Original Rules and Awards

WMPLOTA Rules and Awards Scheme

Objective

For amateur radio satellite operators to contact as many amateur stations operating from Walmart parking lots as possible during the contest period.

All legal operating modes are permitted, but contacts must be made through an amateur radio satellite.

Date and Contest Period


00:00 UTC April 28 2018 through 23:59 UTC April 29 2018, inclusive.

Entry Categories

1. An Associate is defined as operating for activation credit, a picture of the activated location must include either a Walmart branded shopping cart or yourself and some portion of a Walmart branded store. Walmart, Walmart Neighborhood Market and Sam’s Club stores are allowable for credit. DX stations operating from a location not having a local Walmart branded store may activate the nearest local equivalent, but must operate portable.

Associate

  1. The Associate must hold an appropriate transmitting licence.
  2. The Associate must make a QSO, in which at least callsigns and two-way reports are exchanged. If possible, the Walmart Store Number should also be given as part of the QSO, but use your best judgement on FM satellites.
  3. An Assocate may claim all QSOs for points, including QSOs made with Shoppers and also with Associates on other Walmart parking lots during the activation.
  4. QSL cards or LoTW matches are not required, as the submitted Associate and Shopper logs can be used to verify your QSOs.

Shopper

  1. A Shopper is any station operating from a location other than those defined as an Associate, and contacting an Associate.
  2. The Shopper must hold an appropriate transmitting licence.
  3. The Shopper must make a QSO with the Associate, in which at least callsigns and two-way reports are exchanged. Wherever possible, the Walmart Store Number should also be obtained as part of the QSO.
  4. QSL cards or LoTW matches are not required, as the submitted Associate logs can be used to verify your QSOs.

DX

DX is an overlay category. DX is any station operating outside of the contiguous 48 US States and bordering Canadian Provinces. DX stations may enter as either Associate or Shopper.

Packet Rats

Packet Rats is an overlay category. A Packet Rat is any station operating packet satellites. Packet Rats stations may also enter in the Associate and Shopper categories.

Scoring and Bonuses

Associate

3 points for each Walmart Store worked (e.g. if you activate 3 stores during WMPLOTA, you get 9 points for these activations)
1 point per satellite pass with at least 1 completed QSO
1 point per QSO with either a Shopper or another Associate

Shopper


1 point
per QSO with an Associate

Bonuses

Gridline – 40 points for any Associate operating on a gridline in a Walmart parking lot (once per day bonus)
BOGO – 20 points for any Shopper contacting an associate who is operating on a gridline in a Walmart parking lot (once per day bonus)

Near Gridline – 15 points for any Associate operating Walmart parking lot within 3 km of a gridline (once per day bonus)
Back to School – 25 points for any Associate or Shopper who is currently a student in kindergarten through college (one-time bonus)

Alaskan Activator – 15 points for any Associate operating from Alaska (one-time bonus) Alaskan Shopper – 10 points for a QSO with an Associate from Alaska (one-time bonus) Northwest Passage Activator – 10 points for any Associate operating from Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut (one-time bonus)

Northwest Passage Shopper – 5 points for a QSO with an Associate from Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut (one-time bonus)
Aloha Activator – 30 points for a QSO for any Associate operating in Hawaii (one-time bonus) Aloha Shopper – 25 points for a QSO with an Associate in Hawaii (one-time bonus)

Black Friday – 5 points for a QSO made on Friday night local time, from 00:00 UTC on Apr 28 until 00:00 midnight local time on Saturday (one-time bonus)
Big Hop – 5 points for each QSO having more than 3,600 km distance between stations (6 digit grid squares must be provided)

Big Talker – 7 points for a social media post highlighting your WMPLOTA activation using the #WMPLOTA hashtag. (one-time bonus)
Zombie Apocalypse – 5 points for activating a Zombie Walmart, a permanently closed Walmart store that remains vacant (one-time bonus)

QSO Multipliers

Zombieland Multiplier – 2x multiplier for each QSO made through the zombie sat Oscar-7 (AO-7)
Zombie Apocalypse Multiplier – 20x multipler for each QSO made through the zombie sat PCSat (NO-44).

Zombie chasers always roll back the Power. If the zombies hear you, they’ll eat you (and you’ll kill the fun for everyone).

Awards

Digital Award Certificates and QSL Cards are in development, but remember the real reward is the fun and notoriety you’ll receive from putting Walmart Parking Lots on the Air!

Award Levels

Express Lane – 1 QSO Checkout – 2-4 QSO

Greeter – 5 QSO
Overnight Stocker – Late night QSO from the nighttime hours (North America) of 00:00 UTC through 10:00 UTC. For you night owls, but pajamas are optional!
Store Manager – 10+ QSO
District Manager – work FROM more than 1 Walmart in your vicinity
Regional Manager – work (shop) at least one station in 4 major alpha gridsqares (example: at least one station each from EM EN DM DN)
Sam Walton Award for the most stores activated
People of Walmart – self-photo of operation from parking lot uploaded to Twitter with #WMPLOTA hashtag
“MacGyver Works at Walmart” Award. Achieve one QSO with an antenna built with parts purchased from the Walmart whose parking lot you are operating from. Antenna must be assembled in the parking lot, and receipt picture with items and store number posted with hashtag #WMPLOTA. You are allowed to bring a Swiss Army Knife, a pack of chewing gum, and an existing coaxial cable with connectors for connecting the MacGyver antenna to your radio. Everything else must be purchased.
Ol’ Roy (activator with most twitter posts of their dog from activated parking lots)
Ol’ Roy’ with Roy (activator named Roy with most twitter posts of their dog from activated parking lots)
Special Kitty – Same as ‘Ol Roy, but with your cat
Straight Talk – Broadcast the pass on your cell phone via Periscope on Twitter, YouTube Live, or Facebook Live, and post a link using the hashtag #WMPLOTA
Mobility – QSO from a motorized shopping cart or a regular shopping cart being pushed by an assistant
Buy One Get One Free Tabor^2 – work Chris Tabor (K7TAB) and Douglas Tabor (N6UA) on the same pass
Great Value – QSO while eating chicken obtained from the deli
Mainstays – QSO from a tent available in the camping section
Sam’s Choice – QSO with an op named Sam
Faded Glory – Twitter photo of the operation with the USA flag in the background
Maple Syrup – Twitter photo of the operation with the Canada flag in the background
Prickly Pear – Twitter photo of the operation with the Mexico flag in the background

Award Submission

For Leaderboard updates while the WMPLOTA Event is active, Associates and Shoppers should send a messages to awards@wmplota.org (mailto:awards@wmplota.org) to update their point totals. Each message, including the first message and all subsequent updates, should contain their entire log for the WMPLOTA period. Total points, bonus details, and any applicable awards summarized at the top of the message are appreciated for quicker updates of the Leaderboard.

The following details will be needed in each message:

Callsign Contacted

Walmart Store # Contacted (if known)

Contact Date and Time (UTC) Satellite

Band

Your Location (Grid Square or Grid Squares)

Your Walmart Store #

After the WMPLOTA Event is completed, logs files must be submitted by sending an ADIF file to award@wmplota.org (mailto:award@wmplota.org) for final certification of contest winners. File sharing links are appreciated (e.g. Dropbox). ADIF files can be created by the free ARRL Trusted QSL (TQSL) program and other populate logging programs. Associates, please use a six-digit grid square for your location, and then send us a list mapping the six- digit grid square to the Walmart Store Number activated at that location


Retrieved from “http://wmplota.org/wiki/index.php?title=WMPLOTA_Rules_and_Awards_Scheme& oldid=139”
This page was last edited on 23 April 2018, at 21:28.

Leaderboard – WMPLOTA July 2018

WMPLOTA July 2018 station logs are currently being accepted. All results shown below are preliminary and subject to correction/verification.

Top Awards

Winning Associate Score
  • Congratulations to Andrew KE8FZT for the record Associate score of 19516 during WMPLOTA, which was part of his 4-day rove throughout Michigan!

 

Early ‘Bird’ Award
  • Robert KE4AL and Adam K0FFY for their Early ‘Bird’ QSO at 00:00:02 UTC on XW-2D.
“MacGyver Works at Walmart” Award
  • Honorable Mention goes to Adam K0FFY for his pink pool noodle antenna, built in the lot during WMPLOTA, he copied AO-91 and CAS-4A, but was unable to make any QSOs with it. He did finally make a QSO with it on July 13.

 

Sam Walton (Most Store Activated)

Congratulations to Billy KM6NJL for winning the Sam Walton award for his record-breaking activation of 10 stores during WMPLOTA, which was part of an epic 10-day rove through 6 states.

   

 

Distance Record

Congratulations to Adam K0FFY and Pete G0ABI for the WMPLOTA distance record on AO-7 of 6,514 km from EN32ea in Ames, Iowa to IO80bu in Devon, England.

 

Honorable Mention goes to Ruth KM4LAO and James MI6GTY for their QSO on AO-91 of 5,820km from FM26dc in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina to IO84xm in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.

 

First Contact (First Ever Sat Contact during WMPLOTA)

Please email awards@wmplota.org if you made your first ever satellite contact during WMPLOTA on July 2.

Top Scores

Associates

  • 19516 | Andrew KE8FZT (Back to School, Big Talker, Spelling Bee, I Want To Beleve, Spelling ET)
  • 10679 | Billy KM6NJL (Gridline, Near Gridline, Big Talker, Spelling Bee, I Want to Believe, Spelling ET)
  • 6840 | R.J. WY7AA (Big Talker, Spelling Bee, Good Samaritan, Wall-E’s World, I Want to Believe, Spelling ET)
  • 4533 | Ruth KM4LAO (Back to School, Big Hop, Big Talker, Spelling Bee, Good Samaritan, Wall-E’s World, Birthday Special, I Want to Believe, Special Envoy)
  • 3066 | Adam K0FFY (Near Gridline, Big Hop, Big Talker, Wall-E’s World, Birthday Special)
  • 1890 | Ron AD0DX (Big Talker, I Want To Believe)
  • 1166 | Kevin N4UFO (Near Gridline, Big Talker, Birthday Special, I Want To Believe)
  • 660 | Neil WB9VPG (Gridline, Big Talker, Birthday Special, Good Samaritan)
  • 475 | Robert KE4AL (Big Talker, Birthday Special)
  • 432 | Sharon KM4TVU (Back to School, Big Talker, Good Samaritan, Wall-E’s World, Special Envoy)
  • 143 | Brian KG5GJT (Big Talker)
  • 91 | Chris K7TAB
  • 84 | Don KB2YSI

Shoppers

  • 850 | Ruth KM4LAO (BOGO, Back to School)
  • 336 | Don KB2YSI
  • 243 | Robert KE4AL
  • 54 | Brian KG5GJT (Big Talker)
  • 40 | Mitch AD0HJ
  • 4 | Anthony VE2HEW
  • 3 | Mike KE8JLN (W8TAU)

Awards

Express Lane (1 QSO)
  • Anthony VE2HEW
  • Mike KE8JLN (W8TAU)
Checkout (2-4 QSOs)
  • Mitch AD0HJ
  • Chris K7TAB
  • Brian KG5GJT (Shopper)
  • Sharon KM4TVU
  • Neil WB9VPG
Greeter (5 QSOs)
  • Don KB2YSI (Associate)
  • Robert KE4AL (Associate)
  • Brian KG5GJT (Associate)
  • Ruth KM4LAO (Shopper)
Store Manager (10+ QSOs)
  • Adam K0FFY
  • Don KB2YSI (Shopper)
  • Andrew KE8FZT
  • Ruth KM4LAO (Associate)
  • Kevin N4UFO
  • R.J. WY7AA
District Manager (Associate at more than 1 Walmart)
  • Adam K0FFY
  • Don KB2YSI (Associate)
  • Robert KE4AL (Associate)
  • Andrew KE8FZT
  • Kevin N4UFO
  • Neil WB9VPG
Regional Manager (Work at least one station in 4 major alpha grids e.g. EM EN DM DN)
  • Adam K0FFY
  • Andrew KE8FZT
  • Kevin N4UFO
  • R.J. WY7AA
Overnight Stocker
  • Mitch AD0HJ
  • Adam K0FFY
  • Robert KE4AL (Associate)
  • Andrew KE8FZT
  • Kevin N4UFO
  • R.J. WY7AA
Happy Camper
  • R.J. WY7AA
Buy One Get One Free Tabor^2
  • Andrew KE8FZT
  • R.J. WY7AA
Ol’ Roy
Ol’ Roy with Roy
People of Walmart
  • Adam K0FFY
  • Andrew KE8FZT
  • Brian KG5GJT
  • Ruth KM4LAO
  • Sharon KM4TVU
  • Kevin N4UFO
  • Neil WB9VPG
Mobility
  • Ruth KM4LAO
Straight Talk
  • Andrew KE8FZT
  • Neil WB9VPG
Sam’s Choice (QSO w/ an Op Named Sam)
Great Value (QSO while eating chicken obtained from the deli)
  • Neil WB9VPG
Faded Glory
  • Adam K0FFY
  • Brian KG5GJT
  • Ruth KM4LAO
  • Sharon KM4TVU
  • Kevin N4UFO
  • Neil WB9VPG

All photos on this site are attributed and owned by the amateur radio operator shown unless otherwise noted.

Acknowledgements

WMPLOTA is a community event. We are thankful for everybody in the satellite community that planned and participated in WMPLOTA. Here are some folks in particular that turned a zany idea into a real event. Thank you!

Contest Ideas and Planning:

  • Justin K5EM
  • Josh W3ARD
  • Ron AD0DX
  • Adam K0FFY

Promoters and Public Voices:

  • Adam K0FFY
  • Josh W3ARD
  • Neil WB9VPG

Thank you again to the numerous other brainstormers, pot stirrers, and zealoous participants that turned WMPLOTA into an extremely fun event!

Leaderboard – WMPLOTA April 2018

WMPLOTA April 2018 station logs are all in. All results shown below are final.

Top Awards

Early ‘Bird’ Award
  • Robert KE4AL and Joe KE9AJ for their Black Friday QSO at 00:00 UTC on XW-2C.
“MacGyver Works at Walmart” Award
  • Søren AK4WQ for his MacGyver “Toaster Marker” antenna, with which he made 4 QSOs in total, 1 on CAS4-B, and 2 each on two passes of AO-91.

 

  • Honorable Mention: Chris K0SIN and Avigail W0AVI for their curtain rod/paint roller/pool noodle 2m half wave dipole and garden stake 70cm yagi antenna, built and tested in a Walmart parking lot. No satellite QSOs were successful with them during WMPLOTA, but big props on the attempt and success with them on terrestrial repeaters!

 

Sam Walton (Most Store Activated)
  • 8 Stores | Patrick WD9EWK

Distance Record
  • Gustavo PU8MRS with Robert N6RFM for their 5,620 km QSO over AO-7 (GI77ul to FN41iq).
First Contact (First Ever Sat Contact during WMPLOTA)
  • Mike KB8ZYE
  • Scott WY1LIE

Top Scores

Associates

  • 9313 | Patrick WD9EWK (Gridline, Near Gridline,  Big Talker, Spelling Bee)
  • 4464 | Doug N6UA (Gridline x2, Near Gridline, Alaskan Shopper, Black Friday, Big Hop, Big Talker, Wall-E’s World)
  • 4365 | Andrew KE8FZT (Back to School, Black Friday, Big Talker, Good Samaritan, Spelling Bee)
  • 2040 | John KG4AKV (Black Friday, Big Talker)
  • 1541 | Gabe AL6D (Alaskan Activator, Alaskan Shopper, Black Friday, Big Hop x2, Big Talker, Zombie Apocalypse)
  • 1440 | Justin K5EM (Near Gridline, Alaskan Shopper, Back to School, Black Friday, Big Talker)
  • 1431 | Billy KM6NJL (Near Gridline, Black Friday, Big Talker)
  • 1408 | Ron AD0DX (Near Gridline, Big Talker, Spelling Bee)
  • 792 | Mike K2MTS (Black Friday, Big Talker, Good Samaritan)
  • 650 | Søren “MacGyver” AK4WQ (Big Talker)
  • 600 | Adam K0FFY (Back to School, Big Talker)
  • 576 | Don KB2YSI (Black Friday, Big Talker)
  • 390 | Dave AD7DB (Near Gridline, Big Talker)
  • 350 | Scott WY1LIE (Near Gridline, Back to School, Big Talker)
  • 304 | Sam N3ROY (Big Talker)
  • 240 | John KI4RO  (Big Talker)
  • 225 | John N7JY (Near Gridline, Big Talker)
  • 224 | Sean KX9X (Big Talker)
  • 204 | Marissa W4AQT (Back to School, Big Talker)
  • 204 | Jeff WE4B (Back to School, Big Talker)
  • 153 | Chris AA8CH
  • 132 | Chris K7TAB (Big Talker)
  • 128 | Jocelyn KD8VRX (Big Talker)
  • 110 | Roy K3RLD (Big Talker)
  • 105 | Kevin N4UFO (Black Friday, Big Talker)
  • 90 | Neil WB9VPG (Big Talker)
  • 80 | Robert KE4AL (Black Friday, Big Talker)
  • 60 | Scott N1AIA (Big Talker)
  • 56 | Gustavo PU8MRS (Big Hop, Big Talker)
  • — | Drew KO4MA
  • — | Alex N7AGF
  • — | Steve WL7YQ

Shoppers

  • 635 | Dave K5IX (Black Friday, BOGO)
  • 400 | Brian KG5GJT (Big Talker)
  • 250 | Chris K7TAB (Big Talker)
  • 192 | Robert KE4AL (Big Talker)
  • 54 | Scott N1AIA (Big Talker)
  • 32 | Anthony VE2HEW (Big Talker)

DX Associates

  • 1541 | Gabe AL6D (Alaskan Activator, Alaskan Shopper, Black Friday, Big Hop x2, Big Talker, Zombie Apocalypse)
  • 56 | Gustavo PU8MRS (Big Hop, Big Talker)

Packet Rat Associates

  • 132 | Chris K7TAB (Big Talker)

Awards

Express Lane (1 QSO)
  • Gustavo PU8MRS (DX)
Checkout (2-4 QSOs)
  • Roy K3RLD
  • Chris K7TAB (Associate)
  • Jocelyn KD8VRX
  • Scott N1AIA (Associate and Shopper)
  • Kevin N4UFO
  • John N7JY
  • Marissa W4AQT
  • Neil WB9VPG
  • Jeff WE4B
  • Scott WY1LIE
Greeter (5 QSOs)
  • Chris AA8CH
  • Dave AD7DB
  • Adam K0FFY (Associate)
  • John KI4RO
  • Sean KX9X
  • Sam N3ROY
Store Manager (10+ QSOs)
  • Ron AD0DX
  • Gabe AL6D
  • Mike K2MTS
  • Justin K5EM
  • Dave K5IX
  • Chris K7TAB (Shopper)
  • Don KB2YSI
  • Andrew KE8FZT
  • John KG4AKV
  • Billy KM6NJL
  • Doug N6UA
  • Patrick WD9EWK
District Manager (Associate at more than 1 Walmart)
  • Adam K0FFY
  • Andrew KE8FZT
  • Billy KM6NJL
  • Sean KX9X
  • Doug N6UA
  • Neil WB9VPG
  • Patrick WD9EWK
Regional Manager (Work at least one station in 4 major alpha grids e.g. EM EN DM DN)
  • Ron AD0DX
  • Mike K2MTS
  • Chris K7TAB (Shopper)
  • Billy KM6NJL
  • Patrick WD9EWK
Overnight Stocker
  • Gabe AL6D
  • Justin K5EM
  • Don KB2YSI
  • Andrew KE8FZT
  • Billy KM6NJL
  • Sean KX9X
  • Doug N6UA
Ol’ Roy
  • Roy K3RLD (see also Ol’ Roy with Roy)
  • Justin K5EM
  • Don KB2YSI
Ol’ Roy with Roy
  • Roy K3RLD
People of Walmart
  • Ron AD0DX
  • Dave AD7DB
  • Gabe AL6D
  • Adam K0FFY
  • Mike K2MTS
  • Roy K3RLD
  • Justin K5EM
  • Chris K7TAB
  • Andrew KE8FZT
  • John KG4AKV
  • John KI4RO
  • Billy KM6NJL
  • Sean KX9X
  • Kevin, N4UFO
  • John N7JY
  • Neil WB9VPG
  • Patrick WD9EWK

Shown here is Sean KX9X enjoying his morning coffee while working Store #5095 in Hartford, CT.

Mobility
  • Gabe AL6D
  • Adam K0FFY
  • Justin K5EM
  • John KG4AKV
  • Sam N3ROY

Straight Talk
  • Neil WB9VPG
Sam’s Choice (QSO w/ an Op Named Sam)
  • Roy K3RLD
Great Value (QSO while eating chicken obtained from the deli)
  • Ron AD0DX
  • Andrew KE8FZT
Faded Glory
  • Dave AD7DB
  • Mike K2MTS
  • Justin K5EM
  • Andrew KE8FZT
  • John KI4RO
  • Sean KX9X
  • Sam N3ROY
  • Kevin, N4UFO
  • John N7JY
  • Marissa W4AQT
  • Neil WB9VPG
  • Patrick WD9EWK
  • Jeff WE4B

All photos on this site are attributed and owned by the amateur radio operator shown unless otherwise noted.

WMPLOTA Activations

Please e-mail your WMPLOTA Activations to mistersparkyesquire@gmail.com!

Mitch AD0HJ:

WALMART 1738 EN24TU
RS-44 0109Z 7/2/22 FIXED RX 145.950

WALMART 1858 EN24DW
RS-44 0301Z 7/2/22 FIXED RX 145.950
WX-2A 0314Z 7/2/22 FIXED RX 145.680

WALMART 1722 EN24CK
RS-44 1251Z 7/2/22 FIXED RX 145.950
XW-2C 1316Z 7/2/22 FIXED RX 145.810

WALMART 1865 EN24KM
AO-91 1523Z 7/2/22
SO-50 1540Z 7/2/22

WALMART 3760 EN24RH
AO-91 1659Z 7/2/22

Andrew KE8FZT:
WALMART 3791 EN71
RS-44 7/2/22 1252z
ISS 7/2/22 1308z
AO-91 7/2/22 1349z(Only 7 degrees NW)

Wayne W7WGC:
July 2, 2022
Walmart #1880, Coos Bay, OR – CN73UJ
AO-91 – 17:07z & 18:43z
SO-50 – 17:24z

Nestor N6CKC:
I plan to activate Walmart Supercenter #2479 and Sam’s Club #6325 starting at 00:00UTC- 01:00 UTC on 7/2 (due to lack of passes after 01:00z). Yep looking for the early “bird” award 🙂

I also plan to live stream via Twitter using #WMPLOTA the passes from that location.

KC1MEB (Assisted by NU1U) FN31:
Friday Night
Cromwell CT WM# 2299
RS-44 7/2/2022 01:07:28
XW-2A 7/2/2022 01:40:58

Saturday
Manchester CT WM# 1891
ISS 7/2/2022 11:33:25
XW-2C 7/2/2022 11:42:14

Manchester CT Sams Club Zombie Store
SO-50 7/2/2022 12:22:45
RS-44 7/2/2022 12:53:30
ISS 7/2/2022 13:10:11

Rocky Hill CT WM# 2900
AO-91 7/2/2022 13:46:08
SO-50 7/2/2022 14:03:09
JO-97 7/2/2022 14:16:16
XW-2A 7/2/2022 14:27:28

Newington CT WM# 2965
AO-91 7/2/2022 15:21:45

Newington CT SC# 6636
JO-97 7/2/2022 15:51:24

Walingford CT WM# 2371
AO-07 7/2/2022 19:26:33
PO-101 if active 7/2/2022 19:50:24
XW-2C 7/2/2022 20:48:42
AO-07 7/2/2022 21:19:49
XW-2C 7/2/2022 22:21:01
AO-27 7/2/2022 23:29:55

Walmart Parking Lots on the Air

WMPLOTA an event encouraging amateur radio enthusiasts to operate amateur satellites while portable in Walmart parking lots. It’s a fun, informal event in which individuals participate on a coordinated date.

Welcome!

WMPLOTA is a special event and award scheme for amateur radio satellite operators that encourages the practice of portable operation in the ubiquitous and easily accessible location of Walmart parking lots.

WMPLOTA is now held annually on the first weekend in July.

Be safe and operate in a way to that is in no way impactful to the Walmart store or its customers. Participation in WMPLOTA, just like SOTA, is at your own risk.

Follow us on Twitter @WMPLOTA and post using hashtag #WMPLOTA!

Get ready for the 3rd Annual WMPLOTA!

It’s like déjà vu all over again, baby! The 3rd Annual WMPLOTA will take place starting July 2, 2022 at 00:00 UTC and ending July 2 at 23:59 UTC.

Put this on your calendar, set your alarm clock, charge your radios! The first weekend in July was chosen for WMPLOTA, putting it forevermore in temporal proximity to July 2, the birthday of Walmart when Sam Walton opened the first store in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962.

Rules and Awards

WMPLOTA Rules and Awards can be found on our Wiki page.

The Rules and Awards are community developed! To contribute to our Rules and Awards, please send a request to mistersparkyesquire@gmail.com.

WMPLOTA July Poster

Activations

Click here for Scheduled Activations. Listen for additional popup activations on the air over the WMPLOTA Weekend!

Leaderboard

Leaderboard – WMPLOTA July 2018

Leaderboard – WMPLOTA April 2018

Classic (a.k.a Old) Rules and Awards

For a blast from the past, check out the Original WMPLOTA Rules and Awards from April, 2018.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this for real?

Oh, yes! Were you not there last year? We are doing this event and awards scheme as described. How seriously the participants are taking it is perhaps another matter.

How do I participate?

Walmart Parking Lots on the Air begins on the date and time announced.  To participate in this scheme you do not need to register in advance or pay any dues. You simply need to operate an amateur radio satellite station, and then choose to be an WMPLOTA Associate (activator), who operates portable from any Walmart parking lot, or a Shopper (chaser) operating from another location and contacting Associates.

When making amateur radio contacts, it is common practice to exchange your callsign and grid square during the contact. WMPLOTA Associates are encouraged to simply mention “Walmart” or their Walmart Store Number on-air during the contact, which will be used by anyone participating in the awards scheme. The Walmart Store Number can be found on the store receipt or through the Walmart Store Finder online. We no longer recommend using the /wm suffix, as this was confusing entries into LoTW.

Associates, please take a picture of your operating location, including a branded shopping cart or a recognizable portion of a Walmart (or Sam’s Club) branded store. Selfies are encouraged, and extra points will be awarded for any operating picture that includes a Walmart greeter or security staff member. Big points and notoriety is yours if you operate shopping cart mobile /wm/m/p, but be careful and wear a high-vis vest!

Pictures and logs can be submitted for award credit. More to follow on this later.

 What is the awards scheme for WMPLOTA?

Please view and also participate in defining the awards scheme on the WMPLOTA Wiki.

How did this all get started?

The first ever WMPLOTA took place April 28 and April 29, 2018 with an encore on July 2, 2018.

Prior to that, on April 14 2018, Chris K7TAB operated from the EM99/FM09 gridline, which just happened to run through a Walmart parking lot in Morgantown, WV. When Chris posted this activation to Twitter, many other rovers in the amateur satellite community mentioned how they also had operated from Walmart parking lots across the country, which also happened to be conveniently located on gridlines.

K7TAB Operating at Walmart
K7TAB Operating a Gridline in the Walmart Parking Lot

 

Lot Location on the Gridline
Walmart Parking Lot Located on the Gridline

Walmart parking lots make a decent portable operating location in general, especially when pressed for time, as the wide open space allows for working satellite passes of varying elevations without needing to drive into a more remote location in the countryside. Walmart stores also offer a location that is friendly to long term parking, are a place where unconventional dress code and accessories like strapping on SSB radios and waving purple antennas at they sky are still considered inconspicuous and unremarkable, and have the convenient availability of snacks and refreshments at everyday low prices.

DN31-41-Walmart
DN31/DN41 Gridline Walmart

 

EN82/EN83 Gridline Walmart
EN82/EN83 Gridline Walmart

Acknowledgements

WMPLOTA is a community event. We are thankful for everybody in the satellite community that planned and participated in WMPLOTA. Here are some folks in particular that turned a zany idea into a real event. Thank you!

Contest Ideas and Planning:

  • Justin K5EM
  • Josh W3ARD
  • Ron AD0DX
  • Adam K0FFY

Promoters and Public Voices:

  • Adam K0FFY
  • Mitch AD0HJ
  • Andrew KE8FZT
  • Josh W3ARD
  • Neil WB9VPG

Thank you again to the numerous other brainstormers, pot stirrers, and zealous participants that turned WMPLOTA into an extremely fun event!

Disclaimer

WMPLOTA is in no way affiliated with any one person or organization. It is in no way affiliated with Walmart, AMSAT, ARRL, or any other corporation or association.

Be safe and operate in a way to that is in no way impactful to the Walmart store or its customers. Be friendly and courteous in the parking lot, and do some shopping afterwards to be a good customer. Please comply with any requests from store employees. Above all, don’t take WMPLOTA too seriously. Amateur radio is meant to be a fun hobby.

Participation in WMPLOTA, just like SOTA, is at your own risk.