Archive for Radio Scouting

Posted by Jim Wilson 
· February 24, 2021 

Radio Merit Badge Numbers 2020

You can find the full 2020 listing of merit badge numbers at Bryan on Scouting – 2020 merit badge rankings: A list rewritten by the pandemic.

Radio Merit Badge came in ranked at 90 with 3,550 earned. That’s down by 36% from 2019 at 5,519. You can find a chart below with the numbers displayed for each year beginning in 1990. You can find the full history at Radio Merit Badge History.

While it’s disappointing to see the drop in numbers for 2020, it’s actually quite amazing considering the pandemic lockdowns.

Congratulations to all those who continued to bring the Radio Merit Badge to so many Scouts.

Categories : Radio Scouting
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Posted by Jim Wilson 
· September 5, 2020 

COVID-19 Guidance for Radio Scouting Activities

We’ve pulled together the following information on dealing with COVID-19 that may prove useful to your Radio Scouting activities.

Please note that each state, municipality, and Scout council have their own guidance for addressing COVID-19 issues surrounding Scouting activities. You’ll need to take those into account when considering any Radio Scouting activities.

As starting points, we recommend the following online resources:

Work closely with your local Scout council and health authorities as guidelines are open to change as local conditions change.

We’ve also pulled together these comments about Jamboree on the Air and the Radio Merit Badge from Bill Stearns, NE4RD, Scouts BSA JOTA Team Lead and President of K2BSA ARA, as well as Gary Wilson, K2GW, the Scouts BSA Radio Merit Badge Subject Matter Expert.

Here’s what they have to say specifically about the QSO requirement for the Radio Merit Badge:

Bill, NE4RD — 
As was discussed during the Ham Expo, connecting your rig to a zoom/google meet/skype call is completely possible.  If an operator can figure out how to run WSJT-X, shouldn’t take much more effort to get voice to pass through to the rig.
Gary, K2GW — 
Bill’s right, but it gets even easier.  The contact requirement can be done with a simulated  QSO, even to the point of squeezing the PTT switch on an imaginary HT in the Scouts hand.
“Using proper call signs, Q signals, and abbreviations, carry on a 10-minute real or simulated amateur radio contact using voice, Morse code, or digital mode.”
I recently counseled two Scouts remotely where they simulated a QSO with me over FaceTime, then watched me via FaceTime make a real contact and took a tour of my shack remotely for their station visit.

Our sense is that you could easily complete the entire Radio Merit Badge through online options.

Please feel free to add your own thoughts and comments to this post. We’re sure there are many creative options available to continue with Radio Scouting activities during our stay-at-home time as well as engaging in Jamboree on the Air, October 16, 17, 18.
Categories : JOTA, Radio Scouting
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Posted by Jim Wilson 
· February 14, 2020 

WB4SA Telegraph Encrypt/Decrypt Game

WB4SA Central Florida Council – Radio Scouting Program

May 16th, 2020 is our Cub Pioneer Days Cuboree, an 1800’s theme event with Native American exhibits, cooking, camping and several historical activities.
So how could I get our very active Radio Scouting program involved… bring in the the Telegraph and teach the scouts Morse code, through osmosis. Most of the Cubs already learned SOS, as we taught it to 12,300 scouts last year as part of our monthly events at council.
Telegraph Encrypt/Decrypt game
A fun game where Scouts have to transcribe a message and get it to their partner via telegraph. Their partner has to write it out, then send an answer back. They work as teams and the fastest teams of the day win prizes. They can repeat the game as many times as they like, getting a new phrase each time. Each station SET involves two Morse code straight keys a good distance form each so that a pair of scouts can communicate with each other. We can do two teams at a time.  The phrases they use are simple one line Scout jokes, one sentence each way. The first couple times take a while, but they slowly learn/memorize each letters ‘dit-da code’ so they start transcribing the sentence to Morse much faster the more times they do it.

Example phrases… #1 sends it to #2…#2 decodes it, then replys with #2 answer…#1 decodes and shows judge/time keeper.
Cub 1: How can you tell if a buffalo is under your sleeping bag?
Cub 2: The ceiling of your tent is very close.

Cub 1: What do you find between the hooves of buffaloes?
Cub 2: Slow buffalo hunters.

Cub 1: What do you get when you cross peanut butter with a buffalo?
Cub 2: You either get peanut butter that roams the range or a buffalo that sticks to the roof of your mouth.

Cub 1: How can you tell a buffalo from a field mouse?
Cub 2: Try to pick it up. If you can’t, it’s either a buffalo or a very overweight mouse.

Cub 1: What time is it when a buffalo sits in your canoe?
Cub 2: Time to get a new canoe.

73 & YIS (Yours in Scouting),

Ken Lyons, KN4MDJ / Trustee for wB4SA

BSA – Central Florida Council – www.RadioScouting.US

Categories : JOTA, Radio Scouting
Posted by Jim Wilson 
· February 14, 2020 

K2BSA @ Hamvention 2020

It’s time to start organizing for the 2020 Hamvention in Xenia, Ohio, May 15 to 17, 2020.

We have purchased booth space and have the same location, Booth 2205 in Building 2.

We have rescheduled booth duty for 2 hour shifts this year instead of 3 hour shifts. Perhaps that will allow more people to help out while still maximizing their fun in the forums and flea market.

We plan to update the poster, the handout for Radio Scouting, and create a separate fact sheet for the Icom Scout Loan Station program. We will also develop a new stand-up sweeper with a photo of a Scouts BSA gal engaged with amateur radio.

We have posted a sign up sheet for booth duty at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jQFdLskd8_5xV9VyvwLhe1S1eouvprGFuf7bo8Rnbqs/edit?usp=sharing

We welcome those who would like to contribute their time and talent to share the benefits of Scouting with fellow amateur radio operators. Just sign up on the spreadsheet, or use the contact form for questions.

Categories : Radio Scouting
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All information on this website is provided to support Radio Scouting Activities. You are welcome to download and modify all materials in whole or in part for your Scouting activities.

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