On Saturday, Scout Groups in Shannon participated in JOTA, or (Jamboree On The Air 2016).
This annual worldwide event brings Scouts from all backgrounds together on the radio waves sharing and talking about what Scouting means in their lives.
The event was made possible by the members of the Limerick Radio Club who supplied their technical qualifications and experience as well as their state of the art radio equipment.
Scouts were able to talk on UHF and VHF radios, longer range HF radio by voice on the 40 meter HF band as well morse code.
Scouting Ireland 1st Clare Shannon Venturers, Scouts and Cubs joined with the Shannon based Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego Polish Scouts in what was an excellent event (helped by excellent weather). The stations call sign for the day was EI4LRC and the group broadcast from the top of Tullyvarraga Hill for over three hours.
Radio conditions did not favour very long range broadcasts but we successfully spoke with Scouts in Northern Ireland, Meath and Nottinghamshire.
In addition local radio operators from Limerick, Tipperary and Clare participated by engaging with the Scouts on the air almost all day giving them a real life experience of radio operation and we are particularly grateful to them for their patience and willingness to get stuck in with some interesting and funny dialogue.
For more information on; Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego Polish Scout group go to zhp.ie; Scouting Ireland Shannon Scouts www.shannonscouts.ie; Limerick Radio Clubwww.limerickradioclub.ie