50th Jamboree-on-the-Air

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OCTOBER 19-21, 2007

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WHAT IS JAMBOREE-ON-THE-AIR

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."