SERBIAN BUNKERS ON THE AIR
YUBOTA

Background

WWBOTA is an amateur radio awards scheme (like POTA and SOTA) focused on activating and hunting (chasing) bunkers. More information is on the WWBOTA homepage an navigation links here.

What is YUBOTA

YUBOTA invites amateur radio operators and SWLs to make contacts associated with qualifying bunker sites in Serbia. Participation is open to all licensed amateurs and listeners worldwide.

There are three ways to take part:

  • Activators operate portable stations from approved YUBOTA sites.
  • Hunters work YUBOTA activators from home, mobile, or portable stations.
  • SWLs (Shortwave Listeners) log and submit verified receptions.

YUBOTA is not a contest. There are no rankings, no pressure, and no fixed operating times. Contacts are made using standard amateur radio practices and exchanged information typically includes callsigns, signal reports, and the YUBOTA reference number.

What counts as a YUBOTA site?

Qualifying sites reflect Serbias’s unique defence and infrastructure history and may include:

  • Cold War–era military and civil defence installations
  • Coastal defence batteries and fortifications
  • Radar, communications, and early‑warning sites
  • Underground command, control, and communications facilities
  • Supporting military infrastructure with historical significance

Each site is researched, documented, and assigned a unique YUBOTA reference, which is fully compatible with the global WWBOTA system.

Logging, Spots and Technology

YUBOTA operators benefit from WWBOTA’s modern technical platform:

  • Centralized logging integration via the WWBOTA 
  • A dedicated WWBOTA spotting cluster for real‑time activity
  • Integration with Ham2K Polo for easy spotting and log synchronization
  • The WWBOTA Interactive Map, allowing users to explore YUBOTA and international bunker sites by location or reference number

This system ensures YUBOTA activations are visible worldwide and makes hunting simple and rewarding.

Awards and Events

Participation in YUBOTA counts toward WWBOTA lifetime awards for activators, hunters, and SWLs. Awards are automatically tracked and issued electronically in PDF format.

International operating events such as Bunkerfest and Winterfest encourage increased activity and friendly on‑air interaction across borders, with Serbian stations regularly taking part.

YUBOTA Reference List

Scheme DXCC Reference Name Type Lat Long Locator
Worldwide full list

YUBOTA Reference Map

Intersecting Bunkers

    Worldwide map

    YUBOTA Rules

    1. Only those bunkers listed with a WWBOTA reference number are valid for YUBOTA activations. A valid reference for YUBOTA is in the format B/YU-xxxx where xxxx is a number starting at 0001. 
    2. A bunker can be activated up to 1000m from the given coordinates, i.e. the ‘activation zone’ is 1000m.
    3. Up to 5 bunkers can be activated at the same time but the activator must be within 1000m of every bunker’s given coordinates, i.e. only where all activation zones overlap (Venn diagram style).
    4. A valid activation constitutes 25 QSO with different stations, QSO on different band earn an additional QSO for the activator but not the hunter. QSO in different modes do not earn additional credit.
    5. For current WWBOTA lifetime awards, each bunker activated scores once in a lifetime.
    6. WWBOTA and YUBOTA welcome multi-scheme activations, i.e. activators are encouraged to activate bunkers with valid references for other schemes (e.g. POTA and SOTA).
    7. Neither WWBOTA or YUBOTA take responsibility for activators: site access and safety is the sole responsibility of the activator. The listing of a bunker on this site (or any other WWBOTA site) does not imply any right of access. Whilst the list is compiled for public and open source material the activator is recommended to apply judgement with regarding to operating near sensitive or restricted sites.

    Logging

    1. Many activator chose Ham2K PoLo, other applications are available. Activators can upload their ADIF logs using WWBOTA Logger here. Note: The activator must have a WWBOTA account (WWBOTA.net login) to upload a log.
    2. Hunters QSO are extracted from Activator ADIF logs, hunters may also add additional QSO records. Note: The hunter must  have a WWBOTA account (WWBOTA.net login) to add QSO or view their log.

      WWBOTA Logger also provides the ability to view logs, statistics scores, awards, maps and more.

    Spotting

    1. Many activators spot via their Ham2K PoLo logging application.

    2. In addition, you may spot direct to the WWBOTA Cluster. (Spots via Ham2K PoLo go direct to the WWBOTA Cluster).

    Awards

    Presently YUBOTA does not offer national awards, however, WWBOTA awards are available, see here for more information see here. Award status for WWBOTA is available on WWBOTA Logger here.

    E7BOTA

    The YUBOTA national coordinator is:

    Bozidar, YT3IN

    Email:  email@yt3in.com