The MØTZO Blog

Was just shown the following video.

Amateur Radio, the Internet and the Future

Playing with the new WebSDR service this week http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/ got me thinking about the future of amateur radio, and how far we should take linking the hobby to the internet.
This is kind of long, and sort of serious, but do let me know what you think.

(Disclaimer: All comments are personal opinions only. Particularly where I talk about award schemes, this is not a reflection of Islands on the Air or RSGB policy)

• Also if you also check it out from 6:15 or there abouts Hamtests.co.uk is given a mention. Thanks Dom M0BLF.

It is 21:00 & I am starting to write this heading back to London on the train from Bristol.

The RSGB AGM is over and Peter M3PHP & myself have finally collected our Kenwood Trophy for “making significant contributions to Training and Development in Amateur Radio within the United Kingdom” to Hamtests.co.uk from the RSGB board.

The rest of the day was also interesting at the AGM, although the open forum session in the afternoon proved very interesting to hear member’s views and getting answers from the board.

To finish off the evening we went for dinner with Iain M0PCB, Chloe (M0GEJ), Paul (M3JFM) and Terry (G0LUQ).

I attended the Kempton Radio Rally on 6th April and made a few purchases including the book pictured.

The hope is that I can finally get my head around to learning “the code”.

Few ideas I have from the book already so maybe change the setup of the software I am using to the order suggested in the book.

Made a few other purchases including:-

• 2x Patch leads
• Yaesu power lead (for FT-897 charger)
• Boom microphone / earphone for FT-60
• 8Gb USB memory stick
• Self-amalgamating tape
• 2x Banana Plugs (1x red, 1x black)
• 2x PL259s for RG58
• Even more out of thin air (for friend)

What a disaster.

Everything that could have gone wrong, did for me. I could go into detail, but will list instead.

• Uncle passed away
  • No operation from France
• Finish Radio Shack
• Radio/Antenna
  • Only assembled days before (thanks James M0BOV)
  • To finish, had tools missing (mainly had Metric, and needed 2x ¼” sockets)
    • Also couldn’t find Self-amalgamating tape
  • Weather & Night time prevented this being looked at until gone 5am, 5hrs into contest
  • Tried with Antenna horizontal, but stations couldn’t hear me
• PC
  • Crashed, more than once
    • Installed 2nd Soundcard to handle the Digital Voice Keying. Computer wouldn’t load
    • Removed and PC wouldn’t start.
      • Finally found that Video card wasn’t seated properly
  • LCD Screen caused interference on 40m
    • No Filter I could add
      • Quickly brought15″ CRT down
        • Still not able to get signal out

Anyway, not sure how I should finish this article, been looking at for few days. Just the main this is I have definately learnt lessons from this.

So, Plans do not always go to plan, & even if you change you plans everything make seem to be going OK, until the crunch time. Planning is underway for testing radio BEFORE next contest, and to make sure where possible have backup solutions.

So am on my tea-break and check my text messages and find the following from Peter (M3PHP):-

• Myself and @Gadget17 have been awarded the RSGB Kenwood Trophy for significant contribution to training in providing hamtests.co.uk Woohoo! (via Twitter magicbug)

I have to call him and find out and he tells me that this morning he woke up to find not only had RSGB Radcom arrived but a letter from the RSGB, on further inspection it turns out that the RSGB Board have awarded Paul (M0TZO) & myself the ‘Kenwood Trophy’ for our significant contribution to training in providing the HamTests.co.uk website which offers mock questions for all levels of licences. (copied in part from following Peter M3PHP post)

We are of course very proud to be awarded the Kenwood Trophy and will be attending the RSGB AGM which takes place in Bristol on the 19^th April 2008 and commences at 11am.

If you are going to the AGM do say hello you can’t miss us, and of course checkout www.hamtests.co.uk