] [https://www.iaru-r2.org/en/reference/band-plans/ plans] when choosing a frequency. See [[#centers|activity centers]] for suggestions.
** Operate your equipment safely: you'll be operating in a crowded conference environment, so plan accordingly.
** Operate your equipment safely: you're in a crowded conference environment.
** Share the bands: there are many radio amateurs in New York City. Please make sure your contesting activities aren't disruptive to them.
** Share the bands: there are many radio users in NYC, please don't be disruptive.
** Within these rules, all bands and modes are acceptable.
** Within these rules, all bands and modes are acceptable.
* Be a responsible and considerate conference goer:
* Be a responsible and considerate conference goer:
** Don't be rude: never operate in a way that disrupts other peoples' experience at HOPE.
** Don't be rude: never operate in a way that disrupts other peoples' experience at HOPE.
** Don't unnecessarily block restrooms when others need to use them and always respect the privacy of other restroom users.
** Don't unnecessarily block restrooms when others need to use them, and always respect the privacy of other restroom users.
** Please do not activate from within a restroom. A radius of a few meters from the doors (in either direction) is fine.
** Please do not activate from within a restroom. A radius of a few meters from the doors (in either direction) is fine.


== Terminology ==
<span id="terminology"></span>
== <span id="terminology">Terminology</span> ==
 
; Activator
: Person who is at a toilet making contacts. '''Only activators needs to log''' their contacts!
; Hunter
: Person contacting the activator. Can be located anywhere. No need to log your contacts, unless you're making a T2T contact (see below).
; RST
: System used by amateur radio operators to exchange information about the quality of their signal. See [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-S-T_system Wikipedia R-S-T System].
; Toilet-to-Toilet (T2T)
: When 2 activators contact each other from toilets! Both activators should log their contacts (as normal), but also add the ''other'' person's toilet reference the <code>Hunter's toilet</code> field.


; Activator : Person who activates a reference (in this case, toilet). Only the activator needs to log QSOs (contacts) in this system.
<span id="unlicensed-operators"></span>
; Chaser : See hunter
== <span id="unlicensed">Unlicensed operators</span> ==
; Hunter : QSO partner of the activator. A hunter is not required to be at a reference (toilet). Hunters don't need to log hunter QSOs unless they are also an activator (see T2T). They receive hunter credit automatically, if they have an account and the activator logs their QSO.
; RST : System used by amateur radio operators to exchange information about the quality of their signal. See [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-S-T_system Wikipedia R-S-T System].
; Toilet to Toilet (T2T) : When two activators have a QSOs from reference locations, both are activators and hunters at the same time. They receive both activator and hunter credit and they can log the hunted reference.


* This year, the system also supports license-free radio services like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Radio_Service FRS], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mobile_Radio_Service MURS], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_band_radio CB].
* Please only use radios and frequencies that are allowed to be used without an individual license.
* If you are interested in pursuing an amateur radio license, please find a amateur radio operator (try the [https://wiki.hope.net/index.php?title=Amateur_Radio_Station_Village Amateur Radio Station Village]) who can give you an on-air training opportunity.
<span id="international"></span>
== International radio amateurs welcome ==
== International radio amateurs welcome ==


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Please be aware that we are in IARU region 2. Especially the VHF and UHF [https://www.iaru-r2.org/en/reference/band-plans/ band plans] may be different than in your home country.
Please be aware that we are in IARU region 2. Especially the VHF and UHF [https://www.iaru-r2.org/en/reference/band-plans/ band plans] may be different than in your home country.


== Unlicensed operators ==
<span id="additional-asks"></span>
== Additional asks ==


* If you are interested in pursuing an amateur radio license, please find a amateur radio operator who can give you practical on-air training opportunity. The [[Amateur Radio Station Village]] at HOPE is a great place to meet them and learn more.
* Want to get on the air? Under FCC rules, only a licensed amateur is eligible to be the "control operator" of a station. However, an unlicensed person '''may''' participate under the direction of a control operator as part of rules around third-party traffic handling. Amateurs should review the [https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-B/section-97.115 relevant subpart], but to summarize:
** An unlicensed operator may participate in stating (speaking into the microphone, etc.) the message, or communicating using an allowed digital mode.
** The control operator must be present at the "control point" and must be continuously monitoring and supervising the third party's participation.
** All other requirements remain in effect. In particular, the station still needs to identify itself every 10 minutes.
== Additional asks ==
* Always be excellent to each other.
* Always be excellent to each other.
* Please don't spam the system, it was thrown together in a very short time.
* Please don't spam the system, it was thrown together in a very short time.
* If there are any problems, please email <code>tota_hope</code> (at) <code>fea</code> (dot) <code>st</code>
* If there are any problems, please email <code>tota_hope</code> (at) <code>fea</code> (dot) <code>st</code>


<span id="special-thanks"></span>
== Special thanks ==
== Special thanks ==


* Georg DH5GH for organizing past TOTAs at the 38C3 and 37C3 conferences and supporting this one
* Georg DH5GH for organizing past TOTAs at the 38C3 and 37C3 conferences and supporting this one
* Tobias DC1TC for help with the TOTA software and technical guidance
* Tobias DC1TC for help with the TOTA software and technical guidance

Revision as of 16:58, 21 July 2026

Rules

Toilets on the Air (TOTA) is a radio contest at HOPE 26. Compete to make the most voice, CW, and SSTV contacts with other attendees for points and awards like "Worked All Toilets", "The Plunger", "Straight Flush", and "Inside the Bowl". Use this web site to announce which of the designated restrooms you're outside of and log your contacts:

https://hope-26.totawatch.de/ (not live yet!)

New this year: support for license-free radio services like FRS, MURS, and CB!

Activity centers

  • 2m FM: 146.550 MHz
  • 70cm FM: 445.950 MHz
  • SSTV: 430.950 MHz
  • CW: 432.100 MHz

Ground rules

  • Be a responsible and considerate radio operator:
    • Only operate on frequencies you are licensed to operate on and with radios licensed for that use.
    • Please respect the band plans when choosing a frequency. See activity centers for suggestions.
    • Operate your equipment safely: you're in a crowded conference environment.
    • Share the bands: there are many radio users in NYC, please don't be disruptive.
    • Within these rules, all bands and modes are acceptable.
  • Be a responsible and considerate conference goer:
    • Don't be rude: never operate in a way that disrupts other peoples' experience at HOPE.
    • Don't unnecessarily block restrooms when others need to use them, and always respect the privacy of other restroom users.
    • Please do not activate from within a restroom. A radius of a few meters from the doors (in either direction) is fine.

Terminology

Activator
Person who is at a toilet making contacts. Only activators needs to log their contacts!
Hunter
Person contacting the activator. Can be located anywhere. No need to log your contacts, unless you're making a T2T contact (see below).
RST
System used by amateur radio operators to exchange information about the quality of their signal. See Wikipedia R-S-T System.
Toilet-to-Toilet (T2T)
When 2 activators contact each other from toilets! Both activators should log their contacts (as normal), but also add the other person's toilet reference the Hunter's toilet field.

Unlicensed operators

  • This year, the system also supports license-free radio services like FRS, MURS, and CB.
  • Please only use radios and frequencies that are allowed to be used without an individual license.
  • If you are interested in pursuing an amateur radio license, please find a amateur radio operator (try the Amateur Radio Station Village) who can give you an on-air training opportunity.

International radio amateurs welcome

Radio amateurs from many countries around the world can operate in the U.S. Please see this this guide for the agreements in effect. Under most of them, you can identify using W, the number of your FCC call district (New York is 2), a stroke (/), and finally your non-US call sign. For example: W2/G1ABC

Please be aware that we are in IARU region 2. Especially the VHF and UHF band plans may be different than in your home country.

Additional asks

  • Always be excellent to each other.
  • Please don't spam the system, it was thrown together in a very short time.
  • If there are any problems, please email tota_hope (at) fea (dot) st

Special thanks

  • Georg DH5GH for organizing past TOTAs at the 38C3 and 37C3 conferences and supporting this one
  • Tobias DC1TC for help with the TOTA software and technical guidance
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