Essex Skills Night Monday April 17

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M5AKA
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Essex Skills Night Monday April 17

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Easter Bank Holiday? Not for the Essex Skills Team! This Monday, April 17 is set to be a cracking evening. This free event is open to all.

Last month, Essex Ham ran a Skills Night Survey, and over 70 responses were received. Requests were made for new demos and some specific features, and we’re pleased to report that we’re able to meet several of those requests this month, thanks to supporters who’ve stepped forward as a result.

Hosted by the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society Training Team Skills Night is an informal monthly get-together in central Essex, where anyone with an interest in radio can come along, try something new, share ideas, get help and advice, and socialise with others interested in the hobby.

Skills Night activities planned so far, include:

• 10 GHz demo. Graham G8HAJ joined us in November for a popular Hellschreiber demo, and will return with a 10 GHz SSB setup with a simple low-cost 3cm receiver using a standard satellite LNB and an SDR dongle.

• You asked for Digital Voice. You asked for Raspberry Pi. So this month, Steve M0SHQ takes a break from satellites to show us his personal D-star Hotspot running on a Raspberry pi3 via Dv-mega board with Blue stack.

• DFing – Two requests for this in Essex Ham’s survey, and as a result, Roy G4JAC returns with some RDF kit to encourage some fresh air radio direction finding activity in 2017

• Simulation: As many will know, Steve G4GHO is soon to become DX. For his final appearance at Skills, he’ll be doing a “Getting started in simulation” session. This will be either analogue (LTSpice, QUCS, Microwave Office etc), or antenna (MMana or 4NEC2). He’ll also have an effective freeware Maths package. This will be an introduction to how they work, with simple examples, and Steve can hopefully help with specific questions.

• CARS: The Membership table returns. Visit Ray 2E0GVE, to pick up your CARS membership card, renew your subs, or join up

• Skills Quiz: Chris G0IPU is unable to be quizmaster this month, so Murray G6JYB steps up this month with some more challenging quiz questions, just for fun

• Essex CW Club: Helping to promote and encourage the Morse mode, and hopefully get some feedback on a proposed CW Bootcamp

• Testing, Testing: Using a Spectrum analyser for testing antennas and handhelds, VSWR testing measuring frequency and filters. Mike G4NVT will also be testing antennas and harmonics. If you have anything you’d like tested, please bring it along. Also this month, Mike’s hoping to get someone to build an oscillator and test it on the night!

• Construction project: Melvin 2E0DNS has a linear resistance meter that he’s just built, and his sine wave oscillator is now complete. If anyone’s up for bringing along an oscilloscope, Melvin’s happy to show it off

• Getting Started: Advice and leaflets from Essex Ham, the Raspberry Pi Zero playing the Essex Ham’s latest video, details of the online Foundation training course, plus the event’s wi-fi

• High Altitude Balloon Tracking: Pete M0PSX will demonstrate receiving RTTY packets from balloons, and how to track HAB activity

• Callsign badges: Get an engraved callsign badge while you wait

• As always, members of CARS, Essex CW Club, Essex Ham, Essex RAYNET and the Essex Repeater Group, will be on hand to help with questions

The activity list is subject to change and availability.

Venue: Danbury Village Hall, 2 Main Road, Danbury, Essex, CM3 4NQ - You can find a map and pictures of the hall at:
http://sxham.uk/danbury

The Skills Night is free to attend, with refreshments provided. The event is open to everyone with an interest in any aspect of radio, if you know someone interested in coming along - please pass this message along.

We hope to see you on Monday from 7pm.

The Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society's Skill Night page can be found at
http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/skills

CARS run amateur radio training courses, to find out more contact the training organiser Christopher G0IPU
Mob: 07908-107951
Email: training2017 at g0mwt.org.uk
Web: http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/training/
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