FRRL Participation with the Boy Scouts
ISS Contacted During Boy Scout "Klondike"
Standing on a small knoll covered with snow, Dick called, “NA1SS this is W9CEQ, Whiskey Nine Charlie Echo Quebec, do you copy?” The small Kenwood HT answered back, “W9 Charlie Echo Quebec this is NA1SS.” To the delight and amazement of fellow FRRL members, Dick AH6EZ made an unplanned voice contact with Commander William McArthur aboard the International Space Station on Saturday, January 21st during a Boy Scout “Klondike Derby.”
Boy Scouts from the Maramech Hill District, Three Fires Council participated in several winter events held at the Kendall County Fairgrounds near Yorkville, Illinois. Nearly 300 Scouts and their leaders camped out, cooked, and completed special events during the 3 day outing.
Scoutmaster Jason Kocher contacted the FRRL in early January to have an amateur radio demonstration available for the event. Club Secretary John Spasojevich K9COE contacted fellow club member Greg Braun N9CHA to recruit assistance for setting up a portable station. Two additional club members, Dick Illman AH6EZ and Mike Bently K9FBI joined in the effort.
Early Saturday morning, after nearly ten inches of snow had fallen over the Fox Valley area, the four club members set out for the fairgrounds. They were equipped with a Kenwood TS-430S HF transceiver, Buddipole antenna, Yaesu FT-8800 VHF/UHF transceiver, home-built dual-band J-pole, Kenwood TH-D7A, and an Arrow dual-band yagi.
Several Boy Scouts had an opportunity to talk to amateurs from around the area through the FRRL repeaters. They also made several HF contacts using both voice and data transmissions. A radio spectrum chart was used to explain the various frequency allocations used in the US. Several questions regarding universal time, the phonetic alphabet and call sign districts were answered by the FRRL members.
Here is a copy of the special event W9CEQ QSL card that was sent to the stations the Boy Scouts worked.
Future demonstration stations may be required by the area Boy Scouts. If you would like to participate in these type of activities, please contact: Greg Braun, N9CHA.
Here are a few photos of this 2006 event.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Here's a video of the event.