JOTA: Jamboree-on-the-Air
When: Saturday October 19th 9AM-1PM EST
What: K2AA will be Operating from the Westampton NJ Boys Scouts Headquarters
JOTA is a spectacular opportunity to introduce Scouts to amateur radio. For many, this will be
their first exposure to the world of ham radio. Some will go on to become hams, enjoying the
hobby for a lifetime. A few will even find the basis of a career in science and technology.
Where: We will be operating on or around the the JOTA calling frequencies depending on band
conditions: Please also check the spotting networks, and our repeater, K2AA.
-7.190MHz
-14.290MHz
-18.140MHz
-21.360MHz
-28.390MHz
What is Jamboree-on-the-Air?
Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA, is the largest Scouting event in the world. It is held annually the
third full weekend in October. JOTA uses amateur radio to link Scouts and hams around the
world, around the nation, and in your own community. This jamboree requires no travel, other
than to a nearby amateur radio operator’s ham shack. Many times you can find the hams will
come to you by setting up a station at your Scout camporee, at the park down the block, or
perhaps at a ham shack already set up at your council’s camp.
Scouts of any age can participate, from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts and Venturers, including
girls. Once at the ham radio station, the communication typically involves talking on a
microphone and listening on the station speakers. However, many forms of specialized
communication may also be taking place, such as video communication, digital communication
(much like sending a message on your smartphone but transmitted by radio), or communication
through a satellite relay or an earth-based relay (called a repeater). The exchanges include
such information as name, location (called QTH in ham speak), Scout rank, age, and hobbies.
The stations you’ll be communicating with can be across town, across the country, or even
around the world! The World Scout Bureau reported that the 2017 JOTA-JOTI had over 1.5
million Scout participants from more than 160 countries.
(Information sourced from https://www.scouting.org/international/jota-joti/jota/ )