<!-- mcp-name: io.github.qso-graph/itu-zones-mcp -->
# itu-zones-mcp

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> **Source: the IARU's [HF Managers Handbook](https://www.iaru-r1.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IARURegion1HFManagerHandbook8.2.1.pdf), chapter 9.8, "Definition of ITU-Zones when used by radio amateurs"** (IARU Region 1, v8.2; the chapter's pages are dated November 2000). The zone border-lines for amateur use are kept there under IARU Region 1 recommendation REC/99/LH/C4.2; the list was drafted by G3HTA from the ITU's CIRAF zones and approved by all three IARU regions. The 90 ITU zones are the IARU's: this package serves facts from that chapter, each citing its page and zone, and links to the handbook rather than copying it. Our GPL-3.0 licence covers our code, not the IARU's data.
>
> **Checked against:** [AD1C's country files](https://www.country-files.com/) (Jim Reisert, AD1C), ADIF 3.1.7's subdivision zones, and [ARRL's DXCC list](https://www.arrl.org/country-lists-prefixes). The tests fetch AD1C's and ARRL's files from their sites to validate the facts; neither is included here. where they differ, the owner's list wins (see [docs/TRANSCRIPTION.md](docs/TRANSCRIPTION.md)).

MCP server for **ITU zones** as the IARU publishes them for amateur use: the 90 zones of chapter 9.8, "Definition of ITU-Zones when used by radio amateurs", of the [IARU Region 1 HF Managers Handbook](https://www.iaru-r1.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IARURegion1HFManagerHandbook8.2.1.pdf) (v8.2), used by the IARU HF Championship and ITU-zone awards. Each zone's prefixes are given in ADIF's own DXCC and subdivision codes, with the IARU's own wording where it splits an area by a line.

Part of the [qso-graph](https://qso-graph.io/) project. **No network, no authentication**: the facts from the owner's list ship with the package, and every answer names its source.

## Install

```bash
uvx itu-zones-mcp            # run it; nothing to install
```

## Tools

| Tool | Description | Key Parameters |
|------|-------------|----------------|
| `itu_zones_lookup` | One zone: every prefix, subdivision and boundary the IARU lists, with the citation | code |
| `itu_zones_codes_for` | Which zones cover an ADIF DXCC entity, or one of its subdivisions | dxcc, subdivision |
| `itu_zones_search` | Find zones by prefix or wording | text, limit |
| `itu_zones_valid_on` | Whether a zone was valid on a date (ITU zones have no validity window) | code, on_date |
| `itu_zones_source_info` | Owner, edition, terms, and the owner's file's URL and SHA-256 | — |
| `get_version_info` | Service version + the owner's edition served (fleet identity attestation) | — |

## Quick Start

No credentials needed — just install and configure your MCP client.

### Configure your MCP client

itu-zones-mcp works with any MCP-compatible client. Add the server config and restart — tools appear automatically.

#### Claude Desktop

Add to `claude_desktop_config.json` (`~/Library/Application Support/Claude/` on macOS, `%APPDATA%\Claude\` on Windows):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "itu-zones": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["itu-zones-mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

#### Claude Code

Add to `.claude/settings.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "itu-zones": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["itu-zones-mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

#### ChatGPT Desktop

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "itu-zones": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["itu-zones-mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

#### Cursor

Add to `.cursor/mcp.json` (project-level) or `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (global):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "itu-zones": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["itu-zones-mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

#### VS Code / GitHub Copilot

Add to `.vscode/mcp.json` in your workspace:

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "itu-zones": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["itu-zones-mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

#### Gemini CLI

Add to `~/.gemini/settings.json` (global) or `.gemini/settings.json` (project):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "itu-zones": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["itu-zones-mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

### Ask questions

> "Which ITU zone is Arizona in?"

> "What does ITU zone 75 cover?"

> "Which ITU zones does Antarctica span?"

## MCP Inspector

```bash
itu-zones-mcp --transport streamable-http --port 8017
```

Then open the MCP Inspector at `http://localhost:8017`.

## Development

```bash
git clone https://github.com/qso-graph/itu-zones-mcp.git
cd itu-zones-mcp
uv sync --group dev
uv run pytest
```

`scripts/fetch_published.py` fetches the owner's document(s) into `published/` (not committed) and checks their SHA-256s; `uv run pytest --live` runs the tests that need them. `scripts/build.py` regenerates `derived/` and `load.sql`, a PostgreSQL load for QSO Graph's reference data (load QG ADIF's `adif` schema first).

## License

itu-zones-mcp's own code is GPL-3.0-or-later. See [LICENSE](LICENSE). The data it serves is the owner's, credited at the top of this page: our licence doesn't cover it, and we claim no rights in it. The owner's document itself is not included; `data/SOURCE.json` records its URL and SHA-256 so anyone can check the facts against it. Files we built from the facts (`data/derived/`) are ours and labelled as ours. How the owner's text was read is recorded in [docs/TRANSCRIPTION.md](docs/TRANSCRIPTION.md). See [NOTICE](NOTICE).