{
  "contest": {
    "id": "zs-sota-activity-weekend",
    "name": "ZS SOTA Activity Weekend",
    "sponsor": "SOTA SA",
    "sponsor_home": "https://www.sota.org.uk/",
    "country": "ZA",
    "summary": "Two weekends a year for Summits on the Air in South Africa, on the third full weekends of May and September -- any band, any mode, logged to the SOTA database.",
    "modes": [
      "Mixed"
    ],
    "bands": [],
    "exchange": "An RS, RST or RSQ report and the SOTA reference.",
    "power_categories": [],
    "log_format": "",
    "log_deadline_days": null,
    "log_submit_url": "",
    "timezone": "",
    "local_rolling": false,
    "eligibility": {
      "scope": "worldwide",
      "verified": true,
      "note": "'This fun activity is open to all radio amateurs.'"
    },
    "active_from": null,
    "active_until": null,
    "note": "THE CATALOG'S SECOND RECORD WITH NO BANDS, AND THE SECOND FOR A GOOD REASON. SARL states '2. Frequencies and modes All amateur bands and modes' -- there is no list to record, and writing one out would be this catalog inventing a restriction SARL did not state. Same treatment as JARL's New Year QSO Party. The consequence is real and the page says so: every band filter necessarily excludes this record.\n\nModes are 'Mixed' for the same sentence -- that is exactly what the token means.\n\nIt sits at the edge of what this catalog is for. It has dates, rules, an exchange and categories, so it is a scheduled operating event with a schedule worth publishing; but it is scored through the SOTA database rather than by a log submitted to the sponsor, and 'Activator' and 'Chaser' are roles rather than entry classes. Encoded on the same reasoning as UBA's Belgian Mills Award, which is also an award-shaped event with real dates. Sourced from the SARL Contest Manual, which carries this contest's full rules and names its organising body -- the venue in which South African clubs publish their rules, not a listing of them. See data/sources.md, 'Nine South African clubs, one manual'.",
    "verified": true,
    "rules_url": "https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf",
    "rules_url_pattern": "",
    "rules_url_archived": "",
    "rules_url_checked": "2026-08-19",
    "source_note": "2026 SARL Contest Manual Version 1.1 (2025-12-15), mysarl.org.za, 'The ZS SOTA Activity Weekends': 'This is a fun event to encourage radio amateurs to participate in the Summits on the Air (SOTA) programme. This fun activity is open to all radio amateurs.' '1.1. 00:00 UTC on 16 May to 21:59 UTC on 17 May 2026 on the third full weekend of May - Autumn Activity Weekend. 1.2. 00:00 UTC on 19 September to 21:59 UTC on 20 September 2026 on the third full weekend of September - Spring Activity Weekend.' '2. Frequencies and modes All amateur bands and modes.' '3.1. RS, RST or RSQ report and the SOTA reference.' '4. Categories 4.1. Activator 4.2. Chaser.' Logs go to the SOTA database rather than to SARL: '6.1. Upload your SOTA log to the SOTA Database (https://www.sotadata.org.uk/en/) as soon as possible after the QSO Party.'"
  },
  "rule": {
    "plain": "Third full weekend of May, and Third full weekend of September",
    "raw": {
      "type": "composite",
      "rules": [
        {
          "type": "nth_full_weekend",
          "month": 5,
          "n": 3
        },
        {
          "type": "nth_full_weekend",
          "month": 9,
          "n": 3
        }
      ]
    },
    "start": {
      "day_offset": 0,
      "time": "0000"
    },
    "end": {
      "day_offset": 1,
      "time": "2159"
    },
    "sessions": null
  },
  "next": [
    {
      "contest_id": "zs-sota-activity-weekend",
      "name": "ZS SOTA Activity Weekend",
      "start": "2027-05-15T00:00:00Z",
      "end": "2027-05-16T21:59:00Z",
      "start_wall": null,
      "end_wall": null,
      "local_rolling": false,
      "timezone": "",
      "duration_hours": 45.98,
      "modes": [
        "Mixed"
      ],
      "submodes": [],
      "bands": [],
      "bands_note": "",
      "sponsor": "SOTA SA",
      "rules_url": "https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf",
      "verified": true,
      "note": "THE CATALOG'S SECOND RECORD WITH NO BANDS, AND THE SECOND FOR A GOOD REASON. SARL states '2. Frequencies and modes All amateur bands and modes' -- there is no list to record, and writing one out would be this catalog inventing a restriction SARL did not state. Same treatment as JARL's New Year QSO Party. The consequence is real and the page says so: every band filter necessarily excludes this record.\n\nModes are 'Mixed' for the same sentence -- that is exactly what the token means.\n\nIt sits at the edge of what this catalog is for. It has dates, rules, an exchange and categories, so it is a scheduled operating event with a schedule worth publishing; but it is scored through the SOTA database rather than by a log submitted to the sponsor, and 'Activator' and 'Chaser' are roles rather than entry classes. Encoded on the same reasoning as UBA's Belgian Mills Award, which is also an award-shaped event with real dates. Sourced from the SARL Contest Manual, which carries this contest's full rules and names its organising body -- the venue in which South African clubs publish their rules, not a listing of them. See data/sources.md, 'Nine South African clubs, one manual'.",
      "exchange": "An RS, RST or RSQ report and the SOTA reference.",
      "country": "ZA",
      "rules_url_archived": "",
      "rules_url_checked": "2026-08-19",
      "can_enter": true,
      "eligibility_scope": "worldwide",
      "eligibility_reason": "",
      "works": "everyone",
      "practical": "",
      "log_due": null,
      "uid": "zs-sota-activity-weekend-20270515T0000@contestcal",
      "start_date": "2027-05-15",
      "mode_families": [
        "CW",
        "SSB",
        "FM",
        "RTTY",
        "Digital",
        "FT8/FT4",
        "Mixed"
      ],
      "band_families": [],
      "duration_bucket": "gte24"
    },
    {
      "contest_id": "zs-sota-activity-weekend",
      "name": "ZS SOTA Activity Weekend",
      "start": "2027-09-18T00:00:00Z",
      "end": "2027-09-19T21:59:00Z",
      "start_wall": null,
      "end_wall": null,
      "local_rolling": false,
      "timezone": "",
      "duration_hours": 45.98,
      "modes": [
        "Mixed"
      ],
      "submodes": [],
      "bands": [],
      "bands_note": "",
      "sponsor": "SOTA SA",
      "rules_url": "https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf",
      "verified": true,
      "note": "THE CATALOG'S SECOND RECORD WITH NO BANDS, AND THE SECOND FOR A GOOD REASON. SARL states '2. Frequencies and modes All amateur bands and modes' -- there is no list to record, and writing one out would be this catalog inventing a restriction SARL did not state. Same treatment as JARL's New Year QSO Party. The consequence is real and the page says so: every band filter necessarily excludes this record.\n\nModes are 'Mixed' for the same sentence -- that is exactly what the token means.\n\nIt sits at the edge of what this catalog is for. It has dates, rules, an exchange and categories, so it is a scheduled operating event with a schedule worth publishing; but it is scored through the SOTA database rather than by a log submitted to the sponsor, and 'Activator' and 'Chaser' are roles rather than entry classes. Encoded on the same reasoning as UBA's Belgian Mills Award, which is also an award-shaped event with real dates. Sourced from the SARL Contest Manual, which carries this contest's full rules and names its organising body -- the venue in which South African clubs publish their rules, not a listing of them. See data/sources.md, 'Nine South African clubs, one manual'.",
      "exchange": "An RS, RST or RSQ report and the SOTA reference.",
      "country": "ZA",
      "rules_url_archived": "",
      "rules_url_checked": "2026-08-19",
      "can_enter": true,
      "eligibility_scope": "worldwide",
      "eligibility_reason": "",
      "works": "everyone",
      "practical": "",
      "log_due": null,
      "uid": "zs-sota-activity-weekend-20270918T0000@contestcal",
      "start_date": "2027-09-18",
      "mode_families": [
        "CW",
        "SSB",
        "FM",
        "RTTY",
        "Digital",
        "FT8/FT4",
        "Mixed"
      ],
      "band_families": [],
      "duration_bucket": "gte24"
    },
    {
      "contest_id": "zs-sota-activity-weekend",
      "name": "ZS SOTA Activity Weekend",
      "start": "2028-05-20T00:00:00Z",
      "end": "2028-05-21T21:59:00Z",
      "start_wall": null,
      "end_wall": null,
      "local_rolling": false,
      "timezone": "",
      "duration_hours": 45.98,
      "modes": [
        "Mixed"
      ],
      "submodes": [],
      "bands": [],
      "bands_note": "",
      "sponsor": "SOTA SA",
      "rules_url": "https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf",
      "verified": true,
      "note": "THE CATALOG'S SECOND RECORD WITH NO BANDS, AND THE SECOND FOR A GOOD REASON. SARL states '2. Frequencies and modes All amateur bands and modes' -- there is no list to record, and writing one out would be this catalog inventing a restriction SARL did not state. Same treatment as JARL's New Year QSO Party. The consequence is real and the page says so: every band filter necessarily excludes this record.\n\nModes are 'Mixed' for the same sentence -- that is exactly what the token means.\n\nIt sits at the edge of what this catalog is for. It has dates, rules, an exchange and categories, so it is a scheduled operating event with a schedule worth publishing; but it is scored through the SOTA database rather than by a log submitted to the sponsor, and 'Activator' and 'Chaser' are roles rather than entry classes. Encoded on the same reasoning as UBA's Belgian Mills Award, which is also an award-shaped event with real dates. Sourced from the SARL Contest Manual, which carries this contest's full rules and names its organising body -- the venue in which South African clubs publish their rules, not a listing of them. See data/sources.md, 'Nine South African clubs, one manual'.",
      "exchange": "An RS, RST or RSQ report and the SOTA reference.",
      "country": "ZA",
      "rules_url_archived": "",
      "rules_url_checked": "2026-08-19",
      "can_enter": true,
      "eligibility_scope": "worldwide",
      "eligibility_reason": "",
      "works": "everyone",
      "practical": "",
      "log_due": null,
      "uid": "zs-sota-activity-weekend-20280520T0000@contestcal",
      "start_date": "2028-05-20",
      "mode_families": [
        "CW",
        "SSB",
        "FM",
        "RTTY",
        "Digital",
        "FT8/FT4",
        "Mixed"
      ],
      "band_families": [],
      "duration_bucket": "gte24"
    },
    {
      "contest_id": "zs-sota-activity-weekend",
      "name": "ZS SOTA Activity Weekend",
      "start": "2028-09-16T00:00:00Z",
      "end": "2028-09-17T21:59:00Z",
      "start_wall": null,
      "end_wall": null,
      "local_rolling": false,
      "timezone": "",
      "duration_hours": 45.98,
      "modes": [
        "Mixed"
      ],
      "submodes": [],
      "bands": [],
      "bands_note": "",
      "sponsor": "SOTA SA",
      "rules_url": "https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf",
      "verified": true,
      "note": "THE CATALOG'S SECOND RECORD WITH NO BANDS, AND THE SECOND FOR A GOOD REASON. SARL states '2. Frequencies and modes All amateur bands and modes' -- there is no list to record, and writing one out would be this catalog inventing a restriction SARL did not state. Same treatment as JARL's New Year QSO Party. The consequence is real and the page says so: every band filter necessarily excludes this record.\n\nModes are 'Mixed' for the same sentence -- that is exactly what the token means.\n\nIt sits at the edge of what this catalog is for. It has dates, rules, an exchange and categories, so it is a scheduled operating event with a schedule worth publishing; but it is scored through the SOTA database rather than by a log submitted to the sponsor, and 'Activator' and 'Chaser' are roles rather than entry classes. Encoded on the same reasoning as UBA's Belgian Mills Award, which is also an award-shaped event with real dates. Sourced from the SARL Contest Manual, which carries this contest's full rules and names its organising body -- the venue in which South African clubs publish their rules, not a listing of them. See data/sources.md, 'Nine South African clubs, one manual'.",
      "exchange": "An RS, RST or RSQ report and the SOTA reference.",
      "country": "ZA",
      "rules_url_archived": "",
      "rules_url_checked": "2026-08-19",
      "can_enter": true,
      "eligibility_scope": "worldwide",
      "eligibility_reason": "",
      "works": "everyone",
      "practical": "",
      "log_due": null,
      "uid": "zs-sota-activity-weekend-20280916T0000@contestcal",
      "start_date": "2028-09-16",
      "mode_families": [
        "CW",
        "SSB",
        "FM",
        "RTTY",
        "Digital",
        "FT8/FT4",
        "Mixed"
      ],
      "band_families": [],
      "duration_bucket": "gte24"
    },
    {
      "contest_id": "zs-sota-activity-weekend",
      "name": "ZS SOTA Activity Weekend",
      "start": "2029-05-19T00:00:00Z",
      "end": "2029-05-20T21:59:00Z",
      "start_wall": null,
      "end_wall": null,
      "local_rolling": false,
      "timezone": "",
      "duration_hours": 45.98,
      "modes": [
        "Mixed"
      ],
      "submodes": [],
      "bands": [],
      "bands_note": "",
      "sponsor": "SOTA SA",
      "rules_url": "https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf",
      "verified": true,
      "note": "THE CATALOG'S SECOND RECORD WITH NO BANDS, AND THE SECOND FOR A GOOD REASON. SARL states '2. Frequencies and modes All amateur bands and modes' -- there is no list to record, and writing one out would be this catalog inventing a restriction SARL did not state. Same treatment as JARL's New Year QSO Party. The consequence is real and the page says so: every band filter necessarily excludes this record.\n\nModes are 'Mixed' for the same sentence -- that is exactly what the token means.\n\nIt sits at the edge of what this catalog is for. It has dates, rules, an exchange and categories, so it is a scheduled operating event with a schedule worth publishing; but it is scored through the SOTA database rather than by a log submitted to the sponsor, and 'Activator' and 'Chaser' are roles rather than entry classes. Encoded on the same reasoning as UBA's Belgian Mills Award, which is also an award-shaped event with real dates. Sourced from the SARL Contest Manual, which carries this contest's full rules and names its organising body -- the venue in which South African clubs publish their rules, not a listing of them. See data/sources.md, 'Nine South African clubs, one manual'.",
      "exchange": "An RS, RST or RSQ report and the SOTA reference.",
      "country": "ZA",
      "rules_url_archived": "",
      "rules_url_checked": "2026-08-19",
      "can_enter": true,
      "eligibility_scope": "worldwide",
      "eligibility_reason": "",
      "works": "everyone",
      "practical": "",
      "log_due": null,
      "uid": "zs-sota-activity-weekend-20290519T0000@contestcal",
      "start_date": "2029-05-19",
      "mode_families": [
        "CW",
        "SSB",
        "FM",
        "RTTY",
        "Digital",
        "FT8/FT4",
        "Mixed"
      ],
      "band_families": [],
      "duration_bucket": "gte24"
    },
    {
      "contest_id": "zs-sota-activity-weekend",
      "name": "ZS SOTA Activity Weekend",
      "start": "2029-09-15T00:00:00Z",
      "end": "2029-09-16T21:59:00Z",
      "start_wall": null,
      "end_wall": null,
      "local_rolling": false,
      "timezone": "",
      "duration_hours": 45.98,
      "modes": [
        "Mixed"
      ],
      "submodes": [],
      "bands": [],
      "bands_note": "",
      "sponsor": "SOTA SA",
      "rules_url": "https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf",
      "verified": true,
      "note": "THE CATALOG'S SECOND RECORD WITH NO BANDS, AND THE SECOND FOR A GOOD REASON. SARL states '2. Frequencies and modes All amateur bands and modes' -- there is no list to record, and writing one out would be this catalog inventing a restriction SARL did not state. Same treatment as JARL's New Year QSO Party. The consequence is real and the page says so: every band filter necessarily excludes this record.\n\nModes are 'Mixed' for the same sentence -- that is exactly what the token means.\n\nIt sits at the edge of what this catalog is for. It has dates, rules, an exchange and categories, so it is a scheduled operating event with a schedule worth publishing; but it is scored through the SOTA database rather than by a log submitted to the sponsor, and 'Activator' and 'Chaser' are roles rather than entry classes. Encoded on the same reasoning as UBA's Belgian Mills Award, which is also an award-shaped event with real dates. Sourced from the SARL Contest Manual, which carries this contest's full rules and names its organising body -- the venue in which South African clubs publish their rules, not a listing of them. See data/sources.md, 'Nine South African clubs, one manual'.",
      "exchange": "An RS, RST or RSQ report and the SOTA reference.",
      "country": "ZA",
      "rules_url_archived": "",
      "rules_url_checked": "2026-08-19",
      "can_enter": true,
      "eligibility_scope": "worldwide",
      "eligibility_reason": "",
      "works": "everyone",
      "practical": "",
      "log_due": null,
      "uid": "zs-sota-activity-weekend-20290915T0000@contestcal",
      "start_date": "2029-09-15",
      "mode_families": [
        "CW",
        "SSB",
        "FM",
        "RTTY",
        "Digital",
        "FT8/FT4",
        "Mixed"
      ],
      "band_families": [],
      "duration_bucket": "gte24"
    }
  ]
}