How we operated at the Lewisville JOTA 2019 event K2BSA/5
by
Dale Finley, kb5nft
---------------------
Our Lewisville Amateur Radio Club “Digital JOTA” area
consisted of several different modes of operations. The primary area was
designed to allow scouts to see, send and hear PSk/RTTY/CW modes with as much
hands-on as possible. So, we set up 2 “Back to Back” laptops running Fldigi software
(no radio transmissions with antennas and actual radios were used) so that scouts with a minimum amount of
training could hear and send & receive messages on screen. This gave them the opportunity to sit next to
each other so that one scout could train the other scout then “hand-off” to
other scouts.
After I showed Garrett Mayes from troop 2819 a brief “how to
use Fldigi…” he then trained Ben Olden from troop 838 and they exchanged
messages using PSK back and forth. Then Ben Olden trained Ben Bowman and they exchanged messages from
laptop 1 to laptop 2.
Stephanie, Ben Bowman’s mom joined in and Ben explained to
her how to send and receive PSK messages… SNAP, the picture was taken. Ben’s mom and I talked about how teenagers tend
to not talk very much to their parents… Ben’s mom said, “Now I have a way to
communicate with my son”.
Our Fldigi setup was designed with external speakers and USB
dongle microphones on old laptops so that the scouts could hear as well as see their
messages. All acoustically coupled. It is also possible to use an iPhone app,
called PSKer on phones or tablets that can be used with minimum portable
setup. Or PSKer and a laptop, etc.
An MFJ code oscillator was used to show them CW. We had a
sample coding sheet that they could write their name and use the straight key
to send their name and simple messages… And, it is possible to use this method
with an App on an iPhone/Android and demonstrate different ham radio
modes. On the back of the sheet is a
“How to get a ham license”, in 3 easy steps…
A second area was setup with Echolink connected to JOTA-365.
It was very busy. A third area with
DStar was setup and Reflector 33A was so busy we couldn’t “break-in” so I drew
a block diagram on a white board explaining how ham radios are linked over the
internet.
In a forth area, Ferris Watson, WT5B had his Raspberry Pi
setup and was explaining how the Pi could be used with ham radio… He was also
decoding the Fldigi messages we were sending in the “Back to Back” setup area. One
scout, Max, was interested in the Raspberry Pi,
because he could play Minecraft on the Pi.
Our display table explained “EOM” on how to Educate
(teach scouts), Operate a radio
setup, and Mentor the scouts. With
licensed hams standing by as control operators and mentors, this method worked
very well with our “Digital JOTA” setups.
My goal was to help fulfill as may Radio Scouting Merit
Badge requirements as possible. I
believe we started these scouts on a “radio journey” and hopefully this
“STEMulized” them not only to get the Radio Scouting Merit Badge but to assist
them in getting a ham radio license.
de kb5nft
Ben Bowman and his Mother Stephanie
at the Lewisville Amateur Radio Association
JOTA station K2BSA/5 in North Texas
October 19, 2019
at the Lewisville Amateur Radio Association
JOTA station K2BSA/5 in North Texas
October 19, 2019
Scouts at North Texas JOTA event
Ben Bowman, Ben Olden and Garrett Mayes (L/R)
Back row left, Steven Lott Smith KG5VK ARRL NTX SM
Back row right, Mike Reitz W5EVT Scout Master and ARRL NTX ASM for Scouting
Ben Bowman, Ben Olden and Garrett Mayes (L/R)
Back row left, Steven Lott Smith KG5VK ARRL NTX SM
Back row right, Mike Reitz W5EVT Scout Master and ARRL NTX ASM for Scouting
No comments:
Post a Comment