Scout Camps On The Air
Scout Camps On The Air or "SCOTA" was an idea I had to make it easier for scouts and scouters to get their location over the air. A lot of hams know how hard it can be to get a name like "Muskingum Valley Scout Reservation" over the air. Most camps have names that are taken from local history and that does not translate well on the radio.
At the 2010 National Jamboree, I met Mike Crownover, AB5EB. After we talked we had a plan to get this off the ground. We started the site scota.us and began creating the list of camps. As many know, 2 heads are better than one but in this case we needed more so we started the yahoo group scoutcamps_ota. With the group's help, we were able to get the camp list done. Now to operate!
We have activation and Scout/Scouter/Ham operating awards set up also. Check the website for information.
BSA Radio Scouting
K2BSA is the callsign for the Boy Scouts of America. The K2BSA site has a great page on the history of the station that is a very good read. Please head over there and see where it began.
If you are a scouter and would like to use the K2BSA callsign, they will actually let you! There is a request process that can be found on the site. Really make that council event special.
The main operation of K2BSA is during the National Jamboree. In 2013 the K2BSA will be operating from the new home of the jamboree located in West Virginia. The new location is at the Summit Bechtel Reserve.
Hamfests & Scouting
In 2007, there was a group of scouting hams that met on the Scout Radio Yahoo group. They had an idea to get together to promote amateur radio and scouting at Hamvention in Dayton, OH. After a self paid first year, the ARRL offered support and has sponsered the booth as part of the ARRL section. In 2011, we branched out and the booth was part of Hamcom. The texas group was well received and we hope that this model can be used at the other major hamfests in the US.
Thanks also to the Antique Wireless Association Museum.
In 2008, Bob Hobday, N2EVG, made a spark gap transmitter (Sparky) and
receiver per the design in the 1911 BSA handbook. (It is the very first
handbook put out by the BSA) Parts for Sparky are original to the
period and donated by the Museum. Bob says the tx/rx is +/-800mhz. **Update: Sparky was lost in a fire March 15, 2013.
One thing that can be said is that we have been well received each year. Our days are spent talking to hams and scouters who are involved in their local council and those who were scouts and want to get involed again.
