We’ve just started working with the 2019 World Jamboree leadership on the amateur radio activation. It will be a part of Centro Mundial and in turn part of Living in the 21st Century and Communications/Media. This broader area includes exhibits that support conservation, sustainability, ethics/faith/belief, STEM, vocations/avocations, and inclusion.
The amateur radio operation fits nicely with STEM, avocations or hobbies, and certainly serves as an entry point for vocations. You can see the early operational vision document at World Jamboree — NA1WJ. Our goals are to introduce the science, technology, fun, and magic of amateur radio operation to Scouts and Scout leaders from around the world. We’ll also serve as the amateur radio voice of the Jamboree via two-way radio contacts within the Jamboree and worldwide.
The current vision by and large sees a similar operation to the 2013/2017 USA National Jamborees with an extensive demonstration station, ARDF-Foxhunting, and special events that include satellite contacts, an International Space Station contact, balloon launches, as well as low-power portable activation at Garden Ground on the Summit property. Since the Radio Merit Badge doesn’t apply worldwide, we won’t offer that instruction.
Much of the equipment is in storage at the Summit. This includes antennas, cables, and more. We also hope to have Icom America transceivers on loan.
The chosen amateur radio call sign is NA1WJ, representing the first North American hosted World Jamboree. We would have liked to have WSJ as the last letters. But the USA’s FCC doesn’t allow three letters in a call sign for the NA prefix. They also don’t allow two numbers, such as 24 for the 24th World Scout Jamboree.
We did not feel that the K2BSA call sign would be suitable as the World Jamboree hosts are Scouts Canada, Scouts Mexico, and the Boy Scouts of America. The NA1WJ call sign seems more inclusive of this team effort for all of North America.
You can learn more about the World Jamboree at these links https://www.2019wsj.org and https://wsj2019.us If you’re involved in Scouting and want to participate in the Jamboree, you can learn more at How BSA Members Can Participate in the 2019 World Scout Jamboree.
Stay tuned to learn more about this upcoming operation in July 2019.
Jim, would you guys possibly consider putting up an NVIS antenna cut for 80 and/or 40 meters? I would like to try contacting you guys again from Camp Mountaineer just up the road in Morgantown.
Hi Bill, this is something we will consider in further planning. There were a number of people that got on the air with use from the surrounding areas. I’m not entirely sure of our operating hours at this point. For the USA Jamboree we were only on from about 8 AM to 6 PM. That may hinder the utility of 80 meters. Don’t hesitate to remind me as the plans come into better focus. 73, Jim, K5ND
Love the call sign, excellent idea. Both Scouting and radio cross national boundaries.
I’ll try to work y’all from W6 land.
There was a recent request to the FCC to allow multiple numbers and more letters in special event amateur call signs. Maybe some day. But NA1WJ is fine with me.
wunder
My hunch is that the call sign rules won’t change any time soon. Here’s the outcome of a recent request to do 1 x x 1 call signs. http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-dismisses-radio-amateur-s-petition-to-revise-call-sign-rules
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