Otschodela Council Amateur Radio Group (OCARG) is dedicated to the enhancement of the Scouting program through amateur radio and to the advancement of amateur radio in Boy Scouting.  Membership is open to any and all Scouters, amateur radio operators, and Scouting and ham clubs with an interest in the Boy Scouts of America, particularly within, but not exclusive of Otschodela Council, BSA, Oneonta, NY. There are no membership dues, no officers, no constitution, no newsletter charges, and no organized meetings. All communications are via email or ham radio. All that's required to join is an interest in Ham-Scouting and an email to the above Sender. OCARG is an FCC-licensed Amateur Radio Club Station with the callsign KZ2BSA.

Copies of the OCARG EAGLE are sent to many interested persons in addition to OCARG members. If you feel that you have received this bulletin in error and no longer wish to receive it, please send a message so stating to the above Sender k2frd@arrl.net.

This newsletter is brought to you in Living Color, compliments of Eudora Pro 5.1.3 emailer. If you have Rich Text Format (RTF) or stylized text capability and want to see everything as it was sent, make sure your RTF or styled text Preference/Option/Control Panel/Setting is turned ON or set. If you want to see it only in black typeface, turn it off.  Fonts are Comic Sans MS, Capital, and Mishiwaka Bold (with the slashed zero), available from Editor if desired. Note:  not all emailer clients can display both RTF/Styled Text (including images) and hyperlinks.

The online edition of the OCARG EAGLE may be found at:  http://home.stny.rr.com/k2frd/Sep03EAGLE.htm.

The OCARG EAGLE is mailed only via Blind CC to cut down on your header's size and to avoid providing a ready-made list to spammers.

© 2003 by Otschodela Council Amateur Radio Group KZ2BSA
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INDEX VOL 4 N0. 1

Volume 4 and Counting
Summer Ends; What Did You Do?
JOTA, JOTA, JOTA
Register Your JOTA Activity
JOTA Spots
JOTA Frequency Conflict Update
Brittania Rules The Waves
Troop 99's June Campout And Lesson
Dress Your Key Properly
Editorial - @ The Crossroads: The Future of OCARG and the EAGLE
Upcoming VE Sessions
Scoutmaster's Minute

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VOLUME 4 AND COUNTING

With this issue, the OCARG EAGLE begins a new publication year and a new Scouting year. It seems incredible that we have come so far for so long, but we now have subscribers from at least 14 States, two Provinces, and six countries with many others viewing the EAGLE online. We are still the only known publication dedicated to amateur radio and Scouting. But, we are at a crossroads; please see the Editorial near the end of this edition.

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SUMMER ENDS; WHAT DID YOU DO?

Everyone has back-to-school stories to tell, mostly about what they did during the summer. We would like to hear from you!

Anecdotes, narratives of camping trips, Scout Camp adventures, ham radio activities - all these stories can be shared with others. We learn from others' experiences and add them to our own to create and improve the Scouting program.

If you have a story to tell of what you did last summer, please pass it along!

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JOTA! JOTA! JOTA!

For starters, here's the basic information sites:

Boy Scouts of America (BSA):
http://www.scouting.org/international/jota.html

World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM):
http://www.scout.org/wse/jota.shtml

American Radio Relay League (ARRL):
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/jota.html

More ARRL JOTA details:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/#scout

While most JOTA operations occur during the day on Saturday, often as part of a camporee or other Scouting activity, many Scouts and hams like to "beat the crowds" and make contacts on Friday and Sunday of JOTA weekend.

Designated JOTA frequencies should be regarded as calling frequencies only. Once contact has been established, it is desirable to move up or down to carry on QSOs and free the "calling frequency" for others.

Band                      SSB (phone)    CW (Morse code)
80 meters    3.740 / 3.940 MHz    3.590 MHz
40 meters    7.270 MHz    7.030 MHz
20 meters    14.290 MHz    14.065 MHz*
17 meters    18.140 MHz    18.080 MHz
15 meters    21.360 MHz    21.140 MHz
12 meters    24.960 MHz    24.910 MHz
10 meters    28.390 MHz    28.190 MHz

*The "Official" 20m CW calling frequency is 14.070. However, this frequency is on top of the international PSK31 frequency and should be avoided to prevent interference.

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REGISTER YOUR JOTA EVENT

From Jean Wolfgang At ARRL's Field and Education Services:

It seems every year I receive calls and emails at the last minute from scout troops, packs and dens that want to participate in JOTA but don't know who to contact for help.  As a result, last year we asked hams to "register" their upcoming JOTA event at

http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/youthskeds/ .

This proved very successful.  I was able to link several scouts with existing JOTA events.

 It is time to begin registering your JOTA 2003 event .   Click on "add a sked listing."  Click "JOTA" and add your information.  Your information will be posted in a day or two and will disappear after the JOTA weekend.

For more information on JOTA 2003, please visit  http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/#scout .
 

Jean Wolfgang,  WB3IOS
ARRL Field & Educational Services

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JOTA SPOTS

A couple EAGLE readers have sent in their JOTA plans with the hope of making contact with other EAGLE subscribers. If you can get your JOTA details to the EAGLE before 15 October, we'll list them here since the next EAGLE will be coming our just before JOTA. Here they are, not in any particular order:

--Look for K2BSA/3 on during JOTA from Camp Horseshoe, Chester County Council, PA.

73 DE Cullen -  K5HAL

--KZ2BSA will be on SSB, CW, and PSK31 on 20 meters and other open HF bands. Locally in the Otchodela Council radio area, 2m message traffic originating from Scouts will be passed on the 146.685, 146.850, and 146.955 repeaters.

--The name here is Daryle. My call sign is WB7TNE. I am an ASM in Troop
667, Gateway district, Denver Area Council(DAC).

The Denver Area Council Camporee will be taking place SEPTEMBER 19-
21st,2003. There will be ,among the many interactive displays on the
midway,an Amateur Radio station. It will be an interactive
display, also. Three callsigns will be active from the event:
WB0CXJ, KC0EVL, and WB7TNE. The group will be operating on frequencies
80-10 meters and possibly 160, conditions permitting. WB7TNE will be
active on sstv, mainly on 20 meters, on 14.230 or close by.

There will be an SSTV QSL with the Camporee Logo, available on air,
as either a contact QSL or SWL card for those able to contact or copy
the event Stations on SSTV. The event station will have an RC ROVE
CAM grabbing picture shots as we tour the camp by RC CAM. We hope to
be able to serve as many Scouts and Cub Scouts as possible via
Amateur Radio.

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JOTA 20M CW FREQUENCY CONFLICT UPDATE

As reported in the EAGLE during the first half of this year, the published and advertised 20 meter CW JOTA frequency of 14.070 conflicts with the international PSK31 frequency "band". While the WOSM has decided to take the "do nothing" option with regard to changing the frequency, many hams and ham-Scouters around the world have spread the word that the new 20m CW calling frequency is 14.065. The OCARG JOTA website at
<http://home.stny.rr.com/k2frd/JOTA.htm>http://home.stny.rr.com/k2frd/JOTA.htm is still new, but an average of more than one hit per dayand a high placement in the search engines indicates "the word" continues to spread.

A number of us will be monitoring 14.070 and logging any CW interference to document future frequency requirements.

de K2FRD

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BRITANNIA RULES THE WAVES

From Paul Lonsdale M3LHR--

I (Paul Lonsdale) have just ceased being Assistant Beaver Scout Leader
at 3rd Teddington Group, Richmond-Upon-Thames District, Greater London
South West. Beavers are 6 to 8 year old. 3rd Teddington only take boys,
and are the Group I have been associated with since joining as a Cub
Scout in 1968, aged 8. My son is currently a Cub with this Group. My
wife Marian is also an Assistant Beaver Scout Leader there and will
continue with the Group.
 

I am leaving to  become Group Scout Leader of 1st Teddington Group,
(also Richmond-Upon-Thames District, Greater London South West.).

The Group Scout Leader oversees all sections within the group (Beavers,
Cubs and Scouts). 1st Teddington accepts both boys and girls, and my
daughter is a Scout in the Group. They put out an SOS for a Group Scout
Leader and persuaded me to take the role!

 It turns out that Marian`s Grandfather was Scoutmaster (Old name for
Scoutleader) of 1st Teddington in the 1930s & 1940s. At the same time
her Great Uncle was Scoutmaster at 3rd Teddington !!

 Small world!

 Marian, myself and both my children gained UK Amateur Radio Foundation
Licenses in December 2002, inspired by a visit to GB2GP, the radio
station at Gilwell Park.
 The Foundation License is for beginners and the call is M3+3 letters.
Mine is M3LHR.

 However, I took my Radio Amateurs Examination in May 2003, and have
now been granted the Full License, which allows me full privileges on
all bands at up to 400 watts which is max legal power in the UK.

 My new license callsign is M0LHR. I am active on HF, PSK31 & Echolink.

 73 & Good Scouting

 Paul Lonsdale

ƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒ

TROOP 99'S JUNE CAMPOUT AND LESSON

Sidney, NY Boy Scouts from Troop 99 camped June 6/7 at state land in Bundy Hollow, Delaware County. Events included individual and patrol cooking, a short hike, saw and axe proficiency, "Leave No Trace" training, animal signs, a floating stick canoe race and amateur radio messages.

The troop would like to thank Lt. Darryl Kittle [DEC] for supplying the camping permit and amateur radio operator Al Mongardi [Sidney] K2EZK for relaying 4 messages home for Scouts originated by our C-corps man KC2JJY, Connor Hornbeck.

One Scout made a 1 mi. trip back to the cars for additional freight and got a bit turned around in the woods. The troop was glad to have the autopatch available from the 146.955  [127.3] PL repeater to call 911 and ask for help from the DEC for a presumed "lost hiker".

The Scout "found himself" about an hour and a half later when he found one of our trucks with a radio and called in his location (he's a ham). Lessons learned here were not to allow a Scout to move in the woods by himself [Remember the 'buddy system'?] and to be sure everyone has a compass and whistle. Also, we learned, that repeaters time out on autopatch calls; ex: a 3 minute call limit. Even though the operator lets up occasionally on the mic button, it does not reset itself as during normal 'rig-to-rig' comm.

However, it still allowed enough time for the 911 dispatcher to start assembly of a group to prepare to respond to the area. When the Scout was out of danger, two amateur operators answered a second call and were instrumental in alerting the 911 people to stand down on the previous emergency call.

A lesson for all of us is that we should try and listen to our local repeater as much as possible to be sure and "Be Prepared" to answer an emergency call.

Thanks also go to 911 dispatcher Trooper Robert Allen, amateur radio operators Brian Webster N2KGC [Cooperstown] and Jim Mills N2NBJ [Downsville] for their excellent response during the incident.

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DRESS YOUR KEY PROPERLY

Submitted by Jim LeBaron WA2IAX

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EDITORIAL - @ THE CROSSROADS:  THE FUTURE OF OCARG AND THE EAGLE

As some of you know, I will be starting a major lifestyle change at the end of this year, perhaps as early as late November when I become a Nomad or road-bum, an itinerant or vagrant, an RVer, (call me a Happy Wanderer) as I sell my home, hook up my camper trailer, and hit the road on a permanent fulltime basis. Since my father died in May and my mother is in fantasyland with her Alzheimer's, I no longer have any familial ties to a particular geographical area. I want to see this wonderful country and continent and maybe the whole western hemisphere while I'm young enough and my health hasn't deteriorated to the degree that I'm wheelchair-bound (it's gettin' close).

This issue of the OCARG EAGLE starts the fourth year of its publication. We've come a long way from spring of 2000 when a few of us Scouting hams at the K2BSA Special Event Camporee celebrating Troop One Unadilla, NY's 90th Anniversary decided to keep alive the Scouting Spirit and the ham enthusiasm generated by the Camporee by establishing the Otschodela Council Amateur Radio Group. A short newsletter for in-council use with only about a dozen subscribers evolved into a national and international monthly publication (except summer months) serving more than 100 Scouting hams in over 14 States, two Provinces, and six countries. To my knowledge, it is still the only publication dedicated solely to Scouting ham radio. I would like to keep it alive.

Problem or opportunity? I will have very limited access to the internet when I become a traveller. While I will have occasional access to the 'net at some libraries and campgrounds during my travels, I will not have the daily access required to maintain communications. While I will have some HF email contact with the world via WinLink, it is severely limited in speed (800 baud) and time availability (max of 45 minutes per day once contact is established).  Ideally, someone will come forward and assume editorship of the OCARG EAGLE. If so, please contact me now.

Alternatively, if an additional two or three people are willing to share the effort, I would be able to stay on as a central sorting facility, i.e. putting together the final draft ready to send out. In other words, if one person could send out the monthly solicitation for news and collect articles as they come in, another update the recurring sections (VE Sessions, Quotes), and another keep track of the subscription list and maybe do some solicitations, just maybe I can manage the rest from the road; details would have to be worked out later, but I think it can be done. Others can submit articles to whoever is collecting the news; either I can do the editor stuff (rewording, spelling, textual) or if someone is willing to take it over, I will be happy to defer to him/her.

One other task bears mentioning:  the OCARG Website and the monthly update of the online version of the EAGLE (virtually identical to the email version except with the addition of html tags for the hit counter and Google, the latter of which draws in readers from the search engines at an average of about two per day) is going to need a new Webmaster. Knowledge of simple html is necessary, but html is a lot easier than Morse Code (only about five tags to learn in html and the use of an html editor and/or WYSIWYG composer such as Netscape makes it easy and fun! Again, I would be willing to share the effort if someone else can head it up; this is also subject to details and back and forth coordination.

There isn't a lot of effort involved in putting together the monthly EAGLE. I normally spend three to four hours total per month with most of the time spent around the crunch of the 15th publication deadline. The pay is super:  every month, I receive messages from hams, Scouters, and ham-Scouters from around the world making favorable comment on the EAGLE and on OCARG. Often, these lead to new subscribers, news articles, and, of course, new friends.

So, please, dust off your keyboards, put your best foot forward, and help the EAGLE out: <mailto:K2FRD@arrl.net>K2FRD@arrl.net.

de Fred K2FRD

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UPCOMING VE SESSIONS

29 September 2003, 7PM, Vestal, NY Public Library, (607)754-7940.

11 October 2003, 1:30PM, Endicott, NY Central Fire Station, 607-797-5777.

18 October 2003, 2PM, Margaretteville, NY Telephone Co, 607-363-7617.

27 October 2003, 7PM, Middleburgh, NY, St. Catharine's Church Hall, 518-827-4800.

27 October 2003, 6PM, Oneonta, NY Telecenter, 607-746-2777.

27 October 2003, 7PM, Vestal, NY Public Library, (607)754-7940.

8 November 2003, 1:30PM, Endicott, NY Central Fire Station, 607-797-5777.

24 November 2003,  7PM, Vestal, NY Public Library, (607)754-7940.

These are the only VE Sessions listed by ARRL for this area. If
someone knows of unlisted sessions, please send us an email at <mailto:k2frd@arrl.net>k2frd@arrl.net.

More details are in:  http://www2.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml

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SCOUTMASTER'S MINUTE

"Consult not your fears but your hopes and dreams. Think not about your
frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not
with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for
you to do." Pope John XXIII

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