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The O'Keefe Boys are at the 100th Boy Scout Jamboree - see the eGroundwave

Greetings to all,

I am writing to inform you that our Boy Scouts did get to ask their questions to the International Space Station. I understand that you may not have heard them. I also understand that NASA Select did not carry it live. Sorry... I am sure they recorded it and maybe will have it on air some time.

As the contact started, Commander Weelock changed to the backup frequency and forgot to tell anyone. Hams operating her at the K2BSA shack figured out the situation and worked the ISS on a J-pole backup rig. Six boys ask 13 questions and got answers before the ISS went over the edge. Great cheers for Ham Radio went up from the crowd of folks assembled to watch at the National Jamboree.

Pictures were taken of the youth and the Ham Team that pulled the contact off even with problems.

73 to all,

Jay

N4NRL

On Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 8:57 AM, Jay Langley <3riversbsa@gmail.com> wrote:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I bring greetings from the National Boy Scout Jamboree. Many of you know that this is the 100th Year of Scouting in the United States so this jamboree is a big one. Some have asked what it is like to see 43,000 scouts and adults all in one place and in scout uniform. The best I can do is describe it would be something like Dayton on steroids or field day 1000 squared. The celebration is ongoing this year for the premier youth program that teaches values and leadership to both young men and women.

Thanks to Darrell Brock, N4GOA, for the included announcement. Our International Space Station contact will commence at about 2:21.18 from VA. If in the south east you will see the ISS signal a minute or so later. Check Darrell's note for more information. If you would like to see the goings on check www.byutv.org for streaming. Also NASA Select should have the video and cover both sides of the QSO.

K2BSA/4 expects hundreds of scouts observing the contact. We have a stacked tracking array using tracking software for both our up and down link here at Ft. A.P Hill, VA.

Please feel free to decimate this content to anyone you feel would be interested in the information.

I am happy to answer questions as I can get to a computer if you ask after today.

73 to all and keep looking up,

Jay

N4NRL

Fort A. P. Hill, Virginia: The International Space Station is scheduled to have a QSO with scouts attending the National Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia. The contact is scheduled to begin at 14:21:18 on Saturday, July 31, 2010, with the ISS downlink frequency of 145.800 mhz. Although you will not be able to hear the uplink, the event may be presented on NASA TV (and I plan on having the 147.270 repeater broadcast NASA audio if it sounds like that will happen).

I have found a reference on-line to the contact today between the ISS and the National Scout Jamboree is schedule for 18:21 UTC. Of course, that's 14:21 local time for us today. Or 2:21pm.

N4GOA (Note - added due to all the questions fielded on the Yahoo Group - webmaster)

Former local amateur Jay Langley, N4NRL (now a Georgia resident) has been placed in charge of this event at the National Scout Jamboree. Jay is working on the amateur radio staff at the Jamboree and his prior involvement with an ISS contact with Osceola Elementary School some years ago was one of the reasons he was tasked with this responsibility. Jay believes that we may be able to hear the downlink here locally in the Daytona Beach area due to the attitude of the ISS as it passes overhead.

Further information will be posted if received. Darrell Brock, N4GOA

The daily health and welfare of our two hospitalized members has been moved to the eGroundwave. The reports are getting to long to be "Home Page" materiel - webmaster

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