Toilets on the Air (TOTA) @ HOPE_16

At the upcoming HOPE_16 in NYC, Todd (KE2AEQ) is launching a brilliantly fun, tongue-in-cheek radio activity called Toilets on the Air (TOTA) — inspired by Georg (DH5GH) and the German hacker scene.

Yes, Toilets on the Air. But before you flush the idea entirely (sorry!) read on…

Much like POTA and SOTA, TOTA is about getting on the air from a defined activation zone — in this case, just outside conference restrooms.

It’s lighthearted, but there’s a serious side too: TOTA promotes hands-on, hyper-local ham radio experimentation in environments that aren’t traditionally OTA-friendly. Modes like SSTV, APRS, and even CW can shine in this creatively constrained space.

In Todd’s own words, it’s a way “to have fun, to experiment, and to use our precious spectrum space.” I couldn’t agree more.

Check out Todd’s post here: https://toddmazierski.com/radio/toilets-on-the-air-hope-16

And the official TOTA watch site: https://hope-16.totawatch.de/

Todd, if you’re reading this — I think TOTA needs to be rolled-out at Hamvention next year. Just sayin’.

72,
Thomas (K4SWL)

23 thoughts on “Toilets on the Air (TOTA) @ HOPE_16”

  1. Oh Lord. got to say I like it. Just make sure if its a porta potty you set up your station UPWIND Just saying. LOL

  2. The ideal location for this is alas no more: the foul restrooms of Hamvention’s HARA Arena. More decrepit than the worst destination for a DXpedition. Heard from reliable sources that HARA Arena’s restrooms were ground zero for the COVID virus.

  3. Most people outside the hobby seem to have an image of old men sitting in darkend rooms. Usually surrounded by lots of bits of wire and biscuit tin sized boxes. As the boxes emit funny beeping sounds they watch tiny 4 inch TV screens which make pretty pictures a bit like 1970’s lava lamps. Harmless ould erjits.

    Moving the whole shooting match to just outside your local public loo will certainly get the hobby a lot more publicity. Would changing the public perception of ham radio operators to “ old men who set up camp outside the local public restrooms and report worldwide on the comings and goings” Be a change for the better? 😀

    I can definitely see a few wee teething problems with this one folks.

    1. Ha ha! So the idea of TOTA is for it to be used at events like hacker and ham radio conventions, not all of the time, and in public places like POTA. 🙂

  4. … a new destination for elimination…?

    Anyway … how about PLOTA? Parking Lots On The Air?
    Only qualifier I can think of is a minimum number of handicapped spots to make it legit – maybe at least 4? I don’t know, probably thinking about this too hard…

      1. Dit Daa Dit Daa Daa slap slap

        Before Thomas kicks off again and chases me away, its not bad morse code.. its the Rollback music 🙂

        73 Robbie

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