Rally will be held at Reading Rugby Football Club, Holme Park Farm Lane, Sonning Lane, Sonning on Themes, Reading RG4 6ST (according to that advertised in RSGB).
I will keep the thread posted with how it goes.
May see you there.
Mark M6KMJ
Following on from Andrew’s post I couldn’t help but add the picture took by Thornbury Carnival staff. Struck me as a cross between the blues brothers (only more of us) and a bunch of people you probably wouldn’t buy a car from… :). We had fun so who cares!! Great day and looking forward to more of the same.
Mark M6KMJ
Wednesday evening (6th July) saw this year’s pedestrian Fox Hunt in and around the Thornbury area. This year it was decided to use 70cm instead of the usual 2m. It was found by the hounds however that it was much more difficult to locate a 70cm signal. After approximately an hour most of the hounds were in the local area of the fox. However the final few hundred yards proved very difficult.
At around 9pm most of the hounds were suffering with fatigue leaving just two in the running.
The fox was eventually found after a number of clues and instructions, by Garry G7NVZ with Peter M6KVA meeting us on the way back.
Paul
M0ZMB
The RSGB Convention takes place in Milton Keynes over the weekend of 8th and 9th October.
Not to be confused with a rally, the convention has lots of lectures on topics related to Amateur radio including DXpeditions and a construction competition.
Video’s of lectures, talks and events from previous years can mainly be found on Youtube or on the RSGB (Members only section) website where there is a Navassa Island video.
Hope to see you there,
Andrew
G0RVM
The 2nd of July was the date of the Thornbury Carnival and what a glorious day it was. Hot and sunny. Thanks to those who helped with the organisation, who provided equipment, who got equipment to/from the site and to those that manned our tent through the long day.
We where allocated a prominent position slightly down the hill from the entrance/exit so there were lots of people passing and quite a few stopped by to see us. Although the pitch was in a good position for passing traffic, it was in a very noisy position, not far from a music stage and had a children’s inflatable play ‘thing’ next door. The latter had an acoustically noisy generator running the whole day which, at times, made hearing the radio’s hard.
All-in tho, it was a good day. We handed-out many flyer’s advertising the club and had at least one person promise to come to the club. Jane and Sue did an excellent job at arresting our local Police, telling them about Amateur radio and getting a promise of a lecture….
The real test of success will be how many potential members come and see us over the next few weeks. But even if its none, I believe it a worthwhile exercise as it helped communicate Amateur radio to the general public, raise our profile within the community and has most likely secured us a talk.
Lashing a pole to an in-situ climbing frame and another to my truck we managed to get a dipole for 20m operational and made several contacts across Europe. We also had a short ‘white stick’ antenna for 2m and 70cms which allowed us to communicate with members not attending the site during the day. Peter assembled 10 x SDR radio kits to sell to interested visitors and sold 5, including 1 to Mark ;-).
Thanks again folks,
Andrew
G0RVM
Below is ongoing detail. I will add more to this post as the trip unfolds.
Click any of the photos in this post for bigger versions.
Day 1 – 22nd June 2016
Graham and myself are on a European adventure to Friedrichshafen (link). We embarked on our journey at 11am UK time on Wednesday 22nd. An easy journey to Dover was followed by an earlier than planned crossing (at 3:15pm) to Calais via DFDS.
The ferry couild have been named the Marie Celeste as we were 2 of 4 people using the aft lounge.
On investigation we realised that the majority of the travellers were truckers, filling their lounge to capacity. We arrived in Calais at 5:50pm local time and proceeded through Calais passing the Bleriot memorial on our way to the Formule 1 motel. Following check in an evening meal was had at Flunch a short walk away and a browse through the Auchen Hypermarket. The night was pucntuated with Thunder, Lightning and HEAVY Rains.
Day 2
We awoke at 7am and were on the road by 9am proceeding to Dunkerque followed by Steenvoorde where an uneventful crossing into Belgium was undertaken. Then on to Epres, Kortrijk, Tournai, Mons, Charleroi and Namur with a stop just after Liege for Lunch and the first part of this post. On the way we drove through many storms some with the biggest hailstones ever, passing out into glorious skies and 30+ degrees Centigrade.
Continuing after lunch saw us past Aachen to Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler on the river Ahr. after settling in at a spenldid, clean, tidy and welcoming youth hostel (Below) we joined approximately 150 schoolchildren and their handlers for an evening meal.
After dinner of three courses we took a stroll into Ahrweiler along the river. The town of Ahrweiler has a restored wall and cobbled streets as below where a pleasant evening was enjoyed.
Day 3
started as day 2 at 7am for ablutions and a continental breakfast, once again with the cast of Oliver Twist. It is to be remembered however that we were in their territory as neither of us could be considered to be youths!
Travelling saw Koblenz with stunning views at a stop of the Moselle Valley (below) then Stuttgart followed by loads of scenery.
Lake Constance then came into stunning view followed by a drive down the eastern side arriving at Friedrichshafen YHA at approximately 4pm. We have found that we are 2 of 212 people staying here. Everyone of which appears to be an amateur or XYL.
Bicycles have now been rented for tomorrows short ride into the Messe for the 2nd day of the rally.
Our evening meal was taken at a restaurant over the road and co-located with a campsite on the shore of Lake Constance. Some discussion of the menu contents was discussed until an English menu was provided. A brief walk along the shoreline was completed before bed.
Day 4
Day 4 started at the usual time with the usual routine. We then took a short ride on the bikes (missing the queues and parking) to the Messe. Shown is Hall A1 and A2 in the distance.
The rally is split into four halls/hangers as follows;
Full details of the halls and traders can be obtained at the link above.
We then spent the whole day having our first look around and trying to ensure we walked every gangway. It did take us all day to view A1, A3, A4, and A5 just once. Halls A1 (where we signed in with the RSGB) and A3 were completed before lunch with A4 and A5 after lunch. Many purchases were made with some return to stalls previously dismissed.
We then returned via bicycle to the YHA to rest and recuperate after a day on the hoof.
Our evening meal was taken at a local Italian fish restaurant along the river from the YHA. We then returned to the YHA for coffee and discussion with other HAMS (the place being full of them) and then to bed.
Day 5
Day 5 started at the usual time with the usual routine.
Travel to the Messe was by car today to allow for antenna purchase. Parking was a mere 4€ (£3.20) and then into the halls for another walk through to see everything missed yesterday. Those who have been to rallies with me will know that I’m not fast, except for when in the car. More purchases were made with some bargaining as it is the last day.
Major manufacturers were there including;
There was a wide range of items to be purchased including;
Our evening meal is planned for the local Italian fish restaurant (Fischerstuble €20-25 per head) along the river.
Day 6
Day 6 started as usual at 7am. We then began travelling towards Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler however we had agreed an initial detour to avoid some of the 5 Autobahn and then agreed an additional detour through the Rhine valley with some stunning scenery.
Day 7
Day 7 will see a return to Dunkirk for the ferry crossing with arrival home late on Tuesday night.
Other Items
Some prices at the rally were more than you would normally pay. For example a PL259 was 80 pence (£1:€1.25) compared to the best rally bargin in the UK of 65 pence. But you don’t go to Friedrichshafen for the prices.
Many photos and videos are available from me in addition to those within this post.
The youth hostel nights cost on average €35 and included a breakfast with optional packed lunch. An evening meal can also be purchased where it is available. Breakfasts consisted of cereals, fruit, yogurt, meats and cheeses with breads. Accommodation was either on or off-suite depending upon the hostel and availability.
The route taken was fairly painless with good continental roads and knowledge of where the hold-ups may be.
Entry into the Rally was either €9 per day or €18 for all three days in advance.
The third day did however see some stalls leaving early including the RSGB packing up at 9am!
Paul
M0ZMB
The TSGARC has, unfortunately, had to withdraw from attending the Yate Heritage Centre this weekend as part of Museums on the Air due to difficulties agreeing terms for our use of the lawn next to the centre.
Thank you to everyone who has put effort into making this, so nearly, happen.
Andrew
G0RVM
Whether it be a talk by a member or a larger event such as a field weekend we all enjoy events. Events are core to our club; they bring us together and allow us to share idea’s and information with others. An active, vibrant club is a rewarding environment for existing members and its attractive to potential members.
Its a core responsibility of every member to participate in events – after all, the club is its members and its members are the club. We are one and the same.
Participation is helping with an event in some way. That might be taking some photo’s and writing a few words for our website, it might be helping to transport equipment, it might be arranging for a speaker to come and give us a talk. Participation by members is the life-blood of the club.
So if you have an idea for an event please talk it over with other members and together we can make it happen. Whether you are involved in turning your idea into an event really depends on your wishes, its size and complexity. But here at the TSGARC we encourage all members to be involved with making events happen.
Further information about events and their organisation may be found by following the ‘Event organisation’ link to our website.
Andrew
G0RVM
The terms IQ are increasingly commonplace in amateur radio literature. Open any copy of Radcom or read anything about Software Defined Radio (SDR) and you will see the terms IQ. But what are they?
Since transitioning from a cherished black-box radio last Autumn to SDR I’ve been meaning to understand the mysteries of IQ. Fundamentally, its really very simple. But I’ve read several descriptions on the Internet which, quite frankly, are just confusing – too many words all trying to convey something that is much easier done visually.
Tonight, I discovered the video below. It is an excellent description of, not only, IQ but of modulation and especially BPSK, 4PSK and 16PSK. I highly recommend taking a few minutes and watching even if you are not interested in SDR and IQ.
Andrew
G0RVM
A little news hot off the Dayton press… Yaesu have a new mobile HF & 6m, 100w transceiver.
Looks a little like the latest series of Icom radio’s with its black on white display. Its also similar to the FT-857 with function buttons surrounding the its display. The head is detachable and it claims to have a 32-bit IF DSP capability.
With the IC-7000 now firmly retired and the IC-7100 head more suited to desktop operation than mobile, I just wonder if Yaesu have seen a gap in the market…. What will Icom do next?
But why omit V/UHF? Seems a little odd. Of course this could be the first of several re-designs and there may be other models yet to be released.
Perhaps it will be launched into Europe at Friedrichshafen.
Andrew
G0RVM