Here you will find a quick check list to help you to ensure your JOTA / JOTI site is safe and ready for scouts to visit and have fun.
JOTA / JOTI
- Have we registered for this year?
- Are we operating a Scout Callsign for JOTA?
- Have we obtained enough JOTA/JOTI badges for all participants?
- Have checked that Amateur Radio promotion material is available?
- Have we printed out the calling and operating frequencies?
- Has any new RF noisy equipment or lighting been installed?
Campsites / Location
- Sites checked in daylight for recent storm damage?
- What is the bump in and bump out times at the camp or location?
- Can we establish our station’s outdoor works during the weekend or days before?
- Do we need any permits (e.g. to camp)?
- Do we have a contingency plan if the weather gets in the way?
- What are our plans for station pack up, do we have enough help?
Tents and tarps:
- Have we minimised the likely hood of slips, trips and falls?
- All guy ropes and pegs visible?
- Consider a roll of caution or danger tape to:
- improve visibility of pegs and guys
- tape off any no-go areas
- Consider a roll of caution or danger tape to:
- Have we fixed and temporary repairs from last camp?
- Did we inspect and repair any damage since last used?
Electrical:
- AC electrical power leads and equipment safe, would it pass Test and Tag?
- Checked that all power leads and board are:
- protected from weather?
- located out of walkways and suspended on Catenary, well above head height?
- Have we considered portable safety switches if using portable gear?
- DC supplies or distribution correctly fused or overload protected?
- Batteries inspected, charged, safe and protected from short circuit risks?
- Battery terminals clean, sound and in good order?
- All leads and cables are out of walk ways?
- Have we taped or secured any loose cables?
Computers and the internet
- Internet access and bandwidth checked?
- All computers updated before weekend?
– consider switching updates off during the weekend to maximise bandwidth. - Software checked on all computers to be used.
- User instructions printed out?
- Code of conduct printed out?
- All passwords have been checked and are secured but available to admin?
- Networking gear checked and in good order
- If using WiFi, check coverage and near-by channel usage
Antennas & RF Gear
- Have we made any temporary repairs and not revisited the item since last used?
- Have we taken weather into our planning including:
- sun
- wind
- rain
- lightning
- Antennas still where we left them, checked and tested for recent damage?
- Can we have our portable antennas:
- up before pedestrian and vehicle traffic builds up?
- out of reach and clearly visible (hazard tape)
- Will we be working at heights to put up our antennas (i.e. on the roof)?
- Can we do this safer?
- beware of slips and falls!
- Are the locations proposed for antennas safe?
- If they blow down, what will they hit?
- Are all antennas high enough so cars, bicycle riders and walkers can’t touch them?
- Will our wire antennas, guy ropes, and cables be clearly visible?
- Have we planned to rope or tape off and keep out of reach any RF Hot equipment?
- Have we ensured that our tuners and gear is RF earthed where appropriate?
- What are our plans for station pack up, do we have a safe plan if the weather gets in the way?
What else…
- Spare connectors, fuses,pens, paper, electrical & duct tape
- Log sheets
- Soldering iron & solder
- Put the cat out & turn off the iron :-).
When we get home after the event…
- Charge all batteries don’t store them half flat.
- Inspect all gear, make a list of things that need fixing
- Put everything away
- Can you do anything better next time? Add this to the list.
- Check all gear is clean and stowed dry.
- Any disposable batteries are removed from portable equipment separately stowed
- We suggest plastic zip top bags are ideal for keeping batteries or other small equipment tidy and dry