Projects and workshops at the YOTA Camp 2026 in Wagrain (July 25–August 1, 2026, Jugendhotel Oberwimm), organized by the ÖVSV to mark its 100th anniversary, with 94–120 participants from approximately 29–30 countries:
Day 0 (July 25) – Arrival
Opening ceremony featuring Michael OE1MCU (ÖVSV President), Mario EA1JAY (Chair of the IARU Region 1 Youth Committee), and Florian OE3FTA
Icebreaker: “YOTA Camp 2026 HAM Bingo” (organized by the Polish team)
Day 1 (July 26) – Antenna-Building Workshops
3-Element UHF Yagi Antenna: Directional antenna made from metal measuring tape elements, soldered onto a PCB with an SMA connector, mounted on a PVC pipe boom with 3D-printed brackets, heat-shrink tubing, and cable ties—collapsible for transport
Portable HF End-Fed Half-Wave Antenna (EFHW): Impedance transformer in a self-printed 3D enclosure, 41 meters of DX Wire, multiband-capable, ready for immediate use
Evening: Intercultural Night with food, drinks, and traditional costumes from all countries
Day 2 (July 27) – Broadcasters & Digital Networks
QMX+ Transceiver Soldering Workshop: personally led by Hans Summers (G0UPL, founder of QRP Labs) – compact SDR transceiver for CW, digital modes, and SSB on all HF bands up to 6 m, with built-in sound card and USB PC control
Meshcom Workshop: independent digital mesh radio network for text, GPS coordinates, and emergency data—completely without cellular networks or the Internet
After lunch, the two groups swapped workshops so that everyone could experience both topics
Evening Workshops: WebRX (each country team built its own Web SDR receiver and committed to getting it up and running at home within 14 days of the camp), Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), optical communication, digital modes
Throughout the event: U.S. amateur radio license exams
Day 3 (July 28) – Field Trip & Contest
Visit to the Eisriesenwelt in Werfen (the world’s largest ice cave, over 42 km in total length, approx. 1,400 steps, 0 °C)
Visit to Hohenwerfen Castle (built 1075–1078), including a falconry show
COTA(Castle On The Air)activation from the castle courtyard
Evening: “Off-Air Contest” – contest simulation using only your own voice instead of a radio
Additionally, QSOs under OE2YOTA, preparation for the ISS contact, U.S. license exams
Day 4 (July 29) – Highlight: ISS contact
Completion of the QMX transceivers for the upcoming SOTA activation
EMCOM (Emergency Communication)drill: Team exercise with roles in logistics, reconnaissance, operations, and telecommunications; joint setup of HF and VHF stations, including antennas
Live ARISS contact with astronaut Sophie Adenot (KJ5LTN) aboard the ISS, established via a Telebridge station in Australia; 20 young people had prepared questions, and 17 questions were answered during the roughly 10-minute flyover (including questions about daily life and doing laundry on board); broadcast live via YouTube stream, with on-site coverage by ORF/Ö3 and other media outlets
Equipment demonstration by the Austrian Armed Forces
Introduction to Summits On The Air (SOTA) by Sylvie/Silvia OE5YYN
In the evening: Country teams practiced pitches on how to make amateur radio appealing to the public
Day 5 (July 30) – SOTA Activations
Group 1: Hike with guide Silvia OE5YYN to the Sonntagskogel (over 1,800 m), activation of reference OE/SB-206
Group 2: Cable car ride to the starting point, field test of homemade portable QRP stations at reference OE/SB-458; more ambitious participants continued hiking to the Saukarfunktel (2,000 m)
Afternoon: Visit to the water park
Evening: Group photo and presentation on ARDF techniques and strategies in preparation for Day 6
Last opportunity to take U.S. license exams
Day 6 (July 31) – Conclusion
ARDF Fox Hunt (80 m) on a 3-km course with 5 hidden transmitters, organized by the Austrian ARDF Team; Winners: Benjamin HB9HIH (Men, 12:34 min) and Ștefania YO9-158/D (Women, 15:36 min)
LEO-SAT Workshop (Low Earth Orbit Satellite) – hands-on experience with satellite contacts
Last chances for radio operations under OE2YOTA
Official closing ceremony with certificate presentation and recognition of the ARDF winners
A constant feature throughout the week was the special camp station operating under the call sign OE2YOTA.