Scout Frequencies

Here’s detailed information on frequencies suggested as Scout amateur radio frequencies. These were initially suggested by the World Organization of the Scout Movement and their Jamboree on the Air organizer. As with all amateur radio frequencies they are a shared resource. If someone else is already on that frequency, move up or down to find a clear frequency for calling.

• All frequencies are shown as megahertz.
• Primary HF recommendations are for General Class licensees. Technicians may take advantage of 10 meters and VHF/UHF for voice communications.
• After contact is made on a Calling Channel or frequency, move to another channel or frequency for your QSO. You can also start calling CQ at other frequencies near the calling channel.
• Experiment with modes prior to JOTA or any Radio Scouting demo. ‘Murphy’s Law’ prevails!
• Use web search tools to find lots of helpful information about any of the modes commonly used for JOTA and Radio Scouting.
• WOSM (World Organization of the Scouting Movement) calling frequencies are shown to indicate center of international activity.
• There are several state QSO parties (contests) held that same weekend. Feel free to move your transmission to find a clear spot. Also the 30 m, 17 m, and 12 m bands are contest-free. See also below the information on the Worked All Germany Contest (WAG), which has designated contest-free frequencies to accommodate Jamboree on the Air.

FT8, MSK144, etc. using WSJT-X software can also be used. While demonstrations are somewhat dry, this mode does allow you to work stations and countries that you couldn’t otherwise hear. Use the standard frequencies as set in the WSJT-X software.

HF SSB Voice

HF CW

HF PSK-31

http://bpsk31.com 

Call CQ JOTA. The chart below shows the commonly used frequencies for PSK-31.

2 Meter FM Simplex

147.450, 147.480, 147.510, 147.540* * Use 147.540 as Calling Channel. Always listen first to avoid interfering with another QSO or auxiliary or control link. Avoid 146.520, the National FM Simplex Calling Frequency, as well as 146.550, which is commonly used by mobiles and RVers.

70 CM FM Simplex

446.000*, 445.950, 446.050, 446.100, 446.150 * Use 446.000 as Calling Channel. Always listen first to avoid interfering with another QSO or auxiliary or control link.

D-STAR

http://www.dstarinfo.com 

REF033A has been allocated as a full-time JOTA/Radio Scouting D-STAR Reflector. After contact is established, stations should disconnect from REF033A and connect to one or other repeater or migrate to an unused Reflector.

SIMPLEX Channels: 145.670*, 145.640, 145.610, 438.010. * 145.670  and 438.010 are commonly used as the National D-STAR Simplex Channels and should be used only as Calling Channels for JOTA. Always listen first to avoid interfering with another QSO.

DMR

http://www.dmr-marc.net 

All wide area talkgroups are permitted for use for JOTA for establishing contacts. After contact is established, stations should utilize as few resources as possible. For international, national, and regional QSO’s, stations should move their transmissions to one of the DMR-MARC UA talkgroups or to the DCI TAC-310 talkgroup.

For intrastate contacts, stations may use their area’s statewide talkgroup (if applicable). The use of your repeater’s local talkgroup (if applicable) is always permitted. A full list of repeaters and their available talkgroups can be found at http://www.dmr-marc.net/repeaters.html .

SIMPLEX Channels: 441.0000*, 446.5000, 446.0750, 433.4500, 145.7900*, 145.5100. All simplex frequencies operate on time-slot 1 and use color code 1. (*are commonly used as the National DMR Simplex Channels and should be used only as Calling Channels for JOTA. Always listen first to avoid interfering with another QSO.)

DMR-BRANDMEISTER

The 907 Talk Group has been established so youth can talk worldwide with each other under the correct supervision as outlined in each country’s amateur radio rules for Digital Networks and letting non Amateurs use your equipment on air. (Each Country does differ so do read your rules). The Talk Group is for Scouting, Girl Guides, Youth Groups, Schools and related youth activities.

BrandMeister DMR has set up a World Wide Talk group called 907 JOTA. TG 907 & Reflector 4907 (Open 365 days a year) 907 is only one talk group. Under your Amateur License you can use all Talk groups on BrandMeister. You might wish to talk to regions/countries away from 907.

What you will need to access TG 907 on Brandmeister-DMR: You will need a DMR radio. 907 added to you radio as a channel 907 or assess via reflector 4907. You will also need a Repeater or DV device linked to the Brandmeister network

Ham radio rules apply for making iniDal contact. It’s a good idea to establish contact and move your QSO off to another Talk Group. If TG 907 isn’t busy, it’s OK to stay there.

The two links below cover all Talk Groups & Reflectors world wide.

Talk Groups https://brandmeister.network/?page=talkgroups

Reflectors http://registry.dstar.su/dmr/reflector.db

Facebook Group — BrandMeister 907 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1644270179235342/

* Please note that currently three unique DMR systems exist world-wide: DMR+, DMR-MARC and Brandmeister.

AllStar

The Allstar node number is 29015 and it is designated the BSA JOTA HUB.

Users from around the world are welcome to use this hub for communications between sites and to find scouts at other sites. For more information about AllStar see https://allstarlink.org

IRLP

http://irlp.net 

http://www.irlptopics.net 

Use Topic Channel Node 9091 as a Common Meeting Place or Calling Channel. After contact, disconnect from 9091 and one station should connect to another’s local node.

EchoLink

http://www.echolink.org 

Software or apps available for Windows, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android. Dedicated Conference Nodes are *JOTA-365* (node 480809) and *JAMBO* (node 832996). When contact is made on a Conference Node, it is recommended the two parties establish direct contact with each other to free up the Conference Node.

APRS

144.39

http://aprs.org 

http://aprs.org/cqsrvr.html 

http://www.aprs-is.net/CQSrvr.aspx 

CQSRVR: CQ JOTA

CQSRVR: CQ SCOUTS (other times of the year)

WIRES-X

Yaesu suggests Wires-X rooms #21000 and #21003 for the scouts to use during the JOTA event.

Worked All Germany (WAG) Contest Free Frequencies

Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) stations looking for stations in Europe should consider that JOTA coincides with the Worked All Germany (WAG) contest. To minimize congestion, contest-free segments are defined in the contest rules so that these events coincide with minimal problems.

The contest-free zones as defined in the rules that can be found at https://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/conteste/worked-all-germany-contest/en/rules/
When looking for JOTA stations in Europe, please look in the following segments:

• 80m: CW – 3560 – 3800 kHz, SSB – 3650 – 3700 kHz
• 40m: CW – 7040 – 7200 kHz, SSB – 7080 – 7140 kHz
• 20m: CW – 14060 – 14350 kHz, SSB – 14100 – 14125 kHz and 14280 – 14350 kHz
• 15m: SSB – 21350 – 21450 kHz
• 10m: SSB – 28225 – 28400 kHz