BSA Troop 173's Mr. Van(N2BNE)'s MB & JOTA Page.         Pg. 11
(On this page: | 2 | 3c | 3d | 3e | 4| 5a | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Index )

Last update: 28-Jun-2008 15:55
Some of the anchors on this page: Computers(), Electricity, Electronics & Radio MB's,
JOTA , License (VE)Testing , Callsign Lookup links , EchoLink , PSK31 & Radio Webrings
 index


(QSL By K.Jennings-RARA 1983)
UR 5/9 in Monroe County, Western NY, Grid: FN13df, QSL?
You are person number : to visit, since our move to BSATroop.org

Current Homeland Status::



Scouter Van At Camp Cutler
(Photo by fellow Campmaster:Al Redfield 1999)


John D. Van Griethuysen is a registered merit badge counselor for:
Computers, Electricity, Electronics & Radio.
For the Northern Lights District of Otetiana Council inc. BSA
Scouts from Northern Lights District interested in any of these badges,
may E-mail Mr. Van Griethuysen at:
N2BNE@Yahoo.com

If you are a licensed AMATEUR RADIO operator:
My station my be accessed via the KPARK node then type C 1 N2BNE.
OR leave me mail on our local BBS on 145.030 MHz.: N2BNE @ WB2WXQ
Local "HAM Radio" Repeater Frequencies by WB2KAO & N2LWY

Other Scouting / HAM Radio related links
Radio Amateurs of Canada or ARRL Web Page

Federal Communications Commission's Page

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Geneva, Switzerland

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JOTA Pages

(Click on this 48th JOTA Patch to see prior crests)
The 49th BSA Jamboree On The Air is
Always on the 3rd weekend in Oct
which this year is Oct 21-22.
(For Photos of previous JOTA's see N2BNE's JOTA Page)

JOTA at Northern Lights' 99 Fall camporee	http://www.qsl.net/n2jac/jota99/jota99.html
Some JOTA Patches/Crests from previous years	http://www.t173.ny.bsatroops.org/images/van/index2.htm
Just What is JOTA anyway? (The ARRL)	http://www.arrl.org/ead/jota.html
BSA International Division: Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) (16-Aug-2006 )	http://www.scouting.org/international/22-218.html
WOSM Radio Scouting page ( 28-Mar-2006)	http://home.hetnet.nl/~richard.middelkoop/
International Sites
How Canadians Can Participate in JOTA 2004	http://scouts.ca/media//documents/newmanuscripts.pdf (for 2004)
The World Scout Bureau’s Ham Station: HB2S	http://www.middelkoop7.myweb.nl/
UK Radio Scouting online (10 / 02 / 2002)	http://www.radio-scouting.org.uk/
Jamboree on the Air in the UK	http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/activity/events/jotajoti.htm
The Gilwell Park Campsite: Amateur Radio Station: GB2GP	http://www.gilwellpark.demon.co.uk/gb2gp.htm
GB4NDS: Northampton Scout Amateur Radio Group	http://www.nsarg.co.uk ( July 30, 2002)
JOTA 2001 in Australia, Scouts and Guides	http://jota.scouting.net.au/
The SRESU is an activity unit of the Victorian Branch of Scouts Australia	http://www.qsl.net/sresu/index.html
Scout Radio Activities Group - JOTA	http://www.scoutnet.net.au/srag/jota-dfn.htm
Harry, OH6VM's Radio-Scouting Home Page	http://galileo.ksp.fi/oh6vm/
Scouting Nederland Radio Jamborees	http://www.scouting.nl/jota/
VE4SVV, 1st Sun Valley Ventures,Winnipeg Manatoba,Canada	http://members.shaw.ca/sunvalleyventurers
ARRL's International Third Party Traffic List	http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/io/3rdparty.html
Domestic Sites (USA)
K1DWU's Very Large Scout / Radio List	http://www.k1dwu.net/ham-links/clubs.-.scouting.phtml
The Trapper Trails Council & D.C.A.R.C.	http://www.dcarc.net/jota_announcement.htm
Troop 566 at old Fort Ord radio station site near Monterey, CA.	http://www.crosswinds.net/~troop566/k6bsa/index.html
Jay (AE4MK)'s JOTA Patch Collection (9/20/04)	http://members.cox.net/jota/
Troop 319's JOTA Page	http://troop319.ocbsa.org/jota/index.htm
HamRad - Amateur Radio Resource	http://www.hamrad.com
Sailfish Distrfict -- Jamboree On The Air	http://www.geocities.com/sblary/jota.htm
W1BSA, Camp T.L. Storer,	Dick Bean, K1HC ( k1hc@aol.com )
K2BSA/5 Ham Radio, at the 2001 BSA National Jamboree	http://www.lightlink.com/bbm/k2bsa.html
KA2BSA :Amateur Radio and Boy Scout Troop 73	http://members.aol.com/ka2bsa/
KZ2BSA Otschodela Council Amateur Radio Group	263 Keach Road,Guilford NY 13780
K3BSA, SPARK Lodge, Cradle of Liberty Council, BSA	http://www.k3bsa.org/Default.htm
W3BSA Venture Crew 80 - ( 01/13/2007 )	http://www.w3bsa.org (per Bill S. W2BSA & C Org. Rep.)
N4BSA, Clearwater, FL 33762,(under construction)	http://home.tampabay.rr.com/n4bsa/
WA4BSA, West Central Florida ScoutRadio Network	http://www.scoutradio.org/
K5BSA,Venturer Crew 73 - Richardson, Texas	http://www.qsl.net/k5bsa/
K6BSA - Saratoga, California, Troop 566	http://www.flammer.com/troop566/k6bsa/
N7BSA : Ham Radio Explorer Post 1973	http://www.n7bsa.org/   (Echolink node 46049)
W7BSA, Explorer Post 599	http://mmi-comm.tripod.com/postinfo.html
K8BSA. Troop 471 ( Cincinnati Ohio )	Trustee: N8DL, Dennis
N8BSA, BSA TROOP 266, Peebles, Ohio	http://www.bright.net/~dbailey/
BSA Troop 7, K9BSA CHAMPAIGN, IL
BSA Troop 66, KA9BSA CARBONDALE, IL
Cub Pack 309, KB9PCM LAKE ZURICH, IL
W9BSA Radio Headquarters - Northwest Suburban Council	http://units.nwsc.org/users/radio/
KØBSA, Amateur Radio Scouting, Golden Valley,MN	http://www.aptsolutions.com/k0bsa/index.html

World Scout Radio Frequencies
Band	SSB (phone)	CW (morse)
80 m	3.740 & 3.940 MHz.**	3.590 MHz.
40 m	7.270 MHz.	7.030 MHz.
20 m	14.290 MHz	14.070 MHz.
17 m	18.140 MHz.	18.080 MHz.
15 m	21.360 MHz.	21.140 MHz.
12 m	24.960 MHz.	24.910 MHz
10 m	28.390 MHz.	28.190 MHz.

*
** The US License

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K2BSA/4 Ham Radio Ham Radio at the 2001 BSA National Jamboree

K2BSA/4 was in operation 23 hours a day throughout the time that the
Scouts were at the National Jamboree: July 23 through August 1, 2001
For more details see the listing of "Frequently Asked Questions"
http://www.lightlink.com/bbm/k2bsa.html

For pictures and a report on the 2001 K2BSA station,
and the 2001 National Scout Jamboree,
see the 2001 Jamboree page.
http://www.lightlink.com/bbm/k2bsa2001.html

K2BSA staffer Jason Zeibel, KD4MML has a page on the 2001 Jamboree, at http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/~jgz8g/jambo01.html
KD4MML's site has a lot more pictures.
Don't worry, only 1 of the 50 pictures loads when you visit the site.
The remaining 49 pictures do not load until you click on the "bullet" in front of the very good description of the shots.
All of the pictures are grouped together by topic, with the groups no larger than 4.
This is probably the most "visitor friendly picture site" that I have ever seen.

It just makes you want to sign up for the 2005 JAMBOREE !!

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Scouting & Radio Web-Rings

This RingSurf Amateur Radio Net Ring owned by Mr. Van(N2BNE)'s Merit Badge & JOTA Page. [Previous |Skip Next | Next 5 | Random | List Sites]

(Added 5/6/01)

Coming soon


( http://galileo.ksp.fi/oh6vm /rs/ring/ )

or


Added 4/19/01 (Awaiting Activation codes form OH6VM)

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Other Sites related to JOTA and/or Radio Merit badge

Troop319 Scout Radio Page
AE9K's RADIO Merit Home Page
KB3DHC/Troop 377's Amateur Radio Scouting
AA6J/Troop 661's Radio Merit badge page
http://www.ac6v.com/index.htm
International Network of Young Amateurs: http://www.qsl.net/inya/
K2BSA /JAMBOREE 2001 page
West Central Florida: WA4BSA's Scout Radio Page
W9BSA Northwest Suburban Council ( http://units.nwsc.org/users/radio/ ) 4/18/02
The WWW Virtual Library: Amateur Radio page
A Great source of Elecrtonic Circuits : The University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada  9/4/02
http://usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb093.html
http://www.meritbadge.com/bsa/Mb/093.htm
Teaching the Radio Merit Badge
(By Larry Wolfgang, WR1B of the ARRL)
ARRL's Scout Handbook Page

MeritBadge.com's Radio Merit Badge Worksheet
http://www.meritbadge.com/files/mb-docs/Radio.doc


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BAND PLANS

Links to Frequency Charts in PDF format
ARRL's Chart of US Amateur Bands

Please note: At this ARRL page, this chart comes in Color pdf
or Black &White .pdf and you can get a Text only listing as well.
They seem to have dropped the .gif version

NTIA's Downloadable US Frequency Allocation Chart (.Pdf)

Here is a link, If you need to Get the latest Adobe Acrobat Reader
to view & print your files:

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Frequency Lists for the Rochester Area

The WB2KAO / N2LWY Repeator List (for our area)
For Monroe County NY, (Updated February 1, 2003)

UNYREPCO :
Upper New York Repeater Council, Inc.

WNYSORC
Western New York and Southern Ontario Repeater Council

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Radio Organizations of the Greater Rochester Area
(listed by monthly chronological order)

RARA , ROCHESTER AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION, INC
(First Friday of most months, September - May)
RARA is Rochester,NY's Main Local HAM Radio Club

Rochester Amateur Packet Society
Find out what Packet radio is (Second Thursdays)

Rochester VHF Group
(Second Fridays)

The Rochester DX Association
(Third Tuesdays )

Rochester Radio Repeater Association (9/3/02)
(Third Fridays)

Rochester Hamfest and Computer Show
& ARRL Atlantic Division Convention
(First weekend of June)

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Amateur Radio Exams - Rochester, New York
Where & when you can get your own HAM License.

RARA Exam dates (click for information)
(Third Saturdays of most months at )

XARC AMATEUR RADIO Club's
CLASSES AND EXAMINATIONS page

(http://www.w5yi.org/vol-exam.htm)

 

ARRL Exam Session Search (For Just about anywhere in USA) http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml

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Exam Preps
To get ready for the tests listed above

The ARRL VEC Site: Amateur Exam Question Pools page is
The Source for Tech, General & Extra Exam Question Pools.
You will need these Separate PDF files of the graphics :
Technician graphics & Extra graphics are used with question pools.

Or

AA9PW's Amateur Radio License Practice Test pages

In the Rochester area:
RARA 's Code and Theory Classes

---

Other places to Learn CW (Morse Code):

ARRL's W1AW Code Practice on the air schedule:
http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#w1awsked

Buy &/or Build your own Code Oscilator & Key:
http://www.amecocorp.com/morsecode.html

Other Radio Organizations and
Sources of Information on or about the many different ways
to communicate via Amateur Radio

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Space Links

  Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
You can listen to them (NA1SS) talk to licensed Ham Radio operators running "Special Event"
stations, on their Downlink frequency of 145.800 MHz when the IIS is your "sky".
(Russian Callsign: R0ISS or RZ3DZR German call sign: DL0ISS )
3D J-Track :> Where is the IIS now?
(http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/temp/StationLoc.html)

AMSAT The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation

Other Satellite data
J Track Satellite Tracking software :http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/realtime/JTrack/

KEPLARIAN AMSAT data Verbose Data Listings
NASA KEPLARIAN data style listings 2 line format

Real ATOMIC Time Clock From WWWV Boulder Co. the real Time
Or use an HF Radio to Tune in WWWV at : 5, 10, 15 or 20 MegaHertz
(You have to have a real accurate timebase to plot the satellite orbits)

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APRS

"What is APRS anyway ?"
Tucson Amateur Packet Radio club
WB4APR, Bob Bruninga's APRS Home Page

BEACONet vision + PSK31 efficiency = BEACONet31 (4/23/01)
Join-in on an exciting research opportunity for nontraditional and future scientists alike.

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EchoLink

Introducing EchoLink
EchoLink is software which allows Amateur Radio stations to communicate with one another over the Internet,using voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology. The EchoLink program allows worldwide connections to be made between stations,
from computer to station, or from computer to computer, repeater to computer
or from computer to repeater link to manystations.
There are more than 123,000 registered Users, Links and or Systems
in 137 countries worldwide, as of 19 July 2003!

LINKS to various EchoLink pages
Introducing EchoLink (Home Page)	http://www.synergenics.com/el/
Current Log-ins to EchoLink	http://www.synergenics.com/el/logins.asp
N2JAC 's page about EchoLink	http://www.qsl.net/n2jac/echolink.html
WB2REM & G4CDY'S VOIP BOARDS	http://www.ilinkboards.com/

Scouter Van has been a registered user of EchoLink for several momths.
His Node number is 86963
If your unit is looking for a contact , via EchoLink,
Please give (User) Scouter Van a connection request.

Index
Sites about PSK-31

What is PSK31 you may ask?
( http://www.psk31.com/ )

DigiPan
( http://www.digipan.net/ )

PSK31 Fundamentals and Setup
(http://www.teleport.com/~nb6z/psk31.htm)
It is also a good source of information about ALL the differient types
of the The Digital Ham Radio Revolution!,
( http://home.teleport.com/~nb6z/about.htm )

Serial-to-USB Converter
If your computer has a USB port (and NO Serial port), you can be in business in 5 minutes.
Get this handy Serial-to-USB Converter cable and plug one end into your PSKMETER
and the other end into the USB port of your computer.
Install the driver, and your problem is solved!

 

The Popular PSK- 31 Frequiencies

PSK31 HF Frequencies			PSK31 VHF& UHF Frequencies
Band	Frequency		Band	Frequency
160 meters	1.838 MHz		6 meters	50.290 MHz
80 meters	3.580 MHz		2 meters	144.144 MHz
40 meters	7.035 MHz		1.25 meters	222.07 MHz
30 meters	10.140 MHz		70 centimeters	432.2 MHz
20 meters	14.070 MHz.		33 centi-meters	909 MHz
17 meters	18.100 MHz
15 meters	21.080 MHz
10 meters	28.120 MHz

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Need to Look up a Call Sign?
Try any one of these sites

F.C.C. Callsign data base (Any valid USA License Only)

Canadian Callsign Lookup at the RAC site (Canadian Callsigns Only)

ARRL's FCC License Data Search page (US Ham Callsign Database)

WM7D's Callsign database (US Ham Callsign Database)

QRZ :Data base page
( Search for any North American Ham Callsign)

QRZ Callsign lookup:
(Just type in the Callsign you want to look up, then click on Search button)

BuckMaster Ham Radio Callsign Data Base

Type in a Callsign:

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Other Scouting places that have some meaning to Mr. Van

My Wood Badge Patrol: The OWL Patrol of NE-V-126
Review our NE-V-126 Staff's (out of date) page from 1998:
Steve Webb's Otetiana Council Wood Badge Page

Mike Barnard's WOOD BADGE Page
Norman McLeod's WOOD BADGE Page


Otetiana Council's Newest Wood Badge Course:
NE-III0159
http://otetiana.org/woodbadge/woodbadge21st.asp

The Application form for NE-II-159
http://otetiana.org/woodbadge/wbfiles/wb_app.pdf


Philmont Scout ranch, NM I went there in 1970


Our site just given the BEST HAM AWARD for October 97 !
Our site has been selected as a "Best Ham" Award recipient. This is not a spam message. A spotter has seen our site and nominated it for review. After review it was determined that our site exemplified good design and utility to amateur radio operators on the web. For more details click on the following line:
Best HAM Award Homepage

Electricity, Electronics, Radio or Top
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Computers Merit Badge
(These are the new 2005 requirements)
(Compare with 1999 requirements)

1. Discuss with your counselor the tips for online safety.
2. Explain how the invention of the computer has affected society, science, and technology. In your explanation, give a short history of the computer.
3. Do the following:
(a) Explain four different uses of computers.
(b) Describe three ways you and your family could use a personal computer other than for games and recreation.
4. Explain to your counselor the following:
(a) The major parts of a computer system.
(b) How the types of files used to store text, sound, pictures, and video are stored in a computer's memory.
5. Do the following:
(a) Explain what a program is and how it is developed.
(b) Give three examples of programming languages, and describe their uses.
(c) Name four software packages you or your family could use, and explain how you would use them.
(d) Discuss ways you can help protect a computer from viruses and how to keep secure information that has been saved on a computer.
(e) Describe how computers are linked to form the Internet and the World Wide Web.
6. Do THREE of the following:
(a) Use a database manager to create a troop roster that includes the name, rank, patrol, and telephone number of each Scout. Show your counselor that you can sort the register by each of the following categories: rank, patrol, and alphabetically by name.
(b) Use a spreadsheet program to develop a food budget for a patrol weekend campout.
(c)Use a word processor to write a letter to the parents of your troop's Scouts inviting them to a court of honor. Use the program's mail merge feature to make a personalized copy of the letter for each family.
(d) Use a computer graphics program to design and draw a campsite plan for your troop, OR design a flyer for an upcoming troop event.
(e) Using a software package of your choice, develop a short presentation about a topic that has been approved by your counselor.
For your presentation create at least 10 slides.
(f) Using an Internet search engine, find ideas about how to conduct a troop court of honor or campfire program.
Print out a copy of the ideas from at least three different Web sites.
Share what you found with your counselor, and explain how you used the search engine to find this information.
(g) Using a digital camera, take a picture of a troop activity.
Transfer the picture file to a computer and use photographic software to make it small enough to send easily as an e-mail attachment.
Then, using a computer connected to the Internet (with your parent's permission), send an e-mail to someone you know.
In your message, include the photograph as an attachment. Verify that the person received your e-mail and was able to view the attachment.
(h) Describe two computer chip-based devices, and explain how they are "smarter" because of the chip and its program.
7. Do ONE of the following:
(a) Visit a business or an industrial plant that uses computers. Observe what tasks the computers accomplish, and be prepared to discuss what you have learned.
(b) Using a software package of your choice for computer aided design (CAD), create an engineering-style drawing of a simple object. Include the top, bottom, and at least one side view and the dimensions.
(c) Use a general purpose programming language to write a simple program application of your choice, subject to approval by your counselor.
(d) Design a Web page for your troop, patrol, school, or place of worship. You need not post the page to a Web site.
However, if you decide to do so, you will first need to get your parent's permission and your counselor's approval, as well as permission from the host site.
8. For each of the following categories, discuss several related terms: input and output devices, storage media, memory, processors and coprocessors, modems or network cards, networks,World Wide Web and Internet, electronic mail, Wi-Fi.
9. Explain the following to your counselor:
(a) Why it is not permissible to accept a free copy of a copyrighted computer game or program from a friend
(b) The restrictions and limitations of downloading music from the Internet
(c) Why copyright laws exist
10. Pick two career opportunities in the computer field that interest you. Find out what education, training, and experience those positions require. Report what you learn to your counselor.

Computers, Electronics, Radio or Top
index

Electricity Merit Badge

1. Show magnetic attraction and repulsion. Make and use a simple electromagnet.
   
2. Explain the difference between a direct current and an alternating current. Tell the common uses of each.
   
3. Make a simple drawing to show how a chemical cell and an electric bell work.
   
4. Explain why a fuse blows or a circuit breaker trips. Tell how to find a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker in your home. Show how to change the fuse or reset the circuit breaker safely.
   
5. Explain what overloading an electric circuit means. Tell what you have done to make sure your home circuits aren't overloaded.
   
6. Demonstrate how to repair a plug on an appliance cord.
   
7. Show that you know first aid for a person who is unconscious from electrical shock.
   
8. Show on a floor plan of a room in your home the lights, switches, and outlets. Show which fuse or circuit breaker protects each.
   
9. Read an electric meter. Figure an electric bill from meter reading.
   
10. Explain ten electrical terms such as volt, ampere, watt, ohm, resistance, potential difference, rectifier, rheostat, conductor, ground, circuit, or short circuit.
    
11. Do any TWO of the following:
    
    1. Connect a buzzer, bell, or light with a battery. Have a key or switch in the line.
       
    2. Make and run a simple electric motor (not from a kit).
       
    3. Build a simple rheostat. Show that it works
       
    4. Hook a model electric train layout to a house circuit. Tell how it work.
       
    
    Back to top of page
    Back to 173 Home Page
    
    For additional information about Electricity Merit Badge
    Please see the IEEE's emeritbadges.org site
    http://www.emeritbadges.org/electricity.htm
    

Computers, Electricity, Radio or Top
index

Electronics Merit Badge
Caution: New 2004 Requirements

1. Do the following:
   1. Draw a simple schematic diagram. It must show resistors, capacitors and transistors or integrated circuits (IC's). Use correct symbols. Label all parts.
   2. Tell the purpose of each part.
2. Do the following:
   1. Show the right way to solder and unsolder.
   2. Show how to avoid heat damage to parts.
   3. Tell about the function of a printed circuit board. Tell what precautions should be observed soldering them.
3. Select ONE of the following:
   1. Tell how you can use electronics for a control purpose. Build a circuit to show this.
   2. Tell about the basic principles of digital techniques. Show how to change three decimal numbers into binary numbers. Show how to change three binary numbers into decimal numbers. Build a circuit to show digital techniques.
   3. Tell about three audio applications of electronics. Build a circuit to show audio techniques.
4. Do the following for the project you built in requirement 3:
   1. Show how to read the schematic diagram of the project.
   2. Show how the project works. To the best of your ability tell how it operates.
5. Do the following:
   1. Show how to solve a simple problem involving current, voltage and resistance using Ohms Law.
   2. Tell about the need for and use of test equipment in electronics. Name three types of test equipment. Tell how they operate
   3. Tell about about three jobs in electronics. Tell what training is needed for each job.

Computers, Electricity, Electronics or Top
index

Radio Merit Badge
Updated to 2002 Requirements
(* Shows new or modified requirements)

1. Explain what radio is. Include in your explanation: the differences between broadcast radio and hobby radio, and the differences between broadcasting and two-way communicating. Also discuss broadcast radio and amateur radio call signs and using phonetics.
2. Sketch a diagram showing how radio waves travel locally and around the world. How do the broadcast radio stations, WWV and WWVH, help determine what you will hear when you listen to a radio?
3. Do the following:
   1. Draw a chart of the electromagnetic spectrum covering 100 kilohertz (kHz) to 1000 megahertz (MHz).
   2. Label the MF, HF, VHF, UHF, and microwave portions of the spectrum on your diagram.*
      (Please note: LF was dropped for 2002 requirements)
      
   3. Locate on your chart at least eight radio services such as AM and FM commercial broadcast, CB, television, amateur radio (at least four ham radio bands), and police.
   4. Discuss why some radio stations are called DX and others are called local. Explain who the FCC and the ITU are.
4. Explain how radio waves carry information. Include in your explanation: transceiver, transmitter, amplifier, and antenna.
5. Explain to your counselor the safety precautions for working with radio gear, particularly direct current and RF grounding.
6. Do the following:
   1. Explain the differences between a block diagram and a schematic diagram.
   2. Draw a block diagram that includes a transceiver, amplifier, microphone, antenna, and feedline.
   3. Explain the differences between an open circuit, a closed circuit, and a short circuit.
   4. Draw eight schematic symbols. Explain what three of the represented parts do. Find three electrical components to match to three of these symbols.
7. Do ONE of the following (a, b, or c):
   1. Amateur radio (Now 6 items)
      1. Describe some of the activities that amateur radio operators can do on the air,
         once they have earned an amateur radio license.
      2. Carry on a 10-minute real or simulated ham radio contact using voice or Morse code; use proper call signs,
         Q signals, and abbreviations. Licensed ham radio operators may substitute five QSL cards as evidence of contacts with amateur radio operators from at least three different call districts.
         Properly log the real or simulated ham radio contact and record the signal report.* (Updated req.)
      3. Explain at least five Q signals or amateur radio terms you hear while listening.
      4. Explain some of the Technician Class license requirements and privileges.* (Updated req.)
         Explain who gives amateur radio exams.* (Tech is now the lowest exam available)
         (Note: The Novice Class was dropped to reflect the fact that the Novice Exam is no longer available)
      5. Explain how you would make an emergency call on voice or Morse code. Tell why the FCC has an amateur radio service.
      6. Explain handheld transceivers versus home "base" stations. Explain about mobile amateur radios and amateur radio repeaters.
   2. Broadcast radio
      1. Prepare a program schedule for radio station "KBSA" of exactly one-half hour, including music, news, commercials, and proper station identification. Record your program on audio tape using proper techniques.
      2. Listen to and properly log 15 broadcast stations; determine for five of these their transmitting power and general areas served.
      3. Explain at least eight terms used in commercial broadcasting such as segue, cut, and fade.
      4. Discuss the educational and licensing requirements and career opportunities in broadcast radio.
   3. Shortwave listening
      1. Listen across several shortwave bands for two four-hour periods, one in the early morning,
         the other in the early evening. Log the stations properly and locate them geographically on a globe.
      2. For several major foreign stations (BBC in Great Britain or HCJB in Ecuador, for example),
         list several frequency bands used by each.
      3. Compare your morning and evening logs, noting the frequencies on which your selected stations
         were loudest during each session. Explain the differences in signal strength from one period to the next.
      4. Discuss the purpose of and careers in shortwave communications.
8. Visit a radio installation approved in advance by your counselor (ham radio station, broadcast station, or public service communications center, for example). Discuss what types of equipment you saw in use, how it was used, what types of licenses required to operate and maintain the equipment, and the purpose of the station.

Index

Some of the text and code for parts of this page
of merit badges, were obtained in part from the
High Adventure troop 339 of Santa Clara County Council Campbell, California
Also http://usscouts.org/usscouts/ , http://www.meritbadge.com/bsa/
and the Boy Scouts of America.