12/27/2007 | W3J I am a Committee Member and a Patrol Coach for my son's Troop (Troop 944) in Ellicott City, MD. New to ham radio (July 2007), I was eager to introduce the hobby to Scouts during the 50th JOTA.

The Troop had a service project at the Chartering Organization church, so John King, KB3WK, and I had a "captive" audience. John and I spent a few hours Friday afternoon putting up a G5RV about 35' in the trees.

We operated for around four hours Saturday morning/early afternoon with the special event call sign W3J. Six boys were able to talk to stations to the North and to the South of us. Stations worked: N2IQV, KD5MLD, K2DE, N4IV, W6LMJ, and KE4AMC.

I am moving to Italy next year and plan on working the 51st JOTA with my son and the local BSA Troop there in Naples. "See" everyone next October. -- KB3PJS