10/20/2009 | K4O It was a cold and windy morning in Madison Alabama. On the same day as our local Simulated Emergency Test, several members of the Huntsville - Madison County ARES group assembled at Bob Jones High School to setup equipment to support JOTA. We had obtained a special event 1x1 call sign for the weekend, and had HF, VHF, APRS, Satellite, ATV - and lots of stories, explanations, and encouragement for the scouts.

What we didn't have, was a lot of scouts. Did I mention that it was cold and windy ? It was very cold and windy... Low to Mid-40s with a steady 10-15 mph wind out of the North, it was bitter. None the less, we were on station, and did enjoy the company of several scouts - who were genuinely excited and glad that we brought out our toys for them to see. As part of the SET, the Cub Scouts of Pack 314 offered to organize and help with a simulated search and rescue mission to contain a simulated chicken spill from our simulated railroad incident...

The scouts got some 'mic time' with other scouts and former scouts over the HF and VHF radio waves, as well as some exposure to satellite technology - listening to and watching the APRS display from the International Space Station, and following a weather satellite with a hand-held antenna while listening to the picture it was transmitting.

MadCo ARES members AI4QR, N1CKC, KI4PMW, K4JCH, KK5H, N4BCD, KB4NEI, and WB5RMG were responsible for getting everything setup, enduring the cold, and cleaning up afterward. ARES EC K4RGG stopped by after the SET to thank the scouts for their assistance in collecting the simulated chickens. Did I mention how cold and windy it was ??

Maybe it won't be so cold and windy next year. 73 for now /;^) -- WB5RMG