The weekend of the 18th and 19th of October is going to be a busy one across Essex with a number of clubs and groups putting together to support the annual JOTA (Jamboree On The Air) – The event where cubs and scouts get to make use of amateur radio to make contacts around the world. Basildon JOTA Essex amateur Mike G1KOT is looking for some help putting together a JOTA event in Basildon:
“I’m reaching out for some assistance for my local scouts cubs and beavers running their first JOTA experience.. And mine.. So if anyone is interested in operating on site over a weekend, maybe even for just 1 hour or taking calls from our special event station, please get in touch“
The two day-JOTA will be held at the Kingston Ridge campsite in Langdon Hills (see map below) with the 1st Laindon Troop, 9th Basildon Troop and 1st Pitsea & Vange Troup and the event will be using the special event callsign GB1LC Planned for the day:
- Helping to make communication with other scout groups around the world
- Experience and assisting with a High Altitude Balloon tracking experiment
- Learning about amateur radio and electronics
- Learning some Morse code and work towards a communication badge
- Creating QSL cards
If you’ve not been involved with a JOTA station before, it’s a great opportunity to demonstrate the hobby to tomorrow’s amateurs and to help spread the word about amateur radio generally – if you can help out, your time and experience would be much appreciated! You can contact Mike via Facebook (www.facebook.com/michael.uk) or via QRZ (www.qrz.com/db/G1KOT) 
From several years experience of JOTA/JOTI events please be aware of a number of ancillary requirements.
It is not just a matter of getting your FT10000 or IC20000 and a long wire or Yagi and working your favourite DX. Generally that very weak fluttery barely readable signal, great for you, is only going to interest the most dedicated radio-active Scout. What will interest most Scouts is a clear contact that you will get on 2m FM, one they can listen to and take part in easily and without translation. Also important is the guy the other end, will he be able to take messages from 10 or 20 Scouts.
Side exhibits of perhaps 3 or 4 CB radios, connected together by co-ax and some 50dB pads will allow the Scouts to learn the basics of channels, simplex communication etc. If you intend to accommodate Cubs and Beavers, an emergency telephone (dial 999 and talk to a remote operator) exhibit is also good.
It also helps to have plenty of documentation (how to become a radio amateur, etc.) handy, plus some interesting magazines – perhaps RadCom is NOT the best.
Good luck and maybe will work your Scouts from Chelmsford District Scouts.
YiRS Geoff
Geoff,
Thank you very much, some great advice.
I had been caught by that a few years back when i helped my boys cubs and set up a HF station.. getting a contact was pretty hard in the location we where in.. and some ops not far from this website helped very well.. quote” 2e0ssx ” IIRC.. and we where only active for 2 hours!!
i was thinking of some FRS radios for them to play with, which might fit the CB comment you made.. and indeed getting some stuff together for them to take away is a must… club paperwork, magazines, little goodies from well know suppliers ;-)
I’ll certainly be up for arranging a sched with you guys..
cheers
Mike