I was happy to listen to 68 island groups from all the continents during the IOTA contest. I was very active in listening to IOTA bands in the 90s to get my IOTA award 300. At this time there is no cluster, computer, or QRM. I had a Kenwood R5000 receiver and a 20-meter-long wire at 25 meters above the ground in my home. In my parents' house, the receiver was an Icom ICR 70 with a CB antenna, a 5/8 wave, on the roof of a Parisian's house at 15 meters above the ground. This Antron 99 was good for 10 to 20 meters. I think IOTA was more popular in the 90s; I don't listen to many French islands during the 2026 IOTA contest. We have a lot of IOTA groups (22). Also, we have a lot of French DXCC entities include Antactica and IOTA all over the world.
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