The Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA, is an annual Scouting and
amateur radio event sponsored by the World Scout Bureau of
the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Thousands of
amateur radio stations around the world participate. If the
conditions are right, it is common to contact a hundred
Scouting countries during the weekend.
In the United States, Cub Scout dens and Boy Scout
patrols visit a local amateur's ham shack during JOTA. Many
districts and councils hold events that coincide with JOTA,
where amateurs set up stations giving Scouts and leaders a
chance to exchange greetings with Scouts from other areas.
The exchanges typically include information such as
- Name
- Location (QTH)
- Scout rank
- Hobbies
- Age
Some exchanges lead to long lasting friendships and the
exchange of photos, badges, pins, and patches.
The usual communications method calls for speaking into a
microphone. However, the following specialized
communications are also used during JOTA:
- Slow Scan TV, or SSTV
- Amateur TV, or ATV
- Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio, or OSCAR
- Packet radio, or modem communication without a
phone--PSK-31
- Radio Teletype, or RTTY
- Earth-Moon-Earth, or EME, contacts
There will be many stations operating, including the
following:
- K2BSA/5 at Camp Wisdom in Dallas, Texas
- Additional K2BSA stations assigned to other areas,
such as K2BSA/0, K2BSA/1, etc.
- HB95, the World Scout Bureau headquarters in
Switzerland
- GB2GP at Gilwell Park, England
Listen for other special call signs from many countries.
WHO
JOTA welcomes participation by Scouting and amateur radio
enthusiasts of all ages:
- Cub Scouts
- Boy Scouts
- Venturers
- Brownie Scouts
- Girl Scouts
- Former Scouts and Scouters
- Amateur radio operators
- Anyone interested in doing a Good Turn for Scouting
and amateur radio
WHEN
JOTA always falls on the third full weekend in October.
JOTA will begin on Friday, October 19, 2007, at 22:00
hours local time, and end on Sunday, October 21, 2007, at
23:59 hours local time.
Where
JOTA Scout Frequencies
| Band |
|
SSB (phone) |
|
CW (Morse code) |
| 80-meter |
|
3.690* and 3.940 MHz |
|
3.570 MHz |
| 40-meter |
|
7.090* and 7.190 MHz |
|
7.030 MHz |
| 20-meter |
|
14.290 MHz |
|
14.060 MHz |
| 10-meter |
|
28.390 MHz |
|
28.180 MHz |
| 6-meter |
|
50.160 MHz |
|
50.160 MHz |
* Not authorized to transmit in the United States (Region
2); however, you may listen
Note: Remember that others use these
frequencies, so move off the listed frequency if another
group is operating there. Always be courteous; others will
find you.
HOW
Scouts and leaders should follow some of the
following tips for help in preparing for participation in
the JOTA program:
- Contact a local amateur radio operator.
- Contact a local amateur radio club.
- Put a notice in the local newspaper.
- Run an article in the local council newsletter;
almost every local council has a Scouter involved in
amateur radio.
- Contact the American Radio Relay League's Field and
Educational Activities Department toll free at
800-326-3942; or visit the ARRL Web site:
http://www.arrl.org/ead/jota.html.
- Request the More About Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA)
guide from the International Division at Boy Scouts of
America, International Division, S221, 1325 West Walnut
Hill Lane, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079.
Radio amateurs should
- Invite Scouts and Scout units to their radio shack.
Radio amateurs who do not know any units should contact
the nearest BSA local council service center for the
names of Scout unit leaders in the area. Local councils
can be found in the phone book under "Boy Scouts of
America."
- Volunteer to set up a station at a district or
council camporee, Scout show, or other event. Contact
the nearest BSA local council service center for more
information.
- Call "CQ Jamboree," or respond to such calls.
- K2BSA/? is available throughout the year for
organized Scout events. K2BSA/? may be available for use
during JOTA. Contact Ray Moyer for details by e-mail at
rmoyer@netbsa.org, or by mail at Boy Scouts of America,
Ray Moyer, S219, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, P.O. Box
152079, Irving, TX 75015-0279.
Please make plans early to reserve K2BSA/? for your
event.
Share this fact sheet and a copy of More About
Jamboree-on-the-Air (request this publication from the
International Division) with other radio amateurs and radio
clubs.
WHAT IS OR IS NOT REQUIRED
- No reports in the form of logs are necessary. (This
is not a contest.)
- Make the exchange of information simple, related to
Scouting and amateur radio.
- Brief reports are requested. Download the sample
report format. This report should include:
- Unit number and local council name and number
- Amateur call used
- Calls heard and worked
- Number of participants
- Interesting incidents and exchanges, etc.
- Photos with captions (small group, uniformed
Scout at mike)
JOTA CARDS
These cards are free and are available to anyone
participating. They may be ordered beforehand for recording
contacts talked to or heard during JOTA, or they may be
awarded at Scouting or amateur radio club meetings later.
Send requests (specifying the number of cards needed) to Boy
Scouts of America, Jamboree-on-the-Air Cards, S221, 1325
West Walnut Hill Lane, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX
75015-2079.
POCKET PATCHES
Temporary insignia to wear on the right pocket of the
Scout uniform or on jackets/vests will be available after
August 1 for $4 each (total). This insignia, like the
certificate cards, will be available in LIMITED QUANTITY
only and will not be reordered when supplies are exhausted.
ORDER EARLY. Allow FOUR weeks for delivery on
all orders. Checks or money orders will be accepted and must
be made payable to the Boy Scouts of America. Credit cards
are also accepted. We cannot accept cash for payment.
Orders for patches are to be sent to the same address as for
the cards.
JOTA REPORT
The JOTA report on the following pages is very important
in working on the next JOTA event. Your combined information
will be forwarded to the World Scout Bureau and will be used
to improve the overall event. Include anything that was
funny, interesting, or learned, along with your ideas or
suggestions to help improve the event. If you include
pictures, put them on a disk using JPG format so they can be
forwarded with the report. Make sure you have the full names
of all those in the picture. Scouts in uniform would be
really great. Please provide anything that would be of
interest to others.
An example of a story: "The snow was two feet deep but we
drank hot chocolate and talked to Scouts from New Zealand.
They had just gotten back from swimming."
