Jamboree on the Air
JOTA is an annual Scouting activity held on the third full weekend in October.
The Origin of JOTA
The event was first held in conjunction with the fiftieth anniversary of Scouting in 1957, and was devised by a radio amateur Les Mitchell G3BHK now SK.
“Little did I think when I drew up the plans and rules for the first event in 1958 that its popularity would increase and spread around the world,” Mitchell reminisced in 2000. “Even more astonishing is the fact that after all this time it still holds its popularity. In fact it has become the largest international Scout event ever.”
JOTA is now considered the largest event scheduled by the WOSM annually.
Every year Amateur radio operators from all over the world participate with over 500,000 Scouts and Guides to teach them about radio and to assist them to contact their fellow Scouts and Guides are also encouraged to send QSL cards.
How to Participate as Amateur Radio Operator?
Contact your local Scout council and see what may already be planned in your area and how you can help.
If nothing is currently planned, you can work with the local scout unit to set up a JOTA station or arrange for visits to your ham shack.
You can also participate just by making QSOs with the many JOTA stations that will be on the air.
JOTA Frequencies – WorldWide
| Band | SSB (phone) | CW (Morse) |
| 80 m | 3.690 & 3.940 MHz | 3.570 MHz |
| 40 m | 7.090 & 7.190 MHz | 7.030 MHz |
| 20 m | 14.290 MHz | 14.060 MHz |
| 17 m | 18.140 MHz | 18.080 MHz |
| 15 m | 21.360 MHz | 21.140 MHz |
| 12 m | 24.960 MHz | 24.910 MHz |
| 10 m | 28.390 MHz | 28.180 MHz |
| 6 m | 50.160 MHz | 50.160 MHz |
JOTA Frequencies – Europe
To avoid a conflict with the Worked All Germany contest, European JOTA stations will be active on these band segments
| 80 meters | CW 3.560-3.800 kHz | SSB 3.650-3.700 kHz |
| 40 meters | CW 7.040-7.200 kHz | SSB 7.080-7.140 kHz |
| 20 meters | CW 14.060-14.350 kHz | SSB 14.100-14.125 kHZ and 14.280-14.350 kHZ |
| 15 meters | SSB 21.350-21.450 kHz | |
| 10 meters | SSB 28.225-28.400 kHz |
Sources: