Tag Archives: Ham Radio

Sep 28 2014

RSGB Inspire – Best practice in promoting Amateur Radio

Michael Sansom G0POT brings news of a RSGB focus group seeking best practice when promoting Amateur Radio at special events open to the public. The group aim to share and discuss ideas and experience running Special Events and Demonstrations to members of the public to identify successful approaches to promoting Amateur Radio in the UK.

If you have read page 8 of this months Radcom you will be aware that I am leading an investigation into the experiences and approaches of UK Clubs and Societies when it comes to attracting newcomers to Amateur Radio with a particular focus on running public events.

I am looking for ideas and approaches that are proven to be successful in attracting new Amateurs both young and old. These may include targeting specific events, targeting specific age groups, using specific demonstrations or just the way you engage with the public.

I’ve contacted you as I believe you are a Committee Member with your local club and I would like to publicise the work I’m doing and invite all interested parties to come and join the discussion. I have created a Yahoo group to act as a focal point for sharing thoughts and critiquing ideas. I would be grateful if you could share these details with your Club Members and encourage those with experience and ideas to come and join.

The group can be found by searching Yahoo Groups for rsgb_inspire or following this link:

https://groups.yahoo.com/groups/rsgb_inspire/info

The research is due to conclude in about 6 months at which time I will report to the RSGB on a portfolio of best practice which can then be shared with Clubs and Societies across the UK. It will also act as a guide to the RSGB where they may be able to support our endeavours to promote Amateur Radio.

If you would like further information including the Terms of Reference for the Working Group then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Many thanks for your support,
Michael (GØPOT)
g0pot@metalkettle.co.uk

PDF of Alex Discovers Amateur Radio available at
http://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/alex-discovers-amateur-radio/

You can also join the RSGB_Inspire Yahoo Group by following these steps:
• Send a blank email to RSGB_Inspire-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
• Yahoo will send you an email in response, you may need to check your SPAM folder
• Click on the link in the email, this will bring up a Yahoo page in your browser
• On the Yahoo page ignore the big Join link in the middle and click on the link at the bottom of the page instead, it says: “As an alternate option, you may join the mailing list instead.”
• You should then be a member of the group.

Sep 27 2014

TuPOD to enable ISS TubeSat deployment in 2015

TubeSat - Image Credit Interorbital Systems

TubeSat in space – Image credit Interorbital Systems

The TuPOD 3U mission will allow the in-orbit deployment of the first TubeSats – Tancredo 1, from Brazil and Ulises 1, from Mexico.

Both satellites are educational satellites and involve young students in the projects. TuPOD will integrate the two satellites inside a 3U CubeSat Structure designed to allow the coupling between TubeSat and the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) launch mechanism.

The TuPOD will release the two satellites after 2 days, in accordance with NASA safety requirements. After the TubeSat deployment, the TuPOD will start is own mission receiving and sending data to amateur radio ground stations.

The TuPOD electronics have been designed by students at Morehead State University and is an updated version of $50SAT PocketQube electronics and Telemetry, Tracking & Command (TT&C) system.

Proposing a 1k2 GMSK UHF downlink and now expected to be deployed fom the ISS in spring 2015.

Tancredo 1 http://www.frequency.com/video/pres-tancredo-de-almeida-neves/176861394

Ulises 1 in Google English http://tinyurl.com/Ulises-1-TubeSat

IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru

Sep 27 2014

Ham Radio Balloon to Commemorate Sputnik

A replica of Sputnik 1 satellite

A replica of the Sputnik 1 satellite

The Secunda Amateur Radio Club will launch two balloons carrying amateur radio equipment from the Vryburg airstrip FAVB on October 4, 2014 at 0600 to 0800 CAT (0400-0600 UT).

This date marks the start of World Space Week 2014. They will commemorate the launch of the Sputnik satellite on October 4, 1957 by attaching an active model replica of Sputnik to one of the balloons. The replica will transmit a Morse code message on 144.076 MHz.

Please e-mail(christo.kriek@live.co.za) a screen print of the decoded message with date, time, GPS location, radio and antenna used to receive a special certificate from the launch team, if you are one of the lucky ones that can “decode” by ear please mail above info without the screen print. The transmitter used is a flea power transmitter.

The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and eight High Schools (80 children) form part of the program. Each school programmed their own data logger with 2 sensors. The 8 data loggers with sensors will be part of the payload of the balloon payload. Each of the school children had to write a Radio Amateur test (10 Questions) as part of their registration and the results will be used to allocated to their final presentation.

There will be a web link with cameras from the launch site atVryburg airport, one camera at Hartbeeshoek and one at Secunda High School. Please send your e-mail info to christo.kriek@live.co.za to get access to the webcams on the internet.

The first balloon will be launched anytime from 0600 CAT (0400 UT) onwards.

The ground stations will use HF on 3.650 MHz or 7.080 MHz or 20m 14.280 MHz between the ground control, chase cars, Secunda High School and Hartbeeshoek. The bands/frequencies may change due to propagation. If your hear the ground stations operate please keep the frequency clear for ground control operations. If you have any feedback in tracking the balloons specifically on descent please report it on the mentioned HF frequencies.

Due to the low APRS Digipeater and IGate density in the Vryburg area radio hams in the adjacent areas are requested to also help track the payloads as well.

It is vitally important to retrieve the payloads since there are data loggers on-board from several schools in the Secunda area. They need the data to complete their assignments.

A High Altitude Glider will also be launched the same morning as the High Altitude Balloon Experiment, HABEX on 4 October 2014.

On the same day at Secunda High School, Secunda, Unisa University will also have a ROBTICS exhibition. SANSA will also have a presentation via the webcam about GPS’s the same day.

Below are the payload frequencies:
Main balloon: APRS Tracking RX 144.800 FM
CW Telemetry RX 432.075 FM
Sputnik CW RX 144.075 FM
Crew Comms HF 40/80M
Webcam

2nd Balloon: APRS Tracking RX 144.8 FM
RTTY 433.92 USB/ 50 baud 500 shift ascii7,n,1
Crew Comms HF 40/80M
Webcam

3rd Balloon: Remote Glider
Webcam

Skype/Web Camera: Please register at http://www.anymeeting.com/ and send your email address to: christo.kriek@live.co.za to get access to live webcams.

Celebrate UN-declared World Space Week October 4-10. The biggest public space science #STEM event in the world – Use hashtag #WSW2014
Twitter https://twitter.com/WorldSpaceWeek
Web http://www.worldspaceweek.org/

Secunda Amateur Radio Club http://secradio.org.za/

Source SARL http://www.sarl.org.za/

Sep 25 2014

G3BJ elected IARU Region 1 President

IARU_Region_1_logoDon Beattie, G3BJ, former President of the RSGB, has been elected as IARU Region 1 President at the General Conference in Varna-Albena, Bulgaria.

During the Final Plenary of the 23rd IARU Region 1 General Conference, the following members were elected to serve on the Executive Committee:

President: Don Beattie, G3BJ

Vice President: Faisal Al-Ajmi, 9K2RR

Treasurer: Eva Thieman, HB9FPM / OK3QE

Secretary: Dennis Green, ZS4BS

Members:

Thilo Kootz, DL9KCE

David Court EI3IO

Oliver Tabakovski, Z32TO

Ivan Stauning, OZ7IS

Ranko Boca, 4O3A

The 24th IARU Region 1 General Conference will be held in Wildbad Kreuth, near Munich in Germany an hosted by the DARC.

Don Beattie G3OZF (now G3BJ) in Essex Chronicle newspaper July 21, 1972

Don Beattie G3OZF (now G3BJ) in Essex Chronicle newspaper July 21, 1972

In the 1970’s Don Beattie, then G3OZF, lived at East Hanningfield in Essex. He was a member of the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) and was subsequently made an Honorary Member. He was featured several times in the Chelmsford press promoting amateur radio and defending the right to antenna masts.

CARS Amateur Radio Training http://g0mwt.org.uk/training

IARU Region 1 http://iaru-r1.org/

Sep 25 2014

AMSAT-UK Colloquium in TX Factor Show

In this episode of the TX Factor Show Bob McCreadie G0FGX reports from the recent AMSAT-UK Colloquium in Guildford, and finds time to test out the SuperAntenna Superstick delux package. Nick Bennett 2E0FGQ travels north and discovers a rather remarkable radio club.

Among those interviewed at the Colloquium are AMSAT-NA VP Operations Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA, Tom Harle from VR2Space, Graham Shirville G3VZV, Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG and Carlos Eavis G0AKI.

Watch TX Factor – Episode 5 (TXF005)

View recordings of the talks given at the Colloquium
https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/colloquium-2014/presentation-videos/

Previous editions of TX Factor are at https://www.youtube.com/user/txfactorshows/videos

TX Factor http://www.txfilms.co.uk/txfactor/

Sep 23 2014

IARU R1 VHF/UHF/uW C5 meeting has started work

Delegates of the key IARU Region 1 C5 VHF, UHF and Microwaves C5 Committee

The key IARU Region 1 VHF, UHF and Microwave C5 Committee

The VHF, UHF and Microwave C5 Committee meeting has started work at the IARU Region 1 General Conference in Varna-Albena, Bulgaria.

The meeting discussed the 70 MHz IARU Region 1 initiative to obtain regulatory recognition in Europe for a secondary frequency allocation to the amateur service at 70 MHz. Also covered were the challenges to Amateur and Amateur-Satellite allocations in the UHF and Microwave bands.

24th IARU Region 1 General Conference opens
https://amsat-uk.org/2014/09/22/24th-iaru-region-1-general-conference-opens/

IARU Region 1 Conference documents and pictures http://iarur1con2014.bfra.bg/

23 cm band and WRC-2018 https://amsat-uk.org/2014/08/13/23-cm-band-and-wrc-2018/