Well, that’s another JOTA done and dusted. Thanks everyone on the MWRS JOTA team who participated (in callsign order):

  • VK2AXC Brian
  • VK2BT Tim
  • VK2DH Robert
  • VK2HX Chris
  • VK2JCC Colin
  • VK2JNA Dom
  • VK2LEO Leo
  • VK2MZZ Jeff
  • VK2SKY Richard
  • VK2TGO Geoff
  • VK2THT Sean
  • VK2TMF Mal
Chris VK2HX talking with Scouts about operating on HF

JOTA was a great team event, although the participating Scout numbers were down a bit, about 60 in total.

Chris VK2HX and the kids working HF

The Scouts and Guides ventured over from the campsite to the MWRS clubhouse, to get a taste of what the hobby of Amateur Radio has to offer, including a number various activities:

  • Operating HF radio, and an intro to radio propagation
  • Radio battleships between teams in the clubhouse and those in the Scout hall nearby
  • Introduction to Morse Code
  • Non-voice modes (J8Call and Slow Scan Television)
Giving the club HF set a workout
The perennial favourite: Radio Battleships… between the team in the clubhouse led by Dom VK2JNA
…and those in the nearby Scout hall (Sean VK2THT presiding)
Slow Scan TV (using the DroidSSTV app) and JS8Call, with Richard VK2SKY

Meanwhile, at the campground at Terrey Hills Public School, the budding electronics whizz-kids had a construction project, a sound activated light chaser. The finished project was fun to see the kids making sounds into the microphone.

“If it hurts and smells like chicken, you’re holding the wrong end of the soldering iron!”

The post-JOTA party continues at the club, with a Cubs visit on 14 November, with more visits planned throughout the year.

Thinking about your next JOTA or Scouting activity? Check out our JOTA resources post.