In something of a pre-JOTA warmup, the Society hosted a group from Cromer Cub Scouts for a visit on the evening of Tuesday 23 August. It was a cold, wet, night out, but the wood fire took the chill of the clubhouse, and the dozen or so scouts brought plenty of enthusiasm that kept us all warm enough.

We set up four activities for our visitors:

  • Introduction to Encryption, with Submariner in Residence, Richard Ames VK2NRA
  • Morse Code with Leo Gulley VK2LEO, ably assisted by the appropriately-named Scout the dog
  • Getting your HF ears on with Dave Mack and Richard Murnane VK2SKY
  • Build a station with Des Cottle VK2TGJ

The event was coordinated by Malcolm Faed VK2TMF, filling in for Jeff Keating VK2MZZ.

Assorted Scout leaders and parents were also in attendance, keeping things under some semblance of control (HI).

Richard VK2NRA introduces the Cubs to encryption

Richard Ames gave a great presentation on the history of encryption, going back at least as far as the Caesar Cypher, up to its importance in today’s modern security-sensitive communications such as banking.

Leo Gulley was in charge of the Morse buzzers, and the room was filled with the sounds of dits and dahs. Somehow we missed getting a photo of Leo and Scout in action; a pity because the Morse turned out to be one of the most popular activities of the evening!

Des VK2TJG show the Cubs how to put together a basic VHF radio station

Des Cottle showed the kids how to put together a functioning radio station using a VHF mobile rig, coax cables, and SWR meter. The antenna was already set up out side, but be we didn’t have them raising the mast as we usually do for JOTA, due to it being dark, wet, and windy outside: Workplace Health and Safety, don’t you know…

Dave Mack got the kids on HF with the club station

In the main shack, Dave Mack showed the Cubs the basic operation of the big rig (Yaesu FT-1000MP) and they conducted a quick 40m QSO with Richard Murnane on an Icom IC-705 portable with 100mW into a 2m vertical whip. DX it wasn’t, but the kids enjoyed it; it also turns out that there is amusement value to be had from a demonstration of what happens when one sideband station “drifts off frequency”!

All in all, a good event, prompting suggestions for new things to try form JOTA in October. Thanks to all who took part, especially Cromer Cubs for paying us the visit!