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G0MWT, GX0MWT, GB5HF, GB5SM, GB100MWT & M2T
Skills Night - Nov-2016 |
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G0MWT, GX0MWT, GB5HF, GB5SM, GB100MWT & M2T
Skills Night - Nov-2016 |
Monday evening, 7pm November 21st, was the final 2016 Essex Skills Night, and the 33rd since it began. Skills Coordinator Pete M0PSX was congratulated that the ongoing effort had completed a successful third year. Like October, turnout was just over 60 which makes it all worth while.Skills is a great opportunity to get "hands-on" with aerials, datamodes, construction, our famous Quiz and more. A variety of "show and tell" tables with something for the new and experienced Ham alike. This is a FREE event and open to members, non-members and visitors - all are welcome and there's tea/coffee, too!
Skills Night activities included:-
- Getting Started: As usual there was advice and leaflets from Essex Ham and a Raspberry Pi Zero playing the latest Tx Factor episode. Nick M6NFE brought with him examples of the course books and sample exams. Also on display were demos/video of PSK31 and JT65.
Essex Ham data demos and M6 Corner
- Testing: Mike G4NVT brought his Spectrum analyser and a homemade crystal filter whilst in the rear Hawkins room, Steve G4GHO had his network analyser (amongst other activity)
Test sessions and the multipole crystal filter
- Ham Goodies: Charlie M0PZT returned after a short break with a collection of items to buy, including aerial/coax adapters, RTL SDR dongles and 40m Pixie kits. A new appearance was a Zastone D900 DMR model. Also available were leads and programming available for FM and DMR radios. Nearby Paul G7BHE also had DMR on display
Charlie M0PZT with some Ham Goodies
- Data Mode Demo: Graham G8HAJ brought a homemade 475 kHz tranmitter, driven by a Raspberry Pi and configured for Hellschreiber which is a very visual mode on a SDR waterfall
Graham G8HAJ's Hellschreiber transmitter on 475 kHz
- Essex CW Club: A Skills regular, Essex CW were present helping to promote and encourage the Morse mode. New this month was a speaker that almost looked the same as the new Amazon Echo as well as a homemade 20m antenna.
Essex CW high and low tech
- Callsign badges:Jim 2E0JTW had brought his engraver. Many attendees have an engraved callsign badge, but a new variety was on offer...
Jim 2E0JTW and a rather more original badge for one attendee
- Quiz: The CARS quiz, hosted this month by guest quizmaster Murray G6JYB, had a fairly challenging set of questions including how long Morse had been in use, the shortest and longest wavelengths available to UK amateurs and the inventor of SSB. This months anagram was: Remotest Fry
As always, various members of CARS, Essex RAYNET, Essex Repeater Group, Essex CW Club and Essex Ham were on hand to help with questions as well as volunteers in the kitchen doing the tea/coffee and nibbles.
Kitchen nibbles and a shy volunteer
Next Event: Monday 16-Jan-2017
Venue: Danbury Village Hall, CM3 4NQ
Skills Night takes place at the Danbury Village Hall – Entrance is free, and the event is open to all. Tea/coffee is also available.
Want to be notified of future events?
- subscribe to the free CARS Skills mailing list
See Also:-
Skills Night Main Page Training Main Page CARS Home Page
