JOTA/JOTI. GB1SJM
1st Margate (St John’s) Scout Group.
Durban Road. Margate. CT92TE
Supported by The Hilderstone Radio & Electronics Club, G0HRS.
Since taking on the role of Events Officer for the club three years ago, each year we have pencilled in JOTA in the clubs calendar & each year for one reason or another we haven’t been involved despite pushing our availability. So in June of this year when we received an email asking for our assistance I was a little sceptical, I shouldn’t have been!
After an exchange of emails with John the Group Scout Leader, 1st Margate (St John’s), one Wednesday afternoon I made the long trek from home (less than a hundred yards) to the Scout HQ in Durban Road, Margate.
In John I found a Scouter who had been involved in previous JOTA’s so knew what was required but more importantly was extremely enthusiastic for what amateur radio could offer the Scouts. I was happy that the club would at last be able to assist in JOTA & allow more young people to experience Amateur Radio. The clubs involvement at Wellesley House School during the contact with Tim Peake on the International Space Station was a real highlight of last year’s activities, could JOTA be this?
Over the summer plans gradually developed, the club agreed to assist, the Scout Group confirmed plans for about 60 Scouts, Cubs & Beavers would be attending the weekend. I obtained the NoV for the clubs call sign for the Special Event Station getting the Call GB1SJM, One St John’s Margate.
Along with the SES the club would also offer a Morse class & assist with teaching the phonetic alphabet if required. We also had plans in place to use the local UHF repeater, GB3EK, linked to a JOTA chat room via Echolink if HF conditions failed us.
On Friday afternoon Matt, M0LMK & myself arrived at the Scout HQ met John & set up the HF antenna in preparation for the weekend. Friday afternoon proved to be very fortuitous as it literally was the lull between two storms. The previous night we had been subjected to a Force 8 Gale & Saturday it was forecast that Storm ‘Brian’, with potential Force 9 Strong Gale winds would blow through. As it was ‘Brian’ was not as violent as forecast along the South Coast. The 40m dipole was strung between a flagpole & a disused telephone pole at no more than 7m above ground.
Saturday morning proved to be breezy but bright & dry. The rest of the station was installed & the ‘radio room’ set up to be shared with the Morse class & the phonetic alphabet training along with the PMR radios. All went well & only slightly after scheduled the first group of nine groups of six arrived. With only a short break for lunch it was all go, all day. Most of the youngsters had an opportunity to send a greetings message over the air to a radio amateur who had called into the station or more excitingly another JOTA station.
We were very fortunate to find a good radio path between Margate & Foston, Lincolnshire. GB1SJM regularly through the day exchanged messages with GB1GDS. Some of the youngsters were a little ‘mic shy’ & needed a bit of coaching to pass their message whilst others gave the impression they were old hands. Two young scouts had the thrill of talking to an amateur radio station established on a yacht sailing in the Orkney’s, whilst sending their greetings message they could see pictures of the yacht, as we brought up the operators website on the computer. Something they wont forget too soon. Another station contacted was more than a little surprised to be asked, “what is your favourite ice-cream flavour?” He admitted it was one of the most unusual questions he had been asked over the air & after a little thinking time he replied “Raspberry Ripple”.
Whilst these activities were taking place in the ‘radio room’ in the other hut the following activities were taking place, classes on British Sign Language, Semaphore, contacts using Skype & VOIP for JOTI, as well as Kite making. Sadly the kites made were not quite large enough to lift an antenna, nor did we have the space to safely do so. Though I did see a few flying quite well on a short tether!
All too soon it was 5:30pm & the end of the days activities. Whilst the youngsters were ushered off for their evening meal we dismantled the radio station ready to leave. But, before we left it was a real pleasure & surprise for each club member to be personally approached by the Group Scout Leader thanked & then presented with a JOTA/JOTI patch, a very nice touch.
This was a very successful event & I hope the first of many in the future.
Members involved.
- G0PDZ – Ian
- M0LMK – Matt (On Friday & on air Saturday)
- G7OHO – John
- 2E0DUE – Ian
- 2E0PGC – Phil
- G0GNQ – Len
I close this report with a comment from the GSL…
‘Thanks to you all! It really was a great weekend for us, especially Saturday. All the youngsters and adults alike are still buzzing. The Beavers, Cubs and Scouts all mixed so well, with the older ones helping the younger ones. They loved the ‘hands-on’ opportunities doing things that the majority have never done before.
Looking forward to future collaboration,
John.
Group Scout Leader’
Thanks from the Hilderstone to the Scouts of Thanet for this opportunity to demonstrate amateur radio to them. To answer my own question earlier in this report, yes in my opinion, this was the highlight of the years events for the club.
Ian Lowe, G0PDZ.
Events Officer, Hilderstone Radio & Electronics Club, G0HRS.
Ian, G0PDZ operating GB1SJM
