JOTA/JOTI 2021
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“NTARC JOTA/JOTI preparations started to get serious on the Thursday before the event. Idris VK7IR, André VK7ZAB and Stefan VK7ZSB along with Peter VK7KPC descended onto the clubrooms to move some of the boat anchor class of displayed equipment into the main hall. While there, tables were set up for the JOTI operation, some old PC’s shifted to the garage ready for recycling and the Skype PC checked.
After lunch on Friday, tables in clubroom were repositioned, Echolink’s system checked and VHF and DMR transceivers connected. HF transceiver moved out of shack and into main clubroom area. Mid-afternoon rumours of the southern shut down started and these were confirmed a little later. Peter had a short trip home to try and promulgate alternate JOTI arrangements for those affected. He returned at about 5pm to allow access for the Scout people who were setting up the ten networked PC’s for the JOTI operation.
Saturday morning and thankfully no rain. Tony VK7YBG arrived to set up a test equipment display which would allow Scouts to see what their voice looked like. André, Stefan and Stuart VK7FEAT arrived not long after and started preparing the fox hunting equipment and hiding the foxes.
The JOTI team including 9 Venturer Scouts arrived about then and fired up their computers. This team were responsible also for hand sanitiser application and other duties as requested. Brendan VK7VIP, Kevin VK7KJL, Ian VK7IG and Idris arrived during the next hour to complete the operator team. There were homemade sausage rolls for lunch supplied by Kay which were consumed before the noon start time.
We had Scouts of various ages on site continuously from noon till 6pm with the last 2 hours fully booked. After the younger members left, the Venturers were free to order their pizzas and get ready for a long night of networked computer gaming. Meanwhile the remaining operators were treated to Tuna Mornay and apple turnovers for dinner again thanks to Kay.
André, Stefan, Tony and Ian returned for 10am start on Sunday. Brendan was given a late start voucher for his good work on Saturday as we only had one group booked before noon. He and Lewis VK7IT both arrived in time to help with the full house from 1 to 3 pm. Kay arrived before the scouts with a container full of scones with jam and cream for the operator team.
On the radio side of operations, HF was a no go, Echolink, while testing ok with test server, seemed to suffer from low RX audio when used with real stations. RAA worked well with North coast station at Paton Park scout camp. DMR was also available.
We had just over 70 through the station, but sadly missed out on 20 Guides visiting due to their activities state-wide being curtailed by the lock down. Operations ceased at 3pm.
The two stations down South were also out of action, sadly for the Huonville 7HSD operation with a team of licensed Scout operators.
Thanks to Adam and his team of Venturer scouts for their work over the weekend. Also, thanks to the following operators who made contact with the youth at Rocherlea, Ann VK7BYL, Shirley VK7HSC, Harry VK7HXT and Rodney VK7HAM. There may have been others and thanks to them also.
Overall a great weekend.
Peter, VK7KPC
