Radios at JOTA
The Manly-Warringah Radio Society supplies friendly operators and equipment to run the radios at our camp. The equipment belongs to the operators and we are generously allowed to use it.
We will be using the callsign VK2SNR.
Local Activities
This year we are running a number of radios and an Echolink station connected to the JOTA-E(nglish) Echolink conference.
Echolink is used to talk via radio and Internet links nationally and around the world to other JOTA stations.
Build a radio station that can communicate on the 144MHz band. Start by erecting the antenna, connecting the various cables into the radio, and then operate the radio.
Play the game Battleships via radio. This is a great activity that emphasises the importance of clear communication and learning the phonetic alphabet.
Other modes of communicating via radio will be available depending on time and conditions. Examples such as using FM voice repeaters, High Frequency (HF), Single side band (SSB), and slow scan Television (SST).
Antennas
Some of the antennas you may see are a Yagi directional antenna mounted on a mast. It looks similar to a very large TV antenna.
This is a dipole, typically strung east-west between towers or tall trees. The dipole can have a total length of around 80 metres, so it is a very large device.
JOTA Frequencies
Several amateur radio bands have designated frequencies where Scout stations can meet. Of course, the whole authorized band can be used for Scout contacts, howver, to easily find Scout stations, listen in on the following Scout frequencies.
These are the official Scout Calling frequencies. See the SRESU site.
| World Scout Calling Frequencies | Austalian Scout Calling Frequencies | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band | SSB Phone (MHz) | CW Morse (MHz) | SSB Phone (MHz) | CW Morse (MHz) |
| 80m | 3.690,3.940 | 3.570 | 3.650 | 3.570 |
| 40m | 7.090,7.190 | 7.030 | 7.090 | 7.030 |
| 20m | 14.290 | 14.060 | 14.190 | 14.060 |
| 17m | 18.140 | 18.080 | ||
| 15m | 21.360 | 21.140 | 21.190 | 21.140 |
| 12m | 24.960 | 24.910 | ||
| 10m | 28.390 | 28.180 | 28.590 | 28.180 |
| 6m | 50.160 | 50.160 | 52.160 | 50.160 |