March 22, 2020

So what is a scout to do when sheltering at home?

So what is a scout to do when sheltering at home, with no school, no sports, no scouting activities, ....???

A great use of extra time on your hands is to study to earn your very own FCC Amateur Radio Technician License!!!  Earning your Amateur Radio Technician license allows you to operate radio equipment on the amateur radio bands.


Amateur radio is a really fun and interesting STEM hobby and is a great way to communicate during emergencies when other forms of communication fail (be prepared).  It also prepares you for the largest scouting activity in the world: the annual Jamboree On The Air.  With your technician license you can communicate with people all around the world with basic radio equipment or join in exciting radio contests or communicate using amateur radio satellites or even talk to  astronauts on the international space station.  One of my favorite radio contacts was with a science expedition in Antarctica!

You can study for your Amateur Radio Technician License online from home using hamtestonline.com.  Many people find they are able to prepare with around 20 hours of studying.  My Son Shea (KC2VSR) is an Eagle Scout and earned his license when he was 9 years old.  You can earn your FCC license too!  Once you earn your license it is yours for the rest of your life.

Scouts who earn their amateur radio license are eligible to wear the awesome BSA Amateur Radio Operator strip on their uniform.  Earning your license is also an excellent way to work on your radio merit badge.



Good DX and 73, NJ2X


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