GB4IOT ISLANDS ON THE AIR IOTA special event

GB4IOT

We decided to try Islands on the air from our usual portable spot in laleham near Staines.

using the special event call sign GB4IOT we made a few contacts over the weekend.

Times are in BST (GMT+1) or UK local time.

Saturday 29th July

**Raining some logs wet / damaged**
5B4AIF           14.161  21:20
DL3SFb          14.184  2149
PJ4DX                           22:02

Sunday 30th July

G0IVR             14.280  14:28
RA3QK           14.215  14:42
HF6TWG        14.167  14:47
UA9CUA        14.188  15:04
HG17DA         14.184  15:05
HG17HD         14.234  15:09
OE5SLN          14.267  15:14
DK1NL            14.168  21:09
IK4LZH           14.192  21:15
5Q7DX            14.216  21:19
S57DX             14.240  21:21
EA7GX              7.163  21:28
M0KVK             7.128  21:31

Bob passes his Extra USA ticket **Well done!!**

Retevis RT-36 **Robot* Walkie Talkie

 

The Retevis RT-36 Walkie talkie comes in a set of 2, has rechargeable batteries, belt clip and a really neat double charger (you can charge both radios together from one plug)

Assembly is easy, insert batteries, push the belt clip in place and you are ready to go.
Batteries are hidden behind the belt clip and no concerns that children will get access easily.

Charging is simple, move the robot arm up, insert cable and plug in, few hours is all that is needed for several hours of operation.

As a Parent, I had a concern that the red rubber feet of the robot, could easily be pulled off and therefore swallowed or become potential choking hazard!

The radios have some neat features, you can customise the colour of the screen (7 to choose from)
There is a paging signal, press the power button for a second, you can choose 10 different sounds
You can activate VOX, which means when radio hears your voice it will transmit, useful for smaller children who can't quite press the button
On one of the Robot feet is a small but very bright LED light, which the children found useful when it got darker and at night (kept by the bed)

12 SSTV images celebrating 20 years of ARISS

CRC demonstrating SSTV at Egham Raspberry Jam

We were invited back to the Egham Raspberry jam (hosted by gartner in Staines) this weekend and quickly set up a SSTV demonstration. We had quite a few technical issues but were able to show SSTV in action and share about ARISS 20 year celebrations, talk about our great hobby and recruit several people into taking their foundation license. We also met some existing Hams and had a great conversation.

Here is the receiving station running Raspberry pi(3) with 7 inch touch screen display, running latest version of QSSTV. To make this as simple a possible for people to copy and try out, we showed using the PC microphone held against both the 857 (big radio) and a simple hand held.

 Here is Bob (M6FLT) at the transmit side of the SSTV station, sending a picture from his Raspberry pi(3) hooked up to an external monitor, and receiving on the lynx 7 inch tablet (in his hand)

Showing that the Lynx 7 inch windows tablet can also TX sstv (whilst holding hand held next to it)

Bob (M6FLT) having just shown a few people to all the leaflets we bought along

Receiving the SSTV images on the Raspberry Pi3

Few more guests at our stand

Our little display with some posters and fliers  for our guests to take away with them.

Bob M6FLT (chairman CRC) manning his SSTV station just before the door open