[KokomoHams] JOTA Plan

[Jeff Burns]

This is my current plan for JOTA. If anyone has any other ideas please feel
free to make suggestions.

Call Sign 
We have reserved K2BSA/9 for the weekend. 

Stations
It looks like we have enough volunteers to run three HF stations. One will
be the permanent camp station. The two others will be field day style
stations. One will be set up by the Kokomo Amateur Radio Club, and the other
by the Cass County Amateur Radio Club. Hopefully, each group will have a few
extra people that can help staff the camp station. 

Bands / Modes
Modes of operation may include SSB, PSK31, and RTTY. Youth are very
interested in CW as well, but it is very difficult to have them actually
contact someone on the air. Since our operations will be during the day, I
expect to use 40, 30, 20, and 17 meter bands. One of the portable stations
will take 40m. The other one will use 20m. The camp station has an automatic
antenna tuner so it can operate on 30 and 17 meters. If any of these bands
are not yielding any contacts it may be necessary for two stations to work
on the same band simultaneously.

If band conditions are poor we can use 2m FM.

Equipment
I expect each group will be able to provide plenty of equipment for their
station. I will have my portable HF equipment along to use as backup. I have
a 20m Moxon Rectangle antenna that changes its pattern by 180 degrees with
the press of button. It is nearly as easy as a dipole to put up, but has
much better performance. I also have coaxial stub filters for the 20 and 40
m stations. With these filters in place the two antennas can be nearly on
top of each other and not experience interference. Does anyone have a 40m
dipole they can bring?

Location
In 2001 we had the stations spread out over a large area. This helped keep
interference to a minimum, but it was difficult to get the boys to the
correct stations on time. If all the stations are within eyesight of one
another it will simplify logistics. One of the stations can be located at
the Nature Center. Another station can be in or near the dining hall. This
spacing will be a little close for two stations to operate in the same band.
However, with reduced power it should be workable. Other possible locations
for a station include the Winter Quarters and the swimming pool area, but
this would not allow the stations to be within eyesight of each other.
Electrical power is available at all locations. 

Other activities
In addition to the radios we need to have some other activities at the
stations. This will allow those that are not using the radios to have
something to do. Displays about how radios work, CW games, displays of
equipment, APRS, and anything else we can come up with would be great. With
the stations close together the kids will also be able to walk back and
forth between them. This will make it possible for them to see the
activities at more than one station.

Food
The scouts will go back to their camps for lunch. We will need to have our
own food then. The simplest solution for lunch is to have each person bring
a sack lunch. This is what I will plan unless I get a volunteer to make
everyone lunch. An evening meal is being prepared for everyone in camp. All
the amateur radio volunteers are welcome to participate in this meal, but
will need to pay a small fee. I do not know yet how much they will be
charging for the meal.

Accommodations
Tent camping space will be available for anyone wishing to spend either
Friday or Saturday night. 


If anyone has any good ideas please share them. I am looking forward to a
fun weekend of radio and Scouting. 

73

Jeff Burns
AD9T