The image above is the QSL card for the 2019 World Scout Jamboree and the official amateur radio station NA1WJ. The call sign stands for North America’s 1st World Jamboree. The Jamboree is hosted by a team composed of Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
I’ve written about the operation before at 2019 World Jamboree — NA1WJ. That was the early update from December 2017. At this point, roughly 13 months before the Jamboree, we’ve made considerable progress.
You can find a quick overview of the planned operation at World Jamboree — NA1WJ and a much more detailed operations plan at NA1WJ World Jamboree Operations Plan. We’ve currently posted version two of the plan, with continued revisions underway.
We’ve been allocated 40 staff members. They will be spending roughly three weeks living in a tent — working night and day. Plus, they will all be not only amateur radio operators from around the world, but long time Scouting members with substantial experience demonstrating amateur radio operation to Scouts. Plus, they get to pay for their travel and their stay in West Virginia. It’s an incredibly dedicated group of Scouters.
We’re still recruiting staff members. Our full allocation of USA staff members has been filled, but many other countries have yet to post their lists of International Service Team staff members to the Jamboree recruiting system. We have a list of highly qualified individuals that should get us to our 40 allocated team members. You can find the current list of staff at World Jamboree Staff Members.
We will be operating HF with two hex beams, dipoles, and verticals provided by DX Engineering and MFJ. Our transceivers will be provided by Icom America. Let’s hope for improved HF propagation.
We will also be operating VHF-UHF and repeaters, also provided by Icom America. You can find out more about the repeaters at WV8BSA Repeaters. They are D-Star and Echolink capable. DMR is also possible from a nearby repeater. We will further be operating a nightly net on the two meter repeater for everyone on site as well as those checking in through Echolink.
We will have satellite coverage with a full azimuth-elevation auto-controlled antenna set up and IC-9100 rigs from Icom. Our proposal for a contact with the International Space Station is currently in development.
In summary, it will be a big operation. 38,000 Scouts will be in attendance and we are planning to get rough 3,000+ on the air. We could use your assistance on the other side of the QSO. It won’t be a quick one, because we want you to talk with the Scouts and share your location, your Scouting and amateur radio experience, and hear about their Jamboree experience.
Your reward? The satisfaction of helping us introduce amateur radio to the next generation and, with your request, we’ll sent the QSL card above.
Mark your calendars — July 21 to August 2, 2019.
