What is Jamboree-On-The-Air (JOTA)?
'JOTA is an annual event in which Scouts and Guides all over the world connect with each other by means of amateur radio. Short-wave radio signals carry their voices to virtually any corner of the world. It's the shear excitement of having a live conversation with a fellow Scout or Guide at some other place in the world that attracts so many young people to this event. JOTA-JOTI is a real Jamboree during which Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared.' Quote from: https://www.jotajoti.info/jota
The modern Jamboree event over the third weekend in October now includes radio communication using a variety of radio bands and methods of communication, including voice, text, image transmission and morse code. Communication using the Internet is also used with a variety of mechanisms.
'JOTA is an annual event in which Scouts and Guides all over the world connect with each other by means of amateur radio. Short-wave radio signals carry their voices to virtually any corner of the world. It's the shear excitement of having a live conversation with a fellow Scout or Guide at some other place in the world that attracts so many young people to this event. JOTA-JOTI is a real Jamboree during which Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared.' Quote from: https://www.jotajoti.info/jota
The modern Jamboree event over the third weekend in October now includes radio communication using a variety of radio bands and methods of communication, including voice, text, image transmission and morse code. Communication using the Internet is also used with a variety of mechanisms.
Jamboree On The Air / Internet, 20 - 22 October 2023
Activity at Huish Woods has had to be cancelled unfortunately.
Activity at Huish Woods has had to be cancelled unfortunately.
Jamboree On The Air / Internet, 14-16 October 2022
Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) and Jamboree On The Internet (JOTI) ran at Huish Woods Scout Camp Site, near Taunton in the county of Somerset.
Scouts were on the air between 14:00 and 17:00 local time on Saturday 15 October. Operation was mainly on 40 m SSB HF. The callsign used was GB2TWH. We also spoke to one station using DMR on the Phoenix network via the GB7FI repeater in Axbridge.
Activities included JOTA, JOTI, Morse Code key construction, navigation beacon reception (reading the Morse Code identification signals) and a communications themed trail.
Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) and Jamboree On The Internet (JOTI) ran at Huish Woods Scout Camp Site, near Taunton in the county of Somerset.
Scouts were on the air between 14:00 and 17:00 local time on Saturday 15 October. Operation was mainly on 40 m SSB HF. The callsign used was GB2TWH. We also spoke to one station using DMR on the Phoenix network via the GB7FI repeater in Axbridge.
Activities included JOTA, JOTI, Morse Code key construction, navigation beacon reception (reading the Morse Code identification signals) and a communications themed trail.
Jamboree On The Air / Internet, 15-17 October 2021
The NOV for GB2TWH was obtained with arrangements made to set up the station this year at the West Hatch Scout Group Headquarters. Unfortunately, a number of the Scouts who were interested in participating have been affected by Covid and are isolating. The event was determined not to be viable and was cancelled.
The NOV for GB2TWH was obtained with arrangements made to set up the station this year at the West Hatch Scout Group Headquarters. Unfortunately, a number of the Scouts who were interested in participating have been affected by Covid and are isolating. The event was determined not to be viable and was cancelled.
Jamboree On The Air / Internet, 16-18 October 2020
It was not possible to run JOTA at Huish Woods in 2020. The international event did still happen and Scouts could listen to the amateur radio bands using one of the on-line radio receivers: http://websdr.org/
Frequencies in the 40 m (7000 - 7200 MHz LSB) being the most likely place to find many of the stations participating.
An explanation on how to use websdr can be found on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQMpei-N31U
There are other videos on YouTube explaining how to use websdr.
It was not possible to run JOTA at Huish Woods in 2020. The international event did still happen and Scouts could listen to the amateur radio bands using one of the on-line radio receivers: http://websdr.org/
Frequencies in the 40 m (7000 - 7200 MHz LSB) being the most likely place to find many of the stations participating.
An explanation on how to use websdr can be found on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQMpei-N31U
There are other videos on YouTube explaining how to use websdr.
This year's JOTA event took place at Huish Woods Scout Camp Site on Saturday 19th October 2019. This is being hosted by West Hatch Scout Group with assistance from members of the Taunton & District Amateur Radio Club.
There were 2 HF radio stations, running SSB (voice) and data (screen + keyboard). There was also a UHF DMR radio station accessing the UK Phoenix network. This DMR radio communicated with GB7FI, a radio repeater in Axbridge. This repeater (network gateway) uses the internet to link to other amateur radio stations across the world.
Stations contacted included [callsign and country]:
On HF voice using SSB: PA1ET/JAMBOREE (Netherlands), OK1KCR/JAMBOREE (Czech Republic) and M0HEM (UK)
On HF data using FT8: HA1SU (Hungary), DG4HAD (Germany), LB6FG (Norway), F5UJQ (France), 9A2GB (Croatia) and SP3OWE (Poland)
On UHF DMR: GB5CSG (UK), VK3FNQS (Australia), GB1FES (UK) and SV5/G7DNM/P Dodecanese
Jamboree-Over-The-Internet (JOTI)
In addition to the over-air radio conversations, screen based communication was conducted over the Internet. Countries contacted included: UK, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Malta, Turkey, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Spain, Australia, South Africa and Tanzania.
There were 2 HF radio stations, running SSB (voice) and data (screen + keyboard). There was also a UHF DMR radio station accessing the UK Phoenix network. This DMR radio communicated with GB7FI, a radio repeater in Axbridge. This repeater (network gateway) uses the internet to link to other amateur radio stations across the world.
Stations contacted included [callsign and country]:
On HF voice using SSB: PA1ET/JAMBOREE (Netherlands), OK1KCR/JAMBOREE (Czech Republic) and M0HEM (UK)
On HF data using FT8: HA1SU (Hungary), DG4HAD (Germany), LB6FG (Norway), F5UJQ (France), 9A2GB (Croatia) and SP3OWE (Poland)
On UHF DMR: GB5CSG (UK), VK3FNQS (Australia), GB1FES (UK) and SV5/G7DNM/P Dodecanese
Jamboree-Over-The-Internet (JOTI)
In addition to the over-air radio conversations, screen based communication was conducted over the Internet. Countries contacted included: UK, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Malta, Turkey, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Spain, Australia, South Africa and Tanzania.
Taunton West Hatch Scout Group with members of the Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club operated a JOTA station at Huish Woods this year. Most operation was on 40 m SSB. HF conditions were not great although we did speak to the following stations:
GB2GDS Essex, Bob, via GB7FI using DMR
F4HAZ Vauben France, Fabrice
5B4SPA Pathos, Norman
OE5XSC Austria, Franz
F1GQB France, Alan
OK1KCR/J Czech, Rep
We also spent some time in the afternoon practicing Morse Code by listening to various aeronautical Non-Directional Beacons (NDB).
GB2GDS Essex, Bob, via GB7FI using DMR
F4HAZ Vauben France, Fabrice
5B4SPA Pathos, Norman
OE5XSC Austria, Franz
F1GQB France, Alan
OK1KCR/J Czech, Rep
We also spent some time in the afternoon practicing Morse Code by listening to various aeronautical Non-Directional Beacons (NDB).
Jamboree On The Air, 21st October 2017.
Thank you to members of Taunton & District Amateur Radio Club for supporting the event and also to the following stations we exchanged greetings with:
GB4BDS, M0EXM, PE2MB/J, GB2LSG, DL3VX, M1EAK, GB2JAM, GB6BBS, M0DZR, GB1HCV, GB5SIS, G8BBC, M0VLN, GB4TSS and K4WZV.
Operation was mainly voice using SSB on 40m with a little 70cm DMR. Local CW exchanges were also made on 15m ground wave, something new for this year and much enjoyed by the Scouts.
Thank you to members of Taunton & District Amateur Radio Club for supporting the event and also to the following stations we exchanged greetings with:
GB4BDS, M0EXM, PE2MB/J, GB2LSG, DL3VX, M1EAK, GB2JAM, GB6BBS, M0DZR, GB1HCV, GB5SIS, G8BBC, M0VLN, GB4TSS and K4WZV.
Operation was mainly voice using SSB on 40m with a little 70cm DMR. Local CW exchanges were also made on 15m ground wave, something new for this year and much enjoyed by the Scouts.
Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) took place on Saturday 15 October 2016 at Huish Woods.
Operation was mainly on 40m HF, all using SSB voice.
Operation on DMR was also tried as a new idea, using the callsign G8PLL DMR#2352196.
Stations contacted included:
VP8LP Falklands
GB1CAS Chilwell Scouts Nottingham
GB0ELR Lancashire
GB2HWC Sheffield Hants Scouts
OE5X Linz Austria Scout station
GB2GP Gilwell Park
GB2SPS Pembroke Dock
GB2TSD
M3OTM Peterlee Co Durham
and
NJ2BS Venture Crew 7373, New Jersey, USA (DMR)
GB2TWH stands for Taunton West Hatch which is the local Scout Group who organises the local participation in JOTA, hosted at the Huish Woods Scout Camp Site near Taunton, Somerset, South West England.
The callsign used, GB2TWH is a special event callsign issued by Ofcom, the independent regulator for the UK communications industries.
http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/amateur-radio/apply-notice-variation/
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Operation was mainly on 40m HF, all using SSB voice.
Operation on DMR was also tried as a new idea, using the callsign G8PLL DMR#2352196.
Stations contacted included:
VP8LP Falklands
GB1CAS Chilwell Scouts Nottingham
GB0ELR Lancashire
GB2HWC Sheffield Hants Scouts
OE5X Linz Austria Scout station
GB2GP Gilwell Park
GB2SPS Pembroke Dock
GB2TSD
M3OTM Peterlee Co Durham
and
NJ2BS Venture Crew 7373, New Jersey, USA (DMR)
GB2TWH stands for Taunton West Hatch which is the local Scout Group who organises the local participation in JOTA, hosted at the Huish Woods Scout Camp Site near Taunton, Somerset, South West England.
The callsign used, GB2TWH is a special event callsign issued by Ofcom, the independent regulator for the UK communications industries.
http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/amateur-radio/apply-notice-variation/
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Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) was running during the 17 & 18 October 2015. Operation was mainly on 40m, all using SSB voice. Beavers and Scouts completed a number of requirements towards their Communicator Badges.
Greetings messages were passed to 22 amateur radio stations in the UK, Turkey, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Norway, Spain and Hungary.
Stations contacted were: TA35AU, G8HXT, G8RZ, GB1WSC, GB0SSW, S52OW, 9A2YM, GB0FRS, GB2SDD, GB2FSR, OK1KVK, LA1JOTA, EC1DD, G3ZST, GB4SFR, GB8CS, GB1CSG, GW0EGH, G3PDH, 9A88AA, HG5ITU and G0KNK.
The station was provided and operated by members of the Taunton & District Amateur Radio Society.
Greetings messages were passed to 22 amateur radio stations in the UK, Turkey, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Norway, Spain and Hungary.
Stations contacted were: TA35AU, G8HXT, G8RZ, GB1WSC, GB0SSW, S52OW, 9A2YM, GB0FRS, GB2SDD, GB2FSR, OK1KVK, LA1JOTA, EC1DD, G3ZST, GB4SFR, GB8CS, GB1CSG, GW0EGH, G3PDH, 9A88AA, HG5ITU and G0KNK.
The station was provided and operated by members of the Taunton & District Amateur Radio Society.
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Jamboree On The Air ran at Huish Woods Scout Camp Site on Saturday 18 October 2014 from 10:00 to 16:00.
The radio station was operating on the High Frequency (HF) bands using Single Side Band (SSB) radio transmission. The antenna system used was a simple half wave dipole.
Greeting messages were passed to 13 amateur radio stations in the UK, Tunisia, Russia and Slovenia.
Stations contacted were: GB2WSG, 2E0DYM, GB2WHT, GX4WNR, GB100NNS, M0HEM, M5STC, GB3RS and GB2JAM on 40m. Stations contacted were: UG3G, S59EHI, UA3ADN and 3V8CB/Jamboree on 15m.
The radio station and operators were provided by Taunton & District Amateur Radio Society.
The radio station was operating on the High Frequency (HF) bands using Single Side Band (SSB) radio transmission. The antenna system used was a simple half wave dipole.
Greeting messages were passed to 13 amateur radio stations in the UK, Tunisia, Russia and Slovenia.
Stations contacted were: GB2WSG, 2E0DYM, GB2WHT, GX4WNR, GB100NNS, M0HEM, M5STC, GB3RS and GB2JAM on 40m. Stations contacted were: UG3G, S59EHI, UA3ADN and 3V8CB/Jamboree on 15m.
The radio station and operators were provided by Taunton & District Amateur Radio Society.