Also in GB2RS this week…
The RSGB 2016 Convention takes place on 7 to 9 October at Kents Hill Conference Centre, Milton Keynes, sponsored by Martin Lynch & Sons. Sam Jewell, G4DDK will be speaking on Saturday on the secret life of the transverter. This will cover the basics of transverters, including designs, performance trade offs, buy or build and interfacing. Transverters can be used on any amateur radio band, so the talk is equally applicable to LF, HF, VHF and microwaves. On Sunday, Professor Cathryn Mitchell, M0IBG will be explaining space weather that bombards the Earth, sometimes with dramatic effects on our technology including how we are building resilience for our infrastructure. Cathryn is a professor at the University of Bath who has recently qualified as a radio amateur. Go to www.rsgb.org/convention for tickets, bookings and details of the event.
The Convention Buildathon will provide attendees with the opportunity to build a 40m transceiver based on a popular Kanga UK design. Construction is simple and easy and will not pose any difficulties even to the novice kit constructor. The basic build should be completed in a half-day session, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the Convention attractions. Please note that participation in the Buildathon is charged at £29.95, which does not include the cost of admission to the Convention but does include use of all the equipment required and the 40m transceiver kit. Go to www.rsgb.org/convention for details.
The RSGB is pleased that Susan Buckle, the Astronaut Flight Education Programme Support Manager at the UK Space Agency will be speaking following the Gala Dinner at the RSGB Convention. She will be talking about how the RSGB and the ARISS UK team worked closely with her and other UK Space Agency colleagues for the 10amateur radio school contacts with Tim Peake. If you have already booked your tickets and want to reserve a table for friends, send an email to elaine.richards@rsgb.org.uk with the names of those wishing to share a table.
For young amateurs, there’s something new at the RSGB Convention. If you are under 21 you have free admission, although young people under 16 must be accompanied. Just turn up at the door with some form of ID that shows your age.
The annual RSGB Construction Competition is to encourage home construction, experimentation, design and innovation. Any Member of the RSGB, or group of Members, is eligible to enter. The closing date for entries is 30 September 2016 and judging will take place at the RSGB Convention. This year the competition is being sponsored by Martin Lynch & Sons with prizes of £50 of vouchers for each category winner and £100 for the winner of the prestigious Pat Hawker G3VA Trophy that will be awarded to the best overall entry. See the RSGB website for full details of the various categories, where you will also find an entry form.
The RSGB’s Training and Education Committee created a new role earlier this year, to help support amateurs with disabilities. This followed discussions with the RAIBC and the role includes liaising between the two organisations, giving consideration to disabilities more widely, from time to time making recommendations in this area to the TEC Chair and helping formulate responses to RSGB Board requests. If you are interested in this role, please contact Philip Willis via email to tec.chair@rsgb.org.uk.
Region 13 is looking for a Deputy Regional Manager for the Nottingham/Derbyshire area, which is District 136. If you are an RSGB Member and think this role would suit you, contact the Regional Manager, Jim Stevenson, G0EJQ by email to rm13@rsgb.org.uk.
Category: GB2RS Headlines
