Nerds who will change the world

(Letter published in RadCom, March 2015, p12)

I'm sure many of us watched the recent Royal Institution Christmas Lecture "Sparks Will Fly", presented by Danielle George the Professor of RF Engineering at Manchester University with great anticipation.  Over the course of three hours, she instilled into her young audience into thinking about "How the spark of your imagination and some twenty-first century tinkering can change the world".

I have followed these lectures for many years, and cannot think of any that have had more relevance to amateur radio, and after reading the article in the Guardian newspaper back on 19 August 2014 that described the series that promised to usher in a "new era of home experimentation", I was expecting to see some amateur radio involvement and content in the lectures.

I was very surprised to see that there was no mention of the series in RadCom or on the RSGB website in the lead up to Christmas, and was somewhat dismayed when there was no amateur radio content whatsoever.  This was evident when she opened her second lecture on communications with the question "With the ability to make video calls to anyone, anywhere, where could I possibly call that would amaze you?", and then showed a staged contact with the International Space Station using her iPhone.

I therefore feel that I must ask the question if anyone from the RSGB knew about these lectures and attempted to get involved?  If not, then this is particularly worrying when the board has selected 'Youth' as its focus for the future, and the involvement in such a high-profile event would have kick-started any planned activities.  And more so, does this also indicate that today's amateur radio is no longer relevant to University Science and Engineering Departments?

This brings me onto the subject of "tinkering" mentioned in the lecture series.  As many of you are aware, there is currently a peak in public interest in coding on such platforms as the Raspberry Pi and Arduino through the Maker movement, with many entry-level projects in magazines involving the use of radio technology such as RFID and ZigBee, to control home appliances.  I must ask two further questions?  Why aren't we promoting amateur radio as the enabling technology for schools STEM projects (Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics) such as High Altitude Balloons, and where is our equivalent of the Raspberry Pi that encourages people to tinker with amateur radio?

Meanwhile, the RSGB recently expressed its desire in its long-term plan that Members should "not be seen as nerds" and completely misses the zeitgeist for young people with scientific interests, who see this a badge of honour, and may well become our future engineers and scientists.

Whilst I can see that refocusing its strategy might present problems with the business model of the society, as it would have to look beyond it's consumer electronics focus and the revenue it brings from advertising, and enter the world described by Professor George, who ironically sees us as "coming through a period where everything was a black box, and people are starting to tinker again like the old ham radio enthusiasts"...

I must therefore ask the final question:  Who is going to represent the technical future of our hobby?

Pi in the Sky!

The new Pi-in-the-sky board add on the new Raspberry Pi Model A+ is a complete telemetry module for High Altitude Balloons. It is a brilliant example of using amateur radio as the "Enabling Technology" for demonstrating Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for young people.

Even though we aren't officially allowed to do it under the terms of our licence, it gets around this loop-hole by using a licence-free 433 MHz module similar to those used in car key fobs, and to decode the signal all you need is a very cheap TV dongle and some clever software!

HF Data Communications

In this part we take a look at where data communications using HF, or Shortwave, might fit into emergency communications.  We will examine the issues around antennas and propagation, and the multitude of software packages you might use and modes that you might encounter on air.

Part 3 - HF Data Modes

Downloading and Setting Up APRSISCE

This document was written to accompany the second part of my data communications article, with the aim of providing instructions for setting up APRSIS32 so as to increase the critical mass of users in the area.

Downloading and Setting Up APRSISCE

Digital Amateur Radio - Bridging the Gap

This is the first part of my paper which starts off by exploring the current state of UK Resilience, and examines the role of amateur radio data communications in providing a service for volunteers.

Part 1 - Introduction

The Wireless Bridge

Wireless links are often used to bridge two halves of a computer network together in situations where physical cables cannot be used.  Over the last weekend, members of North Humber Raynet and Yorkshire 4x4 Response have taken this idea one stage further, and have succeeded in joining together the two ends of one of the world’s longest suspension bridges in aid of their local charity the Dove House Hospice.

However, upon our arrival at the Humber Bridge, it quickly became apparent that the plans of placing the control station on the bridge itself clearly wasn’t going to happen due to the Engineering works underway to replace the original 1980’s toll booths.  Following a quick rethink, the control station was hastily set up on Hessle Foreshore on the North bank, with the network looking across the 2,220 metres of murky brown water to the checkpoint at Barton Upon Humber on the South bank – this network worked surprisingly well with a 20dB signal to noise ratio, and with the sponsored walk taking place at midnight, the path wasn’t going to be interrupted by passing ships!

An extra bonus of control being moved was that the 3G wireless router used at control was visible from the checkpoint operating 30m above on the roadway!   Not only did we succeed in passing the checkpoint data over our network, we also managed to use APRS for the first time to track the progress of the back marker as he made his way around the 8 mile course following our ladies dressed in their glow bands, “onesies” and fluffy pyjamas! 

Data Communications Special Interest Group

It is intended to start a Data Communications Special Interest Group within North Humber Raynet that specialises in data communications.  This group will draw upon the expertise of persons outside of the group in order to establish both the requirements and the current practices with the aim ensuring interoperability between ourselves and other Raynet and voluntary response groups. 

See Launch Document