Oklahoma Scouting Hams make news

News from station WB5BSA during JOTA is going viral.

The Daily Oklahoman will have an expanded multimedia feature online of the
ISS contact to appear sometime this week.

Ham Nation is interested too.  Ham nation is an amateur radio podcast hosted
by Bob Heil (K9EID) and Gordon Cooper (WB6NOA).

They would like to interview about the ISS contact we made and the Barbed
Wire antenna we used to make the QSO as well as interview one of the Eagle
Scouts that worked QSO's from our station, Carey McCachern KF5IXE.

You can download the podcast later from iTunes or
http://twit.tv/show/ham-nation

Boy Scout Jamboree on the Air

Communications folks, making sure that you are aware that this weekend is the Boy Scout Jamboree on the Air.  This is a yearly worldwide event that introduces youth to amateur radio, and also allows Scouts to connect/fellowship with other Scouts in far-away places.

There are numerous JOTA activities around.  Here in Oklahoma City, there will be activities at John Nichols Scout Ranch including having radios on-the-air for Scouts, an electronic fox-hunt (radio detection/direction-finding); and a hands-on demonstration of radiosurgery.  The day will end at John Nichols with attempting to make voice and visual contact with the International Space Station.

I know there is also a JOTA event going on at Dripping Springs Scout Camp near Arapaho, one over around Shawnee, and I think there are a couple of other places in the state.

For those of you who are hams, here are the freqs:

Operating Frequencies

The following frequencies are those established by the World Scout Bureau for use during the JOTA weekend.

Amateur Band	SSB/Phone	CW
80 meters	3.69 & 3.94 MHz	3.57 MHz
40 meters	7.19 & 7.27 MHz	7.03 MHz
20 meters	14.29 MHz	14.06 MHz
17 meters	18.14 MHz	18.08 MHz
15 meters	21.36 MHz	21.14 MHz
12 meters	24.96 MHz	24.91 MHz
10 meters	28.39 MHz	28.18 MHz

These are "calling frequencies". After contact has been made, you should move off that frequency (either above or below) to continue your contact and allow others to use the calling frequency.

Note: D-STAR reflectors REF019A and REF019C will also be active for JOTA weekend.

If you have the opportunity, go by and say "hi" to the Scouts at one of the events, take some gear and help some Scouts, and/or monitor some of the freqs and make contacts.

(If you're not around Boy Scouts, there is also a merit badge for "Radio" that they can earn.  Here's a great opportunity to be an "Elmer" (mentor)!)

 Thanks to Gayland Kitch, WX5MOR for this information.

Boy Scout Fall Festival Needs Ham Operators

The Boy Scouts have their Fall Festival on September 17th at the Jack Graves Scout Reservation in Broken Arrow, OK.

We are looking for a team of 2-4 that would like to attend this event and represent ham radio to the scouts. Contact Tom Stroud KD5OPH, 918-695-3735 or email at kd5oph@tulsahamradio.org for more info and to sign up.

Dripping Springs Field Day

Venture Crew 144 was active during Field Day with KA5BSA in western OK. (KE5BPL photo) 

KA5BSA takes time away from digital communication.  (KE5BPL photo)