JOTA
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| Written by Matt Zundel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sunday, 25 July 2010 14:52 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
JOTA Information
DCARC will be setting up stations where scouts can come to talk to other scouts. Some of these stations could be located at parks, schools, churches, or even the operator's home. Be aware we are no longer providing a camp-out. Your scout troop could still have a camp-out and we could even arrange for an operator to visit or camp-out with the boys. Below is a list of operators and the general location where their station will be located.
If you are a HAM and would like to help out, please contact Matt Zundel, KD7HHW at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Let me know the following information:
What Is Jamboree -on-the-AirThe 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
Some exchanges lead to longlasting 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:
There will be many stations operating, including the following:
Listen for other special call signs from many countries.
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| 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 |
| 17-meter | 18.140 MHz | 18.080 MHz |
| 15-meter | 21.360 MHz | 21.140 MHz |
| 12-meter | 24.960 MHz | 24.910 MHz |
| 10-meter | 28.390 MHz | 28.190 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 Department at Boy Scouts of America, International Department 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 by visiting www.scouting.org.
- 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 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by mail at Boy Scouts of America, Ray Moyer, c/o International, S221, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-0279.
Please make plans early to reserve K2BSA/? for your event.
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. See the sample report format on this fact sheet. 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)
Contact Cards/Patches
The JOTA contact cards are 10 cents each, and can be purchased individually or in packs of 10 for $1. The contact cards are available to anyone participating and are a good place to record some of the contacts made during JOTA. The patches are temporary insignia to be worn on the right pocket of the Scout uniform or on jackets/vests, and they cost $4 each.
Both the contact cards and patches will be available after August 1 and in LIMITED QUANTITY, so order early! Please allow four weeks for delivery. Checks or money orders will be accepted and must be made payable to Boy Scouts of America. We also accept American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards. Send requests for cards and/or patches to Boy Scouts of America, Jamboree-on-the-Air, S221, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, Texas 75015-2079, or call the International Department at (972) 580-2405.
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."