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Current Feature Articles   Nov 20 The Amateur Radio Crossword Puzzler   Nov 20 Adventure in the Arctic: VO2A Expedition to Labrador   Nov 20 Surfin': More Radio Piracy on the High Seas   Nov 16 Youth@HamRadio.Fun: Fall Magic   Nov 13 Surfin': The Real Pirate Radio   Nov 06 Surfin': Homebrewing Today   Nov 05 DX the Hard Way   Nov 02 ARRL In Action: What Have We Been Up to Lately?   Nov 01 It Seems to Us: It Doesn't Just Happen   Oct 30 Surfin': Mapping Up ARRL Products: Instructor Support (More) Parallax USB Oscilloscope -- This portable two-channel digital storage oscilloscope is a handy and affordable tool for both hobbyist and student! The ARRL Instructor's Manual for Technician Class License Courses -- For use with The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual. Includes CD-ROM. The ARRL Instructor's Manual for Technician and General License Courses -- NOW designed for both Technician and General Class. Includes CD-ROM. Understanding Signals -- This Stamps in Class guide shows you how to generate, view and measure a variety of wave forms with the Parallax USB Oscilloscope and BASIC Stamp-controlled circuits. Basic Electronic Morse Code Keyer Kit -- Build a Morse code keyer kit and experience the project-building fun!

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This week, we visit a two-pronged Web site that helps Boy Scouts get the Radio Merit Badge and helps counselors assist Scouts in meriting the badge.

K2GW's Radio Merit Badge Web site assists Boy Scouts in obtaining the Radio Merit Badge.

Gary Wilson, K2GW, noticed that the old Radio Merit Badge Web site developed by AA6J has been unavailable for some time now, so he developed a new Radio Merit Badge Web site to assist Boy Scouts in meeting the Radio Merit Badge requirements, also providing free instructional materials for Radio Merit Badge counselors.

According to Gary, "The best way to learn about radio is by doing, but this site will help you learn a bit beforehand, so you can get on the air even faster! And you'll be able to pass your requirements easily when you do meet with your counselor." Gary's 30 years of experience as a Radio Merit Badge Counselor for a few hundred Scouts is the foundation of this Web site.

Although AA6J's Web site seems to be offline, there are a couple of other Radio Merit Badge Web sites that you may find helpful: the Merit Badge Research Centers Radio Merit Badge Web page and the online ARRL Scout Handbook.

By the way, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Scouting movement, and Boy Scout Week begins next Sunday (February 4-10), so now is an appropriate time to begin working on your Radio Merit Badge or helping Scouts to get their badges.

Until next time, keep on surfin'.

Editor's note: Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, writes Surfin' on a weekly basis, rain or shine, snow or ice, VLF or UHF. To discuss cool stuff with Stan, especially if it's related to radio, send Stan e-mail or add comments to his blog. By the way, every installment of Surfin' is indexed here, so go look it up (whatever it may be).

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